Keyboard construction having a sensing layer below a chassis layer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A keyboard, comprising:
- a keyboard chassis;
a plurality of keycaps positioned above the keyboard chassis, each keycap of the plurality of keycaps having a touch surface for receiving a press force;
a sensor substrate positioned below the keyboard chassis and having sensor electrodes configured to sense that one or more keycaps of the plurality of keycaps is in a pressed position; and
a processing system coupled to the sensor electrodes and configured to operate the sensor electrodes to capacitively detect the one or more keycaps of the plurality of keycaps in the pressed position,wherein the sensor electrodes comprise at least one transmitter electrode and at least one receiver electrode,wherein the processing system operates the at least one transmitter electrode to transmit a transmitter signal and operates the at least one receiver electrode to receive a resulting signal, andwherein the processing system determines that the one or more keycaps is in the pressed position via a parameter of the resulting signal.
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Abstract
A keyboard having a sensor layer below a chassis layer is described. In one embodiment, the keyboard includes a keyboard chassis and a plurality of keycaps positioned above the keyboard chassis. Each of the plurality of keycaps has a touch surface for receiving a press force. A sensor substrate is positioned below the keyboard chassis and has sensor electrodes configured to sense that one or more of the plurality of keycaps is in a pressed position.
97 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A keyboard, comprising:
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a keyboard chassis; a plurality of keycaps positioned above the keyboard chassis, each keycap of the plurality of keycaps having a touch surface for receiving a press force; a sensor substrate positioned below the keyboard chassis and having sensor electrodes configured to sense that one or more keycaps of the plurality of keycaps is in a pressed position; and a processing system coupled to the sensor electrodes and configured to operate the sensor electrodes to capacitively detect the one or more keycaps of the plurality of keycaps in the pressed position, wherein the sensor electrodes comprise at least one transmitter electrode and at least one receiver electrode, wherein the processing system operates the at least one transmitter electrode to transmit a transmitter signal and operates the at least one receiver electrode to receive a resulting signal, and wherein the processing system determines that the one or more keycaps is in the pressed position via a parameter of the resulting signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A key assembly, comprising:
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a chassis; a keycap positioned above the chassis and having a touch surface for receiving a press force; a biasing mechanism positioned between the keycap and the chassis, the biasing mechanism biasing the keycap toward an unpressed position; a sensor substrate positioned below the chassis and having sensor electrodes configured to sense that the keycap is in a pressed position; and a processing system coupled to the sensor electrodes and configured to operate the sensor electrodes to capacitively detect the keycap in the pressed position, wherein the sensor electrodes comprise at least one transmitter electrode and at least one receiver electrode, wherein the processing system operates the at least one transmitter electrode to transmit a transmitter signal and operates the at least one receiver electrode to receive a resulting signal, and wherein the processing system determines that the keycap is in the pressed position via a parameter of the resulting signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19)
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17. A keyboard, comprising:
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a keyboard chassis; a plurality of keycaps positioned above the keyboard chassis, each keycap of the plurality of keycaps having a touch surface for receiving a press force; a plurality of key guides each respectively associated with a keycap of the plurality of keycaps; a plurality of end stops associated with the plurality of keycaps, each end stop positioned between the keyboard chassis and a respective keycap; a plurality of biasing mechanisms each associated with a respective keycap of the plurality of keycaps and a respective key guide of the plurality of key guides, wherein each biasing mechanism comprises a first portion attached to the respective keycap and a second portion attached to the respective key guide, and wherein each respective biasing mechanism biases the respective keycap toward an unpressed position; a sensor substrate positioned below the keyboard chassis and having sensor electrodes configured to sense that one or more of the plurality of keycaps is in a pressed position; and a processing system coupled to the sensor electrodes and configured to operate the sensor electrodes to capacitively detect one or more keycaps of the plurality of keycaps in the pressed position, wherein the sensor electrodes comprise at least one transmitter electrode and at least one receiver electrode, wherein the processing system operates the at least one transmitter electrode to transmit a transmitter signal and operates the at least one receiver electrode to receive a resulting signal, and wherein the processing system determines that the one or more keycaps is in the pressed position via a parameter of the resulting signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20)
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Specification