Force concentrator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pressure sensitive key comprising:
- a sensor substrate having one or more conductors;
a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input; and
a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate, the force concentrator layer having a pad disposed thereon that is configured to cause;
pressure applied to the force concentrator layer to be channeled through the pad and spread across the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input; and
a decrease in a deformation bend radius of the flexible contact layer from that of a contact that applied the pressure to the force concentrator layer such that the pad causes an increase in a contact patch area of the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate responsive to the pressure from that of a contact that applied the pressure to the force concentrator layer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Force concentrator techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a pressure sensitive key includes a sensor substrate having a plurality of conductors, a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input; and a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate. The force concentrator layer has a pad disposed thereon that is configured to cause pressure applied to the force concentrator layer to be channeled through the pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A pressure sensitive key comprising:
-
a sensor substrate having one or more conductors; a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input; and a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate, the force concentrator layer having a pad disposed thereon that is configured to cause; pressure applied to the force concentrator layer to be channeled through the pad and spread across the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input; and a decrease in a deformation bend radius of the flexible contact layer from that of a contact that applied the pressure to the force concentrator layer such that the pad causes an increase in a contact patch area of the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate responsive to the pressure from that of a contact that applied the pressure to the force concentrator layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A pressure sensitive key comprising:
-
a sensor substrate having a plurality of conductors; a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input; and a flexible force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate, the flexible force concentrator layer configured to act as a mechanical filter such that an amount of pressure below a threshold amount is not channeled in a sufficient amount to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the flexible force concentrator layer in an amount that is sufficient to initiate the input, such that pressure resulting from a resting finger is below the threshold and a pressure resulting from a key strike is above the threshold and as having a pad that causes an increase in a contact patch area of the flexible contact layer as contacting the sensor substrate responsive to pressure from that of a contact that applied the pressure to the force concentrator layer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A keyboard comprising a plurality of pressure sensitive keys formed comprising:
-
a sensor substrate having a plurality of conductors; a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input of a respective said key; and a force concentrator layer disposed proximal to the flexible contact layer on a side opposite the sensor substrate, the force concentrator layer having; a first side including a pad disposed thereon that is configured to contact the flexible contact layer responsive to pressure applied to the force concentrator layer to be channeled through and spread across the pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input of the respective said key with a larger contact area than a contact area that received the applied pressure; and a second side that is substantially smooth; and an outer material disposed over the second side of the force concentrator layer, the outer material including indications of the input of the respective said key. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification