Dome switch and switch housing for keyboard assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016172129-A1
Application number	US-201514867598-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dome switch utilized in a keyboard assembly is disclosed. The keyboard assembly may include a printed circuit board having a first electrical connector formed in the printed circuit board, and a second electrical connector formed in the printed circuit board adjacent the first electrical connector. The keyboard assembly may also include an inner contact component contacting the second electrical connector of the printed circuit board. The inner contact component may be in electrical communication with the second electrical connector of the printed circuit board. Additionally, the keyboard assembly can include a dome switch surrounding the inner contact component. The dome switch may contact and may be in electrical communication with the first electrical connector of the printed circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A keyboard assembly comprising:
a printed circuit board comprising:
a first electrical connector; and
a second electrical connector adjacent the first electrical connector;
an inner contact component contacting and in electrical communication with the second electrical connector; and a dome switch surrounding the inner contact component, the dome switch contacting and in electrical communication with the first electrical connector; wherein the printed circuit board defines an aperture beneath the inner contact component; and the inner contact component is configured to extend into the aperture when deformed.

2 . The keyboard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner contact component comprises a strip formed from a substantially flexible, conductive material.

3 . The keyboard assembly of claim 2 , wherein the dome switch and the strip are operative to cooperatively generate an electrical signal.

4 . The keyboard assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the dome switch contacts the strip when the dome switch is partially collapsed; and the strip is undeformed when the dome switch is partially collapsed.

5 . The keyboard assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the inner contact component comprises a conductive plug positioned in the aperture; and the conductive plug is in electrical communication with the second electrical connector.

6 . The keyboard assembly of claim 5 , wherein the dome switch contacts a contact surface of the conductive plug.

7 . A keyboard assembly, comprising:
a dome switch comprising:
a top portion positioned adjacent a keycap of the keyboard assembly;
a bottom portion positioned opposite the top portion; and
an end extending from the bottom portion; and
a printed circuit board positioned beneath the dome switch and supporting the dome switch; wherein the end passes at least partially through at least one of the printed circuit board and a switch housing coupled to the printed circuit board; and the end is electrically grounded within at least one of the printed circuit board and the switch housing.

8 . The keyboard assembly of claim 7 , wherein the dome switch is operative to collapse at least partially through an aperture formed in the printed circuit board.

9 . The keyboard assembly of claim 8 , wherein the printed circuit board comprises:
a first surface positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the dome switch; and a second surface positioned opposite the first surface; wherein the end of the dome switch extends completely through the printed circuit board and onto the second surface of the printed circuit board.

10 . The keyboard assembly of claim 9 , wherein the end is positioned partially through the printed circuit board and is grounded within the printed circuit board.

11 . The keyboard assembly of claim 7 , wherein the dome switch comprises:
a body; and a set of contact protrusions extending from the body, each of the set of contact protrusions extending angularly toward the printed circuit board.

12 . A keyboard assembly, comprising:
a printed circuit board; a switch housing positioned on the printed circuit board, the switch housing defining a switch opening; and a dome switch positioned within the switch opening of the switch housing, and comprising one or more contact protrusions extending from a body of the dome switch; wherein each of the one or more contact protrusions extend angularly toward the printed circuit board.

13 . The keyboard assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a keycap positioned above the switch housing, and collapsing the dome switch to form an electrical connection.

14 . The keyboard assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first electrical connector in the printed circuit board, and in contact with a bottom portion of the dome switch; a second electrical connector in the printed circuit board and substantially aligned with the one or more contact protrusions of the dome switch; and an aperture formed in the printed circuit board adjacent the second electrical connector, the opening aligned with the switch opening of the switch housing.

15 . The keyboard assembly of claim 14 , wherein the one or more contact protrusions of the dome switch are positioned above the second electrical connector formed in the printed circuit board when the dome switch is uncollapsed.

16 . The keyboard assembly of claim 15 , wherein the one or more contact protrusions of the dome switch contact the second electrical connector at a first position when the dome switch is partially collapsed.

17 . The keyboard assembly of claim 16 , wherein the one or more contact protrusions of the dome switch contact the second electrical connector at a second position when the dome switch is fully collapsed.

18 . The keyboard assembly of claim 17 , wherein the one or more contact protrusions of the dome switch collapse in order to contact the second electrical connector at the second position.

19 . The keyboard assembly of claim 17 , wherein a portion of the dome switch is positioned within the aperture formed in the printed circuit board when the dome switch is fully collapsed.

20 . The keyboard assembly of claim 14 , wherein the one or more contact protrusions of the dome switch contact the second electrical connector.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Zercoe Bradford J
• Leong Craig C
• Niu James J
• Brock John M
• Hendren Keith J

Classifications

• G06F1/1662 Primary

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• H10H20/851

  Wavelength conversion means · CPC title

• H01H13/86

  characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size · CPC title

• H01H13/7006 Primary

  comprising a separate movable contact element for each switch site, all other elements being integrated in layers · CPC title

• H01H2207/04

  Details of printed conductors · CPC title