PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11269127-B2
Application Number: US-201815961016-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Equipment with keys having trim and illumination

Abstract:
Electrical equipment such as a tablet computer cover, a laptop computer, or other equipment may include keys. Each key may have a key member. 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. Metal coating layers such as physical vapor deposition metal 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 to form reflective metal trim structures. Backlight illumination for the keys may be formed form light sources such as light-emitting diodes.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Electrical equipment, comprising:
 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, wherein each key member includes a coating layer with a symbol-shaped opening and each key member is surrounded by a metal trim that forms an exterior surface of the key member. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 1  wherein each key member has a peripheral edge surface and wherein the metal trim of each key member is formed from a metal coating layer on the peripheral edge surface and a portion of the coating layer is interposed between the metal trim and the key member. 
     
     
       3. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 2  wherein each key member has opposing outer and inner surfaces and wherein 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. 
     
     
       4. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 2  wherein each key member has opposing outer and inner surfaces, the inner surface facing the layer of material, and wherein the coating layer with the symbol-shaped opening of each key member is formed on the outer surface. 
     
     
       5. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 2  wherein each key member has opposing inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface facing the layer of material, and wherein the coating layer with the symbol-shaped opening of each key member is formed on the inner surface. 
     
     
       6. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 2  wherein the metal coating layer on the peripheral edge surface of each key member comprises a physical vapor deposition metal coating layer. 
     
     
       7. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 2  wherein the key member comprises clear polymer and wherein the layer of material comprises fabric with an opening overlapped by the symbol-shaped opening. 
     
     
       8. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 1  wherein each key member has a peripheral edge surface, wherein each key member has an inner surface facing the layer of material and has an opposing outer surface, and wherein the coating layer with the symbol-shaped opening is formed on the outer surface and is recessed from the peripheral edge surface. 
     
     
       9. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 1  wherein each key member comprises transparent polymer. 
     
     
       10. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 9  wherein the layer of material comprises woven fabric. 
     
     
       11. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 1  wherein the light sources comprise light-emitting diodes, the electrical equipment further comprising a printed circuit coupled to the light-emitting diodes and the key press sensors, and wherein the key press sensors comprise dome switches. 
     
     
       12. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 1  wherein the keys have sidewall surfaces with stepped cross-sectional profiles. 
     
     
       13. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 1  wherein the keys have sidewall surfaces that are angled to form a tapered cross-sectional profile for each key member. 
     
     
       14. The electrical equipment defined in  claim 1  wherein the layer of material comprises a layer of fabric and wherein each key member comprises a polymer member with a concave outer surface and an opposing planar inner surface facing the layer of fabric. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus, comprising:
 a printed circuit; 
 a key press sensor on the printed circuit; 
 a layer of material that overlaps the key press sensor; 
 a key member having first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface is on the layer of material and the layer of material is interposed between the key member and the key press sensor; and 
 metal on the key member, wherein the metal extends from the first surface of the key member to the second surface of the key member and the first surface and second surface are each at least partly not overlapped by the metal. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus defined in  claim 15  wherein the layer of material comprises fabric. 
     
     
       17. A keyboard, comprising:
 a fabric layer; 
 an array of clear key members attached to the fabric layer, wherein each clear key member has a peripheral edge surface; 
 a metal trim on each peripheral edge surface, wherein each clear key member is interposed between a first portion of the metal trim and a second portion of the metal trim; 
 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. 
 
     
     
       18. The keyboard defined in  claim 17  wherein the coating layer on each clear key member comprises an opaque coating layer having a symbol-shaped opening that forms the symbol, wherein the fabric layer has openings, and wherein 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. 
     
     
       19. The keyboard defined in  claim 18 , wherein each key member has an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface faces the fabric layer, and the metal trim does not overlap the lower surface of the key member. 
     
     
       20. The keyboard defined in  claim 17  wherein the coating layer on each clear key member comprises an opaque coating layer having a symbol-shaped opening that forms the symbol, the fabric layer has openings, 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, each key member has an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface faces the fabric layer, the metal trim does not overlap the lower surface of the key member, and the metal trim does not overlap the upper surface of the key member.

Description:
This patent application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/524,011, filed on Jun. 23, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic equipment, and, more particularly, to electronic equipment with input devices such as keyboards. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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. 
     SUMMARY 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative item with keys in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative fabric in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of illustrative electronic equipment including a keyboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an illustrative laptop computer with a keyboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative key in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative light guide structure for illuminating a key in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11  are cross-sectional side views of illustrative keys in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of a key with illustrative coating layers in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17  are cross-sectional side views of illustrative coated keys in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key with an inset region in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key with laser-marked regions such as interior laser-marked regions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key on a layer such as a fabric layer with perforations in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key with coating layers that is supported on a layer such as a fabric layer with perforations in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key with trim structures in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key with top coating that is recessed along the edges of the key in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 24, 25, 26, and 27  are cross-sectional side views of illustrative keys with peripheral trim structures in accordance with embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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&#39;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. 1 . Equipment  10  may include a keyboard or other item with keys such as item  12 . Item  12  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  18 . For example, electrical equipment such as item  12  may be part of removable case (sometimes referred to as a cover) for a tablet computer and electronic device  18  may be a tablet computer. Electronic device  18  and item  12  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  10  may be a cellular telephone, a wristwatch, a media player, a remote control, or other electronic equipment. 
     Item  12  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  12 . 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  12  (e.g., a keyboard) may be soft (e.g., item  12  may have a fabric surface that yields to a light touch), may have a rigid feel (e.g., a fabric surface in item  12  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  12  of equipment  10  (and, if desired, device  18 ) may include control circuitry such as control circuitry  14 . Control circuitry  14  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of item  12 . 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  14  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  12  and may otherwise be used to control the operation of item  12 . 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&#39;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  12  such as input-output devices  16  may be used to allow data to be supplied to item  12  and to allow data to be provided from item  12  to external devices. During operation, control circuitry  14  may use keys and other input-output devices  16  to gather input from a user, external equipment, and/or the environment around item  10 . Control circuitry  16  may also use input-output devices  16  to provide output to a user or external equipment such as device  18 . 
     Input-output devices  16  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  10  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  10 . 
     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  10  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  18  may include one or more light sources that provide any suitable type of illumination for keys in equipment  10 . 
     Fabric for equipment  10  may be formed from intertwined strands of material. A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative layer of fabric for equipment  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , fabric  20  may include strands of material such as strands  22  and strands  24 . With one suitable arrangement, fabric  20  may be a woven fabric (e.g., strands  22  may be warp strands and strands  24  may be weft strands). In general, fabric  20  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  20  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  20  and/or may form layers on the inner and/or outer surfaces of fabric  20 . 
     The strands of material that form the fabric may be monofilaments or may be multifilament strands. As shown in the illustrative configuration of fabric  20  of  FIG. 2 , for example, strands such as strands  22  and  24  may be formed from strands of yarn that each contain multiple monofilaments  26 . Strands of material for fabric  20  may be formed from metal or other conductive materials, polymer, natural materials such as cotton, or other suitable materials. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing how item  12  may be a keyboard that is attached to mating equipment such as device  18 . Device  18  may be, for example, a tablet computer having a touch screen display such as display  32 . Item  12  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  18 . Device  18  may be coupled to item  12  wirelessly and/or may have a connector such as connector  30  that mates with a corresponding connector in item  12  such as connector  28 . If desired, magnets or other fastening mechanisms may be provided in item  12  and device  18  to hold item  12  and device  18  together. Item  12  may have a rectangular shape and may, if desired, have a folding flap (e.g., when item  12  forms part of a cover for device  18 ). 
     Item  12  may have an array of keyboard keys such as keys  26 . Keys  26  may be arranged on keyboard  26  using a QWERTY layout or other suitable layout. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of electronic equipment  10  in an illustrative configuration in which equipment  10  is an electronic device such as a laptop computer. As shown in  FIG. 4 , equipment  10  may have an upper housing portion that forms a lid containing display  32  and a lower housing portion that includes track pad  34  and a keyboard (item  12 ) formed from an array of keys  26 . 
     The arrangements for equipment  10  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  are merely illustrative. In general, any suitable electronic devices may be provided with one or more keys such as keys  26 . 
     A perspective view of an illustrative key is shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , key  26  may include a key member having an upper surface such as upper surface  36  (sometimes referred to as an outer surface, exterior surface, or outwardly facing surface), an opposing lower surface  40  (sometimes referred to as an inner surface, interior surface, or inwardly facing surface), and peripheral sidewall surfaces  38 . Coatings and/or other structures in key  26  may be patterned to form a symbol such as symbol  42 . Symbol  42  may be an alphanumeric character, an icon, or other label for key  26 . In some configurations, key  26  may be illuminated. For example, key  26  may be illuminated with light so that light is emitted from symbol  42  or so that light is emitted from portions of upper surface  36  surrounding symbol  42 . If desired, the periphery of key  26  may be illuminated (e.g., to produce a halo effect). Peripheral illumination may be emitted through peripheral portions of upper surface  36 , through portions of lower surface  40 , and/or through some or all of the edge portions of key  26  such as sidewall surfaces  38 . Symbol  42  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  10  is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a viewer such as viewer  70  may view key  26  in direction  72 . Keyboard key  26  may include a key member such as key member  74 . When a user desires to supply input with key  26 , the user may use a finger or other external object to press downward in direction  72  on upper surface  36  of key member  74 . A key press sensor may be used to detect when key  26  has been pressed. The key press sensor may, as an example, be formed from a switch such as dome switch  58 . Switch  58  may be compressed when key member  74  moves downwardly and may supply an upward restoring force when key member  74  is released. Dome switch  58  or other suitable sensor in key  26  may be placed in either a closed state or open state. Dome switches  58  and other key press sensors in a keyboard in equipment  10  may be mounted to a substrate such as printed circuit  64 . Control circuitry  14  may be coupled to printed circuit  64  and may monitor the state of switches  58  to determine whether keys  26  have been depressed. 
     Key member  74  may be attached to upper surface  76  of layer  78  (e.g., using adhesive). Layer  78  may be a layer of fabric such as fabric layer  20  of  FIG. 2  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  78 , on key member  74  and/or on key support structures and other structures in key  26 . Layer  78  and the coating layers on key member  74  and other portions of key  26  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  74  may have a rectangular footprint (outline when viewed in direction  72 ) or may have other suitable shapes. To enhance the ability of layer  78  to flex to accommodate vertical up and down movement of key member  74 , flexibility enhancement structures may be incorporated into layer  78 . For example, grooves or ridges in layer  78  and/or openings in layer  78  may run along the periphery of key member  74 . These flexibility enhancement structures may locally enhance the flexibility of layer  78  to accommodate movement of key member  74  without distorting the planar upper surface of layer  78 . 
     Key member  74 , which may serve as a smooth and rigid capping structure at the top of key  26 , may sometimes be referred to as a key cap. Key member support structure  46 , which may be used to support key member  38  and help maintain upper surface  36  of key member  74  parallel to the plane of a keyboard in which key  26  is formed, may sometimes be referred to as a structural key cap. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , key member support structure  46  may have protrusions such as legs  48  that engage with corresponding arms of a key spring mechanism such as butterfly hinge mechanism  50  or other keyboard key mechanism for supporting key member  38  during operation of key  26 . Butterfly mechanism  50  may be mounted on printed circuit board  64  (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  58  may be mounted to printed circuit  64  in the center of hinge mechanism  50  and key housing structure  60  (sometimes referred to as a key base, key housing structures, key support structures, etc.). Structure  60  may have flexible portions (e.g., elastomeric portions) that allow dome switch  58  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  26 . 
     If desired, other key support and key sensing mechanisms may be used for forming key  26 . For example, key member  74  may be supported without using structures such as hinge mechanism  50 , key movement may be sensed using force and/or touch sensors, and/or other arrangements for forming key  26  from key member  74  may be used. The example of  FIG. 6  is merely illustrative. 
     Each key  26  in item  12  may have an associated symbol. One or more light sources such as light-emitting diode  62  may be used to illuminate the symbol for each key  26 . Light from light-emitting diode  62  may, if desired, be distributed laterally using a clear light guide structure in key  26 . In other configurations, light emitting diode(s) such as diode  62  may be mounted directly under key member  36  and may supply direct backlight for key member  36 . 
     Light-emitting diodes such as diode  62  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  62  to pump phosphorescent material in key  26 . 
     Light-emitting diodes  62  may be mounted on printed circuit  64 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , light-emitting diode  62  may, if desired, emit light  80  into edge  82  of a light guiding structure such as light-guide layer  84 , which may have light-scattering features that scatter the light upwardly to provide backlight illumination to illuminate key  26 , as illustrated by light  86 . 
     Illustrative cross-sectional profiles for key member  74  are shown in  FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 . In the example of  FIG. 8 , upper surface  36  (sometimes referred to as an outer surface, exterior surface, or outwardly facing surface) and lower surface  40  (sometimes referred to as an inner surface, interior surface, or inwardly facing surface) are flat and parallel to each other. Sidewall surface  38  of  FIG. 8  has a stepped configuration, so that key member  74  of  FIG. 8  has a mushroom shape. 
     In the example of  FIG. 9 , sidewall surfaces  38  of key member  74  are angled so that the sides of key member  74  are tapered (e.g., key member  74  has a tapered cross-sectional profile). Upper surface  36  and lower surface  40  may be curved as shown in  FIG. 9  or may have other shapes. 
       FIG. 10  shows how key member  74  may have vertically extending sidewall surfaces  38 . Upper surface  36  may be curved and lower surface  40  may be curved or surfaces  36  and  40  may have other shapes. 
       FIG. 11  shows how upper surface  36  may be curved (e.g., concave) and lower surface  40  may be planar. Sidewall surfaces  36  may be vertical or may have other shapes. 
     Other illustrative configurations may be used for key members  74 , 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  74 . 
     One or more coating layers may optionally be formed on each of the surfaces of key member  74 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , for example, key member  74  may optionally have one or more coating layers  88  on upper surface  36 , one or more coating layers  90  on sidewall surfaces  36 , and/or may have one or more coating layers  92  on lower surface  40 . These layers may be formed from metal, polymer, glass, ceramic, and/or other materials and may be deposited using printing, dripping, dipping, spraying, physical vapor deposition (e.g., evaporation and/or sputtering), atomic layer deposition, electroplating, and/or other deposition techniques and may be patterned using shadow masking during deposition, photolithography, laser processing (e.g., laser ablation), drilling, grinding, sawing, milling, and/or other mechanical patterning techniques, and/or other patterning techniques. These patterning techniques may be used to form openings that pass through one or more of coating layers  90 ,  88 , and/or  92 , as illustrated by openings  94  in upper surface coating layers  88  and lower surface coating layers  94  of  FIG. 12 . 
     Openings  94  may be patterned to form decorative trim, to define key symbols such as illustrative key symbol  42  of  FIG. 5 , and/or to form other visual features on keys  26 . In some configurations, key member  74  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  74  (e.g., using vapor polishing techniques). 
     Illustrative coating layers  88 ,  90 , and  92  are shown as being formed on the surfaces of key member  74  in the example of  FIG. 12 . If desired, patterned coating layers for defining symbols, decorative trim, and/or other structures in key  26  may be formed on other layers in item  12  (e.g., the upper and/or lower surfaces of layer  78  of  FIG. 6 , the upper and/or lower surfaces of member  46  of  FIG. 6 , on portions of key housing structure  60 , on light-guide plate structures, etc.). The configuration of  FIG. 12  is illustrative. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a patterned coating such as coating layer  88  of  FIG. 13  may have open areas such as opening  94 . Coating layer  88  may be opaque and member  74  may be transparent. Opening  94  may have the shape of an alphanumeric character or other symbol or other suitable shape. Using a light source such as light-emitting diode  62  (e.g., in a direct-lit or light guide layer configuration), backlight illumination may be provided to the underside of key member  74  during operation. The backlight illumination may illuminate the symbol or other pattern formed by opening  94 , thereby allowing a user of equipment  10  to view opening  94  in low lighting conditions (e.g., so that the user may identify key  26 ). Peripheral edge surface  38  and lower surface  40  of key member  74  are uncoated (e.g., free of opaque coating material) in the example of  FIG. 12 , so backlight illumination may be emitted from the edges of key member  74  and/or from the undersides of portions of key member  74  (e.g., after this illumination has passed through clear portions of member  74  and/or been guided through portions of member  74  due to the principal of total internal reflection). Light emitted from the edges and/or underside of key member  74  may form peripheral illumination (e.g., an illuminated halo on layer  78  around key  26 , illuminated key edges, etc.). The presence of backlight illumination passing through opening  94  and other illumination of key  26  may help a user view key  26  and/or identify a symbol formed from opening  94  on key  26  even in low lighting conditions. Backlight illumination may also enhance the appearance of key  26 . 
     If desired, opening  94  may pass only partway through the coating layers on key member  74 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , for example, opening  94  may pass through upper coating layer  88 A without passing through lower coating layer  88 B. Layer  88 A may be opaque. For example, layer  88 A may be black. Layer  88 B may have a color (white, red, etc.) and may be sufficiently transparent to allow backlight illumination to pass through layer  88 B in portions of layer  88 B that are aligned with opening  94  and not covered by layer  88 A. Layer  88 B may be hazy to help diffuse light passing through layer  88 B. Arrangements in which layers  88 A and/or  88 B have other colors or optical characteristics may also be used. If desired, layers  88 A and  88 B may be formed by attaching a two-layer film to member  74  with adhesive. Configurations in which layers  88 A and  88 B are deposited using printing and other techniques may also be used. 
       FIG. 15  shows how a patterned opening such as opening  94  (e.g. a symbol, decorative trim, etc.) may be formed on lower surface  40  of member  74 . Sidewall coatings may also be patterned on surface  38 , if desired. In general, one or more surfaces of member  74  such as surfaces  36 ,  38 , and/or  40  may be coated simultaneously and/or may be uncoated.  FIG. 16  shows an illustrative configuration for member  74  in which upper surface  36  and lower surface  40  are coated and have uncoated regions such as openings  94  that are at least partly aligned with each other and that therefore overlap each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the uncoated areas of member  74  may, if desired, surround one or more coated areas. For example, opening  94  may surround a solid portion of coating layer  88  (e.g., an opaque coating layer) so that key  26  appears to be illuminated everywhere except for a central dark region having the shape of a symbol (e.g., key  26  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  74 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , for example, key member  74  may be formed from multiple shots of plastic (e.g., first polymer portion  74 A and second polymer portion  74 B). Portions  74 A and  74 B may have different optical properties (e.g., different light transmission values, different reflectivities, different light absorption values, different colors, etc.). As an example, portion  74 B may be opaque and may have the shape of a symbol or other shape and portion  74 A may be transparent so that portion  74 B may be viewed through portion  74 A or vice versa. Portions such as portion  74 B may be formed at the top of portion  74 A, at the bottom of portion  74 A, in the middle of portion  74 A, and/or may extend through portion  74 A from upper surface  36  to lower surface  40 . Portions such as portion  74 B may be formed from polymer, glass, metal, ceramic, and/or other materials. With one illustrative arrangement, portion  74 B may be inserted molded into portion  74 A. 
     In the example of  FIG. 19 , key member  74  has laser-marked portions such as markings  96  that have been formed by laser light exposure. Laser light may be focused onto the surfaces of key member  74  and/or may be focused internally. When light is focused internally, laser markings such as markings  96  may be created without damaging the exterior surfaces of member  74  because the intensity of the light is lower on the exterior surfaces of member  74  than in the interior of member  74 . 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  74 . 
     If desired, layer  78  may be provided with openings such as openings  98  of  FIG. 20 . Openings  98  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  78  may be opaque and the presence of openings  98  may allow backlight illumination to reach member  74 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , one or more coating layers such as illustrative coating layers  88  and  92  may be included on member  74  that have one or more openings in alignment with openings  98 . For example, layer  92  of  FIG. 21  may be opaque and may have an opening  94  in the shape of a symbol that is aligned with one or more overlapped openings  98  in layer  78 . Layer  88  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  26 . For example, sidewall surfaces  38  or other peripheral regions of keys  26  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  26  (e.g., on some or all of sidewall edge surfaces  38 , etc.). An arrangement of this type is shown in  FIG. 22 . In the example of  FIG. 22 , coating layer  100  may be formed from an opaque material (e.g., black ink) and may have an opening  94  (e.g., a symbol-shaped opening). Coating layer  90  may be 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  74  using adhesive, and/or other metal structure). 
     If desired, coatings may be recessed relative to peripheral edge surface  38 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , for example, upper coating layer  88  may have a symbol-shaped opening such as opening  94 - 1  and may have recessed peripheral portions forming opening  94 - 2 . Opening  94 - 2  may form a peripheral uncoated area (e.g., a rectangular border for key member  74 ) that is free of opaque material and that is therefore transparent to backlight illumination. 
       FIG. 24  shows how a layer such as layer  102  (e.g., a metal layer or other material) may have portions that overlap edge  38  and that have portions that extend partly under member  74  and that overlap peripheral areas of lower surface  40 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 25 , layer  102  (e.g., a metal layer such as a physical vapor deposition metal layer) coats only edge surface  38 . 
       FIG. 26  shows how upper coating  88  may have an opening such as opening  94  (e.g., a symbol shaped opening) and may cover upper surface  36  while lower surface  40  is at least partly free of coating material and edge surface  38  is coated with layer  102  (e.g., a metal coating such as a physical vapor deposition metal layer). In this arrangement, layer  88  (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  94  and metal coating layer  102  may form an attractive peripheral key trim. 
       FIG. 27  shows how a symbol-shaped opening such as opening  94  may be formed in a coating layer such as layer  92  that is formed on lower surface  40  (e.g., while upper surface  36  is free of opaque coatings, etc.). Metal edge coating layer  102  of  FIG. 27  may serve as decorative trim. 
     In general, any or all of the patterned coating arrangements of  FIGS. 12-27  may be used in conjunction with any or all of the illustrative key member configurations for key member  74  that are shown in  FIGS. 8-12  and/or additional coating patterns and/or key member structures may be used for keys  26 . The configurations of  FIGS. 8-27  are merely illustrative. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20180424
Publication Date: 20220308
Grant Date: 20220308
Priority Date: 20170623
Inventors: WANG, PAUL X.
ZIMMERMAN, AIDAN N.
CHEUNG, Michael Y.
YU, MING
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01H13/83", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2229/012", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H13/83", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2219/028", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2215/004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0041", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/006", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/006", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0041", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2219/028", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1641", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2229/012", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2215/004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0021", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0021", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0041", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/006", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2215/004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H13/83", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2219/028", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2229/012", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1641", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 64692507