PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10068727-B2
Application Number: US-201514817316-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Key surface lighting

Abstract:
An illuminator may be coupled to the key cap of a key. The key cap may include a portion that is operable to be illuminated and one or more illuminators may be coupled thereto. In particular embodiments, keys may include power delivery systems that are operable to wirelessly transmit power from a power source to illuminators. Such power delivery systems can include inductive transmitters and/or receivers, ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers, laser diodes and photodiodes, electrodes that capacitively couple to wirelessly transfer power, and so on. In various embodiments, keys may include interconnects that connect an illuminator with a power source. The interconnect may be a flexible material that includes one or more traces and is configured with a shape that bends and twists to allow movement without stretching. The interconnect may also be part of a movement or support mechanism of a key.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A keyboard, comprising:
 a printed circuit board; 
 a number of keys coupled to the printed circuit board, each key comprising:
 an actuator; 
 a movement mechanism coupled to the actuator that biases the actuator towards an un-depressed position and allows movement of the actuator towards a depressed position to activate the respective key; 
 a light emitting diode coupled to the actuator; and 
 a power receiver coupled to the light emitting diode that is operable to provide power wirelessly received from the printed circuit board to the light emitting diode. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the power receiver comprises at least one of an inductive receiver, an ultrasonic receiver, a photodiode, or a first electrode that wirelessly receives power by capacitively coupling to a second electrode. 
     
     
       3. The keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the actuator includes a first region that is operable to be illuminated and a second region that is not operable to be illuminated; and 
 the light emitting diode is coupled to the first region. 
 
     
     
       4. The keyboard of  claim 3 , wherein the light emitting diode comprises multiple light emitting diodes coupled to the first region. 
     
     
       5. A key stack, comprising:
 a substrate having a switch and a power conduit; 
 a key cap disposed above the switch; 
 a support mechanism moveably coupling the key cap to the substrate and configured to move the key cap into a depressed position to actuate the switch; 
 an illuminator coupled to the key cap; and 
 a power delivery system operable to wirelessly transmit power from the power conduit to the illuminator. 
 
     
     
       6. The key stack of  claim 5 , wherein the power delivery system comprises an inductive receiver coupled to the illuminator and operable to inductively receive power from an inductive transmitter. 
     
     
       7. The key stack of  claim 5 , wherein the power delivery system comprises a first electrode coupled to the illuminator and operable to capacitively couple to a second electrode to wirelessly receive power from the second electrode. 
     
     
       8. The key stack of  claim 5 , wherein the power delivery system comprises an ultrasonic receiver coupled to the illuminator and operable to convert an ultrasonic signal received from an ultrasonic transmitter into power for the illuminator. 
     
     
       9. The key stack of  claim 5 , wherein the power delivery system comprises a photodiode coupled to the illuminator and configured to convert light received from a laser diode into power for the illuminator. 
     
     
       10. The key stack of  claim 5 , further comprising a storage capacitor coupled to the illuminator that is operable to store power received from the power delivery system and provide stored power to the illuminator. 
     
     
       11. The key stack of  claim 5 , wherein the illuminator is at least one of:
 coupled to a surface of the key cap; or 
 embedded at least partially within the key cap. 
 
     
     
       12. The key stack of  claim 5 , wherein the illuminator is at least one of a light emitting diode or an organic light emitting diode. 
     
     
       13. A key stack, comprising:
 a key cap; 
 a support mechanism coupled to the key cap that allows movement of the key cap and comprises a fabric web having an underside to which the key cap is bonded; 
 an illuminator coupled to the key cap; and 
 a conductive interconnect in or on the fabric web; wherein: 
 the conductive interconnect is coupled to the illuminator and a power source that provides power from the power source to the illuminator. 
 
     
     
       14. The key stack of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive interconnect comprises a conductive trace. 
     
     
       15. The key stack of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive interconnect comprises a trace formed on the fabric web. 
     
     
       16. The key stack of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the key cap includes a transparent region and an opaque region; and 
 the illuminator is coupled to the transparent region. 
 
     
     
       17. The key stack of  claim 13 , wherein the fabric web comprises an embossed area bounded by a set of bends, and the key cap is bonded to the embossed area.

Description:
FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to lighting. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to providing power to surface mounted lights on keyboard keys. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many electronic devices include illuminated surfaces. For example, some keyboards illuminate keys so that the keyboard can be used in low or no lighting conditions. Additionally, keys may be illuminated simply to aid users in understanding the functions associated with various keys, such as by illuminating a legend on a surface of a key. 
     This surface lighting is generally implemented by mounting a light emitting diode (LED) on a printed circuit board (and/or flexible circuits and/or wires connected thereto) under a key. Due to this placement, light guide panels and/or other structures are often used in order to distribute light from the LED evenly as well as prevent or reduce “hot spots” (areas of comparative brightness corresponding to the actual location of an LED). 
     Such light guide panels or other structures occupy space in a key stack, making key stack dimensions larger than they otherwise would be and/or limiting the components that could otherwise be included. Further, even with such light guide panels or other structures, greater amounts of power may be provided to an LED than would otherwise be used with the LED alone in order to obtain a desired illumination level due to the position of the LED or other structures, distance from the key cap, the diffusion of light, and so on. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to surface illumination. One or more illuminators may be coupled to the key cap of a key. Additionally, a key cap may include a portion that is operable to be illuminated and one or more illuminators may be coupled to that portion. These techniques may enable distribution of illumination without light guides and/or other structures and may prevent other key stack structures from interfering with light distribution. 
     In particular embodiments, key stacks may include power delivery systems that are operable to wirelessly transmit power from a power source to illuminators coupled to the key caps. Such power delivery systems can include inductive transmitters and/or receivers, ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers, laser diodes and photodiodes, electrodes that capacitively couple to wirelessly transfer power, and so on. In various embodiments, key stacks of keys may include interconnects that connect illuminators coupled to the key caps with power sources. In some implementations, the interconnect may be a flexible material that includes one or more traces and is configured with a shape that bends and twists to allow movement of the key cap without stretching. In various implementations, the interconnect may be part of a movement or support mechanism of a key, such as where a support mechanism includes a conductive moveable strut that connects the illuminator and power source or where the support mechanism is a fabric web in which the key cap is mounted and the interconnect is one or more traces disposed thereon. 
     In various embodiments, a keyboard may include a printed circuit board and a number of keys coupled to the printed circuit board. Each key may include an actuator, a movement mechanism coupled to the actuator that biases the actuator towards an un-depressed position and allows movement of the actuator towards a depressed position to activate the respective key, a light emitting diode coupled to the actuator, and a power receiver coupled to the light emitting diode that is operable to provide power wirelessly received from the printed circuit board to the light emitting diode. 
     In some examples, the power receiver may be at least one of an inductive receiver, an ultrasonic receiver, a photodiode, or a first electrode that wirelessly receives power by capacitively coupling to a second electrode. 
     In various examples, the actuator may include a first region that is operable to be illuminated and a second region that is not operable to be illuminated and the light emitting diode may be coupled to the first region. In some examples, the light emitting diode may be multiple light emitting diodes coupled to the first region. 
     In some embodiments, a key stack may include a substrate having a switch and a power conduit, a key cap disposed above the switch, a support mechanism moveably coupling the key cap to the substrate and configured to move the key cap into a depressed position to actuate the switch, an illuminator coupled to the key cap, and a power delivery system operable to wirelessly transmit power from the power conduit to the illuminator. 
     In various examples, the power delivery system may be an inductive receiver coupled to the illuminator and operable to inductively receive power from an inductive transmitter. In some examples, the power delivery system may be a first electrode coupled to the illuminator and operable to capacitively couple to a second electrode to wirelessly receive power from the second electrode. In various examples, the power delivery system may be an ultrasonic receiver coupled to the illuminator and operable to convert an ultrasonic signal received from an ultrasonic transmitter into power for the illuminator. In some examples, the power delivery system may be a photodiode coupled to the illuminator and configured to convert light received from a laser diode into power for the illuminator. 
     In some examples, the key stack may further include a storage capacitor coupled to the illuminator that is operable to store power received from the power delivery system and provide stored power to the illuminator. 
     In various examples, the illuminator may be at least one of coupled to a surface of the key cap or embedded at least partially within the key cap. In some examples, the illuminator may be at least one of a light emitting diode or an organic light emitting diode. 
