Keyboard for electronic device

• US 10,083,806 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• 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., Berg, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malakooti, Iman
• Application Number:
  US15/269,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20170011869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 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. A keyboard, comprising:

a substrate defining a first opening and a second opening;

a keycap; and

a butterfly hinge supporting the keycap above the substrate and comprising;

a first wing comprising;

a first cross-beam overlapping the first opening; and

a first pair of arms extending from the first cross-beam; and

a second wing coupled to the first wing and comprising;

a second cross-beam overlapping the second opening; and

a second pair of arms extending from the second cross-beam; and

a living hinge comprising a flexible material;

wherein the living hinge joins an end of a first arm of the first pair of arms to an end of a second arm of the second pair of arms, thereby coupling the first wing to the second wing.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein:

the substrate is a printed circuit board;

the first wing further comprises;

a first keycap pivot pin extending from a first end of the first cross-beam; and

a second keycap pivot pin extending from a second end of the first cross-beam opposite the first end of the first cross-beam;

the second wing further comprises;

a third keycap pivot pin extending from a first end of the second cross-beam; and

a fourth keycap pivot pin extending from a second end of the second cross-beam opposite the first end of the second cross-beam; and

the keycap is coupled to the butterfly hinge via the first, second, third, and fourth keycap pivot pins.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein:

the keyboard further comprises a switch body attached to the substrate; and

the first wing and the second wing are pivotally coupled to the switch body.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first cross-beam comprises a recess formed therein, the recess overlapping the first opening.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein:

the substrate further defines a third opening and a fourth opening;

one of the arms of the first pair of arms overlaps the third opening; and

the other arm of the first pair of arms overlaps the fourth opening.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein:

the substrate further defines a fifth opening and a sixth opening;

one of the arms of the second pair of arms overlaps the fifth opening; and

the other arm of the second pair of arms overlaps the sixth opening.

13. The keyboard of claim 4, wherein the recess cooperates with the first opening to define an empty space when the keycap is in a depressed position.

7. A keyboard, comprising:

a substrate defining an opening;

a keycap; and

a support mechanism supporting the keycap above the substrate and allowing the keycap to move between a depressed position and an undepressed position, the support mechanism comprising;

a wing comprising;

a cross-beam; and

a pair of arms extending from the cross-beam;

wherein

the cross-beam comprises a recess;

the opening in the substrate is below the cross-beam;

the recess and the opening in the substrate define an empty space when the keycap is in the depressed position; and

the empty space is at least partially below the cross-beam and is configured to receive debris therein.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein a portion of the cross-beam is substantially flush with the substrate when the keycap is in the depressed position.

9. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein:

the substrate defines an additional opening; and

the support mechanism comprises an additional wing, comprising;

an additional cross-beam configured to cooperate with the additional opening in the substrate to define an additional empty space below the additional cross-beam when the keycap is in the depressed position; and

a pair of additional arms extending from the additional cross-beam.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the cross-beam comprises an additional recess formed therein, the additional recess cooperating with the additional opening in the substrate to define the additional empty space.

11. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein less than half of an area of a bottom side of the support mechanism contacts the substrate when the keycap is in the depressed position.

12. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the wing and the additional wing are coupled together via a living hinge connecting one arm of the pair of arms to one arm of the pair of additional arms.

14. A keyboard, comprising:

a keycap;

a substrate below the keycap;

a switch body attached to the substrate; and

a support mechanism supporting the keycap above the substrate and allowing the keycap to move between a depressed position and an undepressed position, the support mechanism comprising;

a first wing comprising;

a first arm pivotally coupled to the switch body and the keycap;

a second arm pivotally coupled to the switch body and the keycap; and

a first cross-beam extending between the first arm and the second arm;

a second wing coupled to the first wing, comprising;

a third arm pivotally coupled to the switch body and the keycap;

a fourth arm pivotally coupled to the switch body and the keycap; and

a second cross-beam extending between the third arm and the fourth arm; and

a living hinge comprising a flexible material joining an end of the first arm to an end of the third arm;

wherein the substrate defines an opening positioned below the first cross-beam and configured to define an empty space below the first cross-beam when the keycap is in the depressed position.

15. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein:

the opening is a first opening;

the empty space is a first empty space;

the substrate further defines a second opening positioned below the first arm and configured to define a second empty space below the first arm when the keycap is in the depressed position; and

the substrate further defines a third opening positioned below the second arm and configured to define a third empty space below the second arm when the keycap is in the depressed position.

16. The keyboard of claim 15, wherein:

the first wing and the second wing cooperate to define a fourth opening between the first, second, third, and fourth arms; and

the switch body is within the fourth opening when the keycap is in the depressed position.

17. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein the flexible material is an elastomeric material at least partially encapsulating a terminal portion of the first arm and a terminal portion of the third arm.

18. The keyboard of claim 15, wherein the first cross-beam comprises a recess configured to align with the first opening and cooperate with the first opening to define the first empty space when the keycap is in the depressed position.

19. A laptop computer comprising:

a display portion;

a display positioned at least partially within the display portion;

a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion;

a keyboard at least partially within the base portion and comprising a key;

wherein

the key comprises;

a keycap;

a switch body below the keycap; and

a support mechanism supporting the keycap and allowing the keycap to move between a depressed position and an undepressed position, the support mechanism comprising;

a first wing comprising;

a first cross-beam; and

a first pair of arms extending from the first cross-beam; and

a second wing coupled to the first wing and comprising;

a second cross-beam; and

a second pair of arms extending from the second cross-beam; and

a living hinge coupling the first wing to the second wing and comprising an elastomeric material at least partially encapsulating one of the first pair of arms and one of the second pair of arms.

20. The laptop computer of claim 19, wherein:

the base portion further comprises a substrate;

the switch body is attached to the substrate; and

the substrate defines an opening positioned below the first cross-beam.

21. The laptop computer of claim 20, wherein:

the first cross-beam defines a recess; and

the recess cooperates with the opening to define an empty space below the first cross-beam when the keycap is in a depressed position.