Button mechanism with stabilizing dome
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsYu-Po Chang, Chia Chi Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computing device can include a housing defining an opening, a base layer, and a button mechanism positioned in the opening. The button mechanism can include a keycap movable relative to the base layer between an undepressed state and a depressed state, and a dome contacting the keycap, the dome including a first surface and a second surface, opposite the first surface. In the undepressed state, the first surface can be concave and the second surface can be convex. In a partially depressed state, a first portion of the first surface can be convex and a second portion of the first surface can be concave. In the depressed state, the first surface can be convex and the second surface can be concave.
Claims20
A computing device comprising:
- a housing defining an opening;
- a base layer;
- and
- a button mechanism positioned in the opening, the button mechanism comprising:
- a keycap movable relative to the base layer between an undepressed state and a depressed state;
- and
- a dome contacting the keycap, the dome comprising a first surface and a second surface, opposite the first surface;
- wherein:
- in the undepressed state, the first surface is concave and the second surface is convex;
- in a partially depressed state, a first portion of the first surface is convex and a second portion of the first surface is concave;
- and
- in the depressed state, the first portion and the second portion of the first surface are convex and the second surface is concave.
A key comprising:
- an input member operative to move from a first position to a second position;
- a collapsible stabilizer supporting the input member;
- and
- a baseplate supporting the collapsible stabilizer, the baseplate defining a ridge;
- wherein, in response to an off-center portion of the collapsible stabilizer being pressed against the ridge, the collapsible stabilizer inverts.
A key mechanism comprising:
- a keycap movable between a first position to a second position;
- a spring comprising a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite the first end, the first end and the second end being biased in a first direction;
- and
- a fulcrum engageable with the spring, the fulcrum being offset from a center of the spring;
- wherein in response to the first end pivoting about the fulcrum, the second end is biased in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.