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US 10,381,176 B2Granted
Keyboard backlighting with deposited light-generating sources
AssigneeRohinni, LLC
InventorsCody Peterson, Andrew Huska, Kasey Christie, Clinton Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques and devices provide backlighting for keys of a keyboard or keypad.
Claims19
A keyboard assembly comprising:
- a key including a keytop delineating a footprint of the key, the keytop having a translucent key legend aligned within the footprint;
- key mechanics that mechanically interact with a keypress of the key, the key mechanics being disposed vertically beneath the translucent key legend of the key and contained within the footprint of the key, and the key mechanics including at least one of a rubber dome or one or more blades of a scissor mechanism;
- and
- at least two groups of LEDs including a first group of LEDs and a second group of LEDs deposited vertically beneath the translucent key legend of the key and at least one of the first group of LEDs or the second group of LEDs being deposited directly on at least one of an outer surface of the rubber dome or a surface of the one or more blades of the scissor mechanism of the key mechanics within the footprint of the key, the at least two distinct groups of LEDs being configured to illuminate the translucent key legend of the key, and at least one of the first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs s including a plurality of LEDs.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- integrating a plurality of keys into a keyboard assembly, each key including a keytop delineating a footprint of the key, and the keytop having a translucent key legend aligned within the footprint;
- providing key mechanics for each key, the key mechanics mechanically interacting with a keypress of the respective key, the key mechanics being disposed vertically beneath the translucent key legend of the respective key and contained within the footprint of the respective key;
- depositing an electrically conductive trace directly on the key mechanics;
- depositing at least two distinct groups of LEDs directly on an outer surface of the key mechanics vertically beneath the translucent key legend within the footprint of the respective key, and at least one group of the at least two distinct groups of LEDs including a plurality of LEDs, wherein the key mechanics include at least one of a resist-and-return structure or a leveling structure;
- and
- linking the at least two distinct groups of LEDs via the electrically conductive trace to a power source, the at least two distinct groups of LEDs being configured to illuminate the translucent key legend of the respective key when a power supply supplies power to the electrically conductive trace.
3 more elements
A backlighting apparatus for a keyboard, the backlighting apparatus comprising:
- a key on a keyboard assembly, the key including a keytop delineating a footprint of the key, the keytop having a translucent key legend aligned within the footprint;
- key mechanics that mechanically interact with a keypress of the key, the key mechanics being disposed vertically beneath the translucent key legend of the key and contained within the footprint of the key;
- at least two distinct groups of LEDs deposited directly on a surface of the key mechanics, the at least two distinct groups of LEDs being deposited vertically beneath the translucent key legend of the key and within the footprint of the key and key mechanics, the at least two distinct groups of LEDs being configured to illuminate the key and/or the translucent key legend of the key, and at least one group of the at least two distinct groups of LEDs including a plurality of LEDs;
- and
- a conductive trace electrically linking the at least two distinct groups of LEDs.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.