Low-profile spring-loaded contacts
First Claim
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1. A keyboard comprising:
- a device enclosure having an opening;
a board in the device enclosure;
a contact structure in the device enclosure and comprising;
a housing having a top surface; and
a plurality of spring-biased contacts, each partially located in the housing and comprising a contacting portion depressible in a contacting direction, the contacting direction orthogonal to the board, and a tail portion, the tail portion attached to the board and electrically connected to traces on the board, the housing molded around a portion of at least one of the plurality of spring-biased contacts; and
a cover having a plurality of openings, where for each opening, a contacting portion of a corresponding contact extends through the opening, the cover formed separately from the housing and including an element extending from a bottom of the cover to align the cover to the top surface of the housing,wherein the cover includes a raised portion arranged to fit in the opening of the device enclosure, the raised portion around the openings in the cover, andwherein the plurality of spring-biased contacts are arranged in a line.
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Abstract
Contact structures that are readily manufactured, where contacts in the contact structures provide a sufficient normal force while consuming a minimal amount of surface area, depth, and volume in an electronic device.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A keyboard comprising:
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a device enclosure having an opening; a board in the device enclosure; a contact structure in the device enclosure and comprising; a housing having a top surface; and a plurality of spring-biased contacts, each partially located in the housing and comprising a contacting portion depressible in a contacting direction, the contacting direction orthogonal to the board, and a tail portion, the tail portion attached to the board and electrically connected to traces on the board, the housing molded around a portion of at least one of the plurality of spring-biased contacts; and a cover having a plurality of openings, where for each opening, a contacting portion of a corresponding contact extends through the opening, the cover formed separately from the housing and including an element extending from a bottom of the cover to align the cover to the top surface of the housing, wherein the cover includes a raised portion arranged to fit in the opening of the device enclosure, the raised portion around the openings in the cover, and wherein the plurality of spring-biased contacts are arranged in a line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A contact structure comprising:
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a housing having plurality of slots extending parallel with each other; a plurality of contacts each comprising; a contact portion in a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, where a portion of the housing is molded around a portion of the contact portion; a flexible arm at a first end of the contact portion; and a contacting portion attached to the flexible arm, wherein the flexible arm angles up away from a bottom plate of the contact structure such that the contacting portion may be depressed towards the bottom plate of the contact structure; the bottom plate under the housing and having a plurality of tabs; and a top plate over the housing and comprising a plurality of openings, where for each opening, the contacting portion of a corresponding contact extends through the opening, the top plate further comprising a plurality of notches to accept the tabs on the bottom plate, such that the top plate, housing, and bottom plate are attached, wherein the top plate comprises a raised portion, the raised portion around the openings in the top plate, where the contacting portions of the contacts protrude out of the raised portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A contact structure comprising:
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a housing having a top surface; a plurality of spring-biased contacts, each partially located in the housing and comprising a contacting portion depressible in a contacting direction, the contacting direction orthogonal to a board, and a tail portion, the tail portion attached to the board and electrically connected to traces on the board, the housing molded around a portion of at least one of the plurality of spring-biased contacts; and a cover having a plurality of openings, where for each opening, a contacting portion of a corresponding contact extends through the opening, the cover formed separately from the housing and, wherein the cover includes a raised portion arranged to fit in an opening of a device enclosure, the raised portion around the openings in the cover, and wherein the plurality of spring-biased contacts are arranged in a line. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification