A haptic peripheral includes a housing and a haptically-enhanced user input element. The haptically-enhanced user input element is configured to receive an input from a user, and includes a mechanical key having a keycap with a user contact surface configured to contact the user and a smart material actuator integrated onto the user contact surface of the keycap. The smart material actuator is configured to receive a control signal from a processor and is configured to deform at least a portion of the user contact surface relative to the keycap of the mechanical key in response to the control signal from the processor to thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral. The haptic peripheral may also include a braking actuator coupled to the mechanical key to hold the mechanical key in a depressed position to indicate an inactive status to a user. In addition, the haptic peripheral and the haptically-enhanced user input element may be modular.

A key input apparatus includes a key top capable of moving up and down through a pressing operation; a first substrate, which includes a first surface, which is positioned on the key top side, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface, and the first substrate supports the key top and is provided to be movable up and down along with the key top; a second substrate, which is provided between the key top and the first substrate in the direction of the up-and-down movement of the key top, and the second substrate includes a first surface, which is positioned on the first substrate side, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface; a magnetic field generation unit; a magnetic sensor unit, which includes a magnetic detection element that detects a magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generation unit; and an adhesion unit, which includes a soft magnetic material capable of adhering to the magnetic field generation unit. The magnetic sensor unit and the adhesion unit are provided on one of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate, and the magnetic field generation unit is provided on the other of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate, opposite to the adhesion unit.

A keyswitch includes a board, a cap, a lifting mechanism, a returning device, first and second blocks. The lifting mechanism is disposed between the board and the cap and includes first and second plates pivoted to the board and opposite to each other. The returning device is located between the first and second plates and includes first and second magnetic members. The first magnetic member extends from the first plate corresponding to the second magnetic member disposed on the board. An abutting part extends from the second plate and abuts under the first magnetic member. The first and second blocks are formed on the cap and respectively spaced from the first and second plates. When the first and second plates are pressed to deform, the first and second blocks abut against the first and second plates respectively to keep the abutting part located under the first magnetic member.

A key input apparatus includes a key top capable of moving up and down through a pressing operation; a first substrate, which includes a first surface, which is positioned on the key top side, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface, and the first substrate supports the key top and is provided to be movable up and down along with the key top; a second substrate, which is provided between the key top and the first substrate in the direction of the up-and-down movement of the key top, and the second substrate includes a first surface, which is positioned on the first substrate side, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface; a magnetic field generation unit; a magnetic sensor unit, which includes a magnetic detection element that detects a magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generation unit; and an adhesion unit, which includes a soft magnetic material capable of adhering to the magnetic field generation unit. The magnetic sensor unit and the adhesion unit are provided on one of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate, and the magnetic field generation unit is provided on the other of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate, opposite to the adhesion unit.

A magnetic keyboard has a plurality of magnetic keyswitches, and each magnetic keyswitch include a base, a keycap, a supporting device, a magnetic component and a metal thin sheet. The base has at least one engaging structure and a hole. The supporting device has a first support, an end of the first support is movably connected to the engaging structure, and the other end of the first support is movably connected to the keycap. The first support has a magnet portion. The magnetic component is disposed on the base and functioned with the magnet portion to provide a recovering force to the keycap. The metal thin sheet is disposed under the base and has a bendable cantilever portion covering the hole. While the cantilever portion is bent by an external force, the magnetic component can be removed through the hole.

A switch comprises a first elastic element, an actuator-element mechanically coupled to a first side of the first elastic element, and a first switching conductor, mechanically coupled to a second side of the first elastic element. The switching conductor is configured for moving between a first conductor position and a second conductor position. The actuator-element is configured from moving between a first actuator-element position and a second actuator-element position separated by a predefined actuator-element lift, thereby moving the first side of the first elastic element. The first elastic element moreover is configured for converting a movement of the first side of the first elastic element by the predefined actuator-element lift into the movement of the second side of the first elastic element with a predefined elastic force.

A key input apparatus includes a key top capable of moving up and down through a pressing operation; a first substrate, which includes a first surface, which is positioned on the key top side, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface, and the first substrate supports the key top and is provided to be movable up and down along with the key top; a second substrate, which is provided between the key top and the first substrate in the direction of the up-and-down movement of the key top, and the second substrate includes a first surface, which is positioned on the first substrate side, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface; a magnetic field generation unit; a magnetic sensor unit, which includes a magnetic detection element that detects a magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generation unit; and an adhesion unit, which includes a soft magnetic material capable of adhering to the magnetic field generation unit. The magnetic sensor unit and the adhesion unit are provided on one of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate, and the magnetic field generation unit is provided on the other of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate, opposite to the adhesion unit.

A key with balance rods and a keyboard are provided. The key includes a base plate. A sensing component is disposed on the base plate. An intermediate plate is disposed on the sensing component. The intermediate plate has a key hole and a receiving chamber which penetrate upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate plate. A keying portion is disposed on the base plate. Balance rods are disposed between a lower surface of the keying portion and a lower surface of the intermediate plate or base plate. Two balance rods run in the direction of X-axis or the direction of Y-axis, whereas one balance rod runs in the other direction and between the two balance rods. The three balance rods neither cross nor overlap. The key with balance rods and the keyboard have a comfortable feel and are applicable to laptops with thin keyboards, tablets, and smartphone keyboards.

A high frequency switch is provided. The high frequency switch comprises a first high frequency connector, comprising a first inner conductor, integrally formed with a first strip conductor. Moreover, the high frequency switch comprises a second strip conductor arranged orthogonally in a first plane relative to the first strip conductor, a third strip conductor, arranged orthogonally in the first plane relative to the first strip conductor, a first switching conductor, having an orthogonally angled shape relative to the first plane, a second switching conductor, having an orthogonally angled shape relative to the first plane. A switching actuator is mechanically connected to the first switching conductor and to the second switching conductor adapted to move vertically relative to the first plane, to a first position and to a second position.

A key input apparatus includes a key top capable of moving up and down through a pressing operation; a first substrate, which includes a first surface, which is positioned on the key top side, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface, and the first substrate supports the key top and is provided to be movable up and down along with the key top; a second substrate, which is provided between the key top and the first substrate in the direction of the up-and-down movement of the key top, and the second substrate includes a first surface, which is positioned on the first substrate side, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface; a magnetic field generation unit; a magnetic sensor unit, which includes a magnetic detection element that detects a magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generation unit; and an adhesion unit, which includes a soft magnetic material capable of adhering to the magnetic field generation unit. The magnetic sensor unit and the adhesion unit are provided on one of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate, and the magnetic field generation unit is provided on the other of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate, opposite to the adhesion unit.