Keyboard key employing a capacitive sensor and dome

A key of a keyboard, the key comprising:

• a keycap defining an input surface;
• a capacitive sensor coupled to the keycap and positioned below the input surface;
• a substructure positioned below the capacitive sensor and including a set of anchoring features;
• a support mechanism that moveably couples the substructure to a base, the support mechanism including a set of anchoring mechanisms that engage the set of anchoring features of the substructure;
• and
• a flex electrically connected to the capacitive sensor and extending between the capacitive sensor and the base;
• wherein:
• the set of anchoring features includes a pair of clip features;
• the set of anchoring mechanisms includes a pair of pins;
• and
• the pair of pins pivotally engage the pair of clip features.

A keyboard, comprising:

• a housing that defines a set of openings;
• a set of keys positioned in the set of openings, the set of keys including a sensor key that comprises:
• a keycap;
• a capacitive sensor positioned within the keycap;
• a substructure positioned within the keycap and defining a set of anchoring features wherein each of the set of anchoring features is positioned proximate to a respective corner of the capacitive sensor;
• a compressible dome positioned below the substructure;
• a support mechanism attached to the set of anchoring features of the substructure and configured to allow translation of the keycap to compress the compressible dome;
• and
• a flex electrically connected to the capacitive sensor and configured to bend in response to the translation of the keycap.

A keyboard, comprising:

• a housing that defines a set of openings;
• a feature plate positioned within the housing;
• a set of keys positioned over the feature plate and within the set of openings, the set of keys including a sensor key comprising:
• a keycap defining an upper surface and a lower surface;
• a capacitive sensor attached to the lower surface of the keycap;
• a substructure coupled to the capacitive sensor and including a set of anchoring features;
• a flex that electrically connects the capacitive sensor to circuitry;
• a dome switch positioned between the flex and the feature plate;
• and
• a scissor mechanism engaged with the set of anchoring features and translatably couples the substructure to the feature plate.