Thin keyboard unit capable of making large the stroke of a key top
US6700508B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 13, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2217/96062
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A keyboard unit capable of making large the stroke of a key top and a sure click touch. In one aspect of the invention, the keyboard unit of the present invention comprises an elastic material such as a domed reversible return spring. In another aspect, a predetermined space is formed between a piezoelectric element and the base plate. The piezoelectric elements may extend underneath two support bodies from a first support body to a second support body. Each membrane switch and the return spring is depressed and reversed by a stem, wherein each of the piezoelectric elements is driven through the contact point of the respective membrane switch. The resulting driving force is transmitted to the respective key top through the stem. The stem is then elastically deformed and contracted by the inertia force pressing the key top to produce the stroke of the key top.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.