Zero-force key activation keyboard with dynamic individual key illumination

• US 20040159779A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Duff
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Duff
• Inventors: Duff, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/03 Sound
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/022 with opto-electronic switch

Abstract

Described is a zero-force key activation keyboard with individual key illumination. The keyboard includes a non-moving key for causing generation of an input signal when activated. The key has a depressed surface defining an approximately concave well with sides forming an open region sized to receive a tip of a finger. A light emitter positioned on one side of the well emits a beam of light across the open region to an opposite side of the well. A light detector is positioned on the opposite side of the well to receive the light beam and to signal activation of the key when the light beam is obstructed from being received by the light detector. Each key is illuminated from within the well. When the key is activated, its illumination color can change. Upon release, the illumination color returns immediately or gradually back to a previous color or unlighted state.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a key for causing generation of a key event when the key is activated, the key having a concave surface that forms a well with an open interior region defined by sides of the well;

a light emitter positioned at one side of the well emitting a beam of light across the open interior region to an opposite side of the well; and

a light detector positioned at the opposite side of the well for receiving the beam of light and for indicating activation of the key when the beam of light is obstructed from being received by the light detector.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a top surface, and wherein the concave surface of the key is depressed below the top surface of the input device.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the beam of light is infrared light.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the well is a first well and the key has a second concave surface defining a second well situated above the first well.

5. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a light source illuminating the interior region of the well.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the light source illuminates the interior region of the well of the key individually of wells of other keys of the input device.

7. The input device of claim 5, wherein the light source illuminates the interior region of the well of the key with light of a first wavelength when the key is activated and with light of a second wavelength when the key is idle.

8. The input device of claim 5, wherein the light source illuminates the interior region of the well with light of a first wavelength and transitions gradually to illuminating the interior region of the well with light of a second wavelength when a state of the key transitions between an activate state and an idle state.

9. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker for emitting an audible signal in response to an activation of the key.

10. The input device of claim 1, further comprising circuitry for electrically generating an audible signal in response to an activation of the key.

11. A method for generating a key event to be sent to a computing device, the method comprising:

associating a key structure for causing generation of the key event when the key structure is activated;

emitting a beam of light from one side of the key structure to an opposite side of the key structure;

detecting the beam of light at the opposite side of the key structure; and

signaling activation of the key structure upon detecting obstruction to the beam of light.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising illuminating the key structure in response to the activation of the key.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising changing a color of illumination of the key structure when the key structure is activated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising change the color of illumination of the key structure to a second color of illumination when a state of the key structure transitions from activated to an idle state.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting the beam of light at the opposite side of the key structure after the key is activated, and locking the key structure in an activated state until obstruction to the beam of light is subsequently detected.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising electronically generating a sound in response to the activation of the key structure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting the type of sound generated.

18. A keyboard for providing key events to a computing device, the keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys, each key causing generation of an associated key event when that key is activated; and

a light source system illuminating each key independently of the other keys of the plurality of keys.

19. The keyboard of claim 18, wherein the light source system includes means for illuminating one of the plurality of keys with a first color and another of the plurality of keys with a second color.

20. The keyboard of claim 18, wherein the light source system includes means for illuminating one of the plurality of keys with a first color while another of the plurality of keys is unlighted.

21. The keyboard of claim 18, wherein the light source system includes means for illuminating one of the plurality of keys with a first color when the key is activated and for illuminating that one key with a second color when the key is in an idle state.

22. The keyboard of claim 18, wherein the light source system includes means for illuminating one of the plurality of keys with a first color and for transitioning gradually from the first color to a second color in response to a change in state of that one key.

23. A keyboard for providing key events to a computing device, the keyboard comprising:

a key for causing generation of a key event when the key is activated; and

means for activating the key without physically touching the key.

24. A computing device, comprising an input device for receiving input signals from a user of the computing device, the input device having a plurality of keys, each key causing generation of an associated key event when that key is activated, each key having a concave surface that forms a well with sides and an open region defined by the sides, a light emitter positioned on one side of the well emitting a beam of light across the open region to an opposite side of the well, and a light detector positioned at the opposite side of the well for receiving the beam of light and for indicating activation of that key when the beam of light emitted by the light emitter is obstructed from being received by the light detector.