Collapsible data entry panel

• US 6,879,317 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian P. Quinn
• Original Assignee: Brian P. Quinn
• Inventors: Quinn, Brian P., Borucki, Gregory C., Cecchi, Marino
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US09/853,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/172, 345/170, 345/156, 400/472, 400/473, 400/491, 248/166, 248/167, 248/434, 361/680, 135/143, 341/22, 841/79
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 collapsible panel for an electronic device having an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration comprising

an upper layer of flexible sheet material;

a lower layer of flexible sheet material;

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

a flexible frame at the peripheral margins of said upper layer of sheet material for holding at least said upper layer of sheet material taut and spaced apart from said lower layer of sheet material, said flexible frame being substantially planar in the extended configuration and in the collapsed configuration being a plurality of coiled lobes having less than ½

the surface area as in the extended configuration.

2. A collapsible panel as in claim 1, further comprising

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.

3. A collapsible panel as in claim 2, 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.

4. A collapsible panel as in claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit comprises traces of conductive material on the inner surface of at least one of said layers of sheet material.

5. A collapsible 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.

6. A collapsible panel as in claim 1, further comprising a pointing device mounted to said panel.

7. A collapsible keyboard having an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration 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 contacts 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 one or both of said upper contacts and said lower contact points, each circuit representing a respective one of said keys; and

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

8. An input apparatus for an electronic device comprising

an upper layer of flexible sheet material;

a lower layer of material;

a frame means on at least a portion of the peripheral margins of said upper layer of sheet material for holding said upper layer of sheet material taut and spaced apart from said lower layer of material;

at least one electrical circuit comprised of traces of conductive material on an inner surface of at least one of said layers of material; and

at least one switch means between said upper and lower layers of material and connected to said electrical circuit for completing said circuit when said upper layer is depressed to contact said lower layer.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said frame means comprises a flexible spring hoop.

10. A collapsible panel for an electronic device having an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration, comprising:

at least one layer of flexible sheet material, said layer including means for data input or output;

a flexible frame connected to said layer of flexible sheet material for holding said layer taut;

said panel being substantially planar in the extended configuration; and

said data entry panel being a plurality of coiled lobes in the collapsed configuration, the surface area of said panel in the collapsed configuration being less than ½

the surface area in the extended configuration.

11. A collapsible panel as in claim 10, wherein said means for data input or output comprises at least one of a tactile input device and a video display.

12. 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 into a plurality of coiled lobes that have less than ½

the planar surface area of said device prior to being collapsed.