GB2140622A

GB2140622A - A keyboard assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2140622A
Application number: GB08411805A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin David Rickson
Original assignee: ADCO IND COMPONENTS
Current assignee: ADCO IND COMPONENTS
Priority date: 1983-05-10
Filing date: 1984-05-09
Publication date: 1984-11-28
Also published as: GB8411805D0; GB2140622B

Abstract

In a keyboard assembly (1) the operating keys (9) are substantially spherical. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Keyboard Assembly This invention relates to a keyboard assembly of the kind comprising panel means with apertures therein and depressable keys projecting partly through the apertures. In particular the keyboard assembly is intended for use in a keyboard-operated machine or as a keyboard controller for remotely controlling a piece of apparatus, e.g. a locking device or a television.

Known keyboard assemblies of the kind referred to are generally provided with keys each having a subtantially constant cross-section, at least throughout the length of the portion of the key projecting through the aperture in question, which cross-section is similar, but slightly smaller, than the cross-section of the aperture. In the case where the apertures are non-circular, the keys can only be moved parallel to the direction of key depression and cannot be turned relative to the apertures through which they project. In the case where the apertures are circular and the keys are of circular cylindrical form, it may be possible, in addition to movement of the keys parallel to the direction of key depression, also to turn the keys about their cylindrical axes relative to the apertures.However, it is not possible to move or rotate such circular cylindrical keys relative to the apertures about other axes.

The present invention aims to provide a keyboard assembly of the kind referred to in which the keys have a different touch and feel to conventional keys.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a keyboard assembly of the kind referred to is characterised in that each key is at least substantially spherical.

Preferably each key has a smooth surface.

However, the invention is also intended to cover keyboard assemblies provided with substantially spherical keys having minor surface irregularities, e.g. dimples or depressions.

Preferably each of said apertures in the panel means is of circular cross-section. Each aperture may have circular cylindrical walls and/or tapering walls so that the apertures have a smaller crosssection on the upper or outer side of the panel means than on the lower or inner side of the panel means. The tapering walls of an aperture may be of frusto-conical form or of a part spherical configuration to conform closely to the shape of the ball-shaped key projecting therethrough.

Conveniently each key comprises a ball bearing, e.g. a steel ball bearing.

Suitably the panel means is made of a plastics material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention apparatus for modifying the keyboard of keyboard apparatus provided with depressable keys comprises a keyboard assembly according to said one aspect of the present invention and retaining means for retaining said keyboard assembly relative to the keyboard apparatus with the spherical keys in registry with the depressable keys of the keyboard apparatus so that depression of the spherical keys results in depression of corresponding keys of the keyboard apparatus.

Typically the retaining means comprises a compartment for the keyboard apparatus, the panel means providing a lid for the compartment.

In this case the panel means may be detachable from the compartment or may be designed to be permanently fixed to the compartment when a keyboard apparatus is positioned in the latter.

According to a third aspect of the present invention keyboard actuated means comprises keyboard modifying apparatus according to said second aspect of the present invention and keyboard apparatus provided with depressable keys, the keyboard apparatus being held by the retaining means so that its keys are in registry with the spherical keys and are arranged to be depressed on depression of corresponding registering ones of said spherical keys.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus (e.g. a machine with a keyboard or a key-actuated controller for remotely controlling other apparatus) having a keyboard assembly according to said one aspect of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a plan of a keyboard assembly according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line Il-Il of Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 show a keyboard controller, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, for controlling apparatus (not shown) from a remote location. There may be physical connections, e.g.

electric wires, for transmitting information from the controller 1 to the controllable apparatus.

Alternatively, the apparatus to be controlled may respond to radiation, e.g. infra-red radiation or sonic radiation, transmitted from the controller.

The controller 1 comprises a keyboard assembly 2 and, housed within the assembly 2, a conventional keyboard control means 3 (shown in chain lines in Figure 2) having conventional depressable push buttons or keys 4. The keyboard assembly 2 comprises a box-shaped casing 5 of plastics material having a lid portion 6 provided with a plurality of circular apertures 7 and a bottom portion 8 to which the lid portion 6 is secured, e.g. adhered, to define a box-shaped compartment, and a plurality of keys 9, each in the form of a steel ball-bearing, which project partly through respective ones of the apertures 7.

The conventional keyboard control means 3 is positioned in the box-shaped compartment, defined by the lid portion 6 and bottom portion 8, with the keys 9 in registry with the depressable keys 4.

The keyboard assembly 2 is dimensioned so that when the conventional keyboard control means 3 is housed therein, the keys 4, which are normally urged resiliently outwardly into their undepressed positions, engage the keys 9 and urge the latter resiliently into sealing engagement with the walls defining the circular apertures 7 in the lid portion 6. In order to obtain good sealing between the keys 9 and the walls of the apertures 7 to prevent the ingress of dirt and moisture therebetween, the walls of the apertures are suitably tapered, so that the aperture openings are smaller on the outer surface of the lid portion 6 than on the inner surface of the lid portion 6.

Typically the walls of the apertures 7 are tapered so as to be either part spherical to conform to the spherical surfaces of the keys 9 or frusto-conical.

However it is not essential that the aperture walls are tapered and instead, for example, they may be of circular cylindrical form.

The outer surface of the lid portion 6 may be provided with alpha-numeric indicia, e.g. "A" to "L", adjacent each key 9. In the Figures the key 9 designated "C" is shown depressed, the depressed key 9 also depressing the registering key 4 of the control means 3.

In use of the keyboard controller 1, the spherically shaped keys 9 provide a unique keyboard appearance and feel. Each key 9 tends to rotate if excessive finger pressure is applied thereto causing the finger to slip off the key. The use of smooth surfaced spherical keys 9 is preferred since this enables a good seal to be obtained between the walls of each aperture 7 and the keys 9 thereby preventing to a large extent the unwanted ingress of moisture or dirt.

However spherical keys 9 with surface irregularities, such as dimples or depressions, may be provided.

It will be appreciated that the keyboard assembly 2 modifies the keyboard of the conventional control means 3. Accordingly different types of control means 3, each having similar key positions to the keys 9, could be housed within the box-shaped compartment of the keyboard assembly 2. Thus in practice the different components of a keyboard assembly 2 could be supplied to a user or manufacturer for assembling keyboard controllers 1 from conventional control means 3. By way of example, a keyboard controller 1 could be assembled by a manufacturer by turning the lid portion 6 upside down and positioning each of the spherical keys 9 in the apertures 7. The keyboard control means 3 would then be positioned over the keys 9 with the keys 4 in registry with the spherical keys 9.Finally the bottom portion 8 would be placed over the control means 3 and be secured, e.g. adhered, to the lid portion 6. It may also be necessary to secure, e.g. adhere, the control means 3 within the bottom portion 8 prior to securing the latter to the lid portion 6.

As an alternative to modifying conventional keyboards, a keyboard assembly according to the invention could also be provided in which the individual spherical keys directly actuate switching means (not shown). Thus keyboard controllers or other keyboard actuated apparatus could be provided with spherical keys, depression of which would directly actuate switching means without the necessity for interfacing push buttons or keys.

Thus it will be appreciated that the main inventive concept of the invention resides in the use of spherical keys in a keyboard assembly. The keyboard assembly may be used to provide a conventional keyboard of known apparatus with a new type of keyboard or may be incorporated directly into controllable or controlling apparatus.

Claims

1. A keyboard assembly comprising panel means with apertures therein and depressable keys projecting partly through the apertures, characterised in that each key is at least substantially spherical.

2. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1, in which each key has a smooth surface.

3. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1, in which each substantially spherical key has minor surface irregularities, e.g. dimples or depressions.

4. A keyboard assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which each of said apertures in the panel means is of circular cross-section.

5. A keyboard assembly according to claim 4, in which each aperture has circular cylindrical walls.

6. A keyboard assembly according to claim 4, in which each aperture has tapering walls so that the apertures have a smaller cross-section on the upper or outer side of the panel means than on the lower or inner side of the panel means.

7. A keyboard assembly according to claim 6, in which the tapering walls of each aperture are of frusto-conical form.

8. A keyboard assembly according to claim 6, in which the tapering walls of each aperture are of a part spherical configuration to conform closely to the shape of the keys projecting therethrough.

9. A keyboard assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which each key comprises a ball bearing.

10. A keyboard asssembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the panel means is made of a plastics material.

11. Apparatus for modifying the keyboard of keyboard apparatus provided with depressable keys comprising a keyboard assembly according to any of the preceding claims and retaining means for retaining said keyboard assembly relative to the keyboard apparatus with the sperical keys in registry with the depressable keys of the keyboard apparatus so that depression of the spherical keys results in depression of corresponding keys of the keyboard apparatus.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, in which the retaining means comprises a compartment for the keyboard appartus, the panel means providing a lid for the compartment.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, in which the panel means is detachable from the compartment.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, in which the panel means is permanently fixed to the compartment when a keyboard apparatus is positioned in the latter.

1 5. Keyboard actuated means comprising keyboard modifying apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 14 and keyboard apparatus provided with depressable keys, the keyboard apparatus being held by the retaining means so that its keys are in registry with the spherical keys and are arranged to be depressed on depression of corresponding registering ones of said spherical keys.

1 6. A keyboard assembly constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

1 7. Apparatus having a keyboard assembly according to any of claims 1 to 10 or claim 16.

1 8. Apparatus for modifying the keyboard apparatus provided with depressable keys, the apparatus being constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Superseded Claims 1 New or Amended Claim:

1. A keyboard assembly comprising panel means with apertures therein and depressable, finger contactable keys projecting partly through the apertures, characterised in that each key is at least substantially spherical.