Stacked metal and elastomeric dome for key switch

• US 9,012,795 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Niu, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US12/712,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 200/341, 200/344, 200/406, 200/517
• US Class Current: 200/341
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/016 Collapsing to second stable position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/034 Regulation of operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

A low travel keyboard and methods of fabrication are described. The low-travel keyboard is suitable for a thin-profile computing device, such as a laptop computer, netbook computer, desktop computer, etc. The keyboard includes a key cap positioned over stacked elastomeric and metal domes. The quick force drop of the metal dome provides the crisp “snappy” feel for the user and the elastomeric dome provides the ability for longer travel than the metal dome alone. The metal dome also activates the switch circuitry of the membrane on printed circuit board. The stacking of the elastomeric metal domes takes advantage of the abrupt force drop in the metal dome buckling and applies it to the elastomeric dome force, making it possible to design a low-travel key while still maintaining or improving the tactile feeling of the key switch.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a computing device, comprising:

at least one key comprising a key cap;

an elastomeric dome comprising a first base portion and a plunger portion, the elastomeric dome being attached to and extending from an underside of the key cap; and

a metal dome comprising a dome portion and a second base portion, the second base portion being attached to the first base portion of the elastomeric dome, the second base portion of the metal dome being configured to attach to a membrane comprising a top layer having a first contact attached to an underside of the top layer, a bottom layer having a second contact attached to a top side of the bottom layer, and a spacer layer between the top and bottom layers having a void between the first and second contacts, the metal dome being disposed beneath the elastomeric dome and with respect to the elastomeric dome such that when the at least one key is fully depressed, the elastomeric dome collapses and the plunger portion of the elastomeric dome deflects the dome portion of the metal dome to collapse the metal dome into contact with the top layer of the membrane to connect the first and second contacts and when the elastomeric dome is in a relaxed state the plunger portion of the elastomeric dome does not contact the dome portion of the metal dome.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a distance traveled by the key is less than about 1.5 mm.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the distance traveled by the key is less than about 1.0 mm.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric dome and the metal dome have a diameter that is substantially the same.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the key cap contacts the elastomeric dome but not the metal dome when the key cap is depressed.

6. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a scissor mechanism attaching the key cap to the membrane.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric dome comprises a hemispherical dome.

8. A method of assembling at least a portion of a low-travel keyboard having a quick force drop for a computing device, the method comprising:

providing a metal dome comprising a dome portion and a first base portion, the first base portion of the metal dome being attachable to a membrane comprising a top layer having a first contact attached to an underside of the top layer, a bottom layer having a second contact attached to a top side of the bottom layer, and a spacer layer between the top and bottom layers having a void between the first and second contacts, the metal dome being collapsible when depressed from above, the metal dome being configured to contact the top layer of the membrane to connect the first and second contacts when the metal dome is deformed;

disposing an elastomeric dome over the metal dome, the elastomeric dome comprising a second base portion and a plunger portion, the second base portion of the elastomeric dome being attached to the first base portion of the metal dome, the elastomeric dome being collapsible when depressed from above and the plunger portion of elastomeric dome being configurable to impinge the dome portion of the collapsible metal dome when depressed from above and to not contact the dome portion of the metal dome when in a relaxed state; and

attaching key cap to the elastomeric dome such that the plunger portion extends from an underside of the key cap.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the elastomeric dome and the metal dome are substantially concave and oriented in a substantially same direction.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the elastomeric dome and the metal dome have a substantially same diameter.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a total travel distance of the keyboard is less than about 1.5 mm.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the metal dome and the elastomeric dome provide a combined quick force drop when the metal dome and the elastomeric dome are collapsed.

13. A tactile low-travel keyboard for a computing device, comprising:

a membrane comprising a top layer having a first contact attached to an underside of the top layer, a bottom layer having a second contact attached to a top side of the bottom layer, and a spacer layer between the top and bottom layers having a void between the first and second contacts;

a metal dome comprising a dome portion and a first base portion, the metal dome being disposed over the membrane and collapsible when depressed from above, the metal dome being configured to contact the top layer of the membrane to connect the first and second contacts when the metal dome is deformed;

an elastomeric dome disposed over the metal dome and collapsible when depressed from above, the elastomeric dome comprising a second base portion, the second base portion of the elastomeric dome being configured to attach to the first base portion of the metal dome, the elastomeric dome and the metal dome being oriented in a substantially same direction; and

a key cap disposed over the collapsible elastomeric dome and comprising a plunger portion extending from an underside of the key cap, the key cap being attached to the collapsible elastomeric dome, wherein the key cap contacts both the collapsible metal dome and the collapsible elastomeric dome when the key cap is depressed, the plunger portion being operable to collapse the dome portion of the metal dome into contact with the membrane to connect the first and second contacts, and the plunger portion being operable to not contact the dome portion of the metal dome when in a relaxed state.

14. The tactile low-travel keyboard of claim 13, further comprising a movable scissor mechanism attaching the key cap to the membrane.

15. The tactile low-travel keyboard of claim 13, wherein the keyboard has a travel distance of less than about 1.5 mm.

16. The tactile low-travel keyboard of claim 13, wherein the metal dome and the elastomeric dome have a substantially same diameter.

17. The tactile low-travel keyboard of claim 13, wherein the elastomeric dome comprises silicone.

18. The tactile low-travel keyboard of claim 13, wherein the metal dome comprises stainless steel.

19. The tactile low-travel keyboard of claim 13, wherein the electrical switch circuitry comprises conductive traces that contact one another when the electrical switch circuitry is activated.

20. A key for a keyboard, comprising:

a key cap;

a collapsible elastomeric dome comprising a first base portion and a plunger portion, the elastomeric dome being attached to and extending from an underside of the key cap;

a collapsible metal dome comprising a dome portion and a second base portion, the second base portion being attached to the first base portion of the elastomeric dome, the second base portion of the metal dome being disposed beneath the elastomeric dome and oriented in a substantially same direction as the elastomeric dome, the plunger portion of the elastomeric dome configured to not contact the dome portion of the metal dome when the elastomeric dome is in a relaxed state; and

a membrane comprising a top layer having a first contact attached to an underside of the top layer, a bottom layer having a second contact attached to a top side of the bottom layer, and a spacer layer between the top and bottom layers having a void between the first and second contacts, the second base portion of the metal dome being attachable to the membrane, wherein when the key is fully depressed the elastomeric dome collapses and the plunger portion of the elastomeric dome impinges on the dome portion of the metal dome and collapses the metal dome into contact with the membrane to connect the first and second contacts.

21. The key of claim 20, further comprising:

a scissor mechanism attached to the key cap and the membrane.