Keyboards with planar translation mechanism formed from laminated substrates
AssigneeSynaptics Incorporated
InventorDoug Krumpelman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Keyboards with planar translation effecting mechanisms formed by laminated key guides are disclosed. A key assembly for a keyboard includes a keycap having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position, the unpressed position and pressed position separated in a press direction and a second direction orthogonal to the press direction. A base is included having a laminated key guide contacting a portion of the keycap to provide a planar translation effecting mechanism to guide the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position.
Claims21
A key assembly, comprising:
- a keycap having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position, the unpressed position and pressed position separated in a press direction and a second direction orthogonal to the press direction;
- and
- a base having a laminated key guide contacting a portion of the keycap to provide a planar translation effecting mechanism to guide the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position, the laminated key guide comprising a flexible portion, the flexible portion engaging an interior surface of the keycap.
A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keycaps, each keycap of the plurality of keycaps having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position, the unpressed position and pressed position separated in a press direction and a second direction orthogonal to the press direction;
- and
- a base having a laminated key guide contacting a portion of the plurality of keycaps to provide a planar translation effecting mechanism for the keycaps, wherein when the press force being applied to a respective keycap of the plurality of keycaps the laminated key guide guides the respective keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the respective keycap moves toward the pressed position, the laminated key guide comprising a flexible portion, the flexible portion engaging an interior surface of the keycap.
A method of effecting motion of a keycap of a key assembly, wherein the keycap is supported in an unpressed position by a laminated key guide of a base of the key assembly, the keycap configured to move between the unpressed position and a pressed position relative to a base, the laminated key guide comprising a flexible portion, the flexible portion engaging an interior surface of the keycap, wherein the unpressed and pressed positions are separated in a press direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the press direction, the method comprising:
- in response to a press input to the keycap, guiding the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves toward the pressed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.