Typewriting machines – Key-board or key lever-actuating mechanism – Key-cap or key-stem structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-25
2001-05-01
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Key-board or key lever-actuating mechanism
Key-cap or key-stem structure
C400S490000, C200S345000, C200S517000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224279
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer interface devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a keyswitch base for computer keyswitches.
Keyswitches are used in a variety of computer interface devices, such as keyboards, gaming devices, stand alone switches and mouse switches. For example, a typical keyboard includes a top case, a bottom case, and one or more keyswitch bases which are mounted within the top case. Each keyswitch base includes an array of one or more square or round silos for supporting an array of one or more corresponding keyswitch plungers. An array of sensors are mounted to the back of the keyswitch base such that actuation of a keyswitch plunger changes the state of a corresponding sensor. This change in state is detected by the system to which the keyboard is connected. Several types of technologies have been used for sensing actuation of a keyswitch plunger, such as direct electrical contact, capacitive, electromagnetic and optical technologies.
Keyboards have traditionally had a flat design in which all keyswitches lie in the same key plane. Manufacturers are now beginning to offer ergonomic keyboards having multiple sets of angled key planes. For example, the Microsoft NATURAL KEYBOARD® input device has a top case which defines three sets of key planes that are not parallel to one another. Three keyswitch bases are molded as separate plastic parts and then installed in the corresponding key planes of the top case.
With traditional silo designs, the direction of pull between the two halves of the injection molding tool must be aligned with the direction of keyswitch operation (i.e., normal to the keyswitch base). Since each keyswitch base lies in a different and non-parallel key plane, separate injection molding tools, separate assembly steps and separate alignment steps are required for each keyswitch base. The inventors of the present application have found that with traditional silo designs, the only way to integrate the keyswitch bases and the top case together as one plastic piece would be to add moving mechanisms such as slides and lifters to the injection molding tool. However, adding slides and lifters has the disadvantage of increasing tool complexity, tool fabrication costs, maintenance costs, cycle times and part costs. These add to the product cost of goods sold (“COGS”) through increased inventory and assembly times.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention relates to an ergonomic keyboard which includes a top case having a plurality of key planes that are non-parallel with one another. A plurality of keyswitch bases are positioned within respective ones of the plurality of key planes and are formed with the top case as a single, continuous piece of material.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a keyswitch base for supporting a keyswitch plunger. The keyswitch base includes a frame having an aperture. A silo extends upward from the frame for receiving the keyswitch plunger. The silo has a non-closed side wall structure which partially surrounds the aperture.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a keyboard having a top case, a keyswitch base, a keyswitch plunger, a keyswitch sensor and a bottom case. The top case includes a key plane and an aperture. The keyswitch base is positioned within the key plane and is formed with the top case as a single, continuous piece of material. The keyswitch base includes a silo having a non-closed side wall structure which partially surrounds the aperture. The keyswitch plunger includes a stem which is slidably mounted to the silo. The keyswitch sensor is mounted to the keyswitch base under the silo. The bottom case is mounted to the top case and encloses the keyswitch sensor between the bottom case and the top case.
Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to an ergonomic keyboard which includes a top case having a plurality of key planes that are non-parallel with one another. The keyboard further includes a structure for slidably supporting a plurality of keyswitch plungers within the plurality of key planes and being formed within the top case as a single, continuous piece of material.
Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of fabricating a top case of a keyboard. The method includes molding the top case between first and second mold pieces in a single molding step, and forming a plurality of keyswitch bases within the top case in a plurality of non-parallel key planes during the single molding step. At least one silo is formed within each keyswitch base during the single molding step.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5343006 (1994-08-01), Moffett
patent: 5442152 (1995-08-01), Huang
patent: 34 37 875 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 0 654 727 (1995-05-01), None
Gibbons, II R. Thomas
Lutian John M.
Nielsen Kennard E.
Grohusky Leslie J.
Hilten John S.
Microsoft Corporation
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
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