Patent Description:
This relates generally to electronic equipment, and, more particularly, to electronic equipment with input devices such as keyboards.

Electronic equipment often contains keys. For example, laptop computers and detachable keyboards for tablet computers contain keys.

The incorporation of keys into electronic equipment can pose challenges. If care is not taken, keys may be uncomfortable to use or may be difficult to recognize.

Document <CIT> discloses a manufacturing method of a keypad for a mobile phone and the keypad manufactured thereby, in which a vacuum deposition layer and a cellophane paper are attached to a lower surface of a key in the keypad. The keypad for a mobile phone includes a plurality of keys, each key includes a key body of a transparent resin material and a high-hardness transparent coating layer coated onto a surface of the key body in order to increase hardness, and each key comprises a key background color paint layer for color presentation, coated onto a lower surface of the key body; an opaque paint layer coated onto a lower surface of the key background color paint layer; a transparent marking portion formed by performing a laser processing according to a shape of a numeral, a character, or a symbol with respect to the lower surface of the key body so as to remove the color paint layer and the opaque paint layer; a metallic vacuum deposition layer formed on the lower surface of the key body and a lower surface of the opaque paint layer; and a transparent colorprinted layer or a cellophane paper attached to a lower surface of the metallic vacuum deposition layer so as to present various colors.

Document <CIT> discloses that an anti-glare covering for illuminate switch or indicator is formed of a covering member shaped from a transparent synthetic resin and a microlouver-type anti-glare sheet melt-bonded to the lower surface of the covering member. This structure is different from conventional anti-glare coverings for illuminate switch or indicator in which the covering member has a top opening and the microlouver-type anti-glare sheet covers the opening. Thus, the anti-glare covering of the invention is provided with improved visibility and rigidity and is easy to maintain beautiful appearance. The visibility of the illuminate switch or indicator is further improved by providing a thin light-transmitting metallizing layer on the upper surface of the covering in member at the top portion.

Document <CIT> discloses a method of assembling a folio case. The method comprises molding a set of molded key caps over a flexible fabric layer to form a fabric key cap layer, where the key caps do not pass through the flexible fabric layer. The method further comprises affixing a first portion of the flexible key cap layer opposite the set of molded key caps to an interior portion of a housing, and affixing an intermediate layer between the interior portion of the housing and a second portion of the fabric key cap layer corresponding to the set of molded key caps opposite the first portion. The method further comprises attaching a first portion of a holder to the first portion of the flexible key cap layer configured to receive a computing device, wherein a second portion of the holder is not fixedly attached to the flexible key cap layer.

Electrical equipment such as a tablet computer cover, a laptop computer, or other equipment may include keys. Each key may have a key member. Key members may be formed from transparent polymer and may be provided with backlight illumination. Keys may be arranged in arrays to form keyboards.

Coatings such as opaque coating layers may be formed on the key members. Opaque coating layers may be patterned to form symbol-shaped openings associated with key labels. Opaque coating layers may also have recessed peripheral portions and other features to enhance the appearance of the keys.

In some configurations, metal coating layers may be incorporated into the keys. Key members may have outer surfaces and opposing inner surface on which patterned coating layers may be formed. Peripheral edge portions of the key members may extend between the outer and inner surfaces and may be coated with metal coating layers such as physical vapor deposition metal layers to form reflective metal trim structures. If desired, metal coating layers on the peripheral edges of the key members may extend under portions of the keys.

Backlight illumination for the keys may be formed form light sources such as light-emitting diodes. Light-emitting diodes may supply backlight illumination to key members directly or through light guide layers or other light modifying structures. Light sources such as light-emitting diodes may be mounted to a substrate such as a printed circuit substrate. Key press sensors on the printed circuit substrate may be formed from dome switches, touch sensors, force sensors, or other sensors that detect finger press input on the key members.

Fabric may be incorporated into the electrical equipment. For example, a layer of woven fabric or other fabric may be overlapped by the key members in a keyboard. The layer of fabric may have openings that overlap symbol-shaped key member coating layers so that backlight illumination may pass through the symbol-shaped openings.

