Keycap assembly with an interactive spring mechanism
First Claim
1. A key assembly comprising:
- a base;
a keycap configured to move between an unpressed position and a pressed position relative to the base, wherein the unpressed and pressed positions are separated in a press direction and in a first lateral direction orthogonal to the press direction; and
a deflectable spring comprising a fixed portion and a contact portion, the contact portion configured to contact a spring guiding profile, wherein the fixed portion and the spring guiding profile are fixed to different key assembly elements selected from group consisting of the base and the keycap,wherein, as the keycap moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position, the contact portion physically interacts with different sections of the spring guiding profile, causing different deflections of the deflectable spring and producing reaction forces that resist keycap motion toward the pressed position and bias the keycap toward the unpressed position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A touchsurface assembly comprises a base, a pressable touchsurface, and a deflectable spring. The pressable touchsurface is configured to move between an unpressed position and a pressed position relative to the base. The deflectable spring comprises a fixed portion and a contact portion. The contact portion is configured to contact a spring guiding profile. As the touchsurface moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position, the contact portion physically interacts with different sections of the spring guiding profile. This interaction causes different deflections of the deflectable spring and produces reaction forces that resist keycap motion toward the pressed position and bias the keycap toward the unpressed position.
231 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A key assembly comprising:
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a base; a keycap configured to move between an unpressed position and a pressed position relative to the base, wherein the unpressed and pressed positions are separated in a press direction and in a first lateral direction orthogonal to the press direction; and a deflectable spring comprising a fixed portion and a contact portion, the contact portion configured to contact a spring guiding profile, wherein the fixed portion and the spring guiding profile are fixed to different key assembly elements selected from group consisting of the base and the keycap, wherein, as the keycap moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position, the contact portion physically interacts with different sections of the spring guiding profile, causing different deflections of the deflectable spring and producing reaction forces that resist keycap motion toward the pressed position and bias the keycap toward the unpressed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A keyboard comprising:
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a base; a plurality of key assemblies, wherein each key assembly of the plurality of key assemblies comprises; a keycap configured to move between an unpressed position and a pressed position relative to the base, wherein the unpressed and pressed positions are separated vertically and laterally; a first deflectable spring comprising a first fixed portion and a first contact portion, the first contact portion configured to contact a first spring guiding profile located proximate to a first edge of the keycap, wherein the first fixed portion and the first spring guiding profile are fixed to different keyboard elements selected from group consisting of the base and the keycap; and a second deflectable spring comprising a second fixed portion and a second contact portion, the second contact portion configured to contact a second spring guiding profile located proximate to a second edge of the keycap opposite the first edge of the keycap, wherein the second deflectable spring is fixed to the keyboard element to which the first deflectable spring is affixed and the second spring guiding profile is fixed to the keyboard element to which the first spring guiding profile is affixed, wherein, as the keycap moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position, the first and second contact portions physically interact with first and second different sections of the first and second spring guiding profiles, causing first and second different deflections of the first and second deflectable springs and producing first and second reaction forces, respectively, wherein the first and second reaction forces resist keycap motion toward the pressed position and bias the keycap toward the unpressed position; and a key sensor configured to detect pressed states of keycaps of the plurality of key assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of affecting motion of a pressable touchsurface of a touchsurface assembly, wherein the pressable touchsurface is configured to move between an unpressed position and a pressed position relative to a base of the touchsurface assembly, wherein the unpressed and pressed positions are separated in a press direction and in a lateral direction orthogonal to the press direction, the method comprising:
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in response to a press input to the pressable touchsurface, providing first reaction forces that resist pressable touchsurface motion from the unpressed position to the pressed position through physical interactions between different sections of a spring guiding profile and a contact portion that cause different deflections of a deflectable spring, the deflectable spring comprising a fixed portion, wherein the fixed portion and the spring guiding profile are fixed to different touchsurface assembly elements selected from group consisting of the base and the pressable touchsurface; and in response to a removal of the press input, providing second reaction forces that bias the pressable touchsurface toward the unpressed position through second physical interactions between the spring guiding profile and the contact portion. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification