Selectively displaced keys for input and output
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsFaizal A. Kotta, Vishal Narayanan Potty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, an apparatus for receiving input and/or generating output comprises a key assembly. The key assembly comprises a key cover, a magnet, and an electromagnet. The magnet is coupled to the key cover. The electromagnet is operable to displace the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state. In the active state, the electromagnet is operable to raise the key cover to a first position based on generation of a magnetic field. In the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to lower the key cover to a second position based on cessation of the magnetic field.
Claims21
An apparatus comprising:
- a key assembly comprising:
- a key cover;
- a magnet coupled to the key cover;
- a key base, wherein the key cover and the key base couple together to limit the vertical displacement of the key cover with respect to the key base;
- and
- an electromagnet supported by the key base, the electromagnet operable to displace the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state, wherein:
- in the active state, the electromagnet is operable to raise the key cover to a first position based on generation of a magnetic field, and
- in the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to lower the key cover to a second position based on cessation of the magnetic field.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of key assemblies, wherein each key assembly in the plurality of key assemblies comprises:
- a key cover;
- a magnet coupled to the key cover;
- a key base, wherein the key cover and the key base couple together to limit the vertical displacement of the key cover with respect to the key base;
- and
- an electromagnet supported by the key base, the electromagnet operable to displace the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state, wherein:
- in the active state, the electromagnet is operable to raise the key cover to a first position based on generation of a magnetic field, and
- in the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to lower the key cover to a second position based on cessation of the magnetic field;
- and
- wherein the electromagnet in each key assembly of the plurality of key assemblies is operable to displace the key cover independent of others of the plurality of key assemblies.
A method comprising:
- providing an electromagnet operable to displace a magnet coupled to a key cover within a key assembly, wherein the key cover and the key base couple together to limit the vertical displacement of the key cover with respect to the key base, and wherein the electromagnet is supported by a key base within the key assembly;
- and
- displacing, by the electromagnet, the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state, the displacing comprising:
- in the active state, raising the key cover to a first position based on generating of a magnetic field, and
- in the inactive state, lowering the key cover to a second position based on stopping the magnetic field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.