Coded data generation or conversion – Bodily actuated code generator – Including keyboard or keypad
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-22
2003-09-02
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Coded data generation or conversion
Bodily actuated code generator
Including keyboard or keypad
C341S022000, C200S0050EA
Reexamination Certificate
active
06614364
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rubber membrane, and more particularly, to a rubber membrane used in a computer keyboard.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Computer keyboards are an extremely common computer peripheral for inputting data. A prior art computer keyboard comprises a base stand; a membrane circuit board, with a plurality of pressure sensors, installed on the base stand; a plurality of rubber domes placed on the membrane circuit board and a plurality of key mechanisms installed above the rubber domes. Each of the rubber domes is positioned over one of the pressure sensors on the membrane circuit board to support the key mechanism above it. In the prior art, a jig is used to precisely position the rubber domes above the pressure sensors, and they are then glued onto the membrane circuit board. Easily and efficiently positioning the rubber domes above the pressure sensors is very important when assembling a computer keyboard.
Please refer to FIG.
1
and FIG.
2
.
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of positioning a rubber dome
12
of a prior art computer keyboard
10
.
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of a key mechanism
20
shown in
FIG. 1
while depressed. The prior art method for installing the rubber domes
12
of the computer keyboard
10
involves applying glue to the bottom
14
of the rubber domes
12
, using a jig to position the rubber domes
12
and then affixing the rubber domes
12
to the membrane circuit board
16
. In this manner, the rubber domes
12
are accurately positioned above the pressure sensors
18
, as shown in FIG.
1
. However, the prior art method of installing the rubber domes
12
is to install them sequentially, one after another, and so is very inconvenient. In addition, there is no rubber membrane in the area where the right and left ends
21
,
23
of key cap
19
of the key mechanism may touch the membrane circuit board
16
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, when depressing the key cap
19
of the prior art computer keyboard
10
, the right end
23
and the left end
21
of the key cap
19
will impact with the membrane circuit board
16
, making noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a rubber membrane used in a computer keyboard to solve the above mentioned problems.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a rubber membrane used in a computer keyboard. The computer keyboard has a base plate and a plurality of key mechanisms up-and-down movably connected to the base plate. The base plate has a base stand, and a membrane circuit board installed on the base stand. The membrane circuit board has a plurality of pressure sensors for generating key-pressing signals and each of the key mechanisms is positioned above one of the pressure sensors. The rubber membrane comprises
a connecting membrane; and
a plurality of upwardly protruding rubber domes that can be easily detached from the connecting membrane and each of the rubber domes being positioned above one of the pressure sensors of the membrane circuit board for upwardly supporting the key mechanism located thereon;
wherein when installing the rubber membrane, the rubber domes of the rubber membrane are placed above the pressure sensors of the membrane circuit board, and the bottom portions of the rubber domes are glued to the base plate. Then, the connecting membrane of the rubber membrane is torn away such that the plurality of the rubber domes are retained on the pressure sensors of the membrane circuit board.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the rubber membrane enables for easier and more efficient assembly of the computer keyboard, and it also reduces keyboard noise.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5494363 (1996-02-01), Hochgesang
patent: 5850194 (1998-12-01), Lin
patent: 5878872 (1999-03-01), Tsai
patent: 6056457 (2000-05-01), Chao
patent: 6257782 (2001-07-01), Maruyama et al.
patent: 6288353 (2001-09-01), Chiang
Dang Hung
Darfon Electronics Corp.
Horabik Michael
Hsu Winston
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