公开(公告)号：US09666391B2

公开(公告)日：2017-05-30

申请号：US14520101

申请日：2014-10-21

Applicant: Novasentis, Inc.

Inventor： Mark Levatich ,  Brian C. Zellers ,  Edward Foster ,  Madeline Boyer ,  Brian Thaler ,  Raj Pathak ,  Richard Ducharme

IPC: H01H13/85

CPC classification number: H01H13/85 ,  H01H2215/016

Abstract: A retractable snap dome in a keyboard, serving as a force resistor for a key in a conventional manner, includes an additional collapsed state wherein the key can be retracted by an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator to a persistent down position. In one embodiment, the EMP actuator is a bimorph EMP actuator that can be actuated to bring the key from down position to up position, ready for conventional keyboard operation, and vice versa. Such operations allow the keyboard to have a desirable decreased thickness relative to conventional keyboards. Thus, a keyboard of the present invention finds application in ultra-slim electronic devices. When provided in a notebook computer wherein the keyboard is folded against a video or graphic display, the keyboard keys may be placed in the retracted down position, thereby preventing the keys from pressing against the video or graphical display with a force that may damage the display.

公开(公告)号：US20150107976A1

公开(公告)日：2015-04-23

申请号：US14520101

申请日：2014-10-21

Applicant: Novasentis, Inc.

Inventor： Mark Levatich ,  Brian C. Zellers ,  Edward Foster ,  Madeline Boyer ,  Brian Thaler ,  Raj Pathak ,  Richard Ducharme

IPC: H01H13/85

CPC classification number: H01H13/85 ,  H01H2215/016

Abstract: A retractable snap dome in a keyboard, serving as a force resistor for a key in a conventional manner, includes an additional collapsed state wherein the key can be retracted by an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator to a persistent down position. In one embodiment, the EMP actuator is a bimorph EMP actuator that can be actuated to bring the key from down position to up position, ready for conventional keyboard operation, and vice versa. Such operations allow the keyboard to have a desirable decreased thickness relative to conventional keyboards. Thus, a keyboard of the present invention finds application in ultra-slim electronic devices. When provided in a notebook computer wherein the keyboard is folded against a video or graphic display, the keyboard keys may be placed in the retracted down position, thereby preventing the keys from pressing against the video or graphical display with a force that may damage the display.

Abstract translation: 键盘中的可伸缩卡扣圆顶用作常规方式的键的强制电阻器，包括另外的折叠状态，其中键可以被机电聚合物（EMP）致动器缩回到持续的向下位置。 在一个实施例中，EMP致动器是双压电晶片EMP致动器，其可以被致动以将键从下位置向上位置准备好用于常规键盘操作，反之亦然。 这样的操作允许键盘相对于常规键盘具有期望的减小的厚度。 因此，本发明的键盘可应用于超薄型电子设备中。 当提供在其中键盘与视频或图形显示器折叠的笔记本计算机中时，键盘键可以被放置在缩回位置，从而防止键以可能损坏显示器的力而压迫视频或图形显示 。