Touchsurface with level and planar translational travel responsiveness
First Claim
1. An input device comprising:
- a rigid body including a touchsurface configured to travel along a depression path in response to being depressed by a user;
a leveling mechanism operatively associated with the touchsurface, the leveling mechanism configured to keep the touchsurface substantially level as the touchsurface travels along the depression path in response to being depressed by the user;
a planar-translation-effecting mechanism operatively associated with the touchsurface, the planar-translation-effecting mechanism configured to define a planar translation component of the depression path, such that the touchsurface exhibits planar translation as the touchsurface travels along the depression path; and
a capacitive keyswitch sensor configured to detect a variable capacitance affected by motion of the touchsurface along the depression path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are one or more techniques related to a touchsurface with level and planar translational travel responsiveness. One or more of the described implementations include an input device having a rigid body including a touchsurface configured to travel along a depression path in response to being depressed by a user. The input device also includes a leveling mechanism that operates in manner to keep the touchsurface substantially level as the touchsurface travels along the depression path in response to being depressed by the user. Furthermore, the input device has a planar-translation-effecting mechanism that defines a planar translation component of the depression path, such that the touchsurface exhibits planar translation as the touchsurface travels along the depression path.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device comprising:
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a rigid body including a touchsurface configured to travel along a depression path in response to being depressed by a user; a leveling mechanism operatively associated with the touchsurface, the leveling mechanism configured to keep the touchsurface substantially level as the touchsurface travels along the depression path in response to being depressed by the user; a planar-translation-effecting mechanism operatively associated with the touchsurface, the planar-translation-effecting mechanism configured to define a planar translation component of the depression path, such that the touchsurface exhibits planar translation as the touchsurface travels along the depression path; and a capacitive keyswitch sensor configured to detect a variable capacitance affected by motion of the touchsurface along the depression path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of keycaps, each keycap of the plurality of keycaps having a first face configured to be pressed by a user and a second face comprising a first guide feature; a keyguide configured to guide keycap motion, the keyguide comprising a plurality of second guide features, wherein each second guide feature of the plurality of second guide features configured to operate with the first guide feature of an associated keycap to define an associated path traveled by the associated keycap in response to press input applied to the associated keycap by a user, and wherein each second guide feature is further configured to operate with the first guide feature of the associated keycap to keep the associated keycap substantially level as the associated keycap travels along the associated path; and a non-elastomeric tactile feedback mechanism operatively associated with the keycap, the tactile feedback mechanism configured to provide a resisting force in response to the press. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a key assembly comprising:
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resisting a press input applied by a user to a keycap of the key assembly; effecting translation of the keycap along a path while keeping the keycap substantially level in response to the press input, the translation having a planar translation component; returning the keycap to an unpressed position in response to a release of the press; sensing a variable capacitance defined by motion of the keycap along the path; and determining an actuation state of the keyswitch in response to a value of the variable capacitance.
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Specification