Foldable keyboard
View Patent ↗A foldable keyboard having a plurality of folding keyboard sections. Each keyboard section includes a frame carrying a key set having a plurality of keys. The key set may be movable laterally relative to the frame. The frame with the key set is foldable with respect to an adjacent frame. The frame provides a self-contained enclosure for the keyboard assembly when fully closed. When opened, the keyboard assembly can be a full-size standard QWERTY keyboard.
1. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
a first keyboard section having a first plurality of keys and a second keyboard section having a second plurality of keys, said keyboard sections having two configurations with respect to each other, including a storage position and an operating position, said keyboard sections being generally coplanar when in said operating position and stacked when in said storage position to press the first and second plurality of keys against each other; and
a plurality of electrical contact pairs disposed below said first and second plurality of keys, wherein said plurality of electrical contact pairs are electrically shorted in said storage position.
2. The keyboard assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive element disposed above each of said plurality of electrical contact pairs to short each of said plurality of electrical contact pairs, wherein a structure of said conductive element is different than a structure of said electrical contact pairs.
3. The keyboard assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first and second keyboard sections form a full-size keyboard in said operating position and are foldable relative to each other.
4. The keyboard assembly of claim 2 , wherein said conductive element comprises a puck.
5. The keyboard assembly of claim 4 , wherein said puck is coupled to an elastomeric dome disposed below each of said plurality of keys.
6. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
a first keyboard section having a first frame and a plurality of first keys on said first frame, each of said plurality of first keys having a first keytop, a first biasing member with a conductive element disposed below said first keytop, and a first pair of conductive leads; and
a second keyboard section having a second frame and a plurality of second keys on said second frame, each of said plurality of second keys having a second keytop, a second biasing member with a conductive element disposed below said second keytop, and a second pair of electrical contacts, wherein said first keyboard section is attached in a plane to said second keyboard section in an operating position, and wherein said first keyboard section is detached from said second keyboard section in a storage position, in which said first and second keytops contact each other to compress said first and second biasing members and to short said first pair and said second pair of electrical leads.
7. The keyboard assembly of claim 6 , wherein when in said storage position, said plurality of first keys face said plurality of second keys.
8. The keyboard assembly of claim 6 , wherein said conductive element of a key of said first keys comprises a first puck coupled to the first biasing member and wherein said conductive element of a key of said second keys comprises a second puck coupled to the second biasing member, wherein said first and second pucks form a bridge to short said first pair and said second pair of electrical leads in said storage position.
9. The keyboard assembly of claim 6 , wherein said first pair of electrical leads are disposed along a first plane and said second pair of electrical leads are disposed along a second plane, and wherein said first and second planes are in the same plane in said operating position and parallel in said storage position.
10. The keyboard assembly of claim 6 , wherein said biasing member comprises an elastomeric dome.
11. The keyboard assembly of claim 6 , wherein said first pair and said second pair of electrical leads are disposed on a single layer membrane.
12. A keyboard assembly as in claim 6 , further comprising a latch to secure said first keyboard section and said second keyboard section together in said storage position to maintain said first and said second keytops in contact and to short said first pair of electrical leads and said second pair of electrical leads.
13. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
a first keyboard section having a first plurality of keys and a second keyboard section having a second plurality of keys, said keyboard sections foldable with respect to each other between a storage position and an operating position, said keyboard sections being generally coplanar when in said operating position and stacked when in said storage position to press the first and second plurality of keys against each other; and
a plurality of electrical switches disposed below the first and second plurality of keys including a top elastomeric dome having a conductive element and a bottom pair of electrical leads disposed on a single layer membrane, wherein said conductive element bridges said bottom pair of electrical leads in said storage position.
14. The keyboard assembly of claim 13 , wherein said conductive element comprises a puck having a length that overlaps said bottom pair of electrical leads.
15. The keyboard assembly of claim 13 , wherein said first and second keyboard sections form a self-contained housing that conceal said first and second plurality of keys in said storage position.
16. The keyboard assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least one hinge couples said first keyboard section to said second keyboard section.
17. The keyboard assembly of claim 16 , wherein said at least one hinge comprises a double hinge.
18. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
a first keyboard section having a first plurality of keys and a second keyboard section having a second plurality of keys, said keyboard sections foldable with respect to each other between a storage position and an operating position, said keyboard sections being generally coplanar when in said operating position and stacked when in said storage position to press the first and second plurality of keys against each other; and
a plurality of electrical contact pairs disposed on a single layer membrane and below said first and second plurality of keys, wherein each of said first and second plurality of keys have a first travel distance to short each of said plurality of electrical contact pairs in said operating position and a second travel distance to short each of said plurality of electrical contacts pairs in said storage position, and wherein said first and second travel distances are substantially equal.
19. The keyboard assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a conductive element disposed above each of said plurality of electrical contact pairs, wherein when shorted, said conductive puck bridges each of plurality of electrical contact pairs.
20. The keyboard assembly of claim 19 , wherein said conductive element comprises a puck.
21. The keyboard assembly of claim 20 , wherein at least one hinge couples said first keyboard section to said second keyboard section.
22. The keyboard assembly of claim 21 , wherein said at least one hinge comprises a double hinge.
23. The keyboard assembly of claim 22 , wherein said first and second keyboard sections form a self-contained housing that conceal said first and second plurality of keys in said storage position.