Patent ID: 8132976

Claim:
A keyboard for use with a computing device, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keys, each key including: a key cap including a perimeter wall and a void positioned within the perimeter wall and opening to a top of the key cap, the perimeter wall including four sides; a cushion having a top portion configured to be contacted by a digit of a user, and a bottom portion configured to be fitted within the void, the cushion being configured to absorb an impact force directed against the key during a keystroke, the cushion formed in an upside down U shape having two extensions protruding from the top portion in cross section and being unsupported in a middle region to enable downward deflection of a bottom surface of the cushion, the two extensions being adjacent to an inner periphery of the perimeter wall of the key cap, wherein the top portion of the cushion is formed entirely within the perimeter wall, so as not to cover edges that form the top of the key cap; and a post structure supporting the cushion and the key cap, the post structure including a post portion extending downwardly and configured to actuate a membrane upon depression of the key; a housing formed of a substrate and an upper layer, the upper layer including a plurality of guide structures, each guide structure being configured to receive a respective key; a printed circuit board positioned in the housing above the substrate, a plurality of key switches being formed on the printed circuit board; and the membrane positioned above the key switches, the membrane being configured to deform and come into contact with a respective one of the key switches of the printed circuit board upon depression of a corresponding key by a user, wherein when the membrane comes into contact with the one of the key switches, the one of the key switches is actuated, causing an associated processor of the keyboard to output a signal to the computing device, which identifies that the one of the keys has been depressed.