1. A transmission device comprising:
a first gear wheel;
a second gear wheel hub, wherein the first gear wheel and second gear hub are rotatably coupled; and
a damping element, wherein the damping element is circumferentially arranged and positioned axially between the first gear wheel and second gear wheel hub, and wherein the damping element can be tensioned by the first gear wheel and second gear wheel hub during operation of the transmission device; wherein the damping element comprises a plurality of damping elements, wherein the damping elements are equally circumferentially distributed; and wherein the damping elements comprise through holes, and wherein both the first gear wheel and second gear wheel hub are configured to include at least one axial extension, and wherein the at least one axial extension of the first gear wheel and second gear wheel hub mesh axially into a common corresponding opening of the damping elements.
2. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the damping element can be tensioned in both a first and second direction of rotation.
3. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the first gear wheel and second gear wheel hub are each connected in an axial direction with the damping element.
4. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first gear wheel and second gear wheel hub are configured to include at least one extension aligned in an axial direction, wherein the at least one extension meshes into a corresponding opening in the damping element.
5. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the damping element is configured to include a first and second opening distanced circumferentially, and wherein the first gear wheel and second gear wheel hub are configured with a first and second axial extension that mesh into the first and second opening of the damping element, wherein a radial slot is provided between the first and second axial extension when meshed in the first and second opening, and wherein the first and second axial extensions of the first gear wheel are arranged in a first and second outer area of the first and second openings that are pointed away from each other in a circumferential direction, and wherein the first and second axial extensions of the second gear wheel hub are arranged in a first and second inner area of the first and second openings that are adjoining in the circumferential direction.
6. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the damping element is configured to provide at least one extension, wherein the at least one extension points in an axial direction and meshes in a corresponding opening of one of the first gear wheel and second gear wheel hub.
7. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the first gear wheel is arranged as a spur wheel with an external tooth system.
8. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the damping element is arranged as an independent, removable component.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A keyboard comprising:
a plurality of keycaps;
a keyguide configured to guide keycap motion, the keyguide comprising:
a plurality of combined leveling and planar-translation-effecting (CLPTE) mechanisms, each CLPTE mechanism of the plurality of CLPTE mechanisms associated with a keycap of the plurality of keycaps, each CLPTE mechanism configured to define a planar translation component of an associated path travelled by the associated keycap in response to press input applied to the associated keycap by a user, and each CLPTE mechanism further configured to keep the associated keycap substantially level as the associated keycap travels along the associated path;
a plurality of readyreturn mechanisms, each readyreturn mechanism of the plurality of readyreturn mechanisms corresponding with a keycap of the plurality of keycaps, each readyreturn mechanism comprising a first component attached to the corresponding keycap and a second component attached to the keyguide proximate to the CLPTE mechanism associated with the corresponding keycap, wherein the first component and the second component of each readyreturn mechanism utilize non-contact forces to maintain the corresponding keycap in an unpressed position when not pressed and to return the corresponding keycap to the unpressed position in response to a release of the press input; and
a key-retraction system configured to retract the plurality of keycaps into a corresponding plurality of keyholes.
2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first and second components of each readyreturn mechanism is configured to utilize non-contact forces by utilizing magnetic forces.
3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein each CLPTE mechanism of the plurality of CLPTE mechanisms comprises multiple inclined surfaces configured to contact multiple inclined features on the associated keycap and form multiple slidable interfaces between the keyguide and the associated keycap.
4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein each CLPTE mechanism of the plurality of CLPTE mechanisms comprises multiple linkages configured to be rotatably attached to multiple attachment locations on the associated keycap and form multiple rotatable interfaces between the keyguide and the associated keycap.
5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a first keycap of the plurality of keycaps has an associated path that differs from the associated path of a second keycap of the plurality of keycaps.
6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein the associated path of the first keycap differs from the associated path of the second keycap in an amount of planar translation.
7. The keyboard of claim 5, further comprising a base, wherein the associated path of the first keycap differs from the associated path of the second keycap in a path angle relative to the base.
8. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a base, wherein a first keycap of the plurality of keycaps has an associate path with an amount of planar translation equivalent to that of a linear path forming an angle with the base no less than thirty-five degrees and no more than sixty-five degrees.
9. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein the associated path of the first keycap is linear.
10. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is part of a human-machine interaction (HMI) device with a lid opposite the keyboard, and wherein the key-retraction system is configured to retract the plurality of keycaps in response to a closure of the lid.
11. A key assembly comprising
a keycap;
a combined leveling and planar-translation-effecting (CLPTE) mechanism operatively coupled to the keycap, wherein the CLPTE mechanism defines a planar translation component of a path travelled by the keycap in response to a press applied to the keycap by a user, and wherein the CLPTE mechanism is configured to keep the keycap substantially level as the keycap travels along the path in response to the press;
a readyreturn mechanism operatively associated with the keycap, the readyreturn mechanism configured to maintain the keycap in an unpressed position and to return the keycap to the unpressed position in response to a release of the press, wherein the readyreturn mechanism does not comprise an elastomer; and
a key-retraction system configured to retract the keycap into a keyhole.
12. The key assembly of claim 11, wherein the readyreturn mechanism comprises magnetic material.
13. The key assembly of claim 11, wherein the keycap is coupled to the CLPTE mechanism at multiple coupling interfaces having relative translational degrees of freedom.
14. The key assembly of claim 11, wherein the CLPTE mechanism comprises a plurality of ramps disposed proximate to a perimeter of the keycap, and wherein the plurality of ramps comprise the multiple coupling interfaces having relative translational degrees of freedom.
15. The key assembly of claim 11, wherein the keycap is coupled to the CLPTE mechanism at multiple coupling interfaces having relative rotational degrees of freedom.
16. The keyboard of claim 11, further comprising a base, wherein the keycap has an associate path with an amount of planar translation equivalent to that of a linear path forming an angle with the base no less than thirty-five degrees and no more than sixty-five degrees.
17. A key assembly comprising
a keycap having an exterior face configured to be pressed by a user and an interior face comprising a first plurality of ramp features;
a key guide comprising a second plurality of ramp features configured to contact the first plurality of ramp features, such that the first plurality of ramp features and the second plurality of ramp features together define a planar translation component of a path travelled by the keycap in response to a press applied to the keycap by a user;
a tactile feedback mechanism operatively associated with the keycap, the tactile feedback mechanism configured to provide a resisting force in response to the press; and
a key-retraction system configured to retract the keycap into a keyhole.
18. The key assembly of claim 17, wherein the tactile feedback mechanism is further configured to provide a return force to the keycap to return the keycap to the unpressed position in response to a release of the press.
19. The key assembly of claim 18, wherein the tactile feedback mechanism comprises magnetic material, and the resisting and return forces are based on magnetic forces.
20. The key assembly of claim 18, wherein the tactile feedback mechanism comprises an elastomeric protrusion configured to buckle as the keycap moves along the path in response to the press.
21. The key assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second pluralities of ramp features are configured to keep the keycap substantially level as the keycap travels along the path in response to the press.
22. The keyboard of claim 17, further comprising a base, wherein the keycap has an associate path with an amount of planar translation equivalent to that of a linear path forming an angle with the base no less than thirty-five degrees and no more than sixty-five degrees.