Editing Keyboard patents (section)

===Patents===
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: auto;"
|-
! Assignee !! Patent Number !! Name !! Inventor(s) !! Filing Date !! Relation !! Notes
|-
| [[Apple|Apple Computer, Inc.]] || {{cite patent |country=US |number=4525613}} || Spiral spring keyboard switch with hairpin spring tactile feedback || Gary C. Butts || 1984/01/20 || [[Apple hairpin spring]] ||
|-
| [[SMK]] || {{cite patent |country=US |number=5117077}} || Keyboard switch || Hidemasa Sakurada || 1991/04/30 || — || 
|-
| [[ITW]] ||  {{cite patent|country=US|number=4017850}} || Magnetic keyswitch with two-piece support assembly || Edward W. Wanatowicz, Jr. || 1976/02/02 || — || 
|-
| [[ITW]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4227163}} || Electrical keyswitch || Raymond Barnoski || 1979/03/05 || — || 
|-
| [[ITW]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4295012}} || Secretarial shift mechanism for an electric keyboard || Robert J. Keeler, Stanley E. Filipiak || 1980/02/04 || — || 
|-
| [[SMK|SMK Co.,Ltd.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=5306886}} || Keyboard switch || Kazunori Yamada || 1992/06/15 || — || 
|-
| [[SMK|SMK Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=5430267}} || Keyboard switch || Kumio Ozeki; Fumio Watanabe; Haruo Yoshida; Yosuke Sakai || 1993/12/01 || — || 
|-
| [[SMK|SMK Co.,Ltd.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4866228}} || Key switch with multiple contact points || Osamu Kamishima || 1987/11/20 || [[SMK clicky switch]] || 
|-
| [[Fujitsu|Fujitsu Limited]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4370533}} || [[Keyboard switch and process for production thereof]] || Seisuke Kamei; Hideo Nabetani; Ryohei Kinshita || 1980/12/05 || Fujitsu Leaf Spring (Contained) || 
|-
| [[Fujitsu|Fujitsu Limited]] || {{cite patent |number=4529849 |country=US}} || Push-button and a keyboard comprising the same || Seisuke Kamei; Toshiaka Tanaka; Kazutoshi Hayashi; Akira Tanaka; Ryohei Kinoshita || 1984/04/03 || Fujitsu Leaf Spring || 
|-
| [[Fujitsu|Fujitsu Limited]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4803316}} || Push button switch using dome spring and switch element thereof || Kazutoshi Hayashi; Hideo Nabetani; Toshiaki Tanaka; Kazushi Ishida || 1986/10/16 || Fujitsu Peerless without dome? || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4153829}} || [[Pushbutton switch assembly]] || Taneo Murata || 1977/02/16 ||  || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4186290}} || [[Push button switch by Katsuyuki Matsuo|Push button switch]] || Katsuyuki Matsuo ||1978/12/26 || [[Alps vertical plate spring]] || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4249053}}|| [[Push button switch by Kotaroh Tsutsui|Push button switch]]|| Kotaro Tsutsui || 1979/10/04 ||  || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent|country= US|number=4249055}} || Push button switch || Katsuyuki Matsuo || 1979/05/23 || [[Alps vertical plate spring]] || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4596912}}|| Push-button switch || Yoichi Hattori || 1985/02/20 ||  || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4642433}}|| Pushbutton switch with aural confirmation of operation || Taneo Murata || 1985/07/11 || [[Alps SKCM Blue]] || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent|country=US|number=4760225}}|| Push button switch having a frame member for preventing solder penetration of switch contacts || Yasunari Takano || 1987/01/14 || [[Alps common mount low profile]] || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4920245}}|| A push-button switch with uniform on and off timings || Yasunari Takano; Mitsushiro Okada || 1988/06/30 || [[Alps SKCL/SKCM series]] || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4935591}}|| Push button switch || Kyoichi Kaneko || 1988/08/04 ||  || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent|country=US|number=4613737}}|| Low profile pushbutton switch with tactile feedback || Akio Nishijima || 1984/09/04 || [[Alps plate spring]] || 
|-
| [[Alps Electric]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4514608}}|| Locking type pushbutton switch || Taneo Murata || 1983/12/05 || [[Alps SKCL Lock]] || 
|-
| [[IBM|International Business Machines]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4689608}}|| Magnetically snap actuated contact keyboard apparatus || Frank J. Bolda, John P. McKnight, Russell J. Sturm || 1985/01/22 || — || 
|-
| [[The Keyboard Company (Datanetics)]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4341934}}|| Actuator for keyboard switches || Michael Muller || 1980/11/21 || — || 
|-
| [[The Keyboard Company (Datanetics)]] || {{cite patent|country=US|number=4418257}}|| Keyboard switch || Michael Muller, Gary C. Butt || 1981/11/23 || — || 
|-
| [[Topre Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4482932}}|| [[Keyboard_switch_by_Hiroshi_Hasegawa|Keyboard switch]] || Hiroshi Hasegawa || 1981/10/19 || [[Topre switch]] || 
|-
| [[Topre Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4584444}}|| Keyboard switch || Takao Nagashima || 1986/04/22 || [[Topre switch]] || 
|-
| [[Topre Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4659879}}|| Key Switch || Hiroshi Hasegawa || 1985/12/24 || — || 
|-
| [[Topre Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4851626}}|| Key switch device || Takao Nagashima || 1988/06/24 || [[Topre_switches#Switch_Variations|Topre conductive switch]] || 
|-
| [[Cherry|Cherry Electrical Prod Corp,Us]] || {{cite patent|country=US|number=3770923}} || Alternate-action switch actuator with pawl stop plate also providing a guide for stroke-control means || J Us Habecker || 1972/01/14 || [[Cherry M6 alternate action]] ||
|-
| [[Cherry|Cherry Electrical Products Limited]] || [http://www.google.com/patents/EP0157035B1 EP0157035] || Mechanical keyboard with membrane switch array || Allan Ellson || 1984/08/22 || [[Cherry MY]] ||
|-
| [[Cherry|Cherry-Mikroschalter Gmbh]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4800245 }}|| Key module for key-actuated membrane switch panels || Walter H. Mertel; Gunter Murmann || 1986/07/31 || [[Cherry MY]] ||
|-
| [[Cherry|Cherry-Mikroschalter Gmbh]] || [http://www.google.com/patents/EP0233926B1 EP0233926] || Key module for contact foil keyboards|| Walter Hans Mertel; Günter Murmann || 1986/07/31 || [[Cherry MY]] || 
|-
| [[Oak Industries]] || {{cite patent |country= US|number=4553009}}|| Keyboard switch with pivotal actuator lever || Anthony J. Van Zeeland; Ronald S. Denley || 1983/11/21 || — || Osborne, Sun Type 3
|-
| [[Futaba]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4942276}}|| Clicked key board switch || Hideo Kato || 1989/04/11 || — || 
|-
| [[Futaba]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4952762}}|| Keyboard switch || Masaharu Koyanagi || 1989/04/07 || — || 
|-
| [[Burroughs|Burroughs Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4314113}} || Keyswitch having contacts mounted on cantilever beams || Edward I. Nelson || 1980/01/21 || — ||
|-
| [[Burroughs|Burroughs Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4479111}}|| Photo-optical switch apparatus || Craig c. Madsen; Daniel B. Stewart; James Andree || 1982/02/09 || [[Burroughs Opto-Electric]] || 
|-
| [[Burroughs|Burroughs Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4301345}}|| Key switch actuation by torsion spring || Justin Balta || 1980/02/26 || [[Burroughs Opto-Electric]] || 
|-
| [[Oki Electric|Oki Electric Industry Co, Ltd.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4755645}}||Push button switch ||Kunimine Naoki; Hokari Shoji; Tachibana Sadao ||1987/08/18 || — || 
|-
| [[Oki Electric|Oki Electric Industry Co, Ltd.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4927990}}|| Spring-biased push-button switch having a spring-loaded tactile feedback feature || Kazuo Aoki; Toshimi Chiba; Sadao Tachibana; Yasushi Nagatomo || 1989/03/03 || — || 
|-
| [[Burroughs|Burroughs Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3969600}}|| Tactile feedback keyboard switch assembly and actuator || Dewey M. Sims, Jr. || 1975/06/11 || [[Burroughs Opto-Electric]] || 
|-
| [[Burroughs|Burroughs Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4117430}}|| Keyboard switch || Dewey M. Sims, Jr. || 1977/03/14 || [[Burroughs Opto-Electric]] || 
|-
| [[Burroughs|Burroughs Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4291225}}|| Molded plastic photo-optical keyboard || Edward L. Nelson || 1979/09/14 || [[Burroughs Opto-Electric]] || 
|-
| [[Burroughs|Burroughs Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4379968}}|| Photo-optical keybard having light attenuating means || Richard I. Ely; Edward I. Nelson || 1980/12/24 || [[Burroughs Opto-Electric]] || 
|-
| [[Scantlin Electronics]] || [http://www.google.com/patents/US3772684 US3772684] || [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?FT=D&date=19731113&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP&CC=US&NR=3772684A&KC=A&ND=4 Push button keyboard with oscillator keying] || John R. Scantlin || 1972/01/26 || — || Quotron
|-
| [[Scantlin Electronics]] || [http://www.google.com/patents/US3274355] || Cam operated snap switch having wire contacts || John R. Scantlin || 1966/09/20 || — || Quotron
|-
| [[DataHand Systems|DataHand Systems, Inc.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=5921382}}|| Magnetically enhanced membrane switch || Dale Retter || 1998/09/30 || — || 
|-
| [[DataHand Systems|DataHand Systems, Inc.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=5743666}}|| Adjustable keyboard || Anthony VanZeeland; Dale Retter; Stefen Dikov || 1997/02/25 || — || 
|-
| [[DataHand Systems|DataHand Systems, Inc.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=6677843}}|| Magnetically coupled pushbutton plunger switch || Dennis Monroe; Anthony J. Van Zeeland || 2003/06/06 || — || 
|-
| [[The Singer Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3693123}}|| Improved operator touch || Egon A. Pedersen || 1970/11/14 || — || 
|-
| [[The Singer Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3736397}}|| Keybooard switch assembly with pushbutton magnetic latching structure for non-operative position || Egon A. Pedersen || 1972/01/24 || — || 
|-
| [[The Singer Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3761016}}|| Keyboard having improved magnetic actuator || Eon A. Pedersen || 1972/08/23 || — || 
|-
| [[Hathaway Instruments]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3652964}}|| Pushbutton switch and assembly || Harold B. Chamberlain || 1970/11/19 || — || 
|-
| [[Brother|Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3678424}}|| Keboard switch assembly || Hideo Iwashima; Satoshi Fukao || 1971/05/13 || — || 
|-
| [[George Risk]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3622926}}|| Magnetically actuatable reed switch || George Risk || 1970/03/12 || — || 
|-
| [[Engineering Research Applications|Engineering Research Applications, Inc.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=RE32419}}|| Molded keyboard and method of fabricating same || Craig E. Rooney || 1986/01/27 || — || 
|-
| [[John G. Gamble]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3848216}}|| Solid state keyboard switch || John G. Gamble || 1973/10/09 || — || Hall effect switch patent
|-
| [[Richard A. Eckhardt]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4480937}}|| Breakaway leafspring actuated keyswitch apparatus || Richard A. Eckhardt || 1982/08/30 || — || 
|-
| [[Maxi Switch]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4132487}}|| Keyboard switch || Robert P. Fisher || 1977/05/16 || — || 
|-
| [[Mechanical Enterprises|Mechanical Enterprises, Inc.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4600819}}|| Switch assembly || Robert H. Twyford || 1985/03/08 || [[MEI T-15 series]] || 
|-
| [[Cherry|Cherry Mikroschalter Gmbh]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=5488213}}|| Low-profile keyboard key || Jorg Dittrich || 1992/09/23 || [[Cherry ML]] || 
|-
| [[Cherry|Cherry Electrical Products Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4467160}}|| Low profile switch || Gunter Bauer; Gunter Murmann || 1983/07/12 || [[Cherry MX]] || 
|-
| [[Hi-Tek|Hi-Tek Corporation]] || [http://www.google.com/patents/EP0094839A1 EP0094839] || Dovetail base assembly for keyswitches || Robert W. Bessier; Manuel T. Guest; Eldon R. Lancaster || 1983/05/18 || [[Hi-Tek Dovetail Series]] || 
|-
| [[Hi-Tek|Hi-Tek Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4564732}}|| Dovetail base assembly for keyswitches || Robert W. Bessier; Manuel T. Guest; Eldon R. Lancaster || 1984/10/18 || [[Hi-Tek Dovetail Series]] || 
|-
| [[Hi-Tek|Hi-Tek Corporation]] || [http://www.google.com/patents/EP0124206A1 EP0124206A1] || Low profile keyswitch || Robert W. Bessire [sic] || 1984/02/16 || [[Hi-Tek Series 725]] || 
|-
| [[Stackpole Components|Stackpole Components Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3916150}}|| Data machine keyboard assembly with elongated key cap for actuating an electric switch || Lynn W. Abernethy; Robert H. Tillack || 1974/03/04 || — || 
|-
| [[Stackpole Components|Stackpole Components Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3767878}}|| [[Keyboard switch (patent 3767878)|Keyboard switch]] || Allan J. Sykora || 1972/09/21 || [[Stackpole discrete switch]] || 
|-
| [[Stackpole Components|Stackpole Components Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3924089}}|| Keyboard switch || Lynn W. Abernethy || 1974/08/28 || [[Stackpole discrete switch]] || 
|-
| [[Stackpole Components|Stackpole Components Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4119821}}|| Normally closed switch || Arthur Wayne Overton || 1977/09/26 || [[Stackpole discrete switch]] || 
|-
| [[Stackpole Components|Stackpole Components Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4255635}}|| Keyswitch || Dudley H. Campbell; James A. Daggerhart; Arthur W. Overton || 1979/09/17 || [[Stackpole switch grid]] || 
|-
| [[Stackpole Components|Stackpole Components Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4342892}}|| Keyswitch || Robert D. Ayers || 1980/08/08 || [[Stackpole switch grid]] || 
|-
| [[Stackpole Components|Stackpole Components Company]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4342892}}|| Keyswitch || Robert D. Ayers || 1980/08/08 || [[Stackpole switch grid]] || 
|-
| [[Westinghouse Electric Corp]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=2913688}}|| Switching Devices || Thomas W. Slebodnik, Frank J. Rau || 1956/06/28 ||  || #HaaTa!
|-
| [[Philips|Philips Electronics N.V./Philips Electronics Uk Limited]] || [http://www.google.com/patents/EP0043618A1 EP0043618] || Push button switch || Laurence Harry Finlayson || 1981/06/24 ||  || #HaaTa!
|-
| [[Philips|U.S. Philips Corporation]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4385219}}|| Push button switch || Laurence H. Finlayson || 1981/07/01 ||  || #HaaTa!
|-
| [[ITW|Illinois Tool Works Inc.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3902032}}|| Electrical switch with improved contact structure || Koepke; John A. || 1974/06/07 ||  || #HaaTa!
|-
| [[Hi-Tek|Hi Tek Corp,Us]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3751618}}|| Push-switch with spring biased plunger || D Us Hallerberg || 1972/02/23 ||  || #HaaTa!
|-
| [[Brother|Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3900712}}|| Keyboard switch arrangement || Satoshi Fukao || 1974/01/18 ||  || #HaaTa!
|-
| [[Brother|Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4736076}}|| Capacitance switching device for keyboard || Isao Mochizuki, Mitsumasa Kako, Yoshihisa Masuda || 1987/03/18 ||  || Image 7 might be an indication that the IBM RT domes were designed by Brother
|-
| [[Brother|Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=4760217}}|| Keyboard having lower casing with integral upraised portion for supporting PC board, and key switch having air vent in PC board || Makoto Suzuki, Mitsumasa Kako, Satoshi Fukao || 1987/02/03 ||  || Fig. 2 and 3 may be indications that IBM RT domes were designed by Brother
|-
| [[Sperry Rand]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3696908}}|| Capacitive key || Julius Gluck, Raul Lara || 1970/11/09 || [[Univac Magnetic Separation]]  || Univac F-1355-00
|-
| [[Sperry Rand]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3631472}}|| Capacitive keying module and system || Andrew J. Lincoln || 1970/01/02 || || 
|-
| [[IBM]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3693059}}|| Capacitive coupling switch and actuator || Richard H. Harris || 1971/09/17 || || 
|-
| [[Navigation Computer Corp.]] || {{cite patent |country=US|number=3664014}}|| Universal modular printed circuit magnetic reed keyboard switch assembly || Peter A. Peroni, John Paul Jones, Jr. || 1969/08/14 || || 
|-
| [[RAFI]] || {{cite patent|country=DE|number=2914954}} || Sealed press button switch || Albert Wasmeier || 1979/04/12 || [[RAFI RS 74]] ||
|-
| Chen; Win-Join || {{cite patent |country=US|number=5124514}}|| Structure of mechanical key switch || Win-Join Chen || 1991/07/08 || Alps clone || Company unknown, probably Taiwan Tai-Hao or Himake
|}

[[Category: Patents]]