Low-travel key mechanisms using butterfly hinges
First Claim
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1. A key mechanism, comprising:
- a keycap assembly;
a support structure; and
a butterfly hinge comprising;
a first wing having a first gear member, the first gear member comprising an upper tooth and a lower tooth;
a second wing having a second gear member, the second gear member comprising an upper tooth and a lower tooth, the upper tooth of the first gear member engaging the lower tooth of the second gear member and the lower tooth of the first gear member engaging the upper tooth of the second gear member to pivotally couple the first wing to the second wing;
wherein the first wing and the second wing define a cavity;
a switch housing disposed within the cavity;
a first and second pair of pivot pins coupled to the switch housing; and
a first and second pair of keycap pins coupled to the keycap assembly.
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Abstract
A key mechanism including one or more butterfly hinges. Each butterfly hinge may include a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. Hinged coupling mechanisms couple respective arms of the wings together. Additionally or alternatively, a key mechanism can include one or more half-butterfly hinges. Each half-butterfly hinge includes a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. A hinged coupling mechanism couples one set of corresponding arms of the wings together, while the other set of corresponding arms are not coupled together.
342 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A key mechanism, comprising:
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a keycap assembly; a support structure; and a butterfly hinge comprising; a first wing having a first gear member, the first gear member comprising an upper tooth and a lower tooth; a second wing having a second gear member, the second gear member comprising an upper tooth and a lower tooth, the upper tooth of the first gear member engaging the lower tooth of the second gear member and the lower tooth of the first gear member engaging the upper tooth of the second gear member to pivotally couple the first wing to the second wing; wherein the first wing and the second wing define a cavity; a switch housing disposed within the cavity; a first and second pair of pivot pins coupled to the switch housing; and a first and second pair of keycap pins coupled to the keycap assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A keyboard for an electronic device comprising:
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a support structure defining an opening; a set of key mechanisms coupled to the support structure, one of the set of key mechanisms comprising; a keycap; a hinge mechanism movably supporting the keycap above the support structure, the hinge mechanism comprising; a first wing having a first gear member; and a second wing having a second gear member, the first gear member of the first wing interfacing with the second gear member of the second wing to couple the first and second wings together; a first pair of pivot pins coupling the first wing to the support structure; a second pair of pivot pins coupling the second wing to the support structure; a first pair of keycap pins coupling the first wing to the keycap; a second pair of keycap pins coupling the second wing to the keycap; wherein a portion of the keycap is received within the opening of the support structure when the key mechanism is in a depressed position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A hinge mechanism for an input key, comprising:
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a first hinge member having a first upper tooth and a first lower tooth, the first hinge member defining a first upstop member extending from a surface of the first hinge member; a second hinge member having a second upper tooth and a second lower tooth, the second hinge member defining a second upstop member extending from a surface of the second hinge member; wherein the first upper tooth of the first hinge member interfaces with the second lower tooth of the second hinge member and the first lower tooth of the first hinge member interfaces with the second upper tooth of the second hinge member to pivotally couple the first hinge member to the second hinge member, the first and second upstop members configured to limit vertical travel of the first and second hinge members. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification