Embodiments are directed to a low profile key for a keyboard having an overmolded support structure. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap having an illuminable symbol. A support structure having a pair of overmolded wings may pivotally couple to the key cap. A switch housing may surround the support structure and connect each of the first and second wings. A tactile dome may be at least partially positioned within the switch housing and configured to bias the key cap upward. A sensing membrane may be positioned along an underside surface of the tactile dome and configured to trigger a switch event in response to a collapsing of the tactile dome caused by a depression of the key cap. A feature plate may be positioned below the sensing membrane. A light guide panel may define at least one light extraction feature that may be configured to propagate light toward the key cap and cause illumination of the illuminable symbol.

A switch unit includes a wiring board, a spacer, a movable contact element, a pressing element, and a protective sheet. A first stationary contact element and a second stationary contact element having rectangular shapes are provided on an upper surface of the wiring board. A contact section includes the movable contact element, the first stationary contact element, and the second stationary contact element. The movable contact element is mounted on a portion of the upper surface of the wiring board that is exposed from an inside of an opening of the spacer so that an outer edge of the movable contacts the second stationary contact element. The first stationary contact element continuously extends from a region of the wiring board facing a movable contact portion of the movable contact element to a region of the wiring board outside a region of the wiring board onto which the movable contact element is projected.

Input device configurations are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having one or more conductors and a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate. The flexible contact layer is configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input of a computing device. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a capacitive sensor assembly arranged in an array that is configured to detect a location of an object that is proximal to a respective capacitive sensor of the capacitive sensor assembly and a pressure sensitive sensor assembly including a plurality of pressure sensitive sensor nodes that are configured to detect an amount of pressure applied by the object against a respective pressure sensitive sensor node of the pressure sensitive sensor assembly.

Embodiments are directed to a low profile key for a keyboard having an overmolded support structure. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap having an illuminable symbol. A support structure having a pair of overmolded wings may pivotally couple to the key cap. A switch housing may surround the support structure and connect each of the first and second wings. A tactile dome may be at least partially positioned within the switch housing and configured to bias the key cap upward. A sensing membrane may be positioned along an underside surface of the tactile dome and configured to trigger a switch event in response to a collapsing of the tactile dome caused by a depression of the key cap. A feature plate may be positioned below the sensing membrane. A light guide panel may define at least one light extraction feature that may be configured to propagate light toward the key cap and cause illumination of the illuminable symbol.

An apparatus includes a semiconductor structure having a cavity. The apparatus also includes a first electrical terminal on a first cavity side, a second electrical terminal on a second cavity side, and the second electrical terminal including an extension that overlaps part of the cavity. The apparatus also includes a bendable beam extending from the first cavity side and overlapping at least part of the extension. The apparatus also includes an actuator in a periphery of the beam, the actuator configured to generate a fringing electric field that causes the second beam side to move towards the extension in a direction different from the fringing electric field and bend the beam.

A key switch includes a movable part configured to be moved by a pressing operation, a support mechanism that movably supports the movable part, an electrical connector including multiple pairs of contacts of upper electrodes and lower electrodes, and a disc spring that is disposed between the movable part and the electrical connector and configured to be elastically deformed by movement of the movable part and to press the electrical connector. The multiple pairs of contacts are provided for one movable part. When the disc spring is deformed by the movement of the movable part, the disc spring is configured to simultaneously press the multiple pairs of contacts provided for the corresponding movable part.

Different types of user inputs can be input by a user via a keyboard of an input device. These different types of user inputs include, for example, key strikes, multi-touch interactions, single finger motions, and/or mouse clicks. Touch information regarding the pressure applied to the keys of a pressure sensitive keyboard over time (or the contact area of the user input for other types of keyboards over time) is used to classify the intent of the user input as one of the various types of user inputs.

Flexible hinge and removable attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device.

A sliding-type signal input device, according to the present invention, includes: a housing having an inner space with an opened upper side; a slide button mounted in the inner space; a flexible printed circuit board which is coupled to enclose an inner wall of the inner space and/or an outer sidewall of the slide button, and which is provided with two or more terminal switches; and a conductor which is arranged to enclose the other one from among the inner wall of the inner space and the outer sidewall of the slide button, and which comes in contact with the terminal switches when the slide button is moved in a lateral direction so as to connect the terminal switches.

There is provided a button for varying output based on force applied. The button comprises: a contact pad with at least two contacts, the contacts being arranged in a complementary pattern of interdigitated fingers with a separation therebetween; and an actuator and a conductive layer, the conductive layer being located between a base of the actuator and the contact pad and being independent of the actuator and contact pad, the base of the actuator being shaped to increase the surface area of the conductive layer in contact with the contacts as the actuator is pushed towards the contact pad. This increases current flow between the contacts in use as the force applied to the actuator increases.