Collapsible data entry panel

• US 20020167495A1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian P. Quinn
• Original Assignee: Brian P. Quinn
• Inventors: Quinn, Brian P., Cecchi, Marino, Borucki, Gregory C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,879,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Abstract

A collapsible data entry panel comprises, an upper layer of flexible sheet material having formed keys on its outer surface and conductive areas or contacts on its inner surface, a lower layer of flexible sheet material having conductive circuits or traces on its inner surface, and resilient, flexible frame around the peripheral margins of the sheet material layers that pulls the layers taut so that they are parallel to and spaced apart from one another. Depression of a formed key will cause a corresponding, underlying contact to connect with the conductive trace carried by the lower layer, and thereby complete a circuit representative of the depressed key. The data entry panel of the invention is collapsible to a surface area less than ½ of its extended configuration by twisting the respective ends of the panel in opposite directions, while applying a slight inward pressure. In its collapsed configuration, the panel can readily fit into a shirt pocket or purse. If the panel is subsequently released, it will automatically spring back to its original, extended configuration.

Claims

1. A data entry panel comprising

an upper layer of flexible sheet material;

a lower layer of sheet material;

at least one electrical circuit at least partly between said upper and lower layers of sheet material;

at least one switch means between said upper and lower layers of sheet material whereby depression of said upper layer to said lower layer at said switch means will complete said electrical circuit; and

means for holding at least said upper layer of sheet material taut and spaced apart from said lower layer of sheet material.

2. A data entry panel as in claim 1, wherein said lower layer of sheet material is flexible.

3. A data entry panel as in claim 2 having both an extended, substantially planar configuration and a collapsed configuration, the surface area of said panel in said collapsed configuration being less than ½

the surface area in said extended configuration.

4. A data entry panel as in claim 1, wherein said means for holding comprises a flexible frame at the peripheral margins of said upper and lower layers of sheet material.

5. A flexible data entry panel as in claim 4, wherein said frame comprises spring steel.

6. A flexible data entry panel as in claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit is on an inner surface of one of said layers of sheet material, and said switch means comprises a pair of contact points connected to said circuit and a conductive switch member on the inner surface of the other of said layers of sheet material, said switch member being juxtaposed relative to said pair of contact points, whereby depression of said upper layer to said lower layer at said switch member will cause said switch member to engage the corresponding said pair of contact points to complete said circuit.

7. A data entry panel as in claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit comprises a conductive trace on an inner surface of said upper layer of sheet material and a conductive trace on an inner surface of said lower layer of sheet material, and wherein said switch means comprises a pair of contact points, one point on said upper layer and the other point on said lower layer, whereby depression of said upper layer to said lower layer at said pair of contact points will cause that pair of contact points to meet and complete said circuit.

8. A data entry panel as in claim 1 wherein said upper layer of sheet material comprises a four-way stretch material and lower layer of sheet material comprises dimensionally stable fabric.

9. A data entry panel as in claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit comprises traces of conductive ink printed onto the inner surface of at least one of said layers of sheet material.

10. A data entry panel as in claim 1, further comprising a polymeric material adhered to said upper layer of sheet material adjacent said switch means to form a finger tip receptive key.

11. A data entry panel as in claim 1, wherein said upper layer of sheet material adjacent said switch means is embossed or molded to form a finger tip receptive key.

12. A data entry panel as in claim 1, further comprising,

an intermediate layer of flexible sheet material between said upper and lower layers of sheet material, said intermediate layer having a plurality of openings therein.

13. A data entry panel as in claim 1, wherein an outer surface of said upper layer of sheet material has a plurality of indicia thereon, said data entry panel having a plurality of said switch means, each said indicia corresponding to a respective one of said switch means, each said indicia representing a key.

14. A collapsible data entry panel as in claim 1, further comprising a pointing device mounted to at least one of said layers of sheet material.

15. A data entry panel as in claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said upper layer of sheet material has indicia representing a piano keyboard and said data entry panel comprises a multiplicity of switching means, at least one said switching means corresponding to each said piano key.

17. A data entry panel as in claim 16, said panel having both an extended, substantially planar configuration and a collapsed configuration, the surface area of said panel in said collapsed configuration being less than ½

the surface area in said extended configuration.

20. A data entry panel as in claim 19, further comprising a flexible frame around the periphery of said upper and lower panels.

16. A data entry panel comprising

an upper layer of flexible sheet material;

a lower layer of flexible sheet material;

a plurality of electrical traces on the inner surface of at least one of said layers of flexible sheet material;

a pair of contact points on at least one of said layers of flexible sheet material, each said pair of contact points connected to respective said traces, whereby depression of said layers together at a selected pair of contact points will complete a circuit between said contact points; and

a frame for holding said upper and lower layers of sheet material taut and spaced apart from one another.

18. A collapsible keyboard comprising

an upper layer of fabric having a plurality of indicia on its outer surface representing keys, and having a plurality of upper contacts, each said upper contact corresponding to a respective one of said indicia;

a lower layer of fabric having a plurality of contact points corresponding to the contacts of said upper layer;

a plurality of electrical circuits connected to either said upper or lower contacts, each circuit representing a respective one of said keys; and

a resilient, flexible frame between said upper and lower fabric layers at the peripheral margins of layers, said frame holding said upper and lower fabric layers taut and parallel to one another, and said frame being collapsible into a comparatively smaller disk.

19. A data entry panel comprising

an upper layer of flexible sheet material;

a lower layer of flexible sheet material;

a plurality of electrical circuits at least partly between said upper and lower layers of sheet material;

a plurality of switches between said upper and lower layers of sheet material whereby depression of one said layer to the other said layer at a select one of said switches will complete a corresponding one of said electrical circuits; and

said data entry panel having an extended, substantially planar configuration; and

said data entry panel having a collapsed configuration, the surface area of said panel in said collapsed configuration being less than 12 the surface area in said extended configuration.

21. A method of collapsing an electronic device, comprising:

providing a substantially planar electronic device comprised of flexible sheet material and a flexible frame;

applying inward force to the respective ends of said device;

twisting the respective ends in opposite directions while applying said inward force; and

collapsing said device to a size that has less than ½

the planar surface area of said device.

22. A method of collapsing an electronic device as in claim 21, wherein said electronic device is a keyboard.