Including Underlying Air Cushion Patents (Class 400/491.1)
  • Patent number: 8749962
    Abstract: A mobile computing device is disclosed. The mobile computing device comprises a housing that includes a section to retain a keypad assembly. The keypad assembly includes at least a keypad façade that carries a plurality of keys. The keypad façade of the keypad assembly is contoured to adjoin and be substantially flush with the section of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Crooijmans, Yoshimichi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8511920
    Abstract: A flexible touch-type keyboard includes a flexible keyboard module, a receiving assembly for receiving the flexible keyboard module, and a cover. The receiving assembly is connected to one end of the flexible keyboard module; and the cover connected to the opposite end of the flexible keyboard module. The flexible keyboard module is withdrawn from the receiving assembly and automatically rolled back into the receiving assembly by pulling the cover away from the receiving assembly different distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Kun-Tsan Wu, Li-Wen Tien
  • Publication number: 20090162124
    Abstract: A keyboard is used to provide comfort to users' wrists. The keyboard includes a main body, a cable, and an air cushion. The cable is connected to the main body. The air cushion is connected to the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHU-BIAO LIAO, GEN-HUA LIU
  • Patent number: 7091952
    Abstract: Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Raymond Patrick Johnston, Jennifer Rebecca Yi, Brian Edward Spiewak
  • Patent number: 7070349
    Abstract: A keypad assembly, the keypad assembly including a keycap layer 110 having multiple user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier portion, a luminescent layer 120 disposed toward a backside of the plurality of key caps, the luminescent layer carrying a plurality of switch domes each aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of key caps of the key cap layer. In some embodiments, a backing material is applied to a backside of the user interface key caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Dombrowski, Ryszard J. Gordecki, Daniel P. Rodgers, Patrick J. Cauwels, Steve C. Emmert
  • Patent number: 7059790
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for communicating data to a remote device, the apparatus comprising a keyboard having a plurality of keys. The lower surface of the keyboard is attached to an object along at least a portion of the lower surface of the keyboard. The object is adapted for providing a cushioned region between the keyboard and a resting-place. The remote device comprises at least one of a personal computer (PC), television (TV), an organizer, cable box, satellite receiver, and radio or stereo equipment. The resting-place is typically a portion of a human body, such as a lap or thigh region, or palm(s) of a hand(s). The keyboard communicates to the remote device via a wired or wireless link to allow use at home, hotel, or office.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: Tareq Risheq
  • Patent number: 6655863
    Abstract: A pen-sized keyboard arrangement of the present invention comprises a flexible keyboard member, a rolling mechanism and an electrical connection unit. The rolling mechanism includes a base and an elongated rolling pole pivotally connected to the base. The rolling mechanism defines a longitudinally extending an elongated groove. One end of the rolling mechanism is pivotally connected to the base. The other end thereof is used for being rotated by a user for rolling in and pull out the flexible keyboard member. The flexible keyboard member includes a buffer for absorbing the deformation of the flexible keyboard member when the flexible keyboard member is rolled in or pulled out. The rotating mechanism can rotate the electrical connection unit about a desired angle for being properly viewed by a user. Such a keyboard arrangement is apparently easy for being carried and provides a large area for each key-press thereby facilitating a rotating operation by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: L&K Precision Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shi-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 6313762
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a signal generator for sending an electrical signal from an expandable, flexible layer of material, the signal generator comprising an upper layer of flexible, resilient material and a lower layer of flexible, resilient material which between them define a cavity for enclosing an expandable material such as a cellular foam or gas, whereupon localized distortion of one of the layers of flexible material, effects a signal generation within the structure, which is transmissible through a proper circuit to an outside electrical device. A circuit may be arranged adjacent a plurality of said keys which senses when several of said keys are depressed in a skewed or sideways manner, so as to effect movement of a cursor or pointer on a monitor in communication with a processing unit and said keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventors: Robert J. Crowley, Donald N. Halgren