Enabling touch events on a touch sensitive mechanical keyboard
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
130 Citations
14 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
Specification