Abstract:
A light-emitting assembly (201) positioned within a switch housing of a keyboard assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The light-emitting assembly may include a phosphor structure (202), a transparent material positioned on opposing side surfaces (230, 232) of the phosphor structure, and an epoxy layer (210) formed over an entire back surface of the phosphor structure and the transparent material. The light-emitting assembly may also include a mask layer (218) formed over an entire top surface of: the phosphor structure, the transparent material, and the epoxy layer. The light-emitting assembly may further include a light source (220) positioned within the phosphor structure for emitting a light.
Abstract:
An illumination structure for a key of a keyboard is used to uniformly illuminate the key and any glyphs that are present on the key. The illumination structure includes a light guide (310) having reflection features (325) positioned at various locations around the light guide that increase total internal reflection, illumination features (315) or light extraction features that are operative to illuminate the glyphs of the key, and light-directing features (330) to direct light emitted from the light emitting element (335) down one of more paths of the light guide (310).
Abstract:
A key (202) and a switch housing (400) for a keyboard assembly is disclosed. A switch housing for the keyboard assembly may include a body (410) having a switch opening (402) and a light source recess (404) formed adjacent the switch opening. The switch opening may house or receive a dome switch for the keyboard assembly and the light source recess may house or receive a light source assembly (900) configured to illuminate a keycap (300) of the keyboard assembly. The switch housing also can include a top panel (412) integrally formed and molded to a portion of the body. The top panel covers the switch opening formed in the body and the top panel is a light guide.
Abstract:
A key mechanism for an electronic device includes a switch housing and a hinged structure. As one example, the hinged structure can be a butterfly hinge. The switch housing includes switch pin retaining mechanisms on opposing sides of the switch housing. The hinged structure includes two separate wings that are positioned adjacent to each other such that a cavity is formed between the two wings. The two wings are coupled together by coupling elements. The wings of the hinged structure can include switch housing pins on each arm of the wing that extend into the cavity and couple to the switch pin retaining mechanisms in the switch housing. Various configurations of switch pin retaining mechanisms and switch housing pins can be used to attach the hinged structure to the switch housing.
Abstract:
A portable electronic device having several features is disclosed. The device can include a retention member that retains flexible circuits extending from a top portion to a bottom portion of the device, thereby allowing some components to be moved from a top portion of the device to a bottom portion. The device may include a cover plate can be secured with a display in the top portion to cover the retention member and other internal components. The device can include an omni-directional port designed to receive a connector different orientations and provide power to the device. The device can include a flexible keyboard having butterfly keycaps. The device can include an array of openings for an audio driver, with some of the array including through holes and blind holes. The device can also include a touch pad having a force feedback sensor and a haptic device.
Abstract:
Keyboard assemblies having reduced thicknesses and methods of forming the same. A keyboard assembly may include a printed circuit board (PCB) and a single membrane sheet adhered directly to the PCB. The single membrane sheet may substantially cover the PCB. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the single membrane sheet. Another keyboard assembly may include a group of conductive pads and a group of membrane pads. Each of the group of membrane pads may be adhered directly to a corresponding one of the group of conductive pads. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the membrane pads. Each of the group of dome switches may be coupled directly to a corresponding one of the group of membrane pads.
Abstract:
A venting system (604) for a keyboard assembly (200) is disclosed. A keyboard assembly includes a printed circuit board (500) defining a set of apertures (504), and a group of switch housings (400) coupled to the printed circuit board. Each switch housing of the group of switch housings may define a switch opening (402) positioned above one of the set of apertures of the printed circuit board. The keyboard assembly may also include a shield (600) defining at least one channel (606) of a venting system (604) formed below the printed circuit board. The at least one channel may be in fluid communication with at least one aperture, and at least one of the switch openings positioned above the at least one aperture.
Abstract:
A dome switch utilized in a keyboard assembly is disclosed. The keyboard assembly may include a printed circuit board having a first electrical connector formed in the printed circuit board, and a second electrical connector formed in the printed circuit board adjacent the first electrical connector. The keyboard assembly may also include an inner contact component contacting the second electrical connector of the printed circuit board. The inner contact component may be in electrical communication with the second electrical connector of the printed circuit board. Additionally, the keyboard assembly can include a dome switch surrounding the inner contact component. The dome switch may contact and may be in electrical communication with the first electrical connector of the printed circuit board.
Abstract:
Described is an illumination structure for a key of a keyboard. The illumination structure is used to uniformly illuminate the key and any glyphs that are present on the key. The illumination structure includes a light guide having various features that increase total internal reflection and also illuminate the glyphs of the key.