The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 26, 2016

Filed:

Aug. 06, 2013
Applicant:

Synaptics Incorporated, San Jose, CA (US);

Inventors:

Douglas M. Krumpelman, Hayden, ID (US);

Cody G. Peterson, Coeur d'Alene, ID (US);

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated, San Jose, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H 9/26 (2006.01); H01H 13/72 (2006.01); H01H 13/76 (2006.01); H01H 13/85 (2006.01); H01H 13/7065 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H 13/85 (2013.01); H01H 13/7065 (2013.01); H01H 2221/04 (2013.01); H01H 2221/058 (2013.01); H01H 2221/07 (2013.01);
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a touchsurface assembly such as a key assembly are described. The touchsurface assembly includes a base, a keycap and a magnet physically coupled to the base near to the keycap. A keycap coupler has a first portion magnetically attracted to the magnet and a second portion cantilevered from the magnet to support the keycap in an unpressed position. When a press force applied to the keycap overcomes a magnetic force pulling the keycap coupler toward the magnet, the keycap coupler pivots away from the magnet to allow the keycap to move toward a pressed position.


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