Collapsible keyboard

Abstract

A collapsible keyboard assembly having, in one embodiment, a plurality of keys each of the plurality of keys having a top portion and a portion of the plurality of keys displaced adjacent one another to form at least one row. A plurality of keys are coupled to a support element which is capable of being extended to a first footprint and is capable of being contracted to a second footprint. Each of the keys includes a key top which is coupled to a key base. Each key top is designed to be pressed by a user. For each key, the key top and key base rotate on a pivot point which couples the key base to the support element. Each key base rotates as the support element is extended and contracted. One embodiment also includes a plurality of scissors linkages, each linkage having a pair of diagonally opposed leg portions coupled to one another, with a portion of the plurality of scissors linkages pivotally coupled to at least one of the keys of the row. The plurality of scissors linkages are adapted to have a first position such that the top portion of each of the keys of the row defines a substantially horizontal plane and a second position such that the top portion of each of the keys of the row traverses the substantially horizontal plane. Features of various aspects of certain embodiments of the invention include coupling adjacent scissors linkages to form rows, coupling protective side portions to the ends of the keyboard assembly to encapsulate the key mechanism of the assembly when the keyboard is in a collapsed position, and using the mechanical structure of the keyboard as a conductor so that each row of keys bridges a two-wire bus that may be sequentially scanned by a controller to determine which keys are pressed. Another feature of an embodiment of the invention uses a flexible conductor.