Electrical key support membrane
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsPaul X. Wang, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Shan Wu, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Keyboards and other input devices are provided with membranes that extend under the keycaps or buttons. The membranes are flexible and can support conductive structures, traces, and electrical switch connections to enable effective key switches, lighting, and fluid-tightness for the keyboard. The flexible membrane is positioned near the keycaps to prevent ingress of fluids and debris into the lower portions of the key assemblies. In some cases, the flexible membrane also provides support for an interstitial layer that extends between keycaps.
Claims20
A button for an electronic device, comprising:
- a button cap;
- an elastic support layer attached to and contacting the button cap, the elastic support layer having a set of conductive traces providing conductive paths across the elastic support layer;
- a set of support structures supporting the elastic support layer and the button cap, the set of support structures including a hinge mechanism configured to limit rotational movement of the button cap relative to a horizontal plane;
- wherein upon application of a force to the elastic support layer, the elastic support layer deforms to enable electrical communication between two conductive paths in the set of conductive traces.
A keyboard, comprising:
- a housing having a rigid web portion;
- a first flexible support layer having a lower portion and a raised portion, the raised portion being raised relative to the lower portion and positioned above the rigid web portion, the lower portion being attached to the rigid web portion of the housing;
- at least two keycaps, the at least two keycaps including a keycap positioned above the raised portion of the first flexible support layer;
- a second flexible support layer defining a top surface of the keyboard between the at least two keycaps, being directly attached to two adjacent keycaps of the at least two keycaps, being in contact with a top surface of the raised portion of the first flexible support layer, and being vertically spaced above and positioned over the lower portion of the first flexible support layer.
A keyboard, comprising:
- a base layer;
- a rigid web extending upward from the base layer;
- a flexible membrane having a first portion raised relative to a second portion;
- a set of keycaps, at least one keycap of the set of keycaps being positioned at least partially over the first portion of the flexible membrane;
- an interstitial layer positioned over the first portion of the flexible membrane and spaced above the rigid web, the interstitial layer extending horizontally between the at least one keycap and a second keycap of the set of keycaps, the interstitial layer defining an opening positioned underneath the at least one keycap and above the flexible membrane;
- and
- a dome positioned between the base layer and the flexible membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.