Input devices and methods of manufacturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10209745-B2
Application number	US-201715692515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2017
Priority date	May 1, 2017
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

An input device is described. The input device may include at least four key caps of a keyset and a keyboard cover surrounding the at least four key caps. Each key cap of the at least four key caps may be separated by at least one gap. The at least one gap may be between 0.075 mm and 0.525 mm. A method of manufacturing an input device is described. The method may include measuring at least four keycaps in a keyset. Each key cap of the at least four key caps may be separated on a side from a keyboard cover by a gap. The method may include cutting a substrate to fit between the at least four keycaps in the keyset such that the gap of each of the at least four keys is between 0.075 mm and 0.525 mm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An input device, comprising: at least four key caps of a keyset; a keyboard cover surrounding the at least four key caps; each key cap of the at least four key caps being separated horizontally on a right side from the keyboard cover by a right horizontal gap; each key cap of the at least four key caps being separated horizontally on a left side from the keyboard cover by a left horizontal gap; and a substrate to fit between the at least four key caps in the keyset such that wherein the right horizontal gap and the left horizontal gap are between 0.125 mm and 0.475 mm; the substrate is cut after measuring and aligning with the at least four key caps in the keyset, each of the at least four key caps includes one or more datum points located at each edge for measuring, cutting, and aligning.

2. The input device of claim 1 , further comprising a fifth key cap of the keyset vertically adjacent to the at least four key caps, where the fifth key cap is separated on a top side from the keyboard cover by the top horizontal gap, on a bottom side from the keyboard cover by the bottom horizontal gap.

3. The input device of claim 1 , wherein each key cap of the at least four key caps is separated horizontally on a top side from the keyboard cover by a top horizontal gap.

4. The input device of claim 3 , wherein each key cap of the at least four key caps is separated horizontally on a bottom side from the keyboard cover by a bottom horizontal gap.

5. The input device of claim 1 , wherein each key cap of the at least four key caps is moveable.

6. The input device of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard cover is fabric.

7. An input device, comprising: at least ten key caps of a keyset, each of the ten key caps being adjacent at least one other of the ten key caps; a keyboard cover surrounding the at least ten key caps, wherein the keyboard cover is fabric; each key cap of the at least ten key caps being separated horizontally on a right side from the keyboard cover by a right horizontal gap; each key cap of the at least ten key caps being separated horizontally on a left side from the keyboard cover by a left horizontal gap; each key cap of the at least ten key caps being separated horizontally on a top side from the keyboard cover by a top horizontal gap; each key cap of the at least ten key caps being separated horizontally on a bottom side from the keyboard cover by a bottom horizontal gap; and a substrate to fit between the at least ten key caps in the keyset such that wherein the right horizontal gap, the left horizontal gap, the top horizontal gap, and the bottom horizontal gap are between 0.075 mm and 0.525 mm; the substrate is cut after measuring and aligning with the at least ten key caps in the keyset, each of the at least ten key caps includes one or more datum points located at each edge for measuring, cutting, and aligning.

8. A method of manufacturing an input device, comprising: measuring at least four key caps in a keyset, each key cap of the at least four key caps being separated on a right side from a keyboard cover by a right gap, each key cap of the at least four key caps being separated on a left side from the keyboard cover by a left gap; and cutting a substrate to fit between the at least four key caps in the keyset such that the right gap and the left gap of each of the at least four keys are between 0.075 mm and 0.525 mm; the substrate is cut after measuring and aligning with the at least four key caps in the keyset, each of the at least four key caps includes one or more datum points located at each edge for measuring, cutting, and aligning.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein measuring the at least four key caps in the keyset further comprises measuring at least four points per key cap.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least four points are located on different sides of each key cap.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein measuring the at least four key caps in the keyset further comprises measuring at least eight points per key caps.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least eight points are in four pairs, and wherein each pair of the four pairs are located on different sides of each key cap.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least eight points are in four pairs, and wherein a first key cap of a first pair of the four pairs is located within 5% of a corner of the key cap.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least eight points are in four pairs, and wherein a second key cap of a first pair of the four pairs is located within 5% of a corner of the key cap.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least eight points are in four pairs, wherein a third key cap of a second pair of the four pairs is located within 5% of a corner of the key cap, and wherein a fourth key cap of a second pair of the four pairs is located within 5% of a corner of the key cap.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least eight points are in four pairs, and wherein a first key cap of a first pair of the four pairs is located within 25% of a corner of the key cap.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein cutting the substrate includes cutting the substrate to fit between the at least four keycaps in the keyset such that the right gap and the left gap of each of the at least four keys are between 0.125 mm and 0.475 mm.

18. The method of claim 8 , further comprising aligning the keyset and the cut cover.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein aligning the keyset and the cut cover includes aligning one or more datum points on the keyset with one or more datum points on the cover.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Evans Ryan Travis
• Schultz Iii Bernard Maurice
• Lewis Ian Howe
• Jensen Lars Tuborg
• Meyer John Charles

Classifications

• G06F1/1662 Primary

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• G06F3/0202

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title

• H01H2227/00

  Dimensions; Characteristics · CPC title

• H01H13/705

  characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys · CPC title

• H01H2223/034

  Bezel · CPC title