Enhanced key structure with combined keycap for a mobile computing device

• US 7,525,053 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Babella, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US11/773,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 200512-517, 200/520, 200265-269, 200/5.R, 200/341, 200/1.R, 200/5.A
• US Class Current: 200/5.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/004 Larger or different actuating area
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/01 Off centre actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/012 Two keys simultaneous considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/016 Pressure reduction membrane; Spreader layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/024 Transmission element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/078 Different operating parts on a bigger one
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/03 Avoiding erroneous switching

Abstract

A key structure assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The key structure assembly includes a keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment. A first actuation member extends inward into the housing from the first segment of the keycap, and a second actuation member extends inward from the second segment of the key cap. A substrate including a plurality of electrical connects, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member. The keycap is moveable inward to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact. One or more sections of material are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. The material for the one or more sections is formed from a material that deforms with inward movement of either the first segment or the second segment of the keycap. A layer formed by a thickness of the one or more sections of material extending over the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact is non-uniform in either dimension or amount of material.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a housing containing a plurality of internal components, including one or more processors;

a keyboard including a plurality of keys that are provided on a surface of the housing, wherein at least some of the keys of the keyboard are provided by one or more key structure assemblies that individually include;

a toggle keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment;

a first actuation member extending inward into the housing and aligned under the first segment of the toggle keycap;

a second actuation member extending inward into the housing and aligned under the second segment of the toggle keycap;

a substrate including a plurality of electrical contacts, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member;

wherein the toggle keycap is pivotable inward to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact; and

wherein a minimum force needed to pivot the first actuation member to actuate the first electrical contact is different than a minimum force needed to pivot the second actuation member to actuate the second electrical contact.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein a characteristic actuation force of the first electrical contact is different than a characteristic actuation force of the second electrical contact.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein a mid-point of the first segment aligns substantially with the first actuation member, and wherein a mid-point of the second segment is offset from the second actuation member.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 3, wherein a distance between the mid-point of the first segment and the mid-point of the second segment is less than a distance between the first actuation member and the second actuation member.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 3, wherein one of the first segment or second segment is larger in size than the other of the first segment or second segment.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 5, wherein the first segment is larger than the second segment, and wherein the minimum force needed to pivot the first actuation member to actuate the first electrical contact is less than the minimum force needed to pivot the second actuation member to actuate the second electrical contact.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sections of material that are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, wherein the material for the one or more sections is formed from a material that deforms with inward pivoting of either the first segment or the second segment of the keycap.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 7, wherein a firmness of the material positioned above the first electrical contact is different than a firmness of the material positioned above the second electrical contact.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 7, wherein a layer formed by a thickness of the one or more sections of material extending over the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact is non-uniform in dimension or amount of material.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the layer formed by the thickness of the one or more sections includes a gap in the thickness of the material underneath a portion of the keycap between the first segment and the second segment.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein the gap in thickness of the material is formed by the thickness of the material being reduced underneath the portion of the keycap between the first segment and the second segment.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein the gap in thickness of the material is formed by an absence of the material provided underneath the portion of the keycap between the first segment and the second segment.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein at least some of the keys are arranged in a QWERTY type layout.

14. A mobile computing device comprising:

a housing containing a plurality of internal components, including one or more processors;

a keyboard including a plurality of keys that are provided on a surface of the housing, wherein at least some of the keys of the keyboard are provided by one or more key structure assemblies that individually include;

a toggle keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment;

a first actuation member extending inward into the housing and aligned under the first segment of the toggle keycap;

a second actuation member extending inward into the housing and aligned under the second segment of the toggle keycap;

a substrate including a plurality of electrical contacts, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member;

wherein the toggle keycap is pivotable inward, about a reference, to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact; and

wherein a mid-point of the first segment aligns substantially with the first actuation member, and wherein a mid-point of the second segment is offset from the second actuation member.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein a distance between the mid-point of the first segment and the mid-point of the second segment is less than a distance between the first actuation member and the second actuation member.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein one of the first segment or second segment is larger in size than the other of the first segment or second segment.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the first segment is larger than the second segment, and wherein the minimum force needed to pivot the first actuation member to actuate the first electrical contact is less than the minimum force needed to pivot the second actuation member to actuate the second electrical contact.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein a minimum force needed to pivot the first actuation member to actuate the first electrical contact is different than a minimum force needed to pivot the second actuation member to actuate the second electrical contact.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 18, wherein a characteristic actuation force of the first electrical contact is different than a characteristic actuation force of the second electrical contact.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 18, further comprising one or more sections of material that are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, wherein the material for the one or more sections is formed from a material that deforms with inward pivoting of either the first segment or the second segment of the keycap, and wherein a firmness of the material positioned above the first electrical contact is different than a firmness of the material positioned above the second electrical contact.

21. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein at least some of the plurality of keys are arranged in a QWERTY type layout.

22. A mobile computing device comprising:

a housing containing a plurality of internal components, including one or more processors;

a keyboard including a plurality of keys that are provided on a surface of the housing, wherein at least some of the keys of the keyboard are provided by one or more key structure assemblies that individually include;

a toggle keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment;

a first actuation member extending inward into the housing and aligned under the first segment of the toggle keycap;

a second actuation member extending inward into the housing and aligned under the second segment of the toggle keycap, the second actuation member having a characteristic actuation force that is different than a characteristic actuation force of the first actuation member;

a substrate including a plurality of electrical contacts, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member;

wherein the toggle keycap is pivotable inward, about a reference, to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact.