Computer keyboard with electrostatic discharge feature

Claim 2

A computer keyboard comprising: a housing; multiple non-conductive keys operatively mounted in the housing, individual non-conductive keys having a non-conductive key body which is movable between an extended ready position and a depressed activated position and means for biasing the non-conductive key body to the ready position; at least one conductive key operatively mounted in the housing, the conductive key including a conductive key body which is movable between an extended ready position and a depressed activated position and means for biasing the conductive key body to the ready position; a switch assembly mounted in the housing beneath the nonconductive and conductive keys, the switch assembly having contacts for engagement by corresponding ones of the non-conductive and conductive keys when individual non-conductive and conductive key bodies are depressed to their activated positions; a conductive plug electrically coupled and mounted to the conductive key body of the conductive key for engaging an electrostatic discharge pad coupled to ground when the conductive key body is depressed, the plug having a resistance from approximately 10 to 500 megohms; and the keyboard being configured to dissipate electrostatic charge from a keyboard user to ground through the conductive key body, the plug, and the electrostatic discharge pad when the conductive key body is depressed.

Claim 3

A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the plug is formed of a conductive thermoplastic elastomer.

Claim 4

A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the plug is formed of an elastomer and impregnated with a conductive material.

Claim 5

A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the plug has a resistance from approximately 200 to 300 megohms.

Claim 6

A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the conductive key body is formed of molded plastic embedded with conductive material.

Claim 7

A keyboard according to claim 1 further comprising multiple non-conductive keys and at least one conductive key arranged in a selected pattern in the housing, individual multiple non-conductive keys having a first width, and the conductive key having a second width greater than the first width.

Claim 8

A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the keyboard has "alphanumeric" keys, "function" keys, a "spacebar" key, and an "enter" key, and wherein the non-conductive keys are selected from the "alphanumeric" keys and the "function" keys, and wherein the conductive key is selected from one of the "spacebar" key and the "enter" key.

Claim 9

A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein: the conductive key body is formed of molded plastic embedded with a conductive material; and the plug is formed of a conductive thermoplastic elastomer, the conductive material in the key body conducting electrostatic charge to the plug.

Claim 10

A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the conductive key body has a resistance of less than one megohm.

Claim 11

A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein: the switch assembly further comprises a path resistor coupled between the electrostatic discharge pad and ground; the conductive key body has a resistance of less than one megohm; and at least one of the plug and the path resistor has a resistance from approximately 10 to 500 megohms.

Claim 12

A key for a computer keyboard, comprising: a conductive key body movable between an extended ready position and a depressed activated position, the key body having a resistance of less than one megohm; means for biasing the key body in the ready position; a conductive plug electrically coupled and mounted to the conductive key body, the plug having a resistance from approximately 10 to 500 megohms; an electrostatic discharge pad positioned adjacent the conductive plug, the plug electrically engaging the discharge pad when the key body is depressed to the activated position; and a path resistor coupled between the discharge pad and ground.

Claim 13

A key for a computer keyboard, comprising: a conductive key body movable between an extended ready position and a depressed activated position, the key body having a resistance of less than one megohm; means for biasing the key body in the ready position; a conductive plug electrically coupled and mounted to the conductive key body, the plug having a resistance from approximately 10 to 500 megohms; an electrostatic discharge pad positioned adjacent the conductive plug, the plug electrically engaging the discharge pad when the key body is depressed to the activated position; and a path resistor coupled between the discharge pad and ground.

Claim 14

A key for a computer keyboard according to claim 11 wherein the key body comprises a molded plastic embedded with conductive material.

Claim 15

A key for a computer keyboard according to claim 11 wherein the resistance of the path resistor is from approximately 10 to 500 megohms.

Claim 16

A computer keyboard comprising: a housing; multiple non-conductive keys operatively mounted in the housing, individual non-conductive keys having a non-conductive key body which is movable between an extended ready position and a depressed activated position and means for biasing the non-conductive key body to the ready position; at least one conductive key operatively mounted in the housing, the conductive key including a conductive key body which is movable between an extended ready position and a depressed activated position and means for biasing the conductive key body to the ready position; a switch assembly mounted in the housing beneath the non-conductive and conductive keys, the switch assembly having contacts for engagement by corresponding ones of the non-conductive and conductive keys when individual non-conductive and conductive key bodies are depressed to their activated positions, the switch assembly having an electrostatic discharge pad provided thereon which is coupled to ground; a conductive plug having one end electrically coupled and mounted to the conductive key body of the conductive key and the other end adjacent to, but spaced from, the electrostatic discharge pad, the other end of the conductive plug engaging the electrostatic discharge pad when the conductive key body is depressed; and the keyboard being configured to dissipate electrostatic charge from a keyboard user to ground through the conductive key body, the plug, and the electrostatic discharge pad when the conductive key body is depressed.

Claim 17

A computer keyboard comprising: a housing; multiple non-conductive keys operatively mounted in the housing, individual non-conductive keys having a non-conductive key body which is movable between an extended ready position and a depressed activated position and means for biasing the non-conductive key body to the ready position; at least one conductive key operatively mounted in the housing, the conductive key including a conductive key body which is movable between an extended ready position and a depressed activated position and means for biasing the conductive key body to the ready position; a switch assembly mounted in the housing beneath the non-conductive and conductive keys, the switch assembly having contacts for engagement by corresponding ones of the non-conductive and conductive keys when individual non-conductive and conductive key bodies are depressed to their activated positions, the switch assembly having an electrostatic discharge pad provided thereon which is coupled to ground; a conductive plug having one end electrically coupled and mounted to the conductive key body of the conductive key and the other end adjacent to, but spaced from, the electrostatic discharge pad, the other end of the conductive plug engaging the electrostatic discharge pad when the conductive key body is depressed; and the keyboard being configured to dissipate electrostatic charge from a keyboard user to ground through the conductive key body, the plug, and the electrostatic discharge pad when the conductive key body is depressed.

Claim 18

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein the plug is formed of a conductive thermoplastic elastomer.

Claim 19

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein the plug is formed of an elastomer and impregnated with a conductive material.

Claim 20

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein the plug has a resistance from approximately 10 to 500 megohms.

Claim 21

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein the plug has a resistance from approximately 200 to 300 megohms.

Claim 22

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein the conductive key body is formed of molded plastic embedded with conductive material.

Claim 23

A keyboard according to claim 14 further comprising multiple non-conductive keys and at least one conductive key arranged in a selected pattern in the housing, individual multiple non-conductive keys having a first width, and the conductive key having a second width greater than the first width.

Claim 24

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein the keyboard has "alphanumeric" keys, "function" keys, a "spacebar" key, and an "enter" key, and wherein the non-conductive keys are selected from the "alphanumeric" keys and the "function" keys, and wherein the conductive key is selected from one of the "spacebar" key and the "enter" key.

Claim 25

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein: the conductive key body is formed of molded plastic embedded with a conductive material; and the plug is formed of a conductive thermoplastic elastomer, the conductive material in the key body conducting electrostatic charge to the plug.

Claim 26

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein the conductive key body has a resistance of less than one megohm and the plug has a resistance from approximately 10 to 500 megohms.

Claim 27

A keyboard according to claim 14 wherein: the switch assembly further comprises a path resistor coupled between the electrostatic discharge pad and ground; the conductive key body has a resistance of less than one megohm; and at least one of the plug and the path resistor has a resistance from approximately 10 to 500 megohms.