Force-sensitive input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10401972-B2
Application number	US-201715716936-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2017
Priority date	Oct 6, 2016
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A force-sensitive input device includes a circuit board, plural keys, plural force sensing modules and a display module. When one of the plural keys is pressed down, the corresponding force sensing module senses a magnitude of a pressing force and generates a corresponding sensing signal to the display module. According to the magnitude of the pressing force, the display module is in a corresponding displaying mode. Consequently, the user realizes the magnitude of the pressing force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A force-sensitive input device, comprising:
a circuit board;
plural keys disposed on the circuit board, wherein each of the plural keys comprises a keycap, a main body, a triggering element and an elastic element, wherein the main body is located under the keycap, the triggering element is connected with the keycap and linked with the keycap, a first end of the elastic element is contacted with the main body or the circuit board, and a second end of the elastic element is contacted with the keycap or the triggering element, wherein as the keycap is moved downwardly in response to a pressing force, the triggering element is descended and the elastic element is subjected to deformation so as to store elastic potential energy;
plural force sensing modules located under the corresponding keys, wherein when one of the plural keys is pressed down, the force sensing module corresponding to the pressed key senses a magnitude of the pressing force on the pressed key and generates a corresponding sensing signal;
a display module disposed on the circuit board, wherein the display module illuminates according to the sensing signal from the corresponding force sensing module, wherein the display module comprises plural light-emitting elements, and the plural light-emitting elements are disposed on the circuit board and located under the corresponding keys, wherein the keycap is made of a transparent material, so that a light beam emitted by the corresponding light-emitting element is transmissible through the keycap; and
a casing, wherein the circuit board, the plural keys, the plural force sensing modules and the display module are disposed within the casing, and the keycap of each key is penetrated through the casing and exposed outside the casing,
wherein the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the pressed key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within a force sensing range, and the force sensing range includes a low force range and a high force range, wherein if the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the pressed key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within the low force range, the light-emitting element corresponding to the pressed key emits the light beam with a first light color, wherein if the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the pressed key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within the high force range, the light-emitting element corresponding to the pressed key emits the light beam with a second light color.

2. A force-sensitive input device comprising:
a circuit board;
plural keys disposed on the circuit board, wherein each of the plural keys comprises a keycap, a main body, a triggering element and an elastic element, wherein the main body is located under the keycap, the triggering element is connected with the keycap and linked with the keycap, a first end of the elastic element is contacted with the main body or the circuit board, and a second end of the elastic element is contacted with the keycap or the triggering element, wherein as the keycap is moved downwardly in response to a pressing force, the triggering element is descended and the elastic element is subjected to deformation so as to store elastic potential energy;
plural force sensing modules located under the corresponding keys, wherein when one of the plural keys is pressed down, the force sensing module corresponding to the pressed key senses a magnitude of the pressing force on the pressed key and generates a corresponding sensing signal;
a display module disposed on the circuit board, wherein the display module illuminates according to the sensing signal from the corresponding force sensing module, wherein the display module comprises plural light-emitting elements, and the plural light-emitting elements are disposed on the circuit board and located under the corresponding keys, wherein the keycap is made of a transparent material, so that a light beam emitted by the corresponding light-emitting element is transmissible through the keycap; and
a casing, wherein the circuit board, the plural keys, the plural force sensing modules and the display module are disposed within the casing, and the keycap of each key is penetrated through the casing and exposed outside the casing,
wherein the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the pressed key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within a force sensing range, and the force sensing range includes a low force range and a high force range, wherein if the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the corresponding key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within the low force range, the light-emitting element corresponding to the pressed key and neighboring light-emitting elements emit the light beams with a first light color, wherein if the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the pressed key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within the high force range, the light-emitting element corresponding to the pressed key and the neighboring light-emitting elements emit the light beams with a second light color.

3. A force-sensitive input device comprising:
a circuit board;
plural keys disposed on the circuit board, wherein each of the plural keys comprises a keycap, a main body, a triggering element and an elastic element, wherein the main body is located under the keycap, the triggering element is connected with the keycap and linked with the keycap, a first end of the elastic element is contacted with the main body or the circuit board, and a second end of the elastic element is contacted with the keycap or the triggering element, wherein as the keycap is moved downwardly in response to a pressing force, the triggering element is descended and the elastic element is subjected to deformation so as to store elastic potential energy;
plural force sensing modules located under the corresponding keys, wherein when one of the plural keys is pressed down, the force sensing module corresponding to the pressed key senses a magnitude of the pressing force on the pressed key and generates a corresponding sensing signal;
a display module disposed on the circuit board, wherein the display module illuminates according to the sensing signal from the corresponding force sensing module; and
a casing, wherein the circuit board, the plural keys, the plural force sensing modules and the display module are disposed within the casing, and the keycap of each key is penetrated through the casing and exposed outside the casing,
wherein the display module comprises plural light-emitting elements, and the plural light-emitting elements are disposed on the circuit board, arranged beside the plural keys and exposed outside the casing, wherein the plural light-emitting elements of the display module are continuously arranged as a reading meter, and the reading meter indicates a low level brightness indication and a high level brightness indication,
wherein the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the corresponding key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within a force sensing range, and the force sensing range includes a low force range and a high force range, wherein if the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the pressed key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within the low force range, the low level brightness indication is illuminated, wherein if the magnitude of the pressing force exerted on the pressed key and sensed by the corresponding force sensing module is within the high force range, the low level brightness indication and the high level brightness indication are simultaneously illuminated, or the low level brightness indication is illuminated but the high level brightness indication is not illuminated.

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Chung-Yuan

Classifications

• H01H2227/032

  Operating force · CPC title

• H01H2219/039

  Selective or different modes of illumination · CPC title

• H01H2219/062

  Light conductor · CPC title

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title

• G01L1/26 Primary

  Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload · CPC title