Fabric, polymer sheets, printed circuits, molded plastic parts, and other structures may be used in forming items with keys. Keys may, for example, be incorporated into electronic equipment such as cellular telephones, tablet computers, wristwatch devices, laptop computers, media players, pendant devices, devices embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other electronic equipment, may be used in straps, cases, covers, or other accessories for electronic devices (e.g., a cover or other accessory that includes a keyboard), may be used in accessories such as headphones, may be used in seating having circuits or other furniture with circuitry for a home or office, may be used in forming a seat with circuitry, dashboard, or other item in a vehicle, may be used in forming part of embedded systems such as systems in which electronic equipment is mounted in kiosks, may be used in forming wearable items with circuitry such as necklaces, wrist bands, arm bands, shoes, or other items of clothing, may be used in forming other equipment with circuitry, or may be used in forming structures that implement the functionality of two or more of these items.

Keys may be used for gathering alphanumeric input and for gathering commands to adjust device functions (e.g., keys may be used as volume buttons, menu buttons, power buttons, etc.). Illustrative configurations in which keys are arranged in an array for forming an alphanumeric keyboard may sometimes be described herein as an example. This is, however, illustrative. Keys may be used for gathering any suitable user input.

Illustrative electronic equipment having keyboard keys or other keys is shown in <FIG>. Equipment <NUM> may include a keyboard or other item with keys such as item <NUM>. Item <NUM> may form part of an electronic device with a built-in keyboard such as a laptop computer or may be a stand-alone keyboard that can be coupled to optional additional electronic devices such as electronic device <NUM>. For example, electrical equipment such as item <NUM> may be part of removable case (sometimes referred to as a cover) for a tablet computer and electronic device <NUM> may be a tablet computer. Electronic device <NUM> and item <NUM> may be mechanically coupled using magnets or other fasteners and can be electrically coupled using a wired and/or a wireless communications link. If desired, equipment <NUM> may be a cellular telephone, a wristwatch, a media player, a remote control, or other electronic equipment.

Item <NUM> may include layers of material such as layers of polymer, leather, glass, metal, fabric, and/or other materials. As an example, one or more of these layers may be used in forming a rear wall or other housing wall for a cover, for forming part of a wall of an electronic device, or for forming a wall that covers the upper surface of a keyboard in item <NUM>. With one illustrative configuration the upper surface of a keyboard may have a fabric layer. This may help prevent moisture from entering the keyboard and may provide portions of the keyboard with an attractive fabric-like appearance.

Keyboard key members (e.g., plastic members formed from clear rigid polymer or key structures formed from other materials) may be attached to the outer surface of the fabric layer (as an example). The fabric of item <NUM> (e.g., a keyboard) may be soft (e.g., item <NUM> may have a fabric surface that yields to a light touch), may have a rigid feel (e.g., a fabric surface in item <NUM> may be formed from a stiff fabric), may be coarse, may be smooth, may have ribs or other patterned textures, and/or may be formed as part of a structure that has portions formed from non-fabric structures of plastic, metal, glass, crystalline materials, ceramics, or other materials.

Item <NUM> of equipment <NUM> (and, if desired, device <NUM>) may include control circuitry such as control circuitry <NUM>. Control circuitry <NUM> may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of item <NUM>. The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry <NUM> may be used to gather keystroke information from an array of switches associated with an associated array of key members in an array of keys in a keyboard in item <NUM> and may otherwise be used to control the operation of item <NUM>. The switches, which may sometimes be referred to as key press sensors, may be mechanical switches such as dome switches, may include capacitive touch sensors that form switches, may include force sensors that serve as switches, and/or may include other key actuation sensors that serve to monitor and detect key press input (key presses) by a user's fingers onto the keys. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors and other wireless communications circuits, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc..

Input-output circuitry in item <NUM> such as input-output devices <NUM> may be used to allow data to be supplied to item <NUM> and to allow data to be provided from item <NUM> to external devices. During operation, control circuitry <NUM> may use keys and other input-output devices <NUM> to gather input from a user, external equipment, and/or the environment around item <NUM>. Control circuitry <NUM> may also use input-output devices <NUM> to provide output to a user or external equipment such as device <NUM>.

