A key structure which is adjustable in pressing force required and in duration of key pushback includes a circuit board, a keycap, a first magnetic member, an elastic member, a membrane switch, and a second magnetic member. The keycap includes an extending portion. The membrane switch is spaced apart from the first magnetic member, and the elastic member buffers the first magnetic member against the membrane switch. The second magnetic member is disposed between the membrane switch and the circuit board. When energized, the second magnetic member generates magnetic attraction or magnetic repulsion to the first magnetic member. A pressing force required on the key structure and a rebound force and a delay of rebound can be dynamically adjusted by a direction and magnitude of a current applied to the second magnetic member. A key device including the key structure is also disclosed.

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.

An electro-permanent magnet key assembly may comprise an electro-permanent magnet generating a magnetic field when a direction of current applied to an electrically conductive wire coiled around a low-coercivity magnet, and a pair of scissor plates operably connected to the electropermanent magnet, such that the scissor plates rotate away from one another in the presence of downward force on a key cap situated atop the scissor plates. The top surface of the key cap may lie flush with adjacent keys of a keyboard when the key cap is in a neutral position. The electro-permanent magnet key assembly may further comprise a ferromagnetic flange operably connected to one of the scissor plates having angled overlap protrusions situated adjacent to the electropermanent magnet when the key cap is not in the neutral position, such that the angled overlap protrusions are attracted toward the magnetic field to return the key cap to the neutral position.

An input apparatus includes an operating member that receives an operating force, a casing holding the operating member so as to move in the vertical direction, a first switch and a second switch that switch between on-state and off-state as the operating member moves, a first magnetic substance attached to the casing, a second magnetic substance that moves together with the operating member, and a third magnetic substance disposed so as to come into contact with the first magnetic substance and the second magnetic substance when the operating member is not receiving an operating force and so as to come into contact with one of the first magnetic substance and the second magnetic substance when the operating member is receiving an operating force. At least one of the first magnetic substance, the second magnetic substance, and the third magnetic substance is a magnet.

An electro-permanent magnet key assembly may comprise an electro-permanent magnet generating a magnetic field when a direction of current applied to an electrically conductive wire coiled around a low-coercivity magnet, and a pair of scissor plates operably connected to the electropermanent magnet, such that the scissor plates rotate away from one another in the presence of downward force on a key cap situated atop the scissor plates. The top surface of the key cap may lie flush with adjacent keys of a keyboard when the key cap is in a neutral position. The electro-permanent magnet key assembly may further comprise a ferromagnetic flange operably connected to one of the scissor plates having angled overlap protrusions situated adjacent to the electropermanent magnet when the key cap is not in the neutral position, such that the angled overlap protrusions are attracted toward the magnetic field to return the key cap to the neutral position.

A touchpad module for an electronic device is provided. The touchpad module includes a fixing frame, a touch member, a switch member and an adjusting element. The touch member is installed within an opening of the fixing frame. The switch member is installed on the touch member. The switch member includes a first magnetic element. The adjusting element is accommodated within an adjusting hole of the fixing frame. The adjusting element includes a second magnetic element corresponding to the first magnetic element. Moreover, like poles of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element face each other. Consequently, a travelling distance of the touch member is adjusted according to a repulsive force between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element.

An input apparatus includes an operating member that receives an operating force, a casing holding the operating member so as to move in the vertical direction, a first switch and a second switch that switch between on-state and off-state as the operating member moves, a first magnetic substance attached to the casing, a second magnetic substance that moves together with the operating member, and a third magnetic substance disposed so as to come into contact with the first magnetic substance and the second magnetic substance when the operating member is not receiving an operating force and so as to come into contact with one of the first magnetic substance and the second magnetic substance when the operating member is receiving an operating force. At least one of the first magnetic substance, the second magnetic substance, and the third magnetic substance is a magnet.

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 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 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.