Stabilization techniques for key assemblies and keyboards

• US 9,449,768 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Krumpelman, Doug, Bokma, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US14/138,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20140190810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/01 Off centre actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/04 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/98 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

Key stabilization techniques for a key assembly or keyboard are provided. In one embodiment, a key assembly includes a keycap having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position. The key assembly also includes a base having a planar-translation effecting mechanism supporting the keycap to guide the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position. A key stabilization mechanism positioned in the keycap, the base or both the keycap and the base configured to the stabilize the keycap so that the touch surface remains substantially planar while the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the press position to resist tilt of the keycap and rotation of the keycap about an axis in the press direction as keycap moves toward the pressed position.

Claims

1. A key assembly, comprising:

a keycap having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position, the unpressed position and pressed position separated in a press direction and a second direction orthogonal to the press direction;

a base having a planar-translation effecting mechanism comprising a ramp, the ramp supporting the keycap to guide the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position; and

a stabilizing wire coupled to the base, the stabilizing wire configured to transfer motion from a first side of the keycap to a second side of the keycap so that the touch surface remains substantially planar while the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position,

wherein the stabilizing wire resists tilt of the keycap and rotation of the keycap about an axis in the press direction as the keycap moves toward the pressed position.

2. The key assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

reverse ramp features on the base and reverse ramp contacting features on the keycap, wherein when a press force is applied off-center on one portion of the touch surface, the reverse ramp features and reverse ramp contacting features drive an opposite portion of the touch surface toward the planar-translation effecting mechanism.

3. The key assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the keycap includes a first magnetic component;

the base includes a second magnetic component for the keycap; and

the first and second magnetic components form a ready-return mechanism that biases the keycap toward the unpressed position.

4. The key assembly of claim 3, wherein one of the first and second magnetic components comprises a non-magnetized ferrous material.

5. The key assembly of claim 1, wherein the planar-translation effecting mechanism comprises ramp features on the base and the keycap includes ramp contacting features that move along the ramp features as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position.

6. The key assembly of claim 1, wherein the keycap has an aspect ratio between 1:

1.5-5;

1 with a longer axis and a shorter axis.

7. The key assembly of claim 6, wherein the stabilizing wire is substantially along a length of the longer axis.

8. The key assembly of claim 7, wherein the stabilizing wire is pivotally connected to one of the keycap and base, and has a sliding connection with the other of the keycap and base.

9. The key assembly of claim 7, wherein the stabilizing wire is configured near one edge of the keycap along the length of the longer axis and the key stabilization mechanism includes another stabilizing wire positioned near an opposite edge of the keycap along the length of the longer axis.

10. The key assembly of claim 7, wherein the stabilizing wire is pivotally connected to the base and has a sliding connection configured between the first side and the second side of the keycap.

11. The key assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

intermediate ramp features in the base along the longer axis and corresponding intermediate ramp contacting features on the keycap.

12. The key assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

guides positioned on either side of the intermediate ramp features in the base to stabilize the keycap and guide the intermediate ramp contacting features when moving along the intermediate ramp features toward the pressed position.

13. The key assembly of claim 1, further comprising a capacitive sensor for sensing when the keycap is in the pressed position.

14. A keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keycaps, each keycap of the plurality of keycaps having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves a respective keycap of the plurality of keycaps from an unpressed position towards a pressed position, the unpressed position and pressed position separated in a press direction and a second direction orthogonal to the press direction;

a base having a plurality of planar-translation effecting mechanisms, each planar-translation effecting mechanism of the plurality of planar-translation effecting mechanisms comprising a respective ramp supporting the respective keycap to guide the respective keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the respective keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position; and

a plurality of stabilizing wires coupled to the base, each stabilizing wire of the plurality of stabilizing wires configured to transfer motion from a first side of the respective keycap to a second side of the pressed keycap so that the touch surface remains substantially planar while the respective keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position,

wherein each stabilizing wire of the plurality of stabilizing wires resist tilt of the respective keycap and rotation of the pressed keycap about an axis in the press direction as the respective keycap moves toward the pressed position.

15. The keyboard of claim 14, further comprising:

reverse ramp features on the base and reverse ramp contacting features on corresponding keycaps of the plurality of keycaps, wherein, when a press force is applied off-center on one portion of the touch surface, the reverse ramp features and reverse ramp contacting features drive an opposite portion of the touch surface toward a respective planar-translation effecting mechanism of the plurality of planar-translation effecting mechanisms.

16. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein:

each of the plurality of keycaps includes a first magnetic component;

the base includes a second magnetic component for each respective keycap of the plurality of keycaps; and

the first and second magnetic components of each respective keycap form a ready-return mechanism that biases the respective keycap toward the unpressed position.

17. The keyboard of claim 16, wherein one of the first and second magnetic components of each respective keycap of the plurality of keycaps comprises a non-magnetized ferrous material.

18. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of keycaps have an aspect ratio between 1.5:

1-5;

1 with a longer axis and a shorter axis.

19. The keyboard of claim 18, wherein the plurality of stabilizing wires comprises a stabilizing wire that is substantially along length of the longer axis of a keycap of the portion of the plurality of keycaps.

20. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the stabilizing wire is pivotally connected to the base and has a sliding connection with the keycap.

21. The keyboard of claim 18, further comprising intermediate ramp features in the base along the longer axis and intermediate ramp contacting features on a corresponding keycap.

22. The keyboard of claim 21, further comprising guides positioned on either side of the intermediate ramp features in the base to stabilize the corresponding keycap and guide the intermediate ramp contacting features when moving along the intermediate ramp features toward the pressed position.

23. A method of effecting motion of a keycap, the method comprising:

in response to an off-center press force on a first side portion of the keycap, a stabilizing wire of the keycap having, a contact a planar-translation effecting mechanism in a base, thereby transferring motion from the first side portion of the keycap toward a second side portion of the keycap as the keycap moves along a press direction,

wherein the keycap is supported in an unpressed position by the planar-translation effecting mechanism comprising a ramp, the ramp configured to guide the keycap between the unpressed position and a pressed position,

wherein the stabilizing wire is coupled to the base, and

wherein the unpressed position and the pressed position are separated in the press direction and in a direction orthogonal to the press direction.