Keyboard for an electronic device

• US 10,755,877 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2017
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Paul X., Gao, Zheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caroc, Lheiren Mae A
• Application Number:
  US15/687,297
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 200 5 A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/82 characterised by contact space venting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/016 Separate bridge contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2213/01 with internal pressure of other switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/036 Light emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/03 Stoppers for on or off position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/003 Membrane embracing all keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/03 Separate key housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/042 mounted in conventional keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2233/002 joined to form button rows
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2233/07 Cap or button on actuator part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9629 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

A keyboard is disclosed. The keyboard includes a keyboard housing and a switch assembly coupled to the keyboard housing. The switch assembly includes a switch body defining an interior volume, a collapsible dome positioned in the interior volume, an actuation member configured to actuate the collapsible dome in response to an actuation of the actuation member, and a cover coupled to the switch body. The cover retains the actuation member to the switch body. The keyboard also includes a flexible material coupled to the keyboard housing and extending over the actuation member.

Claims

1. A switch assembly for a keyboard, comprising:

a switch housing comprising;

a switch body defining an interior volume, a bottom surface, and a lateral width; and

a cover defining an opening;

a collapsible dome within the interior volume;

an actuation member positioned in the opening and comprising a retention feature that engages the switch body, thereby retaining the actuation member to the switch housing and retaining the collapsible dome within the interior volume;

a first terminal retained to the switch housing and comprising a first portion configured to be contacted by the collapsible dome when the actuation member is depressed and a second portion at the bottom surface and flush with the bottom surface within the lateral width, the first portion of the first terminal being flush with an inner surface of the switch housing; and

a second terminal partially encapsulated in a floor of the switch body such that a first portion of the second terminal is exposed to the interior volume through the floor of the switch body and a second portion of the second terminal is positioned at the bottom surface and flush with the bottom surface within the lateral width, the second terminal remaining in electrical contact with the collapsible dome when the actuation member is depressed and when the actuation member is undepressed, the first portion of the second terminal being flush with the inner surface of the switch housing;

wherein the switch housing, the collapsible dome, the actuation member, the first terminal, and the second terminal are assembled into an integrated unit configured to be mounted directly on a keyboard base.

2. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the switch assembly is incorporated into a keyboard comprising additional switch assemblies, each additional switch assembly comprising;

an additional switch housing;

an additional actuation member; and

an additional terminal retained to the switch housing;

the switch assembly and the additional switch assemblies are electrically coupled to the keyboard base via the first and second terminals and the additional terminals; and

the actuation members of the switch assembly and the additional switch assemblies each define a shape of a user-interface portion of a respective key of the keyboard.

3. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a first portion of the first terminal is exposed to the interior volume;

a second portion of the first terminal is exposed on an exterior surface of the switch body; and

the switch assembly is configured to be mounted on the keyboard base via a surface mount process whereby the second portion of the first terminal is placed in contact with a conductive terminal of the keyboard base.

4. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the cover is secured to the switch body;

the retention feature is a flange;

the flange overlaps a surface of the cover; and

the collapsible dome biases the actuation member in an undepressed position.

5. The switch assembly of claim 4, wherein the first terminal is at least partially encapsulated in the switch body.

6. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the switch housing abuts an adjacent switch housing configured to be mounted on the keyboard base.

7. A keyboard comprising:

a keyboard housing;

a keyboard base positioned on a portion of the keyboard housing, the keyboard base having a first contact and a second contact;

a switch assembly mounted to the keyboard base, comprising;

a switch body defining an interior volume, the switch body being placed directly on the keyboard base such that the first contact and the second contact are positioned within a footprint of the switch body;

a first terminal formed within the switch body, the first terminal being in electrical contact with the first contact and having a portion exposed to the interior volume;

a second terminal formed within the switch body, the second terminal being in electrical contact with the second contact and having a portion exposed to the interior volume, the first and second terminals having height dimensions equal to a vertical thickness of a bottom wall of the switch body;

a collapsible dome positioned in the interior volume;

an actuation member configured to actuate the collapsible dome in response to an actuation of the actuation member; and

a cover coupled to the switch body and retaining the actuation member to the switch body; and

a flexible material coupled to the keyboard housing and extending over the actuation member.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the flexible material defines an exterior surface of the keyboard.

9. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the flexible material is a woven fabric.

10. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the flexible material is bonded to the keyboard housing.

11. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein:

a first side of the actuation member contacts the collapsible dome; and

a second side of the actuation member contacts the flexible material.

12. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the second terminal is molded in the switch body.

13. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein:

the switch assembly is a first switch assembly;

the keyboard further comprises a group of second switch assemblies; and

the flexible material extends over the group of second switch assemblies.

14. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the switch body is a first switch body, and wherein the keyboard further comprises a second switch body mounted to the keyboard base, the second switch body being positioned adjacent to and abutting the first switch body.

15. A keyboard comprising:

a keyboard base;

a group of switch assemblies coupled to the keyboard base, each switch assembly comprising;

a switch housing;

an actuation member within the switch housing; and

a flexible material comprising a woven fabric covering the group of switch assemblies and comprising sensing elements configured to be coupled to touch-sensing circuitry of an electronic device, the sensing elements comprising;

a first conductive element woven into the woven fabric and configured to act as a capacitive drive element; and

a second conductive element woven into the woven fabric and configured to act as a capacitive sense element;

wherein

the switch housings of at least two adjacent switch assemblies abut one another.

16. The keyboard of claim 15, wherein the flexible material is bonded to top surfaces of the switch housings.

17. The keyboard of claim 16, wherein the top surfaces of the switch housings define a continuous surface framing each of the actuation members.

18. The keyboard of claim 16, wherein the flexible material is bonded to top surfaces of the actuation members.

19. The keyboard of claim 15, wherein the keyboard does not include a web above the switch housings.