Retractable snap domes
US9666391B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 30, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2215/016
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A retractable snap dome in a keyboard, serving as a force resistor for a key in a conventional manner, includes an additional collapsed state wherein the key can be retracted by an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator to a persistent down position. In one embodiment, the EMP actuator is a bimorph EMP actuator that can be actuated to bring the key from down position to up position, ready for conventional keyboard operation, and vice versa. Such operations allow the keyboard to have a desirable decreased thickness relative to conventional keyboards. Thus, a keyboard of the present invention finds application in ultra-slim electronic devices. When provided in a notebook computer wherein the keyboard is folded against a video or graphic display, the keyboard keys may be placed in the retracted down position, thereby preventing the keys from pressing against the video or graphical display with a force that may damage the display.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.