CN210443474U - Keycap and keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a key cap and keyboard. A key cap for a keyboard having a transparent top portion has a set of layered components to define a top surface that provides key definition by curvature, texture, ridges, or other external structural features. Other portions of the keycap define a glyph or support structure for the top layer. Features such as angle filters and partially reflective materials are implemented to improve the visibility, contrast and reflectivity of the keycaps. Various methods are used to bend or otherwise modify a rigid transparent material, such as glass, in order to add surface features and improve the aesthetics of the keyboard keycaps.

Description

Keycap and keyboard

Technical Field

The described embodiments relate generally to keycaps of a computing keyboard that are at least partially transparent or translucent.

Background

Many electronic devices have interface devices and mechanisms for receiving input and interaction from a user. The main areas of device interaction include computers such as personal computers, tablets, smart phones and other "smart" devices such as media players, video and audio equipment, vehicle consoles, home automation controllers and related devices. These devices may include keyboards, keypads, buttons, touch pads, and other input devices for receiving user input. In some cases, the input device may also provide output and feedback to the user, such as through visual, tactile/haptic, or audio indicators.

The pleasing exterior appearance of electronic devices is often difficult to match with market demands for advanced functionality, improved durability, key definition, and reduced thickness and weight. Some aesthetic materials may not be durable enough to be included in a device housing or other component, while other aesthetic materials may interfere with advanced functionality of the electronic device. Some aesthetic materials are fragile, rigid, or difficult to manufacture into keycaps having desired surface features.

In addition, for certain input devices and components such as buttons and keys, a user may physically adopt the selected material tens of thousands of times (if not millions of times) during the life of the device. Many visually pleasing solutions lack the durability of such extended functionality. This may be particularly true when the electronic device and/or associated input device is made smaller, thinner, or otherwise reduced in size. For example, the reduced size of the keycap may result in the keycap being less structurally robust and having a shorter life span than a thicker keycap made from the same material.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need for improvements in the buttons and keys used in input devices by device manufacturers and users.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a key cap of a keyboard including a key body having a top exterior surface. The key body may include a transparent body having a bottom surface, a light-blocking material attached to the bottom surface of the transparent body, and a carrier body configured to support the transparent body and the light-blocking material, wherein the light-blocking material defines a glyph shape. The top exterior surface may include at least two edges and a center, the at least two edges being raised relative to the center.

In some cases, the transparent body may include a glass material, the carrier body may include a polymer material, and the photoresist material may include an opaque layer between the glass material and the polymer material. The transparent body may comprise a transparent polymeric material and the top outer surface may also comprise a concave curvature. That concave curvature may be substantially cylindrical or spherically concave.

In some embodiments, the top exterior surface may include at least two ridge portions along the at least two edges. The top outer surface may include a first texture at the center and a second texture radially outward of the center, where the second texture may be different from the first texture.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a curved keycap. The method can include forming a curved top surface on a piece of glass material and attaching the piece of glass material to a non-glass carrier body, wherein the curved top surface is exposed. Forming the curved top surface may include adding a curved shape of transparent material on an edge of the substantially flat top surface of the piece of glass material.

Forming the curved top surface may include inducing a bend in the piece of glass material. The curved material may be constrained to limit unflexing of the glass material piece. As another example, the internal stress of the bent material may be relieved after the bend is induced. In some embodiments, causing the bend may include chemically strengthening a portion of the piece of glass material.

Methods of forming a curved top surface may include applying a piece of glass material to a mold, hot bending a piece of glass material, or removing material from a substantially flat top surface of a piece of glass material. The non-glass carrier body may include a substantially flat top surface, and the piece of glass material may be attached to the substantially flat top surface of the non-glass carrier body. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise positioning an at least semi-opaque material between the piece of glass material and the non-glass carrier body.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a keyboard for a computing device, wherein the keyboard includes a base layer, a set of keycaps, and a set of support mechanisms. The keycap may include a transparent material having a bottom surface, a portion of the mirror material positioned below the bottom surface of the transparent material; and a carrier body configured to support the transparent body and the partially mirrored material. The set of support mechanisms may be coupled to the set of keycaps to stabilize actuation motion of the set of keycaps relative to the base layer.

Each keycap can further include an opaque material located below a bottom surface of the transparent material, wherein the opaque material has a glyph aperture and a partially mirrored material covers the glyph aperture. Light from a light source below the carrier backing may be configured to pass through the carrier backing, the partially specular material, and the transparent material. The keycap may further include an angle filter. In some cases, the partially specular material may include an angle filter. The transparent material may include a top surface having an edge and a center, wherein the edge is raised relative to the center.

Drawings

The present disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an electronic device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a keycap according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 2 taken along section line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a keycap according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of a keycap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 5 taken along section line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the keycap of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of a keycap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 8 taken along section line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of a keycap according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 10 taken along section line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of a keycap according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 12 taken along section line 13-13 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the keycap of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a keycap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 shows a diagrammatic side cross-sectional view of a key cap according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 shows a diagrammatic assembly of a key cap according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 shows a diagrammatic side cross-sectional view of another keycap according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 shows a diagrammatic view of a process of modifying a portion of a keycap according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 shows a diagrammatic assembly of keycaps according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to key caps for keyboards, buttons, and other input devices. These keyboards can benefit from being thin, light, and durable. It may be desirable to use glass, transparent ceramics (e.g., sapphire), transparent polymers, and similar materials on the surface of the keycap to accomplish these goals. When used as a typing surface or other touch interface, these materials can be durable and difficult to smudge or scratch even when subjected to millions of cycles of use. They can be made thin while still having high stiffness and hardness, so keycaps with these materials can be made thin while still withstanding bending and flexing when pressed. Their transparency or translucency may also be advantageous in keyboards with backlit or side-lit keys, as they may transmit, reflect or distribute light. Their surfaces can be smoothed and polished and are resistant to scratches or other stains.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to implementing these materials in keycaps while maintaining or enhancing their surface properties in connection with providing key definitions (i.e., key registration). For example, some aspects of the present disclosure relate to key structures that assist a user in positioning (e.g., "homing") a finger or other instrument on a desired surface of a keycap. These structures can help the user feel the edge or other portion of the keycap without having to look at the keys, thereby improving typing speed, accuracy and comfort. The structure may also provide a clean visual appearance, improved visibility of backlit characters or glyphs located in the keys, and improved visibility of edges of adjacent keys or spaces between them.

In various aspects of the present disclosure, the key structures incorporated into the keycap include surface curvatures, raised edges, ridges, varying textures, and other features that are visible or accessible when the user is typing or otherwise using the key. The keycap may include a plurality of layers or components, wherein the top layer includes an at least partially transparent material that incorporates at least one of the key structures. For example, the top surface of the top layer can include a center and at least two edges, wherein the at least two edges are raised relative to the center when the keycap is in a substantially horizontal orientation (i.e., the at least two edges extend to a height greater than a substantially centered area on the top surface of the keycap). The middle layer may include a photoresist material attached to the bottom surface of the top layer and defining the glyph region. The lower layer or carrier body may comprise a durable material configured to be coupled to a keycap stabilizer, a collapsible dome, or other keycap support structure. In various embodiments, the layers of the keycap may serve different functions and may comprise different materials.

Coatings or reflective layers may also be incorporated into the keycaps to improve the keycap's visibility, contrast, color change, or other appearance characteristics. For example, the keycaps may incorporate filters that block light or reflect at least a portion of the light around the illumination under the keyboard or keys based on viewing angle.

Aspects of the present disclosure also relate to methods for manufacturing transparent keycaps. Glass and related materials can be brittle when thin and are typically vulnerable to bending moments, but embodiments of the present disclosure can provide curved or ridged surfaces for glass and related materials. In some embodiments, the glass is bent into a curved shape and then attached to a separate component in a manner that limits or prevents the glass from returning to a flat shape. In other cases, the glass may be insert molded, stamped, fill molded, chemically strengthened, ground, cut, turned, or hot bent as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

Fig. 1 depicts an electronic device 100 that includes a keyboard 102. The keyboard 102 includes a key mechanism or assembly having a keycap (e.g., keycap 103) or button cap that moves when depressed by a user. The device 100 may position a keyboard 102 within a housing 104 that also contains a display 106 (e.g., a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen) and a touch pad 108. The housing 104 may include an upper housing 110 that supports the display 106 and a base housing 112 that supports the keyboard 102 and the trackpad 108. The upper housing 110 and the base housing 112 may be joined at a hinge 114 (also referred to as a clutch 114) about which the upper housing 110 may rotate relative to the base housing 112. The upper housing 110 may be referred to as a lid portion or upper portion, while the base housing 112 may be referred to as a base portion or lower portion.

Although the electronic device 100 of fig. 1 is illustrated as a notebook/laptop computer, it should be apparent that the features and aspects of the present disclosure that are described in connection with a notebook computer may be applied to a variety of other devices. These other devices may include, but are not limited to, personal computers (including, for example, computer "towers," "all-in-one" computers, computer workstations, and related devices) and related accessories, speakers, drawing tablets and graphical input pens/styluses, watches, headphones, other wearable devices, and related accessories, vehicles and related accessories, network equipment, servers, screens, displays, and monitors, photographic and video equipment and related accessories, printers, scanners, media player devices and related accessories, remote controls, headphones, earphones, device chargers, computer mice, trackballs, and touch pads, point-of-sale equipment, housings, mounts, and stands, game controllers, Remote Control (RC) vehicles/drones, Augmented Reality (AR) devices, Virtual Reality (VR) devices, cameras, video cameras, audio cameras, and related accessories, Home automation equipment, and any other electronic device that uses, sends, or receives human input. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides illustrative and non-limiting examples of the kinds of devices that may implement and apply aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of an exemplary key cap 200 that may be used in a keyboard, such as keyboard 102. For example, keycap 200 may be used in place of keycap 103 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a side cross-sectional view of key cap 200 taken along section line 3-3 in FIG. 2. Keycap 200 may include a transparent body 202, an intermediate layer 204, and a carrier body 206.

The transparent body 202 may be referred to as a top layer, an outer layer, or a user contact layer. The transparent body 202 may comprise a transparent or translucent material, such as glass, float glass, toughened or tempered glass, frosted glass, mirror glass, laminated glass, coated glass, transparent or translucent ceramic, transparent or translucent polymer (e.g., polycarbonate), similar materials, or combinations thereof. As used herein, a "transparent" body is defined as a body through the thickness of which visible light is at least partially transmitted. Thus, a "transparent" body may be completely transparent or completely light transmissive (e.g., having a prismatic or glass-like appearance), or it may be at least partially translucent (e.g., having a frosted or hazy appearance). In some embodiments, the transparent body may have a thickness of about 0.50 millimeters.

The transparent body 202 may also be configured to be exposed to a user when positioned in the keyboard assembly. This may be beneficial because the materials used in the transparent body 202 may be selected to withstand millions of usage cycles (e.g., finger taps) with minimal or no change in color, bending, or fading. The material used in transparent body 202 may also be durable so that scratching or breaking of keycap 200 may be limited or prevented. In addition, since the transparent body 202 covers the fonts of the key caps, the fonts are protected from abrasion or fading. When glass is used in the transparent body 202, the keycaps are much harder than most plastic materials.

Thus, the transparent body 202 may be configured to transmit, diffuse, or redirect light through its surface. Ambient light from substantially above keycap 200 (e.g., from direction a in fig. 3) can pass through top surface 208 of transparent body 202 and can reflect from intermediate layer 204 or can diffuse through transparent body 202 in multiple directions (e.g., in directions at least partially to the left or right relative to direction a). Similarly, light entering transparent body 202 from below bottom surface 210 of transparent body 202 may be diffused or may pass through top surface 208 to be visible from above keycap 200 (e.g., when the keycap is viewed from direction a).

The top surface 208 may be smooth and may have a concave curvature. For example, the top surface 208 may have a radius R, wherein a center point 212 of the top surface 208 may be positioned lower than at least two convex outer edges 214, 216 of the top surface 208. It should be noted that although the center point (e.g., center point 212) is generally shown as a dot in the relevant figures, the illustration of a dot does not require the formation of a physical feature (e.g., a bump, protrusion, or other structural irregularity) in the top surface of the keycap. Rather, the top surface 208 (and other top surfaces) may comprise a smooth and continuous surface through the center point 212.

The top surface 208 may have a continuous radius R between the center point 212 and the at least two convex outer edges 214, 216. Thus, the top surface 208 may have a gentle scoop shape that directs a user's finger toward the center of the key cap 200 when the user presses down at a non-perpendicular angle or when the user presses down at a surface between the center point 212 and the at least two raised outer edges 214, 216. Thus, the concave shape of the top surface 208 may help improve typing comfort and efficiency.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the top surface 208 may have a substantially scoop-like curvature. In other words, the top surface 208 may have no curvature in a direction parallel to the central Y-axis (see fig. 2), but be curved in a direction perpendicular to the Y-axis (e.g., parallel to the X-direction in fig. 2). Thus, the top surface 208 may be referred to as having a "Y-cylindrical" concavity, curvature, or scoop shape because the cylindrical shape extends along the Y-axis. In some embodiments, this means that the cylindrical axis of curvature of the keycap is a line of symmetry of the top surface that divides the keycap into lateral sides. The line of symmetry may be a left/right horizontal line of symmetry of the glyph or legend area shown in keycap 200. Substantially the entire length of the raised edges 214, 216 may be raised relative to the center point 212, and portions of the other edges 218, 220 of the top surface 208 (see fig. 2) may have the same height or thickness in the transparent body 202 as the center point 212.

In some embodiments, the concavity of the top surface 208 may be oriented 90 degrees relative to the view shown in fig. 2, with substantially no curvature in a direction parallel to the X-axis and curvature in a direction parallel to the Y-axis. In other words, the top and bottom edges 218, 220 may be substantially fully raised relative to the center point 212, and the side edges 214, 216 may be at least partially at the same height or thickness in the transparent body 202 as the center point 212. In this case, the top surface 208 may be said to have an "X-cylinder" concavity, curvature, or scoop shape. The axis of cylindrical curvature may be the line of symmetry of the keycap that divides the face of the keycap into front and rear portions or as a vertical line of symmetry of the glyph or legend region shown in the keycap.

Each type of curvature may affect the feel, appearance, and key definition of keycap 200. For example, a top surface 208 having a Y-cylinder concavity may provide a more pronounced key definition between left and right laterally adjacent key caps (e.g., key caps that are adjacent to each other in a direction parallel to the X-axis). A top surface with an X-cylinder concavity can provide a more pronounced definition of a key between laterally adjacent keycaps that are front-to-back (e.g., keycaps that are adjacent to each other in a direction parallel to the Y-axis). In each case, improved key definition may be provided because the raised edges on each of the adjacent key caps are adjacent to each other, and the user may easily feel peaks relative to two adjacent flat surfaces where the key caps are adjacent to each other.

Fig. 2 and 3 show raised edges 214, 216 extending along the entire length of top surface 208 extending in a direction parallel to the Y-axis. In other embodiments, the raised edges 214, 216 extend along only a portion of the entire length of the top surface 208 in a direction parallel to the Y-axis (or X-axis in the case of X-cylindrical curvature). In some embodiments, a series of bumps or other spaced apart raised portions extend along the length of the edge of the top surface 208. Further, the edges 214, 216 may be ridges positioned closer to the center point 212 (as measured along the X-axis). Thus, the edges 214, 216 may be at the outermost limits of the width of the top surface 208, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, but they may be positioned spaced inwardly relative to those outermost limits. Thus, the device manufacturer may optimize the amount of space between the edges 214, 216 of adjacent keycaps, or may optimize the radius of curvature of the tops of the edges 214, 216 to be smoother or sharper relative to the view shown in FIG. 3.

Intermediate layer 204 of keycap 200 may be positioned between transparent body 202 and carrier body 206. The intermediate layer 204 may be referred to as a photoresist layer and may include a photoresist material in at least a portion thereof. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the middle layer 204 may include glyphs 222. Glyphs 222 can be referred to as legends, symbols, characters, or similar features. The glyphs 222 may be formed as openings or apertures through the intermediate layer 204. Thus, the intermediate layer 204 may comprise an opaque material with glyph windows or apertures through the opaque material defining the shape of a glyph. For example, the opaque material may be ink, paint, resin, or similar thin and opaque material applied to the transparent body 202 or the carrier body 206. Backlighting may be passed through the glyph 222 to improve visibility of the glyph 222, especially in low light conditions. Thus, at least when illuminated, the appearance of the glyph 222 may be more transparent or lighter than the rest of the intermediate layer 204. Glyph 222 may include one or more words or symbols for indicating the purpose or function of keycap 200. The "glyph region" or "legend region" in the middle layer 204 may include a plurality of letters or symbols, and the boundaries of the glyph region or legend region are defined by the outermost limits of the visible symbols or characters along the X-axis and Y-axis.

In some embodiments, the glyph 222 is located below the lowest point of the curved top surface 208. In the case where glyph apertures are formed in the intermediate layer 204, the apertures may be filled with a transparent or translucent material. For example, the apertures may be filled with protrusions extending from the bottom surface 210 of the transparent body 202 or extending from the top surface of the carrier body 206. Alternatively, the glyph aperture may be configured to be empty and unfilled.

In some configurations, the intermediate layer 204 includes a transparent material. The glyph 222 may then comprise an opaque (or more opaque) material. In this way, the middle layer 204 may have glyphs 222 that appear darker than surrounding portions of the middle layer 204. See fig. 10-11 and their associated description herein.

Carrier body 206 or the bottom layer may comprise a plastic or similar durable moldable material that is attached to (e.g., bonded or overmolded to) transparent body 202 and intermediate layer 204. Carrier body 206 can have a bottom or side surface with a clip, hook, linkage, or similar mechanical component (not shown) configured to connect keycap 200 to a stabilizer, collapsible dome, spring, or other support (not shown) for keycap 200. The inclusion of the carrier body 206 may be advantageous because plastic and similar materials may be more easily molded into small, fine shapes while remaining durable and not subject to cracking or breaking. Thus, the carrier body 206 may be a durable substrate to which the smoother, brighter durable transparent body 202 is attached. Carrier body 206 may also allow keycap 200 to have smaller or more complex bottom or side surface geometries that may be easily broken if fabricated in the same material as transparent body 202. Additionally, the carrier body 206 may be molded onto the transparent body 202 or the intermediate layer 204 without melting or otherwise causing deformation of those other layers 202, 204.

In some embodiments, carrier body 206 comprises a translucent material and may act as a light distributor, diffuser, or light guide within keycap 200. Thus, light entering the carrier body 206 may be directed through a desired portion of the intermediate layer 204 (e.g., through the glyph aperture) or laterally around the perimeter of the carrier body 206. In some embodiments, the carrier body 206 may be opaque and may include channels or windows for directing light through the bottom of the carrier body 206 to one or more desired portions of the intermediate layer 204.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a key cap 400 similar to key cap 200 of FIG. 2. In this embodiment, similar features are indicated with corresponding reference numerals. The top surface 408 of the transparent body 402 of the key cap 400 may have a spherical dish-like concave curvature. Thus, keycap 400 may be thinnest at center point 412 of top surface 408, and keycap 400 may have an increasing thickness in all directions that extend radially away from center point 412 or perpendicularly away from a vertical axis extending through center point 412. The transparent body 402 may have equal thickness at its four outer corners 424, 426, 428, 430. The outer edges 414, 416, 418, 420 thereof may also have equal thickness. Intermediate layer 404 and carrier body 406 of keycap 400 may include the features described above in connection with intermediate layer 204 and carrier body 206 of keycap 200. The spherically concave curvature of top surface 408 may help a user place a finger or other instrument more centrally on keycap 400 and may provide improved key definition in multiple directions (e.g., parallel to both the X-axis and the Y-axis). In some embodiments, the curvature is elliptically concave, wherein the concavity of the top surface is deeper along one axis of the keycap relative to the other axis.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of keycap 500, similar to keycaps 200 and 400. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of key cap 500 taken along section line 6-6 in FIG. 5. Keycap 500 can include a transparent body 502 having a substantially flat central top surface 508 that is recessed relative to its edges 514, 516, 518, 520. Thus, the transparent body 502 may be said to be substantially planar, having ridges or raised areas around its peripheral edges 514, 516, 518, 520. The edge ridges can have various heights, such as, for example, between about 0.1 millimeters and about 0.2 millimeters, or between about 0.15 millimeters and about 0.18 millimeters, raised relative to the adjacent peripheral surface.

The ridge or raised area may be rounded (e.g., hemmed) or chamfered (e.g., chamfered) about its top edge. The ridges or raised area portions may improve key definition around all four edges 514, 516, 518, 520, especially when they are located adjacent raised edges of adjacent keycaps. The flat top surface 508 may be beneficial because it may have minimal refraction or other distortion of the shape of the glyph 522. The size, shape, and positioning of the ridges of edges 514, 516, 518, 520 may be optimized to provide a desired amount of key definition for keycap 500. Intermediate layer 504 and carrier body 506 of keycap 500 can include the features described above in connection with intermediate layer 204 and carrier body 206 of keycap 200.

As shown in fig. 6, the transparent body 502 may be a top layer mounted to a middle layer 504 and a carrier body 506 or bottom layer. Thus, all three members 502, 504, 506 may have equal widths W₁. That width W₁May be equal to the overall width of keycap 500. Thus, the entire top surface of keycap 500 can be formed from transparent body 502.

FIG. 7 shows a side cross-sectional view of a related embodiment of a key cap 700, where layers 702, 704, 706 do not all have equal lateral widths. The carrier body 706 may have a width W that is greater than the widths of the transparent body 702 and the intermediate layer 704₃Large width W₂. Raised edges 714, 716 of keycap 700 may be part of carrier body 706. Thus, carrier body 706 may extend upward beyond a top surface 708 of transparent body 702. The top surface of keycap 700 may be formed from the combination of transparent body 702 and carrier body 706. Carrier body 706 may have a vertical thickness that overlaps the thickness of transparent body 702 and intermediate layer 704. Accordingly, key definition features (e.g., 714, 716) may be formed as part of the carrier body 706. Keycap 700 may be manufactured by inserting transparent body 702 and intermediate layer 704 into carrier body 706. In some embodiments, carrier body 706 may be overmolded or insert molded around transparent body 702 and intermediate layer 704.

FIG. 8 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of a key cap 900. FIG. 9 shows a side cross-sectional view of the key cap 900 taken along section line 9-9 in FIG. 8. In this case, the key definition is improved by incorporating different surface textures on the top surface 908 of the transparent body 902. For example, outer edge regions 914, 916, 918, 920 of top surface 908 may include a different (e.g., rougher or smoother) texture than a central region 930 of top surface 908. Otherwise, the top surface 908 may be substantially flat and planar. Intermediate layer 904 and carrier body 906 of key cap 900 may include the features described above in connection with intermediate layer 204 and carrier body 206 of key cap 200. Thus, the key cap 900 can be very thin.

In various embodiments, the outer edge regions 914, 916, 918, 920 can be sanded, sandblasted, beaded, etched, or otherwise textured relative to the central region 930. Similarly, the top surface 908 can be fabricated with a roughened texture that is polished, ground, resin-bumped, or otherwise flattened in the central region 930. In some arrangements, the central region 930 may be textured relative to the outer edge regions 914, 916, 918, 920. Additionally, although there is a boundary 931 in fig. 8 that clearly defines the boundary between the center region 930 and the outer edge regions 914, 916, 918, 920, in some cases there may be a gradual or more gradual transition between roughness at the center of the top surface 908 compared to its outer boundary.

When a user moves a finger or other instrument over the top surface 908, the texture of the surface may affect the friction between the surface and the finger or instrument. Thus, the key cap 900 may be configured such that a user feels less friction at the edge regions 914, 916, 918, 920 and more friction at the central region 930. Thus, the middle of the top surface 908 may be configured to feel more viscous, sticky, or provide more sliding resistance to a finger or other instrument, thereby helping a user to find and maintain contact with the keycap 900 closer to the middle of the top surface 908. The textured nature of the key cap 900 can be applied to other embodiments herein. For example, keycap 200 may have an outer edge region that has a different texture than the center of its top surface 208.

In other embodiments, the outer edge regions 914, 916, 918, 920 may be configured to provide more friction than the middle of the central region 930 or the top surface 908. In this case, the friction increases as the user in the middle of the engagement top surface 908 moves toward the outer edge. Thus, the user may be less likely to slide his or her finger or other instrument off the edge of the key cap 900 after first engaging more centrally.

The different textures of the top surface 908 can also affect light dispersion and reflection at the transparent body 902. For example, a smoother central region 930 may correspond to less light diffusion than rougher outer edge regions 914, 916, 918, 920. Thus, the outer edge regions 914, 916, 918, 920 may appear brighter than the central region 930 from some perspectives. In some embodiments, the side surfaces 932, 934 (see fig. 9) of the transparent body 902 may be ground, frosted, or otherwise textured to further enhance its light diffusing properties around the perimeter of the keycap 900. See also the side surface 1009 of fig. 10, which has a grain texture. The side surfaces 932, 934 may alternatively be smooth or smooth and reflective.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of another key cap 1000, similar to key cap 200, with a transparent body 1002, an intermediate layer 1004, and a carrier body 1006. FIG. 11 shows a side cross-sectional view of key cap 1000 taken along section line 11-11 in FIG. 10. In this case, the glyphs 1022 in the intermediate layer 1004 can include a material that is more opaque than the rest of the intermediate layer 1004, as described above in connection with fig. 2-3. Accordingly, the intermediate layer 1004 may include a transparent or translucent material 1036 surrounding the glyphs 1022 that more effectively block light from passing through the keycap 1000. This configuration may advantageously improve the visibility of the glyphs 1022 under bright ambient light conditions. In addition, if the backlighting changes color, the keycap 1000 can change color more significantly. For example, a bi-color or RGB LED used for backlighting may change the color of a larger portion of the keycap than keycap 200, including the edges and the area surrounding glyph 1022. Backlighting may vary the brightness and color of the entire intermediate layer 1004 except for the glyphs 1022. In some embodiments, the glyphs 1022 can also be at least partially translucent, in which case backlighting can change the brightness and color of the entire intermediate layer 1004.

In some embodiments, translucent material 1036 may be part of carrier body 1006. For example, the material of the carrier body 1006 may be overmolded around the material of the glyphs 1022 that have been applied to the bottom of the transparent body 1002. Thus, the carrier body 1006 may be visible through the transparent body 1002. The carrier body 1006 may also be used as a diffuser for transmitting light through the location of the translucent material 1036 shown in fig. 10 and 11. Carrier body 1006 of keycap 1000 can otherwise include the features described above in connection with carrier body 206 of keycap 200.

FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of keycap 1200 that is similar to keycap 200. FIG. 13 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of key cap 1200 taken along section line 13-13 in FIG. 12. The glyph 1222 of this embodiment may be formed in a two-part middle layer 1204 below the transparent body 1202. A carrier body 1206 may be provided below the intermediate layer 1204. The transparent body 1202 and the carrier body 1206 of the keycap 1200 may include the features described above in connection with the transparent body and the carrier body described herein.

The middle layer 1204 may include at least two component layers or laminate sections, such as an upper layer 1238 and a lower layer 1240. The upper layer 1238 can be positioned adjacent to and in contact with the transparent body 1202, and the lower layer 1240 can be positioned adjacent to and in contact with the carrier body 1206. The lower layer 1240 may define an outermost perimeter of the glyph 1222 and an outer region 1242, and the upper layer 1238 may define an inner region 1244 of the glyph 1222 that is laterally surrounded by the outer region 1242. In some embodiments, upper layer 1238 and lower layer 1240 can each be about 10 microns thick.

The upper layer 1238 can include a first region 1246 and a second region 1248, and the lower layer 1240 can include a third region 1250 and a fourth region 1252. See fig. 13. An interface between the first and second sections 1246, 1248 may define a boundary of the inner section 1244, and an interface between the third and fourth sections 1250, 1252 may define a boundary of the outer section 1242.

Each of sections 1246, 1248, 1250, 1252 may comprise a different material or materials having different visual characteristics or appearances. For example, sections 1246, 1248, 1250, 1252 may include a reflective or partially specular reflective coating, material insert, or ink. As used herein, a "specular" or "partially specular" reflective material or coating is configured to substantially reflect a portion or set of wavelengths of visible light from its surface, similar to a mirror. Thus, the mirror or partially mirror materials of the present disclosure can be configured to reflect about 1-10% of the light (without reflecting the remaining 90-99%), about 10-20% of the light, about 20-30% of the light, about 30-40% of the light, and so on, up to about 90-100% of the light (e.g., fully specular). In addition, the specular or partially specular material may be configured to reflect certain colors or may be configured to have a colored appearance. In some embodiments, the mirror or partially mirror coating (e.g., PVD) may have a thickness of about 20 nanometers. A mirror or partially mirror coating may be applied to the top surface, the bottom surface, or both the top and bottom surfaces of layers 1238, 1240.

In some embodiments, the partially specular material may include an angular filter or light polarization properties, such as those discussed herein in connection with the embodiment of fig. 15. For example, the angular filter or polarizing material may be attached to a surface of the partially specular material or may be integrated into the body of the partially specular material.

In various embodiments, first region 1246 can be more reflective than second region 1248, third region 1250, or fourth region 1252. For example, first section 1246 may be more reflective than second section 1248. In one embodiment, first region 1246 may comprise a 50% reflective and 50% transmissive material, such as, for example, an aluminum Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating or other PVD coating having those reflective properties. Second region 1248 may comprise a less reflective material, such as, for example, a material that is 10% reflective and 90% transmissive (e.g., another PVD coating having those reflective characteristics). Thus, the first region 1246 may transmit less light than the second region 1248. Second section 1248 may appear more transmissive than first section 1246.

Third region 1250 and fourth region 1252 may include opaque or translucent materials such as, for example, inks or paints. In one embodiment, third region 1250 can include a translucent white material and fourth region 1252 includes an opaque black material. Accordingly, the third region 1250 may be more light transmissive than the fourth region 1252. Thus, backlighting of the intermediate layer 1204 may be more visible through the outer region 1242 than through the fourth region 1252.

Ambient light may be reflected from the first and third regions 1246 and 1250 more collectively than the second and fourth regions 1248 and 1252. Incorporating a partially specular reflective coating may allow backlighting to pass through the intermediate layer 1204 while also reflecting ambient light directed down onto the keycap 1200. The reduced size of the inner region 1244 relative to the outer region 1242 may create a "halo" effect around the edge of the glyph 1222, where the outer region 1242 may appear brighter than the inner region 1244 when the glyph 1222 is backlit. The reflectivity of the inner region 1244/first region 1248 may allow that region to appear brighter than the outer region 1242/third region 1250 under normal top-down ambient lighting conditions. The materials and reflectivity may be selected by the device manufacturer to optimize the color, contrast, specular effect, and size and shape of the outer and inner regions 1242, 1244. The outer region 1242 may appear to have the combined reflectance and color characteristics of the second region 1248 and the third region 1250, and the inner region may appear to have the combined reflectance and color characteristics of the first region 1246 and the third region 1250. The remainder of the intermediate layer 1204 may have the combined reflective and color characteristics of the second and fourth sections 1248, 1252. In some embodiments, upper layer 1238 can provide reflective properties while being otherwise substantially transparent, and lower layer 1240 can provide color properties while being otherwise substantially matte (i.e., non-reflective).

In another exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the first section 1446 substantially overlaps and has the same outer width dimension as the third section 1450. In this case, light passing upward through third section 1450 may enter substantially completely into first section 1446, and light passing downward through second section 1448 may enter substantially completely into fourth section 1452. Thus, substantially the entire area of the glyph can have the collective reflectance and color characteristics of the first region 1446 and the third region 1450. The rest of the keycap may have the collective reflectance and color characteristics of second section 1448 and fourth section 1452. In some cases, upper layer 1438 may provide reflective properties while being otherwise substantially transparent, and lower layer 1440 may provide color properties while being otherwise substantially non-reflective.

FIG. 15 shows another side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a key cap 1500. In this case, key cap 1500 may have a base layer 1502 that is at least partially transparent. One side (e.g., the top side in fig. 15) of the base layer 1502 may have a set of spaced apart grooves or slits 1504 with sidewalls 1506 that are covered with an opaque material. The slit 1504 may have its sidewalls 1506 oriented at an angle B relative to horizontal. Angle B may be configured to have any magnitude between about zero degrees and about 180 degrees, and may advantageously have a magnitude between about 40 degrees and about 60 degrees.

The opaque sidewalls 1506 may limit the range of angles at which light exits the base layer 1502 to coincide with the size, orientation, and position of the sidewalls 1506. Depth or thickness T of the slit 1504₁With respect to width or transverse thickness T₂And T₃May control how much light leaves the top of the base layer 1502 at various angles with respect to the horizontal plane. Accordingly, key cap 1500 may include an angular filter or other polarizing filter configured to reduce the visibility of light within a predetermined range of viewing angles. For example, if the slits 1504 are oriented at an angle of 45 degrees (i.e., where B is 45 degrees), the thickness T₁、T₂、T₃May be optimized to prevent light from being visible about 60-80 degrees above the viewing angle (e.g., about 70 degrees from horizontal) or less than about 10-30 degrees from horizontal (e.g., about 20 degrees from horizontal). Greater thickness T₁Narrows the range of viewing angles through the slit 1504, and has a greater thickness T₂Or T₃The viewing angle range is increased.

As such, key cap 1500 can be configured to have a first appearance to a user (e.g., between about 40 to 50 degrees relative to horizontal) located in a first viewing position (e.g., typing position) relative to key cap 1500, and key cap 1500 can have a second appearance to a person (e.g., standing near the typist) in a second viewing position. From a first viewing position, a user can view illumination of glyphs, symbols, or other information through the keycap 1500, while from a second viewing position, the glyphs, symbols, or other information can be obscured or filtered by the side walls 1506. Thus, the keyboard may be less distracting or distracting to nearby observers by limiting the light to be visible in its direction, while still maintaining full illumination and visibility to the typist. The keyboard may also be configured to appear blank to a person outside of a predetermined range of viewing angles of the keyboard, which may contribute to a neat, clean appearance of the electronic device.

Further, although a single layer of slits 1504 are shown in fig. 15, where each slit intersects the page, the second layer of slits may be positioned perpendicular to those slits (e.g., into and out of the page of fig. 15) that are configured to filter light emitted in side-to-side angles. Thus, the second layer may have a range of viewing angles in which a person positioned substantially centrally in front of and facing the keyboard may observe a different (e.g., brighter) first appearance (e.g., a glowing appearance) than would be visible to a person standing off-center or transverse to the side of the keyboard. Thus, the keycap may include a bi-directional, double layer polarizer or filter.

In some implementations, the slit 1504 is formed in a top surface of the key cap 1500, such as in a top surface of the transparent body (e.g., 202). The slits 1504 may alternatively or additionally be formed in the intermediate layer (e.g., 204) or the carrier body (e.g., 206). For example, the transparent body 1508 may cover and protect the slit 1504 as shown in fig. 15.

Fig. 16-20 illustrate various aspects of techniques and structures that may be used to fabricate embodiments of rigid transparent or translucent keycaps. FIG. 16 shows a side cutaway view of keycap 1600 having transparent body 1602, intermediate layer 1604, and carrier body 1606 similar to the components described elsewhere herein. The transparent body 1602 may be a block of transparent or translucent material having a generally flat and planar top surface 1608 a. Keycap 1600 may be used with a substantially planar top surface 1608 a.

In some embodiments, transparent body 1602 may have a curved top surface, such as top surface 1608b indicated by the dashed lines in fig. 16. Transparent body 1602 may have a flat top surface 1608a modified to produce the curvature of top surface 1608 b. The curvature of top surface 1608b may be cylindrical, spherical, or elliptical in shape over the area of the top of transparent body 1602, as described elsewhere herein. The transparent body 1602 may be ground, turned, molded, stamped, chemically modified, modified using similar processes, or a combination thereof.

For example, the transparent body 1602 may be modified by machining, grinding, or turning processes. The grinding or turning process may include applying a cutter or abrasive against the flat top surface 1608a to remove material from the transparent body 1602 and create a curvature of the top surface 1608 b. For example, a cutting tool or sanding or grinding wheel or belt may remove material from top surface 1608a to change its shape. The diamond cutting tool may grind, cut, or turn the surface of the material used in the transparent body 1602. In some embodiments, the grinding or turning step can include a finishing or polishing step in which the cut surface of the transparent body 1602 is smoothed and cleaned. In some embodiments, the tool may be cylindrical, spherical, or elliptical. For example, in some cases, polishing can include ball lapping, where a curved polishing pad is used on the lapping machine and the floor under the workpiece has a radius that is substantially the same as (if not the same as) the curvature of the workpiece. The ring and carrier rotating on the rotating base can form a uniformly curved surface. In addition, the texture roughness of the polished surface can be controlled by varying the base pad grid size. Similarly, ball grinding may be performed with the grinding wheel in an inclined arrangement to grind the material of the transparent body. The wheel may be controlled to remain engaged with the transparent body in its central region so as to avoid leaving regions unground. This process can provide a reduced cycle time compared to ball milling.

Transparent body 1602 may or may not be attached to intermediate layer 1604 and carrier body 1606 when machined, ground, or turned. Thus, in some cases, transparent body 1602 is attached to intermediate layer 1604 or carrier body 1606 after the curvature of top surface 1068b is formed. Fig. 17 diagrammatically shows how bottom surface 1610 of transparent body 1602 can be attached to top surface 1714 of intermediate layer 1604 after curved top surface 1608b has been formed on transparent body 1602.

Transparent body 1602 may be pre-formed with a recess or cut-out 1612 in top surface 1608 a. As such, transparent body 1602 may be thinned near the center of top surface 1608a to reduce machining time and material costs. The recessed blank transparent body 1602 may be closer in shape to the finished curved top surface 1608b so that less polishing, cutting, grinding, or other removal process is required to reach the final shape.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, curved top surface 1608b of transparent body 1602 may be shaped using a molding, filling, or stamping forming process. For example, the material of the transparent body 1602 can be placed into a liquid or semi-liquid state (e.g., molten glass or glass gob) and then positioned (e.g., injected) or pressed against a mold or other forming surface. The material may then cool or harden in contact with the mold or forming surface, then remain with the curved top surface 1608 b. In some configurations, stamping forming may be performed by heating the material of a sheet or other flat piece, and then pressing the material against a curved mold or other forming surface. For filling molding, the material may be melted, pressed against a curved surface, and then ground or polished to a final shape. The material may also be injected in a fluid state into a mold (e.g., a two-part injection mold) that at least roughly defines the outer surface of the transparent body 1602. The component may then be removed from the mold and subsequently attached to the intermediate layer 1604 or the carrier body 1606. In some embodiments, transparent body 1602 may be insert molded within carrier body 1606. See, for example, fig. 7 and its associated description herein.

In some embodiments, transparent body 1602 may be chemically modified, such as by doping a bottom surface 1610 of transparent body 1602 to induce curvature of top surface 1608 b. Thus, transparent body 1602 may be modified from a substantially flat and planar top surface to a curved top surface 1608b by chemical modification of bottom surface 1610, which remains substantially flat after modification. For example, the bottom surface may expand or contract via ion exchange, and the top surface may exhibit curvature as the bottom surface expands or contracts. The bottom surface may thereby be strengthened, and the top surface may acquire curvature due to expansion or contraction of the bottom surface.

Fig. 18 shows a diagrammatic side sectional view of an additional aspect of the present disclosure. In the key cap 1800 of fig. 18, as in other embodiments disclosed herein, a transparent body 1802 is attached to an intermediate layer 1804 and a carrier body 1806. Transparent body 1802 has a top surface 1808 that is substantially flat and planar. An additive process may be used to selectively apply material to the top surface 1808 in a manner that adds ridges 1816 to an outer portion of the top surface 1808. The ridge 1816 may be formed with an outer surface 1818, the outer surface 1818 being aligned with the outer surface of the transparent body 1802 or other layer in the keycap 1800. The spine 1816 may also have a curved top surface 1820.

The curvature of the top surface 1820 of the ridge 1816 may gradually transition to the shape of the top surface 1808 of the transparent body 1802 at its inner end (e.g., at 1822). The curvature of the top surface 1820 may be concave, as shown in fig. 18, may be convex, or a combination thereof. The concave top surface 1820 may guide the user towards the middle of the key cap 1800, and the convex top surface may feel like a ridge or wall on the top surface 1808. Thus, the combined top surfaces 1808, 1820 may form a generally scoop-shaped, cylindrical, spherical, or elliptical curvature of the key cap 1800. In some embodiments, the top surface 1808 of the transparent body 1802 may be generally flat, with a convex top surface similar to the contoured shape of the ridges 1816 shown in fig. 6-7.

The ridges 1816 may be formed of a curable liquid or powder material that is applied to the top surface 1808 and accumulates in the shape of the ridges 1816. For example, a gel material (e.g., sol-gel) may be applied to top surface 1808 that is curved in a curved contoured shape. In some embodiments, multiple layers of material are separately applied and cured to build up to form the shape of the ridges 1816. The material used may advantageously be transparent or translucent. The ridges 181 may also have a different surface finish or texture than the top surface 1808, as described in connection with fig. 8-9 and their related description herein.

Additional aspects of the key cap of the present disclosure are shown in fig. 19-20. Fig. 19 shows a diagrammatic side view of a transparent body 1902a having a flat top surface 1908a and a flat bottom surface 1910 a. In some embodiments, curvature may be added to transparent body 1902a by bending the transparent body into the shape of transparent body 1902b, where transparent body 1902b has a curved top surface 1908b and a curved bottom surface 1910 b. The bending may be caused by a bending moment applied to the transparent body 1902b (at an end of the transparent body 1902 b). Thus, a bend may be induced in the piece of material used for the transparent body 1902 a.

In some arrangements, the curvature of the transparent body 1902b can be prepared by roll-to-roll forming of a flat sheet of material. For example, a roll of thin glass or similar material may be unwound, heated (or otherwise softened), and then rewound and hardened against a forming roll or mold surface having the curvature of surfaces 1908b and 1910 b. The hardened material may then be cut to shape or otherwise separated into keycap sized shapes having the profile shown in FIG. 19.

The curvature of transparent body 1902b may also be generated using a hot bending process. Flat transparent body 1902a may be positioned in a support, softened, and then moved into contact with a forming or mold surface that gives transparent body the curvature of surfaces 1908b and 1910 b. For example, transparent body 1902a may be positioned on a hot-bent support, heated to a predetermined flexibility, and then subjected to negative or positive pressure on one or both sides of transparent body 1902a to cause it to move and remain against a forming surface until hardened into its final curved shape (i.e., 1902 b).

Once the curved transparent body 1902b is formed, the curved transparent body 1902b may be attached to the intermediate layer 1904 or the carrier body 1906. See fig. 20. For example, bottom surface 1910b of transparent body 1902 may be attached to curved top surface 2010 of intermediate layer 1904. Alternatively, the intermediate layer 1904 may be attached to the transparent body 1902b, and then the intermediate layer 1904 may be attached to the curved top surface 2012 of the carrier body 1906. For example, the transparent body 1902b may be attached to the intermediate layer 1904 (or the transparent body 1902b and the intermediate layer 1904 may be attached to the carrier body 1906) by adhering, bonding, gluing, welding, overmolding, insert molding, or similarly connecting them to one another. Attaching curved transparent body 1902b to intermediate layer 1904 may limit the unbending of the material due to the attachment method constraining surface 1910b to the curvature of intermediate layer 1904 or the top surfaces 2010, 2012 of carrier body 1906. The attachment method may keep the surfaces against each other and thereby prevent the transparent body 1902b from elastically returning to its unmodified shape (i.e., 1902 a). Thus, the key cap 2000 may have a curved top surface 1908 b. This embodiment may also advantageously have curved inner component top surfaces 2010, 2012 underlying the outer curved top surface 1908b to reduce lens effects or other visual distortions caused by the curvature of the transparent body 1902, or to provide a different visual appearance than other embodiments disclosed herein.

Curved embodiments of transparent body 1902b may have increased internal stresses when held against intermediate layer 1904 or carrier body 1906, and those stresses may be maintained by attaching bottom surface 1910b to at least one of top surfaces 2010, 2012. In some embodiments, transparent body 1902b can have its internal stresses relieved after inducing bending. For example, the transparent body 1902b may be heated and cooled (e.g., annealed) to reduce and relieve internal stresses. The transparent body 1902b can thus be manufactured to be less prone to cracking, chipping, or creating a hazy or otherwise indistinct appearance.

