Patent ID: 6881908

Claim:
A keyboard comprising: a plurality of key switches arranged in a matrix and each including a contact; a first circuit board having a first plurality of circuit patterns printed thereon to connect one terminals of the contacts of said plurality of key switches to each other in a first direction of the matrix, and a second plurality of circuit patterns printed thereon to connect other terminals of the contacts to each other in a second direction of the matrix, said first plurality of circuit patterns and said second plurality of circuit patterns intersecting each other; a second circuit board, separate from said first circuit board, carrying an encoder circuit thereon for generating code signals representative of statuses of said plurality of key switches; a first elongate, flexible flat cable comprising a corresponding plurality of first conductors each being connected to one of said first plurality of circuit patterns, and a flat, flexible insulator covering the plurality of first conductors; and a second elongate, flexible flat cable comprising a corresponding plurality of second conductors each being connected to one of said second plurality of circuit patterns, and a flat, flexible insulator covering the second plurality of conductors; said second circuit board comprising a first connector connecting said first flat cable to said encoder circuit and a second connector connecting said second flat cable to said encoder circuit.