Pressure sensitive functionality for keyboard keys

• US 6,758,615 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA), Electrotextiles Company Limited (Peratech Limited)
• Inventors: Monney, Patrick, Flueckiger, Jean-Marc, Pavillard, Denis, Sandbach, David Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Colila, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/236,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20030044215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 400/490, 400/477, 400/479, 400/480, 400/481
• US Class Current: 400/479
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a computer keyboard having a key sensing device that provides two levels of sensing by generating electrical signals depending on the force applied on the keys. The different levels of key sensing can be used to provide different functions, for instance, in a software application. This key sensing functionality can be provided on all or only some of the keys of the keyboard. For example, the different pressure levels applied on the key can be used to control cursor movement or scrolling and to produce pressure-based shifting between lower case and upper case. A method of providing pressure sensitive key functionalities for a keyboard comprises producing a signal by applying a pressure to a key which is configured to produce different signals in response to different pressure levels applied to the key. A user interface response is generated based on the signal produced by the pressure applied to the key. The different signals are adapted to generate different user interface responses for the key.

Claims

1. A method of providing pressure sensitive key functionalities for a keyboard, comprising:

producing a signal by applying a pressure to a key which is configured to produce different signals in response to different pressure levels applied to the key, wherein a low-pressure signal is produced by a low pressure below a preset pressure and a high-pressure signal is produced by a high pressure at or above a preset pressure; and

generating a user interface response based on the signal produced by the pressure applied to the key, the different signals being adapted to generate different user interface responses for the key,

wherein the key is a cursor key, and wherein the low-pressure signal generates a single letter cursor movement and the high-pressure signal generates a single word cursor movement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal corresponds to a frequency of key repeats for the key, an increase in pressure producing a signal corresponding to a higher frequency of key repeats.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the single letter cursor movement at the low pressure is at a speed which increases with the pressure applied to the key, and wherein the single word cursor movement at the high pressure is at a speed which increases with the pressure applied to the key.

4. A method of providing pressure sensitive key functionalities for a keyboard, comprising:

producing a signal by applying a pressure to a key which is configured to produce different signals in response to different pressure levels applied to the key, wherein a low-pressure signal is produced by a low pressure below a preset pressure and a high-pressure signal is produced by a high pressure at or above a preset pressure; and

generating a user interface response based on the signal produced by the pressure applied to the key, the different signals being adapted to generate different user interface responses for the key;

wherein the key is a scroll key, wherein the low-pressure signal generates line scrolling and the high-pressure signal generates page scrolling.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein an increase in pressure produces a signal corresponding to an increase in line scrolling speed at the low pressure and to an increase in page scrolling speed at the high pressure.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the signal corresponds to a frequency of key repeats for the key, an increase in pressure producing a signal corresponding to a higher frequency of key repeats.