Referring again to fig. 19, in another embodiment, a flat transparent body 1902a can be modified to present a curved top surface 1908b and a flat bottom surface 1910c, as shown in part by the dashed outline of transparent body 1902 c. The shape of transparent body 1902c may be formed using processes such as chemical strengthening, molding, filling, stamping, machining, grinding, turning, or other processes described elsewhere herein. Accordingly, the transparent body 1902c may have at least a cross-sectional shape profile similar to that of the transparent body 1602 described in connection with fig. 16-17.

In various other embodiments, the above-described features and processes may be combined or consolidated in various ways. For example, a keycap may be formed with a transparent body having a top surface curvature similar to top surface 408, ridges similar to ridges 514, 516 at edges of the top surface curvature, texture differences similar to regions 914, 916, and 930, an opaque glyph similar to glyph 1022, a partially specular reflective material in the region surrounding the glyph (as described in connection with layers 1238, 1240 of FIG. 13), and an angle filter (as described in connection with keycap 1500). It will be appreciated that many other variations and permutations of these features may also be combined to produce keycaps with improved visibility, durability, aesthetics and key definition for various types of devices.

Within the limits applicable to the present technology, the collection and use of data from a variety of sources may be used to improve the delivery of heuristic content or any other content to a user that may be of interest to the user. The present disclosure contemplates that, in some instances, such collected data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or may be used to contact or locate a particular person. Such personal information data may include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, personal information, and/or personal information,

ID. Home address, data or records related to the user's health or fitness level (e.g., vital sign measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data in the present technology may be useful to benefit the user. For example, the personal information data may be used to deliver target content that is of greater interest to the user. Thus, using such personal information data enables the user to have planned control over the delivered content. In addition, the present disclosure also contemplates other uses for which personal information data is beneficial to a user. For example, health and fitness data may be used to provide insight into the overall health condition of a user, or may be used as positive feedback for individuals using technology to pursue health goals.

The present disclosure contemplates that entities responsible for collecting, analyzing, publishing, transmitting, storing, or otherwise using such personal information data will comply with established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should enforce and adhere to the use of privacy policies and practices that are recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or government requirements for maintaining privacy and security of personal information data. Such policies should be easily accessible to users and should be updated as data is collected and/or used. Personal information from the user should be collected for legitimate and legitimate uses by the entity and not shared or sold outside of these legitimate uses. Furthermore, such acquisition/sharing should be done after receiving the user's informed consent. Furthermore, such entities should consider taking any necessary steps to defend and secure access to such personal information data and to ensure that others who have access to the personal information data comply with their privacy policies and procedures. In addition, such entities may subject themselves to third party evaluations to prove compliance with widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adjusted to the particular type of personal information data collected and/or accessed, and to applicable laws and standards including specific considerations of jurisdiction. For example, in the united states, the collection or acquisition of certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the health insurance association and accountability act (HIPAA); while other countries may have health data subject to other regulations and policies and should be treated accordingly. Therefore, different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.

Regardless of the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which a user selectively prevents use or access to personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware elements and/or software elements may be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, in the context of an ad delivery service, the techniques of the present invention may be configured to allow a user to opt-in or opt-out of participating in the collection of personal information data at any time during or after registration service. As another example, the user may choose not to provide emotion-related data for the targeted content delivery service. In another example, the user may choose to limit the length of time that emotion-related data is kept, or to prohibit the development of the underlying emotional condition altogether. In addition to providing "opt-in" and "opt-out" options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications related to accessing or using personal information. For example, the user may be notified that their personal information data is to be accessed when the application is downloaded, and then be reminded again just before the personal information data is accessed by the application.

Further, it is an object of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of inadvertent or unauthorized access or use. Once the data is no longer needed, the risk can be minimized by limiting data collection and deleting data. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health-related applications, data de-identification may be used to protect the privacy of the user. De-identification may be facilitated by removing particular identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of stored data (e.g., collecting location data at a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data on a user), and/or other methods, as appropriate.

Thus, while the present disclosure broadly covers the use of personal information data to implement one or more of the various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that various embodiments may be implemented without the need to access such personal information data. That is, various embodiments of the present technology do not fail to perform properly due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, content may be selected and delivered to a user by inferring preferences based on non-personal information data or an absolute minimum amount of personal information, such as content requested by a device associated with the user, other non-personal information available to a content delivery service, or publicly available information.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

Claims (12)

1. A key cap for a keyboard, the key cap comprising:

a key body, the key body comprising:

a top exterior surface;

a transparent body having a bottom surface;

a photoresist attached to the bottom surface of the transparent body, the photoresist defining a glyph shape; and

a carrier body configured to support the transparent body and the photoresist material;

wherein the top exterior surface comprises a center and at least two edges that are raised relative to the center.

2. A key cap according to claim 1, wherein the transparent body comprises a glass material, the carrier body comprises a polymer material, and the light-blocking material comprises an opaque layer positioned between the glass material and the polymer material.

3. A key cap according to claim 1, wherein the transparent body comprises a transparent polymer material.

4. A key cap according to claim 1, wherein the top outer surface has a concave curvature.

5. A key cap according to claim 4, wherein the concave curvature is cylindrically concave.

6. A key cap according to claim 4, wherein the concave curvature is spherically concave.

7. A key cap according to claim 1, wherein the top outer surface comprises at least two ridge portions along the at least two edges.

8. A key cap according to claim 1, wherein the top outer surface comprises a first texture at the center and a second texture radially outward of the center, the second texture being different from the first texture.

9. A keyboard for a computing device, the keyboard comprising:

a base layer;

a set of keycaps, wherein each keycap includes:

a transparent material having a bottom surface;

a partially specular material positioned below the bottom surface of the transparent material; and

a carrier backing configured to support the transparent material and the partially specular material; and

a set of support mechanisms coupled to the set of keycaps to stabilize actuation motion of the set of keycaps relative to the base layer.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein each keycap further comprises an opaque material positioned below the bottom surface of the transparent material, the opaque material having a glyph aperture, the partially mirrored material covering the glyph aperture, wherein the carrier backing, the partially mirrored material, and the transparent material are configured to pass light from a light source below the carrier backing through the carrier backing, the partially mirrored material, and the transparent material.

11. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the partially specular material is an angle filter.

12. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the transparent material comprises a top surface having an edge and a center, the edge being raised relative to the center.

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