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US 10,310,167 B2Granted
Illumination structure for uniform illumination of keys
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRobert Y. Cao, Craig C. Leong, Bradford J. Zercoe, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mahesh Krishnamurthi, Jun Qi, Rong Liu, Victor H. Yin
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Abstract
Described is an illumination structure for a key of a keyboard. The illumination structure is used to uniformly illuminate the key and any glyphs that are present on the key. The illumination structure includes a light guide having various features that increase total internal reflection and also illuminate the glyphs of the key.
Claims20
A keyboard comprising:
- a keyboard base;
- and
- a set of keys coupled to the keyboard base, one of the keys of the set of keys comprising:
- a switch body formed at least partially from a light transmissive material and comprising:
- an opening in a central region of the switch body configured to receive at least part of a dome switch;
- and
- an attachment feature positioned along a side of the switch body;
- a hinge mechanism coupled to the switch body via the attachment feature;
- a keycap coupled to the hinge mechanism;
- and
- a light source configured to couple light to the keycap via the switch body.
8 more elements
A key for a keyboard, comprising:
- a light emitting element;
- a keycap;
- a light transmissive body configured to receive light from the light emitting element and direct the light towards the keycap;
- a keycap support mechanism movably coupling the keycap to the light transmissive body;
- and
- a collapsible dome within an opening in the light transmissive body.
3 more elements
A switch body for a key of a keyboard, comprising:
- a body formed from a light transmissive material and defining:
- a top surface;
- a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
- an opening extending completely through the body from the top surface to the bottom surface and configured to receive a collapsible dome therein;
- and
- a recess along a side of the body and configured to receive a light source therein;
- wherein
- the body is configured to direct light from the light source out of the top surface of the body.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.