A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument has a handle assembly. The handle assembly has a trigger operatively coupled to a firing plate, an energy button configured to deliver energy to at least one electrode, a lockout element operatively coupled to the energy button, the lockout element configured to prevent operation of the firing plate, and a lockout disabling mechanism configured to disable the lockout element, the lockout disabling mechanism operable between a first position and a second position. When the lockout disabling mechanism is located in the first position, the lockout element is enabled and can be unlocked by the energy button, and wherein when the lockout disabling mechanism is in the second position, the lockout element is disabled.

A keyboard device includes a base plate, a key structure and a membrane wiring board. The key structure is connected with the base plate. The membrane wiring board includes a membrane switch. The membrane wiring board is arranged between the key structure and the base plate. When the keycap of the key structure is moved upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate, the connecting element between the keycap and the base plate interferes with the membrane wiring board or the base plate. Consequently, a click sound is generated, and a feedback feel is provided.

A keyswitch uses a combination of springs connected in serial for providing a return force to a keycap of the keyswitch. When the keycap moves toward a base of the keyswitch beyond a transition position, one of the springs stops continuously deforming. It leads to an increment of the elastic coefficient of the combination of springs and an increment of the elastic stored energy by the combination of springs. Therefore, during a pressing on the keycap, the keycap can provide a light force feedback and then a heavy force feedback to a user. Further, the keyswitch can use a switch with a lateral motion, which can reduce influence of a resilient force produced by the switch on the up and down movement of the keycap. The keyswitch also can use an elastic piece disposed beside the keycap, which can provide a tactile feedback to the user.

A keyboard switch for a keyboard includes a base secured to a plunger that reciprocates with respect to the base and is biased away from the base. An electrical contact assembly is positioned within a cavity defined by the base and the plunger. The electrical contact assembly remains in an electrically open state when the plunger is furthest from the base, but the electrical contact assembly enters an electrically closed state when the plunger is longitudinally moved downwardly by force towards the base. In this regard, a cam protruding from a side portion of a body of the plunger has a profile surface that contacts the electrical contact assembly as the plunger is longitudinally moved towards the base. A curved profile of the cam that incorporates a concave arc uniquely changes the amount of force experienced by the typist at different points of the downward motion of the plunger.

A keyboard device includes a circuit board and plural key structures. Each key structure includes a keycap, a hinge element and a base. The hinge element includes a first lateral wing part, a second lateral wing part and a bendable part. The first lateral wing part is connected between the keycap and the base. The second lateral wing part is connected between the keycap and the base. The bendable part is connected between the first lateral wing part and the second lateral wing part. The bendable part is thinner than the first lateral wing part and the second lateral wing part. While the keycap is moved upwardly or downwardly relative to the base, a bending angle of the hinge element and a relative position between the first base shaft and the first receiving hole are changed.

A keyswitch uses a combination of springs connected in serial for providing a return force to a keycap of the keyswitch. When the keycap moves toward a base of the keyswitch beyond a transition position, one of the springs stops continuously deforming. It leads to an increment of the elastic coefficient of the combination of springs and an increment of the elastic stored energy by the combination of springs. Therefore, during a pressing on the keycap, the keycap can provide a light force feedback and then a heavy force feedback to a user. Further, the keyswitch can use a switch with a lateral motion, which can reduce influence of a resilient force produced by the switch on the up and down movement of the keycap. The keyswitch also can use an elastic piece disposed beside the keycap, which can provide a tactile feedback to the user.

A haptic actuator may include a housing, at least one coil carried by the housing, and a field member having opposing first and second sides. The haptic actuator may also include a respective at least one flexure bearing mounting each of the first and second sides of the field member to be reciprocally movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. Each flexure bearing may include at least one flexible member having a wishbone shape with two diverging arms joined together at proximal ends and having spaced distal ends operatively coupled between adjacent portions of the field member and the housing.

A keyboard or keyboard key that has a force sensor that measures the force imparted to the key when a user presses the key or rests a finger on a key. Key embodiments may also include an actuator that excites the in order to provide feedback to the user in accordance with various feedback methods disclosed herein.

A keyswitch structure includes a base, a keycap, a frame disposed between the base and the keycap for providing a supporting and moving mechanism to the keycap, and another frame interacting with the former frame through a magnetic attraction force. When the keycap is not pressed, the magnetic attraction force drives the two frames to stably stand on the base and form a stable supporting structure, so that the keycap is located at a farther position relative to the base. When the keycap is pressed with an external force to move toward the base, the magnetic attraction force is overcome so that the two frames depart from each other; that is, the above stable supporting structure is temporarily destroyed. Once the external force applied to the keycap is eliminated, the two frames will form the stable supporting structure again due to the magnetic attraction force.

A keyswitch uses a combination of springs connected in serial for providing a return force to a keycap of the keyswitch. When the keycap moves toward a base of the keyswitch beyond a transition position, one of the springs stops continuously deforming. It leads to an increment of the elastic coefficient of the combination of springs and an increment of the elastic stored energy by the combination of springs. Therefore, during a pressing on the keycap, the keycap can provide a light force feedback and then a heavy force feedback to a user. Further, the keyswitch can use a switch with a lateral motion, which can reduce influence of a resilient force produced by the switch on the up and down movement of the keycap. The keyswitch also can use an elastic piece disposed beside the keycap, which can provide a tactile feedback to the user.