Keyboard with touch sensitive zones and corresponding computer user interface

• US 20080309522A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Larsen, Glen C., Mail, Scott M., O'Neil, Daniel G., Lane, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• 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: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A keyboard key has a key portion that forms a cantilevered beam pivotable about an axis. A switch is disposed relative to the cantilevered beam, such that rotation of the cantilever beam about the axis causes depression of the switch. The switch is offset from an applied force-receiving portion of the key portion. A touch sensitive key also includes a touch sensor detecting contact with the key portion of the key. The invention can be extended such that the key portion is formed of transparent or semi-transparent material. The invention can also be extended to include touch sensitive areas on any portion of an upper case of the computer keyboard.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a key having a force receiving portion configured to receive a force applied in a first direction to move the key from an non-actuated position to an actuated position about a pivot portion;

a touch sensing portion disposed on the force receiving portion and configured to detect touching of the touch sensing portion, regardless of whether the key is moved to the actuated position; and

a switch arranged relative to the key to detect movement of the key between the non-actuated position and the actuated position, the switch being displaced from the pivot portion.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the key includes a cantilevered beam portion extending from the pivot portion and rotating about the pivot portion to move the key between the non-actuated position and the non-actuated position.

3. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein the force receiving portion is disposed on the cantilevered beam portion and wherein the switch is disposed between the force receiving portion and the pivot portion.

4. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein the force receiving portion is disposed on the cantilevered beam portion between the pivot portion and the switch.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the key and touch sensing portion are formed of substantially transparent material.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising:

an illumination source providing illumination of the touch sensing portion when the touch sensing portion is touched.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the key comprises one of a plurality of keys, each having a touch sensing portion disposed thereon, the plurality of keys all disposed on one depressible member, depressible to move from the non-actuated position to the actuated position, depression of the depressible member being detected by the switch.

8. The keyboard of claim 7 and further comprising:

a plurality of depressible members, each having a plurality of touch sensing portions disposed thereon, each depressible member having a corresponding switch detecting depression of the corresponding depressible member.

9. The keyboard of claim 7 and further comprising a top case, wherein the depressible member comprises a cantilevered bar defined by a slot in the top case, the cantilevered bar being depressible by deflection of the top case portion.

10. The keyboard of claim 7 and further comprising a top case wherein the depressable member comprises a cantilevered bar that includes a switch activation paddle portion protruding from the cantilevered bar and arranged to activate the switch upon depression of the cantilevered bar.

11. The keyboard of claim 10 wherein the switch activation paddle portion is offset from the touch sensing portions and extends to a position overlapped by an overlapping portion of the top case, such that the switch is also overlapped by the overlapping portion of the top case.

12. The keyboard of claim 7 wherein each of the touch sensing portions of the plurality of keys are formed of variable resolution activation areas that provide a signal indicative of a position of a touching member within each touch sensing portion.

13. A keyboard system, comprising:

an integral upper case having structural portions and defining openings therein;

a plurality of keys extending through the openings defined by the upper case; and

a plurality of touch sensing areas on the structural portions of the upper case, each of the touch sensing portions including touch sensors that sense touching of the touch sensing areas.

14. The keyboard system of claim 13 and further comprising:

a user display, displaying an indication of touch activity based on touching of the touch sensing areas.

15. The keyboard system of claim 13 and further comprising:

an illumination system generating illumination of the structural portions of the upper case based on touching activity sensed by the touch sensors.

16. The keyboard system of claim 15 and further comprising:

a computer generating a user interface display, in addition to the illumination generated by the illumination system, the user interface display being based on the touching activity sensed by the touch sensors.

17. The keyboard system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the touch sensing portions being disposed on a pivotable portion of the upper case, and further comprising:

a switch positioned to detect pivotal movement of the pivotable portion of the upper case.

18. A computer system, comprising:

a keyboard including touch sensors sensing touching of touch sensing portions of the keyboard and

a computer, operably coupled to the keyboard, and configured to generate a user interface display based on touching activity sensed by the touch sensors.

19. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the computer is configured to control the user interface display based on movement of a touching member relative to the touch sensors.

20. The computer system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the touch sensing portions is actuable, and wherein the computer is configured to modify the user interface display to indicate a user interface selection by a user based on touch sensing portion.