Abstract: A keyswitch mechanism having reduced key rattle and a keyboard having reduced key rattle. A rattle suppression mechanism may be formed on a portion of the scissor mechanism or on a portion of the keycap. The rattle suppression mechanism is configured to maintain force on the portion of the scissor mechanism abutting the keycap.

Abstract: A key structure includes a base plate, a switch circuit board, a keycap, and an enclosure frame. The keycap includes a magnetic element. The magnetic element is disposed on an edge part of the keycap. The enclosure frame includes a magnetic coating layer. The magnetic coating layer is formed on an edge part of the enclosure frame and disposed over the magnetic element. When the keycap is depressed, the keycap is moved to trigger the switch circuit board, so that the switch circuit board generates a key signal. When the keycap is no longer depressed, the keycap is moved toward the magnetic coating layer in response to the magnetic force. The key structure can be normally operated without the need of installing an elastic rubbery element.

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.

Abstract: An exemplary keyboard assembly includes a light source for emitting light, a light guide plate and a plurality of keys mounted on the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a light incident surface facing the light source and a light emitting surface. Each key includes a cap, a light guide portion coupled to the cap, and a spring member configured for biasing the light guide portion in a direction away from the light emitting surface of the light guide plate. Each key is movable relative to the light guide plate, in response to manual manipulation thereto, between a depressed position where the light guide portion is attached to and optically coupled to the light emitting surface of the light guide plate thereby illuminating the cap, and a rest position where the light guide portion is spaced apart from the light emitting surface of the light guide plate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a keyboard includes keytops supported on a substrate and a membrane switch placed between the keytops and the substrate. The membrane switch has an electrically insulating membrane sheet on which a plurality of contacts operated by the keytops are formed. A light source is mounted on the membrane sheet. A conductor pattern configured to supply an electric current to the light source is formed on the membrane sheet. Further, a lightguide plate configured to lead light emitted by the light source to the keytops is stacked on the membrane sheet.

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.

Abstract: An actuator suitable for multi-directional actuation of a push button switch is disclosed. This actuator has an actuation button attached to a plunger to define a predetermined angle therebetween. The actuation button has a surface for multi-directional activation. The actuator also has a pair of hinge pins that is attached to the actuation button for pivotably mounting the actuator about a pivoting axis. Activation on any point on the surface of the actuation button results in a unidirectional moment about the pivoting axis to tilt the plunger to releasably actuate the push button switch. Also disclosed is a personal digital assistant that uses the actuator for actuating a notification switch from between two orthogonal directions.

Abstract: A key array structure comprises a key array constituted by connecting a plurality of key members arranged in an array, it is characterized in that an elastic element is connected between each two adjacent key members and a positioning hole or position holes is or are disposed in the key member. The elastic member disposed between each two adjacent key members of the key array structure according to the present invention has a cushioning effect to adjust the deformation of the key array caused from the processes such as heat baking while manufacturing so as to allow the positioning hole in each key member to be precisely positioned with a corresponding position pin on a relative member.

Abstract: An elastic-cup support for keyboard is in the form of a flat locating sheet located on a membrane-type switch circuit board of the keyboard, and provided at positions corresponding to membrane-type switches on the circuit board with receiving holes for separately receiving an elastic cup therein. Each of the receiving holes is provided with an upward projected wall portion to confine the elastic cup to the receiving hole. The wall portion is optionally provided with at least one notch having a lug radially inward extended therefrom, such that the elastic cup confined by the wall portion is also pressed against the at least one lug to fixedly located in the receiving hole on the flat locating sheet. Alternatively, the wall portion may be provided at an upper edge with at least one radially inward projected lug to prevent the elastic cup from separating from the receiving hole.

Abstract: In a keyboard device, a substrate is formed with multiple positioning members, each of which includes an upright first wall portion extending from one side of a punched hole, and a second wall portion connected to the first wall portion, extending toward another side of the punched hole and cooperating with the first wall portion to confine a positioning groove. Multiple key units are assembled on the substrate. Each key unit includes a base plate disposed on a membrane circuit, which is provided on the substrate. The base plate is formed with an opening to permit extension of an upright biasing member therethrough. Positioning blocks at opposite ends of the base plate engage correspondingly positioning grooves in the substrate. Each key unit further includes a foldable retaining member provided on the base plate for retaining a key cap on the base plate.

Abstract: An electronic computer keyboard is constructed to provide the minimum keystroke resistance sufficient to prevent accidental switch closures otherwise resulting from the weight of the operator's fingers resting on the keys. This forces the operator to move his or her hands over the keyboard with locked wrists. It also eliminates the need of the operator to hold his or her hands up to prevent inadvertent key depressions thereby reducing stress and fatigue on the operator's shoulders, forearms, wrists and hands.

Abstract: A key structure includes a set of key tops with contact footings of retaining hooks, an upper case with a plurality of insert holes wherein contact footings of retaining hooks are moveably inserted therein and a bottom case to be assembled with the upper case; the present invention is characterized that elastic upper and lower electrode members made of metal and capable of conducting electricity are inserted between every key top and the bottom case; the depressed key top synchronously presses the upper and the lower electrode members to deform and displace to make the upper and the lower electrode members contact each other, conduct electricity and transmit signals; when the force exerted onto the key top is released, the upper and the lower electrode members recoil to disconnect each other and discontinue electric conduction; the simplified parts of the present invention and the elimination of the conventional upper and lower electric conducting membrane sheets efficiently reduce the pollution when the keyb

Abstract: A keyboard input device comprises a lever-mounting plate for supporting the lower ends of a pair of lever members in an engaged manner, a circuit board on which the lever-mounting plate is placed and is forming a circuit pattern on a surface facing the lever-mounting plate, a hollow rubber spring adhered onto the circuit board, and a key top supported by the pair of lever members and is urged by the elastic urging force of the rubber spring in a direction to separate away from the circuit board, wherein the circuit board has an insulating layer for insulating and covering the circuit pattern, the insulating layer having a surface area larger than that of the lever-mounting plate permitting the lever-mounting plate to be placed thereon via an uppermost layer.

Abstract: A key unit of a keyboard apparatus having at least one bumper extending from the key unit for cushioning the impact of the key unit against the enclosure of the keyboard apparatus when the key unit assumes a depressed position and/or when the key unit resumes a non-depressed position, thereby eliminating or reducing the feedback noise, while retaining the benefits of a pre-loaded feature for the key unit.

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 collapsible keyboard comprises at least one keyboard module, and each keyboard module has a plurality of keyswitches arranged in array pattern. At least one membrane circuit is provided to connect the plurality of keyswitches. When the keyboard is in an operation state, each keyswitch having a predetermined separation with adjacent keyswitch, and the separation is the same as that in a standard keyboard. To shrink the keyboard, the plurality of keyswitches can be arranged in a collapsed state to reduce the transverse size of the keyboard, the lengthwise size of the keyboard, or both sizes.

Abstract: A pushbutton of a keyboard includes a cap supported on a base board by a linkage comprising first and second links pivoted together whereby the cap is movable from a released to a depressed positions when depressed. Each link has upper and lower pivots respectively connected to the cap and the base board. The links have two side bars connected between the upper and lower pivots thereof. Two spring arms extend from the base board having free ends forming L-shaped offset sections receivingly engaging L-shaped recesses defined in corresponding side bars for biasing the cap toward the released position. The spring arms deform when the cap is depressed. When the spring arms are deformed to an extent, the offset sections are abruptly driven toward and impact a contact surface of the recesses, generating a sound of impact and a pulse-like reaction caused by the impact. The deformation of the spring arms helps returning the cap back to the released position when the depression is released.

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 collapsible keyboard assembly having, in one embodiment, a plurality of keys each of the plurality of keys having a top portion and a portion of the plurality of keys displaced adjacent one another to form at least one row. A plurality of keys are coupled to a support element which is capable of being extended to a first footprint and is capable of being contracted to a second footprint. Each of the keys includes a key top which is coupled to a key base. Each key top is designed to be pressed by a user. For each key, the key top and key base rotate on a pivot point which couples the key base to the support element. Each key base rotates as the support element is extended and contracted. One embodiment also includes a plurality of scissors linkages, each linkage having a pair of diagonally opposed leg portions coupled to one another, with a portion of the plurality of scissors linkages pivotally coupled to at least one of the keys of the row.

Abstract: A key mechanism includes a keycap, a base plate installed under the keycap having three guide channels, a connecting device installed between the keycap and the base plate for movably connecting the keycap to the base plate in an up and down manner, and a resilient element installed under the keycap for elastically supporting the keycap upwardly. The connecting device includes a first connecting piece and a second connecting piece, each having a front end, a center portion, and a rear end. Each of the center portions of the first and second connecting pieces has a left end and a right end, and the left and right ends of the center portions of the connecting pieces are pivotally connected to each other. The left and right ends and the center portion of the front end of the first connecting piece are slidably and separately received in the three guide channels, while the rear end of the first connecting piece is pivotally mounted beneath the keycap.

Abstract: In a keyboard switch including a pantograph mechanism comprising a U-shaped link 14 having a pair of stud shafts 14C rotatably and movably supported in bearing portions 13B of a base 13 and a link 15 including a frame-like portion 15A and having a pair of stud shafts 15D rotatably supported in bearing portions 13C of the base 13, ribs 14F having tapered surfaces 14G are provided along the peripheral surfaces of bosses 14D defining the center of rotation of the link 14 while holes 15E in the link 15 for mating with the bosses 14D are formed with keyways 15F. When a force tending to pull the keytop up further from it returned original position is applied to the keytop, the tapered surfaces 14G and the angular edges of the keyways 15F are forced into contact with each other. This urging force in turn urges the opposed legs 14B of the link 14 to expand apart from each other in the directions indicated by the arrows 19, whereby the link 14 is prevented from dislodging from the base 13.

Abstract: A computer key includes first and second linking frames interconnecting pivotally a base plate and a push button. The first and second linking frames are connected pivotally at first and second linking arms thereof. Each of the second linking arms has a pin member extending outwardly and transversely therefrom, and a second transverse axle connected thereto. Each of the first linking arms has a first transverse axle connected thereto, and an elongated slot extending in a longitudinal direction thereof. Each of the first linking arms further has a protrusion projecting from an internal wall of the elongated slot to form left and right sections longitudinally of the elongated slot.