Input-output devices <NUM> may include keyboard keys and other buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, microphones, speakers, tone generators, vibrators, cameras, sensors such as touch sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, light-based proximity sensors, ambient light sensors, compasses, gyroscopes, accelerometers, moisture sensors, force sensors, data ports, displays, and other input-output devices.

Keys such as keyboard keys, status indicators, displays, trim structures, and other portions of equipment <NUM> may be illuminated. For example, light-emitting diodes, lamps, electroluminescent panels, or other sources of light in an electronic device may be used in illuminating patterned openings. The patterned openings may pass through layers of fabric, may be formed on keyboard key members, and/or may be formed from other materials in equipment <NUM>.

The patterned openings may form symbols (e.g., letters and other alphanumeric characters, icons, etc.) or other illuminated shapes. The symbols or other patterned openings may form labels on keys or other input-output devices (sometimes referred to as glyphs or alphanumeric labels), may form labels on other illuminated structures, may form trim for a component (e.g., a halo surrounding a key), or may form other suitable illuminated areas. In some arrangements, transparent material (e.g., clear material, translucent material, and/or material that includes photoluminescent substances such as phosphors) may be formed in an opening and/or may overlap an opening. Light-transmitting windows in opaque structures may be formed from openings and optional transparent material overlapping the openings.

Arrangements in which keyboard keys in a keyboard in equipment <NUM> have patterned openings or other transparent structures that form illuminated letters or other symbols that serve as labels for the keys may sometimes be described herein as an example. In general, however, input-output devices <NUM> may include one or more light sources that provide any suitable type of illumination for keys in equipment <NUM>.

Fabric for equipment <NUM> may be formed from intertwined strands of material. A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative layer of fabric for equipment <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, fabric <NUM> may include strands of material such as strands <NUM> and strands <NUM>. With one suitable arrangement, fabric <NUM> may be a woven fabric (e.g., strands <NUM> may be warp strands and strands <NUM> may be weft strands). In general, fabric <NUM> may be woven, knitted, braided, may be intertwined to form felt, or may contain strands of material that have been intertwined using other intertwining techniques. In some arrangements, fabric <NUM> may include coatings (e.g., polymer coatings to prevent accumulation of dirt, materials that serve as moisture barrier layers, wear resistant coatings, transparent coatings such as patterned translucent coatings, etc.). These coating materials may penetrate into fabric <NUM> and/or may form layers on the inner and/or outer surfaces of fabric <NUM>.

The strands of material that form the fabric may be monofilaments or may be multifilament strands. As shown in the illustrative configuration of fabric <NUM> of <FIG>, for example, strands such as strands <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed from strands of yarn that each contain multiple monofilaments <NUM>. Strands of material for fabric <NUM> may be formed from metal or other conductive materials, polymer, natural materials such as cotton, or other suitable materials.

<FIG> is a diagram showing how item <NUM> may be a keyboard that is attached to mating equipment such as device <NUM>. Device <NUM> may be, for example, a tablet computer having a touch screen display such as display <NUM>. Item <NUM> may be a stand-alone keyboard, a keyboard that forms part of a case (e.g., a protective cover), and/or may be part of other accessory equipment configured to operate with device <NUM>. Device <NUM> may be coupled to item <NUM> wirelessly and/or may have a connector such as connector <NUM> that mates with a corresponding connector in item <NUM> such as connector <NUM>. If desired, magnets or other fastening mechanisms may be provided in item <NUM> and device <NUM> to hold item <NUM> and device <NUM> together. Item <NUM> may have a rectangular shape and may, if desired, have a folding flap (e.g., when item <NUM> forms part of a cover for device <NUM>).

Item <NUM> may have an array of keyboard keys such as keys <NUM>. Keys <NUM> may be arranged on keyboard <NUM> using a QWERTY layout or other suitable layout.

<FIG> is a perspective view of electronic equipment <NUM> in an illustrative configuration in which equipment <NUM> is an electronic device such as a laptop computer. As shown in <FIG>, equipment <NUM> may have an upper housing portion that forms a lid containing display <NUM> and a lower housing portion that includes track pad <NUM> and a keyboard (item <NUM>) formed from an array of keys <NUM>.

The arrangements for equipment <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> are merely illustrative. In general, any suitable electronic devices may be provided with one or more keys such as keys <NUM>.

A perspective view of an illustrative key is shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, key <NUM> may include a key member having an upper surface such as upper surface <NUM> (sometimes referred to as an outer surface, exterior surface, or outwardly facing surface), an opposing lower surface <NUM> (sometimes referred to as an inner surface, interior surface, or inwardly facing surface), and peripheral sidewall surfaces <NUM>. Coatings and/or other structures in key <NUM> may be patterned to form a symbol such as symbol <NUM>. Symbol <NUM> may be an alphanumeric character, an icon, or other label for key <NUM>. In some configurations, key <NUM> may be illuminated. For example, key <NUM> may be illuminated with light so that light is emitted from symbol <NUM> or so that light is emitted from portions of upper surface <NUM> surrounding symbol <NUM>. If desired, the periphery of key <NUM> may be illuminated (e.g., to produce a halo effect). Peripheral illumination may be emitted through peripheral portions of upper surface <NUM>, through portions of lower surface <NUM>, and/or through some or all of the edge portions of key <NUM> such as sidewall surfaces <NUM>. Symbol <NUM> may be formed from openings and/or solid regions in one or more coating layers, by forming perforations and/or other openings in underlying layers such as a fabric layer in a keyboard, and/or from other patterned structures.

An exploded cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key for equipment <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, a viewer such as viewer <NUM> may view key <NUM> in direction <NUM>. Keyboard key <NUM> may include a key member such as key member <NUM>. When a user desires to supply input with key <NUM>, the user may use a finger or other external object to press downward in direction <NUM> on upper surface <NUM> of key member <NUM>. A key press sensor may be used to detect when key <NUM> has been pressed. The key press sensor may, as an example, be formed from a switch such as dome switch <NUM>. Switch <NUM> may be compressed when key member <NUM> moves downwardly and may supply an upward restoring force when key member <NUM> is released. Dome switch <NUM> or other suitable sensor in key <NUM> may be placed in either a closed state or open state. Dome switches <NUM> and other key press sensors in a keyboard in equipment <NUM> may be mounted to a substrate such as printed circuit <NUM>. Control circuitry <NUM> may be coupled to printed circuit <NUM> and may monitor the state of switches <NUM> to determine whether keys <NUM> have been depressed.

Key member <NUM> may be attached to upper surface <NUM> of layer <NUM> (e.g., using adhesive). Layer <NUM> may be a layer of fabric such as fabric layer <NUM> of <FIG> or may be formed from one or more other layers of material (e.g., a flexible polymer sheet or other polymer layer, a layer of metal, ceramic, glass, etc.). One or more coating layers may be formed on layer <NUM>, on key member <NUM> and/or on key support structures and other structures in key <NUM>. Layer <NUM> and the coating layers on key member <NUM> and other portions of key <NUM> may include layers of metal, polymer (e.g., polymer containing pigments and/or dyes, clear polymer, etc.), and/or other layers of material.

Keyboard key member <NUM> may have a rectangular footprint (outline when viewed in direction <NUM>) or may have other suitable shapes. To enhance the ability of layer <NUM> to flex to accommodate vertical up and down movement of key member <NUM>, flexibility enhancement structures may be incorporated into layer <NUM>. For example, grooves or ridges in layer <NUM> and/or openings in layer <NUM> may run along the periphery of key member <NUM>. These flexibility enhancement structures may locally enhance the flexibility of layer <NUM> to accommodate movement of key member <NUM> without distorting the planar upper surface of layer <NUM>.

Key member <NUM>, which may serve as a smooth and rigid capping structure at the top of key <NUM>, may sometimes be referred to as a key cap. Key member support structure <NUM>, which may be used to support key member <NUM> and help maintain upper surface <NUM> of key member <NUM> parallel to the plane of a keyboard in which key <NUM> is formed, may sometimes be referred to as a structural key cap.

As shown in <FIG>, key member support structure <NUM> may have protrusions such as legs <NUM> that engage with corresponding arms of a key spring mechanism such as butterfly hinge mechanism <NUM> or other keyboard key mechanism for supporting key member <NUM> during operation of key <NUM>. Butterfly mechanism <NUM> may be mounted on printed circuit board <NUM> (e.g., a flexible printed circuit formed from a sheet of polyimide or a flexible substrate formed from a layer of other flexible polymer or a rigid printed circuit board formed from a layer of fiberglass-filled epoxy or other rigid printed circuit board substrate material). Dome switch <NUM> may be mounted to printed circuit <NUM> in the center of hinge mechanism <NUM> and key housing structure <NUM> (sometimes referred to as a key base, key housing structures, key support structures, etc.). Structure <NUM> may have flexible portions (e.g., elastomeric portions) that allow dome switch <NUM> to flex and/or may have light guiding structures (e.g., clear polymer structures forming a light guide layer or other light distribution structures) that help distribute illumination for key <NUM>.

If desired, other key support and key sensing mechanisms may be used for forming key <NUM>. For example, key member <NUM> may be supported without using structures such as hinge mechanism <NUM>, key movement may be sensed using force and/or touch sensors, and/or other arrangements for forming key <NUM> from key member <NUM> may be used. The example of <FIG> is merely illustrative.

Each key <NUM> in item <NUM> may have an associated symbol. One or more light sources such as light-emitting diode <NUM> may be used to illuminate the symbol for each key <NUM>. Light from light-emitting diode <NUM> may, if desired, be distributed laterally using a clear light guide structure in key <NUM>. In other configurations, light emitting diode(s) such as diode <NUM> may be mounted directly under key member <NUM> and may supply direct backlight for key member <NUM>.

Light-emitting didoes such as diode <NUM> may emit light of any suitable color (white, red, green, blue, etc.). If desired blue pump light or other pump light may be supplied by diode <NUM> to pump phosphorescent material in key <NUM>.

Light-emitting diodes <NUM> may be mounted on printed circuit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, light-emitting diode <NUM> may, if desired, emit light <NUM> into edge <NUM> of a light guiding structure such as light-guide layer <NUM>, which may have light-scattering features that scatter the light upwardly to provide backlight illumination to illuminate key <NUM>, as illustrated by light <NUM>.

Illustrative cross-sectional profiles for key member <NUM> are shown in <FIG>. In the example of <FIG>, upper surface <NUM> (sometimes referred to as an outer surface, exterior surface, or outwardly facing surface) and lower surface <NUM> (sometimes referred to as an inner surface, interior surface, or inwardly facing surface) are flat and parallel to each other. Sidewall surface <NUM> of <FIG> has a stepped configuration, so that key member <NUM> of <FIG> has a mushroom shape.

In the example of <FIG>, sidewall surfaces <NUM> of key member <NUM> are angled so that the sides of key member <NUM> are tapered (e.g., key member <NUM> has a tapered cross-sectional profile). Upper surface <NUM> and lower surface <NUM> may be curved as shown in <FIG> or may have other shapes.

<FIG> shows how key member <NUM> may have vertically extending sidewall surfaces <NUM>. Upper surface <NUM> may be curved and lower surface <NUM> may be curved or surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> may have other shapes.

<FIG> shows how upper surface <NUM> may be curved (e.g., concave) and lower surface <NUM> may be planar. Sidewall surfaces <NUM> may be vertical or may have other shapes.

Other illustrative configurations may be used for key members <NUM>, if desired. For example, other combinations of stepped, tapered, and/or vertical sidewalls, planar and/or curved upper surfaces, and/or planar and/or curved lower surfaces may be used for key members <NUM>.

Openings <NUM> may be patterned to form decorative trim, to define key symbols such as illustrative key symbol <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or to form other visual features on keys <NUM>. In some configurations, key member <NUM> may be formed from a polymer (e.g., clear polycarbonate, etc.) and may be polished before and/or after forming patterned coating layers on key member <NUM> (e.g., using vapor polishing techniques).

