Keyboard with touch sensitive zones and corresponding computer user interface

• US 8,411,037 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Larsen, Glen C., O'Neil, Daniel G., Mail, Scott M., Lane, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Runkle, III, Nelson D
• Application Number:
  US11/818,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,119 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/170, 341/34, 361/679
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A keyboard key has a key portion that forms a cantilevered beam pivotable about an axis. A switch is disposed relative to the cantilevered beam, such that rotation of the cantilever beam about the axis causes depression of the switch. The switch is offset from an applied force-receiving portion of the key portion. A touch sensitive key also includes a touch sensor detecting contact with the key portion of the key. The invention can be extended such that the key portion is formed of transparent or semi-transparent material. The invention can also be extended to include touch sensitive areas on any portion of an upper case of the computer keyboard.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a keybar including a cantilevered beam portion extending from a pivot portion and having a plurality of keys formed thereon, the cantilevered beam portion having a force receiving portion configured to receive a force applied on a first side of the cantilevered beam portion in a direction to rotate the cantilevered beam portion about the pivot point to move the keybar from a non-actuated position to an actuated position;

a touch sensing portion disposed on the force receiving portion, the touch sensing portion being configured to detect a touch input on each key of the plurality of keys regardless of whether the keybar is moved to the actuated position;

a switch arranged relative to the keybar to detect movement of the keybar between the non-actuated position and the actuated position, the switch being displaced from the pivot portion and disposed on a second side of the cantilevered beam portion that is opposite the first side of the cantilevered beam portion; and

processing circuitry configured to detect a press input on the keybar, the processing circuitry being configured to determine which key of the plurality of keys received the press input based on a combination of a first input from the touch sensing portion and a second input from the switch indicating movement of the keybar to the actuated position.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed between the force receiving portion and the pivot portion.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the force receiving portion is disposed between the pivot portion and the switch.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the keybar and touch sensing portion are formed of substantially transparent material.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising:

an illumination source providing illumination of the touch sensing portion when the touch sensing portion is touched.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising:

a plurality of keybars, each having a plurality of touch sensing portions disposed thereon, each keybar having a corresponding switch detecting depression of the corresponding keybar.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising a top case having a structural portion, wherein the cantilevered beam portion is defined by a slot in the structural portion of the top case, the cantilevered beam portion being depressible by deforming the structural portion of the top case.

8. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising a top case wherein the cantilevered beam portion includes a switch activation paddle portion protruding from the cantilevered beam portion and arranged to activate the switch upon depression of the cantilevered beam portion.

9. The keyboard of claim 8 wherein the switch activation paddle portion is offset from the touch sensing portions and extends to a position overlapped by an overlapping portion of the top case, such that the switch is also overlapped by the overlapping portion of the top case.

10. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the touch sensing portion is formed of a variable resolution activation area that provides a signal indicative of a position of a touching member within the touch sensing portion.

11. A keyboard system, comprising:

an integral upper case having structural portions and at least one opening, the structural portions of the upper case comprising a first portion and a pivotable cantilevered beam portion integrally formed with and extending from the first portion of the upper case, the cantilevered beam portion being pivotable about a pivot point by deforming the structural portions of the upper case;

a plurality of keys extending through the at least one opening defined by the upper case; and

a touch sensing area including at least one touch sensor positioned on a first side of the pivotable cantilevered beam portion, the at least one touch sensor being configured to sense touching of the touch sensing area; and

a switch positioned to detect pivotal movement of the pivotable cantilevered beam portion about the pivot point.

12. The keyboard system of claim 11 and further comprising:

a user display, displaying an indication of touch activity based on touching of the touch sensing areas.

13. The keyboard system of claim 11 and further comprising:

an illumination system generating illumination of the structural portions of the upper case based on touching activity sensed by the touch sensors.

14. The keyboard system of claim 13 and further comprising:

a computer generating a user interface display, in addition to the illumination generated by the illumination system, the user interface display being based on the touching activity sensed by the touch sensors.

15. The keyboard system of claim 11 wherein the switch is disposed on a second side of the pivotable cantilevered beam portion opposite the first side of the pivotable cantilevered beam portion on which the at least one touch sensor is positioned.

16. The keyboard system of claim 11, wherein top surfaces of the first portion and the cantilevered beam portion are substantially aligned.

17. A keyboard comprising:

an upper case having structural portions and defining openings therein, the structural portions comprising a first portion and a cantilevered beam portion extending from the first portion, the cantilevered beam portion being pivotable about a pivot point between the first portion and the cantilevered beam portion by deforming the structural portions of the upper case, the cantilevered beam portion having one or more keys disposed thereon, each key comprising;

a force receiving portion configured to receive a force applied to a first side of the cantilevered beam portion in a first direction to move the key from a non-actuated position to an actuated position about a pivot portion; and

a touch sensing portion disposed on the force receiving portion and configured to detect touching of the touch sensing portion, regardless of whether the key is moved to the actuated position; and

a switch arranged on a second side of the cantilevered beam portion opposite the first side, the switch being configured to detect movement of each of the one or more keys between the non-actuated position and the actuated position, the switch being displaced from the pivot portion.

18. The keyboard of claim 17 and further comprising:

a plurality of depressible members, each respective depressible member having a plurality of keys disposed thereon and a corresponding switch configured to detect depression of the plurality of keys disposed on the respective depressible member.

19. The keyboard of claim 17, wherein processing circuitry is configured to distinguish among user activation of each key of the plurality of keys as a function of both input from the touch sensing portion of the key and input from the switch indicating movement of the depressible member.