STABILIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR KEY ASSEMBLIES AND KEYBOARDS

• US 20140190810A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Krumpelman, Doug, Bokma, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,449,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• 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 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 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;

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

2. The key assembly of claim 1, wherein the key stabilization mechanism comprises reverse ramp features on the base and reverse ramp contacting features on the keycap, wherein when a press force applied off-center on one portion of the touch surface, the reverse ramp features and reverse ramp contacting features drive the opposite portion of the touch surface toward the planar-translation effecting mechanism.

3. The key assembly of claim 1, wherein:

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

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

the first and second magnetic components form a ready-return mechanism that biases the respective 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 the 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:

1.5-1;

5 with a longer axis and a shorter axis.

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

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

9. The key assembly of claim 7, wherein the stabilizing wire is configured near one edge of the keycap key 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 keycap comprises a first portion and a second portion and the stabilizing wire is pivotally connected to the base and has a sliding connection configured between the first portion and second portion of the keycap.

11. The key assembly of claim 6, wherein the key stabilization mechanism comprises 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, wherein the key stabilization mechanism further comprises 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 having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves a pressed 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 plurality of planar-translation effecting mechanisms each supporting a respective one of the plurality of keycaps to guide the pressed keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the pressed keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position; and

a plurality of key stabilization mechanisms positioned in the respective keycap, the base or both the respective keycap and the base configured to the stabilize the pressed keycap so that the touch surface remains substantially planar while the pressed keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the press position;

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

15. The key assembly of claim 14, wherein at least some of the plurality of key stabilization mechanisms comprise reverse ramp features on the base and reverse ramp contacting features on corresponding ones of the plurality of keycaps, wherein when a press force applied off-center on one portion of the touch surface, the reverse ramp features and reverse ramp contacting features drive the opposite portion of the touch surface toward the planar-translation effecting mechanism.

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 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 comprises a non-magnetized ferrous material.

18. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein at least some 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 key stabilization mechanisms comprises a stabilizing wire substantially along the length of the longer axis.

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 14, wherein at least some of the key stabilization mechanisms comprise intermediate ramp features in the base along the longer axis and intermediate ramp contacting features on the corresponding keycaps.

22. The keyboard of claim 21, wherein the at least some of the key stabilization mechanism further comprise 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.

23. A method of effecting motion of a keycap supported in an unpressed position by a planar-translation effecting mechanism and configured to move between the unpressed position and a pressed position, wherein the unpressed and pressed positions are separated in a press direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the press direction, the method comprising:

in response to an off-center press force on one side portion of a touch surface of the keycap, a reverse ramp contacting feature of the keycap contacts a reverse ramp feature in the base, thereby driving an opposite side portion of the keycap toward the planar-translation effecting mechanism as the keycap moves toward the press direction.