US3815066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic key mechanism or the like
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1972-06-19
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1992-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A key mechanism has co-axial permanent magnets as a biasing means for key operator and co-axial permanent magnets operable to cause snap action operation of a cylindrical cup within a housing. The co-axial biasing magnets are magnetized in parallel to their common axis and have a polarity of opposite direction. The actuator permanent magnets are magnetized in parallel with their common axis and have a polarity in the same direction. The force-displacement characteristic of the biasing magnets is matched to the force-displacement characteristic of the actuator magnets to provide a predetermined tactile force-displacement characteristic for the operator.
Inventors
- 👤 A Vinal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:19
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/90; H01; H01H; H01H2215/00; H01H2215/034; H01H2215/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A key mechanism comprising in combination a stationary housing of non-magnetic material, an operator member guided by said housing for reciprocal motion along an axis, means for biasing said operator member along said axis, an actuator member of non-magnetic material guided for reciprocal motion by said housing co-axially relative to said operator member, means carried by said actuator for performing a switch operation or the like, means for imparting a bidirectional snap action motion to said actuator member upon reciprocal displacement of said operator member and comprising a first actuator permanent magnet carried by said operator member, a second actuator permanent magnet surrounding and co-axial with said first actuator magnet and carried by said actuator member, said actuator magnets being magnetized parallel with their common axis and in the same polar direction, and means associated with said housing for limiting the relative translational positions of said operator and actuator members and said actuator magnets movable therewith, said biasing means comprising a pair of co-axial permanent magnets mounted on said housing and said operator member respectively, said biasing magnets being magnetized mutually parallel and in opposite polar directions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A key mechanism comprising in combination a stationary housing of non-magnetic material, an operator member guided by said housing for reciprocal motion along an axis, means for biasing said operator member along said axis, an actuator member of non-magnetic material guided for reciprocal motion by said housing co-axially relative to said operator member, means carried by said actuator for performing a switch operation or the like, means for imparting a bidirectional snap action motion to said actuator member upon reciprocal displacement of said operator member and comprising a first actuator permanent magnet carried by said operator member, a second actuator permanent magnet surrounding and co-axial with said first actuator magnet and carried by said actuator member, said actuator magnets being magnetized parallel with their common axis and in the same polar direction, and means associated with said housing for limiting the relative translational positions of said operator and actuator members and said actuator magnets movable therewith, said biasing means comprising a pair of co-axial permanent magnets mounted on said housing and said operator member respectively, said biasing magnets being magnetized mutually parallel and in opposite polar directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A key mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which said biasing magnets have a linear force-displacement characteristic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A key mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which said biasing magnets and said first and second actuator magnets have equal and opposite force-displacement characteristics whereby the tactile force-displacement characteristic on said push actuator is substantially uniform throughout the range of displacement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A key mechanism in accordance with claim 3 in which said thickness ratio of said biasing magnets and of said actuator magnets is substantially equal to 2.0.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a key mechanism or the like, an operating mechanism comprising in combination a pair of operator members, said members being relatively reciprocally movable parallel to a common axis, means for exerting a bias force on said members parallel to said axis comprising a first permanent magnet attached to one of said members, a second permanent magnet attached to the other of said members and surrounding said first magnet, said magnets being magnetized in a direction parallel with said axis and in opposite polar directions, and means for performing a switch operation or the like comprising third and fourth co-axial actuator magnets longitudinally displaced from said bias magnets, one of said actuator magnets being movable with one of said bias magnets and the other of said magnets being independently movable relative to both of said operator members and its associated actuator magnet, said actuator magnets being magnetized in parallel with a common axis and in the same polar direction whereby a magnetic repulsion force exists between said actuator magnets operable for producing snap action dispLacement of said independently movable actuator magnet upon displacement of its related actuator magnet conjointly with a corresponding operator member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a key mechanism or the like, an operating mechanism comprising in combination a pair of operator members, said members being relatively reciprocally movable parallel to a common axis, means for exerting a bias force on said members parallel to said axis comprising a first permanent magnet attached to one of said members, a second permanent magnet attached to the other of said members and surrounding said first magnet, said magnets being magnetized in a direction parallel with said axis and in opposite polar directions, and means for performing a switch operation or the like comprising third and fourth co-axial actuator magnets longitudinally displaced from said bias magnets, one of said actuator magnets being movable with one of said bias magnets and the other of said magnets being independently movable relative to both of said operator members and its associated actuator magnet, said actuator magnets being magnetized in parallel with a common axis and in the same polar direction whereby a magnetic repulsion force exists between said actuator magnets operable for producing snap action dispLacement of said independently movable actuator magnet upon displacement of its related actuator magnet conjointly with a corresponding operator member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a key mechanism or the like, an operating mechanism in accordance with claim 5 in which said bias magnets have a unidirectional linear force-displacement characteristic, and said actuator magnets have a force-displacement characteristic preselected to match the force-displacement characteristic of said biasing magnets whereby a preselected tactile force-displacement characteristic is obtainable for said operating members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a key mechanism or the like, an operating mechanism in accordance with claim 6 in which said force-displacement characteristic of said actuator magnets is inversely linear over at least a portion of the range of displacement of said actuator magnets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a key mechanism or the like, an operating mechanism in accordance with claim 7 in which said inversely linear force-displacement characteristic of said actuator magnets is substantially equal in magnitude to said linear force-displacement characteristic of said bias magnets whereby a substantially uniform tactile force-displacement characteristic is provided to said operator members.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |