Low-profile keyboard
A keyboard ( 110 ) includes a base board ( 116 ), keys ( 112 ), pitfalls ( 120 ) and a mode control mechanism ( 118 ). The keys ( 112 ) include cups ( 1124 ), and the mode control mechanism ( 118 ) may switch the keyboard ( 110 ) especially the key cups ( 1124 ) between different modes. In case that the keyboard ( 110 ) is not in use, these cups ( 1124 ) can be received in the pitfalls ( 120 ) to reduce the profile of the keyboard ( 110 ). In case that the keyboard ( 110 ) is to be used, the keys ( 112 ) may be raised up and arranged on the base board ( 116 ) in order to enable long keystroke and provide good typing experience.
1. A keyboard comprising:
keys including respective cups operable to be arranged on a base board of the keyboard in a first mode, wherein the respective cups are elastically deformable;
pitfalls arranged in the base board and operable to receive the cups of the respective keys in a second mode; and
a mode control mechanism operable to switch the keyboard between the first and second modes, wherein switching the keyboard between the first and second modes causes the cups of the respective keys to be moved from the base board into the pitfalls.
2. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the mode control mechanism includes a handle connected to the base board and operable to be pushed from a first position to a second position to switch the keyboard from the first mode to the second mode, and
wherein the cups are operable to be pushed into the pitfalls in response to switching from the first mode to the second mode, and to be arranged onto the base board in response to a switching from the second mode to the first mode.
3. The keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising: a locking mechanism operable to disable the mode control mechanism to switch between the first and second modes.
4. The keyboard of claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
a pin having a height exceeding a depth of the pitfalls and operable to fall into one of the pitfalls in response to a switch from the first mode to the second mode; and
a cover for covering the pin.
5. The keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising:
a stopper operable to prevent pop-out of the keys in the second mode.
6. The keyboard of claim 5 , further comprising:
a membrane circuit including check valves extending above the pitfalls as the stopper.
7. The keyboard of claim 6 , wherein the check valves of the membrane circuit are operable to slant into the pitfalls.
8. The keyboard of claim 2 , wherein the handle is operable to be pushed to a third position different from the first and second positions to prevent pop-out of the keys.
9. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the keys include respective scissor elements, the respective cups being connected to midpoints of the scissor elements.
10. The keyboard of claim 2 , wherein the handle is connected to a power module of the keyboard and operable to trigger the power module to power off the keyboard in response to a switching from the first position to the second position and power on the keyboard in response to a switching from the second position to the first position.
11. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the mode control mechanism is operable to:
cause the keyboard to switch from the first mode to the second mode if the keyboard is orientated in a first direction, and
cause the keyboard to switch from the second mode to the first mode if the keyboard is orientated in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
12. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the mode control mechanism is operable to:
cause the cups to fall into the pitfalls if the keyboard is orientated in the first direction, and
cause the cups to pop out from the pitfalls if the keyboard is orientated in the second direction.
13. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the cups include respective magnetic components and the mode control mechanism includes electromagnetic components operable to push the magnetic components to pop out the cups.
14. The keyboard of claim 13 , wherein the electromagnetic components are arranged at a bottom of the pitfalls and operable to push the magnetic components to pop out the cups in response to a switch from the second mode to the first mode.
15. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the keys include respective key caps having magnetic components, and the mode control mechanism includes electromagnetic components arranged at the bottom of the pitfalls the electromagnetic components being operable to push the magnetic components to raise the caps in response to a switch from the second mode to the first mode.
16. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the keys include respective key caps having first electromagnetic components, and the mode control mechanism includes second electromagnetic components in a membrane circuit, the second electromagnetic components being operable to push the first electromagnetic components to pop out the cups.
17. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard is foldable.
18. An electronic device, comprising:
a keyboard including:
keys including respective cups operable to be arranged on a base board of the keyboard in a first mode, wherein the respective cups are elastically deformable;
pitfalls arranged in the base board and operable to receive the cups of the respective keys in a second mode; and
a mode control mechanism operable to switch the keyboard between the first and second modes, wherein switching the keyboard between the first and second modes causes the cups of the respective keys to be moved from the base board into the pitfalls.
19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the keyboard is detachable from the electronic device.
20. A method for manufacturing a keyboard, comprising:
providing a base board;
providing keys including respective cups operable to be on a base board of the keyboard in a first mode, wherein the respective cups are elastically deformable;
providing pitfalls arranged in the base board to receive the cups of the respective keys in a second mode; and
providing a mode control mechanism operable to switch the keyboard between the first and second modes, wherein switching the keyboard between the first and second modes causes the cups of the respective keys to be moved from the base board into the pitfalls.