Abstract:
An input device includes a base. A keycap is coupled to the base by a key guide structure that supports the keycap in a position that provides a space between the keycap and the base. The keycap includes a light transmitting section. An illuminator is located adjacent the light transmitting section. A flexible illumination guide is positioned about a perimeter of the illuminator. The flexible illumination guide is operable to flex in response to engaging the keycap. The illuminator is operable to provide illumination through the flexible illumination guide and the light transmitting section. The flexible illumination guide prevents illumination from escaping directly from the perimeter of the illuminator and through the space between the keycap and the base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/941,239, attorney docket number 16356.1079 (DC-13529), filed on Nov. 16, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to an illuminated indicator on an input device used with an information handling system. 
         [0003]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
         [0004]    Some IHSs include input devices such as, for example, keyboards, that are used to provide input to the IHS. In some situations, it may be desirable to illuminate keys on the keyboard to indicate a variety of different information to a user. For example, when a user activates the “Caps Lock” function on a keyboard in order to input all keystrokes in capital letters, it may be desirable to illuminate the “Caps Lock” activation key to indicate to the user that the “Caps Lock” function has been activated. Illuminating the keys can raise a number of issues. 
         [0005]    Conventionally, desktop keyboards have included illuminated keys to indicate information. An illumination device (e.g., an LED) is typically provided adjacent the key and allowed to provide illumination through an aperture in the key. It is desirable to prevent the light from the illumination device from “bleeding” out or escaping from around the edges of the key. The construction of a desktop keyboard provides the keys with a stroke of sufficient length as to allow a concentric light shield such as, for example, a plastic tube that extends from the aperture on the key and mates with a plastic tube extending from the illumination device, in order to channel the illumination from the illumination device, through the mated tubes, and out of the aperture. 
         [0006]    However, with portable IHSs and some thin keyboards, the thickness of the keyboard assembly is reduced to a minimum to facilitate reduced thickness of the device. Such reduced thickness does not provide the keys a stroke of sufficient length to allow for a concentric light shield as is conventionally practiced. As such, illumination from an illumination device provided adjacent the keys tends bleed out or escape from around the edges of the key. The typical solution to this is to move the indicator to another area of the keyboard, such as, for example, on a panel above the top row of function keys on the keyboard. This requires the user to find the location on the keyboard for the indicator, rather than be able to simply look to the key that activated the function and determine whether or not the function is activated. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved illuminated indicator on an input device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    According to one embodiment, an input device includes a base, a keycap coupled to the base by a key guide structure that supports the keycap in a position that provides a space between the keycap and the base, wherein the keycap includes a light transmitting section, an illuminator located adjacent the light transmitting section, and a flexible illumination guide positioned about a perimeter of the illuminator, wherein the flexible illumination guide is operable to flex in response to engaging the keycap, wherein the illuminator is operable to provide illumination through the flexible illumination guide and the light transmitting section, and wherein the flexible illumination guide prevents illumination from escaping directly from the perimeter of the illuminator and through the space between the keycap and the base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an IHS. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an input device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a keycap used with the input device of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the keycap key of  FIG. 3   a.    
           [0013]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a key guide structure used with the input device of  FIG. 2  and the keycap of  FIGS. 3   a  and 3b. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the key guide structure of  FIG. 4   a.    
           [0015]      FIG. 5   a  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method to illuminate a key on an input device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the keycap of  FIGS. 3   a  and 3b coupled to the key guide structure of  FIGS. 4   a  and 4b. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   c  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the keycap of  FIGS. 3   a  and 3b coupled to the key guide structure of  FIGS. 4   a  and 4b and depressed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    For purposes of this disclosure, an IHS may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an IHS may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The IHS may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the IHS may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The IHS may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, IHS  100 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a processor  102 , which is connected to a bus  104 . Bus  104  serves as a connection between processor  102  and other components of computer system  100 . An input device  106  is coupled to processor  102  to provide input to processor  102 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  108 , which is coupled to processor  102 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. IHS  100  further includes a display  110 , which is coupled to processor  102  by a video controller  112 . A system memory  114  is coupled to processor  102  to provide the processor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by processor  102 . In an embodiment, a chassis  116  houses some or all of the components of IHS  100 . It should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and processor  102  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the processor  102 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an IHS  200  is illustrated. In an embodiment, the IHS  200  may be, for example, the IHS  100 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the IHS  200  is a portable IHS such as, for example, a laptop or notebook computer. The IHS  200  includes a chassis  202  having a top surface  202   a . A display  204  is moveably coupled to the chassis  202 . An input device  206  is located adjacent the top surface  202   a  of the chassis  202 . In an embodiment, the input device  206  may be, for example, the input device  106  of the IHS  100 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . While the input device  206  is illustrated as integral with the IHS  200 , one of skill in the art will recognize that the input device  206  may also be a component that may be coupled to an IHS by, for example, a cable or through a wireless connection, such as in the case of a keyboard that may be connected to a computer. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a  and  3   b , the input device  206  includes key  300 . The key  300  includes a keycap  302  having a top wall  302   a , a front wall  302   b  extending from the top wall  302   a , a rear wall  302   c  extending from the top wall  302   a  and located opposite the front wall  302   b , and a pair of opposing side walls  302   d  and  302   e  extending between the top wall  302   a , the front wall  302   b , and the rear wall  302   c . A housing  304  is defined by the keycap  302  between the top wall  302   a , the front wall  302   b , the rear wall  302   c , and the side walls  302   d  and  302   e . A pair of key guide coupling members  306   a  and  306   b  extend from the top wall  302   a  and into the housing  304  in a spaced apart orientation from each other. Additional key guide coupling members (not shown) may be included on the keycap  302 . A key switch engagement member  308  extends from the top wall  302   a  and into the housing  304  and is located between the pair of key guide coupling members  306   a  and  306   b . An aperture  310  is defined by the top surface  302   a  of the key  300  and extends through the top surface  302   a  to the housing  304 . In an embodiment, the aperture  310  may include a transparent material such as, for example, a clear plastic material, a lens, and/or a variety of other materials known in the art that allow light to pass through them. In an embodiment, there is no material located in the aperture. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4   a  and  4   b , the key  300  also includes a base  400  on the chassis  202  of the IHS  200  that may be part of, or located adjacent to, the top surface  202   a  of the chassis  202 . The base  400  includes a baseplate  401  and switch membrane  402  located adjacent the baseplate  401 . In an embodiment, the switch membrane  402  may be coupled to the processor  102  of the IHS  100 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . A key guide structure  404  is coupled to the base  400 , with a first guide section  406  connected to the base  400  through a pivotal coupling  406   a . The first guide section  406  includes a plurality of key coupling members  406   b  that are located on the first guide section  406  opposite the pivotal coupling  406   a . A second guide section  408  is pivotally coupled to the first guide section  406  by a pair of pivotal couplings  408   a . The second guide section  408  includes a plurality of key coupling members  408   b  located opposite the key guide structure  404  from the key coupling members  406   b . A flexible key switch  410  is coupled to and located on the base  400  such that the key guide structure  404  surrounds the flexible key switch  410 . The flexible key switch  410  includes a switch membrane engagement member  410   a  that is spaced apart from the switch membrane  402  when the flexible key switch  410  is not flexed, as illustrated in  FIG. 4   b . In an embodiment, the flexible key switch  410  is fabricated out of a resilient material such as, for example, a rubber material. A flexible illumination guide  412  is coupled to the base  400  and located adjacent the key guide structure  404  and the flexible key switch  410 . The flexible illumination guide  412  defines both a housing  412   a  located within the flexible illumination guide  412  and a housing entrance  412   b  that extends through the flexible illumination guide  412  to the