Keyboard with keys for moving cursor

• US 7,589,712 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ambit Corporation
• Inventors: Halgren, Donald N., Crowley, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZUBAJLO, JENNIFER L
• Application Number:
  US11/005,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-178, 340/407.1, 341/22, 341/34, 708/138, 708/142
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• 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 13/702 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 13/785 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 2201/02 Piezo element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/006 Force isolators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/03 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/052 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/074 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/002 Fluid or inflatable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/034 Support for hands or arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/011 with integrated photo- or thermovoltaic cell as power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/038 Fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/042 : Foam
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/084 : made at least partly of elastic foam
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 : reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 : superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 : Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/034 : Regulation of operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/05 : Forming; Half-punching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/01 : Toy
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/012 : Decoding impedances
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/052 : Strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/964 : Piezoelectric touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 : Switch making

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention comprise a signal generator for sending an electrical signal from an expandable, flexible layer of material, the signal generator comprising an upper layer of flexible, resilient material and a lower layer of flexible, resilient material which between them define a cavity for enclosing an expandable material such as a cellular foam or gas, whereupon localized distortion of one of the layers of flexible material, effects a signal generation within the structure, which is transmissible through a proper circuit to an outside electrical device. A circuit may be arranged adjacent a plurality of said keys which senses when several of said keys are depressed in a skewed or sideways manner, so as to effect movement of a cursor or pointer on a monitor in communication with a processing unit and said keyboard.

Claims

1. A signal generator for sending information to a computer monitor, comprising:

a plurality of depressible keys for sending electrical signals to a processing circuit through an electrical circuit, said plurality of depressible keys being formed of a flexible material having an upper surface and a lower surface, a pressurized medium comprising at least a foam or a gas maintaining a pressure against said lower surface of said flexible material to keep said signal generator inflated; and

a second electrical circuit arranged between at least two of said plurality of depressible keys on said signal generator, to effect motion in a cursor on said monitor if said plurality of at least two of said keys are moved in a sideways direction.

2. The signal generator as recited in claim 1, wherein said further electrical circuit comprises a multiplicity of electrical components spaced adjacent the periphery of each of said plurality of at least two of said depressible keys, each of said spaced components connected in parallel to correspondingly positioned spaced electrical components of the other of said depressible keys and to a processing unit for input to said monitor.

3. The signal generator as recited in claim 2, wherein said electrical components comprise resistors which are each connectable to a secondary contact point to receive signals when any of said keys are moved with a sideways direction of motion.

4. The signal generated as recited in claim 2, wherein said electrical components comprise strain gages.

5. The signal generator as recited in claim 3, wherein a plurality of primary contact points are disposed on said lower surface of said flexible material, juxtaposed with respect to said secondary contact points to permit electrical communication therebetween, when any of said plurality of depressible keys are skewedly moved.

6. A method of forming a signal generator to effect movement of a cursor on a computer monitor, comprising:

arranging a plurality of depressible keys on a keyboard so that when any of said keys are depressed, an electrical signal is sent through a first electrical circuit to a processing unit and to a monitor for display said signal thereon;

arranging a sideways motion sensor with respect to at least two of said keys, the sideways motion sensor being operable to send a further electrical signal to said monitor to move a cursor in a desired direction when a plurality of said keys having said further circuit are moved with any component of sideways motion, the sideways motion sensor comprising a plurality of resistors about each of said at least two keys; and

connecting in parallel, corresponding resistors from each of said at least two keys, said parallel resistors arranged as a circuit connected to a processing unit to establish a circuit for sending a proportionally increasing signal to said monitor when an increasing number of keys are moved in a corresponding sideways direction.

7. A method of forming a signal generator, comprising:

fabricating an upper surface of a keyboard from a layer of flexible plastic sheet material;

molding a plurality of keys into a digit depressible form as a unitary component of said flexible plastic sheet material;

arranging a lower layer of material as a base of said keyboard which is sealed at a common periphery with said layer of flexible plastic material comprising said upper layer;

injecting a charge of compressible foam into a cavity defined between said upper layer of flexible plastic sheet material and said lower layer of material;

placing a dispersion of electrically conductive particles within said foam to permit portions of said foam to be electrically conductive when said particles are compacted against one another, increasing their conductivity to establish a completed circuit therein as said foam is compressed; and

arranging a plurality of contacts adjacent the periphery of the lower surface of each of said plurality of keys, said contacts being part of a circuit connected to a processing unit to effect movement in a cursor or pointer on said monitor when a key is pressed sideways.

8. The method of forming the signal generator as recited in claim 7, comprising:

pressing downwardly towards said base of said keyboard at least one of said plurality of keys so as to send an electrical signal to the processing unit to generate an alpha/numeric response on said monitor; and

moving sideways with respect to said base of said keyboard at least two of said plurality of keys so as to send an electrical signal to the processing unit to effect a corresponding movement in a cursor or pointer on said monitor.

9. The method of forming the signal generator as recited in claim 7, comprising:

decompressing said foam to separate any compacted conductive particles to open any circuit established therein.

10. The method of forming a signal generator as recited in claim 7, further comprising injecting gas into the cavity between said upper layer of flexible plastic sheet material and said lower layer of material.

11. The method of forming a signal generator as recited in claim 7, wherein the cavity comprises a valve.

12. A method of forming a signal generator to effect movement of a cursor on a computer monitor, comprising:

arranging a plurality of depressible keys on a keyboard so that when any of said keys are depressed, an electrical signal is sent through a first electrical circuit to a processing unit and to a monitor for display said signal thereon; and

arranging a sideways motion sensor with respect to at least two of said keys, the sideways motion sensor being operable to send a further electrical signal to said monitor to move a cursor in a desired direction when a plurality of said keys having said further circuit are moved with any component of sideways motion, the sideways motion sensor comprising a plurality of resistors about each of said at least two keys; and

arranging a plurality of strain gauges within at least two of said plurality of keys, the strain gages being operable to be coupled to said monitor through a processing unit to establish a circuit for sending a proportional changing signal to said monitor depending on the quantity of keys moved sideways to effect movement of said cursor or pointer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of depressible keys are expandable.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of depressible keys are formed by injecting foam or gas into a cavity defining at least partially the plurality of depressible keys.