Metal switch for input device

• US 10,083,807 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Chia-Chi, Gao, Zheng, Gao, Ming Gavin, Wang, Paul X., Lehmann, Alex J., Xu, Richard, Silz, Kenneth M., Lee, Chia-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malakooti, Iman
• Application Number:
  US15/163,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20170345589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 200 5 A, 200520
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/52 the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/78 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/004 Larger or different actuating area
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/022 Collapsable dome
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/026 Separate dome contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/036 Minimise height
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor

Abstract

A key mechanism is disclosed. The key mechanism comprises a keycap, a dome support structure positioned relative to the keycap and defining an opening, an actuation mechanism coupled to the keycap, and a collapsible dome positioned in the opening of the dome support structure. The actuation mechanism is configured to movably support the keycap relative to the dome support structure. The dome comprises an upstop member configured to limit upward travel of the collapsible dome.

Claims

1. A key mechanism, comprising:

a keycap;

a dome support structure positioned relative to the keycap and defining;

an opening; and

a travel limiting feature;

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

a unitary metal dome positioned in the opening of the dome support structure and comprising an upstop member;

wherein the keycap is movable between an undepressed position and a depressed position; and

in the undepressed position, the upstop member contacts the travel limiting feature of the dome support structure, thereby limiting upward travel of the unitary metal dome.

2. The key mechanism of claim 1, wherein:

the key mechanism further comprises an electrical contact below the unitary metal dome; and

in the depressed position, the electrical contact is actuated by the unitary metal dome.

3. The key mechanism of claim 2, wherein:

in the depressed position, the upstop member is in contact with the electrical contact; and

in the undepressed position, the upstop member is not in contact with the electrical contact.

4. The key mechanism of claim 2, wherein:

the key mechanism further comprises a substrate below the unitary metal dome; and

in the depressed position, the upstop member contacts the substrate such that the upstop member deflects.

5. The key mechanism of claim 4, wherein:

the key mechanism is moved to the depressed position in response to an actuation force on the keycap; and

when deflected, the upstop member imparts on the keycap a returning force that opposes the actuation force.

6. The key mechanism of claim 4, wherein:

the unitary metal dome further comprises a spring arm; and

during actuation of the key mechanism, both the spring arm and the upstop member contact the substrate to impart on the keycap a returning force that opposes an actuation force on the keycap.

7. The key mechanism of claim 2, wherein:

the unitary metal dome further comprises a spring arm coupled to the dome support structure;

in the undepressed position;

the spring arm biases the unitary metal dome upwards; and

the upstop member opposes the upwards bias of the spring arm.

19. The key mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a deformable cover attached to the dome support structure over the unitary metal dome and configured to deform when the unitary metal dome is collapsed by the actuation mechanism.

8. A key mechanism, comprising:

a keycap;

a dome support structure defining a travel limiting feature; and

a unitary metal dome coupled to the dome support structure and comprising;

an actuation region;

a first arm extending from the actuation region, and a second arm extending from the actuation region, wherein when the key mechanism is in an undepressed state, the first arm contacts the travel limiting feature of the dome support structure; and

the second arm defines a first end that is coupled to the dome support structure to retain the unitary metal dome to the dome support structure.

9. The key mechanism of claim 8, wherein when the key mechanism is in a depressed state, the first arm is not in contact with the travel limiting feature.

10. The key mechanism of claim 8, wherein the first arm comprises:

a first curved portion configured to contact the travel limiting feature; and

a second curved portion configured to contact a substrate below the unitary metal dome when the key mechanism is in a depressed state.

11. The key mechanism of claim 8, wherein:

the unitary metal dome further comprises;

a third arm extending from the actuation region and comprising a second end that is attached to the dome support structure to retain the unitary metal dome to the support structure.

12. The key mechanism of claim 11, wherein:

the travel limiting feature is a first travel limiting feature;

the dome support structure defines a second travel limiting feature; and

the unitary metal dome further comprises a fourth arm extending from the actuation region, wherein when the key mechanism is in the undepressed state, the fourth arm contacts the second feature of the dome support structure.

13. The key mechanism of claim 11, further comprising first and second clips coupled to the dome support structure and configured to receive the first and second ends, respectively, of the first and second arms.

14. A dome for an input mechanism, comprising:

an actuation region;

first and second cantilevered biasing arms extending from the actuation region;

each having a first shape defined at least in part by a first curvature; and

first and second cantilevered upstop arms extending from the actuation region, each having a second shape defined at least in part by a second curvature that is different than the first curvature.

15. The dome of claim 14, wherein the first and second cantilevered biasing arms each comprise:

a first portion adjacent the actuation region and having a convex shape; and

a second portion adjacent the first portion and having a concave shape.

16. The dome of claim 15, wherein:

the convex shape has a first radius; and

the concave shape has a second radius greater than the first radius.

17. The dome of claim 14, wherein:

the first and second cantilevered biasing arms extend from first opposing sides of the actuation region; and

the first and second cantilevered upstop arms extend from second opposing sides of the actuation region.

18. The dome of claim 14, wherein distal ends of the first and second cantilevered biasing arms and the first and second cantilevered upstop arms are not coupled to one another.

20. The dome of claim 14, wherein:

the first cantilevered biasing arm defines a first tab at a distal end of the first cantilevered biasing arm;

the second cantilevered biasing arm defines a second tab at a distal end of the second cantilevered biasing arm; and

the first and second tabs are configured to engage a dome support structure to retain the dome to the dome support structure.