Patent · US Expired

Keyboard with elevatable keys

US5774384A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
9References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 13, 1995
Grant dateJun 30, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 13, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/1664
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A keyboard having a base and first and second demi-boards, which demi-boards include respective first and second key arrays. The first demi-board is supported in the base, and the second demi-board is supported in a variable elevation relative to the base. The elevation of the second demi-board may be selectively varied between a first elevation in which the first and second key arrays are substantially even relative to one another and a second elevation in which the first and second key arrays are substantially offset relative to one another. The second key array is operative in a first function mode when in the first elevation, and in a second function mode when in the second elevation. In one aspect, the second key array comprises first and second linked key rows, the second key row being moveable relative to the first key row so that the first and second key rows may be vertically aligned.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.