A slider structure for a keyboard comprising a housing, a depressible actuator disposed in the housing, and a chambered track configured to receive a balance bar structure, the balance bar structure operable to provide a structural support that resists a key cap coupled to the frame from tilting as a force applied at any point on the top surface of the key cap. When the depressible actuator is depressed, the depressible actuator is operable to push the balance bar structure causing the balance bar structure to rotate within the chambered track. The frame and depressible actuator are comprised of a rigid material and the chambered track is comprised of a compliant material that attenuates sound caused by the rotating of the balance bar structure within the chambered track.

The operating unit for a vehicle includes an operating element having an operating surface movable in an actuating direction from a rest position into a function-triggering position and from the function-triggering position back to the rest position by means of depressing. A parallel guiding device ensures that the operating surface moves in parallel. The parallel guiding device is provided with at least one pair of engaging first and second levers which are mounted in an articulated manner with play on support elements being in turn connected to the operating element. The support elements are axially guided on a carrier element. The levers are pivotably mounted on bearing blocks, substantially free of play, so that the operating element behaves substantially free of play in directions transverse to the depressing movement. The parallel guiding device is designed in compliance with tolerances that are comparatively easy to realize in terms of manufacture.

A key structure includes a bottom plate, at least one keycap, and a thin-film circuit board. The bottom plate has at least one elastic protruding portion. The keycap is liftably connected to the bottom plate and has a press portion and at least one trigger portion. The press portion is located at a central region of the keycap and faces the elastic protruding portion, and the trigger portion is located at a peripheral region of the keycap. When the key is lowered from a first position to a second position relatively to the bottom plate, the press portion downwardly presses the elastic protruding portion, and the press portion triggers an electrical trigger point of the thin-film circuit board. The keycap is adapted to be restored from the second position to the first position through an elastic force of the elastic protruding portion.

A push switch and a motor vehicle in which such a push switch is used. The push switch has a push cap, a baseplate, a switch element which is actuatable by the push cap, a first lever, and a second lever. The first lever and the second lever are mounted rotatably on the baseplate by means of bearing blocks and are each connected movably to the push cap at a first lever end. At a second lever end, the first lever and the second lever are connected movably to one another. The first lever and the second lever are designed such that they form mass compensation for the push cap.

Key assemblies having a foldable stabilizer are disclosed. The stabilizer can be positioned under a keycap to help guide the keycap and limit rotation or movement when the key is pressed. The stabilizer can have a pointed-star shape with multiple folding axes and can have multiple points of connection or linkage to the keycap or other surrounding components. The stabilizer can unfold or flatten as the keycap is pressed and can fold as the keycap is raised.

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.

The disclosure provides a keyboard includes a bottom plate, a key unit and a shielding layer. The bottom plate includes a body part and a through hole. The key unit is disposed on the body part. The shielding layer covers a portion of the bottom plate and comprising a main part disposed on the body part and an extension part extending from the main part toward the through hole, wherein the extension part has a hole with a size larger than or substantially equal to a size of the through hole.

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 keyboard device includes a substrate, a keycap on the substrate, a first link member connected between the substrate and the keycap and is adjacent to the first side portion of the keycap, and a second link member connected between the substrate and the keycap and is adjacent to the second side portion of the keycap. The two first short swing arms of the first link member are respectively connected to two ends of the first pivot arm of the first link member. A length of each first short swing arm is less than half of a length of the first pivot arm. The two second short swing arms of the second link member are respectively connected to two ends of the second pivot arm of the second link member. A length of each second short swing arm is less than half of a length of the second pivot arm.

A key structure is provided. The key structure includes a switch and a keycap. The switch includes a stem. The keycap is located over the switch. The keycap includes a pressing surface, an inner bottom surface and a protrusion post. The pressing surface and the inner bottom surface are opposed to each other. The protrusion post is protruded downwardly from the inner bottom surface. The protrusion post includes an insertion groove and at least one exhaust recess. When the stem is tightly fitted into the insertion groove, a gap is formed between the at least one exhaust recess and the stem.