US3757068A - Sms keyboard actuating mechanism with particular feel and contact mechani - Google Patents

Sms keyboard actuating mechanism with particular feel and contact mechani Download PDF

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Publication number
US3757068A
US3757068A US00134181A US3757068DA US3757068A US 3757068 A US3757068 A US 3757068A US 00134181 A US00134181 A US 00134181A US 3757068D A US3757068D A US 3757068DA US 3757068 A US3757068 A US 3757068A
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United States
Prior art keywords
shaft
key
spring
conductive element
support member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00134181A
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English (en)
Inventor
B Musch
D Lobdell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HP Inc
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Hewlett Packard Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Co filed Critical Hewlett Packard Co
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Publication of US3757068A publication Critical patent/US3757068A/en
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    • 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06C—DIGITAL COMPUTERS IN WHICH ALL THE COMPUTATION IS EFFECTED MECHANICALLY
    • G06C7/00—Input mechanisms
    • G06C7/02—Keyboards
    • 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
    • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A plurality of plates and springs are formed in a strip of metal with the springs suspending the plates from the strip.
  • the strip is supported by an insulating support structure which acts as a guide for a plurality of shafts, each shaft being attached to a key.
  • the shaft attached to that key displaces a corresponding plate toward one of a plurality of circuit elements on a printed circuit board, which is also fastened to the support structure.
  • An additional shaft is also attached to each key and is guided by the support structure. When a key is depressed the additional shaft deflects a resilient member which exhibits a sudden change in resilience in response to being deflected. This sudden change in resilience provides a tactile signal to the user indicating that the key has been depressed.
  • Those keyboards which do provide, tactile feedback are usually considerably more bulky than those without such feedback.
  • most keyboards comprise an array of complex subassemblies which are assembled in a certain configuration at the factory and are usually not field modifiable. These complex subassemblies are usually costly to assemble, making the resultant keyboard relatively expensive.
  • the actuating mechanism of the present invention provides tactile feedback to the operator, but is more compact than prior art devices with such feedback.
  • a keyboard formed from a combination of a plurality of actuating mechanisms of the instant disclosure and a printed circuit board, of the type hereinafter described, is not only compact, but it can easily be made in modular form so that keys can be added or removed in the field. Since the actuating mechanism comprises relatively few components and the components can be formed in arrays, a keyboard using the "actuating mechanisms of the present invention is inexpensive due to the ease of assembly.
  • a preferred embodiment of the instant invention comprises a key having a pair of parallel shafts attached to it, one for deflecting a metal plate and the other for actuating a resilient member.
  • the metal plate and a spring attaching it to a metal sheet are formed from the metal sheet, and the metal sheet is attached to an insulating support structure.
  • the support structure also serves as a guide for the shafts.
  • the resilient member may be comprised of a pair of springs of differing spring rates or a single buckled spring which changes resilience suddenly when depressed by the aforementioned shaft.
  • a printed circuit board is attached to the support structure so that the plate is deflected toward a circuit element on the printed circuit board when the key is depressed.
  • the circuit element can be, for example, a sensing element for a noncontacting keyboard of the type described in a copending patent application Ser. No. 74,949 entitled NONCONTACTING KEY- BOARD by David S. Cochran and Glenn E. McGhee, assigned to the assignee of the instant application.
  • FIG. 1a shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of an actuating mechanism
  • FIG. lb shows an alternative printed circuit board for use in the embodiment of FIG. 1a;
  • FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d show a cut-away view of the operation of one embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 3a and 3b show a cut-away view of the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. la illustrates one of an array of actuating mechanisms.
  • a key 12 is attached to two shafts, l4 and l6, which are guided by holes 18 and 20 in a support member 22.
  • Support member 22 may be a molded plastic part, for example.
  • a metal strip 24 has a metal plate 26 and a pair of springs 28a and 28b formed from it by a process such as chemical etching or stamping.
  • a cantilever 30 is also formed from metal strip 24.
  • Metal strip 24 is held between a spacer 32 and support member 22 and is positioned by locating pins 34.
  • Strip 36 typically made of mylar, is sandwiched between metal strip 24 and support member 22 and is positioned by locating pins parallel to those illustrated.
  • a printed circuit board 40 is held against spacer 32 by screws 42 which screw into holes in support member 22 (not shown) and hold the whole assembly together.
  • a printed circuit transformer 44 comprising concentric spirals 46 and 48 on both sides of printed circuit board 40 is shown as the sensing element. Transformer 44 is connected to driving and decoding electronics described more fully in the aforementioned copending patent application.
  • FIG. 2a shows the relative positions of shaft 16 and the cantilevers when key 12 is in the up position.
  • shaft 16 deflects the two cantilevers as shown in FIG. 2b, and the user encounters increasingly greater resistance.
  • tip 39 of cantilever 38 is also deflected laterally so that shaft 16 slides past tip 39.
  • Cantilever 38 then snaps in to a recess 50 in shaft 16 as the key is depressed all the way down. When this happens the user feels the sudden change in resilience as a decrease in the resistance offered by key 12.
  • Shaft 16 encounters resistance only from cnatilever 38 when key 12 is released, as shown in FIG. 2d, since only cantilever 38 extends into recess 50, and springs 28 easily overcome the resistance of cantilever 38 to return key 12 to its up position.
  • the resilience or spring rate of the resilient member comprised of cantilevers 30 and 38 undergoes a sudden change when deflected by shaft 16, and the resilience is different for upward and downward movement of the shaft.
  • FIG. 3a shows another embodiment of the actuating mechanism.
  • a key 62 is attached to a hollow shaft 64 which is guided by a support member 68.
  • a flexible shaft 66 is also attached to key 62.
  • a buckled spring is fastened between support member 68 and a spacer 72, and it passes through a hole 74 in shaft 64.
  • Attached to spring 70 is a triangular deflector 76, directly under shaft 66.
  • Metal strip 24 including plate 26 and springs 28, but excluding cantilever 30, is sandwiched between spacers 72 and 32.
  • Printed circuit board 40 is attached to spacer 32. When key 62 is depressed, shaft 643 deflects plate 26 toward transformer 44 as previously described.
  • FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 have centered on the mechanism associated with a single key, the mechanisms herein disclosed can be advantageously fabricated into multi-element arrays.
  • a plurality of metal plates 26, springs 28, and cantilevers 34 can be formed in metal strip 24; a plurality of cantilevers 38 can be formed on strip 36; and support member 22; and spacer 32 can be molded to accommodate a plurality of keys.
  • the formation of arrays of constituent components allows a reduction in the assembly time and cost of multielement keyboards.
  • keys 12 may be retained in support member 22 by a recess 15 in shaft 14 engaging a protrusion in hole 18. Thus keys can be added or removed in the field according to the users needs.
  • An actuating mechanism comprising:
  • switch means for coacting with the first shaft to give a signal in response to depression of the key by a user
  • resilient means for coacting with the second shaft for exhibiting a sudden change in resilience in response to the movement of the second shaft, the resilient means including cantilever spring means having a first spring rate when deflected in a first direction and a second spring rate when deflected in a second direction and extending into the notch when said key is depressed, thereby providing tactile feedback to the user.
  • a conductive element a spring and a support member formed from a single piece of material, the conductive element being suspended by the spring from the support member, the conductive element being positioned in line with the first shaft, and the support member being attached to the guiding means;
  • circuit element supported in line with the first shaft and the conductive element
  • An actuating mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the cantilever spring means comprises a first and a second overlapping cantilever spring, the first spring having a lower spring rate than the second spring.
  • An actuating mechanism as in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said keys, first and second shafts, switch means, and resilient means for providing an array of key switches.
  • each conductive element being suspended by a spring from the support member, each conductive element being positioned in line with a first shaft and the support member being attached to the guiding means;
  • circuit elements each supported in line with a first shaft and corresponding conductive elements, whereby depression of a key causes a first shaft to displace a corresponding conductive element with respect to a corresponding circuit element.
  • An actuating mechanism comprising:
  • first and second shaft attached to the key, the first shaft being hollow and having a hole through it running transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the second shaft being supported within the first shaft;
  • switch means for coacting with the first shaft to give a signal in response to depression of the key by a user
  • the resilient means for coacting with the second shaft for exhibiting a sudden change in resilience in response to movement of the second shaft, the resilient means including a buckled spring running through the transverse hole in the first shaft and a triangular element fastened to the buckled spring in line with the second shaft, thereby providing tactile feedback to the user.
  • a conductive element a spring and a support member formed from a single piece of material, the conductive element being suspended by the spring from the support member, the conductive element being positioned in line with the first shaft, and the support member being attached to the guiding means;

