Keycap particle evacuation structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11961688-B2
Application number	US-202217820382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2022
Priority date	Aug 17, 2022
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

A keycap includes a keycap body with a top surface and a top periphery region extending around the top surface. A recessed area extends across the top surface inward of the top periphery region, with the top periphery region being elevated relative to the recessed area. The keycap also includes a set of grooves extending from the recessed area and across at least a portion of the top periphery region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keycap comprising:
a keycap body including:
a top surface;
a top periphery region extending around the top surface;
a recessed area extending across the top surface inward of the top periphery region, the top periphery region being elevated relative to the recessed area; and
a set of grooves extending from the recessed area and across at least a portion of the top periphery region, each groove of the set of grooves having a groove width that provides an unperceivable tactile response to a fingertip of a user.

2. The keycap of claim 1 , wherein the top periphery region comprises a plateau surface.

3. The keycap of claim 2 , wherein:
the plateau surface comprises a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge; and
the plateau surface is planar between the first edge and the second edge.

4. The keycap of claim 2 , wherein the plateau surface comprises a polished surface devoid of pockets greater than 0.5 micron between adjacent grooves of the set of grooves.

5. The keycap of claim 2 , wherein the set of grooves extends completely across the plateau surface.

6. The keycap of claim 1 , wherein:
the keycap body further comprises a side surface adjoined to the top periphery region at a keycap edge; and
at least one groove of the set of grooves is oriented perpendicular relative to the keycap edge.

7. The keycap of claim 1 , wherein:
the keycap body further comprises a central portion of the top surface positioned within the recessed area; and
at least one groove of the set of grooves is oriented radially relative to the central portion.

8. The keycap of claim 1 , wherein the set of grooves includes a first groove with a first orientation and a second groove with a second orientation that differs from the first orientation.

9. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
a keyboard housing;
a set of key mechanisms disposed within the keyboard housing, each key mechanism of the set of key mechanisms comprising:
a keycap body including:
a sidewall;
a plateau surface substantially perpendicular to the sidewall, the plateau surface having an inner edge and an outer edge;
a transition portion adjoining the sidewall and the outer edge;
a recessed area extending across a top surface of the keycap body inward of the inner edge of the plateau surface; and
a set of particle exit paths extending from the recessed area, across the inner edge and the outer edge below the plateau surface, and to the transition portion.

10. The keyboard assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plateau surface comprises a polished and planar surface configured to contact a computing device display.

11. The keyboard assembly of claim 9 , wherein the set of particle exit paths is interspaced along the plateau surface, the set of particle exit paths being spatially configured to receive particles from the plateau surface.

12. The keyboard assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
each particle exit path of the set of particle exit paths comprises an evacuation end positioned at the transition portion; and
a particle received by at least one particle exit path of the set of particle exit paths is configured to exit the evacuation end in response to movement of the keycap body.

13. The keyboard assembly of claim 9 , wherein the set of particle exit paths is oriented radially relative to a central portion of the recessed area.

14. The keyboard assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
a first subset of the set of particle exit paths is oriented radially relative to a central portion of the recessed area; and
a second subset of the set of particle exit paths is oriented non-radially relative to the central portion of the recessed area.

15. The keyboard assembly of claim 14 , wherein:
the first subset of the set of particle exit paths is positioned at corner regions of the keycap body; and
the second subset of the set of particle exit paths is positioned between the corner regions of the keycap body.

16. A computing device, comprising:
a display with a planar display surface;
a keyboard housing;
a set of key mechanisms disposed within the keyboard housing, the set of key mechanisms comprising:
a keycap body including:
a top surface having an inner edge, an outer edge, and a planar surface extending between the inner edge and the outer edge, the planar surface abutting the planar display surface when the display is positioned in a closed configuration over the keyboard housing;
a recessed area extending inward from the top surface; and
a set of channels extending from the recessed area and through at least a portion of the top surface.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the set of channels is interspaced along a perimeter of the keycap body.

18. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the set of channels is accessible to dust particles positioned on the top surface.

19. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the set of channels comprises one or more evacuation ends positioned beyond the top surface.

20. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the set of channels comprises size dimensions in a range from about 3 micron to about 30 micron.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Samuel O
• Nekimken Kyle J

Classifications

• H01H13/70 Primary

  having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard (mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B) · CPC title

• G06F1/1662

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title

• H01H13/20

  Driving mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H13/705 Primary

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