A key entry device including a housing, a keypad array disposed within the housing and including a plurality of keys, a key contact array disposed within the housing below the keypad array and including a plurality of contact pairs, a dome array underlying the keypad array and the key contact array and including a plurality of domes, and a protrusion array underlying the dome array and including a plurality of protrusions, whereby depression of one of the plurality of keys of the keypad array causes a corresponding one of the domes of the dome array to be displaced downwardly and to be deformed by pushing engagement with a corresponding one of the protrusions of the protrusion array into contact with at least one of the contact pairs of the key contact array.

A key structure includes a circuit board, a keycap, an elastic member and a metal member. The keycap has a bottom facing the circuit board. The elastic member is disposed between the circuit board and the keycap. The elastic member includes a dome portion, a hollow portion, and a contact pillar. The dome portion touches the bottom of the keycap. The hollow portion is located inside of the dome portion. The contact pillar is located in the hollow portion, and the contact pillar extends from the dome portion to the circuit board. The metal member covers the outside of the contact pillar. The metal member comprises a trigger portion, and the trigger portion is a convex portion extending toward the circuit board.

A keyboard switch, including a base; a static contact; a moving contact; an upper cover; a button configured to control the contact of the static contact and the moving contact; and a reset spring configured to control the reset of the button.

A key structure includes an upper cover, a movable element, an elastic element, a pressure sensing module, a base, and a circuit board. The pressure sensing module is arranged on the base, and the pressure sensing module is electrically connected with the circuit board. The pressure sensing module includes a pressure sensing element and a conducting element, and the pressure sensing element is configured for contacting with the movable element after being pressed, monitoring a pressure on the movable element, and converting the pressure into a pressure signal; the conducting element is configured for conducting the pressure signal to the circuit board.

A key structure includes a base plate, a key pedestal, a switch element and a keycap. The key pedestal includes an opening and at least one elastic element. The keycap includes a triggering post and at least one contacting part. The key pedestal is installed on the base plate. The switch element is installed on the base plate and disposed within the opening of the key pedestal. The triggering post of the keycap is inserted into the opening of the key pedestal. The switch element can be triggered by the triggering post. The elastic element of the key pedestal is aligned with the corresponding contacting part. The contacting part of the keycap is continuously pushed against the corresponding elastic element of the key pedestal. Consequently, the keycap is maintained in a horizontal state and not tilted.

Keyboards and other input devices are provided with membranes that extend under the keycaps or buttons. The membranes are flexible and can support conductive structures, traces, and electrical switch connections to enable effective key switches, lighting, and fluid-tightness for the keyboard. The flexible membrane is positioned near the keycaps to prevent ingress of fluids and debris into the lower portions of the key assemblies. In some cases, the flexible membrane also provides support for an interstitial layer that extends between keycaps.

A key module includes a base plate, a circuit layer and a lifting mechanism. The circuit layer is disposed on the base plate. The lifting mechanism is pivotally connected with the base plate relative to the circuit layer, and the lifting mechanism has an abutment element. The abutment element could interfere with the circuit layer to reduce the noise generated by the key module during operation.

What is presented is a key module for a keyboard. The key module includes a first wing element and a second wing element for guiding a movement of the key module upon actuation. Each wing element includes a bar, a first arm and a second arm. The arms extend away from the bar. A mounting portion is formed on the bar. A first bearing portion for bearing the wing element is formed on the first arm. A second bearing portion for bearing the wing element is formed on the second arm. The first wing element and the second wing element are mechanically coupleable to each other. The key module also includes at least one spring element for providing a reset force upon actuation of the key module. The at least one spring element is mountable to the mounting portion of the first wing element and the mounting portion of the second wing element. The key module further includes a support element for supporting the wing elements. A plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating the bearing portions of the wing elements are formed in the support element.

An operating device having an optical finger navigation module for installation in a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, which allows for secure operation and can be produced at low cost, is disclosed. The operating device has a mounting frame, in which a first light guiding element and the optical finger navigation module is held by a light sealing element. The light sealing element is mounted by a snap connection on the mounting frame. The mounting frame has at least one guide element with which a movement of the mounting frame can be guided.

A key structure includes a bottom plate, a keycap, a lifting mechanism, a thin-film switch layer and a backlight module. The bottom plate has a through hole. The lifting mechanism is pivotally connected to the bottom plate and the keycap. The thin-film switch layer has a reflective structure corresponding to the through hole. The backlight module includes a light source and a reflective layer. The light source is configured to emit light towards the reflective structure. The reflective layer is disposed surrounding the light source to reflect a reflected light from the reflective structure to the thin-film switch layer.