Biometric key including a textured ceramic cover
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsVivek Gupta, Nicholas A. Renda, Chi Xu, Stephen V. Jayanathan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic device is provided, the electronic device having a keyboard including a biometric input device. The biometric input device may be a biometric key or button. A cap of a biometric key or button may include a textured ceramic cover, such as a textured sapphire cover. The cap may further include a rear decorative coating and a front antireflective coating disposed on or over the textured ceramic cover. The cap may have one or more visual and or tactile properties which resemble those of an adjacent key of the keyboard.
Claims20
A computing device comprising:
- an upper portion comprising an upper housing and a display positioned in the upper housing;
- and
- a lower portion comprising a lower housing coupled to the upper portion by a hinge, the lower portion including a keyboard comprising:
- an array of keys, each key of the array of keys having a plastic keycap;
- and
- a biometric power button positioned adjacent to one or more keys of the array of keys and comprising:
- a sapphire cover defining:
- a textured front surface;
- and
- a rounded edge extending from the textured front surface to a side surface;
- an inorganic multilayer coating disposed on a rear surface of the sapphire cover and having an optical density of at least 3;
- a biometric sensor positioned below the sapphire cover;
- and
- a switch positioned below the biometric sensor.
A computing device comprising:
- an upper portion comprising an upper housing and a display positioned within the upper housing;
- and
- a lower portion comprising a keyboard and a lower housing rotatably coupled to the upper housing, the keyboard including:
- a set of keys, each key of the set of keys including a keycap formed of a polymer material;
- and
- a biometric input key comprising:
- a textured cap comprising:
- a transparent cover formed of alumina and defining:
- a front surface including a set of surface features configured to diffusely reflect light from the front surface;
- a side surface;
- and
- a curved surface extending between the front surface and the side surface;
- a first coating covering the front surface and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric layers configured to cause destructive interference between light reflected from the first coating and light reflected from the front surface of the transparent cover;
- and
- a second coating covering a rear surface of the transparent cover and configured to absorb visible light;
- a biometric sensor positioned below the transparent cover;
- and
- an electromechanical switch positioned below the biometric sensor and configured to actuate in response to a press on the biometric input key.
A computing device comprising:
- a keyboard comprising:
- a biometric button comprising:
- a cap including:
- a sapphire cover defining:
- a front surface having a first texture configured to provide a first matte appearance;
- a side surface;
- and
- a curved edge between the front surface and the side surface, the curved edge having a second texture;
- an anti-reflection coating disposed over the front surface of the sapphire cover and comprising a first plurality of inorganic dielectric layers;
- and
- an optically dense coating disposed over a rear surface of the sapphire cover and comprising a second plurality of inorganic dielectric layers and a plurality of metal layers;
- an electrically conductive support positioned below and coupled to the cap;
- a biometric sensor positioned below the cap;
- and
- a switch positioned below the biometric sensor;
- and
- a set of keys, each key of the set of keys including a polymeric keycap having a second matte appearance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.