A new patent publication reveals Apple’s plan to implement advanced lighting technology on their next computers. Would we explore these colored keyboards on the next MacBook Pro models? Have a glimpse at the patent below.

Keyboard’s lights changing based on ambient light data

A new Apple’s patents titled “Mixed input lighting using multiple light sources and control circuitry to change a combined white light spectrum based on ambient light data” reveals the company plan to implement colored keyboards on their next computers. The patent explains the process of making dynamically variable internal illumination in a keyboard. As stead by the Abstract: “Input devices contain multiple LEDs whose light intensity may be varied to alter a tone or a color of light used for the internal illumination a key…In some embodiments, the LEDs are white light LEDs having different phosphor thicknesses. In some embodiments, the LEDs may be RGB LEDs, with individual control of color contributions to modify the internal illumination…Systems can include a processing unit and a light sensor or camera to detect ambient lighting and adjust internal illumination of an input device accordingly. 

Enhancing user experience

The patent describes the technical details of the process of internal illumination of input devices like keys of a keyboard, buttons, and touchpad surfaces, In short, Apple’s proposal involves the use of an external ambient light sensor to feed data into a system that determines what type of light should be output by the keyboard backlight. According to the publication, the keys of the keyboard, buttons, or other input devices may have internal lighting to provide either feedback to a user or for improved user experience. While some conventional keyboards may include internal illumination for keys, such conventional keyboards typically do not offer the ability to dynamically control lighting schemes, such as color or tone, for each of the keys individually. To provide an improved user experience and increase the potential for feedback to a user, it would be helpful to have keys of keyboards, or other input devices, with individually controllable variable internal illumination. To dive further into the details, explore the image above that shows an exploded view of components of a key using a dome switch. Also, check out the flow chart below of a sample method of controlling the internal illumination of a keyboard using keys with LEDs.

Initial thoughts

The ability for the keyboard to change the colors according to ambient light inputs may be resulted in a much better user experience, especially for filmmakers and editors who spend tons on the road (post-COVID scenario) with their eyes on the keyboard. Would we expect this privilege to be implemented in the next MacBook Pro models? Well, you know Apple. They can execute it in a day. We’ll continue tracking after this to keep you posted.