Keypad light ring for audio device

An audio device comprising:

• a transducer for providing an acoustic output;
• a control circuit for controlling the acoustic output at the transducer;
• and
• a keypad coupled with the control circuit for receiving interface commands, the keypad comprising:
• a base comprising an array of circumferentially separated slots;
• a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) each located in a corresponding one of the slots in the base;
• and
• a cover over the base and the set of LEDs, wherein the cover comprises a set of lenses each corresponding with one of the LEDs and forming a space over the corresponding LED to diffuse light from the corresponding LED,
• wherein when powered, the set of LEDs is configured to provide a continuous ring of light around the keypad,
• wherein the continuous ring of light has a consistent intensity around the keypad as perceived by a human user, wherein the continuous ring of light has a minimum luminance around the keypad of approximately 150 cd/m2 to approximately 185 cd/m2, and
• wherein the set of LEDs and the set of lenses provides a substantially identical continuity in the ring of light around the keypad as a reference set of LEDs around a same circumferential distance as defined by the base, the reference set of LEDs comprising two times as many LEDs as the set of LEDs, without the set of lenses.

A keypad for an audio device, the keypad comprising:

• a base comprising an array of circumferentially separated slots;
• a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) each located in a corresponding one of the slots in the base;
• and
• a cover over the base and the set of LEDs, wherein the cover comprises a set of lenses each corresponding with one of the LEDs and forming a space over the corresponding LED to diffuse light from the corresponding LED,
• wherein when powered, the set of LEDs is configured to provide a continuous ring of light around the keypad,
• wherein the continuous ring of light has a consistent intensity around the keypad as perceived by a human user, wherein the continuous ring of light has a minimum luminance around the keypad of approximately 150 cd/m2 to approximately 185 cd/m2,
• wherein the set of LEDs and the set of lenses provides a substantially identical continuity in the ring of light around the keypad as a reference set of LEDs around a same circumferential distance as defined by the base, the reference set of LEDs comprising two times as many LEDs as the set of LEDs, without the set of lenses,
• wherein the substantially identical continuity in the ring of light is measured as a ratio of a highest intensity of light to a lowest intensity of light around the array, such that a naked eye of the human user cannot detect a significant difference in the continuity of light produced by the reference set and the keypad.