Pressure Sensitive Key Normalization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016357295-A9
Application number	US-201414147252-A
Country	US
Kind code	A9
Filing date	Jan 3, 2014
Priority date	Mar 2, 2012
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Pressure sensitive key techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a device includes at least one pressure sensitive key having a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer, the flexible contact layer configured to flex responsive to pressure to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input, for a computing device, associated with the pressure sensitive key. At least one of the flexible contact layer or the sensor substrate are configured to at least partially normalize an output resulting from pressure applied at a first location of the flexible contact layer with an output resulting from pressure applied at a second location of the flexible contact layer that has lesser flexibility than the first location.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . An input device comprising a plurality of pressure sensitive keys configured to initiate corresponding inputs of a computing device, each of the plurality of pressure sensitive keys formed from flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer, a first said pressure sensitive key configured to have a greater sensitivity to pressure than a second said pressure sensitive key through configuration of at least one of respective said flexible contact layers or respective said sensor substrates.

3 . An input device as described in claim 2 , wherein the first said pressure sensitive key is positioned at a location of a keyboard that is likely to receive less pressure when pressed by one or more fingers of a user than the second said pressure sensitive key.

4 . An input device as described in claim 2 , wherein the flexible contact layer of the first said pressure sensitive key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said pressure sensitive key by having decreased electrical resistance than the second said pressure sensitive key.

5 . An input device as described in claim 2 , wherein the flexible contact layer of the first said pressure sensitive key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said pressure sensitive key by including a greater amount of pressure sensitive ink than included at the second said pressure sensitive key.

6 . An input device as described in claim 2 , wherein the first said pressure sensitive key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said pressure sensitive key by spacing conductors of the sensor substrate of the first said pressure sensitive key closer together than conductors of the sensor substrate of the second said pressure sensitive key.

7 . An input device as described in claim 2 , wherein the first said pressure sensitive key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said pressure sensitive key by including conductors in the sensor substrate of the first said pressure sensitive key that are larger than conductors of the sensor substrate of the second said pressure sensitive key.

8 . An apparatus comprising:
a connection portion configured to provide a removable communicative and physical coupling to a computing device; and a plurality of keys configured to initiate corresponding inputs of the computing device via the communicative coupling, a first said key configured to have a greater sensitivity to pressure than a second said key.

9 . An apparatus as described in claim 8 , wherein the connection portion is configured to provide the removable physical coupling to the computing device through use of magnetism.

10 . An apparatus as described in claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of keys is formed as a pressure sensitive key using a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer.

11 . An apparatus as described in claim 10 , wherein the flexible contact layer of the first said key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said key by having decreased electrical resistance than the second said key.

12 . An apparatus as described in claim 10 , wherein the flexible contact layer of the first said key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said key by including a greater amount of pressure sensitive ink than included at the second said key.

13 . An apparatus as described in claim 10 , wherein the first said key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said key by spacing conductors of the sensor substrate of the first said key closer together than conductors of the sensor substrate of the second said key.

14 . An apparatus as described in claim 10 , wherein the first said key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said key by including conductors in the sensor substrate of the first said key that are larger than conductors of the sensor substrate of the second said key.

15 . An apparatus as described in claim 8 , wherein the first said key is positioned at a location of a keyboard that is likely to receive less pressure when pressed by one or more fingers of a user than the second said key.

16 . A keyboard comprising:
a plurality of keys configured to initiate corresponding inputs of a computing device via the communicative coupling, a first said key configured to have a greater sensitivity to pressure than a second said key, the first said key is positioned at a location of a keyboard that is likely to receive less pressure when pressed by one or more fingers of a user than the second said key.

17 . A keyboard as described in claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of keys is formed as a pressure sensitive key using a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer.

18 . A keyboard as described in claim 17 , wherein the flexible contact layer of the first said key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said key by having decreased electrical resistance than the second said key.

19 . A keyboard as described in claim 17 , wherein the flexible contact layer of the first said key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said key by including a greater amount of pressure sensitive ink than included at the second said key.

20 . A keyboard as described in claim 17 , wherein the first said key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said key by spacing conductors of the sensor substrate of the first said key closer together than conductors of the sensor substrate of the second said key.

21 . A keyboard as described in claim 17 , wherein the first said key is configured to support greater sensitivity to pressure than the second said key by including conductors in the sensor substrate of the first said key that are larger than conductors of the sensor substrate of the second said key.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Shaw Timothy C
• Belesiu Jim Tom
• Dietz Paul Henry
• Stoumbos Christopher Harry
• Mathias Dennis J

Classifications

• H04M1/72409

  by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) · CPC title

• G06F3/002

  Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 (other optical apparatus G02B27/00) · CPC title

• G06F3/023

  Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• H01H2217/004

  Larger or different actuating area · CPC title