Leveled touchsurface with planar translational responsiveness to vertical travel
First Claim
1. A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keycaps;
a keyguide configured to guide keycap motion, the keyguide comprising;
a plurality of combined leveling and planar-translation-effecting (CLPTE) mechanisms, each CLPTE mechanism of the plurality of CLPTE mechanisms associated with a keycap of the plurality of keycaps, each CLPTE mechanism configured to define a planar translation component of an associated path travelled by the associated keycap in response to press input applied to the associated keycap by a user, and each CLPTE mechanism further configured to keep the associated keycap substantially level as the associated keycap travels along the associated path;
a plurality of ready/return mechanisms, each ready/return mechanism of the plurality of ready/return mechanisms corresponding with a keycap of the plurality of keycaps, each ready/return mechanism comprising a first component attached to the corresponding keycap and a second component attached to the keyguide proximate to the CLPTE mechanism associated with the corresponding keycap, wherein the first component and the second component of each ready/return mechanism utilize non-contact forces to maintain the corresponding keycap in an unpressed position when not pressed and to return the corresponding keycap to the unpressed position in response to a release of the press input; and
a key-retraction system configured to retract the plurality of keycaps into a corresponding plurality of keyholes.
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Abstract
Described herein are techniques related to a leveled touchsurface with planar translational responsiveness to vertical travel. Examples of a touchsurface include a key of a keyboard, touchpad of a laptop, or a touchscreen of a smartphone or tablet computer. With the techniques described herein, the touchsurface is constrained to remain in a level orientation while a user presses the touchsurface like a button or key. Also, with the techniques described herein, a planar-translation-effecting mechanism imparts a planar translation to the touchsurface while it travels vertically (e.g., downward) as the user presses the touchsurface. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
189 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of keycaps; a keyguide configured to guide keycap motion, the keyguide comprising; a plurality of combined leveling and planar-translation-effecting (CLPTE) mechanisms, each CLPTE mechanism of the plurality of CLPTE mechanisms associated with a keycap of the plurality of keycaps, each CLPTE mechanism configured to define a planar translation component of an associated path travelled by the associated keycap in response to press input applied to the associated keycap by a user, and each CLPTE mechanism further configured to keep the associated keycap substantially level as the associated keycap travels along the associated path; a plurality of ready/return mechanisms, each ready/return mechanism of the plurality of ready/return mechanisms corresponding with a keycap of the plurality of keycaps, each ready/return mechanism comprising a first component attached to the corresponding keycap and a second component attached to the keyguide proximate to the CLPTE mechanism associated with the corresponding keycap, wherein the first component and the second component of each ready/return mechanism utilize non-contact forces to maintain the corresponding keycap in an unpressed position when not pressed and to return the corresponding keycap to the unpressed position in response to a release of the press input; and a key-retraction system configured to retract the plurality of keycaps into a corresponding plurality of keyholes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A key assembly comprising
a keycap; -
a combined leveling and planar-translation-effecting (CLPTE) mechanism operatively coupled to the keycap, wherein the CLPTE mechanism defines a planar translation component of a path travelled by the keycap in response to a press applied to the keycap by a user, and wherein the CLPTE mechanism is configured to keep the keycap substantially level as the keycap travels along the path in response to the press; a ready/return mechanism operatively associated with the keycap, the ready/return mechanism configured to maintain the keycap in an unpressed position and to return the keycap to the unpressed position in response to a release of the press, wherein the ready/return mechanism does not comprise an elastomer; and a key-retraction system configured to retract the keycap into a keyhole. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A key assembly comprising
a keycap having an exterior face configured to be pressed by a user and an interior face comprising a first plurality of ramp features; -
a key guide comprising a second plurality of ramp features configured to contact the first plurality of ramp features, such that the first plurality of ramp features and the second plurality of ramp features together define a planar translation component of a path travelled by the keycap in response to a press applied to the keycap by a user; a tactile feedback mechanism operatively associated with the keycap, the tactile feedback mechanism configured to provide a resisting force in response to the press; and a key-retraction system configured to retract the keycap into a keyhole. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification