Mechanical keypad
AssigneeVeriFone, Inc.
InventorsTravis Schraeder, Igal Yanko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mechanical keypads are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a mechanical keypad may include a key cap comprising a post extending from a bottom surface thereof; a structural element comprising a passage configured to receive the post therethrough; and a key securing device that securely receives, through the passage, the post in a recess or opening formed therein, and comprising a key switch interface on a lower surface thereof. The key cap and the key securing device may move substantially in unison when the key post is securely received in the key securing device.
Claims20
A mechanical keypad comprising:
- a key cap comprising a post extending from a bottom surface thereof;
- a structural element comprising a passage configured to receive the post therethrough;
- and
- a key securing device that securely receives, through the passage, the post in a recess or opening formed therein, and comprising a key switch interface on a lower surface thereof;
- wherein the key cap and the key securing device move substantially in unison when the key post is securely received in the key securing device.
A mechanical keypad comprising:
- a key cap having a plurality of posts extending from a bottom surface thereof;
- a structural element comprising a plurality of passages formed therethrough;
- a key securing device that securely receives the plurality of posts on an opposite side of the structural element from the key cap in a post-receiving structure formed therein, the key securing device comprising a key switch interface on a lower surface thereof;
- and
- a key switch layer comprising a key switch that interacts with the key switch interface and registering a key press;
- wherein the key securing device is mechanically unstable with respect to the key switch when not properly engaged with the plurality of posts;
- wherein the key cap and the key securing device move substantially in unison when the key posts are securely received in the key securing device;
- and
- wherein depressing the key cap causes the key switch interface that securely receives the key posts for the key cap to actuate the key switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.