Pushbutton for a keyboard
AssigneeSunrex Technology Corp.
InventorShih-Pin Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pushbutton includes a base extending in a longitudinal direction, a sensor module mounted to the base, a keycap disposed above the sensor module, two scissor switch modules, a main pushbutton module and two side pushbutton modules. The sensor module has a first sensing member and two second sensing members. The main pushbutton module is operable to switch between a released state, where the main pushbutton module is not in direct contact with the first sensing member such that each of the scissor switch modules would not be in direct contact with a respective one of the second sensing members, and a depressed state, where the main pushbutton module comes in direct contact with the first sensing member.
Claims8
A pushbutton for a keyboard, said pushbutton comprising:
- a base extending in a longitudinal direction;
- a sensor module including
- a first sensor that is mounted to a top surface of said base and that is for sensing stress exerted thereto, and
- two second sensors that are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of said first sensor in the longitudinal direction;
- a keycap disposed above said sensor module;
- two side pushbutton modules respectively corresponding in position to said second sensors, each of said side pushbutton modules having
- a dome-shaped side cover that is resiliently mounted to said base and that covers a respective one of said second sensors, and
- a side protrusion that protrudes from an inner surface of said side cover and that extends toward the respective one of said second sensors;
- two scissor switch modules respectively corresponding in position to said side pushbutton modules, each of said scissor switch modules including
- a first scissor frame that is rotatably connected to said base, and
- a second scissor frame that is rotatably connected to said first scissor frame to define an axis of rotation therebetween, and that is rotatably connected to said keycap;
- and
- a main pushbutton module resiliently connected between said base and said keycap, and corresponding in position to said first sensor;
- wherein, each of said scissor switch modules is operable to switch between
- a released state, where said second scissor frame and said keycap are not in direct contact with a respective one of said side covers such that said side protrusion thereof is not in direct contact with the respective one of said second sensors, and
- a depressed state, where one of said keycap and said second scissor frame pushes the respective one of said side covers such that said side protrusion thereof comes in direct contact with the respective one of said second sensors;
- and
- wherein, said main pushbutton module is operable to switch between
- a released state, where said main pushbutton module is not in direct contact with said first sensor such that each of said scissor switch modules remains in its respective released state, and
- a depressed state, where said main pushbutton module comes in direct contact with said first sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.