Keypad apparatus

• US 9,069,388 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Karhiniemi, Marko, Tuovinen, Juhani
• Primary Examiner(s): Okebato, Sahlu
• Application Number:
  US13/125,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20110221680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,433 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 200/600
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03 Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Abstract

The disclosure relates to implementing different key types on a keypad or keyboard. The implementation can be enabled e.g. by an apparatus including a substrate (28) including a capacitive sensor element (29), the capacitive sensor element having a first electrode (24) forming a first capacitor with an object touching or coming into proximity of the first electrode, wherein the capacitive sensor element is configured to generate a first signal responsive to the object touching or coming into proximity of the capacitive sensor element, a first capacitor circuit coupled to at least the first electrode, and a dome (26) configured to complete, responsive to the dome being depressed, an electric circuit including at least the first capacitor and the first capacitor circuit to form a second capacitor circuit, wherein the second capacitor circuit is configured to generate a second signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a dome supported by the substrate; and

a capacitor circuit supported by the substrate and comprising;

a capacitive sensor element, said capacitive sensor element having a first electrode and a second electrode that are in the capacitor circuit, the capacitive sensor element being configured to form a first capacitor with an object touching or being in proximity of the first electrode;

an output for producing to a controller an output signal indicative of the object touching or being in proximity of the first electrode;

wherein the capacitive sensor element is configured to generate the output signal responsive to the object touching or coming into proximity of the capacitive sensor element; and

wherein, the capacitor circuit comprises two serially connected capacitors one of which comprises the third electrode and the fourth electrode,

wherein the third electrode is coupled to the second electrode and the fourth electrode is coupled to a switch; and

the remaining one of the two serially connected capacitors comprises a fifth electrode coupled to the fourth electrode and a sixth electrode coupled to the first electrode; and

wherein the dome is configured to modify by closing the switch, responsive to the dome being depressed, capacitance of the capacitor circuit so as to modify the output signal indicative of the dome being depressed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dome is configured to modify, responsive to the dome being depressed, the capacitance of the capacitor circuit by forming a coupling of the fourth electrode through the switch to the first electrode or to ground so as to modify the output signal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to ground the fourth and fifth electrodes responsive to the dome being depressed.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first line and a second line;

wherein the capacitive sensor element is formed at an intersection of the first line and the second line;

wherein the first electrode comprises a portion of the first line and the second electrode comprises a portion of the second line; and

wherein said portion of the first line substantially overlaps said portion of the second line.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor circuit is configured to form the capacitive sensor element at a location where the object touches or is in proximity of the first electrode.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to receive and process the output signal and to determine on the basis of the output signal whether a key touch action or a key press action is performed.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor circuit comprises at least one capacitor component.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor circuit is embodied on the substrate.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of a material selected from a group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, and glass.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the output signal is a capacitive signal.

11. A mobile device comprising:

a substrate;

a dome supported by the substrate; and

a capacitor circuit supported by the substrate and comprising;

a capacitive sensor element, said capacitive sensor element having a first electrode and a second electrode that are in the capacitor circuit, the capacitive sensor element being configured to form a first capacitor with an object touching or being in proximity of the first electrode;

an output for producing to a controller an output signal indicative of the object touching or being in proximity of the first electrode;

wherein the capacitive sensor element is configured to generate the output signal responsive to the object touching or coming into proximity of the capacitive sensor element; and

wherein, the capacitor circuit comprises two serially connected capacitors one of which comprises the third electrode and the fourth electrode,

wherein the third electrode is coupled to the second electrode and the fourth electrode is coupled to a switch; and

the remaining one of the two serially connected capacitors comprises a fifth electrode coupled to the fourth electrode and a sixth electrode coupled to the first electrode;

wherein the dome is configured to modify by closing the switch, responsive to the dome being depressed, capacitance of the capacitor circuit so as to modify the output signal indicative of the dome being depressed.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the mobile device further comprises a wireless device.

13. The mobile device of claim 11 further comprising the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to receive and process the output signal and to determine on the basis of the output signal whether a key touch action or a key press action is performed.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the output signal is a capacitive signal.