Membrane keyswitch for an expandable keyboard and an expandable keyboard device

• US 20030051983A1
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RAST Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: RAST Associates LLC
• Inventors: Lahr, Roy J.
• Application Number:
  US10/093,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20030051983A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/032 Conductive polymer; Rubber
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/03 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/052 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/074 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Abstract

An expandable keyboard device includes an elastic belt and at least one keyswitch arranged on a side of the elastic belt. The keyswitch includes a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member, the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member configured to be contacted to activate the keyswitch. At least one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member is configured to be expanded in at least one dimension. Another expandable keyboard device includes an elastic belt, at least one keyswitch arranged on a side of the elastic belt and an arrangement configured to vector a force applied to a surface of the elastic belt toward the keyswitch. A keyswitch includes a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member. The first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member are configured to be selectively contacted. At least one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member is configured to be expanded in at least one dimension.

Claims

1. An expandable keyboard device, comprising:

an elastic belt; and

at least one keyswitch arranged on a side of the elastic belt, the keyswitch including a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member, the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member configured to be contacted to activate the keyswitch, at least one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member configured to be expanded in at least one dimension.

2. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical insulator member arranged between the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member.

3. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical insulator material is configured to be expanded in the at least one dimension.

4. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member is formed of an elastic material.

5. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member is formed of an electrically conductive foam material.

6. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 5, further comprising an electrical insulator material arranged between the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member.

7. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 6, wherein the electrical insulator material includes a foam material.

8. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising a spring device configured to exert a spring force against an elastic force of the elastic belt.

9. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising an arrangement configured to vector a force applied to a surface of the elastic belt toward the keyswitch.

10. An expandable keyboard device, comprising:

an elastic belt; and

at least one keyswitch arranged on a side of the elastic belt; and

an arrangement configured to vector a force applied to a surface of the elastic belt toward the keyswitch.

11. The expandable keyboard device according to claim 10, wherein the arrangement includes at least one bar having a first end connected to the elastic belt and a second end connected to the keyswitch.

12. A keyswitch, comprising:

a first electrically conductive member; and

a second electrically conductive member, the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member configured to be selectively contacted;

wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member is configured to be expanded in at least one dimension.

13. The keyswitch according to claim 12, further comprising an electrical insulator material arranged between the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member.

14. The keyswitch according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member is formed of a electrically conductive foam.

15. The keyswitch according to claim 12, further comprising an expandable keycap connected to at least one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member, the keycap configured to cause contact between the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member in response to a force applied to the keycap.

16. The keyswitch according to claim 15, further comprising an arrangement configured to vector the force in a direction toward a contact region of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member.

17. The keyswitch according to claim 16, wherein the arrangement includes at least one bar having a first end connected to the keycap and a second end connected to one of the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member.

18. The keyswitch according to claim 15, wherein the keycap is expandable in at least one dimension.