Low-profile keyboard
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorMasaaki Fukumoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keyboard (110) includes a base board (116), keys (112), pitfalls (120) and a mode control mechanism (118). The keys (112) include cups (1124), and the mode control mechanism (118) may switch the keyboard (110) especially the key cups (1124) between different modes. In case that the keyboard (110) is not in use, these cups (1124) can be received in the pitfalls (120) to reduce the profile of the keyboard (110). In case that the keyboard (110) is to be used, the keys (112) may be raised up and arranged on the base board (116) in order to enable long keystroke and provide good typing experience.
Claims20
An input device comprising:
- one or more keys including respective cups and operable to be arranged on a base board of the input device in a first mode;
- one or more depressions arranged in the base board and operable to receive the cups of the respective one or more keys in a second mode;
- one or more latching mechanisms for the one or more keys, wherein each of the one or more latching mechanisms includes one or more pits and a bump, the bump operable to be inserted into the one or more pits;
- and
- a mode control mechanism operable to switch the input device between the first mode, the second mode, and a third mode, wherein:
- switching the input device between the first mode and the second mode causes the cups of the respective one or more keys to be moved from the base board into the one or more depressions;
- and
- switching the input device between the second mode and the third mode causes the one or more latching mechanisms to lock the cups of the respective keys within the one or more depressions.
A system comprising:
- an input device including:
- one or more keys including respective cups and operable to be arranged on a base board of the input device in a first mode;
- one or more depressions arranged on the base board and operable to receive the cups of the respective one or more keys in a second mode;
- one or more latching mechanisms for the one or more keys, wherein each of the one or more latching mechanisms includes a plurality of pits and a bump, the bump operable to be inserted into the plurality of pits;
- and
- a mode control mechanism operable to switch the input device between the first mode, the second mode, and a third mode, wherein:
- switching the input device between the first mode and the second mode causes the cups of the respective one or more keys to be moved from the base board into the one or more depressions;
- and
- switching the input device between the second mode and the third mode causes the one or more latching mechanisms to lock the cups of the respective keys within the one or more depressions.
A method comprising:
- receiving, by an input device, a selection input, the input device including:
- one or more keys including respective cups and operable to be arranged on a base board of the input device in a first mode;
- one or more depressions arranged in the base board and operable to receive the cups of the respective one or more keys in a second mode;
- one or more latching mechanisms for the one or more keys, wherein each of the one or more latching mechanisms includes a first pit, a second pit, a third pit, and a bump, the bump operable to be inserted into one or more of the first pit, the second pit, or the third pit;
- and
- in response to receiving the selection input:
- switching the input device between the first mode and the second mode such that the cups of the respective one or more keys are moved from the base board into one or more depressions;
- or
- switching the input device between the second mode and the third mode such that the one or more latching mechanisms lock the cups of the respective keys within the one or more depressions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.