WO2004025401A3 - Keyboard formed of separate keybutton rows - Google Patents

Keyboard formed of separate keybutton rows Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004025401A3
WO2004025401A3 PCT/US2003/028178 US0328178W WO2004025401A3 WO 2004025401 A3 WO2004025401 A3 WO 2004025401A3 US 0328178 W US0328178 W US 0328178W WO 2004025401 A3 WO2004025401 A3 WO 2004025401A3
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
row
row element
keyboard
elements
elastomer strip
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2003/028178
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2004025401A2 (en
Inventor
Roy J Lahr
Original Assignee
Rast Associates Llc
Roy J Lahr
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rast Associates Llc, Roy J Lahr filed Critical Rast Associates Llc
Priority to AU2003270432A priority Critical patent/AU2003270432A1/en
Publication of WO2004025401A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004025401A2/en
Publication of WO2004025401A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004025401A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
    • H01H2215/006—Only mechanical function
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00—Casings
    • H01H2223/046—Casings convertible
    • H01H2223/052—Casings convertible reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Abstract

A keyboard device includes a plurality of discrete keyboard row elements (30, 50), each including a plurality of keyswitches (70), and a backbone device (130) configured to provide a plurality of positions of the keyboard row elements (30, 50), the plurality of positions including at least one use position, the keyswitches arranged to accept data entry in the at least one use position. Also, each row element (3) corresponds to a row of key elements (10), each row element including a top area and a side area, each row element laterally expandable between an expanded position and a contracted position, and an elastomer strip provided on each row element, a width of the elastomer strip (200) selected so that, in the expanded position of the row element, the elastomer strip covering the top area and at least a portion of the side area. Also provided is a method that includes selectively logically and electrically connecting a plurality of row elements to a backbone device to form an operative keyboard device, each row element including a plurality of keybuttons, and entering data via the keybuttons after the connecting step.
PCT/US2003/028178 2002-09-10 2003-09-10 Keyboard formed of separate keybutton rows WO2004025401A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003270432A AU2003270432A1 (en) 2002-09-10 2003-09-10 Keyboard formed of separate keybutton rows

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US40995402P 2002-09-10 2002-09-10
US40987802P 2002-09-10 2002-09-10
US60/409,878 2002-09-10
US60/409,954 2002-09-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004025401A2 WO2004025401A2 (en) 2004-03-25
WO2004025401A3 true WO2004025401A3 (en) 2004-04-22

Family

ID=31997874

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2003/028178 WO2004025401A2 (en) 2002-09-10 2003-09-10 Keyboard formed of separate keybutton rows

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003270432A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004025401A2 (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3971902A (en) * 1975-03-21 1976-07-27 Amp Incorporated Keyboard switch assembly having one piece plural pushbutton actuator and resilient mounting structure for plural cantilever beam contacts
US5653543A (en) * 1995-07-19 1997-08-05 Hosiden Corporation Folding keyboard
US6104607A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-08-15 Inclose Design, Inc. Cooling fan for PC card slot
US6116418A (en) * 1999-05-03 2000-09-12 Outrigger, Inc. Securement of portable electronic equipment in carrying case
US6215419B1 (en) * 1998-06-26 2001-04-10 Micron Electronics, Inc. Method for operating an expandable computer keyboard
US6585435B2 (en) * 2001-09-05 2003-07-01 Jason Fang Membrane keyboard
US6629794B2 (en) * 2002-02-19 2003-10-07 Motorola, Inc. Portable keyboard apparatus

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3971902A (en) * 1975-03-21 1976-07-27 Amp Incorporated Keyboard switch assembly having one piece plural pushbutton actuator and resilient mounting structure for plural cantilever beam contacts
US5653543A (en) * 1995-07-19 1997-08-05 Hosiden Corporation Folding keyboard
US6104607A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-08-15 Inclose Design, Inc. Cooling fan for PC card slot
US6215419B1 (en) * 1998-06-26 2001-04-10 Micron Electronics, Inc. Method for operating an expandable computer keyboard
US6116418A (en) * 1999-05-03 2000-09-12 Outrigger, Inc. Securement of portable electronic equipment in carrying case
US6585435B2 (en) * 2001-09-05 2003-07-01 Jason Fang Membrane keyboard
US6629794B2 (en) * 2002-02-19 2003-10-07 Motorola, Inc. Portable keyboard apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004025401A2 (en) 2004-03-25
AU2003270432A1 (en) 2004-04-30
AU2003270432A8 (en) 2004-04-30

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