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US 2018/0218857 A1Published application
Reduced layer keyboard stack-up
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRobert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a stack-up for an input device. The stack-up may include a flexible substrate having a switch and a light source. The switch has at least two contacts that are bridged in response to actuation of a dome that is positioned above the switch. The flexible substrate includes a signal trace for detecting the actuation of the dome and a power trace for providing power to the light source.
Claims21
-20. (canceled)
A keyboard assembly comprising:
- a top case defining an array of depressions along a top surface;
- a key mechanism disposed at least partially in a depression of the array of depressions;
- a keycap disposed above the key mechanism;
- and
- a sensor disposed below the key mechanism and configured to generate a signal in response to an input received at the keycap.
2 more elements
A keyboard comprising:
- a ceramic top case defining a depression;
- a keycap positioned over the depression;
- a sensor disposed beneath the keycap and configured to detect an input at the keycap;
- a light source disposed beneath the keycap;
- and
- a flex connector disposed beneath the depression and comprising:
- a power trace coupled to the light source;
- and
- a signal trace coupled to the sensor.
6 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a top case defining an array of depressions;
- a set of key mechanisms including a key mechanism disposed in a respective depression of the array of depressions;
- a set of keycaps including a keycap positioned above the key mechanism of the set of key mechanisms;
- and
- a sensor disposed beneath the keycap of the set of keycaps, wherein:
- the set of keycaps defines a keyboard of the electronic device;
- and
- the sensor is configured to output a signal in response to an input at the keyboard.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.