Keyboard with position sensing mechanism
First Claim
1. An input device comprising one or more keys, the input device comprising:
- at least one keycap associated with one of the one or more keys;
a feature plate;
a support mechanism operably connected to the at least one keycap and the feature plate and configured to move the at least one keycap toward or away from the feature plate from a first position to a second position; and
a capacitive sensing member configured to detect a non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap and at least one of;
a change of position of the at least one keycap;
a speed of the at least one keycap;
ora location of a finger on or near the at least one keycap;
wherein;
at least one of the change of position of the at least one keycap, the speed of the at least one keycap, the non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or the location of the finger is detected based on a change in capacitance between the capacitive sensing member and at least one sensor;
the capacitance varies based at least on a distance between the capacitive sensing member and the at least one sensor; and
in response to the capacitive sensing member detecting the non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, the input device transmits a signal indicating the depression of the at least one keycap and at least one of the amount of force, the change of position of the at least one keycap, the speed of the at least one keycap, or the location of the finger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input device configured to communicate with a computing device includes at least one keycap, a support mechanism operably connected to the keycap and configured to move the keycap from a first position to a second position, a feature plate operably connected to the support mechanism, and a sensing member. The sensing member is configured to detect at least one of a change of position of the at least one keycap, a speed of the at least one keycap, an amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or a location of a finger. The sensing member may be a capacitive sensor. In some embodiments, the input device may not include the support mechanism and the sensing member may be configured to detect the location of a finger regardless whether or not the keycap moves.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device comprising one or more keys, the input device comprising:
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at least one keycap associated with one of the one or more keys; a feature plate; a support mechanism operably connected to the at least one keycap and the feature plate and configured to move the at least one keycap toward or away from the feature plate from a first position to a second position; and a capacitive sensing member configured to detect a non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap and at least one of; a change of position of the at least one keycap; a speed of the at least one keycap;
ora location of a finger on or near the at least one keycap; wherein; at least one of the change of position of the at least one keycap, the speed of the at least one keycap, the non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or the location of the finger is detected based on a change in capacitance between the capacitive sensing member and at least one sensor; the capacitance varies based at least on a distance between the capacitive sensing member and the at least one sensor; and in response to the capacitive sensing member detecting the non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, the input device transmits a signal indicating the depression of the at least one keycap and at least one of the amount of force, the change of position of the at least one keycap, the speed of the at least one keycap, or the location of the finger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A keyboard having one or more keys comprising:
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at least one keycap associated with at least one of the one or more keys; a substrate operably connected to the at least one keycap; and a capacitive sensing member positioned along the substrate and configured to detect a non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap and at least one of a vertical change of position of the at least one keycap, a speed of the at least one keycap, or a location of a finger on or near the at least one keycap based on a change in capacitance between the capacitive sensing member and an electrode;
whereinthe capacitance varies based at least on a distance between the capacitive sensing member and the electrode; and in response to the capacitive sensing member detecting the non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, the keyboard transmits a signal indicating the depression of the at least one keycap and at least one of the amount of force, the change of position of the at least one keycap, the speed of the at least one keycap, or the location of the finger. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification