US5610602A — Keyboard and method for producing

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

A keyboard comprising: a key-switch support having a first region defining a plurality of holes for engaging and supporting key-switches, said first region being bowl-shaped; a plurality of key-switches disposed in said holes, each switch having electrical contacts on a bottom surface thereof, to provide a substantially bowl-shaped array of said electrical contacts; and a circuit board coupled to said contacts, said circuit board being flexible to permit the board to be bent, in a first region of the board, along a first axis and said circuit board having a plurality of slots defining two or more fingers to permit said first region of the board to be shaped in a non-planar configuration along a second, substantially perpendicular axis, substantially in the absence of overlapping of said fingers, wherein at least said first region of the circuit board is substantially bowl-shaped and substantially conformed to the shape of said bowl-shaped array of electrical contacts.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 154 words

A keyboard comprising: a key-switch support having a first region defining a plurality of holes for engaging and supporting key-switches, said first region being bowl-shaped; a plurality of key-switches disposed in said holes, each switch having electrical contacts on a bottom surface thereof, to provide a substantially bowl-shaped array of said electrical contacts; and a circuit board coupled to said contacts, said circuit board being flexible to permit the board to be bent, in a first region of the board, along a first axis and said circuit board having a plurality of slots defining two or more fingers to permit said first region of the board to be shaped in a non-planar configuration along a second, substantially perpendicular axis, substantially in the absence of overlapping of said fingers, wherein at least said first region of the circuit board is substantially bowl-shaped and substantially conformed to the shape of said bowl-shaped array of electrical contacts.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 94 words

A keyboard comprising: a plate having at least a first plurality of key-switches mounted thereon, each of said first plurality of key switches having a user-activatable surface and an opposite surface, said opposite surfaces of said key switches having electrical contacts, said contacts forming an array which is non-planar along at least two non-parallel axes; a circuit board having a plurality of substantially non-contacting finger regions and having a plurality of substantially conductive traces, said circuit board positioned adjacent said array of electrical contacts, to form electrical paths from said contacts to said traces.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 94 words

A keyboard comprising: a plate having at least a first plurality of key-switches mounted thereon, each of said first plurality of key switches having a user-activatable surface and an opposite surface, said opposite surfaces of said key switches having electrical contacts, said contacts forming an array which is non-planar along at least two non-parallel axes; a circuit board having a plurality of substantially non-contacting finger regions and having a plurality of substantially conductive traces, said circuit board positioned adjacent said array of electrical contacts, to form electrical paths from said contacts to said traces.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A keyboard, as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: electronics for converting a keypress into an electrical signal; and a bus connecting said circuit board to said electronics.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 201 words

A keyboard, comprising: an upper and lower shell, having at least first and second openings in said upper shell; first and second bowl-shaped plates positioned in said first and second openings, said first and second plates each having a plurality of holes configured to accommodate key switches; a plurality of key switches positioned in said holes of said first and second plates, each key switch having an user-activatable upper surface and an opposite lower surface, with at least one electrical contact on said lower surface; said holes of each of said first and second plates arranged to position said key switches in at least five groups, each group configured to place the upper surface of said key switches in said group in a concave configuration; a flexible circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces printed thereon and having a first integral region and at least five finger-like projections extending outward from said first region said flexible circuit board mounted in a bowl-like configuration; each of said five projections positioned in substantially non-overlapping fashion to couple the electrical contacts of the key switches of one of said five groups of key switches to at least one of said plurality of traces.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 201 words

A keyboard, comprising: an upper and lower shell, having at least first and second openings in said upper shell; first and second bowl-shaped plates positioned in said first and second openings, said first and second plates each having a plurality of holes configured to accommodate key switches; a plurality of key switches positioned in said holes of said first and second plates, each key switch having an user-activatable upper surface and an opposite lower surface, with at least one electrical contact on said lower surface; said holes of each of said first and second plates arranged to position said key switches in at least five groups, each group configured to place the upper surface of said key switches in said group in a concave configuration; a flexible circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces printed thereon and having a first integral region and at least five finger-like projections extending outward from said first region said flexible circuit board mounted in a bowl-like configuration; each of said five projections positioned in substantially non-overlapping fashion to couple the electrical contacts of the key switches of one of said five groups of key switches to at least one of said plurality of traces.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A keyboard, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said circuit board is curved along two orthogonal axes.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 61 words

A keyboard comprising: a chassis having means for positioning a plurality of user-activatable keys in a predetermined configuration, at least some keys having electrical contacts, said contacts being non-planar over at least two non-parallel axes; a bowl-shaped circuit board, having predetermined electrical traces, and having substantially non-overlapping means for coupling said electrical contracts of said keys to said predetermined electrical traces.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 61 words

A keyboard comprising: a chassis having means for positioning a plurality of user-activatable keys in a predetermined configuration, at least some keys having electrical contacts, said contacts being non-planar over at least two non-parallel axes; a bowl-shaped circuit board, having predetermined electrical traces, and having substantially non-overlapping means for coupling said electrical contracts of said keys to said predetermined electrical traces.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 39 words

A keyboard, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said circuit board includes a flexible substrate means for substantially conforming at least a portion of said circuit board means to a configuration adjacent at least some of said electrical contacts.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

A keyboard, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said circuit board includes slot means separating a first region of said circuit board means from a second region of said circuit board, permitting said first region to be positioned in a configuration non-coplanar with said second region.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

A keyboard, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said user-activatable keys comprise mechanical key switches.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

A keyboard, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said user-activatable keys comprise membrane switches.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

A keyboard, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for coupling comprises means for providing a solder connection to said key switches.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

A keyboard, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for coupling comprises means for solderless connection to said key switches.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for providing electrical connection to a plurality of keys in a chassis, comprising: providing a plurality of user-activatable keys, at least some keys having electrical contacts; providing a circuit board having a plurality of electrical traces; coupling said electrical contacts with at least some of said plurality of electrical traces; placing said circuit board in a configuration which is non-linear over a first axis in a first region of said circuit board; placing said circuit board in a configuration which, in said first region, is non-linear over a second axis, non-parallel with said first axis to provide a substantially bowl-shaped configuration.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for providing electrical connection to a plurality of keys in a chassis, comprising: providing a plurality of user-activatable keys, at least some keys having electrical contacts; providing a circuit board having a plurality of electrical traces; coupling said electrical contacts with at least some of said plurality of electrical traces; placing said circuit board in a configuration which is non-linear over a first axis in a first region of said circuit board; placing said circuit board in a configuration which, in said first region, is non-linear over a second axis, non-parallel with said first axis to provide a substantially bowl-shaped configuration.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 65 words

A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein: said step of providing a circuit board comprises providing a circuit board which is flexible in at least a first region; and wherein said step of placing said circuit board in a configuration which is non-linear over a first axis comprises bending at least said first region into a configuration which is curved along said first axis.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 66 words

A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein: said step of providing a circuit board comprises providing a circuit board which includes at least a first slot separating a first portion from a second portion; and wherein said step of placing said circuit board in a configuration which is non-linear over a second axis comprises positioning said first and second portions in non-coplanar, substantially non-contacting configurations.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step of positioning said first and second portions comprises bending said first portion to a curved configuration substantially along a first arc and bending said second portion to a curved configuration substantially along a second arc, different from said first arc.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first arc has an approximate radius of curvature greater than the approximate radius of curvature of said second arc.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 65 words

A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said step of providing a circuit board comprises providing a circuit board which is flexible in at least a first region; and wherein said step of placing said circuit board in a configuration which is non-linear over a first axis comprises bending at least said first region into a configuration which is curved along said first axis.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least said first portion has a substantially linear cross-section along a third axis, substantially parallel with said first axis.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least said first portion has a curved cross-section along a third axis, substantially parallel with said first axis.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: providing a region of said chassis with a plurality of holes configured to accommodate said keys and positioning said keys in said holes.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said step of providing a region of said chassis with a plurality of holes comprises coupling a non-integrally formed plate, having said holes formed therein, to said chassis.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said step of providing a region of said chassis with a plurality of holes comprises forming said holes in said chassis.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said chassis has an interior surface and an exterior surface and further comprising positioning said keys in said holes by pushing said keys partially through said holes in a direction from said interior toward said exterior surface.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said chassis has an interior surface and an exterior surface and further comprising positioning said keys in said holes by pushing said keys partially through said holes in a direction from said exterior toward said interior surface.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 59 words

A method, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said plate has an upper and a lower surface, further comprising: pushing the keys partially through said holes in a direction form said lower surface toward said upper surface; and wherein said step of positioning said circuit board comprises positioning said circuit board substantially adjacent said lower surface of said plate.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 59 words

A method, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said plate has an upper and a lower surface, further comprising: pushing the keys partially through said holes in a direction from said upper surface toward said lower surface; and wherein said step of positioning said circuit board comprises positioning said circuit board substantially adjacent said lower surface of said plate.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step of providing a circuit board which includes at least a first slot is performed before said step of coupling said electrical contacts.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said step of coupling said electrical contacts is performed before either said steps of placing said circuit board in a configuration.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said step of coupling said electrical contacts includes coupling said electrical contacts while said circuit boards is in a substantially flat configuration.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of user activatable keys are held in a substantially stable position by the mutual coupling of both the circuit board and said region of said chassis to said plurality of user-activatable keys.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising positioning said keys using a snap action mechanism.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising positioning said keys via a snap action mechanism.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-03-10	2000-09-09	2001-03-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-03-10	2004-09-09	2005-03-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-03-10	2008-09-09	2009-03-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Keyboard and method for producing

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