US3879602A - Keyboard - Google Patents

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Publication number
US3879602A
US3879602A US368980A US36898073A US3879602A US 3879602 A US3879602 A US 3879602A US 368980 A US368980 A US 368980A US 36898073 A US36898073 A US 36898073A US 3879602 A US3879602 A US 3879602A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
spring
plate
contact
key
spring members
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
US368980A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alexander D R Walker
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.)
N Dimensions Inc
Original Assignee
N Dimensions Inc
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 N Dimensions Inc filed Critical N Dimensions Inc
Priority to US368980A priority Critical patent/US3879602A/en
Priority to GB4940174A priority patent/GB1469800A/en
Priority to CH1559374A priority patent/CH578243A5/de
Priority to NL747415261A priority patent/NL153690B/xx
Priority to FR7440997A priority patent/FR2294484A1/fr
Priority to BE151533A priority patent/BE823387A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3879602A publication Critical patent/US3879602A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J5/00—Devices or arrangements for controlling character selection
    • B41J5/08—Character or syllable selected by means of keys or keyboards of the typewriter type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR 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
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
    • H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H5/00—Snap-action arrangements, i.e. in which during a single opening operation or a single closing operation energy is first stored and then released to produce or assist the contact movement
    • H01H5/02—Energy stored by the attraction or repulsion of magnetic parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/028—Tactile feedback alterable
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/034—Separate snap action
    • H01H2215/042—Permanent magnets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to keyboards and more particularly to a keyboard for selectively controlling the alphanumeric or other input data to electrical or electronic devices such as printers, calculators. computers. or the like.
  • a plurality of manuallydepressible keys are mounted for movement through appropriate apertures in the top plate of a housing for the entire device, whatever form it may take.
  • each key is arranged to engage and depress a movable member from an upper nonoperative position to a lower operative position whereat electrical contact is established which will complete a circuit of any type appropriate to the particular device.
  • the movable member is springurged to its upper non-operative position and preferably takes the form of a leaf spring whose inherent resilience normally urges it to its upper inoperative position and also maintains the contacting key against the top plate of the housing preparatory to manual actuation.
  • leaf spring may be formed from phosphor bronze or other material which exhibits such inherent resilience and at the same time provides an electrical contactor between one end of each leaf spring which is secured to the under surface of the housing and is, for example, electrically connected to a common bus bar that is grounded and also serves as a support for a plurality of the leaf springs in substantially parallel relationship.
  • a plurality of the leaf springs and the supporting bus bar can be fabricated from the same phosphor bronze material through utilization of a simple stamping operation.
  • each of the leaf springs is, of course, held in its upward inoperative position by the inherent resilience of the material but in accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, the free projecting end of each leaf spring is also provided with a separate or integrated ferromagnetic portion arranged to underlie a strip of magnetic material in the under surface of the top plate of the housing thus to provide supplemental magnetic restraining forces against depression of the leaf spring in response to manual actuation of the respective key.
  • the inherent resilience of the leaf spring and the supplemental restraining force of the magnet will prevent inadvertent depression of the key and a predetermined force by the operator is necessitated to initiate movement of the leaf spring from its upper non-operative position to its lower operative position.
  • a grid member is supported below the leaf springs adjacent their supported positions for adjustment along the direction of leaf spring projection, thus to vary the point of support of the springs and accordingly their leverage, wherefore a simple variation in the force required to depress one of the actuated keys is readily achieved.
  • Such grid is arranged to underlie the supported ends of all of the leaf springs so that a common variation in the requisite manual forces can be achieved to meet the precise needs of an individual operator.
  • the entire grid is supported in tracks at the side of the top plate of the housing and to assure pressed contact against the supported end of the leaf springs, an additional magnetic strip is embedded in the under surface of the housing and the grid is in turn formed of ferromagnetic material thus to simplify not only its initial fabrication but also to simplify its mounting and assembly in the unit.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a keyboard embodying the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a veiw of the under surface thereof
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
  • S and 6 are transverse sectional views corresponding to FIG. 3 but illustrating the apparatus in different operative dispositions
  • FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the relationship between force and displacement of the keys in the operative functioning of the unit.
  • the exemplary apparatus which may constitute acalculator, computer. printer or any other mechanism requiring the selected input of alphanumeric data and related func tional inputs such as for example addition, multiplication. etc.. in the case of a calculator includes a top plate I preferably formed of plastic or other insulating material with a plurality of apertures 12 arranged to movably receive a plurality of keys 14 that can be depressed manually by the operator in his selection of the requisite input data. More particularly, as shown in FlG. 3, the apertures 12 taper outwardly as do the adjoining surfaces of the individual keys. thus to restrict the upward disposition of the keys I4 to the positions illustrated.
  • the keys 14 are also preferably formed of plastic or other insulating material and each key includes a central projection or protuberance 16 in its under surface arranged to contact a movable member I8 whose upper position as illustrated in FIG. 3 constitutes its inoperative position but which is capable of motion downwardly through the positions shown in FIGS. 4 and in response to manual depression of the individual key 14 to its operative position which is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • the movable member 18 preferably takes the form of a leaf spring that is centrally engaged by the projection 16 on the individual key 14, one end of the leaf spring being secured to abus bar 20.
  • a plurality of the projecting leaf springs is arranged in parallel and each is secured to the bus bar 20 as best shown in FIG. 2 and adhesively or otherwise secured to the under surface of the top plate of the housing.
  • the leaf springs I8 are preferably formed together with the bus bar in an integrated fashion from phosphor bronze or similar spring material which is both resilient so that the individual leaf springs 18 are held in their upper inoperative dispositions as shown best in FIG. 3 so as to retain the associated keys 14 in their inopera tive raised dispositions.
  • each of the leaf springs 18 beyond the point of contact with the projecting portion 16 of the associated key 14 is arranged to contact the under surface of the housing under the natural resilience of the phosphor bronze material but is also preferably provided with a portion 22 formed from ferromagnetic material which will be attracted upwardly to an insulating strip 24 of magnetic tape suitably embedded in the under surface of the top plate 10. Accordingly.
  • a single strip 24 will function to hold the free ends of the leaf springs 18 toward their upper inoperative positions, thus in each case to supplement the restraining force against the depression rcsultant from the inherent resilience of the spring material itself. Accordingly. when an individual key 14 is initially depressed. its downward motion will be restrained both by the resilience of the leaf spring 18 and the holding force of the magnet strip 24 at its extremity. Conse quently the initial force requirement or touch of the operator will be relatively large. thus enabling inadvertent depression of an individual key 14 to be avoided.
  • the leaf spring 18 will be centrally depressed as best shown in FIG. 4 against a total restraining force illustrated graphically at position A in FIG. 7. Once the magnetic restraining force has been overcome. the leaf spring will quickly move from the FIG. 4 to the FIG. 5 position. the manual force being required dropping considerably as indicated at position B on the graphical representation of FIG. 7.
  • a gold contact 26 at the free end of the leaf spring 18 engages an underlying contact diagrammatically indicated at 28 and the electrical circuit with such contact 28 is completed thus to provide the operative disposition of the key [4 and associated leaf spring 18 whereat the de sired input is delivered to the apparatus.
  • this touch variation is simply achieved by the mounting of a grid 30 which is arranged to underlie the leaf springs 18 adjacent their points of contact with the supporting integral bus bar 20 and such grid is slidably mounted in tracks 32 adjacent the sides of the top plate 10 for sliding motion in a direction lengthwise of the leaf springs 18, thus to vary the point of support of the leaf springs 18 wherefore their leverage is varied and the force requisite for depression of an individual key 14 is varied as well.
  • a grid 30 which is arranged to underlie the leaf springs 18 adjacent their points of contact with the supporting integral bus bar 20 and such grid is slidably mounted in tracks 32 adjacent the sides of the top plate 10 for sliding motion in a direction lengthwise of the leaf springs 18, thus to vary the point of support of the leaf springs 18 wherefore their leverage is varied and the force requisite for depression of an individual key 14 is varied as well.
  • a dependent flange at one edge of the grid 30 is provided with a threaded opening engaged by an adjustment screw 32 that projects through the downturned edge of plate for connection at its outer extremity with an adjustment nut 34 whose rotation will effect motion of the entire grid forwardly or rearwardly thus to effect a variation in the touch requirements for all of the keys l4.
  • the grid 30 is slidably supported at its edges. in order to assure continuing contact with the leaf springs 18 in the central portion of the housing.
  • the grid 30 is preferably formed from ferromagnetic material and is attracted to the under surface of the housing by additional magnetic strips 36, as best shown in FIG. 3, whose magnetic attraction pulls the adjoining section of the grid upwardly thereagainst accordingly to press the adjacent portion of the leaf spring 18 against the under surface of the housing.
  • each of said spring members being fastened to said plate
  • each of said spring members and said plate having mutually attracting magnetic means thereon whereby said second end is at tracted to and held against said plate.
  • second contact means located in operative relationship with said first contact means.
  • each of the elongated spring members is a leaf spring.

Landscapes

  • 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)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
US368980A 1973-06-11 1973-06-11 Keyboard Expired - Lifetime US3879602A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US368980A US3879602A (en) 1973-06-11 1973-06-11 Keyboard
GB4940174A GB1469800A (en) 1973-06-11 1974-11-14 Electric switch keyboard
CH1559374A CH578243A5 (fr) 1973-06-11 1974-11-22
NL747415261A NL153690B (nl) 1973-06-11 1974-11-22 Elektrisch toetsenbord.
FR7440997A FR2294484A1 (fr) 1973-06-11 1974-12-12 Clavier d'introduction de donnees
BE151533A BE823387A (fr) 1973-06-11 1974-12-16 Clavier d'introduction de donnees

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US368980A US3879602A (en) 1973-06-11 1973-06-11 Keyboard
GB4940174A GB1469800A (en) 1973-06-11 1974-11-14 Electric switch keyboard
CH1559374A CH578243A5 (fr) 1973-06-11 1974-11-22
NL747415261A NL153690B (nl) 1973-06-11 1974-11-22 Elektrisch toetsenbord.
FR7440997A FR2294484A1 (fr) 1973-06-11 1974-12-12 Clavier d'introduction de donnees
BE151533A BE823387A (fr) 1973-06-11 1974-12-16 Clavier d'introduction de donnees

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3879602A true US3879602A (en) 1975-04-22

Family

ID=27543013

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US368980A Expired - Lifetime US3879602A (en) 1973-06-11 1973-06-11 Keyboard

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3879602A (fr)
BE (1) BE823387A (fr)
CH (1) CH578243A5 (fr)
FR (1) FR2294484A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1469800A (fr)
NL (1) NL153690B (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4060163A (en) * 1976-02-12 1977-11-29 Willingham James S Keyboard Guard
US4203013A (en) * 1976-10-26 1980-05-13 Serras Paulet Edouard Alphanumeric control keyboard with depressible keys for electric or electronic machines
US4400594A (en) * 1978-11-29 1983-08-23 Serras Paulet Edouard Control keyboard for electric or electronic devices
US4509873A (en) * 1983-05-05 1985-04-09 Ryan W Kenneth Alphanumeric section of office machine keyboards
US4818828A (en) * 1988-06-17 1989-04-04 Smith Corona Corporation Electronic keyboard
US4855548A (en) * 1988-06-17 1989-08-08 Smith Corona Corporation Keybutton guide assembly for a keyboard
EP0746006A2 (fr) * 1995-06-02 1996-12-04 van Zeeland, Anthony J. Interrupteur avec armature couplée magnétiquement
US5867082A (en) * 1995-06-02 1999-02-02 Duraswitch, Inc. Switch with magnetically-coupled armature
EP1154451A1 (fr) * 1995-06-02 2001-11-14 Duraswitch Industries Inc. Interrupteur avec armature couplée magnétiquement
CN103218937A (zh) * 2013-03-11 2013-07-24 冯旭山 一种春园式计算、示数演示器
JP2015095426A (ja) * 2013-11-14 2015-05-18 レノボ・シンガポール・プライベート・リミテッド キーの操作感の変更が可能なマグネット式の入力装置および携帯式コンピュータ

