Key Strike Determination For Pressure Sensitive Keyboard

• US 20130228023A1
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Dietz, Paul Henry, Drasnin, Sharon, Mail, Scott Mitchel, Belesiu, Jim Tom, Shaw, Timothy C., Lutz, Moshe R.
• Application Number:
  US13/471,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20130228023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.541
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/08 with springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/46 Magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 : Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 : Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 : Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 : Special purpose keyboards
• 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 3/0233 : Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 : using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 : Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 : by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 : via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/00 : Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 : Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• 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 13/703 : characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 : characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/78 : characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 : characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/79 : characterised by the form of the contacts, e.g. interspersed fingers or helical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 : characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/82 : characterised by contact space venting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 : Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/02 : Interspersed fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/036 : to solve particular problems
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/058 : Contact area function of position on layered keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/006 : mounted on spacer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/004 : Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/006 : Individual areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2213/016 : in adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/004 : Larger or different actuating area
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/006 : Different feeling for different switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/01 : Off centre actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/032 : Operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/26 : for interlocking two or more switches H01H13/568 takes precedence; by a detachable member H01H9/28 ; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 : Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 : using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 : comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 : by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 : Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0234 : Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A pressure sensitive keyboard includes multiple pressure sensors associated with the keys of the keyboard. In response to pressure applied to one or more keys of the keyboard, a determination is made as to whether the pressure applied is a key strike (a user selection of a key). Various different factors can be used in determining whether the pressure applied is a key strike, such as the amount of the pressure applied, a rate at which the pressure is applied, a number of keys to which pressure is applied, when the pressure is applied relative to previous key strikes, and so forth.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining an indication of pressure applied to a key of a pressure sensitive keyboard configured to be physically and communicatively removable from a computing device; and

determining that the pressure applied to the key is a key strike in response to the pressure applied to the key rising to a key press threshold amount.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, the determining comprising determining that the pressure applied to the key is a key strike in response to both the pressure applied to the key rising to the key press threshold amount and no more than a threshold number of keys concurrently being pressed.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, the determining comprising determining that the pressure applied to the key is a key strike in response to both the pressure applied to the key rising to the key press threshold amount and a threshold amount of time having elapsed since the key was previously struck and released.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, the determining comprising determining that the pressure applied to the key is a key strike in response to both the pressure applied to the key rising to the key press threshold amount and a threshold amount of time having elapsed since a different key of the keyboard was previously struck.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining that the pressure applied to the key is not a key strike in response to the pressure applied to the key not rising to the key press threshold amount.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising repeating the receiving and determining for an indication of pressure applied to an additional key of the keyboard concurrently with the pressure applied to the key of the keyboard.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing, via an input device including the keyboard and in response to the determining that the pressure applied to the key is a key strike, feedback indicating the key that was struck.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining that the key is released in response to the pressure applied to the key dropping to a key release threshold amount only after a de-bouncing amount of time has elapsed.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, the key press threshold amount varying for different keys of the keyboard.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising identifying a particular value for the key press threshold amount for a user as part of a user customization process.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, the identifying comprising receiving a user input specifying the particular value for the user and/or identifying the particular value based on a received user input of particular characters as part of a training process.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising maintaining the particular value as associated with a computing device account of the user.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining the key press threshold amount based at least in part on a configuration of the computing device, an orientation of the computing device, and/or an application running on the computing device.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining, after determining that the pressure applied to the key is a key strike and based on the pressure applied to the key, a manner in which a character corresponding to the key is to be presented and/or a manner in which feedback to the user in response to the key strike is to be provided.

15. A method comprising:

obtaining an indication of pressure applied to a key of a keyboard; and

determining that the pressure applied to the key is a key strike in response to both (a) the pressure applied to the key rising to a key press threshold amount, and (b) within a particular amount of time of the pressure applied to the key rising to the key press threshold amount the pressure applied to the key also rising to a selection threshold amount or the pressure applied to the key rising to a threshold rate.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

determining, in response to the pressure applied to the key exceeding a particular amount but not rising to the key press threshold amount, that fingers or hands are resting on the keyboard; and

disabling, in response to determining that fingers or hands are resting on the keyboard, one or more additional input components of an input device that includes the keyboard.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

identifying, in response to the pressure applied to the key exceeding a particular amount but not rising to the key press threshold amount on a particular one or more keys of the keyboard, a homing behavior and

enabling, in response to identifying the homing behavior, a feedback component to provide haptic feedback in response to the determining that the pressure subsequently applied at least one key of the keyboard is a key strike.

18. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising determining that the key is not struck in response to both the pressure applied to the key not rising to the selection threshold amount within the particular amount of time of the pressure applied to the key rising to the key press threshold amount and the pressure applied to the key not rising to the threshold rate within the particular amount of time of the pressure applied to the key rising to the key press threshold amount.

19. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising determining that the key is released in response to the pressure applied to the key dropping to a key release threshold amount only after a de-bouncing amount of time has elapsed.

20. A method comprising:

obtaining an indication of pressure applied to a key of a pressure sensitive keyboard; and

determining that the pressure applied to the key is a key strike in response to;

the pressure applied to the key rising to a key press threshold amount;

no more than a threshold number of keys concurrently being pressed;

a first threshold amount of time having elapsed since the key was previously struck and released; and

a second threshold amount of time having elapsed since a different key of the keyboard was previously struck.