Abstract: A keyswitch includes a base, a keytop, and first and second support members rotatably intersecting with each other. The keytop has an engaging slot having a rotation space and an opening. The first support member has a first pivot shaft pivoted to the engaging slot and a first connecting mechanism movably connected to the base. When the first pivot shaft is passing through the opening, the engaging slot squeezes the first pivot shaft to cause deformation of a groove of the first pivot shaft so as to make the first pivot shaft have a first size. When the first pivot shaft enters the rotation space, the amount of deformation of the groove decreases to make the first pivot shaft have a second size greater than the first size and a gap of the opening, so that the first pivot shaft could be constrained in the engaging slot.

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: A key structure of a keyboard, comprising: a backplane and a plurality of key caps. The backplane is concaved a plurality of grooves. A frame is deposed on the groove, and outside of the frame two fixed bases and two positioning columns are correspondingly deposed on the opposite sides. A clamp is deposed on the fixed base. A link bar, consists of a cross bar and two struts. The cross bar and the struts are mutually perpendicular and shown as an upside-down U shape. A key cap, in which a convex column is extended from the inside of the key cap, and two clips are protruded respectively on the opposite sides of the convex column, as well as a slot is deposed on the clip. The clips are adapted to position the cross bar of the link bar to a clamp of a fixed base on the backplane. And two struts are adapted to be held by the positioning column, so that the two struts only can be moved up and down and will not mismatch.

Abstract: A keypad assembly used in a portable electronic device (100) includes at least one key button (40) and at least one fixing member (30). Each key button is slidingly received in a receiving hole (26) defined in a cover (20) of the portable electronic device. The at least one fixing member is fixed on the cover. Each fixing member includes at least one latching portion (34) and a plurality of curved portions (32). Each latching portion connects with the curved/bias portions. Each latching portion firmly connects with at least one key button. The corresponding latching portion of the fixing member is configured for selectably pressing into a chosen switch (12) in the portable electronic device, so as to form/prompt an electronic signal when the key button is given an appropriate horizontal force to initiate such contact with a given switch.

Abstract: Key structures are provided. A key structure includes a key cover, a substrate, a slider movable with respect to the substrate, a first rod, a second rod and a resilient member. The first rod pivotally connects the key cover and a first guiding portion of the substrate. The second rod pivotally connects the key cover and a second guiding portion of the substrate. The resilient member connects the substrate and the first rod, and exerts a lateral force on the first rod. When the key structure is in a normal state, a first contact portion of the slider contacts and restricts the second rod. When the key structure is switched from the normal state to a depressed state, a second contact portion of the slider impels the second rod outward of the key structure, such that the key cover descends toward the substrate.

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 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: 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: An index bar device including keystroke-function constitutes a base, a track frame mounted on the base having a track space formed therein, an index bar sliding means having a slide block held and reciprocally movable in the track space and an index bar having one end extending outside the track frame, and an elastic switch means located between the index bar sliding means and the base. When an external force applying on the end of the index bar, the index bar sliding means will be moved in the track space to compress the elastic switch means to move a selected displacement and generate a switch signal which may be output for a circuit to perform function desired.

Abstract: A key base side pivot point on one side of a pantograph is supported on a key base and a key top height adjusting mechanism that has a holder that supports the other key base side pivot point and a reciprocating link that links swingably to this holder is also supported thereon, the holder of this key top height adjusting mechanism being caused to swing by a reciprocating movement of the reciprocating link.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one elastic member is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion of each link member is engaged. The elastic member exerts biasing force, relative to a displacement or shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from, e.g., substantially orthogonal to, the vertical shifting direction of the key top.