Enabling touch events on a touch sensitive mechanical keyboard

• US 9,454,239 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Elias, John Greer
• Primary Examiner(s): Edun, Muhammad N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murphy, Jerold
• Application Number:
  US13/232,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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

Abstract

Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards and processes for detecting touch events and key depressions on the touch sensitive mechanical keyboard are provided. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can include a set of individually depressible mechanical keys having a touch sensitive area located on their surface. A touch sensor can be included to detect touch events on the surface of the mechanical keys. A keypad can also be included to detect a depression of the mechanical keys. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can further include a processor for distinguishing detected touch events from detected key depressions. The processor can generate either a key depression command or a touch event command.

Claims

1. A method for generating a keyboard command signal, the method comprising:

monitoring a plurality of depressible keys for a plurality of touch events on a surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys;

monitoring the plurality of depressible keys for a depression of a key of the plurality of depressible keys; and

generating one or more command signals based on the monitoring of the plurality of depressible keys for touch events on the surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys and the monitoring of the plurality of depressible keys for the depression of the key of the plurality of depressible keys,

wherein each of the one or more command signals is a touch event command signal or a key depression command signal and each touch event corresponds to one respective command signal of the one or more command signals,

wherein a touch event command signal is generated in response to detecting a first touch event on the surface of the one or more of the plurality of depressible keys and detecting the depression of a key of the plurality of depressible keys within a threshold length of time from detecting the first touch event, wherein the one or more of the plurality of depressible keys at which the first touch event is detected is different than the depressed key.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a touch event signal in response to a detection of a second touch event on the surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys; and

receiving a key depression signal in response to the detection of the depression of the key of the plurality of depressible keys.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating one or more command signals further comprises:

generating the touch event command signal in response to receiving the touch event signal without receiving the key depression signal within a threshold length of time from receiving the touch event signal; and

generating the key depression command signal in response to receiving the key depression signal within the threshold length of time from receiving the touch event signal

wherein the one or more of the plurality of depressible keys at which the second touch event occurs is at the depressed key.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second touch event occurs at the depressed key.

5. A method for generating a keyboard command signal, the method comprising:

receiving a touch event signal indicating that a touch event has been detected on a surface of a first key of a plurality of depressible keys;

determining whether a key depression signal is received within a threshold length of time from receiving the touch event signal; and

in response to the touch event signal, generating a command signal based on the determination, wherein the command signal is a touch event command signal or a key depression command signal, and wherein generating the command signal comprises;

generating the touch event command signal in response to a determination that the threshold length of time elapsed without receiving the key depression signal; and

generating the touch event command signal in response to a determination that the key depression signal is received within the threshold length of time from receiving the touch event signal, wherein the key depression signal indicates that a second key of the plurality of depressible keys has been depressed, and the first key and the second key are different keys.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the key depression signal is received from a switch sensor operable to detect the depression of the first key of the plurality of depressible keys.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the command signal comprises generating a key depression command signal in response to the key depression signal being received within the threshold length of time from receiving the touch event signal, the key depression command signal indicating that both the touch event has occurred and the first key has been depressed.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch event signal is received from an array of capacitive sensors.

9. A keyboard comprising:

a plurality of depressible keys;

a plurality of switch sensors operable to detect a depression of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys;

an array of capacitive sensors operable to detect a touch event on a surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys opposite the array of capacitive sensors; and

a processor configured to receive a touch event signal indicating that a touch event has been detected by the array of capacitor sensors on the surface of the plurality of depressible keys, the processor further configured to receive a key depression signal indicating that a depression of a key of the plurality of depressible keys has been detected by the plurality of switch sensors,

wherein the processor is operable to generate a command signal based at least in part on the touch event signal, and the command signal is a touch event command signal or a key depression command signal,

wherein the processor is further operable to generate the touch event command signal in response to receiving the touch event signal, wherein the touch event occurs coextensive in time with the key of the plurality of depressible keys being depressed, and wherein the touch event and the depression occur at different keys of the plurality of depressible keys; and

wherein the processor is further operable to generate the key depression command signal in response to receiving the key depression signal coextensive in time with the touch event signal, wherein the touch event and the depression occur at a same key of the plurality of depressible keys.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the processor is further operable to generate the touch event command signal in response to receiving the touch event signal without receiving the key depression signal within the threshold length of time from receiving the touch event signal.

11. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the keyboard is incorporated within a computing device.

12. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the keyboard is coupled to a computing device.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a surface having a plurality of locally collapsible areas;

a plurality of switch sensors operable to detect a depression of one or more of the locally collapsible areas;

an array of capacitive sensors operable to detect a touch event on the surface; and

a processor configured to receive a touch event signal indicating that a touch event has been detected by the array of capacitor sensors on a surface of the plurality of locally collapsible areas, the processor further configured to receive a depression signal indicating that a locally collapsible area of the plurality of locally collapsible areas has been depressed, wherein the processor is operable to generate a command signal in response to and based at least in part on the touch event signal, wherein the command signal is a touch event command signal or a key depression command signal,

wherein the processor is further operable to;

generate the key depression command signal in response to receiving the depression signal wherein the touch event occurs coextensive in time with the locally collapsible area being depressed, and the touch event and the depression occur at a same locally collapsible area; and

generate the touch event command signal in response to receiving the touch event signal, wherein the touch event occurs coextensive in time with the locally collapsible area being depressed, and the touch event and the depression occur at different locally collapsible areas.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the touch event and the depression occur at the same locally collapsible area.