Abstract: An elevatable key switch and a keyboard with the elevatable key switch are provided. The elevatable key switch includes a base, a cap, an up-down mechanism, an elastic member, a movable element, and a driving element. The cap is disposed above the base. The up-down mechanism, which is disposed between the base and the cap, supports the cap to perform vertical movement relative to the base. The elastic member is disposed on the base, and the movable element is movably disposed on the elastic member. The driving element drives the movable element to make substantial horizontal movement, so that the movable element selectively moves between a first position and a second position. When the movable element is in the first position, the movable element supports the up-down mechanism in an operation configuration. When the movable element is in the second position, the movable element releases the up-down mechanism entering a contraction configuration.

Abstract: A button apparatus with dual elastic elements includes a base, a key top located above the base, an elevation mechanism, and a complex elastic unit. The elevation mechanism is used to execute lifting and lowering operation between the base and the key top. The complex elastic unit, positioned between the base and the key top for providing resilience to the button apparatus, further includes a lower elastic element mounted on the base and an upper elastic element mounted under the key top. When the button apparatus is operated, an S-shaped resilience pattern can be provided by the complex elastic unit to generate a two-step punch feeling back to the user. Thereby, controllability of the button apparatus can be enhanced.

Abstract: A collapsible keyboard. The collapsible keyboard includes a keyboard chassis, a right track frame, a right key set and a main key set. The right track frame is disposed on the keyboard chassis and slides rightward and leftward. The right track frame has a first sloped sliding groove. The left portion of the first sloped sliding groove is higher than the right portion of the first sloped sliding groove. The right key set is connected to the right track frame. The right track frame is moved rightward to a right expansion position when the right key set moves rightward. The right track frame is moved leftward to a right contraction position when the right key set moves leftward. The main key set has a right protruding element. The right protruding element is formed on the right side of the main key set and slides in the first sloped sliding groove.

Abstract: A supporting apparatus for use with an input device to support an electronic instrument is provided. The supporting apparatus includes a first unit and a supporter. The first unit is rotatably connected to a housing of the input device. When the supporting apparatus is in a closed state, the supporting apparatus covers the input device to protect the input device. When the supporting apparatus is in an open state, the supporting apparatus is automatically configured to a stable state capable of supporting an electronic instrument in one action.

Abstract: A height-adjusting collapsible mechanism for a button key includes a pair of collapsible means for supporting the button key to move up or down above a substrate. At least one collapsible means has two levers pivotally crossed to form a cross angle in between. The levers have two bottom ends pivotally engaged with the substrate and spaced from each other at an interval. One of the bottom ends is located on a stopper slidable on the substrate. Moving the stopper may change the interval and the cross angle, and may thus in turn change the free height of the button key when external forcing is absent from the button key.

Abstract: A key device includes a base plate, a keycap set above the base plate, a scissors mechanism between the base plate and the keycap, and an elastic component with a first end connected to the base plate and a second end connected to the first supporting arm. The scissors mechanism includes a first supporting arm and a second supporting arm for forming the scissors mechanism in an intersecting manner. The elastic component includes a first angle formed between the base plate and the elastic component, and the first angle is less than 90 degrees. While the keycap is depressed, the keycap moves downwards with the second end of the elastic component, the elastic component rotates around the first end of the elastic component to decrease the first angle, and the elastic component is stressed and deformed to support an upward spring force of the keycap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a push button switch apparatus and a method of assembling the same. One embodiment of the present invention is a push button switch apparatus with a scissors-like structure. A bearing portion and a recess are disposed on the base plate, and a pivot bearing space is formed between the base plate and the bearing portion. One arm of the scissors-like structure has a pivot axle at its one end, and a protrusion is disposed on the pivot axle. When the push button switch apparatus is assembled, the protrusion is disposed into the recess, and the pivot axle then enters into the pivot bearing space. Then pivot axle is retained within the pivot bearing space due to walls of the recess constraining the protrusion of the pivot axle, and the arm selectively rotates along the pivot axle.

Abstract: The push-button switch has a base plate, a circuit membrane, a key cap, a scissors-type linkage and a resilient element. The scissors-type linkage haying a first linking bracket and a second linking bracket is disposed between the circuit membrane and the key cap and movable along a specified path. The resilient element is mounted on the scissors-type linkage so as to move the key cap and the scissors-type linkage back to the initial state as the force applied on the key cap is released. The scissors-type linkage is provided with a guiding portion thereon, and the resilient element has a trigger, which is actuated by the guiding portion and used to trigger the switch as the key cap is fully pressed. The resilient element also can be a V-shaped reed connected to the first linking bracket and the second linking bracket, or the resilient element can be a spring connected to the first linking bracket and the second linking bracket.

Abstract: A key device and an assembled method thereof improves the reliability of the key device and does not deteriorate ease of installation. The key device has a first arm and a second arm. The first arm has a shaft and the second arm has a slot that includes the first and second portions. The shaft and the slot are movably connected so that the first arm and the second arm form a scissors-like structure. When the shaft is located in the first portion of the slot, the shaft is allowed to rotate and to slide. When the shaft is located in the second portion of the slot, the shaft is allowed to rotate but not to slide. The present invention also provides an assembled method for the key device as stated above.

Abstract: A key signal-generating device has a thin film circuit board to generate key signals and a plurality of hollow rubber domes set on the thin film circuit board that are compressed by their corresponding keys to activate the thin film circuit board to generate corresponding signals. The rubber domes have a predetermined space that is filled with air. The thin film circuit board has a top surface and a trench on the top surface. One end of the trench extends into the predetermined space so that the predetermined space is in communication with the atmosphere. When a key is pressed, the corresponding rubber dome is squeezedby the key, causing the air in the predetermined space to exit out to the atmosphere through the trench.

Abstract: An input device with a number of key sets is described. The input device has a first state when the key sets are configured in different levels, and a second state when the key sets are configured to be side-by-side.

Abstract: A supporting apparatus for use with an input device to support an electronic instrument is provided. The supporting apparatus includes a first unit and a supporter. The first unit is rotatably connected to a housing of the input device. When the supporting apparatus is in a closed state, the supporting apparatus covers the input device to protect the input device. When the supporting apparatus is in an open state, the supporting apparatus is automatically configured to a stable state capable of supporting an electronic instrument in one action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a push button switch apparatus and a method of assembling the same. One embodiment of the present invention is a push button switch apparatus with a scissors-like structure. A bearing portion and a recess are disposed on the base plate, and a pivot bearing space is formed between the base plate and the bearing portion. One arm of the scissors-like structure has a pivot axle at its one end, and a protrusion is disposed on the pivot axle. When the push button switch apparatus is assembled, the protrusion is disposed into the recess, and the pivot axle then enters into the pivot bearing space. Then pivot axle is retained within the pivot bearing space due to walls of the recess constraining the protrusion of the pivot axle, and the arm selectively rotates along the pivot axle.

Abstract: A keyboard structure, comprising: a substrate, a scissors mechanism, and a key lid. The scissors mechanism and the substrate are connected together. The scissors mechanism has a rotational configuration formed by cross-connecting a first rod and a second rod. The first rod has a first upper end and a first lower end. The second rod has a second upper end and a second lower end such that the first lower end and the second lower end are connected with the substrate. The key lid is connected with the first upper end and the second upper end for allowing the key lid to move between a first position, wherein the key lid and the substrate are detached, and a second position. The key lid has a base and a stop block. The base is connected with the second upper end of the scissors mechanism. The stop block is kept an appropriate distance with the base. The stop block and the base are formed into a releasing space.

Abstract: A height-adjusting collapsible mechanism for a button key includes a pair of collapsible means for supporting the button key to move up or down above a substrate. At least one collapsible means has two levers pivotally crossed to form a cross angle in between. The levers have two bottom ends pivotally engaged with the substrate and spaced from each other at an interval. One of the bottom ends is located on a stopper slidable on the substrate. Moving the stopper may change the interval and the cross angle, and may thus in turn change the free height of the button key when external forcing is absent from the button key.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a key structure with scissors-shaped frame and a keyboard including the key. The key structure includes a base, a cap, a balance bar, and a scissors-shaped frame. The cap moves vertically relative to the base due to the movement of scissors-shaped frame. The scissors-shaped frame includes a first end portion, a second end portion, a third end portion, and a fourth end portion. The first and second end portions are coupled to the cap, and the third and fourth end portions are coupled to the base. The balance bar connects to the second end portion.

Abstract: A key device for a computer keyboard has a rigid printed circuit board, a flexible printed circuit board, and a key structure. The rigid printed circuit board has two adjacent but unconnected conductive ends electrically connected to two wires respectively. The flexible printed circuit board, fixed over the rigid printed circuit board, has a conductive segment installed above the two conductive ends, and an isolation layer installed around the conductive segment to form a gap between the conductive segment and the two conductive ends. The key structure is moveably fixed on the flexible printed circuit board in an up and down manner. When the key structure is pushed downward, the bottom of the key structure will touch the conductive segment of the flexible printed circuit board, and the conductive segment will touch the two conductive ends of the rigid printed circuit board to electrically connect the two conductive ends and the two wires.

Abstract: A key device includes a base plate, a keycap set above the base plate, a scissors mechanism between the base plate and the keycap, and an elastic component with a first end connected to the base plate and a second end connected to the first supporting arm. The scissors mechanism includes a first supporting arm and a second supporting arm for forming the scissors mechanism in an intersecting manner. The elastic component includes a first angle formed between the base plate and the elastic component, and the first angle is less than 90 degrees. While the keycap is depressed, the keycap moves downwards with the second end of the elastic component, the elastic component rotates around the first end of the elastic component to decrease the first angle, and the elastic component is stressed and deformed to support an upward spring force of the keycap.

Abstract: An elevated and lower and lower keyboard apparatus comprises a base, plural of key-top-lids, plural of scissors-devices and a guiding board. The scissors-device comprises a first connection rod and a second connection rod, which are intersected to form a turning scissors configuration, which is arranged between the base and the key-top-lid. Through the confinement of the scissors-device, the key-top-lid may make a rise-up and lower-down motion relatively to the base. In a movable manner, the guiding board is arranged on the base to process a movement between a first position and a second position. Relative to the plural of scissors-devices, there are plural of guiding blocks formed on the guiding board. When the guiding board moves from the second position to the first position, the guiding block presses upon the second connection rod and makes the second connection rod move closely to the base, and further, relatively to the base, it makes key-top-lid lowering down.

Abstract: A key device for a computer keyboard has a rigid printed circuit board, a flexible printed circuit board, and a key structure. The rigid printed circuit board has two adjacent but unconnected conductive ends electrically connected to two wires respectively. The flexible printed circuit board, fixed over the rigid printed circuit board, has a conductive segment installed above the two conductive ends, and an isolation layer installed around the conductive segment to form a gap between the conductive segment and the two conductive ends. The key structure is moveably fixed on the flexible printed circuit board in an up and down manner. When the key structure is pushed downward, the bottom of the key structure will touch the conductive segment of the flexible printed circuit board, and the conductive segment will touch the two conductive ends of the rigid printed circuit board to electrically connect the two conductive ends and the two wires.