LOW-TRAVEL KEY MECHANISM FOR AN INPUT DEVICE
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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.
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40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. 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 switch pin retaining features on opposing sides of the switch housing; and a hinged structure coupled to the switch pin retaining features and the keycap. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. 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 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. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. 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; and a hinged structure supporting the keycap and coupled to the switch pin retaining features by corresponding switch housing pins. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification