# US 2013/0154940 A1 · Keyboard, Method of Driving and Assembling the Same, and Electronic Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154940 A1 - Document ID: US20130154940A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/719,475 - Filed: 2012-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd.; Lenovo (Beijing) Limited - Inventors: Dayong GAN; Guangjun Jiang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154940A1 ## CPC - H01H 13/70: having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard (mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B) - G06F 1/1618: {the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure} - G06F 1/1666: {Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys (G06F1/1664 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/02: Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials - H01H 13/85: characterised by tactile feedback features - H01H 36/0073: {actuated by relative movement between two magnets} - H01H 3/125: {using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser} - H01H 2221/04: magnetic - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A keyboard, a driving method and an assembling method for the keyboard, and an electronic device are described. The keyboard includes a base plate, on which a first magnetic member and a second magnetic member are formed; a keycap, disposed above the base plate; and an X-shaped holder disposed between the base plate and the keycap for supporting the keycap, and a third permanent magnet is provided on the sliding end, wherein the keycap is movable between a first position and a second position lower than the first position along a direction substantially perpendicular to the base plate, and wherein the third permanent magnet is in a position substantially opposite to the second magnetic member when the keycap is in the first position, and the third permanent magnet slides to a position substantially opposite to the first magnetic member when the keycap is in the second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic keyboard, comprising: a base plate, on which a first magnetic member and a second magnetic member are formed; a keycap, disposed above the base plate; and an X-shaped holder, disposed between the base plate and the keycap for supporting the keycap, the X-shaped holder comprising a first lever and a second lever pivotally connected to each other, thus having four ends, wherein one end is pivotally connected to the base plate, one end is slidably connected to the keycap in a sliding direction substantially parallel to the base plate, and a third permanent magnet is provided on the sliding end, wherein the keycap is movable between a first position and a second position lower than the first position along a direction substantially perpendicular to the base plate, and wherein the third permanent magnet is in a position substantially opposite to the second magnetic member when the keycap is in the first position, and the third permanent magnet slides to a position substantially opposite to the first magnetic member when the keycap is in the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are respectively a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet, and a lower surface of the third permanent magnet has the same polarity as those of the upper surfaces of the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The magnetic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are respectively a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are respectively a first electromagnet and a second permanent magnet, and a lower surface of the third permanent magnet has the same polarity as that of the upper surface of the second permanent magnet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein a first chute is formed on the keycap, in which the sliding end of the X-shaped holder is assembled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The magnetic keyboard according to claim 3, wherein a contact pole facing the base plate is formed on the keycap, wherein a circuit is formed on the base plate, and wherein the contact pole contacts the circuit when the keycap is in the second position so that the circuit sends out a key value while powering the first electromagnet. ### Claim 7 A magnetic keyboard, comprising: a base plate; a keycap, disposed above the base plate and having a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet; and an X-shaped holder, disposed between the base plate and the keycap for supporting the keycap, the X-shaped holder comprising a first lever and a second lever pivotally connected to each other, thus having four ends, wherein one end is pivotally connected to the base plate, one end is slidably connected to the base plate in a sliding direction substantially parallel to the base plate, and a third permanent magnet is provided on the sliding end, an upper surface of the third permanent magnet having the same polarity as those of the lower surfaces of the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet, wherein the keycap is movable between a first position and a second position lower than the first position along a direction substantially perpendicular to the base plate, and wherein the third permanent magnet is in a position substantially opposite to the second permanent magnet when the keycap is in the first position, and the third permanent magnet slides to a position substantially opposite to the first permanent magnet when the keycap is in the second position. ### Claim 8 A driving method of a magnetic keyboard, the magnetic keyboard comprising a base plate, a keycap, and an X-shaped holder supporting the keycap to the base plate, one end of the X-shaped holder being slidably connected to the keycap, a first electromagnet and a second magnetic member being provided on the base plate, a third permanent magnet being provided on a sliding end of the X-shaped holder and sliding from a position substantially opposite to the second magnetic member to a position substantially opposite to the first electromagnet in response to the depressing operation of the keycap, the driving method comprising: sending out a key value when the keycap is depressed to the lowest position, and at the same time applying a current pulse to the first electromagnet so as to generate a repulsive magnetic force between the first electromagnet and the third permanent magnet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The driving method according to claim 8, further comprising: applying a current pulse to the first electromagnet when the magnetic keyboard is actuated, such that the first electromagnet generates a repulsive magnetic force against the third permanent magnet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The driving method according to claim 8, wherein the second magnetic member is a second electromagnet and the driving method further comprises: powering the second electromagnet when the magnetic keyboard is actuated so as to generate a repulsive magnetic force of mutual against the third permanent magnet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The driving method according to claim 10, further comprising: applying a reverse current pulse to the first and the second electromagnets when the magnetic keyboard is shut down, such that the keycap is disposed at the lowest position by the repulsive magnetic force. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The driving method according to claim 8, wherein the second magnetic member is a second permanent magnet and is arranged to generate a repulsive magnetic force against the third permanent magnet. ### Claim 13 An electronic device, comprising: a keyboard, sending out a key value in response to a key-press operation; a processing unit, receiving and handling the key value sent out by the keyboard; and a display unit, displaying a process result of the processing unit, wherein the keyboard comprises: a base plate, on which a first magnetic member and a second magnetic member are formed; a keycap, disposed above the base plate; and an X-shaped holder disposed between the base plate and the keycap for supporting the keycap, the X-shaped holder comprising a first lever and a second lever pivotally connected to each other, thus having four ends, wherein one end is pivotally connected to the base plate, one end is slidably connected to the keycap in a sliding direction substantially parallel to the base plate, and a third permanent magnet is provided on the sliding end, wherein the keycap is movable between a first position and a second position lower than the first position along a direction substantially perpendicular to the base plate, and wherein the third permanent magnet is in a position substantially opposite to the second magnetic member when the keycap is in the first position, and the third permanent magnet slides to a position substantially opposite to the first magnetic member when the keycap is in the second position. ### Claim 14 A keyboard, comprising: a keycap; an X-shaped holder for supporting the keycap, the X-shaped holder at least comprising a first member at least having a first pivoting part and a second member at least having a second pivoting part; a movable means connected to the first pivoting part; and a fixed means connected to the second pivoting part, wherein the movable means moves to bring the first pivoting part away from or towards the second pivoting part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The keyboard according to claim 14, wherein the movable means is interlinked with a movement of a screen of the electronic device, such that the first pivoting part moves towards or away from the second pivoting part when the screen moves. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The keyboard according to claim 15, wherein the first pivoting part moves towards the second pivoting part when the screen moves away from the keyboard; the first pivoting part is away from the second pivoting part when the screen moves towards the keyboard. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The keyboard according to claim 14, wherein, when the first pivoting part is away from the second pivoting part, the keycap is depressed so that the keyboard enters into a compression state; and when the first pivoting part is close to the second pivoting part, the keycap is moves upward so that the keyboard is in an operable readiness state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The keyboard according to claim 14, wherein the fixed means is a fixed plate, the movable means is a movable plate located above or below the fixed plate, and the upper one of the fixed plate and the movable plate is shorter than the lower one or has an opening so as to allow the lower one to connect with the corresponding first pivoting part or second pivoting part. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The keyboard according to claim 14, wherein the fixed means comprises an accommodating groove, in which the movable means moves. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The keyboard according to claim 14, wherein the X-shaped holder further comprises a pivot, wherein the pivot moves or the first member or the second member of the X-shaped holder moves with respect to the keycap when the movable means moves. ### Claim 21 An assembling method of a keyboard, the keyboard comprising: a keycap; an X-shaped holder at least comprising a first member and a second member; a movable means; and a fixed means, wherein the first member at least has a first pivoting part and the second member at least has a second pivoting part, the method comprising: supportively connecting the X-shaped holder to the keycap; connecting the movable means to the first pivoting part; connecting the fixed means to the second pivoting part; wherein the movable means moves to bring the first pivoting part away from or towards the second pivoting part. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The assembling method according to claim 21, wherein the fixed means comprises an accommodating groove and the assembling method further comprises allowing the movable means to move in the accommodating groove.