Low-travel key mechanisms using butterfly hinges

Abstract

A key mechanism including one or more butterfly hinges. Each butterfly hinge may include a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. Hinged coupling mechanisms couple respective arms of the wings together. Additionally or alternatively, a key mechanism can include one or more half-butterfly hinges. Each half-butterfly hinge includes a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. A hinged coupling mechanism couples one set of corresponding arms of the wings together, while the other set of corresponding arms are not coupled together.

Description

technical field [0001] The disclosed embodiments relate generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to input devices for electronic devices. Background technique [0002] Many electronic devices typically include one or more input devices, such as a keyboard, touchpad, mouse, or touchscreen, to enable a user to interact with the device. These devices may be integrated into an electronic device or may stand alone as a discrete device capable of transmitting a signal to another device via a wired or wireless connection. For example, the keyboard may be integrated into the casing of the laptop computer or it may exist in its own casing. [0003] It is often desirable to reduce the size of electronic devices and to minimize tooling costs and manufacturing time for such devices. For example, a laptop computer may be designed to be as small and light as possible, but input devices such as a keyboard may occupy a relatively large portion of the available interior space...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, a laptop computer can be designed to be as small and light as possible, but input devices such as keyboards can take up a relatively large portion of the available interior space

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