Interkey support for keyboards
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsPaul X. Wang, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Keyboards and other input devices are provided with at least one flexible layer that extends over or under the keycaps. The flexible layer spans interkey spaces and provides finger support and key definition as the user feels the top surface of the keycaps and flexible layer. The flexible layer therefore smooths the top surface of the keyboard, supports fingers during key travel, prevents ingress of contaminants, fluids, or debris into the keyboard, and provides a surface that can be used as a touch interface that coincides with the keyboard.
Claims19
A keyboard, comprising:
- a first keycap structure having a first top surface including a first center portion;
- a second keycap structure having a second top surface including a second center portion;
- a rigid web positioned between the first and second keycap structures;
- an interkey bridge structure coupled with the first and second keycap structures, the interkey bridge structure having a flexible portion positioned between the first and second keycap structures with a flexible top surface vertically positioned at least as high as the first and second center portions of the first and second top surfaces relative to the rigid web, the flexible portion being spaced away from the rigid web, the first and second keycap structures being positioned at least partially on top of the interkey bridge structure;
- a controller connection to provide an electrical connection to a keyboard controller;
- a switch structure electrically connected to the controller connection, the switch structure being actuated in response to movement of the first keycap structure relative to the rigid web.
A keyboard, comprising:
- a base layer;
- a set of keycap structures horizontally spaced apart from each other, each keycap structure having a top surface and being movable between a neutral position and a depressed position;
- a layer structure extending across the set of keycap structures, the layer structure having an interkey surface positioned between two keycap structures of the set of keycap structures, the interkey surface being flexible, the set of keycap structures being positioned on top of the layer structure;
- wherein the interkey surface is vertically positioned relative to the base layer at least as high as the top surfaces of the two keycap structures.
A keyboard, comprising:
- a housing;
- a set of keycap structures distributed across the housing, the keycap structures being movable by a user instrument between a neutral position and a depressed position;
- a bridge structure extending across the set of keycap structures, the set of keycap structures being positioned at least partially on top of the bridge structure, the bridge structure having interkey portions positioned between the set of keycap structures and configured to at least partially support the user instrument when the user instrument is supported by the set of keycap structures, wherein the interkey portions are flexible and form a continuous top surface with at least two keycap structures of the set of keycap structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.