Keyboard with Position Sensing Mechanism

• US 20130161172A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Leong, Craig C., Niu, James J., Hendren, Keith J., Brock, John M., Wilson, Thomas W. Jr., Leung, Omar Sze, Patton, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 9,779,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/064 Trellis; Lattice
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/004 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/036 Light emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/01 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/028 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/98 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

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.

Claims

1. An input device configured to communicate with a computing device comprising:

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 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.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensing member is a capacitive sensor.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the sensing member interacts with at least one component of the input device to detect changes in capacitance in order to detect the at least one of the change of position of the at least one keycap, the speed of the at least one keycap, the amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or the location of the finger.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein the at least one component of the input device includes at least one of metal or a layer of sensing material.

5. The input device of claim 3, wherein the at least one component of the input device comprises at least one sensor and wherein a capacitance between the at least one sensor and the sensing member varies based at least on a distance between the at least one sensor and the sensing member.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of positioned below the at least one keycap or incorporated into the at least one keycap.

7. The input device of claim 5, wherein the input device further comprises at least one haptic device operably coupled to the at least one keycap wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of positioned on an extrusion of the at least one haptic device or incorporated into the at least one haptic device, the sensing member is positioned within a cavity defined by the at least one haptic device, compression of the at least one haptic device changes the distance between the at least one sensor and the sensing member, and the sensing member detects the at least one of the change of position of the at least one keycap, the speed of the at least one keycap, the amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or the location of a finger by detecting compression of the at least one haptic device

8. The input device of claim 5, wherein the compression of the at least one haptic device brings the at least one sensor closer towards the sensing member.

9. The input device of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of operably coupled to the support mechanism or incorporated into the support mechanism and the sensing member detects the at least one of the change of position of the at least one keycap, the speed of the at least one keycap, the amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or the location of a finger by detecting changes in a height of at least one support included in the support mechanism.

10. The input device of claim 5, wherein the capacitance between the at least one sensor and the sensing member further varies based at least on a presence of at least one additional capacitive element.

11. The input device of claim 2, further comprising a shielding member that at least partially isolates the sensing member.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the shielding member comprises at least a dielectric material.

13. The input device of claim 11, wherein the shielding member comprises at least one shielding layer of at least one haptic device operably coupled to the at least one keycap.

14. The input device of claim 2, wherein the sensing member comprises at least one of indium tin oxide, tin-doped indium oxide, or indium tin oxide layered on at least one film of organic light emitting diodes.

15. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensing member is configured to detect the location of the finger and the sensing member is operable to detect the location of the finger without requiring movement of the at least one keycap.

16. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensing member is at least one of positioned below the at least one keycap, positioned within at least one haptic device operably coupled to the at least one keycap, or positioned above the feature plate

17. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensing member is integrated into an illumination panel that is operably connected to the support mechanism and in optical communication with at least a portion of the at least one keycap.

18. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensing member is at least one of positioned as a frame around a sensor membrane or positioned on a top surface of the sensor membrane.

19. An keyboard configured to communicate with a computing device comprising:

at least one keycap;

a substrate operably connected to the at least one keycap; and

a sensing member 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, and a location of a finger.

20. A method for detecting input from an input device, comprising:

providing an input device including at least one keycap and a feature plate operably connected to a support mechanism that is configured to move the keycap from a first position to a second position;

detecting, utilizing a sensing member, 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.