SENSOR-KEYPAD COMBINATION FOR MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a keypad of a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
- associating each of a plurality of regions within a panel of the keypad with a key value;
detecting inward movement of the panel as a result of application of a force in excess of a threshold;
determining a position of a finger or a pointer, either in contact with or in operational proximity to the panel, when the inward movement is detected; and
determining the key value corresponding to one of the plurality of regions that is encompasses or is proximate to the position.
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Abstract
A key structure layer is provided on the panel segment. The key structure layer may be combined with sensors that detect a position of a finger or other object at any region on the key structure layer. When contact with the key structure layer pushes the panel segment inward, the processing resources of the mobile computing device recognize the contact by the finger or object as a key-press event. Position information from the sensors assign a key value to the key-press event.
64 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for operating a keypad of a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
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associating each of a plurality of regions within a panel of the keypad with a key value; detecting inward movement of the panel as a result of application of a force in excess of a threshold; determining a position of a finger or a pointer, either in contact with or in operational proximity to the panel, when the inward movement is detected; and determining the key value corresponding to one of the plurality of regions that is encompasses or is proximate to the position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 28, 29, 30, 40)
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9. A mobile computing device comprising:
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a housing comprising a front surface that includes a panel segment; a key structure layer provided with or as part of the panel segment; a processing resource provided within the housing, wherein the processing resource is configured to associate each of a plurality of regions of the key structure layer with a corresponding key value; a position sensor provided in operational proximity to the panel segment and coupled to the processing resource to detect a position of an object that is in contact with, or in proximity to, the key structure layer; an actuation mechanism positioned with respect to the panel to be actuated when a force is applied to any portion of the key structure layer that exceeds a threshold range, the actuation mechanism being coupled to the processing resource to signal the processing resource when actuated; and wherein the processing resource is configured to identify the key value associated with the position of the object when the actuation mechanism is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A mobile computing device comprising:
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a housing; a platform segment provided with or as part of the housing so as to occupy a portion of a front face of the device; a coupling mechanism that couples the platform segment to at least a portion of the housing so as to enable the platform segment to be moved inwards and outwards with respect to an interior of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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31. A keypad assembly for a mobile computing device, the keypad assembly comprising:
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a platform segment provided on or as part of a housing of the mobile computing device, the platform segment including a keypad surface that occupies a portion of a front face of the device; a coupling mechanism that couples the platform segment to at least a portion of the housing so as to enable the platform segment to be moved inwards and outwards with respect to an interior of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A segment for a housing of a mobile computing device, the segment comprising:
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a platform segment provided on or as part of the housing of the mobile computing device; a key structure layer provided on the platform segment, the key structure layer including a keypad surface that occupies a portion of a front face of the device; a coupling mechanism that couples the platform segment to at least a portion of the housing so as to enable the platform segment to be moved inwards and outwards with respect to an interior of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification