Capacitance sensing matrix for keyboard architecture
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- assigning a plurality of keys to correspond to pre-defined areas of a sensing surface of a mobile device having a plurality of sense elements coupled to a processing device, wherein the pre-defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix, wherein at least one of the plurality of sense elements corresponds to multiple ones of the pre-defined areas, and wherein a number of the plurality of keys is greater than a number of the plurality of sense elements;
determining a position of a conductive object proximate to the sensing surface by measuring capacitance on the plurality of sense elements; and
determining which key of the plurality of keys is selected based on the determined position of the conductive object with respect to the pre-defined areas of the key matrix.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for selecting a keyboard key based on a position of a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device and a pre-defined area of the keyboard key. The apparatus may include a sensing device and a processing device. The sensing device may include a plurality of sensor elements to detect a presence of a conductive object on the sensing device. Multiple keyboard keys are assigned to pre-defined areas of the sensing device. The processing device is coupled to the sensing device using capacitance sensing pins, and may be operable to determine a position of the presence of the conductive object, and to select a keyboard key based on the position of the conductive object and the pre-defined areas of the sensing device.
142 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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assigning a plurality of keys to correspond to pre-defined areas of a sensing surface of a mobile device having a plurality of sense elements coupled to a processing device, wherein the pre-defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix, wherein at least one of the plurality of sense elements corresponds to multiple ones of the pre-defined areas, and wherein a number of the plurality of keys is greater than a number of the plurality of sense elements; determining a position of a conductive object proximate to the sensing surface by measuring capacitance on the plurality of sense elements; and determining which key of the plurality of keys is selected based on the determined position of the conductive object with respect to the pre-defined areas of the key matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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assigning a plurality of keys to correspond to pre-defined areas of a sensing surface of a mobile device having a plurality of sense elements coupled to a processing device, wherein the pre-defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix, wherein a sense element of the plurality of sense elements has at least three of the plurality of keys positioned to correspond at least a portion of the sense element; determining a position of a conductive object proximate to the sensing surface by measuring capacitance on the plurality of sense elements; determining which key of the plurality of keys is selected based on the determined position of the conductive object with respect to the pre-defined areas of the key matrix, and outputting data corresponding to the selected key from the processing device to a component external to the processing device, wherein assigning the key matrix into pre-defined areas comprises defining a data structure comprising positional data of the pre-defined areas of the key matrix, wherein selecting the key comprises comparing the position of the conductive object with the positional data of the data structure to determine a pressed key of the key matrix, and wherein outputting the data comprises outputting data that corresponds to the pressed key.
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7. A mobile device, comprising:
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a plurality of sense elements to detect a conductive object proximate to a sensing surface of the mobile device, wherein a plurality of keys are assigned to correspond to pre-defined areas of the sensing surface, wherein the pre-defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix; and a processing device coupled to the plurality of sense elements, wherein the processing device is configured to determine a position of the conductive object proximate to the sensing surface by measuring capacitance on the plurality of sense elements using one or more capacitance sensors, and to determine which key of the plurality of keys is selected based on the determined position of the conductive object with respect to the pre-defined areas of the key matrix, wherein at least one of the plurality of sense elements is used as at least part of a determination of three or more keys being selected. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electronic device, comprising:
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a plurality of sense elements; and a processing device coupled to the key matrix, wherein the processing device comprising a capacitance sensor to determine a position of a conductive object proximate to a sensing surface of the electronic device, wherein the processing device is configured to; assign a plurality of keys to correspond to pre-defined areas of the sensing surface, wherein the pre-defined areas are disposed adjacent to one another in a key matrix, wherein at least one of the plurality of sense elements is positioned to correspond to at least three of the pre-defined areas; select a key of the key matrix when the position of the conductive object proximate to the sensing surface is determined to be within the pre-defined area corresponding to the key; and detect a gesture performed by the conductive object on the sensing surface. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification