IP Library Granted Patent US 10,903,027
Granted Patent B2
US 10,903,027 · App. 16/532,172 · Granted Jan 26, 2021

Keyboard device and electronic apparatus

Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura (Yokohama, JP); Satoshi Douzono (Yokohama, JP); Kazumi Nakaju (Yokohama, JP); Takanori Koike (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
H01H13/86G06F1/169G06F1/1662H01H13/7057
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,903,027
App. No.
16/532,172
Granted
Jan 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A keyboard device is provided with a base plate, a plurality of key tops, a membrane sheet, and a frame. The frame has a frame portion interposed between the key tops adjacent to each other and partitions each key top in a vertically movable state by the formation of a gap between the side surface of the frame portion and the side surface of the key top. The base plate has a notch portion at a position at least overlapping with a portion under the gap.

Claims (41)

1. A keyboard device comprising:

a base plate;

a plurality of key tops vertically movable and supported on a side of an upper surface of the base plate and arranged in a front and rear direction and a right and left direction;

a membrane sheet between the base plate and the key tops and configured to detect a depressing operation of at least one of the key tops; and

a frame above the membrane sheet, having a frame portion interposed between the key tops adjacent to each other, and partitioning each key top in a vertically movable state by formation of a gap between a respective side surface of the frame portion and a respective side surface of the key tops, wherein

the base plate has a notch portion at a position overlapping with the gap.

2. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the membrane sheet covers the notch portion.

3. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein:

a projection portion, under the frame portion and projecting upward through an opening portion in the membrane sheet, is in the upper surface of the base plate, and

the notch portion is in a part of an outer peripheral edge portion of the projection portion.

4. The keyboard device according to claim 3 , wherein:

the projection portion has a dish shape in which the base plate bulges upwardly in a circle and further has a portion in which a part of an outer peripheral edge portion of the circle is cut out to match the notch portion.

5. The keyboard device according to claim 3 , wherein:

a center of the projection portion has a through-hole extending in a plate thickness direction, and

a component, disposed on a side of a lower surface of the base plate, and the base plate are fixed by a fastening tool passing through the through-hole.

6. The keyboard device according to claim 5 further comprising:

a pointing stick on the side of the upper surface of the base plate and having a periphery surrounded by the plurality of the key tops, wherein:

the component is a bracket member supporting the pointing stick, and

the fastening tool is attached so as to penetrate the base plate from the side of the upper surface to the side of the lower surface and fixes the bracket member to the lower surface of the base plate.

7. A keyboard device comprising:

a base plate;

a plurality of key tops vertically movable and supported on a side of an upper surface of the base plate and arranged in a front and rear direction and a right and left direction; and

a membrane sheet between the base plate and the key tops and configured to detect a depressing operation of at least one of the key tops, wherein:

a gap is formed between the key tops, and

the base plate has a notch portion at a position overlapping with the gap.

8. The keyboard device according to claim 7 , wherein:

the membrane sheet covers the notch portion.

9. The keyboard device according to claim 7 , wherein:

a projection portion, projecting upward through an opening portion in the membrane sheet, is in the upper surface of the base plate,

the projection portion has a through-hole extending in a plate thickness direction and a fastening tool passing through the through-hole fixes a component, disposed on a side of a lower surface of the base plate, to the base plate, and

the projection portion is configured so that an outer peripheral edge portion of the projection portion projects outward relative to an outer periphery of a head portion of the fastening tool and the notch portion is in a part of the outer peripheral edge portion.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a keyboard device having:

a base plate;

a plurality of key tops vertically movable and supported on a side of an upper surface of the base plate and arranged in a front and rear direction and a right and left direction;

a membrane sheet between the base plate and the key tops and configured to detect a depressing operation of at least one of the key tops; and

a frame above the membrane sheet, having a frame portion interposed between the key tops adjacent to each other, and partitioning each key top in a vertically movable state by formation of a gap between a respective side surface of the frame portion and a respective side surface of the key tops, wherein

the base plate has a notch portion at a position overlapping with the gap,

a main body chassis with the keyboard device, and

a display chassis rotatably coupled to the main body chassis and having a display.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 070269/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2025
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 070268/0984 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2019
From: KITAMURA, MASAHIRO; DOUZONO, SATOSHI; NAKAJU, KAZUMI; KOIKE, TAKANORI
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 049962/0253 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-106065 · Jun 6, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200388450A1 · Dec 10, 2020