Patent Application
20140211382
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to an electronic device with a keyboard.
2. Description of Related Art
A traditional electronic device includes a base and a display pivotally mounted to the base. The base has a keyboard. The keyboard includes a board body and a plurality of keys mounted on the board body. The display cannot contact the board body because of the keys located between the board body and the display, which limits the thickness of the traditional electronic device. With the trend towards miniturization, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with parameters to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like parameters indicate similar elements. It should be noted that parameters to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such parameters mean “at least one.”
The base 20 includes a layer of conductive rubber 22. The layer of conductive rubber 22 defines a plurality of touch switches 221. Each touch switch 221 is used for inputting information, such as commands, characters, -letters, numbers, and so on, when each touch switch 221 is pressed.
The keyboard 30 includes a board body 32 and a plurality of keys mounted on the board body 32 corresponding to the touch switches 221. Each key includes an elastic tab 34 extending slantingly from the board body 32. The elastic tab 34 functions as a keycap. The elastic tab 34 is pressed to trigger the corresponding touch switch 221. The board body 32 and the elastic tab 34 can be made of metal. The board body 32 and the elastic tab 34 can be integrated. The elastic tabs 34 can be formed by punching. In one embodiment, the board body 32 defines a plurality of opening 36 created from punching the elastic tabs 34. The metal elastic tab 34 extends inward and slanted from an edge of the opening 36.
The cross section is substantially arc-shaped. The elastic tabs 35 can have different sizes. For example, the elastic tab 35 can functions as a “shift” key, an “Enter” key, or any key having a greater size than the other metal elastic tabs 35 that function as number keys or letter keys. The number keys and letter keys can have the same size.
The board body 32 is located on the layer of conductive rubber 22. The elastic tabs 34 are located on the corresponding touch switches 221. The elastic tab 34 is capable of passing through the corresponding opening 36 to contact the contact switch 221.
Each elastic tab 34 is in a free state when the display 10 is in an open status. The elastic tab 34 is elastically deformed by a user pressing the elastic tab 34 to trigger the corresponding touch switch 221. The elastic tab 34 returns to the free state after the external force is removed to the elastic tab 34.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102102751 | Jan 2013 | TW | national |
