Low touch-force fabric keyboard

• US 20110032127A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey M. Roush
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey M. Roush
• Inventors: Roush, Jeffrey M.
• Application Number:
  US12/462,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/012 Microprotrusions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/03 Ridges on layers

Abstract

A very low touch force keyboard, employing soft conductors, preferably conductive fabric, disposed in a keyboard grid. The grid rests upon a soft substrate, and has soft spacers separating the two axes of the grid, arranged to allow conducting portions of the grid to contact each other when soft, fabric-like keys are pushed. The grid conductors are electrically connected to a keyboard controller.

Claims

1. A soft-touch keyboard, comprising;

two sets of flexible conductors arranged in a keyboard 2-axis grid, disposed over a soft substrate,

a soft, flexible spacing layer separating one grid from another vertically, and disposed to allow contact between the two axes at key locations,

soft, flexible keys disposed at the key locations for the particular keyboard type; and

,

electrical connections from the grid conductors to a keyboard controller.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the conductors are conductive stretchable fabric.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the conductors are attached to at least one of an upper and lower fabric layer.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the keys are wrapped in fabric.

6. The spacing layer of claim 1 wherein the spacing layer is at least one of individual spacers, longitudinal strips, or a solid layer with openings above the key locations.

5. The keyboard wherein the keys are covered by a fabric layer.