Illustrative coating layers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are shown as being formed on the surfaces of key member <NUM> in the example of <FIG>. If desired, patterned coating layers for defining symbols, decorative trim, and/or other structures in key <NUM> may be formed on other layers in item <NUM> (e.g., the upper and/or lower surfaces of layer <NUM> of <FIG>, the upper and/or lower surfaces of member <NUM> of <FIG>, on portions of key housing structure <NUM>, on light-guide plate structures, etc.). The configuration of <FIG> is illustrative.

As shown in <FIG>, a patterned coating such as coating layer <NUM> of <FIG> may have open areas such as opening <NUM>. Coating layer <NUM> may be opaque and member <NUM> may be transparent. Opening <NUM> may have the shape of an alphanumeric character or other symbol or other suitable shape. Using a light source such as light-emitting diode <NUM> (e.g., in a direct-lit or light guide layer configuration), backlight illumination may be provided to the underside of key member <NUM> during operation. The backlight illumination may illuminate the symbol or other pattern formed by opening <NUM>, thereby allowing a user of equipment <NUM> to view opening <NUM> in low lighting conditions (e.g., so that the user may identify key <NUM>). Peripheral edge surface <NUM> and lower surface <NUM> of key member <NUM> are uncoated (e.g., free of opaque coating material) in the example of <FIG>, so backlight illumination may be emitted from the edges of key member <NUM> and/or from the undersides of portions of key member <NUM> (e.g., after this illumination has passed through clear portions of member <NUM> and/or been guided through portions of member <NUM> due to the principal of total internal reflection). Light emitted from the edges and/or underside of key member <NUM> may form peripheral illumination (e.g., an illuminated halo on layer <NUM> around key <NUM>, illuminated key edges, etc.). The presence of backlight illumination passing through opening <NUM> and other illumination of key <NUM> may help a user view key <NUM> and/or identify a symbol formed from opening <NUM> on key <NUM> even in low lighting conditions. Backlight illumination may also enhance the appearance of key <NUM>.

If desired, opening <NUM> may pass only partway through the coating layers on key member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, for example, opening <NUM> may pass through upper coating layer 88A without passing through lower coating layer 88B. Layer 88A may be opaque. For example, layer 88A may be black. Layer 88B may have a color (white, red, etc.) and may be sufficiently transparent to allow backlight illumination to pass through layer 88B in portions of layer 88B that are aligned with opening <NUM> and not covered by layer 88A. Layer 88B may be hazy to help diffuse light passing through layer 88B. Arrangements in which layers 88A and/or 88B have other colors or optical characteristics may also be used. If desired, layers 88A and 88B may be formed by attaching a two-layer film to member <NUM> with adhesive. Configurations in which layers 88A and 88B are deposited using printing and other techniques may also be used.

<FIG> shows how a patterned opening such as opening <NUM> (e.g. a symbol, decorative trim, etc.) may be formed on lower surface <NUM> of member <NUM>. Sidewall coatings may also be patterned on surface <NUM>, if desired. In general, one or more surfaces of member <NUM> such as surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be coated simultaneously and/or may be uncoated. <FIG> shows an illustrative configuration for member <NUM> in which upper surface <NUM> and lower surface <NUM> are coated and have uncoated regions such as openings <NUM> that are at least partly aligned with each other and that therefore overlap each other.

As shown in <FIG>, the uncoated areas of member <NUM> may, if desired, surround one or more coated areas. For example, opening <NUM> may surround a solid portion of coating layer <NUM> (e.g., an opaque coating layer) so that key <NUM> appears to be illuminated everywhere except for a central dark region having the shape of a symbol (e.g., key <NUM> may have dark on light lettering).

If desired, one or more different materials may be used in forming one or more different respective portions of key member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, for example, key member <NUM> may be formed from multiple shots of plastic (e.g., first polymer portion 74A and second polymer portion 74B). Portions 74A and 74B may have different optical properties (e.g., different light transmission values, different reflectivities, different light absorption values, different colors, etc.). As an example, portion 74B may be opaque and may have the shape of a symbol or other shape and portion 74A may be transparent so that portion 74B may be viewed through portion 74A or vice versa. Portions such as portion 74B may be formed at the top of portion 74A, at the bottom of portion 74A, in the middle of portion 74A, and/or may extend through portion 74A from upper surface <NUM> to lower surface <NUM>. Portions such as portion 74B may be formed from polymer, glass, metal, ceramic, and/or other materials. With one illustrative arrangement, portion 74B may be inserted molded into portion 74A.

In the example of <FIG>, key member <NUM> has laser-marked portions such as markings <NUM> that have been formed by laser light exposure. Laser light may be focused onto the surfaces of key member <NUM> and/or may be focused internally. When light is focused internally, laser markings such as markings <NUM> may be created without damaging the exterior surfaces of member <NUM> because the intensity of the light is lower on the exterior surfaces of member <NUM> than in the interior of member <NUM>. As a result, two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional internal structures can be formed from the laser markings (e.g., to form symbols, decorative trim, etc.). Light may be scattered from these laser-processed structures when backlight illumination is applied to key member <NUM>.

If desired, layer <NUM> may be provided with openings such as openings <NUM> of <FIG>. Openings <NUM> may be perforations that are collectively used to define a symbol shape or other desired shape or may include one or more symbol-shaped and/or trim-shaped openings. Layer <NUM> may be opaque and the presence of openings <NUM> may allow backlight illumination to reach member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, one or more coating layers such as illustrative coating layers <NUM> and <NUM> may be included on member <NUM> that have one or more openings in alignment with openings <NUM>. For example, layer <NUM> of <FIG> may be opaque and may have an opening <NUM> in the shape of a symbol that is aligned with one or more overlapped openings <NUM> in layer <NUM>. Layer <NUM> may be a transparent layer (e.g., a coating formed from silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, and/or other inorganic materials) and may form a hard and/or smudge-resistant coating.

In some configurations, reflective structures may be incorporated into key <NUM>. For example, sidewall surfaces <NUM> or other peripheral regions of keys <NUM> may be provided with reflective coatings such as metal coatings. The metal may, for example, form a shiny peripheral trim structure that extends around the periphery of key <NUM> (e.g., on some or all of sidewall edge surfaces <NUM>, etc.). An arrangement of this type is shown in <FIG>. In the example of <FIG>, coating layer <NUM> may be formed from an opaque material (e.g., black ink) and may have an opening <NUM> (e.g., a symbol-shaped opening). Coating layer <NUM> is a metal layer (e.g., a metal layer deposited by physical vapor deposition, a press-fit metal ring, a metal foil that has been attached to member <NUM> using adhesive, and/or other metal structure).

If desired, coatings may be recessed relative to peripheral edge surface <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, for example, upper coating layer <NUM> may have a symbol-shaped opening such as opening <NUM>-<NUM> and may have recessed peripheral portions forming opening <NUM>-<NUM>. Opening <NUM>-<NUM> may form a peripheral uncoated area (e.g., a rectangular border for key member <NUM>) that is free of opaque material and that is therefore transparent to backlight illumination.

<FIG> shows an example useful for understanding the invention and how a layer such as layer <NUM> (e.g., a metal layer or other material) may have portions that overlap edge <NUM> and that have portions that extend partly under member <NUM> and that overlap peripheral areas of lower surface <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, layer <NUM> (e.g., a metal layer such as a physical vapor deposition metal layer) coats only edge surface <NUM>.

<FIG> shows how upper coating <NUM> may have an opening such as opening <NUM> (e.g., a symbol shaped opening) and may cover upper surface <NUM> while lower surface <NUM> is at least partly free of coating material and edge surface <NUM> is coated with layer <NUM> (e.g., a metal coating such as a physical vapor deposition metal layer). In this arrangement, layer <NUM> (e.g., an opaque layer such as a layer of black ink) may define the shape of a key symbol or other shape for opening <NUM> and metal coating layer <NUM> forms an attractive peripheral key trim.

<FIG> shows how a symbol-shaped opening such as opening <NUM> may be formed in a coating layer such as layer <NUM> that is formed on lower surface <NUM> (e.g., while upper surface <NUM> is free of opaque coatings, etc.). Metal edge coating layer <NUM> of <FIG> serves as decorative trim.

In general, any or all of the patterned coating arrangements of <FIG> may be used in conjunction with any or all of the illustrative key member configurations for key member <NUM> that are shown in <FIG> and/or additional coating patterns and/or key member structures may be used for keys <NUM>. The configurations of <FIG> are merely illustrative.

In accordance with an embodiment, an electrical equipment that includes an array of keys each of which includes a key press sensor and a key member, and a layer of material having a first surface facing the key members and having an opposing second surface facing the key press sensors, and light sources that provide backlight illumination for the keys, each key member includes a coating layer with a symbol-shaped opening and includes a metal trim.

In accordance with another embodiment, each key member has a peripheral edge surface and the metal trim of each key member is formed from a metal coating layer on the peripheral edge surface.

In accordance with another example useful for understanding the invention, each key member has opposing outer and inner surfaces and a portion of the metal coating layer on each key member extends from the peripheral edge surface over a portion of the inner surface of that key member.

In accordance with another embodiment, each key member has opposing outer and inner surfaces, the inner surface facing the layer of material, and the coating layer with the symbol-shaped opening of each key member is formed on the outer surface.

In accordance with another embodiment, each key member has opposing inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface facing the layer of material, and the coating layer with the symbol-shaped opening of each key member is formed on the inner surface.

In accordance with another embodiment, the metal coating layer on the peripheral edge surface of each key member includes a physical vapor deposition metal coating layer.

In accordance with another embodiment, the key member includes clear polymer and the layer of material includes fabric with an opening overlapped by the symbol-shaped opening.

In accordance with another embodiment, each key member has a peripheral edge surface, each key member has an inner surface facing the layer of material and has an opposing outer surface, and the coating layer with the symbol-shaped opening is formed on the outer surface and is recessed from the peripheral edge surface.

In accordance with another embodiment, each key member includes transparent polymer.

In accordance with another embodiment, the layer of material includes woven fabric.

In accordance with another embodiment, the light sources includes light-emitting diodes, the electrical equipment includes a printed circuit coupled to the light-emitting diodes and the key press sensors, the key press sensors include dome switches.

In accordance with another embodiment, the sidewall surfaces have stepped cross-sectional profiles.

In accordance with another embodiment, the sidewall surfaces are angled to form a tapered cross-sectional profile for each key member.

In accordance with another embodiment, the layer of material includes a layer of fabric and each key member includes a polymer member with a concave outer surface and an opposing planar inner surface facing the layer of fabric.

In accordance with an embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a printed circuit, a key press sensor on the printed circuit, a layer of material that overlaps the key press sensor, a key member on the layer of material, the layer of material is interposed between the key member and the key press sensor, and metal on the key member.

In accordance with another embodiment, each key member has an outer surface and an opposing inner surface facing the layer of material, each key member has a peripheral edge surface extending between the outer surface and opposing inner surface of that key member, and the peripheral edge surface of each key member is covered by the metal of that key member.

In accordance with another embodiment, the layer of material includes fabric.

In accordance with an embodiment, a keyboard is provided that includes a fabric layer, an array of clear key members attached to the fabric layer, each clear key member has a peripheral edge surface, a trim on each peripheral edge surface, a coating layer on each clear key member that forms a symbol, and light sources that provide backlight illumination to the array of clear key members.

In accordance with another embodiment, the trim on each edge surfaces includes a metal coating layer.

In accordance with another embodiment, the coating layer on each clear key member includes an opaque coating layer having a symbol-shaped opening that forms the symbol, the fabric layer has openings, and the symbol-shaped opening in the coating layer on each clear key member is overlapped by a respective one of the openings in the fabric layer.

Claim 1:
Electrical equipment (<NUM>), comprising:
an array of keys (<NUM>) each of which includes a key press sensor (<NUM>) and a key member (<NUM>), wherein each key member (<NUM>) has opposing outer and inner surfaces and a peripheral edge surface (<NUM>) that extends from the outer surface to the inner surface; and
a layer (<NUM>) of material having a first surface facing the key members (<NUM>) and having an opposing second surface facing the key press sensors (<NUM>); and
light sources (<NUM>) that provide backlight illumination for the keys (<NUM>), wherein each key member (<NUM>) includes a coating layer with a symbol-shaped opening (<NUM>) and includes a metal trim on the peripheral edge surface and the outer and inner surfaces are free from the metal trim.