Capacitive keyboard having variable make points

• US 10,241,590 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Marshall, Blake R., Tan, Liquan
• Primary Examiner(s): Eurice, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/495,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20170308177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/98 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94026 Automatic threshold calibration; e.g. threshold automatically adapts to ambient conditions or follows variation of input

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an input device having variable make points. More specifically, the various embodiments described herein are directed to an input device having a key, a first button member and a second button member. A dielectric may be positioned between the first button member and the second button member. The key is also associated with a capacitive sensor that is configured to determine a change in capacitance as a distance between the first button member and the second button member changes.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a ground layer;

a first member positioned on and electrically coupled to a first side of the ground layer;

a second member positioned on the first side of the ground layer between the ground layer and the first member, and electrically separated from the ground layer; and

a dielectric material positioned between the first member and the second member such that a capacitance between the first member and the second member changes as the first member is moved towards the second member;

wherein;

the second member is electrically coupled to vias extending from the first side to a second side of the ground layer; and

a first capacitance between the first member and the second member is associated with a first make point of the input device and a second capacitance between the first member and the second member is associated with a second make point of the input device.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connection extending to the first member along the first side of the ground layer.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first make point is associated with a first operation of an electronic device associated with the input device, and the second make point is associated with a second operation of the electronic device.

4. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second layer; and

a substrate layer,

wherein;

the substrate layer is positioned on the second side of the ground layer;

the second layer is positioned on a side of the substrate layer opposite the ground layer; and

the vias extend through the substrate layer to the second layer.

5. The input device of claim 4, further comprising an electrical connection on the second layer extending to the vias.

6. The input device of claim 5, further comprising a capacitance sensor positioned on the second layer that measures the first capacitance and the second capacitance.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first capacitance associated with the first make point is a capacitance value that exceeds a first threshold and is less than a second threshold.

8. The input device of claim 7, wherein the second capacitance associated with the second make point is a capacitance value that exceeds the second threshold.

9. The input device of claim 8, wherein the first threshold and the second threshold can be changed dynamically.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are changed dynamically based on an operation of a computing device to which the input device is communicatively linked.

11. The input device of claim 9, wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are changed dynamically based on one or more inputs provided by a user.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a ground layer having a first side and a second side;

a substrate layer positioned on the second side of the ground layer;

a first input device comprising;

a first member positioned on and electrically coupled to the first side of the ground layer;

a second member positioned on the first side of the ground layer between the ground layer and the first member, and electrically separated from the ground layer; and

a first dielectric material positioned between the first member and the second member such that a first capacitance between the first member and the second member changes as the first member is moved towards the second member; and

a second input device comprising;

a third member positioned on and electrically coupled to the first side of the ground layer;

a fourth member positioned on the first side of the ground layer between the ground layer and the third member, and electrically separated from the ground layer;

a second dielectric material positioned between the third member and the fourth member such that a second capacitance between the third member and the fourth member changes as the third member is moved towards the fourth member;

wherein;

the second member is electrically coupled to a first set of vias extending from the first side to the second side of the ground layer; and

the fourth member is electrically coupled to a second set of vias extending from the first side to the second side of the ground layer; and

a value of the first capacitance greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold is associated with a first make point of the first input device and a value of the first capacitance greater than the second threshold is associated with a second make point of the first input device; and

a value of the second capacitance greater than a third threshold and less than a fourth threshold is associated with a first make point of the second input device and a value of second capacitance greater than the fourth threshold is associated with a second make point of the second input device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

the first threshold is different from the third threshold, and

the second threshold is different from the fourth threshold.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a second layer; and

a substrate layer,

wherein;

the substrate layer is positioned on the second side of the ground layer;

the second layer is positioned on a side of the substrate layer opposite the ground layer; and

the vias extend through the substrate layer to the second layer.

15. A method of detecting a gesture input to an input device of an electronic device, the input device comprising a first key and a second key, the method comprising:

detecting a change in a capacitance at the first key between a first portion of the first key and a second portion of the first key;

deciding that an actuation member is in proximity to the first key when the change in the capacitance at the first key is above a first threshold;

detecting a subsequent change in a capacitance at the second key between a first portion of the second key and a second portion of the second key;

detecting that the actuation member has moved to be in proximity to the second key when the change in the capacitance at the second key is above a second threshold; and

deciding that the gesture input has occurred.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein deciding that the gesture input has occurred comprises detecting the change in the capacitance at the first key is below a third threshold and detecting the change in the capacitance at the second key is below a fourth threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first threshold is different from the second threshold, and the third threshold is different from the fourth threshold.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising altering an operation of the electronic device based on the gesture input.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein altering the operation of the electronic device comprises modifying a display of the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein altering the operation of the electronic device is based on a direction from the first key to the second key.