Multipurpose programmable adjustable keyboard (MPAK)

• US 20070097595A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Radivojevic, Zoran, Hashizume, Kenichi
• Application Number:
  US11/223,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20070097595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04146 using pressure sensitive conductive elements delivering a boolean signal and located between crossing sensing lines, e.g. located between X and Y sensing line layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/02 Piezo element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/008 Wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/016 Wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0023 Images formed with electrophoretic technology, e.g. by charged pigment particles rearranged by applied electric field, e.g. electronic paper or e-paper, active ink
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/022 Modular assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/012 Decoding impedances
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/04 Programmable interface between a set of switches and a set of functions, e.g. for reconfiguration of a control panel

Abstract

A keyboard device formed of a generally planar interaction module having first and second sides, comprising a plurality of input indicia displayed on a first side, a matrix of micro-switchers coupled to the second side of the interaction module formed of a generally planar first electrode sheet having a first plurality of generally parallel conductive traces each separated by one of a first plurality of insulation traces on a first side of the first generally planar electrode sheet, and a generally planar second electrode sheet having a second plurality of generally parallel conductive traces each separated by one of a second plurality of insulation traces on a first side of the second generally planar electrode sheet, and a generally planar piezo sheet having a first side coupled to the first side of the generally planar first electrode sheet and a second side coupled to the first side of the generally planar second electrode sheet.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a generally planar interaction module (IM) having a first and second side, said first side for displaying a plurality of input indicia; and

a matrix of micro-switchers (MMS) coupled to said second side of said interaction module comprising;

a first electrode sheet comprising a first plurality of generally parallel conductive traces;

a second electrode sheet comprising a second plurality of generally parallel conductive traces, and

a piezo sheet having a first side coupled to said first side of said first electrode sheet and a second side coupled to said first side of said second electrode sheet.

2. The input device of claim 1 wherein said first and second electrode sheets are formed of the same material.

3. The input device of claim 1 wherein said IM comprises a flexible mat.

4. The input device of claim 3 wherein said flexible mat is removable.

5. The input device of claim 1 wherein said IM comprises an electrochromic display.

6. The input device of claim 1 wherein said IM comprises an electrophoretic display.

7. The input device of claim 1 wherein said first and second plurality of generally parallel conductive traces are oriented orthogonally one to the other.

8. The input device of claim 1 wherein said piezo sheet comprises a plurality of individually addressable piezo electric elements arrayed in a grid pattern.

9. The input device of claim 1 wherein said input indicia are dynamically configurable.

10. The input device of claim 1 wherein said input indicia are disposed in an electronic gaming device for converting user inputs to electrical control inputs.

11. The input device of claim 1 wherein said input indicia are disposed on a surface of a portable robotic device for interfacing said robotic device with external stimuli.

12. A mobile device comprising:

a configurable input surface comprising;

an IM comprising a first and second side, said first side for displaying a plurality of input indicia displayed on a first side;

a MMS comprising first and second electrode sheets, said first electrode sheet coupled to said second side of said generally planar IM; and

a piezo sheet interposed between said first and second electrode sheets;

a memory in which is stored configuration data for said IM, said MMS, and said piezo sheet; and

a processor coupled to said memory, said IM, said MMS, and said piezo sheet.

13. The mobile device of claim 12 wherein said MMS configuration data comprises a location of said plurality of input indicia.

14. The mobile device of claim 12 wherein said IM is dynamically configurable.

15. The mobile device of claim 12 wherein said IM comprises an electrochromic display.

16. The mobile device of claim 12 wherein said IM comprises an electrophoretic display.

17. The mobile device of claim 12 wherein said IM comprises a flexible mat.

18. The mobile device of claim 12 wherein said mobile device comprises a mobile telephone.

19. A method comprising:

providing an IM on which is displayed a plurality of input indicia;

detecting a force applied to said IM and a position at which said force is applied;

determining at least one of said plurality of input indicia corresponding to said position at which said force is applied; and

providing tactile feedback in response to said determination of said application of force.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising dynamically configuring said display of said input indicia.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said configuring comprises retrieving data defining a placement of said plurality if indicia from a memory and outputting a signal to said IM to produce a display upon a surface of said IM.

22. The method of claim 20 comprising processing said retrieved data to produce said outputted signal.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said providing said tactile response comprises applying a voltage to at least one piezo electric element located at a position corresponding to said position at which said force is applied.

24. A device comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of input indicia;

means for detecting a force applied to said means for displaying and a position at which said force is applied;

means for determining at least one of said input indicia corresponding to said position at which said force is applied; and

means for providing a tactile feedback in response to said detection of said applied force.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein said means for providing said tactile response comprises a piezo sheet.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein said means for detecting comprises a first and second electrode sheet.

27. The device of claim 24 wherein said means for displaying comprises a flexible mat.

28. The device of claim 24 wherein said means for displaying comprises a dynamically configurable display.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein said dynamically configurable display comprises an electrochromic display.

30. The device of claim 28 wherein said dynamically configurable display comprises an electrophoretic display.

31. A program of machine-readable instructions, tangibly embodied on an information bearing medium and executable by a digital data processor, to perform actions directed toward interacting with a display, the actions comprising:

dynamically configuring a display comprising a plurality of input indicia;

detecting a force applied to said display and a position at which said force is applied; and

providing tactile feedback in response to said determination of said application of force.

32. The program of claim 31 further comprising determining at least one of said plurality of input indicia corresponding to said position at which said force is applied.