Keyboard with position sensing mechanism

• US 9,779,888 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• 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, Jr., Thomas W., Patton, Brad, Leung, Omar Sze
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US13/723,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20130161172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 200344, 200310-314, 200317, 200343, 200 5 A, 200276, 2002761, 200 16 A, 200600, 200512-520, 200 5 R, 200341, 200237, 200242, 200245, 200253, 200 5 EB, 200 4301, 200 4311, 200 4313, 200 4316, 200 4318- 4322
• 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 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;

or

a 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.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of:

metal;

or

a layer of sensing material.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned below the at least one keycap or incorporated into the at least one keycap.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one sensor is either operably coupled to the support mechanism or incorporated into the support mechanism; and

the capacitive 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 non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or the location of the finger by detecting changes in a height of at least one support included in the support mechanism.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the capacitance between the at least one sensor and the capacitive sensing member further varies based at least on a presence of at least one additional capacitive element.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive 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.

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

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive 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.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive 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.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive 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.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the input device further comprises at least one haptic device operably coupled to the at least one keycap;

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 capacitive 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 capacitive sensing member; and

the capacitive 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 non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or the location of the finger by detecting compression of the at least one haptic device.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the compression of the at least one haptic device brings the at least one sensor closer to the capacitive sensing member.

13. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a shielding member that at least partially isolates the capacitive sensing member.

14. The input device of claim 13, wherein the shielding member comprises at least a dielectric material.

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

16. A keyboard having one or more keys comprising:

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;

wherein

the 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.

17. The keyboard of claim 16, further comprising at least one haptic device operably coupled to the at least one keycap.

18. The keyboard of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one haptic device is configured to compress in response to the non-binary amount of force applied to the at least one keycap; and

the compression of the at least one haptic device moves the electrode toward the capacitive sensing member.

19. The keyboard of claim 16, further comprising a shielding member that at least partially isolates the electrode.

20. The input device of claim 19, wherein the shielding member comprises at least a dielectric material.