Enhancing keycap legend visibility with optical components

摘要

Techniques and apparatus to provide improved visibility to user input devices, such as keys, are disclosed. In low light conditions, key legends can be difficult to distinguish. For example, often keys have legends on them to visually distinguish them from one another, but in low light conditions it can be difficult for users to visually identify the different keys. The legends can be textual and/or graphic. Hence, according to one embodiment, light from a nearby (e.g., attached) display device can be used to provide illumination to the user input devices (e.g., keys). The user input devices can be configured to include reflective optical components to enhance reflection of light and thereby improve visibility of the keys or the legends thereon.

主权项

1. A computing device, comprising:
a display for presenting displayed data; and at least one key configured to facilitate user input to the computing device, the at least one key including at least a key cap, the key cap including a top surface having an angled reflective surface thereon, wherein the angled reflective surface is selectively patterned or covered to yield a reflective legend on the at least one key, wherein the display emits light towards the at least one key, and wherein a portion of the light emitted from the display is reflected by the angled reflective surface of the key cap and directed toward a user position, and wherein the angled reflective surface has a variety of angles in x-axis direction, y-axis direction, or both directions for different reflective surfaces.