An electric pushbutton switch includes a guide housing, a switching element having a haptic element that produces a pressure point and a return spring that generates a restoring force, an actuator for actuating the switching element, and a resilient tolerance compensation element arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The switching element being stationary relative to the guide housing and the actuator being movable relative to the guide housing. The actuator actuates the switching element against the restoring force when the actuator is moved relative to the guide housing in an actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element. The resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The resilient compensation element has a spring force directed in the actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element and opposite the restoring force of the return spring of the switching element.

A key structure includes a keycap and a scissors-type connecting element. The scissors-type connecting element is connected with the keycap. The scissors-type connecting element includes an inner frame and an outer frame. A first end of the inner frame is connected with the keycap. The outer frame is connected with the inner frame and swingable relative to the inner frame. A first end of the outer frame is connected with the keycap and located near a second end of the inner frame. A second end of the inner frame includes a first protrusion. A first end of the outer frame includes a second protrusion near the first protrusion. The first protrusion includes a first knocking surface. The second protrusion includes a second knocking surface. While the keycap is pressed down, the first knocking surface and the second knocking surface knock on each other.

A keyswitch structure includes a base, a cap disposed corresponding to the base, a restoring member disposed between the base and the cap, and a tactile adjustment unit. The cap has a cam portion movable relative to the base. The restoring member is configured to provide a restoring force to enable the cam portion to move away from the base. The tactile adjustment unit is disposed corresponding to the cam portion and includes a holder and a tactile feedback member mounted on the holder. The holder is movable relative to the base to change a position of the tactile feedback member relative to the cam portion, so as to change a pressing force required for the cam portion to move toward the base.

A key module (110) for a keyboard is presented. The key module (110) comprises a key tappet (220). The key tappet (220) comprises a coupling portion (322) for coupling with a keycap for the key module (110). The key tappet (220) comprises at least one guiding portion (326, 328) for guiding a translational actuation movement of the key tappet (220) between a rest position and an actuated position. The key tappet (220) comprises at least one tappet stop (324) for limiting the actuation movement. The key module (110) also comprises a trigger element (350) for triggering a switch signal of the key module (110) in response to the actuation movement. The trigger element (350) is attachable to the key tappet (220). The key module (110) further comprises a module housing (230), wherein the module housing (230) is integrally formed. The module housing (230) comprises at least one positioning protrusion (334) for positioning the key module (110) and a circuit substrate of the keyboard. The module housing (230) is formed to movably accommodate the key tappet (220), in order to enable the actuation movement of the key tappet (220) relative to the module housing (230). The module housing (230) comprises at least one housing stop (332) for abutment against the at least one tappet stop (324) of the key tappet (220) in the rest position of the key tappet (220). Moreover, the key module (110) comprises elastic means (340). The elastic means (340) is configured to bias the key tappet (220) into the rest position in an assembled state of the key module (110).

Described herein are thin keyboard and thin keyboard overlay, as well as novel key assembly for uses on keyboards and keyswitches. The key assembly includes a top plate, a movable keycap, a support plate and flexible rods embedded in the support plate acting as springs. The underside of the movable keycap has at least one or several tapered protrusions which are located above the flexible rods. A vertical downward force on the movable keycap will enable the protrusion to flex the rods horizontally, thus creating a spring like mechanism that will return the movable keycap to its original position once the vertical force is removed.

A multifunctional control element is disclosed, comprising a rotary knob which is rotatably mounted on a radial bearing with a radial bearing mount, and which is connected to a rotary sensor for creating signals related to rotary direction and rotary speed of the rotary knob; a rotary knob mount which receives the rotary knob, as well as the radial bearing and the radial bearing mount, and which is pivotable around a shaft mounted to a mounting plate, wherein a switch is provided on the mounting plate for creating signals related to downward displacement of the rotary knob mount with the radial bearing; and at least one linear bearing provided on the shaft for permitting sliding displacement of the rotary knob mount with the radial bearing along the shaft, wherein switches are provided on the mounting plate for creating signals related to the sliding displacement of the rotary knob mount.

A key structure includes a support shaft, a resilience sheet, a pedestal and a keycap. While the keycap is pressed down in response to an external force, the support shaft is moved downwardly and the resilience sheet is correspondingly moved. Since a resilience part of the resilience sheet is pushed by a push part of the pedestal, the resilience part is subjected to deformation. After the resilience part is moved across the push part, the resilience part is elastically restored and swung. Consequently, the resilience part collides with the inner surface of the sliding groove to generate a click sound.

Described herein are thin keyboard and thin keyboard overlay, as well as novel key assembly for uses on keyboards and keyswitches. The key assembly includes a top plate, a movable keycap, a support plate and flexible rods embedded in the sup port plate acting as springs. The underside of the movable keycap has at least one or several tapered protrusions which are located above the flexible rods. A vertical downward force on the movable keycap will enable the protrusion to flex the rods horizontally, thus creating a spring like mechanism that will return the movable keycap to its original position once the vertical force is removed.

A slim-type key structure includes a keycap, a base plate, a scissors-type connecting element, a membrane circuit board, a metal dome and a positioning plate. The keycap can be pressed. The scissors-type connecting element is located under the keycap. The membrane circuit board is disposed on the base plate. The metal dome is disposed on the membrane circuit board. In response to a pressing force, the metal dome is subjected to a compressed deformation to press the membrane circuit board. When the pressing force is released, a restoring force is generated and the metal dome is restored to an original shape in response to the restoring force. The positioning plate includes a pressing post. The pressing post is aligned with a center of the metal dome and a center of the keycap. The positioning plate is fixed on the metal dome through an adhesive.

A switch device is presented. The switch device comprises a magnet supported such that it can be tilted, a transmitter device coupled to the magnet, designed to cause a tilting movement of the magnet in response to a switch actuation of the switch device, and a sensor device, having a first sensor element and a second sensor element for detecting the tilting movement, wherein the first sensor element is designed to acquire a plurality of first magnetic field values of a magnetic field shift of a magnetic field generated by the magnet caused by the tilting movement, and the second sensor element is designed to acquire a plurality of second magnetic field values of a second magnetic field shift of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic caused by the tilting movement.