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US 5,481,074 AGranted
Computer keyboard with cantilever switch and actuator design
AssigneeKey Tronic Corporation
InventorGeorge P. English
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer keyboard with multiple rows of cantilevered keys which are flexibly attached to first common mounting strips. The keyboard also has multiple rows of cantilevered sub-members flexibly attached to second common mounting strips, with the sub-members being aligned beneath associated keys. The cantilevered sub-members are in sliding contact with their associated cantilevered keys and induce a tactile "break over" sensation as the associated cantilevered keys are depressed. Each sub-member is designed to actuate a switch contact as the cantilevered key is depressed, whereby the computer keyboard can be constructed without a dome sheet.
Claims20
In a computer keyboard,
- a plurality of cantilever supported keys arranged in computer keyboard rows;
- wherein at least one row has a plurality of cantilever supported keys that are pivotally connected to a common mounting strip means to enable each key to independently pivot between an elevated non-actuated position and a depressed actuation position;
- each of said cantilever supported keys having a key cap portion, a keylever portion and a flexible hinge portion, in which the keylever portion extends between the key cap portion and the hinge portion and the hinge portion is flexibly connected to the mounting strip means;
- a plurality of cantilever spring elements associated with the keys of the one row and operatively pivotally connected to the mounting strip means;
- wherein each cantilever spring element engages the associated key and biases such key from the depressed actuation position to the elevated non-actuation position;
- wherein the cantilever spring element and the keylever portion of an associated key have complementary rubbing surfaces that slide relative to each other when the associated key moves between the elevated non-actuation position and the depressed actuation position;
- and
- wherein at least one of the complementary rubbing surfaces has (1) a first surface section having a first surface property sufficient to retard relative sliding movement between the complementary rubbing surfaces to increase the force required to pivot the key and move the key toward the depressed actuation position, and (2) a second surface section having a second surface property sufficient to facilitate relative movement between the complementary rubbing surfaces to decrease the force required to pivot and further move the key toward the depressed actuation position to simulate a tactile "break over" sensation as the key is moved from the elevated non-actuation position to the depressed actuation position.
5 more elements
A computer keyboard, comprising:
- a support plate;
- a plurality of membrane keyswitches mounted on the support plate arrange in a plurality of spaced front-to-back keyboard rows;
- each of the rows having a key mounting strip means mounted on the support plate;
- each of the rows having a plurality of cantilever supported keys overlying corresponding membrane keyswitches and pivotally connected to a common key mounting strip means to enable each key in each row to independently pivot between an elevated non-actuated position and a depressed actuation position actuating a corresponding membrane keyswitch;
- each of said cantilever supported keys having a key cap portion, a keylever portion and a flexible hinge portion, in which the keylever portion extends between the key cap portion and the hinge portion and the hinge portion is flexibly connected to the mounting strip means;
- a plurality of cantilever spring elements associated with the keys of each row and operatively pivotally connected to the mounting strip means;
- wherein each cantilever spring element engages the associated key and biases such key from the depressed actuation position to the elevated non-actuation position;
- wherein the cantilever spring element and the keylever portion of an associated key have complementary rubbing surfaces that slide relative to each other when the associated key moves between the elevated non-actuation position and the depressed actuation position;
- and
- wherein at least one of the complementary rubbing surfaces has (1) a first surface section having a first surface property sufficient to retard relative sliding movement between the complementary rubbing surfaces to increase the force required to pivot the key and move the key toward the depressed actuation position, and (2) a second surface section having a second surface property sufficient to facilitate relative movement between the complementary rubbing surfaces to decrease the force required to pivot and further move the key toward the depressed actuation position to simulate a tactile "break over" sensation as the key is moved from the elevated non-actuation position to the depressed actuation position to actuate the corresponding membrane keyswitch.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.