Key with silent return movement

Details Key with silent return movement Key with silent return movement

1992-10-13

1995-05-23

Peng, John K.

Coded data generation or conversion

Bodily actuated code generator

Including keyboard or keypad

341 34, 200345, 200512, H03M 1100, H01H 1300

Patent

active

054185300

ABSTRACT:
Several unique features of a key switch housing and plunger are disclosed which may be employed to provide a keyboard having improved noise and feel characteristics. A system of key plunger up-stops is used to reduce the noise produced by key return while preventing removal of the plunger from the chimney of the switch housing. The system comprises a pair of relatively weak and resilient up-stops which have a relatively small contact area which act to restrict upward movement of the keycap/plunger combination during normal operation and a pair of relatively strong and rigid up-stops which do not contact the switch housing during normal keyboard use, but which prevent the pull-out of the key switch plunger from the chimney of the key switch housing. An additional feature disclosed is a unique key switch housing and plunger design which minimizes key wobble while providing smooth key action. In contrast to the devices of the prior art, the plunger and interior wall of the chimney of the key switch housing are provided with approximately equal tapers which tapers are aligned so as to provide bearing surfaces which are approximately parallel to one another when the key switch plunger is in the "up" (i.e., nondepressed) position. The direction of the tapers is chosen such that key depression results in progressively greater tolerance between the bearing surfaces.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3856998 (1974-12-01), Sims, Jr.
patent: 4864085 (1989-09-01), Hanajima et al.
patent: 5057657 (1991-10-01), Skulic
patent: 5144103 (1993-09-01), Suwa

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