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US 2003/0156878 A1Published application
Portable keyboard apparatus
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorPatrick J. Cauwels
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable keyboard apparatus includes a set of movable parallel linkages connected at joints and configured to expand and collapse. A plurality of button assemblies, including associated actuators and contacts, is coupled to the parallel linkages, preferably at corresponding joints of the linkages. A plurality of electrical connections are configured to electrically couple the contacts of each button assembly actuator to the at least one input/output port.
Claims20
A portable keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- a set of movable parallel linkages connected at joints and configured to expand and collapse;
- a plurality of button assemblies including associated actuators, each of the button assemblies coupled to the parallel linkages;
- at least one input/output port;
- and
- a plurality of electrical connections, the electrical connections include contacts coupled to the at least one input/output port, the contacts operable by each button assembly actuator.
2 more elements
A portable keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- a set of movable parallel linkages connected at joints and configured to expand and collapse;
- a plurality of button assemblies including associated actuators and contacts, each of the button assemblies coupled to the parallel linkages at a corresponding joint;
- at least one input/output port;
- a foldable housing for substantially enclosing the keyboard while collapsed, and wherein the foldable housing serves as a backing support for the keyboard when the housing is unfolded and the keyboard is expanded;
- and
- a plurality of electrical connections disposed on a top side of the unfolded housing, the electrical connections include contacts coupled to the at least one input/output port, the contacts operable by each button assembly actuator.
3 more elements
A portable keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- a set of movable parallel linkages connected at joints and configured to expand and collapse;
- a plurality of button assemblies including associated actuators and contacts, each of the button assemblies coupled to the parallel linkages to provide a connecting mechanism for each corresponding joint of the parallel linkages;
- at least one input/output port;
- a foldable housing for substantially enclosing the keyboard while collapsed, and wherein the foldable housing serves as a backing support for the keyboard when the housing is unfolded and the keyboard is expanded;
- and
- a plurality of electrical connections disposed on a top side of the unfolded housing, the electrical connections include contacts coupled to the at least one input/output port, the contacts operable by each button assembly actuator.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.