Method of manufacturing an input device

• US 9,870,066 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Whitt, III, David Otto, Mickelson, Matthew David, Pelley, Joel Lawrence, Teredesai, Amey M., Shaw, Timothy Carlyle, Beall, Christopher Strickland, Stoumbos, Christopher Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US14/692,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20150227212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/016 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Input device manufacture techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a plurality of layers of a key assembly is positioned in a fixture such that one or more projections of the fixture are disposed through one or more openings in each of the one or more layers. The positioned plurality of layers is secured to each other.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

positioning a carrier proximal to a fixture, the carrier having positioned therein a key assembly disposed between first and second outer layers and a connection portion having a magnetic coupling device configured to be secured to a computing device, the positioning performed to align and secure the magnetic coupling device to a portion of the fixture;

positioning layers of the key assembly in the fixture that has one or more projections disposed through one or more openings in each of the layers that are secured to each other to form the key assembly; and

performing one or more operations to secure the first and second outer layers of the positioned carrier.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the positioning the carrier is performed such that the connection portion is restricted from movement during said performing the one or more operations.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more operations is a lamination operation and the positioning the carrier is performed such that the connection portion remains flat against the fixture during the lamination operation.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling device includes an arrangement of a plurality of magnets that form a flux fountain.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the first and second outer layers, the connection portion, and the key assembly form an input device for the computing device.

6. The method as described in claim 5, wherein the connection portion is configured to provide a physical and communicative coupling with the computing device that is removable.

7. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

securing the positioned layers of the key assembly to each other to form the key assembly.

8. A system comprising:

a carrier positioned proximal to a fixture, the carrier having positioned therein a key assembly disposed between first and second outer layers and a connection portion having a magnetic coupling device configured to be secured to a computing device, the carrier positioned to align and secure the magnetic coupling device to a portion of the fixture, the first and second outer layers being secured to the positioned carrier, and

a plurality of layers of the key assembly positioned in the fixture that has one or more projections disposed through at least one opening in each of the plurality of layers that are secured to each other to form the key assembly.

9. The system as described in claim 8, wherein the first and second outer layers are secured to the positioned carrier by a lamination operation.

10. The system as described in claim 8, wherein the secured first and second outer layers restrict movement of the connection portion.

11. The system as described in claim 8, wherein the secured first and second outer layers cause the connection portion to remain flat against the fixture.

12. The system as described in claim 8, wherein the magnetic coupling device includes an arrangement of a plurality of magnets that form a flux fountain.

13. The system as described in claim 8, wherein the first and second outer layers, the connection portion, and the key assembly form an input device for the computing device.

14. The system as described in claim 8, wherein the connection portion is configured to provide a physical and communicative coupling with the computing device that is removable.

15. The system as described in claim 8, wherein the projections of the fixture align the plurality of layers positioned in the fixture the positioned and aligned plurality of layers being secured to each other to form the key assembly.

16. A system comprising:

a carrier positioned proximal to a fixture, the carrier including a first side and a second side attached to each other using a hinge, the carrier having positioned therein a key assembly disposed between first and second outer layers and a connection portion having a magnetic coupling device configured to be secured to a computing device, the carrier positioned to align and secure the magnetic coupling device to a portion of the fixture, the first and second outer layers being secured to the carrier, and

key assembly layers positioned in the fixture that has one or more projections disposed through at least one opening in each of the key assembly layers to align the key assembly layers that are secured to each other to form the key assembly.

17. The system as described in claim 16, wherein the first outer layer is secured to the first side of the carrier, and the second outer layer is secured to the second side of the carrier.

18. The system as described in claim 16, wherein the magnetic coupling device includes an arrangement of a plurality of magnets that form a flux fountain.

19. The system as described in claim 16, wherein the first and second outer layers, the connection portion, and the key assembly form an input device for the computing device.

20. The system as described in claim 16, wherein the connection portion is configured to provide a physical and communicative coupling with the computing device that is removable.