Keyboard with back-lighted ultra-durable keys

A key for a keyboard comprises:

• a keycap;
• an intermediate layer coupled to the keycap;
• a character layer positioned between the keycap and the intermediate layer;
• a resilient member coupled the intermediate layer and configured to push the intermediate layer if the resilient member is deformed, wherein
• the resilient member is translucent and configured to direct light through the intermediate layer, through the character layer, and out from the keycap, and
• the character layer is configured to be lighted for viewing through the keycap;
• a lightguide coupled to the resilient member and having a body, a bottom surface, a side surface, and a diffusion element optically coupled to the resilient member and configured to direct light from the lightguide into the resilient member, wherein the lightguide includes a plurality of surface features disposed on and protruding downward from the bottom surface of the lightguide, and wherein the surface features have a parabolic shape and are configured to reflect light upward and to focus the reflected light out through the top surface of the lightguide and out through the key to light the character formed in the character layer of the key;
• and
• a reflector wrapped around the bottom surface and side surface of the lightguide, the reflector operable to direct light escaping from the bottom surface and the side surface of the lightguide back into the body of the lightguide.

The keyboard comprising:

• a plurality of keys, wherein each key includes:
• a keycap;
• an intermediate layer coupled to the keycap;
• a character layer positioned between the keycap and the intermediate layer;
• a translucent resilient member coupled to the intermediate layer and configured to push the intermediate layer if the resilient member is deformed;
• a lightguide having a plurality of diffusion elements, which are respectively optically coupled to the plurality of resilient members and are configured to direct light:
• i) from the lightguide into the resilient members,
• ii) through the intermediate layers,
• iii) through the character layers, and
• iv) out from the keycaps, wherein the character layers are configured to be lighted for viewing through the keycaps, and wherein the lightguide includes a body, bottom surface, and a side surface, wherein the lightguide includes a plurality of surface features disposed on and protruding downward from the bottom surface of the lightguide, and wherein the surface features have a parabolic shape and are configured to reflect light upward and to focus the reflected light out through the top surface of the lightguide and out through the key to light the character formed in the character layer of the key;
• and
• a reflector wrapped around the bottom surface and side surface of the lightguide, the reflector operable to direct light escaping from the bottom surface and the side surface of the lightguide back into the body of the lightguide.

A key for a keyboard comprises:

• a top plate that is substantially transparent and is configured to be contacted for pressing the key down;
• an intermediate layer coupled to a bottom of the top plate, wherein the intermediate layer is translucent and includes a top and a bottom, and wherein the top of the intermediate layer faces the bottom of the top plate;
• a side portion surrounding at least a portion of side portions of the top plate and side portions of the intermediate layer;
• a character layer positioned between the bottom of the top plate and the top of the intermediate layer;
• a resilient member coupled to the bottom of the intermediate layer, wherein:
• a) the resilient member is translucent and is configured to direct light through the intermediate layer, through the character layer, and out from the top plate, and
• b) the character layer is configured to be lighted for viewing through the top plate;
• a lightguide coupled to the resilient member and having a body, a bottom surface, a side surface, and a diffusion element optically coupled to the resilient member and configured to direct light from the lightguide into the resilient member, wherein the lightguide includes a plurality of surface features disposed on and protruding downward from the bottom surface of the lightguide, and wherein the surface features have a parabolic shape and are configured to reflect light upward and to focus the reflected light out through the top surface of the lightguide and out through the key to light the character formed in the character layer of the key;
• and
• a reflector wrapped around the bottom surface and side surface of the lightguide, the reflector operable to direct light escaping from the bottom surface and the side surface of the lightguide back into the body of the lightguide.

A keyboard comprises:

• a plurality of keys wherein each key includes a character layer coupled thereto;
• a lightguide disposed under the keys and configured to direct light into the keys and through the character layer to light the character layer for viewing by a user, wherein the light guide includes a top surface facing the keys and a bottom surface facing away from the keys;
• a plurality of ring structures disposed on the bottom surface and extending from the bottom surface, wherein each ring structure is disposed below one of the keys, wherein each of the ring structures is configured to provide additional illumination at the sides of the key;
• and
• pluralities of surface features disposed on the bottom surface of the lightguide, wherein each of the plurality of surface features extend downward from the bottom surface of the lightguide, wherein the surface features have a parabolic shape and are configured to reflect light upward and to focus the reflected light out through the top surface of the lightguide and out through the key to light the character formed in the character layer of the key.