Low pin count solution using capacitance sensing matrix for keyboard architecture
First Claim
1. A mobile device comprising:
- a processing device comprising a capacitance measurement circuit to couple to an array of a plurality of electrodes, wherein the processing device is configured to determine a position of a conductive object proximate to a sensing surface of the mobile device, wherein the processing device is configured to;
assign a plurality of keys to correspond to defined areas of the sensing surface, wherein the defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is positioned to correspond to at least three of the defined areas;
select a key of the key matrix when the position of the conductive object proximate to the sensing surface is determined to be within the defined area corresponding to the key; and
detect a gesture performed by the conductive object on the sensing surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for selecting a keyboard key based on a position of a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device and a pre-defined area of the keyboard key. The apparatus may include a sensing device and a processing device. The sensing device may include a plurality of sensor elements to detect a presence of a conductive object on the sensing device. Multiple keyboard keys are assigned to pre-defined areas of the sensing device. The processing device is coupled to the sensing device using capacitance sensing pins, and may be operable to determine a position of the presence of the conductive object, and to select a keyboard key based on the position of the conductive object and the pre-defined areas of the sensing device.
136 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mobile device comprising:
a processing device comprising a capacitance measurement circuit to couple to an array of a plurality of electrodes, wherein the processing device is configured to determine a position of a conductive object proximate to a sensing surface of the mobile device, wherein the processing device is configured to; assign a plurality of keys to correspond to defined areas of the sensing surface, wherein the defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is positioned to correspond to at least three of the defined areas; select a key of the key matrix when the position of the conductive object proximate to the sensing surface is determined to be within the defined area corresponding to the key; and detect a gesture performed by the conductive object on the sensing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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defining, by a processing device, a data structure comprising positional data of defined areas of a plurality of keys on a sensing surface of a mobile device comprising the processing device, wherein the defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix, wherein the sensing surface is formed by a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least three of the plurality of keys are positioned to correspond to at least a portion of one of the plurality of electrodes; determining, by the processing device, a position of a conductive object proximate to the sensing surface by measuring capacitance on the plurality of electrodes; determining, by the processing device, which key of the plurality of keys is selected using the determined position and the data structure; and outputting, by the processing device, data corresponding to the selected key to a component external to the processing device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A processing device comprising:
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a processing core; and a capacitance measurement circuit coupled to the processing core, wherein the capacitance measurement circuit is configured to determine a position of a conductive object proximate to a sensing surface formed by a plurality of electrodes, wherein the processing core is configured to; assign a plurality of keys to correspond to defined areas of the sensing surface, wherein the defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is positioned to correspond to at least three of the defined areas; select a key of the key matrix when the position of the conductive object proximate to the sensing surface is determined to be within the defined area corresponding to the key; and detect a gesture performed by the conductive object on the sensing surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification