Illuminated low-travel key mechanism for a keyboard
First Claim
1. A key mechanism, comprising:
- a keycap;
a switch housing positioned below the keycap and over a substrate and configured to distribute light to an underside of the keycap, the switch housing defining switch pin retaining features on opposing sides of the switch housing and an opening extending between a first surface of the switch housing and a second surface of the switch housing;
a switch positioned in the opening of the switch housing; and
a hinged structure supporting the keycap and coupled to the switch pin retaining features by corresponding switch housing pins, the hinged structure enabling the keycap to move relative to the substrate between an undepressed position and a depressed position;
wherein one of the switch housing pins moves vertically within the corresponding switch pin retaining feature as the keycap transitions between the undepressed position and the depressed position.
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Abstract
A key mechanism for an electronic device includes a switch housing and a hinged structure. As one example, the hinged structure can be a butterfly hinge. The switch housing includes switch pin retaining mechanisms on opposing sides of the switch housing. The hinged structure includes two separate wings that are positioned adjacent to each other such that a cavity is formed between the two wings. The two wings are coupled together by coupling elements. The wings of the hinged structure can include switch housing pins on each arm of the wing that extend into the cavity and couple to the switch pin retaining mechanisms in the switch housing. Various configurations of switch pin retaining mechanisms and switch housing pins can be used to attach the hinged structure to the switch housing.
324 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A key mechanism, comprising:
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a keycap; a switch housing positioned below the keycap and over a substrate and configured to distribute light to an underside of the keycap, the switch housing defining switch pin retaining features on opposing sides of the switch housing and an opening extending between a first surface of the switch housing and a second surface of the switch housing; a switch positioned in the opening of the switch housing; and a hinged structure supporting the keycap and coupled to the switch pin retaining features by corresponding switch housing pins, the hinged structure enabling the keycap to move relative to the substrate between an undepressed position and a depressed position; wherein one of the switch housing pins moves vertically within the corresponding switch pin retaining feature as the keycap transitions between the undepressed position and the depressed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An keyboard comprising:
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a keyboard substrate; a light source positioned on the keyboard substrate; a keycap; a switch housing positioned between the keycap and the keyboard substrate and formed of an optically transparent material, the switch housing defining switch pin retaining features on opposing sides of the switch housing and defining a cutout such that the switch housing at least partially surrounds the light source, the switch housing further defining an opening extending between a first surface of the switch housing and a second surface of the switch housing; a switch positioned in the opening of the switch housing; and a hinged structure supporting the keycap and coupled to the switch pin retaining features by corresponding switch housing pins, the hinged structure enabling the keycap to move relative to the keyboard substrate between an undepressed position and a depressed position; wherein one of the switch housing pins moves vertically within the corresponding switch pin retaining feature as the keycap transitions between the undepressed position and the depressed position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic device comprising:
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an enclosure; a keyboard substrate within the enclosure; a light source positioned on the keyboard substrate; and a key mechanism positioned at least partially within the enclosure, the key mechanism comprising; a keycap; a switch housing positioned between the keycap and the keyboard substrate and configured to distribute light emitted by the light source to the keycap, the switch housing defining a set of switch pin retaining features on opposing sides of the switch housing and an opening extending from a first surface of the switch housing to a second surface of the switch housing; a switch positioned in the opening of the switch housing; and a hinged structure having multiple switch housing pins, wherein two of the multiple switch housing pins are received by a common switch pin retaining feature of the set of switch pin retaining features. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification