# US 8,785,796 B2 · System and methods for electronic device keyboard illumination

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- Number: US 8,785,796 B2
- Document ID: US8785796B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/678,130
- Filed: 2012-11-15
- Published: 2013-03-21
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-01-04
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Chad A. Bronstein; Peter H. Mahowald
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785796B2

## CPC

- H05B 47/165: following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
- H01H 13/023: {Light-emitting indicators (for multi-layer switches H01H13/83)}
- H01H 13/83: characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
- H01H 2219/039: Selective or different modes of illumination
- H01H 2219/044: Edge lighting of layer
- H01H 2219/06: Reflector
- H01H 2219/062: Light conductor
- H01H 2221/07: transparent
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a base layer positioned under the flexible circuitry layer, wherein the base layer comprises the plurality of source reflective surfaces.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a second illumination source configured to emit second light, wherein a second portion of the plurality of source reflective surfaces is positioned to at least partially form a second bounding region beneath at least a third key of the plurality of keys, wherein the second bounding region prevents the emitted second light from illuminating a fourth key of the plurality of keys, and wherein the fourth key is any key of the plurality of keys other than the at least a third key.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the plurality of source reflective surfaces comprises at least one of a mirror, a slot, a straight edge of the keyboard, a curved edge of the keyboard, and an edge of the keyboard with an applied reflective coating.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising a keyboard membrane layer positioned between the plurality of keys and the flexible circuitry layer, wherein the keyboard membrane layer comprises the second illumination source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a transparent layer positioned between the flexible circuitry layer and the plurality of keys, wherein the emitted first light travels within the transparent layer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the transparent layer comprises the plurality of source reflective surfaces.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the transparent layer comprises at least one hole for passing the first illumination source at least partially through the transparent layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the first bounding region is at least partially formed by the transparent layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first bounding region is at least partially formed by the first illumination source.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the at least a first key comprises a single key of the plurality of keys.

### Claim 12

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.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The keyboard of claim 12, further comprising a light guide pipe layer that extends underneath the plurality of keys, wherein:
the first illumination source extends into the light guide pipe layer for emitting first light along a first plane of the light guide pipe layer to illuminate at least the first key but not the second key;
the second illumination source extends into the light guide pipe layer for emitting second light along a second plane of the light guide pipe layer to illuminate both the first key and the second key; and
the first plane is parallel to the second plane.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The keyboard of claim 13, further comprising:
a flexible circuitry layer comprising the first illumination source; and
a base layer comprising the second illumination source, wherein the light guide pipe layer is positioned between the flexible circuitry layer and the base layer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The keyboard of claim 12, further comprising a light guide pipe layer that extends underneath the plurality of keys, wherein:
the first illumination source extends into the light guide pipe layer through a top surface of the light guide pipe layer for emitting first light along the light guide pipe layer to illuminate at least the first key but not the second key; and
the second illumination source extends into the light guide pipe layer through a bottom surface of the light guide pipe layer for emitting second light along the light guide pipe layer to illuminate both the first key and the second key.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The keyboard of claim 12, further comprising a transparent layer positioned between the plurality of keys and at least one of the first and second illumination sources, wherein the transparent layer comprises at least one hole for passing the first illumination source at least partially through the transparent layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The keyboard of claim 12, further comprising a transparent layer positioned between the plurality of keys and at least one of the first and second illumination sources, wherein the transparent layer comprises at least one slot for at least one of reflecting light emitted by the first illumination source and preventing the light emitted by the first illumination source from diffusing beyond the slot.

### Claim 18

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.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The keyboard of claim 18, wherein the first illumination source is configured to one of illuminate only a specific portion of the plurality of keys and generally illuminate the plurality of keys with the first light.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The keyboard of claim 18, further comprising at least one reflective surface to reflect the first light emitted by the first illumination source.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The keyboard of claim 20, further comprising a base layer, wherein the light guide pipe layer is positioned between the first illumination source and the base layer, and wherein the base layer comprises the at least one reflective surface.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The keyboard of claim 18, further comprising a second illumination source positioned under the light guide pipe layer, wherein the second illumination source is configured to emit second light into the light guide pipe layer.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The keyboard of claim 22, wherein the first illumination source is configured to illuminate only a specific portion of the plurality of keys with the first light, and wherein the second illumination source is configured to generally illuminate the plurality of keys with the second light.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The keyboard of claim 22, wherein the first illumination source is configured to generally illuminate the plurality of keys with the first light, and wherein the second illumination source is configured to illuminate only a specific portion of the plurality of keys with the second light.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

The keyboard of claim 18, wherein the light guide pipe layer comprises at least one slot for at least one of reflecting the first light emitted by the first illumination source and preventing the first light emitted by the first illumination source from diffusing beyond the slot.

### Claim 26

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.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The keyboard of claim 26, wherein the first illumination source emits second light in a third direction along a second plane perpendicular to the circuitry layer, and wherein the first source reflective surface reflects the second light in a fourth direction along a third plane parallel to the first plane.