Keyboard (I)

• US 6,215,420 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Icebox, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coach Master International'L Corporation
• Inventors: Knodle, Daniel W., Bang, Gary M., Harrison, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/466,103
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 200/302.1, 200/302.2, 200/302.3, 200/303, 200/304, 359/194.1, 345/168
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• 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 2207/048 Inductive or infrared coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2213/01 with internal pressure of other switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/024 Profile on actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/034 Coloured areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/026 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/028 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/058 Containing a battery

Abstract

Keyboards with a construction which isolates the interior of the device from water and other deleterious substances in the ambient surroundings. The keyboard also has the capability of transmitting to a second device, upon activation of a key, a coded, preferably infrared (IR) signal uniquely corresponding to the key which is activated.

Claims

1. A keyboard which comprises:

a keypad;

a rigid circuit component; and

a rigid base;

said keypad being an outermost, completely exposed component of the keyboard and comprising a set of elastomerically displaceable keys, said keypad being juxtaposed to the rigid circuit component and having portions between the keys that are supported by the rigid circuit component;

complementary contracts so associated with said keys and said rigid circuit component on a one-to-one basis that displacement of one of said keys results in the engagement of the contact associated with said key and the corresponding circuit component-associated contact as to enable the generation of a signal uniquely identifying the key that was displaced;

said keypad and said rigid base being so juxtaposed as to define a casing having an internal cavity;

said rigid circuit component being housed in said cavity;

said keyboard further comprising a sealing arrangement so constructed and configured as to keep fluids from penetrating into said cavity between said keypad and said base; and

said keypad being free of openings and fabricated of a material such that fluids are kept from reaching said cavity through the keypad.

2. A keyboard as defined in claim 1 which comprises a frame for supporting components housed in said casing;

said frame and said base being separate components; and

said frame being so fastened to said base as to locate and immobilize said frame in said casing.

3. A keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said keyboard casing has an elongated, parallelepipedal configuration and front, rear, and end wall elements;

there are windowed apertures in each of end wall elements and in said rear wall element;

the keyboard also has means for propagating the signal generated upon activation of a key to a remote location; and

said signal propagating means comprises infrared radiation transmitters operable upon the activation of a key or combination of keys for simultaneous propagating through all of said windowed apertures an IR signal uniquely identifying the activated key or combination of keys.

4. A keyboard as defined in claim 1 in which said keypad is free of openings through which fluids could penetrate to the interior of the casing.

5. A keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein there is an interconnected set of key-associated outlets and channels formed in and by said keypad and said rigid circuit component for relieving built-up pressure generated by the activation of one or a combination of said keys;

the key-associated outlets and channels being so related and configured that it is the pressure between the keypad and the rigid circuit component that is relieved when a key or combination of keys is depressed.

6. A keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said keypad has character keys for typing and mode keys which are utilizable to switch the operation of an appliance associated with said keyboard from one operating mode to another.

7. A keyboard as defined in claim 6 which comprises keys for moving a cursor about the screen of a display unit component of the appliance.

8. A keyboard as defined in claim 6 wherein said keys include navigation keys.