Patent Application
20090211888
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention is directed to computing devices. More particularly, the invention provides a keyboard apparatus and related methods having a backlighting characteristic for lighting one or more keys. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to a keyboard apparatus for a desk top computer, although it can also be applied to a laptop computer, modular computer, and other computing devices.
Computing devices have proliferated. In the early days, large mainframe computers dominated the computing landscape. These large mainframe computers were developed by companies such as IBM Corporation of Armonk, N.Y. Mainframe computers have been replaced, at least in part, by smaller computing devices, commonly known as “PCs.” PCs come in various shapes and sizes. PCs are often run using computer software such as XP™ from Microsoft Corporation from Redmond Wash. Other types of computer software come from Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif. Smaller PC versions are often called “lap top computers.” Other types of PCs include larger desktop versions. Still other versions of PCs can be found in smaller devices such as personal digital assistants, called PDAs, cellular phones, and a variety of other applications.
All of these computing devices generally require input devices for human users to interact with them. As merely an example, computer keyboards are most commonly used as such input devices for inputting characters, numerals and symbols to electronic devices, particularly to these computing devices such as the PCs. While such keyboards are generally useful in lighted buildings, they may be difficult to use in a darker setting. As an example, such darker setting may be inside an airplane, which has been dimmed. Additionally, the larger setting may be in an unlighted building or other unlighted environment. To overcome these darker settings, certain keyboard devices have been lighted using various lighting techniques. These lighting techniques include use of individual light emitting diodes to emit light to individual key pads. Alternatively, light emitting crystals in the form of illuminating materials have been used to emit light to individual key pads. Various other techniques have been proposed. Unfortunately, these techniques have many limitations, which will be described throughout the present specification and more particularly below.
From the above, it is seen that techniques for improving keyboards for computing devices are highly desirable.
According to the present invention, techniques for computing devices are provided. More particularly, the invention provides a keyboard apparatus and related methods having a backlighting characteristic for lighting one or more keys. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to a keyboard apparatus for a desk top computer, although it can also be applied to a laptop computer, modular computer, and other computing devices.
In a specific embodiment, the present invention provides an electroluminescent apparatus. The electroluminescent apparatus includes a protection layer characterized by two or more non-overlapping regions and a back electrode layer, the back electrode layer including two or more back electrode regions. Each of the two or more back electrode regions overlies a corresponding one of the two or more non-overlapping regions in the protection layer. The electroluminescent apparatus also includes a bottom insulation layer, which includes two or more bottom insulation regions. Each of the two or more bottom insulating regions overlies a corresponding one of the back electrode regions. The electroluminescent apparatus also includes two or more electroluminescent segments, each of which overlying a corresponding one of the back electrode layers. The apparatus includes a transparent electrode layer which includes two or more transparent electrode regions. Each of the two or more transparent electrode regions overlies a corresponding one of electroluminescent segments. The electroluminescent apparatus also includes two or more power supply devices, each of which being coupled to a corresponding one of the back electrode regions and being coupled to a corresponding one of the transparent electrode regions for providing luminescence over a corresponding one of the non-overlapping regions.
In a specific embodiment of the electroluminescent apparatus, the luminescent segments includes a phosphor-containing material. In an embodiment, the electroluminescent apparatus also includes a first conductive material between two adjacent transparent electrode regions in the transparent electrode layer, the first conductive material being electrically grounded to insulate the two adjacent transparent electrode regions. In another embodiment, the electroluminescent apparatus includes a second conductive material between two adjacent back electrode regions in the back electrode layer, the second conductive material being electrically grounded to insulate the two adjacent back electrode regions. In an embodiment, the electroluminescent apparatus includes a first conductive material between two adjacent transparent electrode regions in the transparent electrode layer, the first conductive material being electrically grounded to insulate the two adjacent transparent electrode regions, and a second conductive material between two adjacent back electrode regions in the back electrode layer, the second conductive material being electrically grounded to insulate the two adjacent back electrode regions, wherein the first conductive material is electrically coupled to the second conductive material.
In another specific embodiment of the electroluminescent apparatus, the transparent electrode layer further comprises a second plurality of conductive material, each of the second plurality of conductive material being disposed between each pair of adjacent transparent electrode regions in the transparent electrode layer, second plurality of conductive material being electrically grounded. In another embodiment, the back electrode layer further comprises a second plurality of conductive material, each of the second plurality of conductive material being disposed between each pair of adjacent back electrode regions in the back electrode layer, each of the second plurality of conductive material being electrically grounded.
According to another embodiment of the invention an electroluminescent apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a protection layer characterized by two or more non-overlapping regions; a back electrode layer, the back electrode layer including two or more back electrode regions, each of the two or more back electrode regions overlying a corresponding one of the two or more non-overlapping regions in the protection layer; a bottom insulation layer, a bottom insulation layer including two or more bottom insulation regions, each of the two or more bottom insulating regions overlying a corresponding one of the back electrode regions; a phosphor layer, the phosphor layer including two or more of phosphor regions, each of the two or more phosphor regions overlying a corresponding one of the back electrode layers; a transparent electrode layer, the transparent electrode layer including two or more transparent electrode regions, each of the two or more transparent electrode region overlying a corresponding one of the phosphor regions; and two or more power supply devices, each of the two or more power supply devices being coupled to a corresponding one of the back electrode regions and a corresponding one of the transparent electrode regions for providing luminescence over a corresponding one of the non-overlapping regions.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a keyboard apparatus which includes a housing. A first plurality of key pads are spatially disposed within the housing. Each of the key pads is depressible upon touch by a user. The first plurality of key pads are distributed in a second plurality of non-overlapping keyboard regions. The keyboard includes an optically transparent circuit board coupled to a backside of each of the key pads. The keyboard also includes a luminescent apparatus which includes a second plurality of electroluminescent segments in a substantially non-planar configuration. Each of the second plurality of electroluminescent segments includes one of a corresponding plurality of power supply devices. Each of the second plurality of electroluminescent segments provides electromagnetic radiation to a respective non-overlapping keyboard region for lighting key pads in the respective non-overlapping keyboard region.
In another specific embodiment, the invention provides a keyboard apparatus which includes a housing. A first plurality of key pads spatially disposed within the housing. Each of the key pads is depressible upon touch by a user. The first plurality of key pads are distributed in a first plurality of non-overlapping keyboard regions. Each of the non-overlapping regions includes fewer than all of the first plurality of keypads. The keyboard apparatus includes an optically transparent circuit board coupled to a backside of each of the key pads and a first plurality of electroluminescent segments arranged in a non-planar configuration. Each of the first plurality of electroluminescent segments includes one of a corresponding plurality of power supply devices. Each of the first plurality of electroluminescent segments provides electromagnetic radiation to a respective non-overlapping keyboard region for lighting key pads in the respective non-overlapping keyboard region. Each of the non-overlapping regions includes fewer than all of the first plurality of keypads. Accordingly, each of the first plurality of electroluminescent segments provides electromagnetic radiation for lighting fewer than all of the first plurality of keypads.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a keyboard apparatus which includes a housing. A first plurality of key pads are spatially disposed within the housing. Each of the key pads is depressible upon touch by a user. The first plurality of key pads are distributed in a second plurality of non-overlapping keyboard regions. Each of the non-overlapping regions includes fewer than all of the first plurality of keypads. The keyboard apparatus includes an optically transparent circuit board coupled to a backside of each of the key pads and a luminescent apparatus. The luminescent apparatus includes a second plurality of electroluminescent segments, each of which includes one of a corresponding plurality of power supply devices. Each of the second plurality of electroluminescent segments provides electromagnetic radiation to a respective non-overlapping keyboard region for lighting key pads in the respective non-overlapping keyboard region. Each of the non-overlapping regions including fewer than all of the first plurality of keypads; that is, each of the first plurality of electroluminescent segments provides electromagnetic radiation for lighting fewer than all of the first plurality of keypads.
According to another embodiment, the method provides a method for manufacturing a luminescent device for a keyboard apparatus. The method includes the following processes.
In yet another alternative embodiment, the invention provides a method for making a keyboard apparatus. The method includes the following processes.
According to an alternative embodiment, the method provides an electroluminescent apparatus. The apparatus includes a transparent protection layer characterized by two or more non-overlapping regions. The apparatus also includes a transparent electrode layer which includes two or more transparent electrode regions. Each of the two or more transparent electrode region is coupled to a corresponding one of the two or more non-overlapping regions. The apparatus further includes two or more electroluminescent sections, each of which is coupled to a corresponding one of the two or more transparent electrode regions. Additionally, the apparatus includes a dielectric layer, which includes two or more dielectric regions, each of the two or more dielectric regions coupled to a corresponding one of the electroluminescent segments. The apparatus also includes a back electrode layer, which includes two or more back electrode regions, each of which is coupled to a corresponding one of the two or more dielectric regions. The apparatus also includes two or more power supply devices. Each of the two or more power supply devices is coupled to a corresponding one of the back electrode regions and being coupled to a corresponding one of the transparent electrode regions for providing luminescence over a corresponding one of the non-overlapping regions. In an example, each of the power supply devices is a DC to AC inverter.
In a specific embodiment of the electroluminescent apparatus, at least one of the two or more electroluminescent sections is characterized by a first color and at least another one of the two or more electroluminescent sections is characterized by a second color. The first color is different from the second color. In another embodiment, a first one of the two or more power supply devices provides a first voltage and a second one of the two or more power supply devices provides a second voltage, the first voltage being different from the second voltage. In an embodiment, the first voltage and the second voltage provide substantially similar luminescent brightness in corresponding first and second non-overlapping regions. In another embodiment, a first one of the two or more power supply devices provides a first AC voltage characterized by a first frequency and a second one of the two or more power supply devices provides a second AC voltage characterized by a second frequency, the first frequency being different from the second frequency. In yet another embodiment, the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage provides substantially similar luminescent brightness in corresponding first and second non-overlapping regions. In a specific embodiment, the electroluminescent apparatus of also includes a capacitor coupled to a corresponding transparent electrode region and a corresponding back electrode region for fine-tuning luminescent brightness over a corresponding one of the non-overlapping regions.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing a luminescent device for a keyboard apparatus can be outline below.
In an embodiment, the method also includes printing an insulator layer covering the back electrode layer, the dielectric layer, the electroluminescent sections, and the transparent electrode layer. In some embodiments, the printing process includes a screen printing process. In an embodiment, at least one of the two or more electroluminescent sections is characterized by a first color and at least another one of the two or more electroluminescent sections is characterized by a second color, the first color being different from the second color.
In a specific embodiment, a first one of the two or more power supply devices provides a first voltage and a second one of the two or more power supply devices provides a second voltage, the first voltage being different from the second voltage. In an embodiment, the first voltage and the second voltage provide substantially similar luminescent brightness in corresponding first and second non-overlapping regions. In an embodiment, a first one of the two or more power supply devices provides a first AC voltage characterized by a first frequency and a second one of the two or more power supply devices provides a second AC voltage characterized by a second frequency, the first frequency being different from the second frequency. In a specific embodiment, the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage provides substantially similar luminescent brightness in corresponding first and second non-overlapping regions.
In an embodiment, the method also includes adding a capacitor coupled to a corresponding transparent electrode region and a corresponding back electrode region for fine-tuning luminescent brightness over a corresponding one of the non-overlapping regions. In an embodiment, the method also includes providing a first conductive material between two adjacent transparent electrode regions in the transparent electrode layer, the first conductive material being electrically grounded to insulate the two adjacent transparent electrode regions. In another embodiment, the method includes providing a second conductive material between two adjacent back electrode regions in the back electrode layer, the second conductive material being electrically grounded to insulate the two adjacent back electrode regions.
In another embodiment, the method provides ground connections, which includes the following processes:
In another embodiment, the transparent electrode layer further comprises a second plurality of conductive material, each of the second plurality of conductive material being disposed between each pair of adjacent transparent electrode regions in the transparent electrode layer, second plurality of conductive material being electrically grounded In yet another embodiment, the back electrode layer further includes a second plurality of conductive material, each of the second plurality of conductive material being disposed between each pair of adjacent back electrode regions in the back electrode layer, each of the second plurality of conductive material being electrically grounded. In a specific embodiment, each of the two or more power supply devices comprises a DC-to-AC inverter.
Many benefits are achieved by way of this invention. One or more benefits can be achieved in one or more of the embodiments.
Various additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings that follow.
According to the present invention, techniques for computing devices are provided. More particularly, the invention provides a keyboard apparatus and related methods having a backlighting characteristic for lighting one or more keys. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to a keyboard apparatus for a desk top computer, although it can also be applied to a laptop computer, modular computer, and other computing devices.
Depending upon the embodiment, the present invention includes one or more of various features, which may be used. These features include the following:
As shown, the above features may be in one or more of the embodiments to follow. These features are merely examples, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
In a specific embodiment, key board apparatus 100 also includes a luminescent apparatus 130. In an embodiment, luminescent apparatus includes multiple electroluminescent segments, 131, 132, . . . , 135, etc. Each of the electroluminescent segments includes one of a corresponding plurality of power supply devices 141, 142, . . . , 145. Each of the electroluminescent segments provides electromagnetic radiation to a respective non-overlapping keyboard region for lighting key pads in the respective non-overlapping keyboard region 115, 116, . . . , 119.
In an embodiment, luminescent apparatus 300 includes a back electrode layer 350, which includes two or more back electrode regions such as 351, 351, . . . , 355. Each of the back electrode regions overlying a corresponding one of the two or more non-overlapping regions in the protection layer 361, 361, . . . , 365. In an embodiment, luminescent apparatus 300 also includes a bottom insulation layer, a bottom insulation layer including two or more bottom insulation regions, each of the two or more bottom insulating regions overlying a corresponding one of the back electrode regions. In a specific embodiment luminescent apparatus 300 includes an insulation layer, which includes multiple insulating regions, 341, 342, . . . , 345. In an embodiment, luminescent apparatus 300 also includes two or more of phosphor regions 331, 332, . . . , 335, each of phosphor regions overlying a corresponding one of the back electrode layers.
In an embodiment, luminescent apparatus 300 includes a transparent electrode layer 320. In a specific embodiment, transparent electrode layer 320 may be an ITO layer. The transparent electrode layer 320 includes two or more transparent electrode regions 321, 322, . . . , 325. Each of the two or more transparent electrode regions overlies a corresponding one of the phosphor regions. In an embodiment, luminescent apparatus 300 also includes two or more power supply devices (not shown in
In a conventional keyboard using electroluminescent device, the DC to AC power is required to supply power to complete keyboard. Consequently, the DC to AC inverter is often large and bulky, and tends to be inefficient. These drawbacks can limit the application of electroluminescent devices in portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers. Accordingly, it is desirable to have an improved technique for providing power to luminescent devices for key board apparatus.
In a specific embodiment, power supply system 500 may be coupled to keyboard 100 as shown in
As discussed above, an electroluminescent (EL) device is operated using an AC power supply. An inverter will convert from DC to AC. The EL luminescence timing is related to EL (Capacitance). As it is difficult to obtain the exactly same capacitance between the separated EL because of inherent variations in the manufacturing process. Therefore, even if we send ON-Off cycle same time, there will be timing difference among the separate EL's. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for using ground connections to minimize the negative effect.
As shown, the electroluminescent segments are used as a backlight member in keyboard 700. As shown in
Although the above has been illustrated in terms of specific hardware features, it would be recognized that many variations, alternatives, and modifications can exist. For example, any of the hardware features can be further combined, or even separated. Further details of certain methods according to the present invention can be found throughout the present specification.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing a luminescent device for a keyboard apparatus can be outline below.
The above sequence of processes provides a method for manufacturing a luminescent device for a keyboard apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the method uses a combination of processes including providing separate luminescent devices and power supplies to provide lighting to different regions of a keyboard. Other alternatives can also be provided where steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for making a keyboard can be outlined as follows.
The above sequence of processes provides a method for manufacturing a luminescent device for a keyboard apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the method uses a combination of processes including providing separate luminescent devices and power supplies to provide lighting to different regions of a keyboard. Other alternatives can also be provided where steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
In
In
In
The electroluminescent section 830 is shown in
The dielectric layer 840 is an insulating material used to supply electric field effectively to the phosphor layer. An AC voltage is applied between the transparent electrode 820 and the back electrode 850 to cause the phosphor layer to illuminate. In an embodiment, the dielectric layer and the back electrode can be formed in each region using printing processes. Optionally, conductive layer D can also be printed to form ground connection lines. In
For protection of the luminescent apparatus, insulator layer 860 is formed to cover the various components as shown in
In the discussion above, the various layers can be formed by printing processes. For example, a screen printing process can be used. Alternatively, other masked printing process can also be used. Additionally, other processes, such as sputtering, can also be used for form the various layers.
In an embodiment, two or more power supply device, such as DC to AC inverters, are provided to the luminescent apparatus. Each of the two or more power supply devices is coupled to a corresponding one of the back electrode regions and coupled to a corresponding one of the transparent electrode regions for providing luminescence over a corresponding one of the non-overlapping regions.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a capacitor is added in parallel to each electroluminescent segment. The capacitors can be adjusted to provide uniformity in luminescence in each region. In an embodiment, by adjusting the DC input to the inverter circuit, we can adjust the AC output from inverter circuit and in turn adjust the brightness of the illumination in each region. The ability to adjust the brightness in each region is desirable for brightness uniformity, especially when each region has a different color. Even if the brightness in machine measurement is same (cd/m2), blue may seem darker than green for human eyes. Also, even with the same AC voltage, green may appear brighter compared to blue. Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention provides a method for adjusting the capacitor value associated with each electroluminescent segment and adjusting the electric field strength and frequency of the AC input to the electroluminescent segment.
In an embodiment, luminescent apparatus 800 can be used as a backlight member in keyboard 100 in
Although the above has been illustrated in terms of specific hardware features, it would be recognized that many variations, alternatives, and modifications can exist. For example, any of the hardware features can be further combined, or even separated. Further details of certain methods according to the present invention can be found throughout the present specification and more particularly below.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing a luminescent device for a keyboard apparatus can be outline below. The method is also summarized in the simplified flow chart in
In an embodiment, the method also includes printing an insulator layer covering the back electrode layer, the dielectric layer, the electroluminescent sections, and the transparent electrode layer. In some embodiments, the printing process includes a screen printing process. In an embodiment, at least one of the two or more electroluminescent sections is characterized by a first color and at least another one of the two or more electroluminescent sections is characterized by a second color, the first color being different from the second color.
In a specific embodiment, a first one of the two or more power supply devices provides a first voltage and a second one of the two or more power supply devices provides a second voltage, the first voltage being different from the second voltage. In an embodiment, the first voltage and the second voltage provide substantially similar luminescent brightness in corresponding first and second non-overlapping regions. In an embodiment, a first one of the two or more power supply devices provides a first AC voltage characterized by a first frequency and a second one of the two or more power supply devices provides a second AC voltage characterized by a second frequency, the first frequency being different from the second frequency. In a specific embodiment, the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage provides substantially similar luminescent brightness in corresponding first and second non-overlapping regions.
In an embodiment, the method also includes adding a capacitor coupled to a corresponding transparent electrode region and a corresponding back electrode region for fine-tuning luminescent brightness over a corresponding one of the non-overlapping regions. In an embodiment, the method also includes providing a first conductive material between two adjacent transparent electrode regions in the transparent electrode layer, the first conductive material being electrically grounded to insulate the two adjacent transparent electrode regions. In another embodiment, the method includes providing a second conductive material between two adjacent back electrode regions in the back electrode layer, the second conductive material being electrically grounded to insulate the two adjacent back electrode regions.
In another embodiment, the method provides ground connection, which includes the following processes:
In another embodiment, the transparent electrode layer further includes a second plurality of conductive material, each of the second plurality of conductive material being disposed between each pair of adjacent transparent electrode regions in the transparent electrode layer, second plurality of conductive material being electrically grounded In yet another embodiment, the back electrode layer further includes a second plurality of conductive material, each of the second plurality of conductive material being disposed between each pair of adjacent back electrode regions in the back electrode layer, each of the second plurality of conductive material being electrically grounded. In a specific embodiment, each of the two or more power supply devices comprises a DC-to-AC inverter.
The above sequence of processes provides a method for manufacturing a luminescent device for a keyboard apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the method uses a combination of processes including providing separate luminescent devices and power supplies to provide lighting to different regions of a keyboard. Other alternatives can also be provided where steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
According to another embodiment, the present invention provides a keyboard apparatus. In the keyboard apparatus, a housing includes a plurality of key pads spatially disposed within the housing. Each of the key pads is depressible upon touch by a user. The plurality of key pads are distributed in a plurality of non-overlapping keyboard regions, and each of the non-overlapping regions includes fewer than all of the plurality of keypads. The keyboard apparatus also includes an optically transparent circuit board coupled to a backside of each of the key pads. The keyboard apparatus further includes a plurality of electroluminescent segments arranged in a non-planar configuration. Each of the plurality of electroluminescent segments includes one of a corresponding plurality of power supply devices. Each electroluminescent segment provides electromagnetic radiation to a respective non-overlapping keyboard region for lighting key pads in the respective non-overlapping keyboard region. In an embodiment, each of the non-overlapping regions includes fewer than all of the plurality of keypads.
In a specific embodiment of the keyboard apparatus, at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent segments is characterized by a first color and at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent segments is characterized by a second color. The first color is different from the second color. In an embodiment, a first one of the plurality of power supply devices provides a first voltage and a second one of the plurality of power supply devices provides a second voltage. The first voltage is different from the second voltage. In an embodiment, the first voltage and the second voltage provides substantially similar luminescent brightness.
In another embodiment of the keyboard apparatus a first one of the plurality power supply devices provides a first AC voltage characterized by a first frequency and a second one of the two or more power supply devices provides a second AC voltage characterized by a second frequency. The first frequency is different from the second frequency. In an embodiment, the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage provides substantially similar luminescent brightness in corresponding first and second non-overlapping keyboard regions. In a specific embodiment, the keyboard apparatus also includes a capacitor coupled to a corresponding electroluminescent segment for fine-tuning luminescent brightness over a corresponding one of the non-overlapping keyboard regions.
According to an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a keyboard apparatus. A housing of the keyboard apparatus includes a plurality of key pads spatially disposed within the housing. Each of the key pads is depressible upon touch by a user. The plurality of key pads is distributed in a plurality of non-overlapping keyboard regions, and each of the non-overlapping regions including fewer than all of the plurality of keypads. The keyboard includes an optically transparent circuit board coupled to a backside of each of the key pads. The keyboard also includes a luminescent apparatus which in turn includes a plurality of electroluminescent segments in a substantially non-planar configuration. Each of the plurality of electroluminescent segments includes one of a corresponding plurality of power supply devices. Each of the plurality of electroluminescent segments providing electromagnetic radiation to a respective non-overlapping keyboard region for lighting key pads in the respective non-overlapping keyboard region. In a specific embodiment, each of the non-overlapping regions has fewer than all of the plurality of keypads.
In an embodiment, the plurality of key pads include at least twenty six key pads. In another embodiment, each of the electroluminescent segments includes a phosphor-containing material. In a specific embodiment of the keyboard apparatus, the luminescent apparatus can be implemented as a multiple segment luminescent device as discussed above with reference to
Although the above has been illustrated in terms of specific hardware features, it would be recognized that many variations, alternatives, and modifications can exist. For example, any of the hardware features can be further combined, or even separated. Further details of certain methods according to the present invention can be found throughout the present specification and more particularly below.
According to yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method for making a keyboard apparatus. First, a housing is provided. The housing includes a plurality of key pads spatially disposed within the housing. Each of the key pads is depressible upon touch by a user, and the plurality of key pads are distributed in a plurality of non-overlapping keyboard regions. The method includes providing an optically transparent circuit board coupled to a backside of each of the key pads. The method also includes providing a luminescent apparatus including a plurality of electroluminescent segments. Each of the second plurality of electroluminescent segments includes one of a corresponding plurality of power supply devices. Each of the plurality of electroluminescent segments provides electromagnetic radiation to a respective non-overlapping keyboard region for lighting key pads in the respective non-overlapping keyboard region.
In an embodiment, the plurality of key pads include at least twenty six key pads. In another embodiment, each of the electroluminescent segments includes a phosphor-containing material. In a specific embodiment of the method for making the keyboard apparatus, the luminescent apparatus can be made using the method discussed above with reference to Processes 910-960 and luminescent apparatus 800 in
The above sequence of processes provides a method for manufacturing a keyboard apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the method uses a combination of processes including providing separate luminescent devices and power supplies to provide lighting to different regions of a keyboard. Other alternatives can also be provided where steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/977,762 filed Oct. 5, 2007, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/146,412 filed Jun. 25, 2008, which is commonly assigned and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60977762 | Oct 2007 | US |
