Plane mechanical keyboard
AssigneeFrance Telecom
InventorJean-Loup Gillot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plane, mechanical keyboard comprises several main keys, each of which is surrounded by one or more secondary keys and is mechanically connected to at least one of these secondary keys to define a striking zone. Mechanisms interconnect the main keys and the secondary keys so that each main key, under the effect of a pressure, drives the neighboring secondary keys mechanically connected to this main key downwards and so that a pull-back force exerted on each secondary key exerts a corresponding pull-back force capable of drawing the neighboring main key back upwards when there is no pressure exerted on this neighboring key. This keyboard is designed, inter alia, to be integrated into pocket computer devices or pocket electronic devices or again into portable telephones.
Claims30
A plane mechanical keyboard designed to be integrated into an electronic pocket device comprising:
- several main keys, each of which is located adjacent to at least one neighboring secondary key,
- means for mechanically interconnecting each of the main keys with the associated neighboring secondary key to form a striking zone, the means for interconnecting coupling the main keys to the associated neighboring secondary keys such that an application of a pressure to one of the main keys drives the associated neighboring secondary key downwards and so that application of a pull-back force on one of the secondary keys exerts a corresponding pull-back force on the associated neighboring main key.
A plane mechanical keyboard designed to be integrated into an electronic pocket device, said mechanical keyboard comprising:
- (A) a base;
- (B) a plurality of main keys which are supported on said base so as to be movable vertically with respect to said base;
- (C) a plurality of secondary keys, each of which 1) is supported on said base so as to be movable vertically with respect to said base and 2) is located adjacent at least one main key so as form a neighboring secondary key;
- and
- (D) at least one return element;
- wherein
- each of said main keys is operatively connected to at least one neighboring secondary key associated therewith such that, with respect to each said main key,
- 1) downward movement of said main key with respect to said base effects downward movement of said neighboring secondary key with respect to said base, and
- 2) a return force, imposed on said neighboring secondary key by said return elements is transmitted through said neighboring secondary key to said main key, thereby biasing said main key upwardly with respect to said base.
A plane mechanical keyboard designed to be integrated into an electronic pocket device, said mechanical keyboard comprising:
- (A) a base;
- (B) a plurality of main keys which are supported on said base so as to be movable vertically with respect to said base;
- (C) a plurality of secondary keys, each of which 1) is supported on said base so as to be movable vertically with respect to said base and 2) is located adjacent at least one main key so as form a neighboring secondary key;
- (D) a plurality of tertiary keys, each of which is 1) is supported on said base so as to be movable vertically with respect to said base and 2) is located adjacent at least one neighboring secondary key so as form a neighboring tertiary key;
- and
- (E) at least one return element, wherein
- said main keys, secondary keys, and return keys are interconnected such that, with respect to each said main key,
- 1) downward movement of said main key with respect to said base effects downward movement of said neighboring secondary key and said neighboring tertiary key with respect to said base, and
- 2) a return force, imposed on said neighboring tertiary key by said return element, is transmitted through said neighboring tertiary key, through said neighboring secondary key, and to said main key, thereby biasing said main key upwardly with respect to said base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.