Keyboard appliance for touchscreen

• US 8,988,355 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SoloMatrix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SoloMatrix, Inc.
• Inventors: Solomon, Robert L., MacDonald, Chad J., Korn, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US13/495,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

A keyboard activates areas of a touchscreen according to user interaction with the keyboard. A discharge circuit provides a discharge path for altering the electrostatic field of the touchscreen. Such discharge circuit excludes the user'"'"'s finger (or stylus). Instead of grounding to the user, a ground plane in varying embodiments may be contained within the keyboard, or be formed at least in part by by the case of the keyboard, the case of the host device, or the ground plane of the host device. The keyboard includes an electrical ground member to absorb the capacitive discharge and/or conduct such discharge to the ground plane.

Claims

1. A keyboard that activates registration of a user input by a touchscreen, which underlies the keyboard, in response to a user applying a pressing force of a pressure source into contact with the keyboard, wherein the keyboard responds to said pressing force by forming a discharge path for an area of the touchscreen corresponding to a pressed key of the keyboard, the touchscreen being a capacitive discharge touchscreen of a type that registers user input in response to touch by discharging from a touched area of the touchscreen, the touchscreen discharging said area corresponding to said pressed key into said keyboard along the formed discharge path, the keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys by which the pressure source applies physical contact with the keyboard;

a corresponding plurality of non-conductive areas configured to electrically isolate the touchscreen from the pressure source at a location of said physical contact between the pressure source and the keyboard; and

a deformable diaphragm having a portion that is electrically conductive, said electrically conductive portion comprising either one of all or less than all of the diaphragm;

wherein a first key among said plurality of keys is configured to be activated in response to application of said pressing force to said first key; and

wherein in response to activation of said first key, said discharge path, which excludes said pressure source, is formed between said contacted touchscreen area corresponding to the activated first key and at least the diaphragm, the diaphragm being electrically isolated from said pressure source, which presses said activated first key, by at least said corresponding non-conductive area to exclude the pressure source from the discharge path by which the touchscreen registers said input in response to said activation of said first key.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a corresponding plurality of pads in electrical communication with the touchscreen.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising:

a corresponding plurality of contact switches; and

wherein in response to said activation of said first key the corresponding contact switch is altered to close a circuit path between said corresponding touchscreen area and said electrically conductive portion of the diaphragm, the circuit path including said corresponding pad, said circuit path being said discharge path.

4. The keyboard of claim 3, wherein the diaphragm is in physical and electrical communication with the plurality of contact switches, wherein said corresponding plurality of contact switches are in physical communication with said printed circuit board, and wherein while the activated key is activated, the corresponding contact switch establishes electrical communication with the corresponding contact at said second face of the printed circuit board to close said circuit path between the corresponding pad and the electrically conductive portion of the diaphragm.

5. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the diaphragm comprises a corresponding plurality of actuator posts;

and

wherein in response to said activation of said first key the corresponding actuator post moves to close a circuit path between said corresponding touchscreen area and said electrically conductive portion of the diaphragm, said circuit path including said corresponding pad, said circuit path being said discharge path.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, further comprising a corresponding plurality of contact switches;

and

wherein in response to said activation of said first key the corresponding actuator post alters the corresponding contact switch to close the circuit path between said corresponding touchscreen area and electrically conductive portion of the diaphragm, said circuit path including said corresponding pad.

7. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein each one of the corresponding plurality of pads remains in electrical communication with the touchscreen during operation of the keyboard;

and wherein each one of the corresponding plurality of pads is electrically isolated from the electrically conductive portion of the diaphragm while the corresponding key is not activated.

8. The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board comprising said corresponding plurality of pads at one face of the printed circuit board and a corresponding plurality of contacts at a second, opposite face of the printed circuit board, wherein each one of the pads is in electrical communication with a corresponding one of the contacts.

9. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein the diaphragm comprises a corresponding plurality of actuator posts, and wherein for each one key there is a gap between the corresponding actuator post and the corresponding contact.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, further comprising a corresponding plurality of contact switches, and wherein for an unpressed key of said plurality of keys a corresponding one of the contact switches spans said gap.

11. The keyboard of claim 9, further comprising a corresponding plurality of contact switches, wherein a corresponding one of the contact switches is located within said gap, and wherein for an unpressed key of said plurality of keys there is an air gap between said corresponding actuator post and said corresponding contact switch, said air gap being traversed when said unpressed key is pressed so that the corresponding actuator post moves into contact with the corresponding contact switch.

12. The keyboard of claim 8,

wherein each one of the corresponding plurality of pads is electrically isolated from the electrically conductive portion of the diaphragm while the corresponding key is not activated;

wherein for each one key in a normal unpressed state there is a gap between the circuit board and the diaphragm; and

wherein while the activated key is activated, a portion of the electrically conductive portion of the diaphragm comes into electrical communication with the corresponding contact of the circuit board to close said circuit path between the corresponding pad and the diaphragm.

13. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises a plurality of elevated key areas corresponding to the plurality of keys, and wherein the plurality of keys are non-conductive key caps which reside on the corresponding elevated key areas, and wherein said corresponding plurality of non-conductive areas are formed by said non-conductive key caps.

14. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a unitary structure having a plurality of regions, each region being one of the plurality of keys, the unitary structure being deformable in response to pressing of any region of said plurality of regions.

15. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein an underside face of the unitary structure is in physical contact with a face of the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is deformable, and wherein during activation of said key, the region of the unitary structure corresponding to the key is deformed, which in turn deforms an underlying portion of the diaphragm, the underlying portion in turn causing the discharge path to be closed.

16. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm serves as an electrical ground plane that absorbs discharge from said area of the touchscreen corresponding to the activated first key so as to allow the touchscreen to register an input at said area of the touchscreen corresponding to the activated first key.

17. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is electrically coupled to an electrical ground plane.

18. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is electrically coupled to an electrical ground plane through a cantilevered magnetic latch.

19. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a housing for engaging a host device of the touchscreen, wherein the diaphragm is electrically coupled to a capacitive ground structure through a cantilevered magnetic latch, the capacitive ground structure formed at least in part by a conductive member and the housing, said capacitive ground structure being in electrical communication with said discharge path to absorb discharge from said area of the touchscreen corresponding to the activated first key so as to allow the touchscreen to register an input at said area of the touchscreen corresponding to the activated first key.

20. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the capacitive ground structure is a leaky capacitive structure which leaks capacitance, thereby allowing the ground structure to have capacity to repeatedly absorb discharge from one or more activated areas of the touchscreen.

21. The keyboard of claim 1, for use with a host device including said touchscreen, and further comprising a conductive path from the diaphragm to a ground plane formed between the keyboard and the host device.

22. The keyboard of claim 1, for use with a host device including said touchscreen, and further comprising a conductive path from the diaphragm to a ground formed between the keyboard and a housing of the host device.

23. The keyboard of claim 1, for use with a host device including said touchscreen, and further comprising a conductive path from the diaphragm to a ground formed between the keyboard and a case of the host device.

24. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a ground structure that stores capacitance, said ground structure being in electrical communication with said discharge path to absorb discharge from said area of the touchscreen corresponding to the activated first key so as to allow the touchscreen to register an input at said area of the touchscreen corresponding to the activated first key, wherein said ground structure comprises a conductive layer sandwiched between two non-conductive layers.

25. The keyboard of claim 1 for use with a host device including said touchscreen, and further comprising at least a portion of a ground structure that stores capacitance, said ground structure being in electrical communication with said discharge path to absorb discharge from said area of the touchscreen corresponding to the activated first key so as to allow the touchscreen to register an input at said area of the touchscreen corresponding to the activated first key, wherein said keyboard comprises a conductive layer and a first non-conductive layer of said ground structure, and wherein a second non-conductive layer of said ground structure is configured as a non-conductive external surface of said host device or a case of said host device, the capacitive structure being configured with the conductive layer sandwiched between the first and second non-conductive layers while the keyboard overlays the touchscreen for keyboard operation.

26. The keyboard of claim 1 in combination with said touchscreen, wherein the touchscreen is configured to adjust for a change in capacitance load caused when the keyboard is positioned to overly and contact a touch surface of said touchscreen by adjusting a background capacitance noise level against which a touchscreen input can be discerned;

and

wherein the keyboard is configured so that said change in capacitance load is within a signal to noise ratio capability of said touchscreen, thereby allowing a further change of said capacitance load, which occurs when said discharge path is formed between said contacted touchscreen area corresponding to the activated first key and the diaphragm while the pressure source is electrically isolated from the discharge path by a corresponding one of said plurality of non-conductive areas, to be registered as a touch by the touchscreen.

27. The keyboard of claim 26 configured as a mechanical keyboard wherein each one key of said plurality of keys is configured for activation in which all action for such activation consists of mechanical, non-electrical action responsive to application of said pressing force to said one key.

28. The keyboard of claim 26 wherein all electrical input to the keyboard during operation of the keyboard to activate registration of the user input by the touchscreen consists of capacitive discharge from said contacted touchscreen area.

29. The keyboard of claim 1 configured as a mechanical keyboard wherein each one key of said plurality of keys is configured for activation in which all action for such activation consists of mechanical, non-electrical action responsive to application of said pressing force to said one key.

30. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein all electrical input to the keyboard during operation of the keyboard to activate registration of the user input by the touchscreen consists of capacitive discharge from said contacted touchscreen area.

31. A method of activating an area of a touchscreen corresponding to a touchscreen key of a touchscreen key set, comprising:

overlaying a keyboard apparatus onto an external surface of the touchscreen, whereby physical contact is made and maintained between the touchscreen and a plurality of contact surfaces of the keyboard apparatus at multiple touchscreen areas configured to receive touchscreen key inputs, the keyboard apparatus having a plurality of keys;

receiving at a first key of the keyboard apparatus a pressing force of a pressure source contacting the first key, wherein said pressing force activates said first key;

closing an electrical circuit path within the keyboard in response to activation of said first key, said closed electrical circuit path extending from a first contact surface among said plurality of contact surfaces corresponding to said first key to a capacitive ground structure, said first contact surface being in physical contact with a first touchscreen area among said multiple touchscreen areas corresponding to the first key, said capacitive ground structure comprising a conductive layer sandwiched between a first non-conductive layer and a second non-conductive layer, at least the conductive layer and the first non-conductive layer being part of the keyboard apparatus; and

discharging said first touchscreen area corresponding to the first key when said electrical circuit path is closed, said discharging occurring through said electrical circuit path with discharge from said first touchscreen area being absorbed by said capacitive ground structure so that the touchscreen registers a touch input at said first touchscreen area; and

wherein said touchscreen is electrically isolated from the pressure source at a location of physical contact between the pressure source and the first key by a non-conductive area corresponding to the first key so that the pressure source where contacting the first key does not form part of the electrical circuit path or capacitive ground structure during said receiving, closing and discharging.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said pressing force alters a contact switch corresponding to the first key to close the electrical circuit path.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising moving an actuator corresponding to the first key across an air gap to close the electrical circuit path between the pad in contact with said corresponding switch area and the capacitive ground structure.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising moving an actuator corresponding to the first key across an air gap into contact with a contact switch corresponding to the first key and altering the contact switch to close the electrical circuit path between the pad in contact with said corresponding switch area and the capacitive ground structure.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the capacitive ground structure accumulates charge as keys of the keyboard apparatus are activated and the touchscreen discharges, and further comprising leaking accumulated charge from said capacitive ground structure so as to reduce potential for reaching a charging capacity of the capacitive ground structure.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising, after said overlaying, adjusting by the touchscreen for a change in capacitance load caused said plurality of contact surfaces of the keyboard apparatus contacting said multiple touchscreen areas, said adjusting comprising adjusting a background capacitance noise level against which a touchscreen input can be discerned, wherein the keyboard apparatus is configured so that said change in capacitance load is within a signal to noise ratio capability of said touchscreen, thereby allowing a further change of capacitance caused by said closing said electrical circuit path and said discharging through said electrical circuit path to be registered as a touch by the touchscreen.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein each one key of said plurality of keys is configured for activation in which all action for such activation consists of mechanical, non-electrical action responsive to application of said pressing force to said one key.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein all electrical input for operation of the keyboard apparatus to activate registration of the user input by the touchscreen consists of capacitive discharge from said contacted touchscreen area.