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US 8,785,796 B2Granted
System and methods for electronic device keyboard illumination
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsChad A. Bronstein, Peter H. Mahowald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keyboard may be generally illuminated while also providing for key-specific illumination of one or more particular keys. The keyboard may be generally illuminated using any configuration of any number of suitable illumination sources. The keyboard may selectively illuminate any key or keys together with or apart from the general illumination of other keys. The keyboard may also variably illuminate certain keys to aid the user in navigating the keyboard.
Claims27
A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
- a plurality of source reflective surfaces;
- and
- a flexible circuitry layer positioned under the plurality of keys and comprising a first illumination source, wherein:
- the first illumination source is configured to emit first light;
- and
- a first portion of the plurality of source reflective surfaces is positioned to at least partially form a first bounding region beneath at least a first key of the plurality of keys, wherein the first bounding region prevents the emitted first light from illuminating a second key of the plurality of keys, and wherein the second key is any key of the plurality of keys other than the at least a first key.
4 more elements
A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
- and
- a plurality of illumination sources, wherein a first illumination source of the plurality of illumination sources is configured to illuminate at least a first key of the plurality of keys but not a second key of the plurality of keys, and wherein a second illumination source of the plurality of illumination sources is configured to illuminate both the first key and the second key.
A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
- a light guide pipe layer positioned under the plurality of keys;
- and
- a first illumination source positioned between the plurality of keys and the light guide pipe layer, wherein the first illumination source is configured to emit first light into the light guide pipe layer.
1 more element
A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
- at least a first source reflective surface;
- and
- a circuitry layer positioned under the plurality of keys, wherein the circuitry layer comprises at least a first illumination source, wherein the first illumination source emits first light in a first direction along a first plane parallel to the circuitry layer, and wherein the first source reflective surface reflects the first light in a second direction along the first plane.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.