Backlit keyboard including reflective component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9704665-B2
Application number	US-201414281136-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2014
Priority date	May 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A backlit keyboard including a reflective component. The backlit keyboard may include a top case forming a top portion of an exterior surface of the keyboard. The backlit keyboard may further include a set of keys positioned within the top case and a membrane positioned below the set of keys. The backlit keyboard may further include a light guide positioned below the membrane and a light source positioned on a portion of the light guide. The light source may be configured to emit light coupled into the light guide and emit stray light not coupled into the light guide. The backlit keyboard may further include a bottom case attached to the top case and forming a bottom portion of the exterior surface of the keyboard. Additionally, the backlit keyboard may include a reflector positioned on an interior surface of the bottom case below the light guide and separated from the light guide by a gap. In some embodiments, the reflector may be configured to redirect the stray light towards the set of keys and provide structural support for the light guide.

First claim

We claim:

1. A backlit keyboard comprising:
a top case forming a top portion of an exterior surface of the keyboard;
a set of keys positioned within the top case;
a membrane positioned below the set of keys;
a light guide positioned below the membrane;
a light source positioned on a portion of the light guide and configured to emit light coupled into the light guide and emit stray light into the offset not coupled into the light guide;
a bottom case attached to the top case and forming a bottom portion of the exterior surface of the keyboard; and
a reflector positioned on an interior surface of the bottom case below the light guide; and
a spacer positioned between the light guide and the reflector, the spacer defining a gap between the light guide and the reflector, wherein:
the reflector is configured to redirect the stray light towards the set of keys;
the reflector includes a plurality of reflector openings configured to receive a coupling component;
the reflector is coupled to the top case via the coupling component; and
the reflector provides structural support for the light guide.

2. The backlit keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is releasably coupled to the top case.

3. The backlit keyboard of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of apertures formed partially through the top case, adjacent the membrane,
wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to receive the coupling component for releasably coupling the reflector to the top case.

4. The backlit keyboard of claim 3 , further comprising:
a plurality of membrane openings formed through the membrane,
wherein the plurality of membrane openings are substantially aligned with the plurality of apertures formed partially through the top case.

5. The backlit keyboard of claim 3 , wherein:
a plurality of reflector openings are in substantial alignment with the plurality of apertures formed partially through the top case;
the plurality of reflector openings are configured to receive the coupling component for releasably coupling the reflector to the top case; and
the reflector further includes an engagement component positioned within each of the plurality of reflector openings, the plurality of engagement components configured to engage the coupling component.

6. The backlit keyboard of claim 3 , wherein the light guide includes a plurality of light guide openings in substantial alignment with the plurality of apertures formed partially though the top case,
wherein the plurality of light guide openings are configured to receive the coupling component for releasably coupling the reflector to the top case.

7. A computing device comprising:
a top case forming a top portion of an exterior surface of the device; and
a keyboard assembly positioned within the top case, the keyboard assembly comprising:
a set of keys;
a light guide configured to direct light toward the plurality of keys; and
a light source configured to emit light coupled into the light guide and emit stray light that is not coupled into the light guide; and

a bottom case attached to the top case and forming a bottom portion of the exterior surface of the device, the bottom case comprising:
a reflector positioned on an interior surface of the bottom case below the light guide and separated from the light guide by a spacer, wherein:
the spacer is configured to maintain a gap between the light guide and the reflector;
the reflector is configured to redirect the stray light toward the set of keys; and
the reflector provides structural support for the light guide via a coupling component that secures the reflector to the top case.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the light source is positioned on at least a portion of a perimeter of the light guide.

9. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the keyboard assembly further comprises a mask positioned adjacent to the light guide.

10. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the keyboard assembly further comprises:
a plurality of mask openings formed through the mask;
a plurality of light guide openings formed through the light guide, the plurality of light guide openings substantially aligned with the plurality of mask openings; and
wherein a plurality of reflector openings are substantially aligned with the plurality of light guide openings.

11. A method for assembling a keyboard, the method comprising:
positioning a keyboard assembly within a top case, the top case forming a top portion of an exterior surface of the keyboard, wherein the keyboard assembly comprises:
a light guide configured to direct light from a light source toward a set of keys; and
a light source configured to emit light coupled into the light guide and emit stray light not coupled into the light guide;

attaching a bottom case to the top case, the bottom case forming a bottom portion of the exterior surface of the keyboard, the bottom case comprising:
a reflector on an interior surface of the bottom case that is offset from the light guide by a spacer, wherein the reflector is configured to redirect stray light toward the set of keys; and

coupling the reflector to the top case via a coupling component such that the reflector provides structural support to the light guide, wherein the reflector is configured to redirect the stray light toward the set of keys.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the attaching the bottom case to the top case further comprises providing the spacer component between the reflector and the light guide, wherein the spacer component contacts the reflector and the light guide.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the attaching the bottom case to the top case releasably couples the reflector to the top case.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Brock John M
• Murphy Robert S

Classifications

• H01H11/00 Primary

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches (processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49107

  Fuse making · CPC title

• H01H13/702

  with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches · CPC title

• H01H13/83 Primary

  characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements · CPC title

• H01H2219/06

  Reflector · CPC title