Low acoustic keyboard cushioned stabilized key
An information handling system keyboard has plural key caps coupled to a frame with a vertical travel having a raised position defined by engagement between a stop of the frame and a key cap extension from the key cap. Larger key caps, such as a space bar, shift and enter key cap, are stabilized by including a balancing bar that maintains the key cap level when depressed and released. Acoustic noise associated with key cap movement and balancing bar rattle is reduced by stabilizing the balancing bar with one or more magnets and/or a shaped cushion to reduce balancing bar rattle.
1. An information handling system comprising:
a housing;
a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instruction to process information;
a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the information and instructions;
a keyboard interfaced with the processor, the keyboard having a frame and plural key caps, each key cap configured to accept an end user press down to a depressed position as an input and biased to return to a raised position;
a balancing bar coupled to a bottom side of at least one of the plural key caps and configured to maintain the at least one of the plural key caps in a level orientation when moved between the depressed position and the raised position; and
a cushion connected to and extending down from a bottom surface of the at least one of the plural key caps and pressing against an end of the balancing bar throughout the movement between the raised position and the depressed position.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the cushion forms a channel that maintains the balancing bar against the cushion throughout the movement between the raised position and the depressed position.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the one of the plural key caps comprises a spacebar key cap.
4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the balancing bar rotates about an axis coupled to the frame and touches the spacebar key cap at opposing ends of the balancing bar, each of the opposing ends pressing against the cushion throughout movement between the raised position and the depressed position.
5. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:
first and second members extending from a bottom surface of the key cap and aligned with first and second ends of the balancing bar; and
first and second of the cushion coupled to the first and second members to press against the first and second ends throughout the movement between the raised position and the depressed position.
6. The information handling system of claim 5 wherein each of the first and second members comprises a clip and the cushion inserts in the clip to wrap around the each of the first and second ends.
7. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a magnet coupled to the cushion proximate to and magnetically attracting the balancing bar.
8. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a magnet coupled to the frame proximate a rotational axis of the balancing bar.
9. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a portable housing that integrates the keyboard.
10. A method for managing audible sounds of an information handling system keyboard, the method comprising:
coupling plural key caps in a keyboard frame;
biasing the plural key caps to a raised position;
balancing one or more of the plural key caps with a balancing bar coupled to the frame at a rotational axis and pressing against the one or more of the plural key caps with each of opposing ends; and
extending first and second cushions down from a bottom surface of the one or more of the plural key caps to press against each of the opposing ends, the first and second cushions connected to the bottom surface.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
extending first and second members from the bottom surface of the one or more of the plural key caps; and
coupling the first and second cushions to the first and second members.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more of the plural key caps comprises a spacebar key cap.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming a channel in each of the first and second cushions to maintain the balancing bar against the cushion throughout movement between the raised position and the depressed position.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
coupling the balancing bar to the frame with plural snaps integrated in the frame; and
coupling plural base magnets to the frame between the plural snaps.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
forming a clip with a central portion with each of the first and second members; and
inserting the first and second cushions in each of the clips.
16. A keyboard comprising:
a frame;
plural key caps, each key cap configured to accept an end user press down to a depressed position as an input and biased to return to a raised position;
a balancing bar coupled to a bottom side of at least one of the plural key caps and configured to maintain the at least one of the plural key caps in a level orientation when moved between the depressed position and the raised position; and
a cushion coupled to and extending from a bottom side of the at least one of the plural key caps to press against the balancing bar to dampen movement of the balancing bar.
17. The keyboard of claim 16 wherein the at least one of the plural key caps comprises a spacebar key cap.
18. The keyboard of claim 17 further comprises a member integrated with and extending down from the bottom surface, the cushion coupled to the member.
19. The keyboard of claim 18 further comprising a magnet coupled to the member.
20. The keyboard of claim 19 further comprising at least one base magnet coupled to the frame proximate a rotational axis of the balancing bar.