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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 22, 2018
Filed:
May. 11, 2012
Kenneth Loo, San Jose, CA (US);
Lawrence Lam, San Jose, CA (US);
Kenneth Loo, San Jose, CA (US);
Lawrence Lam, San Jose, CA (US);
Google LLC, Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to keyboards for computing devices. For example, rather than using a dome, the keycap may include one or more magnets. In one example, a second magnet may be placed adjacent to a switch or magnetic sensor on a circuit board. The magnets may be arranged so that they repel one another in order to force the keycap away from the switch. Webbing between the keycaps may be used to keep the keycaps from falling off of the device. To keep the keycap from moving laterally, the keycap may include two or more flanges held in place by rails. Other arrangements of magnets or magnetic plates may also be used. If a magnetic sensor is used, it may be calibrated to adjust the sensitivity of the keys, for example, how far a user must press the keycap in order to have the pressing register.