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2484130A1 (fr) * 1980-06-06 1981-12-11 Serras Paulet Edouard Dispositif a touche enfoncable formant interrupteur a ouverture retardee
FR2529010B1 (fr) * 1982-06-22 1985-11-15 Serras Paulet Edouard Clavier a touches enfoncables
US4496803A (en) * 1983-05-04 1985-01-29 Key Concepts, Incorporated Data entry switch
EP1727173B1 (fr) * 2005-05-16 2008-09-17 Research In Motion Limited Système de clavier pour appareil de communication
US7385530B2 (en) 2005-05-16 2008-06-10 Research In Motion Limited Key system for a communication device
ITMO20060118A1 (it) * 2006-04-07 2007-10-08 Grafos Srl Tastiera a corsa lunga,particolarmente del tipo di tastiere da pannello o simili

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2802204A (en) * 1954-05-10 1957-08-06 Francis X Kennelly Acceleration operated switch
US2981816A (en) * 1957-07-25 1961-04-25 Robert T Cozart Push button assembly
US3175060A (en) * 1961-08-22 1965-03-23 North Electric Co Plunger operated magnetic electric switch
US3373386A (en) * 1965-02-02 1968-03-12 Ehrenberg Hermann Adjustable pushbutton magnet switch
US3443043A (en) * 1966-09-02 1969-05-06 Siemens Ag Push-button snap action switch utilizing a permanent magnet means,particularly for communication equipment
US3736397A (en) * 1970-11-04 1973-05-29 Singer Co Keyboard switch assembly with pushbutton magnetic latching structure for non-operative position

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2802204A (en) * 1954-05-10 1957-08-06 Francis X Kennelly Acceleration operated switch
US2981816A (en) * 1957-07-25 1961-04-25 Robert T Cozart Push button assembly
US3175060A (en) * 1961-08-22 1965-03-23 North Electric Co Plunger operated magnetic electric switch
US3373386A (en) * 1965-02-02 1968-03-12 Ehrenberg Hermann Adjustable pushbutton magnet switch
US3443043A (en) * 1966-09-02 1969-05-06 Siemens Ag Push-button snap action switch utilizing a permanent magnet means,particularly for communication equipment
US3736397A (en) * 1970-11-04 1973-05-29 Singer Co Keyboard switch assembly with pushbutton magnetic latching structure for non-operative position

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4060163A (en) * 1976-02-12 1977-11-29 Willingham James S Keyboard Guard
US4203013A (en) * 1976-10-26 1980-05-13 Serras Paulet Edouard Alphanumeric control keyboard with depressible keys for electric or electronic machines
US4400594A (en) * 1978-11-29 1983-08-23 Serras Paulet Edouard Control keyboard for electric or electronic devices
US4509873A (en) * 1983-05-05 1985-04-09 Ryan W Kenneth Alphanumeric section of office machine keyboards
US4818828A (en) * 1988-06-17 1989-04-04 Smith Corona Corporation Electronic keyboard
US4855548A (en) * 1988-06-17 1989-08-08 Smith Corona Corporation Keybutton guide assembly for a keyboard
EP0746006A2 (fr) * 1995-06-02 1996-12-04 van Zeeland, Anthony J. Interrupteur avec armature couplée magnétiquement
EP0746006A3 (fr) * 1995-06-02 1998-01-07 van Zeeland, Anthony J. Interrupteur avec armature couplée magnétiquement
US5867082A (en) * 1995-06-02 1999-02-02 Duraswitch, Inc. Switch with magnetically-coupled armature
EP1154451A1 (fr) * 1995-06-02 2001-11-14 Duraswitch Industries Inc. Interrupteur avec armature couplée magnétiquement
CN103218937A (zh) * 2013-03-11 2013-07-24 冯旭山 一种春园式计算、示数演示器
CN103218937B (zh) * 2013-03-11 2015-06-17 冯旭山 一种计算、示数演示器
JP2015095426A (ja) * 2013-11-14 2015-05-18 レノボ・シンガポール・プライベート・リミテッド キーの操作感の変更が可能なマグネット式の入力装置および携帯式コンピュータ

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7415261A (nl) 1976-05-25
BE823387A (fr) 1975-04-16
GB1469800A (en) 1977-04-06
FR2294484B1 (fr) 1979-02-23
NL153690B (nl) 1977-06-15
CH578243A5 (fr) 1976-07-30
FR2294484A1 (fr) 1976-07-09

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