Long travel elastomer keyboard
Long travel elastomer keyboard is a device with a flexible conductive elastomeric sheet with snap action rubber domes invented by Anthony J. Sobol in 1980. Its patent number 4354068 was granted on 1982. Some rubber dome-based keyboards are manufactured under this patent. [1]
Description
Long travel elastomer keyboard
- Inventor: Anthony J. Sobol, III
- Patent number: 4354068
- Filing date: 4 February 1980
- Issue date: 12 October 1982
Abstract
Figure 1 - a polyester or polyimide material is used as a foldable base (10) (11) from which a conductive switch (12) and switch points (14) with registration holes (20) are implemented therein. Alternatively, other synthetic materials with conductive properties (jumper wires or as deemed appropriate) may be used as substrate (24) (26). The base is then folded (19) so the latter substrate (24) (26) interconnects the former (10).
Figure 2 shows an insulated sheet (30) that acts as a spacer between substrates (24) (26) with same material as flexible substrate (10) has holes (34) that align and register with switch points (14). These holes (34) align the holes (20) from flexible substrate (10).
Figure 3 shows an elastomer substrate (40) which is made of silicon rubber. The elastomer has a plurality of domes (42) located in the same position as the switch points (14).
Referenced by
- US patent 4527030, Jurgen Oetsch, "Keyboard", issued 2 July 1985, assigned to Preh Elektrofeinmechanische Werke, Jakob Preh Nachf., GmbH & Co.
- US patent 4766271, Matsayuki Mitsuhashi, "Elastomer-made push button switch covering member", issued 23 August 1988, assigned to Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd
- US patent 5574446, Jorg Dittrich, "Keyboard", issued 12 November 1996, assigned to Cherry Mikoroschalter GmbH
- US patent, Ching-Cheng Tsai, "Rubber cone layer of a keyboard", issued 2 June 1998, assigned to Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
- US patent 6259434, Ching-Cheng Tsai, "Tactually-activated structure", issued 10 July 2001, assigned to Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
- US patent 6781077, Robert Olodor, "Keyswitch and actuator structure", issued 24 August 2004, assigned to Think Outside, Inc.
Images
References
- ↑ US patent 4354068, Anthony J. Sobol, III, "Long travel elastomer keyboard", issued 12 October 1982, assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated
