Multi-mode mechanical keyboard switch
AssigneeZeal Global Holdings Ltd.
InventorHenry Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-mode mechanical key switch assembly has a housing and a stem supported in a base of the housing, the stem constrained to move, when depressed during keystroke, from a resting state and toward the base of the housing. The assembly has a removable contact leaf spring seated in the housing and having a contact portion located in a travel path of the stem for engaging with the stem during the keystroke to provide audible and/or tactile feedback. The contact leaf spring is movable between a first seated position and a second seated position to change the characteristics of the feedback. Removal of the contact leaf spring from the housing enables the stem to travel its maximum keystroke distance without auditory or tactile feedback.
Claims18
A mechanical key switch assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a stem supported in a base of the housing, the stem constrained to move, when depressed during a keystroke, from a resting state and toward the base of the housing;
- a removable contact leaf spring seated in the housing, the contact leaf spring having a contact portion located in a travel path of the stem for engaging with the stem during the keystroke to provide audible and/or tactile feedback;
- wherein the contact leaf spring is movable between a first seated position and a second seated position in the housing, wherein a distance between the contact portion and the stem at the resting state is decreased by moving the contact leaf spring from the first seated position to the second seated position in the housing, wherein the decreased distance is associated with decreased audible feedback.
A mechanical keyboard switch assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a stem supported in the housing, the stem constrained to move, during a downward part of a keystroke, from a resting position and toward a base of the housing;
- and
- a contact leaf spring supported in the housing, wherein the contact leaf spring has a leaf contact portion arranged to be impinged by a stem contact portion of the stem during the downward part of the keystroke to provide tactile and/or audible feedback, and the contact leaf spring is adjustable between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein adjusting the contact leaf spring from the first orientation to the second orientation changes the tactile and/or audible feedback.
A method for manufacturing a mechanical key switch assembly comprising:
- providing a housing;
- providing a stem supported in a base of the housing, the stem constrained to move, when depressed during a keystroke, from a resting state and toward the base of the housing;
- and
- providing a removable contact leaf spring having a contact portion, wherein when the contact leaf spring is seated in the housing the contact portion is located in a travel path of the stem for engaging with the stem during the keystroke to provide audible and/or tactile feedback;
- wherein the contact leaf spring is movable between a first seated position and a second seated position in the housing, wherein a distance between the contact portion and the stem at the resting state is decreased by moving the contact leaf spring from the first seated position to the second seated position in the housing, wherein the decreased distance is associated with decreased audible feedback.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.