housing  412   a . In an embodiment, the flexible illumination guide  412  is fabricated out of a resilient material such as, for example, a rubber material. In an embodiment, the flexible illumination guide  412  is fabricated out of the same material as the flexible key guide  410 . An illumination device  414  is coupled to the base  400  and located in the housing  412   a  defined by the flexible illumination guide  412  when the flexible illumination guide  412  is coupled to the base  400 . In an embodiment, the illumination device may be, for example, a Light Emitting Device (LED) or a variety of other illumination producing devices known in the art. In an embodiment, the illumination device  414  is coupled to the base  400  using Surface Mount Technology (SMT) such that the illumination device  414  may receive the power necessary to provide illumination. In an embodiment, the illumination device  414  is coupled to the processor  102  in the IHS  100 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  4   a ,  4   b ,  5   a ,  5   b  and  5   c , a method  500  for providing an illuminated indicator on an input device is illustrated. The method  500  begins at block  502  where an input device is provided. The input device  206 , described above with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  4   a  and  4   b , may be provided. The keycap  302 , described above with reference to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , is coupled to the key guide structure  404 , described above with reference to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , by engaging the key coupling members  408   b  on the second guide section  408  with the key guide coupling members  306   a  and  306   b  on the keycap  302 . The key coupling members  406   b  on the first guide section  406  may also be engaged with the key guide coupling members on the keycap  302  (not visible in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 3   b .) With the keycap  302  coupled to the key guide structure  404 , the key switch engagement member  308  on the keycap  302  is substantially aligned with the flexible key switch  410  and the aperture  310  defined by the keycap  302  is substantially aligned with the housing entrance  412   b  on the flexible illumination guide  412 . With the keycap  302  coupled to the key guide structure  404 , the keycap  302  is held in a first position A, illustrated in  FIG. 5   b . The method  500  then proceeds to block  504  where the key  300  on the input device  206  is depressed to activate a function. The key  300  may be depressed by a user by engaging the top surface  302   a  of the keycap  302  to move the keycap  302  in a direction B. Movement of the keycap  302  in the direction B moves the keycap  302  into a second position C, illustrated in  FIG. 5   c , and causes the flexible key switch  410  to flex due to the engagement of the key switch engagement member  308  and the flexible key switch  410 . Flexing of the flexible key switch  410  causes the switch membrane engagement member  410   a  to engage the switch membrane  402 , resulting in a signal that is sent to the processor  102  to activate a function such as, for example, a “Caps Lock” function that results in all alphabet keystrokes to be presented in capital letters, a “Numbers Lock” function that results in all numerical keystrokes to be presented as numbers, and/or a variety of other functions known in the art. Movement of the keycap  302  in the direction B and into the second position C also results in the engagement of the keycap  302  and the flexible illumination guide  412  and causes the flexible illumination guide  412  to flex, illustrated in  FIG. 5   c . In an embodiment, the engagement of the keycap  302  with the flexible key switch  410  and the flexible illumination guide  412  occurs substantially simultaneously. Once the function has been activated by the engagement of the switch membrane engagement member  410   a  and the switch membrane  402 , a signal is sent by the processor  102  to the illumination device  414  that causes the illumination device  414  to illuminate in order to provide an indication that the function has been activated. The illumination from the illumination device  414  may only escape the flexible illumination guide  412  through the housing  412   a  and out of the housing entrance  412   a . Due to the alignment of the housing entrance  412   a  and the aperture  310  defined by the keycap  302 , that illumination is directed through the aperture  310  to provide an indication that the function has been activated. Release of the keycap  302  will cause the keycap  302  to move in a direction opposite the direction B and back into the first position A. With the function still activated, the illumination device  414  will continue to provide illumination through the aperture  310 . In an embodiment, the flexible illumination guide  412  substantially prevents the illumination from escaping from the area between the keycap  302  and the base  400  and ensures that substantially all of the illumination from the illumination device  414  is directed through the aperture  310 . In an embodiment, the keycap  302  may be depressed again in the direction A to deactivate the function, and the flexing of the flexible illumination guide  412  does not cause the obstruction of the illumination out through the aperture  310 . Thus, a system and method are provided that allow for the illumination of a key on an input device with space constraints while directing the illumination to prevent the escape of the illumination from undesirable areas around the key. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, during the manufacture of the input device  206 , automation may be used to couple the flexible key switch  410  to the switch membrane  402 . A vibratory mechanism may be used to align the plurality of flexible key switches  410  in an assembly fixture for placement on the switch membrane  402 . In an embodiment, the flexible illumination guide  412  may be fabricated with a different profile than the flexible key switch  410  such that the flexible illumination guide  412  and the flexible key switch  410  do not fit in the same automatic fixture. 
         [0025]    Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.