Keyswitch mechanism with horizontal motion return mechanism
OwnerPat Haoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are thin keyboard and thin keyboard overlay, as well as novel key assembly for uses on keyboards and keyswitches. The key assembly includes a top plate, a movable keycap, a support plate and flexible rods embedded in the support plate acting as springs. The underside of the movable keycap has at least one or several tapered protrusions which are located above the flexible rods. A vertical downward force on the movable keycap will enable the protrusion to flex the rods horizontally, thus creating a spring like mechanism that will return the movable keycap to its original position once the vertical force is removed.
Claims39
An electronic input device comprising at least one key assembly within a single top plate, a single support plate including a single key switch layer;
- within the top plate is
- at least one movable keycap comprising at least one protrusion, below which is the support plate comprising at least one substantially planar flexible rod;
- and
- below which is the key switch layer;
- wherein
- the flexible rod is contained within a plane defined by the support plate except during vertical downward movement of the protrusion from an applied force on the keycap;
- which causes the protrusion to act upon the flexible rod causing horizontal displacement of the flexible rod;
- conversely
- removal of the applied force causes the flexible rod to act upon the protrusion causing vertical upward movement of the keycap.
An electronic input device comprising at least one key assembly within a single top plate, a single support plate including a single switch plate;
- within the top plate is
- at least one movable keycap comprising
- at least one substantially planar flexible rod, below which is
- the support plate, below which is
- the switch plate comprising at least one protrusion;
- wherein
- vertical downward movement of the keycap from an applied force causes horizontal displacement of the flexible rod against the protrusion;
- conversely,
- removal of the applied force causes the flexible rod to act upon the protrusion causing vertical upward movement of the keycap.
An input device comprising a least one key assembly;
- each key assembly comprising:
- a movable keycap,
- the movable keycap comprises
- at least one protrusion forming a surface or edge;
- and
- a support plate,
- the support plate comprises
- a substantially planar return mechanism and
- a recess;
- and
- an alignment mechanism,
- the alignment mechanism comprises at least one of,
- a top plate, feet or tabs;
- where
- the at least one protrusion is positioned atop the return mechanism such that a pressing force on the keycap results in vertical downward movement of the keycap causing the surface or edge of the protrusion to displace and flex the return mechanism in a relatively perpendicular direction to the vertical downward movement of the keycap with the alignment mechanism stabilizing the keycap within the recess.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.