Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Actuators
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-11
2003-05-06
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Actuators
C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06559399
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a height-adjusting collapsible mechanism for a button key and more particularly to an adjustable scissor-type linkage that is able to change a key's or a keyboard's height of a notebook computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In conventional notebook computers, a button key in the keyboard is usually supported thereunder by a collapsible mechanism, a rubber dome and a touch control circuit.
FIG. 1
shows a typical button key mounted on a substrate
10
of a notebook computer. The button key
1
has a key top
11
for receiving external force and a collapsible means
12
which has two pairs of symmetrical scissors-type levers to support the button key
1
and thus to enable the button key
1
capable of being lifted upward or depressed downward. As shown, a hollow rubber dome
13
is located under the button key
1
and arranged between the levers to provide restore pressure for resuming the height of the button key
1
after the depressed force upon the button key
1
being released. The touch control circuit (not shown in the figure) is located on the substrate
10
under the rubber dome
13
. When the key top
11
and the rubber dome
13
are free from any external force, the button key
1
is defined at a “free height” state.
In the following description, only the button key
1
and collapsible means
12
will be shown in the figures and text. The rubber dome
13
and the touch control circuit function are well known in prior art and thus will be omitted. Similar components will be marked by similar numerals in the description below to ease reading, whether they are in the prior art or belong to this invention.
FIG. 2
shows a conventional collapsible means
12
for a button key
1
, located between a bottom side
110
of the key top
11
and the substrate
10
. the button key
1
has a first lever
121
crossly engaged with a second lever
122
at a pivotal point
123
to form a substantially X-shaped or scissors-type linkage. Two sets of such linkage are disposed at two opposing sides of the button key
1
under the key top
11
. The first lever
121
has a first top end
1211
pivotally engaged with a first hub
1101
located under the bottom side
110
and a first bottom end
1212
pivotally and slidably engaged with a turn-slide hub
101
located on the substrate
10
. The second lever
122
has a second top end
1221
pivotally and slidably engaged with a second L-shaped flange
1102
located below the bottom side
110
and a second bottom end
1222
pivotally engaged with a fourth hub
102
located on the substrate
10
. The first and second levers
121
and
122
thus form the collapsible means
12
that may be moved up or down under external force.
As shown, the first top end
1211
and the second bottom end
1222
are substantially located on the same first fixed vertical line L. The second top end
1221
and first bottom end
1212
are substantially located on a second vertical line L′ which may be moved slightly horizontally. When the key top
11
subjects to a downward or uplift pressure, the first top end
1211
and the second bottom end
1222
are pivotally turnable respectively in the first and fourth hub
1101
and
102
, while the second top end
1221
and the first bottom end
1212
are turnable and slidable respectively on the second flange
1102
and turn-slide hub
101
and may move the second vertical lines L′ sideward or horizontally.
Although this mechanism may allow the button key to be lifted or lowered steadily, yet it has a fixed free height for the button key or the whole keyboard. Such a fixed free height restriction to the conventional button key structure does causes some design and usage problems. For instance, when using computers on a desktop, users mostly accustom or prefer to the standard keyboards that have button keys of greater free height. There are also some keyboard designs that would have greater free height for some special function keys (such as Tab key) than other button keys. However, in notebook computers that are highly focused to slim size and lightweight, a fixed free height button key or keyboard becomes a serious design issue.
In order to make the notebook computer more compact, the free height of button keys is used to be designed as small as possible for saving the thickness thereof, but from which the using of the keyboard would become awkward and inconvenient. To make the operation of the notebook computer more comfortable, the free height of the button key should be increased to a level for most users able to get along easily. However, to increase the free height of the button keys would definitely make the notebook computer bulky. Therefore, how to get a better design upon the aforesaid issues is still a problem begging for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a height-adjusting collapsible mechanism for a button key that may make the free height for a button key or the keyboard adjustable to suit various requirements of users.
It is another objet of this invention to provide a height-adjusting collapsible mechanism that enables a notebook computer to have a greater keyboard height when in use and a smaller keyboard height when packed for storing and carrying, so that the computer may be made to a small size without sacrificing its normal function and convenience.
The height-adjusting collapsible mechanism of this invention includes a key top, a substrate and a pair of collapsible means to support the key top for up and down movement above the substrate. Each collapsible means has a first lever pivotally crossed with a second lever. Each of the first and the second levers has respectively one pivotal end for forming a first vertical connecting line above the substrate, and has respectively another pivotal end for forming a second vertical connecting line above the substrate and spaced from the first vertical connecting line in a first direction at a distance of a first interval. The bottom end of the first lever is engageable with a hub located on the substrate. The space between the first and the second vertical lines is defined as an inner side and the space beyond the second vertical line is defined as an outer side. In general, this invention includes at least one movable stopper engageable with the hub so that the first interval may be changed to result in change of the free height of the button key when the stopper is moved sideward or horizontally against the substrate.
In one aspect of the present invention, the stopper may be located in a slide groove formed in the substrate for the stopper to move sideward smoothly. The inner side may have a bordering edge for limiting the movement of the bottom end of the first lever.
In another aspect of the present invention, the stopper may have an adjusting end located at the outer side to facilitate movement of the stopper for changing the first interval and consequently changing the free height of the button key. The adjusting end may be a rigid or resilient member separately made or be integrally formed with the stopper. The resilient member may be a spring, an elastic metal strip and the like.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the substrate may have a slide groove formed therein in the first direction. The stopper is movable in the slide groove for moving the hub. The stopper may also be located on the hub which becomes movable.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, it may be applied to one or more keys in a keyboard. It may also be used for the whole keyboard. In this case, multiple number of this invention will be laid on the substrate at a selected pattern. The stoppers will be connected together and be actuated by a height-adjusting means for changing the free height of the keyboard as desired. The collapsible mechanism will have a control point to work with the height-adjusting means. The height-adjusting means may be located between the substrate and keys and may have a bordering side.
Hsu Chien-Shih
Huang Mao-Sung
Darfon Electronics Corp.
Scott J. R.
Troxell Law Office PLLC
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