Keyboard for electronic device

• US 10,083,805 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Knopf, Eric A., Casebolt, Matthew P., Leong, Craig C., Cao, Robert Y., Zercoe, Bradford J., Mathew, Dinesh C., Gao, Zheng, Brooks, Ryan P., Wang, Paul X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malakooti, Iman
• Application Number:
  US15/154,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20160351360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 200 5 A
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/04 Cases; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/10 Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/038 to be bridged by a dome shaped contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/028 Printed information
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/03 Separate key housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/054 Mounting of key housings on same printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/022 Collapsable dome
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/02 : Laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/056 : Keyboard or overlay identification features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/074 : Actuation by finger touch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 : with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor

Abstract

An input mechanism is disclosed. The input mechanism includes a dome support structure defining an opening that extends through the dome support structure, a collapsible dome positioned in the opening and engaged with the dome support structure, and a cover member coupled to the dome support structure and covering the collapsible dome, thereby retaining the collapsible dome within the opening of the dome support structure.

Claims

1. An input mechanism, comprising:

a dome support structure defining an opening that extends through the dome support structure;

a collapsible dome positioned in the opening of the dome support structure and engaged with the dome support structure;

a flexible cover member bonded to the dome support structure and covering the collapsible dome, thereby retaining the collapsible dome within the opening of the dome support structure;

a hinge mechanism; and

a keycap positioned above the dome support structure and coupled to the hinge mechanism, wherein;

the hinge mechanism allows the keycap to move between an undepressed position and a depressed position relative to the dome support structure; and

the keycap deforms the flexible cover member when the keycap is in the depressed position.

2. The input mechanism of claim 1, wherein:

the input mechanism is configured to be coupled to a keyboard base; and

the collapsible dome is configured to communicate through the opening to contact the keyboard base when the collapsible dome is collapsed.

3. The input mechanism of claim 2, wherein the dome support structure further comprises a channel in a peripheral edge of the dome support structure, the channel configured to capture a pivot pin of the hinge mechanism between a wall of the channel and the keyboard base.

4. The input mechanism of claim 1, wherein

the dome support structure comprises a light guide to direct light from a light source towards the keycap.

5. The input mechanism of claim 4, wherein the dome support structure comprises a transparent material.

6. The input mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cover member comprises an actuation pad configured to transmit an actuation force from the keycap to the collapsible dome.

7. The input mechanism of claim 1, wherein:

the collapsible dome comprises an array of retention features extending from an outer edge of the collapsible dome; and

the retention features are each configured to contact a respective retention surface of the dome support structure.

8. An input mechanism, comprising:

a keyboard base;

a frame fixed to the keyboard base and defining;

a retention channel along an outer edge of the frame; and

an opening in a central region of the frame;

a cover member positioned over the opening;

a collapsible dome positioned in the opening and captured between the cover member and a retention feature of the frame;

a keycap; and

an actuation mechanism coupled to the keycap and configured to movably support the keycap relative to the frame;

wherein

the retention channel is configured to capture a pivot member between a wall of the retention channel and an object adjacent the frame; and

the keycap is configured to cause the cover member to deform when the keycap is depressed.

9. The input mechanism of claim 8, wherein:

the pivot member extends from a wing of the actuation mechanism; and

the retention channel captures the pivot member between the wall of the retention channel and the keyboard base, thereby retaining the actuation mechanism to the keyboard base.

10. The input mechanism of claim 9, wherein the retention channel comprises a u-shaped wall.

11. The input mechanism of claim 9, wherein:

the pivot member is a first pivot member;

the retention channel is a first retention channel having a first width;

the actuation mechanism comprises a second pivot member extending therefrom; and

the frame defines a second retention channel along the outer edge of the frame;

wherein;

the second retention channel has a second width greater than the first width; and

the second retention channel is configured to capture the second pivot member between a wall of the second retention channel and the keyboard base.

12. The input mechanism of claim 11, wherein the first and the second pivot members have substantially a same diameter.

13. A method of assembling a keyboard, comprising:

assembling an input subassembly, comprising;

positioning a collapsible dome in an opening of a dome support structure to engage the collapsible dome with the dome support structure; and

bonding a flexible cover member to the dome support structure such that the collapsible dome is retained between the cover member and a retention surface of the dome support structure;

coupling the input subassembly to a base plate, wherein;

the dome support structure is configured to retain a hinge mechanism to the base plate; and

the hinge mechanism is configured to be coupled to a keycap and allow the keycap to move relative to the base plate from an undepressed position to a depressed position.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the hinge mechanism is a butterfly hinge; and

assembling the input subassembly further comprises, prior to coupling the input subassembly to the base plate, coupling the hinge mechanism to the dome support structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the operation of coupling the hinge mechanism to the dome support structure comprises capturing a pivot pin of the hinge mechanism in a retention channel of the dome support structure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the operation of coupling the input subassembly to the base plate results in the pivot pin being retained between a wall of the retention channel and the base plate.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the operation of coupling the input subassembly to the base plate results in the collapsible dome forming an electrical connection with an electrical contact on the base plate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical connection is formed between the collapsible dome and the electrical contact without soldering a joint between the collapsible dome and the electrical contact.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the operation of coupling the hinge mechanism to the dome support structure comprises:

securing the dome support structure to an assembly head of a component placement apparatus; and

after securing the dome support structure to the assembly head;

positioning the pivot pin of the hinge mechanism in the retention channel; and

securing the hinge mechanism to the assembly head.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the operation of coupling the input subassembly to the base plate comprises:

positioning the input subassembly on the base plate with the assembly head; and

releasing the dome support structure and the hinge mechanism from the assembly head.

21. A collapsible dome, comprising:

a dome portion comprising a concave surface defining an interior volume and defining a through-hole in a central region of the dome portion;

an actuation arm extending from a side of the through-hole and into the interior volume of the dome portion; and

an array of suspension arms extending from an outer edge of the dome portion.

22. The collapsible dome of claim 21, wherein the array of suspension arms comprises four suspension arms extending from the outer edge of the dome portion.

23. The collapsible dome of claim 22, wherein the four suspension arms are evenly spaced around the outer edge of the dome portion.

24. The collapsible dome of claim 22, wherein the suspension arms each comprise:

a collapsible portion extending from the outer edge of the dome portion;

a curved portion extending from the collapsible portion and configured to contact a keyboard base plate; and

an engagement portion extending from the curved portion and configured to engage a retention surface of a dome support structure.

25. The collapsible dome of claim 21, wherein the array of suspension arms comprises two suspension arms extending from the outer edge of the dome portion.

26. The collapsible dome of claim 21, wherein the actuation arm is configured to deflect against an object below the collapsible dome when the dome portion is collapsed.

27. The collapsible dome of claim 21, further comprising a travel limiting feature extending from the concave surface into the interior volume.

28. The collapsible dome of claim 21, wherein the collapsible dome is a unitary metal structure.

29. An electronic device comprising:

a housing; and

a keyboard positioned at least partially within the housing, the keyboard comprising;

a base plate positioned within the housing; and

a switch housing positioned on the base plate and comprising pin retention features formed on a peripheral edge of the switch housing; and

an actuation mechanism retained to the base plate with the switch housing, the actuation mechanism comprising;

a pair of wings defining an opening;

a hinge coupling the wings together; and

pins extending from each wing into respective pin retention features;

wherein

the switch housing is positioned in the opening of the actuation mechanism.

30. The electronic device of claim 29, further comprising a dome positioned in an opening of the switch housing.

31. The electronic device of claim 29, wherein the pin retention features comprise u-shaped walls on each of two opposing sides of the switch housing.

32. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the u-shaped walls each define an opening that faces the base plate.

33. The electronic device of claim 29, wherein:

the switch housing comprises two pin retention features along a side of the switch housing, each having a respective pin positioned therein; and

at least one of the two pin retention features allows translation and rotation of the pin positioned therein.