     In one or more embodiments, a key stack may include a key cap, a support mechanism coupled to the key cap that allows movement of the key cap, an illuminator coupled to the key cap, and an interconnect coupled to the illuminator and a power source that provides power from the power source to the illuminator. 
     In various examples, the interconnect may be a flexible material (such as a polymer) including a trace, the flexible material configured with a shape (such as at least one of a zigzag shape, a serpentine shape, and a spiral) that bends and twists when the key cap moves between a depressed position and an un-depressed position. 
     In some examples, the support mechanism may be a fabric web. In such examples, the interconnect may be a trace formed on the fabric web. In various examples, the support mechanism may be multiple moveable struts and the interconnect may be a conductive strut of the multiple moveable struts. 
     In various examples, the key cap may include a transparent region and an opaque region. In such examples, the illuminator may be coupled to the transparent region. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. 
         FIG. 1  shows a computing device including a keyboard. 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of an example key stack of the keyboard of  FIG. 1  that uses wireless power delivery system for illumination, taken along A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3-5A  show cross-sectional views of additional examples of key stacks that use wireless power delivery systems for illumination in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  shows a bottom view of the key cap of  FIG. 5A  with other components removed for clarity. 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of an additional example of a key stack that uses a wired power delivery system for illumination in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7-8  are side views of example interconnects that may be used in the example key stack of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIGS. 9-10  show cross-sectional views of additional examples of key stacks that use wired power delivery systems for illumination in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a method for assembling an illuminated key for a keyboard. This method may assemble any of the keys of  FIGS. 1-5B . 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating a method for wirelessly illuminating keys. This method may be performed using any of the keys of  FIGS. 1-5B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims. 
     The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, and apparatuses that embody various elements of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the described disclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to those described herein. 
     The following disclosure relates to surface illumination, such as illuminating the keys or other actuators of a keyboard. One or more LEDs and/or other illuminators may be coupled to the key cap of a key. This may enable distribution of illumination without light guides and/or other structures, though such may still be used in some implementations, and may prevent other key stack structures (such as movement mechanisms) from interfering with light distribution. Additionally, a key cap may include a portion that is operable to be illuminated and one or more LEDs may be coupled to that portion, further enabling distribution of illumination without light guides and/or other structures. 
     In particular embodiments, key stacks of keys may include power delivery systems that are operable to wirelessly transmit power from a power source (such as a power conduit located on a printed circuit board to which the key is movably mounted) to LEDs coupled to the key caps. Such power delivery systems can include inductive transmitters and/or receivers, ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers, laser diodes and photodiodes, electrodes that capacitively couple to wirelessly transfer power, and so on. In some implementations, the LED may be coupled to a capacitor and/or other power storage such that the LED may be operable to illuminate even when power is not currently being wirelessly transmitted. 
     In various embodiments, key stacks of keys may include interconnects that connect LEDs coupled to the key caps with power sources. In some implementations, the interconnect may be a flexible material (such as a polymer, elastomer, and so on) that includes one or more traces and is configured with a shape (such as a zigzag shape, a serpentine shape, a spiral, and so on) that bends and twists to allow movement of the key cap without stretching. In various implementations, the interconnect may be part of a movement or support mechanism of a key, such as where a support mechanism includes a conductive moveable strut that connects the LED and power source or where the support mechanism is a fabric web in which the key cap is mounted and the interconnect is one or more traces disposed thereon. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 1-12 . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
       FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a computing device  100  including a keyboard  101  having a number of keys  102  that may have one or more LEDs and/or other illuminators coupled to key caps or other actuators of the keys  102 . As described with respect to  FIGS. 2-12  below, the LEDs may be powered via one or more wired or wireless power delivery systems. 
     The keys  102  may include one or more legends, such as one or more characters, symbols, and so on. Such legends may indicate one or more functionalities associated with the keys  102 . For simplicity, only the “T” legend is shown. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of an example key stack of the keyboard  101  of  FIG. 1  that uses wireless power delivery system for illumination, taken along A-A of  FIG. 1 . A key  102  may include a key cap  201  (or other actuator) with one or more illuminators  206  coupled thereto (such as an LED, which may be an organic LED or OLED, and/or any other illuminator such as an incandescent bulb, an electroluminescent material or device, a quantum dot, a laser, and so on). This may enable distribution of illumination without light guides and/or other structures. As shown, the illuminator may be coupled to an underside surface  205  of the key cap  201 . 
     The key  102  may include a power delivery system that wirelessly delivers power from a power conduit  218  of a printed circuit board  202  or other substrate to the illuminator  206 . The power delivery system may include a power transmitter  209  that is operable to wirelessly transmit power from the power conduit  218  to a power receiver  208 , which may be coupled to the illuminator  206 . In this example, the power delivery system includes an inductive transmitter  209  that is operable to induce a current in an inductive receiver  208  by creating a magnetic field  210 . This may inductively transmit power from the power conduit  218  to the illuminator  206 . 
     In some implementations, the key  102  may further include a controller  250 , which may be coupled between the inductive receiver  208  and the illuminator  206 . The controller  250  may be operable to control the illuminator  206  to perform one or more various different illumination effects. 
     In some examples, the controller  250  may be a simple controller capable of receiving instructions to drive the illuminator  206  to perform a limited set of illumination effects in order to minimize power utilized by the controller  250 . However, in other examples the controller  250  may be a more complex (possibly still a low power complex controller) that is operable to receive instructions to drive the illuminator  206  to perform a less limited set of illumination effects. 
     For example, in some implementations, the illuminator  206  may be an OLED assembly and the controller  250  may be an OLED controller. The OLED controller may be operable to receive instructions to drive individual OLED elements of the OLED assembly, perform a dithering effect using the OLED assembly, control brightness levels of the OLED assembly, and/or various other illumination effects. 
     In some implementations, the data specifying how the controller  250  is to control the illuminator  206  may be received by the controller  250  in a variety of ways. For example, the data may be embedded in the power transmission received by the power receiver  208 . In some cases of such an example, the data may be embedded in the power transmission at a different carrier frequency than the power. 
     By way of another example, the data specifying how the controller  250  is to control the illuminator  206  may be received by the controller  250  via a separate path than the power transmission received by the power receiver  208 . Such a separate path may be a wired communication path such as a flex circuit, a wireless communication path such as an infrared transmission system, and/or various other communication paths. 
     In various implementations, the data specifying how the controller  250  is to control the illuminator  206  may be transmitted to the controller  250  by one or more processing units, such as a processing unit of the computing device  100  or a processing unit of another computing device. Such data may be transmitted at the instruction of one or more operating systems, applications, in response to user input, and so on. 
     The power delivery system in this example may also include a storage capacitor  207  or other power storage component coupled between the inductive receiver  208  and the illuminator  206  (such as via the controller  250 ). The storage capacitor  207  may receive and store power from the inductive receiver  208 . The storage capacitor  207  may also provide stored power to the illuminator  206 . In this way, the illuminator  206  may be operable to illuminate even when power is not currently being wirelessly transmitted. 
     The key cap  201  may include a first region  212  that is operable to be illuminated by the illuminator  206  and a second region  211  that is not operable to be illuminated. The illuminator  206  may be coupled to the first region  212 , further enabling distribution of illumination without light guides and/or other structures. 
     The first region  212  may be a transparent or translucent region and the second region  211  may be an opaque region. In this example, the key cap  201  may itself be transparent and portions thereof may be coated with an opaque coating. Thus, the first region  212  may be the portions of the key cap  201  not coated with the opaque coating and the second region  211  may be the portions of the key cap  201  coated with the opaque coating. 
     As shown, a cover  214  may be positioned over the illuminator  206 . The cover  214  may block direct passage of illumination from the illuminator  206  through the first region  212 , preventing a hot spot at the location of the illuminator  206 . Instead, illumination from illuminator  206  may shine out from under the cover  214  and then illuminate the first region  212 . However, in other implementations the cover  214  may not be used. In still other implementations, a light guide and/or other structure may be utilized with the illuminator  206  instead of and/or in addition to a cover  214 . 
     The key cap  201  may be positioned within an aperture in a top plate  103  and mounted to the printed circuit board  202  via a movement mechanism  203  or other support mechanism. The movement mechanism  203  may allow movement of the key cap  201  to move between an un-depressed position (shown) and a depressed position where the key cap  201  may compress or otherwise activate a dome switch  204  or other switch. As shown, the movement mechanism  203  may be a “scissor” mechanism formed by moveable struts  215  and  216  connected via a spring hinge  217 . This may bias the key cap  201  is towards the un-depressed position but allow movement toward the dome switch  204  to transition the key  102  to a depressed position and activate the key  102 . 
     Although the key  102  is shown with a scissor type movement mechanism  203 , it should be understood that this is an example and that other movement mechanisms  203  are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a “butterfly” mechanism may include two flaps joined by a hinge. Such a butterfly mechanism may allow transition of the key cap  201  from an un-depressed position to a depressed position by the flaps moving on the hinge to widen an angle formed by the flaps. Similarly, the flaps moving on the hinge to narrow the angle formed by the flaps may transition the key cap  201  from the depressed position to the un-depressed position. 
     Although  FIG. 2  is illustrated and described as utilizing an inductive transmitter  209  that wirelessly transmits power by to an inductive receiver  208  via induction, it should be understood that this is an example. In various implementations, other wireless power delivery systems may be utilized. For example,  FIGS. 3-5A  show cross-sectional views of additional examples of key stacks that use wireless power delivery systems for illumination in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     By way of contrast with  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  includes an ultrasonic transmitter  321  coupled to the power conduit  218  of the printed circuit board  202 . The ultrasonic transmitter  321  may emit an ultrasonic signal  322  using power from the power conduit  218 . The ultrasonic signal  322  may be received by an ultrasonic receiver  320 , which may convert the received ultrasonic signal  322  to power. The ultrasonic receiver  320  may provide the power from the ultrasonic signal  322  to the storage capacitor  207  and/or the illuminator  206 . 
     Similarly,  FIG. 4  includes a first electrode  427  and a second electrode  426 . The first electrode  427  is coupled to the illuminator  206  via the storage capacitor  207 . The second electrode  426  is disposed on the dome switch  204  and connected to the power conduit  218  of the printed circuit board  202  via a trace  425 . The first electrode  427  may be operative to capacitively couple to the second electrode  426 . Particularly as the first electrode  427  moves closer to the second electrode  426 , this capacitive coupling may allow the first electrode  427  to receive power from the second electrode  426  that the second electrode  426  receives from the power conduit  218 . The first electrode  427  may provide the power from the capacitive coupling to the storage capacitor  207  and/or the illuminator  206 . 
     Further, the illuminator  206  may be partially or fully embedded in the key cap  201  instead of being coupled to a surface.  FIG. 4  illustrates the illuminator  206  as partially embedded in the key cap  201 . 
     Likewise,  FIG. 5A  includes a photodiode  528  coupled to the illuminator  206  and a laser diode  529  coupled to the power conduit  218  of the printed circuit board  202 . The laser diode  529  may emit a laser beam  530  to the photodiode  528  using power from the power conduit  218 . The photodiode  528  may convert the received laser beam  530  to power, which the photodiode  528  may provide to the illuminator  206 . 
     Although  FIGS. 2-5A  illustrate a single illuminator  206 , it should be understood that these are examples. In various implementations, multiple illuminators  206  may be used. For example,  FIG. 5B  shows a bottom view of the key cap  201  of  FIG. 5A  with other components removed for clarity. As shown, multiple illuminators  206  are coupled to an area the underside surface  205  of the key cap  201  corresponding to the “T” legend of the key. The multiple illuminators  206  may be coupled to each other in order to receive power from one of the illuminators  206  that is coupled to the photodiode  528 . However, in some implementations such multiple illuminators  206  may be directly coupled to the photodiode  528 , such as via one or more traces on the underside surface  205  of the key cap  201 . 
     Further, although  FIGS. 2-5A  illustrate particular configurations of components, it should be understood that these are examples and that components may be otherwise arranged without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in some implementations an inductive transmitter  209  may be coupled to the top plate  103  and connected to a power conduit  218  included therein or thereon. By way of another example, in various implementations an ultrasonic transmitter  321  may be located on the movement mechanism  203 . By way of still another example, in some implementations a second electrode  426  may be located on a side of the top plate  103  in a gap defined between the top plate  103  and the key cap  201 . In yet another example, in various implementations a laser diode  529  may be located on the printed circuit board  202  and/or beneath the dome switch  204 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of an additional example of a key stack that uses a wired power delivery system for illumination in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure. As contrasted with  FIG. 2 , an interconnect  630  may be coupled to the illuminator  206  and a power source, such as the power conduit  218  of the printed circuit board  202 , that provides power from the power source to the illuminator  206 . 
     The interconnect  630  of the example shown in  FIG. 6  may have a flexible material  631  including a trace  632 . The flexible material  631  may be flexible, but may not be elastic. In some examples, the flexible material may be formed of a polymer, an elastomer, and/or other such material. The flexible material  631  may be configured with a shape that bends and/or twists when the key cap  201  moves (such as between a depressed and an un-depressed position). For example, the flexible material  631  is illustrated as having a zigzag shape with multiple three-dimensional direction changes along the length of the flexible material  631  extending from the printed circuit board  202  to the illuminator  206 . These direction changes may allow the flexible material  631  to bend and/or twist to accommodate movement of the key cap  201  without stretching the flexible material  631 . This may prevent or reduce separation of the trace  632  from the flexible material  631  and/or tearing of the trace  632  and/or the flexible material  631 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the interconnect  630  alone with other components removed for clarity. 
     However, although the interconnect  630  is illustrated as being configured with a particular shape, it should be understood that this is an example and that other shapes may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Such shapes may include a zigzag shape, a serpentine shape (which may be similar to a zigzag shape but with curved instead of sharp direction changes), a spiral, and so on. For example,  FIG. 8  shows another example interconnect  630  having a flexible material  631  configured with a spiral shape having a trace  632  formed thereon. The spiral shape may allow the flexible material  631  to bend and twist when the flexible material  631  moves. 
     Additionally, although a particular interconnect  630  is illustrated and described with respect to  FIG. 6 , it should be understood that this is an example. In various implementations, other interconnects may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example,  FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment that utilizes the movement mechanism  203  as part of the interconnect. The moveable strut  216  of the multiple moveable struts  215  and  216  may be conductive. As such, the conductive moveable strut  216  may be connected to the power conduit  218  of the printed circuit board  202  and to the illuminator  206  via a trace  933 . 
     In further embodiments, the moveable strut  216  may itself be non-conductive but may still function to connect the power conduit  218  and the trace  933 . For example, in such embodiments a trace may be formed on the moveable strut  216  that connects the power conduit  218  and the trace  933 . 
     By way of another example,  FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment where a support mechanism for a key cap  201  is a fabric web  1040  instead of the movement mechanism  203  illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In this example, the key cap  201  may be bonded to an embossed area  1042  of the fabric web  1040  adjacent unbonded bends  1041 . The fabric web  1040  may be configured to stretch and/or flex such that the bends  1041  are operable to flex and/or move allow the key cap  201  to transition between an un-depressed (shown) and a depressed position (where a plunger  1043  compressed the dome switch  204  on the printed circuit board  202  or other substrate). 
     Further in this example, the illuminator  206  may be coupled to a power source that is connected to a trace  1044  formed on the fabric web  1040  via a trace  1045  formed on the key cap  201 . However, is it should be understood that this is an example and that other mechanisms of connecting the illuminator  206  to a power source may be utilized, such as implementations where the interconnect  630  of  FIG. 7 or 8  is disposed on the fabric web  1040  to connect the illuminator  206  to a power source. 
     Although  FIGS. 1-10  are illustrated and described above in the context of keyboard keys, it is understood that these are examples. In various implementations, one or more of the techniques described herein may be utilized with other actuators or components without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Any illumination element may be used in and/or with any kind of input device. For example, the techniques illustrated and described herein may be utilized in one or more buttons, such as a button included in the cuff or other portion of an electronic item of apparel. 
       FIGS. 1-10  are illustrated and described above in the context of illuminating keyboard keys. In some implementations, the illumination may be controlled by a processing unit or the like. In various examples of such implementations, the keys may be illuminated under certain conditions. For example, one or more keys may be illuminated under the control of a processing unit or the like when ambient light sensed by an ambient light sensor falls below a threshold. In other words, if the environment becomes dark the keys may be illuminated. By way of another example, the processing unit or the like may illuminate one or more keys in response to a user input (such as illuminating a key when pressed by a user) or system operating condition (such as illuminating a key when instructed by an application or the operating system; based on change of a system variable such as a power status, storage space, available memory, and so on; and/or other system operating condition). 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a laptop computing device  100 . Such a laptop computing device  100  may include various components, such as processing units, non-transitory storage media, communication components, input/output components, and so on. The processing unit may execute instructions stored in the non-transitory storage media to receive input via the keyboard  101 , illuminate keys  102 , and/or perform various other actions. 
     However, it should be understood that this is an example. The techniques described herein may be utilized with any device without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Such devices may include an external keyboard, a mobile computing device, a digital media player, a smart phone, a cellular phone, a tablet computing device, a desktop computing device, a wearable device, an item of apparel, and so on. 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a method  1100  for assembling an illuminated key for a keyboard. This method may assemble any of the keys of  FIGS. 1-5B . 
     At  1101 , an illuminator may be coupled to a key cap. The illuminator may be an LED (which may be an organic LED) and/or any other device capable of providing illumination. Examples of such devices include lasers, incandescent bulbs, and so on. 
     At  1102 , a power delivery system may be configured to wirelessly transmit power to the illuminator. The power delivery system may be an inductive power transmission system, an ultrasonic power transmission system, a capacitive coupling power transmission system, a laser power transmission system, and/or any other power transmission system capable of wirelessly providing power. 
     Although the example method  1100  is illustrated and described as including particular operations performed in a particular order, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, various orders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, in some implementations the example method  1100  may include the additional operation of moveably mounting the key cap on a substrate. Such mounting may moveably mount the key cap above a switch on a movement or support mechanism, such as a scissor or butterfly mechanism, a fabric web, and so on. 
       FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating a method  1200  for wirelessly illuminating keys. This method may be performed using any of the keys of  FIGS. 1-5B . 
     At  1201 , power may be wirelessly received at a receiver that is connected to an illuminator coupled to a key cap. The power may be received using induction, ultrasonic signals, light, capacitive coupling, and so on. 
     At  1202 , the received power may be provided to the illuminator. The received power may be provided directly and/or via a storage or other component such as a capacitor. 
     At  1203 , the key cap may be illuminated using the provided power. The key cap may be continually illuminated during operation or may be illuminated in response to particular events. For example, in some implementations the key cap may be illuminated when activated to indicate activation. 
     Although the example method  1200  is illustrated and described as including particular operations performed in a particular order, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, various orders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, in various implementations the example method  1200  may include the additional operation of wirelessly transmitting the power from a transmitter to the receiver. By way of another example, in some implementations the example method  1200  may include the additional operation of storing the received power. In such implementations, the power provided in  1202  may be the stored power. 
     As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, the present disclosure relates to surface illumination. One or more illuminators may be coupled to the key cap of a key. Additionally, a key cap may include a portion that is operable to be illuminated and one or more illuminators may be coupled to that portion. These techniques may enable distribution of illumination without light guides and/or other structures and may prevent other key stack structures from interfering with light distribution. In particular embodiments, key stacks may include power delivery systems that are operable to wirelessly transmit power from a power source to illuminators coupled to the key caps. Such power delivery systems can include inductive transmitters and/or receivers, ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers, laser diodes and photodiodes, electrodes that capacitively couple to wirelessly transfer power, and so on. In various embodiments, key stacks of keys may include interconnects that connect illuminator coupled to the key caps with power sources. In some implementations, the interconnect may be a flexible material that includes one or more traces and is configured with a shape that bends and twists to allow movement of the key cap without stretching. In various implementations, the interconnect may be part of a movement or support mechanism of a key, such as where a support mechanism includes a conductive moveable strut that connects the illuminator and power source or where the support mechanism is a fabric web in which the key cap is mounted and the interconnect is one or more traces disposed thereon. 
     In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented as sets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
     The described disclosure may utilize a computer program product, or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g., software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the form of, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppy diskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g., CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM and EEPROM); flash memory; and so on. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20150804
Publication Date: 20180904
Grant Date: 20180904
Priority Date: 20150804
Inventors: CHANG, RAY L.
Proie, Jr., Robert M.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01H2219/037", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H13/83", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2205/004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2219/046", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2215/004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H3/125", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2219/046", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2215/004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2205/004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H3/125", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2219/037", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H13/83", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2219/037", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H13/83", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 58052659