Foldable alpha numeric keyboard

• US 6,861,961 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Electrotextiles Company Limited (Peratech Limited)
• Inventors: Chapman, Christopher, Sandbach, David Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/980,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/34, 178/18.05, 345/156, 345/168, 345/173, 345/178, 200/268, 200/269, 200/5.A, 200/262
• US Class Current: 341/22
• 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: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/0085 Layered switches integrated into garment, clothes or textile
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/01 Woven wire screen
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/016 Protection layer, e.g. for legend, anti-scratch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/008 Part of substrate or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/046 convertible
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/00 Manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable alpha numeric keyboard device (2301) configured to input data items into a computer or similar processing device (2307). The keyboard device comprises a first electrically conductive fabric sheet, a second electrically conductive fabric sheet and an interface circuit configured to supply voltages to and receive outputs from said keyboard. In addition; the keyboard is configured to produce an output in response to a mechanical interaction and the interface circuit is arranged to respond to the mechanical interaction and to provide a data item to a computer or similar processing device.

Claims

1. A foldable alpha numeric keyboard device configured to input data items into a computer or similar processing device, said keyboard device comprising a first electrically conductive fabric layer and a second electrically conductive fabric layer;

an interface circuit configured to supply voltages to and receive outputs from said keyboard;

wherein aid keyboard is configured to produce an output in response to a mechanical interaction and said interface circuit is arranged to respond to said mechanical interaction nd to provide a data item to said computer or similar processing device.

2. a foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard further comprises at least one electrically insulative masking layer disposed between said first electrically conductive fabric layer and said second electrically conductive fabric layer, said masking layer defining a plurality of holes through which electrical contact between said first electrically conductive fabric layer and said second electrically conductive fabric layer can occur.

3. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein said device provides an output indicative of the pressure applied by said mechanical interaction.

4. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 3, wherein, in response to a mechanical interaction, a single measurement is made representing said resistance between the first and second electrically conductive layers of the keyboard and an output indicative of a mechanical interaction is provided.

5. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 3, wherein, in response to a mechanical interaction, two measurements are made representing said resistance between the first and second electrically conductive layers of the keyboard and an output indicative of a mechanical interaction is provided.

6. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of key outlines are defined on said keyboard device, and said keyboard device includes a number of key registration devices configured to assist compression of said first layer and said second layers within a particular one of said key outlines.

7. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 6, wherein said key registration device provides an indication of the location of a key.

8. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of said key registration devices are configured to deform under pressure and provides an indication that a key has been pressed.

9. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 8, wherein each of said key registration devices as a dome-like configuration and when under pressure, each said key registration device deforms inwardly from a first position until at a second position resistance to deformation is suddenly reduced, while on release of said pressure said key registration device returns to its dome-life configuration.

10. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 8, wherein a key registration device is located above said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer and said key registration device includes a base having a surface for attachment to one of said fabric layers and a pressure focusing means, wherein said pressure focusing means is configured to apply a force to an area of said fabric layers when said key registration device is under pressure, and said pressure focusing means is configured such hat said area is smaller than said base attachment surface.

11. A foldable alpha numeric keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein said first electrically conductive fabric layer is displaced from said second electrically conductive fabric layer, such that conduction between said first layer and said second layer results when said first layer and said second layer are forced together by a mechanical interaction.

12. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 11, wherein said keyboard further comprises a central conductive layer disposed between the first and second conductive layers, said central conductive layer having a conductance that increases as it is planed under press re and allowing conduction between said first layer and said second layer in response o a mechanical interaction.

13. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 12, wherein said keyboard further comprises a first insulating means disposed between said first conductive layer and said central conductive layer, and a second insulating means disposed between said second conductive layer and said central conductive layer.

14. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 11, wherein said first fabric layer includes conductive yarns electrically grouped to define a plurality of conductive rows, said second fabric layer includes conductive yarns electrically grouped to define a plurality of conductive columns and the intersections of said rows and columns define separate regions of said keyboard device.

15. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 11, wherein said interface circuit has two electrical connections only to each of said first conductive layer and said second conductive layers.

16. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 15, wherein said first conductive layer and said second conductive layer are conductive in all directions.

17. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 15, wherein said electrical connections are made to opposing edges of said first conductive layer and to opposing edges of paid second conductive layer.

18. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 15, wherein said interface circuit includes

a voltage supply means configured to apply a voltage across said first conductive layer;

a voltage measurement means configured to measure a first voltage;

a voltage supply means configured to apply a voltage across said second conductive layer;

a voltage measurement means configured to measure a second voltage; and

output means configured to provide an output dependent on said first and second voltages, indicative of the position of said mechanical interaction.

19. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 14, wherein said interface circuit is configured to provide an output indicative of the specific region at which a mechanical interaction is present.

20. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 14, wherein said interface circuit is configured to apply a voltage across a larger region defined by a plurality of said separate regions and to provide an output indicative of the position of the mechanical interaction within said larger region.

21. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 14, wherein said first fabric layer includes conductive fibres extending in a first direction and non-conductive fibre extending in a second direction, said second fabric layer includes conductive fibres extending in a third direction and non-conductive fibres extending in a fourth direction, such that said third direction is different to said first direction.

22. A method of identifying key presses on the foldable keyboard device of claim 14, said method including the steps of

applying a voltage to a larger region defined by a plurality of said separate regions;

detecting the presence of a mechanical interaction; and

determining the specific region at which said mechanical interaction is present.

23. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 14, wherein said interface circuit is configured to apply a voltage across a particular one of said regions and to provide in output indicative of the position of the mechanical interaction within said particular region.

24. A foldable alpha-numeric keyboard device according to claim 23, wherein at least one of said separate regions each corresponds to a plurality of different keys and a plurality of said separate regions each correspond to one key only.

25. A foldable keyboard device configured to input data items into a computer or similar processing device, said keyboard device comprising a first electrically conductive fabric layer and a second electrically conductive fabric layer;

an interface circuit configured to supply voltages to and receive outputs from said keyboard;

wherein said keyboard is configured to produce an output in response to a mechanical interaction and said interface circuit is arranged to respond to said mechanical interaction and to provide a data item to said computer or similar processing device, wherein a plurality of key outlines are defined on said keyboard device, and said keyboard device includes a key registration device configured to focus compression of said first layer and said second layer during a mechanical interaction on a location within a key outline.