Keyboard with user configurable granularity scales for pressure sensitive keys

• US 20100148999A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Azor, Frank C., Casparian, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,246,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/002 fixed to operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for user configurable pressure sensitive keys and techniques for controlling these keys for keyboards. User configuration information, including information for user configurable granularity scales for pressure levels, can be communicated from a host system to the keyboard and stored for later use by a keyboard controller to control the operation of the pressure sensitive keys. In this way, greater control of the pressure sensitive keys can be provided. This configurability is of particular use for applications such as where the keyboard is being used for gaming by a user running a gaming application on an information handling system.

Claims

1. A keyboard having user configurable pressure sensitive keys, comprising:

a keyboard device body including a plurality of pressure sensitive keys configured to provide pressure sensitive output signals;

a communication interface within the keyboard device body configured to be coupled to a host system;

a memory within the keyboard device body configured to store one or more configuration files;

at least one configuration file stored within the memory, the configuration file including user configuration information for the pressure sensitive keys including one or more granularity scales of applied pressure levels for the pressure sensitive keys; and

a keyboard controller configured to receive user configuration information through the communication interface, to store the user configuration information for the pressure sensitive keys, to receive pressure sensitive signals from the pressure sensitive keys when depressed by a user, to use the granularity scale within the user configuration information to generate keyboard output signals based upon the pressure sensitive signals, and to communicate the keyboard output signals to the host system through the communication interface.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the user configuration information allows for different granularity scales to be selected for different pressure sensitive keys.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the user configuration information allows for a granularity scale of applied pressure levels from at least 2 pressure levels to not more than 10 pressure levels to be selected for the pressure sensitive keys.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a plurality of configuration files are stored in the memory and wherein the keyboard controller is further configured to allow a user to select one of the configuration files for use.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the keyboard controller comprises an integrated circuit including a microcontroller and an analog input block for the pressure sensitive signals from the pressure sensitive keys.

6. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensitive keys comprise keys configured to produce a variable resistance signal when depressed by a user.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensitive keys comprise keys configured to produce a variable capacitance signal when depressed by a user.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the plurality of pressure sensitive keys further comprise a flexible and conductive half-dome structure positioned underneath a keycap.

9. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the keyboard controller is further configured to generate a count associated with the capacitance measurement, the count being utilized to represent pressure applied to the pressure sensitive key.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the keyboard controller is further configured to store a user configurable minimum threshold and a maximum threshold as part of the granularity scale for the pressure sensitive keys.

11. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of digital keys within the keyboard device body.

12. A method for user control of pressure sensitive keys for a keyboard, comprising:

providing a keyboard having a plurality of pressure sensitive keys;

coupling the keyboard to a host system;

receiving with the host system user configuration information for the pressure sensitive keys, the user configuration information for the pressure sensitive keys including one or more granularity scales of applied pressure levels for the pressure sensitive keys;

sending the user configuration information from the host system to the keyboard through a communication interface;

storing the user configuration information on the keyboard in one or more configuration files;

producing pressure sensitive signals for the pressure sensitive keys when depressed by a user;

using the stored configuration information within a configuration file including the one or more granularity scales to generate keyboard output signals based upon the pressure sensitive signals; and

communicating the keyboard output signals associated with the pressure sensitive keys to the host system through the communication interface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing a user to set different granularity scales for different pressure sensitive keys.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the keyboard output signals within the host system to control features of a gaming application.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing a plurality of configuration files on the keyboard and allowing a user to select one of the configuration files for use.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the producing step comprises producing pressure sensitive signals based upon a variable resistance signal.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the producing step comprises producing pressure sensitive signals based upon a variable capacitance signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a count associated with a measurement of the variable capacitance signal and utilizing the count to represent pressure applied to a pressure sensitive key.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing a user configurable minimum threshold and a maximum threshold as part of the granularity scale for the pressure sensitive keys.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a plurality of digital keys within the keyboard device body and receiving and communicating keyboard output signals associated with the digital keys to the host system through the communication interface.