Membrane keyboard

• US 6,585,435 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jason Fang
• Original Assignee: Jason Fang
• Inventors: Fang, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghatt, Dave A.
• Application Number:
  US09/945,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20030044216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 400/479, 400/479.2, 400/479.1, 400/491, 400/491.1, 341/22, 361/680, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 400/479
• 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 2209/03 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/034 Conductive rubber
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/052 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/074 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/078 Conductive rubber
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Abstract

An improved membrane keyboard includes a bottom layer, a second conductive membrane layer located above the bottom layer having an output section extended from one end thereof at a selected location linking to an interrupt device, an insulation layer located above the second conductive membrane layer, a first conductive membrane layer located above the insulation layer, a top layer located above the first conductive membrane layer having a jutting section formed at one end with the top layer bonding to the bottom layer and forming an opening end at the jutting section, and a button key layer located between the first conductive membrane layer and the top layer.

Claims

1. An improved membrane keyboard, comprising:

a bottom layer;

a first conductive membrane layer having a first conductive circuit formed thereon;

a second conductive membrane layer located above the bottom layer and having a second conductive circuit formed thereon and an output section extended from one end thereof at a selected location linked to an interrupt device configured for outputting interrupt commands;

an insulation layer located above the second conductive membrane layer having a plurality of through openings formed therein;

the first conductive membrane layer is located above the insulation layer;

a top layer located above the first conductive membrane layer, said top layer having a plurality of jutting stubs located thereunder and a jutting section extended from one end thereof, the top layer being bonded to the bottom layer and forming an opening end at the jutting section;

a button key layer located between the first conductive membrane layer and the top layer, said top layer having flat button key clusters corresponding to the jutting stubs of the top layer configured for entering input commands; and

wherein the membrane keyboard is light weight and is allowed to wind in a roll to become a compact size for carrying, the button key layer being insertable through the opening end between the top layer and the first conductive membrane layer, and the button key clusters on the button key layer being durable for depressive operation under an external force for a long period of time without loosening.

2. The improved membrane keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the bottom layer comprises a soft material selected from the group consisting of a soft foam material, a soft plastic and leather.

3. The improved membrane keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the top layer is made of a soft and transparent plastic and has traces of an irregular keyboard frame embossed thereon.

4. The improved membrane keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt device connects a transmission line to link a computer processor.

5. The improved membrane keyboard according to claim 4, wherein the interrupt device includes a wireless transmission circuit for the keyboard to transmit output signals to the computer processor in a wireless transmission fashion.