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
US00134181A 1971-04-15 1971-04-15 Sms keyboard actuating mechanism with particular feel and contact mechani Expired - Lifetime US3757068A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13418171A 1971-04-15 1971-04-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3757068A true US3757068A (en) 1973-09-04

Family

ID=22462124

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00134181A Expired - Lifetime US3757068A (en) 1971-04-15 1971-04-15 Sms keyboard actuating mechanism with particular feel and contact mechani

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3757068A (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE2214105C3 (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR2135163B1 (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB1375946A (OSRAM)
MY (1) MY7500228A (OSRAM)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3882295A (en) * 1973-10-04 1975-05-06 Illinois Tool Works Tactile feedback switch mechanism
US3916150A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-10-28 Stackpole Component Co Data machine keyboard assembly with elongated key cap for actuating an electric switch
US4117438A (en) * 1977-04-13 1978-09-26 Datanetics Corporation Contactless keyswitch for keyboards
US4283714A (en) * 1979-08-08 1981-08-11 Texas Instruments Incorporated Magnetic keyboard system
US4401986A (en) * 1979-12-26 1983-08-30 Texas Instruments Incorporated Position sensor and system
EP0142593A1 (en) * 1983-11-21 1985-05-29 Oak Industries Inc. Keyboard switch with pivotal actuator lever
US5469772A (en) * 1993-04-01 1995-11-28 Vandervoort; Paul B. Linearly reciprocating keyboard key incorporating two guide pins
AU2011265656B2 (en) * 2010-06-18 2014-11-13 Motorola Solutions, Inc. Emergency button assembly for a handheld radio
WO2019014690A1 (en) 2017-07-13 2019-01-17 Azoteq (Pty) Ltd INDUCTIVE DETECTION USER INTERFACE DEVICES
US10527457B2 (en) 2015-02-27 2020-01-07 Azoteq (Pty) Ltd Inductance sensing

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3882295A (en) * 1973-10-04 1975-05-06 Illinois Tool Works Tactile feedback switch mechanism
US3916150A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-10-28 Stackpole Component Co Data machine keyboard assembly with elongated key cap for actuating an electric switch
US4117438A (en) * 1977-04-13 1978-09-26 Datanetics Corporation Contactless keyswitch for keyboards
US4283714A (en) * 1979-08-08 1981-08-11 Texas Instruments Incorporated Magnetic keyboard system
US4401986A (en) * 1979-12-26 1983-08-30 Texas Instruments Incorporated Position sensor and system
EP0142593A1 (en) * 1983-11-21 1985-05-29 Oak Industries Inc. Keyboard switch with pivotal actuator lever
US5469772A (en) * 1993-04-01 1995-11-28 Vandervoort; Paul B. Linearly reciprocating keyboard key incorporating two guide pins
AU2011265656B2 (en) * 2010-06-18 2014-11-13 Motorola Solutions, Inc. Emergency button assembly for a handheld radio
US10527457B2 (en) 2015-02-27 2020-01-07 Azoteq (Pty) Ltd Inductance sensing
WO2019014690A1 (en) 2017-07-13 2019-01-17 Azoteq (Pty) Ltd INDUCTIVE DETECTION USER INTERFACE DEVICES
US11624633B2 (en) 2017-07-13 2023-04-11 Azoteq Holdings Limited Inductive sensing user interface devices

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1375946A (en) 1974-12-04
DE2214105C3 (de) 1974-01-10
MY7500228A (en) 1975-12-31
DE2214105A1 (de) 1972-11-09
DE2214105B2 (de) 1973-06-14
FR2135163A1 (OSRAM) 1972-12-15
FR2135163B1 (OSRAM) 1973-07-13

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