Example implementations relate to magnetic keyboard domes. In an example, a keyboard dome includes a dome with an exterior surface, and a metal magnetic pad on the exterior surface of the dome to guide the dome to a keyboard membrane.

Key assemblies are disclosed herein that are retractable and/or that present a variable key assembly depression force to a user. In one example, one or more key assemblies may be provided that each employ one or more electro-permanent magnets (EPMs) together with permanent magnet and/or magnetically permeable (e.g., ferromagnetic) key assembly components to control key retraction and extension, and/or to control peak depression force (e.g., typing force) required to depress and displace a key assembly from an extended position to a lower position that causes the key assembly to produce a digital or analog output signal.

A silent keyboard and a key structure are provided. The key structure includes a keycap, a buffering layer, a stabilizing element and a supporting plate. The keycap includes a bottom surface and a protrusion edge. The protrusion edge is disposed on a periphery of the bottom surface. The buffering layer is disposed on the bottom surface and the protrusion edge. The buffering layer includes a flat part, a raised part and plural coupling parts. The stabilizing element is located under the keycap and pivotally coupled to the coupling parts. The supporting plate is located under the keycap. The supporting plate includes a key seat, a supporting surface and plural recesses. The plural recesses are aligned with the corresponding coupling parts. While the keycap is moved toward the supporting plate, the flat part, the raised part or the plural coupling parts are subjected to deformation.

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for a user input device, such as a game controller, that includes a finger-pressable (tactile) switch. The switch is adjustable to change the amount of force used to actuate the switch. In an example implementation, a tactile switch comprises a housing, a button interposer, a dome switch, and an adjustment mechanism. A user or other entity may press the button interposer. The dome switch is contained in the housing, and is actuated by the button interposer being pressed. The adjustment mechanism is contained at least partially in the housing, and is configured to enable an amount of force used to press the button interposer to actuate the dome switch to be adjusted.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that may be implemented to configure, provide and operate retractable key assemblies and/or key assemblies that present a variable key assembly depression force to a user. In one example, key assemblies may be provided that each employ one or more electro-permanent magnets (EPMs) together with permanent magnet and/or magnetically permeable (e.g., ferromagnetic) key assembly components to control key retraction and extension, and/or to control peak depression force (e.g., typing force) required to depress and displace a key assembly from an extended position to a lower position that causes the key assembly to produce a digital or analog output signal.

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for a user input device, such as a game controller, that includes a finger-pressable (tactile) switch. The switch is adjustable to change the amount of force used to actuate the switch. In an example implementation, a tactile switch comprises a housing, a button interposer, a dome switch, and an adjustment mechanism. A user or other entity may press the button interposer. The dome switch is contained in the housing, and is actuated by the button interposer being pressed. The adjustment mechanism is contained at least partially in the housing, and is configured to enable an amount of force used to press the button interposer to actuate the dome switch to be adjusted.

A keyboard switch includes a key top movable vertically on receiving a depressing force, a plunger engaged with a lower portion of the key top and movable vertically with the key top, a cup rubber disposed under the plunger and supporting the plunger from below, a housing arranged on an outer peripheral side of the plunger and cup rubber, a plate supported on the housing and extending laterally, and a spacer interposed between the plate and key top. The spacer is removably mounted onto the keyboard.

A keyswitch includes a cap, internal and external sleeves, a resilient arm, a base having a pillar, and an elastic member abutting against the internal sleeve and the base. The internal sleeve jackets the pillar, abuts against the cap and has a first outer annular surface with a transverse slot. The external sleeve jackets the internal sleeve and has a protruding block movably inserted into the transverse slot for guiding the external sleeve to rotate and a second outer annular surface having concave and convex portions and an arc-shaped bar. When the resilient arm abuts against a second position on the convex portion and the cap presses the external sleeve, the resilient arm crosses the arc-shaped bar. When the resilient arm abuts against a first position on the convex portion and the cap presses the external sleeve, the resilient arm does not need to cross the arc-shaped bar.

A switch assembly includes a manually operable push button, an elastic element, a rotatably mounted transmitter, and a microswitch, wherein the push button includes a pusher, which, upon actuation of the push button, exerts a first force on the elastic element, the elastic element connects to a force arm of the transmitter and is configured to transmit at least a part of the first force onto the force arm, and set the transmitter in a rotation, and the transmitter further includes a load arm configured to exert a second force on the microswitch during rotation of the transmitter.

A push switch includes a movable contact including a dome part that is shaped like a dome and configured to be inverted in shape when pressed, and a fixed contact including a first fixed contact, the movable contact being configured to be brought into contact with and away from the first fixed contact. The push switch is configured such that an operating load necessary to press the movable contact gradually increases after the movable contact starts to be pressed, decreases thereafter when the dome part is inverted, and increases again when the movable contact is further pressed, and the dome part contacts the first fixed contact after an inflection point at which the decreased operating load starts to increase again.