Touchsurface with level and planar translational travel responsiveness

• US 8,912,458 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Cody G., Krumpelman, Douglas M., Levin, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US13/568,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 345/168, 345/173.174
• US Class Current: 200/344
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2013/525 using a return spring acting perpendicular to the actuating direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/002 Longer travel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/042 Permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/014 Slide selector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/04 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/058 to avoid tilting or skewing of contact area or actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/036 Minimise height
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960745 Capacitive differential; e.g. comparison with reference capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

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.

Claims

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.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the rigid body comprises a rectangular body having greater width than depth, and greater breadth than depth.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the leveling mechanism is further configured to keep the touchsurface level as the touchsurface returns to an unpressed position in response to a release from being depressed by the user.

4. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

conductive material physically coupled to the rigid body, such that motion of the rigid body moves the conductive material, wherein the capacitive keyswitch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor electrode configured to capacitively couple with the conductive material and define the variable capacitance.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the leveling mechanism and the planar-translation-effecting mechanism function simultaneously as the touchsurface travels along the depression path.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the same mechanism comprises a plurality of ramps disposed proximate to a perimeter region of the rigid body.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of ramps are configured such that the depression path is linear.

8. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a ready mechanism configured to keep the touchsurface in an unpressed position; and

a return mechanism configured to return the touchsurface to the unpressed position.

9. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a combined ready/return mechanism configured to keep the touchsurface in an unpressed position until depressed by the user and thereafter to return the touchsurface to the unpressed position.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the combined ready/return mechanism utilizes magnetic attraction.

11. The input device of claim 10, wherein the combined ready/return mechanism comprises at least one magnet and at least one piece of non-magnetic, ferrous material.

12. A keyboard comprising:

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.

13. The keyboard of claim 12, further comprising:

a capacitive keyswitch sensor configured to detect a variable capacitance affected by motion of the touchsurface along the depression path.

14. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein the first guide feature of a first keycap of the plurality of keycaps comprises a plurality of inclined surfaces, and wherein the second guide feature associated with the first keycap comprises a plurality of ramps configured to contact the plurality of inclined surfaces.

15. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein the non-elastomeric tactile feedback mechanism comprises at least one magnet and at least one piece of non-magnetic, ferrous material.

16. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein the associated path of a first key cap of the plurality of keycaps differs from the associated path of a second key cap of the plurality of keycaps.

17. The keyboard of claim 16, wherein the associated path of the first key cap of the plurality of keycaps and the associated path of the second key cap of the plurality of keycaps differs in an amount of lateral motion.

18. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein the non-elastomeric tactile feedback mechanism utilizes magnetism to provide the resisting force in response to the press.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the resisting the press input comprises using magnetism, and wherein the effecting translation of the keycap along a path while keeping the keycap substantially level comprises guiding the keycap using a plurality of ramps.

20. A method of operating a key assembly comprising:

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.