Keyboard illumination

1. A keyboard, comprising:

an illuminable key comprising:

a keycap;

a dome switch positioned below the keycap and comprising a flexible membrane and an electrically-conductive contact;

a light emissive layer positioned below the dome switch and comprising:

a substrate; and

a film of light-emitting polymer formed on the substrate in a shape that corresponds to an area defined by or through the keycap;

an encapsulation layer positioned below the dome switch and over the film of light-emitting polymer, thereby encapsulating the film of light-emitting polymer;

a switch contact layer formed on or coupled to a top surface of the encapsulation layer and configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the illuminable key when the illuminable key is pressed and the flexible membrane of the dome switch compresses a distance sufficient for the electrically-conductive contact to touch the switch contact layer; and

a power supply trace disposed on a bottom surface of the encapsulation layer, the power supply trace configured to supply a voltage to film of light-emitting polymer so that the film of light-emitting polymer generate and emit light toward the area defined by or through the keycap.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulation layer is transparent.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the shape of the film of light-emitting polymer is substantially identical to the area defined by or through the keycap.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the film of light-emitting polymer is aligned with the area defined by or through the keycap along a vertical axis such that light generated by the film of light-emitting polymer is directed upwardly through the area defined by or through the keycap.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulation layer is glass.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the area defined by or through the keycap defines a legend, and the shape of the film of light-emitting polymer is substantially identical to the shape of the legend.

7. The keyboard of claim 6 , wherein the film of light-emitting polymer is aligned with the legend along a vertical axis such that light generated by the film of light-emitting polymer is directed upwardly toward and through the legend.

8. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the switch contact layer is formed on the substrate layer.

9. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the film of light-emitting polymer is formed to define a plurality of distinct and separated light emissive areas.

10. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the film of light-emitting polymer comprises an organic light-emitting diode.

11. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the film of light-emitting polymer covers only a portion of the light emissive layer.

12. A method for manufacturing a light emissive layer for illuminating a keyboard, comprising:

depositing a film of light-emitting polymer onto a first surface of a substrate to form a plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas;

depositing an encapsulation layer on the substrate and over the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas;

forming a first circuit on an external surface of the encapsulation layer opposite the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas, the first circuit configured to transmit a signal corresponding to a keycap when the keycap is pressed by a user; and

forming a second circuit on the first surface of the substrate, the second circuit coplanar with the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas and configured to supply a voltage to each of the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas to cause each of the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas to generate and emit light.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

aligning the keycap with at least one of the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas along a vertical axis such that light generated thereby is directed toward at least a portion of the keycap.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the substrate is glass.

15. A keyboard, comprising:

a keycap;

a light-generating layer underlying the keycap, the light-generating layer comprising:

a substrate;

a power circuit formed onto the substrate;

a light-emitting polymer deposited onto the substrate and connected to the power circuit, the light-emitting polymer deposited so as to define a first and a second discrete light-generating area, the first and second discrete light-generating areas each covering only a portion of the substrate, the first discrete light-generating area formed into a shape corresponding to an area defined by or within the keycap; and

an encapsulation sheet disposed over the light-emitting polymer, thereby encapsulating the first and the second discrete light-generating areas;

a switch circuit disposed on a surface of the encapsulation sheet opposite the light-emitting polymer, the switch circuit configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the keycap when the keycap is pressed by a user; and

a dome switch underlying the first discrete light-generating area and aligned with the keycap.

16. The keyboard of claim 15 , wherein the first and second discrete light light-generating areas are flexible organic light-emitting diodes.

17. The keyboard of claim 15 , wherein the keycap defines a legend and the first discrete light-generating area is aligned with the legend along a vertical axis such that light generated by the first discrete light-generating area is directed upwardly through the legend.

18. A keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keys, each key comprising:

a keycap;

a dome switch underlying the keycap;

an encapsulation sheet comprising:

a top surface oriented toward the keycap, the top surface comprising a switch circuit underlying the keycap; and

a bottom surface opposite the top surface;

a light-generating area disposed onto a top surface of a substrate, the light-generating area positioned to interface the bottom surface of the encapsulation sheet so as to underlay the keycap and such that the light-generating area is encapsulated by the encapsulation sheet; and

a power circuit disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the light-generating area and configured to provide electrical power to the light-generating area.