Keyboards with elevated keys

• US 7,022,927 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Hsu, Chien-Shih
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US11/095,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20050217983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 400/495.1, 400/496, 400/495, 400/491.2, 400/491, 400/490, 361/680, 200/5.A, 200/344
• US Class Current: 200/344
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

Keyboards with elevated key structures are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a key structure includes a key cap, a substrate, a slider, a resilient member, a first rod and second rod. The slider is movable in a first direction with respect to the substrate between a first position and a second position. The first rod connects the substrate and the key cap. The second rod connects the key cap, the substrate and the first rod. The resilient member connects the slider and the first rod. When the key structure is in an original state with the slider situated in a first position, the key cap is situated at a first height. When the slider moves from the first position to the second position, the first rod is impelled by the slider, and the key cap descends toward the substrate to a second height less than first height.

Claims

1. A key structure, comprising:

a main body;

a key cap;

a substrate;

a first rod, comprising a first end movable in a first direction and a second end connected to the key cap;

a second rod connected to the first rod, comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end connects the substrate and the fourth end movably connects the key cap; and

a slider movable in the first direction with respect to the substrate between a first position and a second position, wherein when the slider is in the first position, the key structure is in an original state and the key cap is situated at a first height with respect to the substrate; and

a resilient member, connecting the slider and the first rod, wherein the resilient member is extended and provides a pre-tension force to the first rod when the key structure is situated in the original state, and when the slider moves from the first position to the second position, the first rod is impelled by the slider, and the key cap descends toward the substrate to a second height lower than the first height such that the key structure is situated in a depressed state.

2. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider comprises an abutting portion abutting the first rod and impelling the first end in the first direction.

3. The key structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the abutting portion continuously abuts the first rod, and the resilient member continuously provides the pre-tension force from the original state to the depressed state.

4. The key structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the abutting portion continuously abuts the first rod when the slider moves from the first position to the second position.

5. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the key cap is pressed toward the substrate from the original state, the resilient member is extended and exerts a recovery force exceeding the pre-tension force.

6. The key structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recovery force and the substrate form an included angle less than 45°

.

7. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises a spring.

8. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient member moves with the slider between the first and second positions.

9. The key structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a switch mechanism, wherein the slider is restricted in the first position by the switch mechanism when the key structure is in the original state.

10. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end is movably connected to the substrate.

11. The key structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the substrate comprises a first connecting portion movably connected to the first end and a second connecting portion pivotally connected to the third end.

12. The key structure as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a circuit membrane assembly disposed between the slider and the substrate, the circuit membrane assembly comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first connecting portion passes through the first opening, and the second connecting portion passes through the second opening.

13. The key structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first rod comprises a first contact portion contacting the circuit membrane assembly when the key cap is pressed toward the substrate.

14. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first rod movably connects the slider.

15. A keyboard, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of key structures, each of the key structures comprising;

a key cap;

a slider movable in a first direction with respect to the substrate between a first position and a second position;

a first rod, comprising a first end movable in the first direction and a second end connected to the key cap; and

a second rod connected to the first rod, comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end connects the substrate and the fourth end movably connects the key cap; and

a resilient member, connecting the slider and the first rod, wherein the key structure is in an original state and the key cap is situated at a first height with respect to the substrate when the slider is in a first position, and when the slider moves from the first position to the second position, the first rod is impelled by the slider and the key cap descends toward the substrate to a second height lower than the first height, such that the key structure is in a depressed state, wherein when the key cap is pressed toward the substrate from the original state, the resilient member is extended and exerts a recovery force for returning the key structure to the original state.

16. The key structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the slider comprises an abutting portion abutting the first rod and impelling the first end in the first direction.

17. The key structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the recovery force and the substrate form an included angle less than 45°

.

18. The key structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the resilient member moves with the slider between the first and second positions.

19. The key structure as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a sliding plate with the slider disposed thereon.

20. The key structure as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a switch mechanism, wherein the slider is restricted in the first position by the switch mechanism when the key structure is in the original state.

21. The key structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first rod movably connects the slider.

22. The key structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

23. The key structure as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a connecting member abutting the slider, wherein the first rod and the resilient member are connected by the connecting member.

24. The key structure as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a pivot portion pivotally connecting the first rod.

25. The key structure as claimed in claim 23, wherein the connecting member further comprises a contact portion abutting the slider.

26. The key structure as claimed in claim 23, wherein the resilient member is extended and provides a pre-tension force when the key structure is in the original state.

27. The key structure as claimed in claim 23, wherein the resilient member is extended and provides a pre-tension force when the key structure is in the depressed state.

28. The key structure as claimed in claim 23, wherein the resilient member is extended and continuously provides a pre-tension force from the original state to the depressed state.

29. A resilient mechanism, exerting a recovery force on a key cap, comprising:

a substrate;

a first rod, comprising a first end movably connected to the substrate and a second end connected to the key cap;

a second rod connected to the substrate and the key cap, wherein the first and second rods are pivotally connected to form a scissors-type support mechanism;

a slider movable in a first direction with respect to the substrate between a first position and a second position; and

a resilient member connecting the slider and the first rod, wherein the first and second rods form a first angle and the slider is in the first position when the resilient mechanism is situated in an original state, and when the slider moves from the first position to the second position, the first rod is impelled by the slider in the first direction, and the first and second rods form a second angle exceeding the first angle, such that the key structure is in a depressed state, wherein when the key cap is pressed toward the substrate from the original state, the resilient member is extended and exerts the recovery force on the key cap.

30. The resilient mechanism as claimed in claim 29, wherein the slider comprises an abutting portion abutting the first rod, so as to impel the first end in the first direction.

31. The key structure as claimed in claim 29, wherein the recovery force and the substrate form an included angle less than 45°

.

32. The key structure as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first rod further comprises a second end, the second rod further comprises a fourth end, and recovery force is exerted on the key cap via the second and fourth ends to return the key structure to the original state.