Keypad with optical sensors

• US 9,344,085 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Broda, Antanas Matthew, Lee, Hsin Chin, Singh, Amit Pal
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hegarty, Kelly B
• Application Number:
  US13/851,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20140292658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 345/170, 345/175, 345/168, 345/169, 178/18.09, 178/19.05, 200/1.R, 200/181, 200/600, 200/52.R, 200500-502, 200/573, 200/237, 200/5.A
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/943 using a plurality of optical emitters or detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9629 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/969 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/98 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96054 Double function: touch detection combined with detection of a movable element

Abstract

A keypad with optical sensors is provided. The keypad comprises keycaps, each keycap having a top surface. One or more optical sensors are located beneath top surfaces of adjacent keycaps. One or more light guides extend from a respective optical sensor towards the top surfaces.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a display;

a keypad having keycaps, each keycap having a top surface;

a plurality of optical sensors located beneath top surfaces of adjacent keycaps, the plurality of optical sensors are arranged in a grid, each of the plurality of optical sensors located between respective adjacent keycaps;

a plurality of light guides, each of the plurality of light guides extending from a respective optical sensor towards the top surfaces;

at least one decoration bar between the adjacent keycaps, the at least one decoration bar including the plurality of light guides; and

,

a processor in communication with the plurality of optical sensors and the display, the processor configured to convert detection events at adjacent optical sensors that occur within a given time period to gesture based events at the display.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical sensors are located between respective adjacent keycaps.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the the at least one decoration bar is separate from the plurality of light guides.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light guides are integrated with the decoration bar between the adjacent keycaps.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical sensors comprises a combined light emitter and light sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical sensors comprises a light emitter and a light sensor, each of the plurality of light guides configured to:

channel light from the light emitter towards the top surfaces of the adjacent keycaps; and

,

channel the light reflected back to the light sensor for detection.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical sensors comprises a light emitter and a light sensor, each of the plurality of light guides having at least one lens configured to:

disperse light from the light emitter; and

,

collect the light reflected back to the light sensor for detection.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one lens is integrated with the decoration bar between the adjacent keycaps.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical sensors comprises a light emitter and a light sensor, each of the plurality of light guides having:

a first convex lens configured to disperse light from the light emitter towards the top surfaces of the adjacent keycaps; and

,

a second convex lens configured to collect the light reflected back to the light sensor for detection, a first viewing angle of the first convex lens narrower than a second viewing angle of the second convex lens.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light guides extends to one of:

below the top surfaces of the adjacent keycaps;

about the same level as the top surfaces of the adjacent keycaps;

or above the top surfaces of the adjacent keycaps.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein a light emitting surface of each of the light guides comprises one or more of a coating and an ink transparent to light emitted by the plurality of optical sensors.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical sensors comprises nine optical sensors arranged in a three-by-three grid.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a telephonic device and wherein at least one of the plurality of optical sensors is configured as a proximity detector when a call is received at the telephonic device.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical sensors comprises an infrared light emitting diode (LED) and an infrared sensor.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical sensors is further located between adjacent actuation devices of the adjacent keycaps.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical sensors replaces at least a portion of a light blocking layer located between the keypad and a light configured to illuminate the keypad from underneath the keypad.