INPUT DEVICE MANUFACTURE

• US 20130227836A1
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: David Otto Iii Whitt
• Inventors: Whitt, David Otto III, Mickelson, Matthew David, Pelley, Joel Lawrence, Shaw, Timothy C., Stoumbos, Christopher Harry, Teredesai, Amey M., Beall, Christopher Strickland
• Granted Patent: US 9,064,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/622
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/82 characterised by contact space venting means
• 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 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Input device manufacture techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a plurality of layers of a key assembly is positioned in a fixture such that one or more projections of the fixture are disposed through one or more openings in each of the one or more layers. The positioned plurality of layers is secured to each other.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

positioning a plurality of layers of a key assembly in a fixture such that one or more projections of the fixture are disposed through one or more openings in each of the one or more layers; and

securing the positioned plurality of layers to each other.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the key assembly includes one or more layers of a pressure sensitive sensor stack.

3. A method as described in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensitive key assembly includes a sensor substrate configured to be contacted by a flexible contact layer to initiate an input to be communicated to a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the key assembly.

4. A method as described in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensitive key assembly includes a plurality of pressure sensitive keys

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the positioning is performed such that the plurality of layers of the key assembly are positioned in an order such that a surface that is configured to receive pressure to initiate an input is positioned as facing a surface of the fixture.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the key assembly includes a force concentrator that is configured to channel pressure applied to the force concentrator to respective ones of a plurality of keys of the key assembly.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the key assembly includes a support board having one or more surface mount hardware elements.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the securing is performed using a heat-activated film.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the securing is performed using an adhesive layer that includes a matrix having a plurality of separated portions of adhesive.

10. A method comprising:

positioning a carrier proximal to a fixture, the carrier having positioned therein a key assembly disposed between first and second outer layers and a connection portion having a magnetic coupling device configured to be secured to a computing device, the positioning performed to align and secure the magnetic coupling device to a portion of the fixture; and

performing one or more operations to secure the first and second outer layers of the positioned carrier.

11. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the positioning is performed such that the connection portion is restricted from movement during the one or more operations.

12. A method as described in claim 10, wherein at least one said operation is a lamination operation and the positioning is performed such that the connection portion remains flat against the fixture during the lamination operation.

13. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the magnetic coupling portion includes an arrangement of a plurality of magnets that form a flux fountain.

14. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the first and second outer layers, connection portion, and key assembly form an input device for a computing device.

15. A method as described in claim 14, wherein the connection portion is configured to provide a physical and communicative coupling with a computing device that is removable.

16. A method as described in claim 10, further comprising:

positioning a plurality of layers in a fixture such that one or more projections of the fixture are disposed through one or more openings in each of the one or more layers; and

securing the positioned plurality of layers to each other to form the key assembly.

17. A method comprising:

forming a key assembly by securing a plurality of layers positioned in a first fixture such that one or more projections of the fixture are disposed through one or more openings in each of the one or more layers; and

positioning a carrier proximal to a fixture, the carrier having positioned therein the formed key assembly disposed between first and second outer layers and a connection portion having a magnetic coupling device configured to be secured to a computing device, the positioning performed to align and magnetically secure the magnetic coupling device to a portion of the second fixture.

18. A method as described in claim 17, wherein the forming is performed such that the plurality of layers of the key assembly are positioned in an order such that a surface that is configured to receive pressure to initiate an input is positioned as facing a surface of the first fixture.

19. A method as described in claim 17, wherein the positioning is performed such that the connection portion is restricted from movement during the one or more operations.

20. A method as described in claim 17, wherein positioning is performed such that the connection portion remains flat against the second fixture during a lamination operation.