KEYPAD APPARATUS HAVING PROXIMITY AND PRESSURE SENSING

• US 20130100030A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Los, Oleg, Szczypinski, David Kazmierz
• Application Number:
  US13/276,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20130100030A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

Keypad apparatus and methods are described herein. An example keypad includes a dome-switch assembly having a dome aligned relative to a first trace pattern and a second trace pattern of a printed circuit board and a key aligned with the dome. The key is depressible between an initial position, an intermediate position and a depressed position, where the key is to deflect the dome to electrically couple the first and second trace patterns when the key is in the depressed position. A touch sensing film detects a touch on a keycap of the key when the key is in the initial position and a pressure sensing film detects a force on the keycap when the key is in the intermediate position.

Claims

1. A keypad apparatus comprising:

a dome-switch assembly having;

a dome aligned relative to a first trace pattern and a second trace pattern of a printed circuit board;

a key aligned with the dome, the key being depressible between an initial position, an intermediate position and a depressed position, wherein the key is to deflect the dome to electrically couple the first and second trace patterns when the key is in the depressed position;

a touch sensing film to detect a touch on a keycap of the key when the key is in the initial position; and

a pressure sensing film to detect a force on the keycap when the key is in the intermediate position.

2. The keypad apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing film comprises a capacitive sensor having a capacitance sensitive pattern that is associated with the key.

3. The keypad apparatus of claim 2, wherein the capacitance sensitive pattern provides a first capacitance output value when an object engages the keycap of the key and a second capacitance output value when the object is away from the keycap of the key, wherein the first capacitance output value is different than the second capacitance output value.

4. The keypad apparatus of claim 2, wherein the capacitance sensitive pattern comprises a matrix having a plurality of traces disposed on the touch sensing film.

5. The keypad apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing film comprises an Indium Tin Oxide film.

6. The keypad apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing film includes a resistance sensitive pattern that is associated with the key.

7. The keypad apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing film comprises a pressure sensitive ink printed on a dome sheet of the dome-switch assembly.

8. The keypad apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a puck disposed between the pressure sensing film and the dome, the puck comprising a material substantially similar to the material of the pressure sensing film.

9. The keypad apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing film and the pressure sensing film are disposed between an actuator associated with the keycap and the dome.

10. The keypad apparatus of claim 9, wherein the actuator is to directly contact the touch sensing film.

11. The keypad apparatus of claim 8, wherein the actuator deflects the touch sensing film and the pressure sensing film toward the dome when a keycap associated with the dome is in the depressed position.

12. The keypad apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an insulating material disposed between a first surface of the touch sensing film and the dome.

13. A keypad assembly comprising:

a dome-switch;

a pressure sensor disposed between a dome of the dome-switch and a keycap of the keypad assembly; and

a touch sensor disposed between the keycap and a printed circuit board.

14. The keypad assembly of claim 13, wherein a key associated with the dome-switch is movable between an initial position, an intermediate position and a depressible position.

15. The keypad assembly of claim 14, wherein the touch sensor is to detect a touch when the key is in the initial position and the dome-switch is not activated.

16. The keypad assembly of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor is to detect a force when the key is in the intermediate position and the dome-switch is not activated.

17. The keypad assembly of claim 13, wherein the touch sensor is directly coupled to the pressure sensor.

18. The keypad assembly of claim 13, further comprising an insulating material disposed between the touch sensor and the pressure sensor.

19. A keypad comprising:

a dome sheet having a plurality of domes disposed over a printed circuit board;

a pressure sensing ink printed on the dome sheet; and

a proximity sensing film disposed adjacent the pressure sensing ink between a keycap of the keypad and the printed circuit board.

20. The keypad of claim 19, further comprising an insulating material disposed between the pressure sensing ink and the proximity sensing film.