Force Concentrator
First Claim
1. A pressure sensitive key comprising:
- a sensor substrate having one or more conductors;
a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input; and
a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate, the force concentrator layer having a pad disposed thereon that is configured to cause pressure applied to the force concentrator layer to be channeled through the pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Force concentrator techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a pressure sensitive key includes a sensor substrate having a plurality of conductors, a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input; and a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate. The force concentrator layer has a pad disposed thereon that is configured to cause pressure applied to the force concentrator layer to be channeled through the pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input.
103 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pressure sensitive key comprising:
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a sensor substrate having one or more conductors; a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input; and a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate, the force concentrator layer having a pad disposed thereon that is configured to cause pressure applied to the force concentrator layer to be channeled through the pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pressure sensitive key comprising:
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a sensor substrate having a plurality of conductors; a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input; and a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate, the force concentrator layer configured to act as a mechanical filter such that an amount of pressure below a threshold amount is not channeled in a sufficient amount to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the force concentrator layer in an amount that is sufficient to initiate the input. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A keyboard comprising a plurality of pressure sensitive keys formed comprising:
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a sensor substrate having a plurality of conductors; a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input of a respective said key; and a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate, the force concentrator layer having; a first side including a pad disposed thereon that is configured to contact the flexible contact layer pressure applied to the force concentrator layer to be channeled through the pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input of the respective said key; and a second side that is substantially smooth; and an outer material disposed over the second side of the force concentrator layer, the outer material including indications of the input of the respective said key. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification