Key switches of the inventive subject matter are designed to give users the tactile feel of key switches from expensive mechanical keyboards without drawback typically associated with alternative key switches. In some embodiments, key switches described in this application are designed to function with a sheet of membrane switches, while in other embodiments, key switches of the inventive subject matter incorporate optical switching in place of membrane switching. Embodiments for use with membrane switching feature a plunger and rocker combination that prevents the pressure from a user's key press from being directly transferred to a membrane switch, thereby reducing wear and tear. In optical switching embodiments, pressing the key switch causes an actuator, e.g., come between an optical emitter/receiver pair to register a key press.

A dome switch button is installed on a circuit board. The dome switch button includes an elastic piece, a conductive piece and a buffering element. The elastic piece is located over the conductive piece. The buffering element is located under the conductive piece and electrically connected with the circuit board. When the elastic piece is subjected to elastic deformation to trigger the conductive piece, an electric signal is generated. The buffering element is electrically connected with the circuit board. Moreover, a first electric pad and a second electric pad of the circuit board are covered by the buffering element. The electricity from the first electric pad and the second electric pad of the circuit board can be transferred to the conductive piece through the buffering element. Consequently, the conductive piece can be electrically connected with the circuit board without the need of using additional conductor lines.

A keyboard and a notebook computer with the keyboard are provided. The keyboard is installed on the notebook computer. The keyboard includes a membrane circuit board, a key frame, a key, a linking rod and a fixing plate. The linking rod is connected with the key frame. The fixing plate is disposed under the key frame. While the linking rod is rotated relative to the key frame to push the key frame, a position-limiting structure of the key frame is moved along a guiding structure of the fixing plate. Consequently, the key frame is limited to be moved in a first axial direction. Moreover, when the key frame is moved to a locked position at the same level with a keycap of the key, the keycap cannot be pressed down.

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.

Systems and methods for forming button assemblies for electronic devices are disclosed. According to some embodiments, the button assemblies include one or more sound improvement features to improve the sound that the button assemblies make when pressed by users of the electronic devices. According to some embodiments, the button assemblies include shims that provide proper alignment of the various components of the button assemblies and to accommodate any tolerance stack up of the various components of the button assemblies. The shims can include alignment features to prevent the shims from shifting within the button assemblies. According to some embodiments, thicknesses of the shims are customized to accommodate varying tolerance stack ups of the components of the button assemblies. In some embodiments, the button assemblies include a combination of sound improvement features and shims.

When an operation knob 10 formed of silicone rubber is pushed laterally, a stem 7 tilts with a contact portion (i) as a fulcrum, a push button portion 6b is pushed, and a contact point in a switch mechanism portion 6a operates to turn on a switch circuit. Even if, by a large operating force F3 being applied, the operation knob 10 is extended and the inner surface portion 15, which is a ceiling surface of an internal space 13 of the operation knob 10, rides on an upper end portion 7c, a reinforcing surface 19 provided on the inner surface portion 15 slides on the upper end portion 7c, and the operation knob 10 returns to the initial shape.

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide haptic button assemblies with a shape memory alloy actuator (SMA) in which the haptic button has a low profile while still providing a satisfying tactile response or sensation to a user. Advantageously, the haptic button assemblies may have a profile that, for example, enables the assembly to be incorporated into the free space along an edge of a portable computing device. The haptic assemblies may for example, be arranged to move the button perpendicularly with respect to the edge of the device.

Key switches of the inventive subject matter are designed to give users the tactile feel of key switches from expensive mechanical keyboards without drawback typically associated with alternative key switches. In some embodiments, key switches described in this application are designed to function with a sheet of membrane switches, while in other embodiments, key switches of the inventive subject matter incorporate optical switching in place of membrane switching. Embodiments for use with membrane switching feature a plunger and rocker combination that prevents the pressure from a user's key press from being directly transferred to a membrane switch, thereby reducing wear and tear. In optical switching embodiments, pressing the key switch causes an actuator, e.g., come between an optical emitter/receiver pair to register a key press.

Key switches of the inventive subject matter are designed to give users the tactile feel of key switches from expensive mechanical keyboards without drawback typically associated with alternative key switches. In some embodiments, key switches described in this application are designed to function with a sheet of membrane switches. These embodiments feature a plunger and rocker combination that prevents the pressure from a user's key press from being directly transferred to a membrane switch, thereby reducing wear and tear.

Key switches of the inventive subject matter are designed to give users the tactile feel of key switches from expensive mechanical keyboards without drawback typically associated with alternative key switches. In some embodiments, key switches described in this application are designed to function with a sheet of membrane switches. These embodiments feature a plunger and rocker combination that prevents the pressure from a user's key press from being directly transferred to a membrane switch, thereby reducing wear and tear.