ENABLING TOUCH EVENTS ON A TOUCH SENSITIVE MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
First Claim
1. A method for generating a keyboard command signal, the method comprising:
- monitoring a plurality of depressible keys for a touch event on a surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys;
monitoring the plurality of depressible keys for a depression of a key of the plurality of depressible keys; and
generating a command signal based on the monitoring of the plurality of depressible keys for the touch event on the surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys and the monitoring of the plurality of depressible keys for the depression of the key of the plurality of depressible keys.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards and processes for detecting touch events and key depressions on the touch sensitive mechanical keyboard are provided. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can include a set of individually depressible mechanical keys having a touch sensitive area located on their surface. A touch sensor can be included to detect touch events on the surface of the mechanical keys. A keypad can also be included to detect a depression of the mechanical keys. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can further include a processor for distinguishing detected touch events from detected key depressions. The processor can generate either a key depression command or a touch event command.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for generating a keyboard command signal, the method comprising:
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monitoring a plurality of depressible keys for a touch event on a surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys; monitoring the plurality of depressible keys for a depression of a key of the plurality of depressible keys; and generating a command signal based on the monitoring of the plurality of depressible keys for the touch event on the surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys and the monitoring of the plurality of depressible keys for the depression of the key of the plurality of depressible keys. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for generating a keyboard command signal, the method comprising:
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receiving a touch event signal indicating that a touch event has been detected on a surface of a first key of a plurality of depressible keys; determining whether a first key depression signal is received within a threshold length of time from receiving the touch event signal, wherein the first key depression signal indicates that the first key of the plurality of depressible keys has been depressed; and generating a command signal based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of depressible keys; a plurality of switch sensors operable to detect a depression of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys; an array of capacitive sensors operable to detect a touch event on a surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys opposite the array of capacitive sensors; and a processor configured to receive a touch event signal indicating that a touch event has been detected by the array of capacitor sensors on the surface of the plurality of depressible keys, the processor further configured to receive a key depression signal indicating that a depression of a key of the plurality of depressible keys has been detected by the plurality of switch sensors, wherein the processor is operable to generate a command signal based at least in part on the touch event signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a surface having a plurality of locally collapsible areas; a plurality of switch sensors operable to detect a depression of one or more of the locally collapsible areas; an array of capacitive sensors operable to detect a touch event on the surface; and a processor configured to receive a touch event signal indicating that a touch event has been detected by the array of capacitor sensors on a surface of the plurality of locally collapsible areas, the processor further configured to receive a depression signal indicating that a locally collapsible area of the plurality of locally collapsible areas has been depressed, wherein the processor is operable to generate a command signal based at least in part on the touch event signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification