Touchsurface with Level and Planar Translational Travel Responsiveness

• US 20120299832A1
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Cody G., Krumpelman, Douglas M., Levin, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,912,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2013/525 using a return spring acting perpendicular to the actuating direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/002 Longer travel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/042 Permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/014 Slide selector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/04 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/058 to avoid tilting or skewing of contact area or actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/036 Minimise height
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960745 Capacitive differential; e.g. comparison with reference capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

Abstract

Described herein are one or more techniques related to a touchsurface with level and planar translational travel responsiveness. One or more of the described implementations include an input device having a rigid body including a touchsurface configured to travel along a depression path in response to being depressed by a user. The input device also includes a leveling mechanism that operates in manner to keep the touchsurface substantially level as the touchsurface travels along the depression path in response to being depressed by the user. Furthermore, the input device has a planar-translation-effecting mechanism that defines a planar translation component of the depression path, such that the touchsurface exhibits planar translation as the touchsurface travels along the depression path.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a rigid body including a touchsurface configured to travel along a depression path in response to being depressed by a user;

a leveling mechanism operatively associated with the touchsurface, the leveling mechanism configured to keep the touchsurface substantially level as the touchsurface travels along the depression path in response to being depressed by the user; and

a planar-translation-effecting mechanism operatively associated with the touchsurface, the planar-translation-effecting mechanism configured to define a planar translation component of the depression path, such that the touchsurface exhibits planar translation as the touchsurface travels along the depression path.

2. An input device of claim 1, wherein the rigid body comprises a rectangular body having greater width than depth, and greater breadth than depth.

3. An input device of claim 1, wherein the input device of claim 1, wherein the leveling mechanism and the planar-translation-effecting mechanism are a same mechanism.

4. An input device of claim 3, wherein the same mechanism comprises a plurality of ramps disposed proximate to a perimeter region of the rigid body.

5. An input device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of ramps are configured such that the depression path is linear.

6. An input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a ready mechanism configured to keep the touchsurface in an unpressed position; and

a return mechanism configured to return the touchsurface to the unpressed position.

7. An input device of claim 5, wherein the ready mechanism and the return mechanism are a same mechanism.

8. An input device of claim 6, wherein the same mechanism utilizes magnetic attraction.

9. An input device of claim 5, wherein the same mechanism comprises at least one magnet and at least one piece of non-magnetic, ferrous material.

10. An input device of claim 1, wherein the leveling mechanism is further configured to keep the touchsurface level as the first touchsurface travels along the depression path in response to being depressed by the user.

11. An input device of claim 1, wherein the rigid body further comprises a conductive portion, the input device further comprising:

a capacitive sensor electrode underlying the touchsurface, wherein the capacitive sensor electrode is configured to capacitively couple with the conductive portion and define a variable capacitance, such that motion of the rigid body along the depression path changes the variable capacitance.

12. A keyboard comprising two or more key assemblies, wherein each key assembly includes an input device of claim 1.

13. A keyboard of claim 12, wherein the depression path of a first key assembly of the two or more key assemblies differs from the depression path of a second key assembly of the two or more key assemblies.