Keyboard key structure and method for operating keyboard

Abstract

The invention relates to a keyboard key structure and a method for operating a keyboard. The keyboard key structure includes a key lever, a contact-based mechanical trigger, and a non-contact analog key switch. The key lever is configured to be depressed and moved along a linear path within an operating range. The contact-based mechanical trigger is configured to be activated after the key lever is depressed a threshold distance within the operating range. In response to activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger, the non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect a position of the key lever between the threshold distance and an end point of the operating range at a sampling rate after the key lever is depressed. The contact-based mechanical trigger may be a galvanic key switch. The non-contact analog key switch may be one of an optical key switch, a magnetic key switch, or an inductive key switch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The various aspects of this disclosure generally relate to computer peripherals, and more specifically to key input devices (e.g., keyboards). Background Technology

[0002] Computer peripherals are common in modern society and are typically used to convert human-generated analog input (e.g., touch, click, movement, touch gestures, button presses, scroll wheel rotations, etc.) into digital signals for computer processing. Computer peripherals, or more broadly, input devices, can include any device that can provide data and control signals to a computing system. Some non-limiting examples of input devices include computer mice, keyboards, virtual reality and / or augmented reality controllers, touchpads, remote controls, game controllers, joysticks, trackballs, etc.

[0003] Input devices have undergone many significant improvements over the past few decades. In some modern input devices, such as keyboards, analog keys have become commonplace for certain applications, such as esports. Analog keys can provide better resolution in key press detection, going beyond simply forming or disconnecting a connection, but may require significantly increased power requirements, which can be problematic for wireless devices with limited power reserves. Therefore, a better solution is needed.

[0004] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art for any aspect of this application and are not considered prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In some embodiments, the keyboard key structure includes a key lever, a contact-based mechanical trigger, and a non-contact analog key switch. The key lever may be configured to be pressed and moved along a linear path within an operating range, wherein the contact-based mechanical trigger is configured to be activated after the key lever has been pressed a threshold distance within the operating range, and in response to the activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger, the non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range at a sampling rate. In some embodiments, the maximum operating range of the key lever is between 3 mm and 6 mm, and the threshold distance for activating the contact-based mechanical trigger is between 0 mm and 1 mm, but other ranges are also possible. The contact-based mechanical trigger may be a current-type key switch. As will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, the non-contact analog key switch may be one of an optical analog key switch, a magnetic analog key switch, an inductive analog key switch, etc.

[0006] In some cases, an optical analog key switch includes a phototransistor, a light-emitting element operable to direct light toward the phototransistor in response to activation by a contact-based mechanical trigger, and a blocking device coupled to a key lever, configured to move along a linear path with the key lever, and controlling the amount of light reaching the phototransistor from the light-emitting element based on the position of the blocking device within the operating range. The optical analog key switch can detect the position of the key lever based on the controlled amount of light reaching the phototransistor. An inductive analog key switch may include: a conductive target coupled to the key lever and configured to move along a linear path with the key lever within at least a portion of the operating range; and one or more induction coils configured to detect the conductive target and generate a corresponding signal, wherein the inductive analog key switch detects the position of the key lever based on the intensity of the corresponding signal.

[0007] In some embodiments, the sampling rate is a first sampling rate, wherein the non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever at a second sampling rate at a second threshold distance, wherein the second threshold distance is between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range, and wherein the second sampling rate is faster than the first sampling rate. In some embodiments, the keyboard key structure stops detecting the position of the key lever when the detected position of the key lever is at or below the threshold distance and above the second threshold distance for a threshold time. In some cases, the second threshold distance may be user-programmable, and when the second threshold distance is programmed to be within 1 mm (or any suitable distance) of the threshold distance, the non-contact analog key switch operates independently of and without response to activation of a contact-based mechanical trigger. The contact-based mechanical trigger may be configured to provide haptic feedback independently of operation of the non-contact analog key switch when the threshold distance is reached. When the detected position of the key lever is above the threshold distance, the keyboard key structure may be configured to stop detecting the position of the key lever.

[0008] In some embodiments, the method of operating the keyboard includes: receiving a signal from a contact-based mechanical trigger of a hybrid key structure, the hybrid key structure including a contact-based mechanical trigger and a non-contact analog key switch, the signal indicating that the contact-based mechanical trigger is activated due to a key lever of the hybrid key structure being pressed a threshold distance within its operating range; and, in response to activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger, detecting the position of the key lever between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range via the non-contact analog key switch at a sampling rate; and terminating the detection of the key lever's position within the operating range in response to deactivation of the contact-based mechanical trigger due to the key lever moving below the threshold distance. In some cases, the maximum operating range of the key lever is between 3 mm and 6 mm, and the threshold distance for activating the contact-based mechanical trigger is between 0 mm and 1 mm, but other ranges may also be used.

[0009] In some embodiments, the contact-based mechanical trigger is a current-type key switch, and the non-contact analog key switch is one of an optical analog key switch, a magnetic analog key switch, or an inductive analog key switch. An optical analog key switch may include a phototransistor, a light-emitting element operable to direct light toward the phototransistor in response to activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger, and a blocking device coupled to a key lever, configured to move along a linear path with the key lever, and controlling the amount of light reaching the phototransistor from the light-emitting element based on the position of the blocking device within the operating range, wherein the optical analog key switch detects the position of the key lever based on the controlled amount of light reaching the phototransistor. In some cases, an inductive analog key switch includes: a conductive target coupled to the key lever and configured to move along a linear path with the key lever within at least a portion of the operating range; and one or more induction coils configured to detect the conductive target and generate a corresponding signal, wherein the inductive analog key switch detects the position of the key lever based on the intensity of the corresponding signal. In some implementations, the sampling rate is a first sampling rate, wherein the non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever at a second sampling rate at a second threshold distance, wherein the second threshold distance is between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range, and wherein the second sampling rate is faster than the first sampling rate. In some cases, the second threshold distance is user-programmable, and wherein when the second threshold distance is programmed to be within 1 mm of the threshold distance, the non-contact analog key switch operates independently of and without response to activation of a contact-based mechanical trigger.

[0010] In other embodiments, the keyboard key structure includes a key lever, a contact-based key switch, and a non-contact analog key switch, wherein the key lever is configured to be pressed, wherein the contact-based mechanical trigger is configured to be activated first when the key lever is pressed, and wherein, in response to the activation of the contact-based key switch and after the key lever has been pressed a further distance, the non-contact analog key switch is activated and operable to detect the position of the key lever within the operating range at a sampling rate.

[0011] The terms and expressions used are descriptive rather than restrictive, and their use is not intended to exclude any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. However, it is recognized that various modifications can be made within the scope of the claimed systems and methods. Therefore, it should be understood that although the systems and methods have been specifically disclosed by way of example and optional features, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and variations to the concepts disclosed herein, and such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the systems and methods as defined by the appended claims.

[0012] This overview is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. This subject matter should be understood in conjunction with the entire specification of this disclosure, any or all accompanying drawings, and the appropriate portions of each claim.

[0013] The foregoing features and examples will be described in more detail below, together with other features and examples, in the specification, claims and drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The features of the various embodiments of the present invention described above, as well as other features and advantages of certain embodiments, will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 A simplified example of a computer system is shown, which may include any of a variety of main computing devices and computer peripherals, including computer peripherals that can be configured to perform aspects of the various inventive concepts described herein.

[0016] Figure 2 A system for operating a computer peripheral device according to certain embodiments is shown;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a simplified block diagram of a main computing device according to certain embodiments;

[0018] Figure 4 A simplified contact-based bond structure according to some embodiments is shown;

[0019] Figure 5 A simplified non-contact bond structure with binary sensing according to certain embodiments is shown;

[0020] Figure 6 A simplified non-contact bond structure with analog sensing according to certain embodiments is shown;

[0021] Figure 7 A hybrid bond structure with binary sensing according to certain embodiments is shown;

[0022] Figure 8 A hybrid bond structure with analog sensing is shown according to certain embodiments;

[0023] Figure 9 This is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method for operating a hybrid analog key structure according to certain embodiments.

[0024] Throughout the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that similar reference numerals are generally used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures. Detailed Implementation

[0025] According to some embodiments, aspects of this disclosure generally relate to computer peripherals, and more specifically to key input devices (e.g., keyboards).

[0026] In the following description, various examples of computer peripheral devices with a hybrid analog key structure are described. Specific configurations and details are set forth for illustrative purposes to provide a comprehensive understanding of the implementation. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain implementations can be practiced or implemented without disclosing every detail. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified to prevent any confusion regarding the novel features described herein.

[0027] The following high-level summary is intended to provide a basic understanding of some of the novel innovations depicted in the accompanying drawings and presented in the corresponding description provided below. Aspects of the invention relate to a keyboard having one or more key structures having a hybrid analog switch architecture capable of providing analog accuracy for key presses in an electrically efficient manner. In some embodiments, the hybrid key switch may include a first contact-based switch or a first mechanical switch (e.g., a current-type switch) for providing a first threshold in which a key press is instantiated, and a second non-contact switch (e.g., a magnetic switch, an optical switch, an inductive switch) for analog detection, wherein the system can determine with high accuracy the degree of key press within a range of motion—for example, in… Figures 8 to 9The binary on / off detection shown and described herein—rather than in modern devices—is used. The analog function is disabled when a key is released (e.g., by 1 μs), or when the key moves upward beyond a second threshold that may be the same as or different from the first threshold. This results in significant power savings compared to modern counterparts with continuous analog key functionality, which may be infeasible for power-constrained keyboards such as battery-powered wireless devices. While the keyboard incorporates novel aspects described throughout this disclosure, those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure will understand that the novel hybrid analog switch concept presented herein can be applied to any suitable computer peripheral.

[0028] It should be understood that this highly summarized description is presented to provide the reader with a basic understanding of some of the novel aspects of this disclosure and to guide them toward the details that follow. This highly summarized description is in no way limited to the scope of the various embodiments described throughout the detailed description, and each of the figures cited above is further described below in more detail and within its appropriate scope.

[0029] Figure 1 A simplified example of a computer system 100 is shown, which may include any of a variety of main computing devices and computer peripherals, including computer peripherals (e.g., computer mouse, keyboard, etc.) that can be configured to perform aspects of the various inventive concepts described herein. The computer system 100 may include a computer 110, a monitor 120, a computer mouse 130, and a keyboard 140. In some cases, the keyboard 140 may be a "qwerty" keyboard, or any suitable input device having one or more keys that can be configured as hybrid analog keys (e.g., Internet of Things device, AR / VR controller, remote controller, etc.), as further described throughout this disclosure. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art who benefits from this disclosure, the keyboard 140 may be configured to control various aspects of the computer 110 and the monitor 120 for the computer system 100. The monitor 120, computer mouse 130, and keyboard 140 may be referred to as "computer peripherals" or "input devices." Computer peripherals 120 to 140 can be communicatively connected to main computing device 110, and in some cases, can be connected to multiple main computing devices. Although many of the examples presented herein utilize a hybrid analog key structure in keyboard-type computer peripherals, those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure will understand that the use of such a structure can be applied to other types of input devices.

[0030] Computer 110 can be any suitable computing device, including but not limited to desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet or "phablet" computers, smartphones, PDAs, wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches, smart glasses), virtual reality / augmented reality (AR / VR) systems, etc. The main computing device may also be referred to herein as "main computer," "main device," "computing device," "computer," etc., and may include a machine-readable medium (not shown) configured to store computer code such as driver software, firmware, etc., wherein the computer code can be processed by one or more processors of the main computing device (e.g., see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 2 The processor 210 executes the commands to control various aspects of the main computing device, for example, via one or more computer peripherals.

[0031] Figure 2 A system 200 for operating computer peripherals (e.g., computer mouse 130, keyboard 140, etc.) according to certain embodiments is illustrated. System 200 can be configured to operate any computer peripheral shown or not shown herein but within the broad scope of this disclosure. System 200 may include a processor 210, a memory 220, a power management system 230, a communication module 240, an input detection module 250, and an output control module 260. Each of system blocks 220 to 260 may communicate electronically with processor 210 (e.g., via a bus system). System 200 may include additional functional blocks, which are not shown or discussed to avoid obscuring the novel features described herein. System blocks 220 to 260 (also referred to as “modules”) may be implemented as separate blocks, or alternatively, more than one system block may be implemented within a single block. As will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, in the context described herein, system 200 may be included in any computer peripheral device (e.g., input device) described or mentioned herein, and may also be configured to have any of the hybrid analog key structures presented herein.

[0032] In some implementations, processor 210 may include one or more microprocessors and may be configured to control the operation of system 200. Alternatively or additionally, as those skilled in the art will understand, processor 210 may include one or more microcontrollers (MCUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), etc., having supporting hardware and / or firmware (e.g., memory, programmable I / O, etc.) and / or software. Processor 210 may control some or all aspects of the operation of keyboard 140 (e.g., system blocks 220 to 260). Alternatively or additionally, some system blocks 220 to 260 may include additional dedicated processors that can operate in conjunction with processor 210. For example, MCUs, μCs, DSPs, etc., may be configured in other system blocks of system 200. Communication block 240 may include a local processor, for example, to control aspects of communication with host computer 110 (e.g., via Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, RF, IR, hardwired, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Logitech Unifying, or other communication protocols). The processor 210 may be local to the computer peripheral device (e.g., included therein), external to the computer peripheral device (e.g., off-board processing via a corresponding main computing device), or a combination thereof. The processor 210 may be combined with any other system block in system 200 to perform any of the various functions and methods described and / or covered by this disclosure. In some implementations, Figure 3 The processor 302 may operate in conjunction with the processor 210 to perform some or all of the various methods described throughout this disclosure. In some embodiments, multiple processors may enable improvements in performance characteristics (e.g., speed and bandwidth) in system 200; however, multiple processors are not necessary and are not necessarily closely related to the novelty of the embodiments described herein. Many possible variations, modifications, and alternative implementations will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0033] Memory block (“memory”) 220 may store one or more software programs to be executed by one or more processors (e.g., processor 210). It should be understood that “software” may refer to a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a processing unit (e.g., processor, processing device, etc.), cause system 200 to perform certain operations of the software program. The instructions may be stored as firmware residing in read-only memory (ROM) and / or as an application stored in a media storage device that can be read into memory for execution by a processing device (e.g., processor 210). The software may be implemented as a single program or a collection of single programs and may be stored in non-volatile storage and copied, wholly or partially, to volatile working memory during program execution. In some embodiments, memory 220 may store data corresponding to inputs on computer peripherals, such as movement detected by computer peripherals, sensors (e.g., optical sensors, accelerometers, etc.), activation of one or more input elements (e.g., buttons, sliders, touch-sensitive areas, etc.). The stored data may be aggregated and sent to the main computing device via reports.

[0034] In some embodiments, memory 220 may store various types of data throughout this disclosure. Memory 220 may be used to store any suitable data to perform any functions described herein and that will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure. Memory 220 may be referred to as a storage system or storage subsystem and may store one or more software programs to be executed by a processor (e.g., in processor 210). It should be understood that “software” may refer to a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a processing unit (e.g., processor, processing device, etc.), cause system 200 to perform certain operations of the software program. The instructions may be stored as firmware residing in read-only memory (ROM) and / or as an application stored in a media storage device that can be read into memory for processing by the processing device. Software may be implemented as a single program or a collection of single programs and may be stored in a non-volatile storage device and copied, wholly or partially, to volatile working memory during program execution. The processing device may retrieve program instructions to be executed from the storage subsystem to perform various operations as described herein (e.g., software-controlled switching, etc.).

[0035] The power management system 230 can be configured to manage power distribution, recharging, power efficiency, etc. In some embodiments, the power management system 230 may include a battery (not shown), a Universal Serial Bus (USB)-based recharging system for the battery (not shown), and power management devices (e.g., a voltage regulator—not shown), as well as a power grid within system 200 for providing power to each subsystem (e.g., communication block 240, etc.). In some embodiments, the functionality provided by the power management system 230 may be integrated into processor 210. Alternatively, some embodiments may not include a dedicated power management block. For example, functional aspects of power management block 240 may be included in or combined with another block (e.g., processor 210). The power source may be a replaceable battery, a rechargeable energy storage device (e.g., a supercapacitor, lithium polymer battery, NiMH, NiCd), or a wired power source. The recharging system may be an additional cable (dedicated to recharging purposes), or it may use a USB connection to recharge the battery.

[0036] According to some embodiments, the communication system 240 can be configured to enable wireless communication with a corresponding main computing device (e.g., 110) or other devices and / or computer peripherals. The communication system 240 can be configured to provide radio frequency (RF), near field communication (NFC), and other communication capabilities. Logitech proprietary communication protocols (e.g., Unifying, Gaming Lightspeed, or others), infrared (IR), Z-Wave, or other suitable communication technologies for communicating with other computing devices and / or peripherals. System 200 may optionally include a hardwired connection to a corresponding host computing device. For example, computer peripheral 140 may be configured to receive USB, Or other common types of cables to enable bidirectional electronic communication with the corresponding host computing device or other external devices. Some implementations may utilize different types of cables or connection protocol standards to establish hard-wired communication with other entities. In some aspects, communication ports (e.g., USB), power ports, etc., may be considered as part of other blocks described herein (e.g., input detection module 250, output control module 260, etc.). In some aspects, communication system 240 may send reports (e.g., HID data, streaming or aggregated data, etc.) generated by processor 210 to the host computing device. In some cases, these reports may be generated solely by the processor, in conjunction with the processor or other entities in system 200. Communication system 240 may include one or more antennas, oscillators, etc., and may operate in any suitable frequency band (e.g., 2.4 GHz, etc.). Many modifications, variations, and alternative implementations will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0037] The input detection module 250 can control the detection of user interactions with input elements on the input device. For example, as those skilled in the art will understand from this disclosure, the input detection module 250 can detect user input from: motion sensors, keys or buttons (e.g., pressable elements), scroll wheels, trackballs, touchpads (e.g., one-dimensional and / or two-dimensional touch-sensitive touchpads), click wheels, dial pads, keyboards, microphones, GUIs, touch-sensitive GUIs, proximity sensors (e.g., IR sensors, thermal sensors, Hall effect sensors, inductive sensors, etc.), image sensor-based detection such as gesture detection (e.g., via a webcam), audio-based detection such as voice input (e.g., via a microphone), etc. Alternatively, the functionality of the input detection module 250 or a subset thereof may be included in or combined with the processor 210.

[0038] In some embodiments, the input detection module 250 can detect touches or touch gestures on one or more touch-sensitive surfaces on the keyboard 140. The input detection module 250 may include one or more touch-sensitive surfaces or touch sensors. Touch sensors typically include sensing elements adapted to detect signals such as direct contact, electromagnetic or electrostatic fields, or beams of electromagnetic radiation. Touch sensors can typically detect changes in received signals, the presence of signals, or the absence of signals. Touch sensors may include a source for emitting the detected signals, or the signals may be generated by an auxiliary source. Touch sensors may be configured to detect the presence of an object at a distance (e.g., <5 mm) from a reference area or point, an object in contact with the reference area or point, or a combination of both. Some embodiments of the computer peripheral device 140 may or may not utilize touch detection or touch sensing capabilities.

[0039] Input detection block 250 may include touch and / or proximity sensing capabilities. Some examples of touch / proximity sensor types may include, but are not limited to, resistive sensors (e.g., air-gap 4-wire based, pressure-dependent (FSR), interpolated FSR, strain gauges, etc., with different electrical properties on carbon-supported plastics), capacitive sensors (e.g., surface capacitance, self-capacitance, mutual capacitance, etc.), optical sensors (e.g., optical barrier type (default open or closed), infrared optical barrier matrix, laser-based diodes coupled to a photodetector that can measure the time of flight of the optical path, etc.), acoustic sensors (e.g., piezoelectric buzzers coupled to a microphone to detect modified wave propagation patterns associated with the touch point, etc.), inductive sensors, magnetic sensors (e.g., Hall effect sensors, etc.), etc.

[0040] Input detection module 250 may include a motion tracking sub-block that can be configured to detect the relative displacement (motion tracking) of a computer peripheral device. For example, optical sensors such as IR LEDs and photodiode imaging arrays in input detection module 250 are used to detect movement of the computer peripheral device relative to an underlying surface. The computer peripheral device may optionally include motion tracking hardware utilizing coherent (laser) light. Motion tracking can provide positional data (e.g., ΔX and ΔY data from the last sample) or lift detection data. For example, optical sensors can detect when a user lifts the computer peripheral device (e.g., computer mouse 130) off the underlying surface (also referred to as the "working surface"), and this data can be sent to processor 210 for further processing. In some embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, processor 210, the motion tracking module (which may include an additional dedicated processor), or a combination thereof...

[0041] In some implementations, accelerometers can be used for motion detection. Accelerometers can be electromechanical devices (e.g., microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices) configured to measure accelerating forces (e.g., static and dynamic forces). One or more accelerometers can be used to detect three-dimensional (3D) positioning. For example, 3D tracking can utilize a triaxial accelerometer or two biaxial accelerometers (e.g., in a "3D air mouse," HMD, or other device). Accelerometers can also determine whether a computer peripheral has been lifted off a lower surface and can provide motion data that may include the computer peripheral's velocity, physical orientation, and acceleration. In some implementations, gyroscopes can be used instead of or in combination with accelerometers to determine the orientation of a moving or input device.

[0042] In some implementations, as described herein, the input detection block 250 may control aspects of one or more sensing elements. For example, the input detection block 250 may control a sensing element including a first sensing section configured to detect movement of a pressable plunger (e.g., a pressable plunger with a keycap) along a first range of motion and generate corresponding first data. Some implementations may include a second sensing section configured to detect movement of the pressable plunger along a second range of motion and generate corresponding second data, wherein the processor 210 may be configured to determine the position of the plunger (e.g., a target coupled to the plunger) along the first range of motion based on the first data, and in some cases, to determine the force generated by the plunger as it moves along the second range of motion based on the second data.

[0043] In some embodiments, the output control module 260 can control various outputs for corresponding computer peripherals. For example, the output control module 260 can control multiple visual output elements (e.g., LEDs, LCDs, or LED screens / keys), displays, audio output devices (e.g., speakers), haptic output systems, etc. Many modifications, variations, and alternative implementations will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0044] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, although certain systems may not be explicitly discussed, they should be considered as part of system 200. For example, system 200 may include a bus system for transmitting power and / or data to and from different systems therein. It should be understood that system 200 is illustrative, and variations and modifications are possible. System 200 may have other capabilities not specifically described herein. Furthermore, although system 200 is described with reference to specific blocks, it should be understood that these blocks are defined for ease of description and are not intended to imply a particular physical arrangement of component parts. Moreover, these blocks do not necessarily correspond to physically different components. These blocks may be configured to perform various operations, for example, by programming a processor or providing appropriate control circuitry, and depending on how the initial configuration is obtained, the various blocks may or may not be reconfigurable.

[0045] Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of devices, including electronic devices (e.g., computer peripherals) implemented using any combination of circuitry and software. Furthermore, aspects and / or portions of system 200 can be combined with or operated by other subsystems as required by design. For example, input detection module 250 and / or memory 220 can operate within processor 210, rather than as separate entities. Additionally, the inventive concepts described herein can be applied to any electronic device. Furthermore, system 200 can be applied to any computer peripheral described in the embodiments herein, whether explicitly, implicitly, or by way of default (e.g., applicable to specific computer peripherals as known to those skilled in the art). The foregoing embodiments are not intended to be limiting, and those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure will understand numerous applications and possibilities.

[0046] Figure 3 This is a simplified block diagram of a main computing device 300 according to certain embodiments. The main computing device 300 may implement some or all of the functions, behaviors, and / or capabilities described herein using electronic storage or processing, as well as other functions, behaviors, or capabilities not explicitly described. The main computing device 300 may include a processing subsystem (processor) 302, a storage subsystem 306, user interfaces 314, 316, and a communication interface 312. The computing device 300 may also include other components (not explicitly shown) such as a battery, a power controller, and other components operable to provide various enhanced capabilities. In various embodiments, the main computing device 300 may be implemented in any suitable computing device, such as a desktop or laptop computer (e.g., desktop 110), a mobile device (e.g., a tablet computer, smartphone, mobile phone), a wearable device, a media device, etc., or in some implementations in a peripheral device (e.g., a keyboard, etc.).

[0047] Processor 302 may include an MCU, microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), digital signal processing device (DSPD), programmable logic device (PLD), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), processor, controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, or electronic unit designed to perform functions, a portion of functions, or combinations of methods, functions, etc., described throughout this disclosure.

[0048] Storage subsystem 306 may be implemented using local storage devices and / or removable storage media such as disks, flash memory (e.g., Secure Digital Card, Universal Serial Bus flash drive), or any other non-transitory storage media or combinations thereof, and storage subsystem 306 may include volatile and / or non-volatile storage media. Local storage devices may include memory subsystem 308, which includes random access memory (RAM) 318 or read-only memory (ROM) 320 such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (e.g., DDR), or backup battery RAM; or local storage devices may include file storage subsystem 310, which may include one or more code modules. In some embodiments, storage subsystem 306 may store one or more application and / or operating system programs to be executed by processing subsystem 302, including programs to be executed using a computer to implement some or all of the operations described above. For example, storage subsystem 306 may store one or more code modules for implementing one or more method steps described herein.

[0049] Firmware and / or software implementations can be implemented using modules (e.g., procedures, functions, etc.). Machine-readable media that tangibly implements instructions can be used in implementing the methods described herein. Code modules (e.g., instructions stored in memory) can be implemented within or outside the processor. As used herein, the term "memory" refers to a type of long-term, short-term, volatile, non-volatile, or other storage medium, and is not limited to any particular type of memory, any number of memories, or any particular type of medium for storing information in memory.

[0050] Furthermore, the terms "storage medium" or "storage device" can refer to one or more memories used for storing data, including read-only memory (ROM), RAM, magnetic RAM, magnetic core memory, disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, and / or other machine-readable media used for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" includes, but is not limited to, portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels, and / or various other storage media capable of storing instructions and / or data.

[0051] Furthermore, implementations can be carried out using hardware, software, scripting languages, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, and / or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, scripting languages, and / or microcode, program code or code segments used to perform tasks can be stored in a machine-readable medium such as a storage medium. Code segments (e.g., code modules) or machine-executable instructions can represent processes, functions, subroutines, programs, routines, subroutines, modules, software packages, scripts, classes, or combinations of instructions, data structures, and / or program statements. Code segments can be coupled to another code segment or hardware circuitry by passing and / or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, and / or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc., can be passed, forwarded, or transmitted by appropriate means—including memory sharing, messaging, token passing, network transmission, etc. These descriptions of software, firmware, storage media, etc., apply to systems 200 and 300 and any other implementations within the broad scope of this disclosure. In some embodiments, aspects of the invention (e.g., surface classification) may be performed by software stored in storage subsystem 306, in memory 220 of a computer peripheral device, or in both. Many modifications, variations, and alternative implementations will be understood by those skilled in the art who will benefit from this disclosure.

[0052] The techniques, blocks, steps, and means described throughout this disclosure can be implemented in various ways. For example, these techniques, blocks, steps, and means can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In a hardware implementation, the processing unit can be implemented in one or more ASICs, DSPs, DSPDs, PLDs, FPGAs, processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described above, and / or combinations thereof.

[0053] Each code module may include a set of instructions (code) implemented on a computer-readable medium, which instruct the processor of the main computing device 110 to perform corresponding actions. The instructions may be configured to run sequentially, in parallel (e.g., under different processing threads), or in combination thereof. After the code modules are loaded onto a general-purpose computer system, the general-purpose computer is transformed into a special-purpose computer system.

[0054] Computer programs incorporating the various features described herein (e.g., in one or more code modules) can be encoded and stored on various computer-readable storage media. The computer-readable medium encoding the program code can be packaged together with a compatible electronic device, or the program code can be provided separately from the electronic device (e.g., downloaded via the Internet or as a separately packaged computer-readable storage medium). Storage subsystem 306 can also store information useful for establishing network connections using communication interface 312.

[0055] Computer system 300 may include user interface input devices 314 (e.g., touchpad, touchscreen, scroll wheel, click wheel, dial pad, button, switch, keyboard, microphone, etc.), user interface output devices 316 (e.g., video screen, indicator lights, speaker, headphone jack, virtual or augmented reality display, etc.), and supporting electronic devices (e.g., digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital converters, signal processors, etc.). Users can operate the input devices of user interface 314 to invoke functions of computing device 300, and can view and / or hear output from computing device 300 via the output devices of user interface 316.

[0056] The processing subsystem 302 can be implemented as one or more processors (e.g., integrated circuits, one or more single-core or multi-core microprocessors, microcontrollers, central processing units, graphics processing units, etc.). In operation, the processing subsystem 302 can control the operation of the computing device 300. In some embodiments, the processing subsystem 302 can execute various programs in response to program code and can maintain multiple concurrently executing programs or processes. At a given time, some or all of the program code to be executed can reside in the processing subsystem 302 and / or storage media such as the storage subsystem 304. Through programming, the processing subsystem 302 can provide various functions for the computing device 300. The processing subsystem 302 can also execute other programs for controlling other functions of the computing device 300, including programs that can be stored in the storage subsystem 304.

[0057] The communication interface (also referred to as the network interface) 312 can provide voice and / or data communication capabilities to the computing device 300. In some embodiments, the communication interface 312 may include radio frequency (RF) transceiver components for accessing wireless data networks (e.g., Wi-Fi networks; 3G, 4G / LTE, 5G, etc.), mobile communication technologies, components for short-range wireless communication (e.g., using Bluetooth communication standards, NFC, etc.), other components, or combinations of technologies. In some embodiments, in addition to or instead of a wireless interface, the communication interface 312 may also provide wired connectivity (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet, Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter, etc.). The communication interface 312 can be implemented using a combination of hardware (e.g., driver circuitry, antenna, modulator / demodulator, encoder / decoder, and other analog and / or digital signal processing circuitry) and software components. In some embodiments, the communication interface 312 may support multiple communication channels simultaneously.

[0058] As will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, the user interface input device 314 may include any suitable computer peripheral device (e.g., computer mouse, keyboard, game controller, remote control, stylus device, etc.). The user interface output device 316 may include a display device (e.g., monitor, television, projector, etc.), an audio device (e.g., speaker, microphone), a haptic device, etc. Note that the user interface input device and the user interface output device are shown as part of the computing device 300 as an integrated system. In some cases, such as in a laptop computer, this may be where the keyboard and input elements, as well as the display and output elements, are integrated on the same main computing device. In some cases, the input and output devices may be separate from the system 300, such as... Figure 1 As shown. Those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure will understand its many modifications, variations, and alternative implementations.

[0059] It will be understood that computing device 300 is illustrative, and variations and modifications are possible. The main computing device may have various functions not specifically described (e.g., voice communication via a cellular telephone network) and may include components suited to such functions. Although computing device 300 is described with reference to specific blocks, it should be understood that these blocks are defined for ease of description and are not intended to imply a specific physical arrangement of component portions. For example, processing subsystem 302, storage subsystem 306, user interfaces 314, 316, and communication interface 312 may be in one device or distributed across multiple devices. Furthermore, these blocks do not necessarily correspond to physically different components. Blocks can be configured to perform various operations, for example, by programming the processor or providing appropriate control circuitry, and depending on how the initial configuration is obtained, the various blocks may be reconfigurable or may not be reconfigurable. Embodiments of the invention can be implemented in various devices, including electronic devices implemented using a combination of circuitry and software. The main computing device or even peripheral devices described herein can be implemented using system 300.

[0060] Figure 4 A simplified contact-based key structure 400 according to certain embodiments is shown. Key structure 400 is a mechanical type of key structure found in many conventional keyboard devices. The key structure may include a switch housing 410, a lever 420 configured to be pressed in a linear downward motion within the switch housing 410, and a spring 425 (e.g., a torsion spring, leaf spring, coil spring) that provides resistance to key presses by the user on keycaps coupled to the lever 420 and may further contribute to the overall feedback distribution of the key structure. The key structure may also include a slider 430 that can move up and down as the lever 420 is pressed, thereby having a substantial influence on the type of feedback distribution provided by the key structure due to certain protrusions, contours, or other structures that interact with the slider and / or metal contact sheet 440—such as linear interaction, tactile interaction, click-like interaction, etc.—and other key structure characteristics that affect the required actuation force, actuation distance, and travel distance, as will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure. When the lever 420 is pressed a threshold distance, the metal contact plates 440 come into contact with each other, thereby enabling the metal contact plates 440 to complete the circuit and generate a signal corresponding to the key press event.

[0061] Figure 5A simplified contactless key structure with binary sensing according to some embodiments is shown. Contactless switches typically do not have mechanical engagement elements (no metal contacts) for triggering key presses during operation, and can have a significantly longer operating life because no critical components are subject to wear. Therefore, contactless switches can provide very clean signals, allowing input devices to have a longer operating life. Some non-limiting examples of contactless switches include optical switches (described in the embodiments herein), magnetic switches, inductive switches, capacitive switches, piezoelectric switches, etc. Furthermore, because contactless switches do not involve physical contact between elements, no additional delay is required to apply anti-bounce algorithms, etc. Despite these advantages, contactless switches (e.g., optical switches) can consume significantly more current compared to contact-based switches because they must be periodically and actively "checked" to confirm whether the switch is open or closed.

[0062] Figure 5 An example of operation of an optical switch 500 with a default off configuration according to certain embodiments is shown. The optical switch 500 may include a lever 505, a transmitter 520, a receiver 530, and a barrier 510, which is typically directly or indirectly coupled to an actuator to move up and down in response to movement of the lever and keycap. Figure 5 As shown, the keycap and lever can move up and down within a range of approximately 4mm, but other ranges are possible. Barrier 510 can also be referred to as a "baffle". Typically, barrier 510 can move between a first position that does not obstruct the line of sight between transmitter 520 and receiver 530 and a second position that obstructs the line of sight. Barrier 510 can provide a similar operation by allowing the user to adjust its position by adjusting the amount of obstruction, ranging from complete obstruction to partial obstruction (as described below). Figure 6As described, there is no obstruction. In operation, the transmitter 520 typically includes a light-emitting diode (LED) that is pulsed with an LED current (e.g., 5mA to 6mA) and a fixed frequency (e.g., 1ms) (e.g., 20μs to 50μs), but other pulse lengths and current values ​​are also possible. Light is projected from the transmitter 520 toward the receiver 530, which may be a phototransistor (e.g., an infrared phototransistor) or other type of photosensitive element. The amount of current generated by the receiver 530 can correspond to the amount of light 525 received from the transmitter 520. Unlike contact-based switches, which typically have binary outputs that include "on" (closed circuit) or "off" (open circuit) operations, contactless switches can allow light emitted from transmitter 520 to not reach receiver 530, some or all of the light emitted from transmitter 520 to reach receiver 530, thus allowing any number of intermediate settings and allowing the user to set the "on" state to any suitable actuation threshold (e.g., the corresponding output from receiver 530), which could correspond to how far a button or key needs to be pressed to instantiate a click. Figure 5 In this configuration, the optical switch 500 is normally open, wherein when the actuator of the control barrier 510 is not pressed, the switch allows light 525 emitted from the transmitter 520 to reach the receiver 530 without obstruction, and when the actuator is pressed, the switch blocks the light from the transmitter 520. The point at which the barrier 510 blocks the light (e.g., approximately 1.3 mm) can be an optical trigger point where a key press event can be triggered. Other trigger points are possible and may depend on aspects of the shape, length, position, or other characteristics of the barrier 510 relative to the transmitter 520 and the receiver 530. Many modifications, variations, and alternative implementations will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0063] Figure 6 A simplified non-contact key structure 600 with analog sensing according to certain embodiments is shown. The key structure 600 may include an optical switch with a default off configuration and may include a lever 605, a transmitter 620, a receiver 630, and a barrier 610, which may be directly or indirectly coupled to an actuator and move up and down in response to movement of the lever and keycap within an operating range. The operating range is shown as approximately 4 mm, but other ranges are possible.

[0064] The key structure 600 can perform analog sensing in part due to the type of barrier used to block or prevent signals (e.g., IR light) from the transmitter 620 from reaching the receiver 630 (e.g., an infrared phototransistor). When the barrier (using binary on / off operation) reaches a certain position, the barrier 610 does not completely block the transmitter signal, but rather partially blocks the signal by an increasing amount as the lever 605 is further pressed along the operating range, such that: when the barrier 610 initially blocks the signal, most of the signal (e.g., 90% to 99% of the signal) passes through; when the lever is pressed about halfway down, about half the signal (e.g., 40% to 60% of the signal) passes through; and when the lever is fully pressed down, very little signal (e.g., 0% to 5% of the signal) passes through. As discussed, the signal and lever displacement can be linear, or in some embodiments, non-linear. As will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, different signal amounts and ranges can be used, and these embodiments can be applied to normally open or normally closed optical switch configurations.

[0065] The amount of signal (e.g., IR light) can be detected (e.g., sampled) at any location where the lever and corresponding barrier are positioned, thus allowing detection at many locations along the operating range via this analog-type sensing, unlike limited binary-type configurations, such as those with optical switches like 500. Typically, the key sampling rate follows the keyboard's requirements (e.g., matching the USB high-speed report rate specification). For gaming, sampling rates are typically in the range of 1 kHz and above (e.g., 2 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz). In some cases, the typical target resolution is 0.1 mm or less, which translates to approximately 40 levels for a switch travel of 0 mm to 4 mm. In some cases, lower resolution is preferable, and the limiting factor may be the measurement noise of the sensing design's signal-to-noise ratio.

[0066] Barrier 610 can be any suitable shape that allows the signal to gradually decrease (e.g., in a normally open embodiment) or gradually increase (e.g., in a normally closed embodiment) as the lever is pressed. For example, as shown, barrier 610 can be wedge-shaped, allowing the signal to gradually decrease as the key is pressed further along its operating range (e.g., an operating range of 0 mm to 4 mm). Barrier 610 can have other shapes, including: rectangles with openings sized in different ways that allow the signal to gradually increase or decrease as the key is pressed; different wedge shapes, T-shapes, slot sizes, etc., such as... Figure 6 As shown. Those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure will understand its many modifications, variations, and alternative implementations.

[0067] Figure 7A hybrid key structure 700 with binary sensing according to some embodiments is shown. The hybrid key structure 700 may include both contact-based switches (e.g., current-type switches) and contactless switches (e.g., optical switches). In some cases, when the optical sensor is configured to continuously scan the operating state (e.g., on or off) of the optical switch at a suitable sampling rate (e.g., 1 kHz) to ensure fast response time and good performance characteristics for key presses, the optical sensor may consume a significant amount of power. This is especially true for keyboards with many keys (e.g., 104 keys), so reducing power requirements can be advantageous and often necessary, particularly for battery-operated devices with limited power resources. Therefore, the hybrid key structure 700 can mitigate this problem by using contact-based switches to turn on or off corresponding contactless switches. For example, when a key is pressed by a first threshold amount (e.g., 1 mm), the contact-based switch can be used to turn on the contactless switch. The contactless switch can then sample its binary operating state (e.g., on or off) at an appropriate sampling rate, and record key presses when the contactless switch is pressed by a second threshold amount (e.g., 2.5 mm).

[0068] Return to reference Figure 7 The hybrid key structure 700 may include a contact-based switch with metal contact plates 750 and 755 that electrically contact each other and generate a first signal when lever 705 is pressed by a threshold amount (e.g., 1 mm). This first signal can cause the contactless switch to begin sampling its operating state at an appropriate sampling rate. The contactless switch may include a transmitter 720, a receiver 730, and a barrier 710, which may be directly or indirectly coupled to the actuator and moves up and down in response to movement of lever 705 and keycap within the operating range. When barrier 710 blocks a signal (e.g., IR light) from transmitter 720 from reaching receiver 730 (IRPT), the contactless key switch can detect a key press and generate a second signal, shown as when the key is pressed approximately 2.5 mm, but other thresholds are possible. The contactless switch operates in a binary manner, where a blocked signal is interpreted as a key press and an unblocked signal is interpreted as a key not pressed. When the key is released and the contact-based switch breaks contact (e.g., more than 1 mm), the non-contact switch can be turned off, thereby saving power by using the non-contact switch only when the key is pressed.

[0069] Figure 8A hybrid key structure 800 with analog sensing according to certain embodiments is shown. The hybrid key structure 800 benefits from the accuracy provided by analog sensing and a significantly reduced power requirement. In some embodiments, this can be achieved by using a contact-based switch (e.g., a current-type contact) similar to the key switch 700 to control the operation of a non-contact switch (e.g., an optical switch, an inductive switch, a magnetic switch, etc.), but the non-contact switch is configured for analog operation. For example, when a key is pressed, the metal contact plates 850, 855 make contact and begin analog detection of the non-contact switch. After the key is released (e.g., when the metal contact plates 850, 855 disengage), the analog function of the non-contact switch is disengaged (e.g., within 1 μs) to conserve power.

[0070] Unlike the hybrid key structure 700, analog detection should be available across most of the key's operating range (e.g., 4 mm), which differs from a single threshold used to determine when a key press is instantiated. To achieve this, the contact-based switch should make (current) contact at a first threshold earlier in the operating range to ensure that: (1) the analog detection range is available over most of the key's travel; and (2) the threshold is set to avoid or minimize false key press detection events. In some cases, for a key with an operating range of 4 mm, current contact can be configured to <1 mm (e.g., 0.1 mm to 1 mm) to initiate analog sensing for travels of 3 mm or longer. Implementations that make current contact further along the operating range (e.g., >1 mm) may lose key resolution at the top portion of that range.

[0071] When current contact is made, the system can begin sampling the contactless key switch at an appropriate sampling rate until the current contact is broken or until the analog part senses the key position at or very close to 0 mm (e.g., within 0.05 mm). When the contactless switch is activated by current contact, the sampling rate can remain constant. In some cases, the sampling rate can vary based on the key's position along the operating range. For example, if the key is pressed for about 1 mm or less for a threshold time and current contact is made, the sampling rate can be reduced (e.g., 20% to 80%). This can be a useful feature for users who tend to rest their fingers on the key with considerable force without intending to instantiate a key press. In this case, a longer period of time (e.g., 1 s, 5 s, etc.) at or near the current contact point can trigger the operation of the contactless key switch, but with less power consumption, until the key moves further down along the operating range, which allows sampling to return to 100% of the normal sampling rate. In some implementations, the sampling rate can vary for different keys or key groups depending on the usage. For example, the "WASD" key can be sampled at a first rate during analog operation, while less frequently used keys such as function keys or numeric keys can be sampled at a lower sampling rate. As will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, multiple sampling rates can be set for analog measurements for any suitable purpose.

[0072] As mentioned above, analog sensing is typically a power-intensive task, and managing analog sensing can be challenging for battery-operated devices. For a given analog scanning technique (e.g., optical analog scanning, magnetic analog scanning, or other analog scanning techniques), the goal (in some implementations) to reduce the power consumption of a battery-operated device is to keep the analog sensing portion in a low-power state (e.g., sleep mode) for as long as possible. In some cases, the primary duty cycle at play is the key scan rate. For example, if an analog scanning technique (“scanning sensor” or “sensor”) requires 20 μs to obtain a sample of key positions, and the specification requires sampling the keys at 8 kHz (125 μs), then after 20 μs, the scanning sensor can sleep for the next 105 μs. In this case, the sampling rate duty cycle would be 16%. If the sampling rate is slower, say 1 kHz, the sampling rate duty cycle would decrease to 2%, resulting in a longer sleep time and lower power consumption requirements for the scanning sensor. Therefore, the scan rate (also referred to as the sampling rate or update rate) is a parameter that needs to be controlled to influence power consumption. A higher scan rate results in lower latency, but at the cost of higher power consumption. Therefore, reducing the sampling rate on less frequently used keys is an effective way to reduce power consumption, while maintaining a higher scan rate for the most frequently used keys (e.g., the WASD keys for gamers) to gain performance benefits such as lower latency. Additionally, some implementations can place the scan sensor in a low-power operating mode when the key is inactive (e.g., no typing activity for a threshold time such as 1 second, 5 seconds, etc.). After switching the scan sensor from low-power mode to high-power mode (e.g., from sleep mode to active mode) via electrical contact, the key can then be sampled at a given update rate via the analog portion as described above. Once released, the key can go into sleep mode and does not need to be checked (sampled) by the power-consuming analog sensor. This operating scheme can significantly reduce the overall power consumption of the keyboard.

[0073] In some cases, users can configure the threshold at which simulated detection occurs. Some users may prefer more sensitive keys, while others may prefer a longer travel before activation. Simulated keys offer the possibility of fully adjusting the threshold at which each key is activated. One challenge with hybrid simulated keys is to trigger the current contact early (e.g., some users may prefer closer to 0.1mm, which is highly sensitive). Since the key will be registered by the simulated sensor in a second step, this is not a significant problem if erroneous triggering of the current contact (which can happen if the user simply places their finger too hard on the key) does not occur frequently. However, a very high current trigger point can present a mechanical design challenge. In practical applications, the design target for the current trigger point may be closer to 0.3mm. If users still prefer an activation threshold <0.3mm, in some implementations, the current contact may trigger too late (or never trigger if not pressed sufficiently). In this case, one solution is to disable the hybrid strategy and use only simulated sensing to continuously scan specific keys. The settings for hybrid or non-hybrid operation may vary depending on the design and will be understood by those skilled in the art who will benefit from this disclosure.

[0074] By way of example, some implementations of a hybrid key structure with analog detection may include a keyboard key structure comprising: a key lever; a contact-based mechanical trigger (e.g., an electric current key switch, a metal contact plate, or any structure configured to make electrical contact); and a non-contact analog key switch, wherein the key lever is configured to be pressed and moved along a linear path within an operating range, wherein the contact-based mechanical trigger is configured to be activated after the key lever has been pressed a threshold distance within the operating range, and wherein, in response to the activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger, the non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range at a sampling rate. The maximum operating range of the key lever may be between 3 mm and 6 mm, but other smaller and larger ranges are also possible. The threshold distance for activating the contact-based mechanical trigger may be between 0 mm and 1 mm, or other suitable ranges. The non-contact analog key switch may be an optical analog key switch, a magnetic analog key switch, an inductive analog key switch, or other suitable non-contact switch. In some embodiments, the sampling rate is a first sampling rate, wherein the non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever at a second sampling rate at a second threshold distance, the second threshold distance being between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range, and the second sampling rate being faster than the first sampling rate. In some embodiments, the keyboard key structure stops detecting the key lever position when the detected key lever position is at or below the threshold distance and above the second threshold distance for a threshold time. In some embodiments, the second threshold distance is user-programmable, and when the second threshold distance is programmed to be within 1 mm of the threshold distance, the non-contact analog key switch operates independently of and without response to activation of a contact-based mechanical trigger. In some cases, when the threshold distance is reached, a contact-based mechanical trigger provides haptic feedback independently of operation of the non-contact analog key switch. In some embodiments, the keyboard key structure stops detecting the key lever position when the detected key lever position is above the threshold distance.

[0075] Figure 9 This is a simplified flowchart illustrating aspects of a method 900 for operating a keyboard having a hybrid key structure with one or more analog detections, according to certain embodiments. Method 900 can be executed by processing logic, which may include hardware (circuit, special-purpose logic, etc.), software operating on suitable hardware (e.g., a general-purpose computing system or a special-purpose machine), firmware (embedded software), or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, method 900 can be executed by aspects of systems 200, 300, or combinations thereof.

[0076] At operation 910, according to some embodiments, method 900 may include receiving a signal from a contact-based key switch of a hybrid key structure having a contact-based mechanical trigger and a non-contact analog key switch, the signal indicating that the contact-based mechanical trigger is activated due to the key lever of the hybrid key structure being pressed down a threshold distance within the operating range.

[0077] At operation 920, according to some embodiments, in response to activation of a contact-based mechanical trigger, method 900 may include detecting the position of the key lever between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range at a sampling rate via a non-contact analog key switch.

[0078] At operation 930, according to some embodiments, in response to a contact-based mechanical trigger being deactivated due to a key lever moving below a threshold distance, method 900 may include terminating the detection of the key lever's position within the operating range.

[0079] In some cases, the maximum operating range of the key lever is between 3 mm and 6 mm, and the threshold distance for activating the contact-based mechanical trigger is between 0 mm and 1 mm, but other operating ranges and thresholds may also be used. In some aspects, as will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, the contact-based mechanical trigger is a current-type key switch, a leaf spring contact device, a single metal spring contact device that electrically shorts two pads on a PCB, or other suitable implementations. As will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, the non-contact analog key switch may be an optical analog key switch, a magnetic analog key switch, an inductive analog key switch, or other suitable key switch types capable of analog detection. In embodiments with optical analog key switches, some implementations may include a phototransistor, a light-emitting element operable to direct light toward the phototransistor in response to activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger, and a blocking device coupled to the key lever, the blocking device being configured to move along a linear path with the key lever, and controlling the amount of light reaching the phototransistor from the light-emitting element based on the position of the blocking device within the operating range. Optical analog key switches can detect the position of the key lever based on the controlled amount of light reaching the phototransistor. Magnetic analog key switches can include Hall effect sensors or TMR sensors, both of which are sensitive to magnetic fields and can provide an analog output or digital reading of the magnetic field strength. In some aspects, the sensor can be located on the PCB (e.g., on the top or bottom side and below the key) and can sense the position of a magnet positioned in the key lever. When the magnet approaches the sensor, it induces a large magnetic field strength, which the sensor can measure. In this case, the magnetic field strength can now be correlated with the key position, although some implementations may have a non-linear scaling, which may require calibration and / or compensation adjustments for accuracy. In some implementations, inductive analog key switches can include: a conductive target coupled to the key lever and configured to move along a linear path with the key lever within at least a portion of the operating range; and one or more induction coils configured to detect the conductive target and generate a corresponding signal, wherein the inductive analog key switch detects the position of the key lever based on the strength of the corresponding signal.

[0080] In other embodiments, the sampling rate may be a first sampling rate, wherein the non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever at a second sampling rate at a second threshold distance, the second threshold distance being between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range, and the second sampling rate being faster than the first sampling rate. In some embodiments, the second threshold distance is user-programmable, and when the second threshold distance is programmed to be within 1 mm (or other suitable distance) of the threshold distance, the non-contact analog key switch operates independently of and without response to activation of a contact-based mechanical trigger.

[0081] It should be understood that Figure 9 The specific steps illustrated herein provide a particular method 900 for operating a keyboard having a hybrid key structure with one or more analog detections, according to certain embodiments. Other step sequences may also be performed according to alternative embodiments. Furthermore, additional steps may be added or removed depending on the specific application. Any modified combination may be used, and many variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments will be understood by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0082] Most implementations utilize at least one network familiar to those skilled in the art for supporting communication using any of the various commercially available protocols such as TCP / IP, UDP, OSI, FTP, UPnP, NFS, CIFS, etc. This network can be, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN), the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), an infrared network, a wireless network, and any combination thereof.

[0083] In implementations utilizing a web server as an operational or security server, the web server can run any of a variety of server or middleware applications, including HTTP servers, FTP servers, CGI servers, data servers, Java servers, and business application servers. The server can also respond to requests from user devices by executing programs or scripts, such as by executing one or more applications that can be implemented as one or more scripts or programs, including but not limited to... The server may be written in any programming language such as C, C#, or C++, or any scripting language such as Perl, Python, or TCL, and combinations thereof. The server may also include a database server, which includes, but is not limited to, a database server capable of retrieving data from... and Those database servers purchased commercially.

[0084] Such devices may also include, as described above, computer-readable storage medium readers, communication devices (e.g., modems, network interface cards (NICs, wireless or wired), infrared communication devices, etc.), and working memory. The computer-readable storage medium reader may be connected to or configured to receive non-transitory computer-readable storage media, which represents remote, local, fixed, and / or removable storage devices, as well as storage media for temporarily and / or more permanently containing, storing, transmitting, and retrieving computer-readable information. Systems and various devices will also typically include multiple software applications, modules, services, or other elements residing within at least one working storage device, including operating systems and applications such as client applications or browsers. It should be understood that alternative implementations may have many variations from the above-described implementations. For example, custom hardware may be used and / or specific elements may be implemented using hardware, software (including portable software, such as applets), or both. Furthermore, connections to other computing devices, such as network input / output devices, may be employed.

[0085] This document sets forth numerous specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the claimed subject matter can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, apparatus, or systems known to those of ordinary skill have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the claimed subject matter. The various embodiments illustrated and described are provided merely as examples to illustrate the various features of the claims. However, the features shown and described with respect to any given embodiment are not necessarily limited to the associated embodiment and may be used or combined with other embodiments shown and described. Furthermore, the claims are not intended to be limited to any of the exemplary embodiments.

[0086] Although the subject matter has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, upon gaining an understanding of the foregoing, will readily generate such modifications, variations, and equivalents of the embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, this disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes rather than limiting, and does not exclude such modifications, variations, and / or additions to the subject matter. In fact, the methods and systems described herein can be embodied in various other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made to the form of the methods and systems described herein without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications that fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0087] While this disclosure provides certain exemplary embodiments and applications, other embodiments that will be apparent to those skilled in the art—including embodiments that do not provide all the features and advantages set forth herein—are also within the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is intended to be defined only by reference to the appended claims.

[0088] Unless otherwise expressly stated, it should be understood that throughout this specification, discussions using terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” and “identifying” refer to the actions or processing of a computing device, such as one or more computers or similar electronic computing devices, which manipulate or convert data represented as physical electronic or magnetic quantities within the memory, registers, or other information storage, transmission, or display devices of a computing platform.

[0089] The one or more systems discussed herein are not limited to any particular hardware architecture or configuration. A computing device may include any suitable arrangement of components that provides a result conditioned on one or more inputs. Suitable computing devices include multi-functional microprocessor-based computer systems that access stored software that programs or configures the computing system from a general-purpose computing device to a dedicated computing device that implements one or more embodiments of this subject matter. The teachings contained herein can be implemented in the software used for programming or configuring the computing device using any suitable programming, scripting, or other type of language or combination of languages.

[0090] Implementations of the methods disclosed herein can be performed within the operation of such a computing device. The order of the blocks presented in the examples above can be varied—for example, the blocks can be reordered, combined, and / or divided into sub-blocks. Some blocks or processes can be executed in parallel.

[0091] Unless otherwise specified or otherwise understood in the context in which they are used, conditional language used herein, such as “can,” “may,” “might,” “may,” “for example,” etc., generally intends to express that some examples include certain features, elements, and / or steps while other examples do not. Therefore, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that one or more examples require features, elements, and / or steps in any way, or that one or more examples must include logic for determining, with or without author input or prompting, whether such features, elements, and / or steps are included in any particular example or to be performed in any particular example.

[0092] The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” etc., are synonymous and used inclusively in an open-ended manner, and do not exclude additional elements, features, actions, operations, etc. Furthermore, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (rather than in its exclusive sense), such that, for example, when used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. The use of “suitable for” or “constructed as” herein implies open-ended and inclusive language, which does not exclude means suitable for or configured to perform additional tasks or steps. Additionally, the use of “based on” implies open-ended and inclusiveness because a process, step, calculation, or other action “based on” one or more of the stated conditions or values ​​may actually be based on additional conditions or values ​​other than those stated. Similarly, the use of “at least partially based on” implies open-ended and inclusiveness because a process, step, calculation, or other action “at least partially based on” one or more of the stated conditions or values ​​may actually be based on additional conditions or values ​​other than those stated. The headings, lists, and numbers included herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting.

[0093] The various features and processes described above can be used independently of each other or in combination in various ways. All possible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Additionally, in some embodiments, certain method or process blocks may be omitted. The methods and processes described herein are not limited to any particular order, and the blocks or states associated with them may be executed in other suitable orders. For example, the described blocks or states may be executed in an order other than that specifically disclosed, or multiple blocks or states may be combined into a single block or state. Example blocks or states may be executed serially, in parallel, or in some other manner. Blocks or states may be added to or removed from the disclosed examples. Similarly, the example systems and components described herein may be constructed differently from those described. For example, elements may be added, removed, or rearranged compared to the disclosed examples.

Claims

1. A keyboard key structure, comprising: Keyboard; Contact-based mechanical triggers; as well as Non-contact analog key switch, The key lever is configured to be pressed and moved along a linear path within an operating range. The contact-based mechanical trigger is configured to be activated after the key lever is pressed down a threshold distance within the operating range, and In response to the activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger, the non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range at a sampling rate.

2. The keyboard key structure according to claim 1, wherein, The maximum operating range of the key lever is between 3mm and 6mm, and The threshold distance for activating the contact-based mechanical trigger is between 0 mm and 1 mm.

3. The keyboard key structure according to claim 1, wherein, The contact-based mechanical trigger is a current-type key switch.

4. The keyboard key structure according to claim 1, wherein, The non-contact analog key switch is one of the following: Optical analog key switch; Magnetic analog key switch; or Inductive analog key switch.

5. The keyboard key structure according to claim 4, wherein, The optical analog key switch includes: Phototransistor; A light-emitting element, operable to guide light toward the phototransistor in response to activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger; and A blocking device, connected to the key rod, is configured such that: It moves along the linear path together with the key; and The amount of light reaching the phototransistor from the light-emitting element is controlled based on the position of the blocking device within the operating range. The optical analog key switch detects the position of the key lever based on the controlled amount of light reaching the phototransistor.

6. The keyboard key structure according to claim 4, wherein, The inductive analog key switch includes: A conductive target, connected to the key bar, and configured to move together with the key bar along the linear path within at least a portion of the operating range; One or more induction coils, configured to detect the conductive target and generate corresponding signals. The inductive analog key switch detects the position of the key lever based on the strength of the corresponding signal.

7. The keyboard key structure according to claim 1, wherein, The sampling rate is the first sampling rate. The non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever at a second sampling rate at a second threshold distance. Wherein, the second threshold distance is between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range, and The second sampling rate is faster than the first sampling rate.

8. The keyboard key structure according to claim 7, wherein, When the detected position of the key stick is at or below the threshold distance but above the second threshold distance for a threshold time, the keyboard key structure stops detecting the position of the key stick.

9. The keyboard key structure according to claim 7, wherein, The second threshold distance is user-programmable, and wherein, when the second threshold distance is programmed to be within 1 mm of the threshold distance, the non-contact analog key switch operates independently of and without response to the activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger.

10. The keyboard key structure according to claim 9, wherein, When the threshold distance is reached, the contact-based mechanical trigger provides tactile feedback independently of the operation of the non-contact analog key switch.

11. The keyboard key structure according to claim 1, wherein, When the detected position of the key lever is higher than the threshold distance, the keyboard key structure stops detecting the position of the key lever.

12. A method for operating a keyboard, the method comprising: Receive a signal from a contact-based mechanical trigger of a hybrid key structure, the hybrid key structure including the contact-based mechanical trigger and a non-contact analog key switch, the signal indicating that the contact-based mechanical trigger is activated because the key lever of the hybrid key structure is pressed down by a threshold distance within an operating range; In response to the activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger, the position of the key lever between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range is detected at a sampling rate by the non-contact analog key switch; as well as In response to the contact-based mechanical trigger being deactivated due to the key lever moving below the threshold distance, the detection of the key lever's position within the operating range is stopped.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The maximum operating range of the key lever is between 3mm and 6mm, and The threshold distance for activating the contact-based mechanical trigger is between 0 mm and 1 mm.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The contact-based mechanical trigger is a current-type key switch.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The non-contact analog key switch is one of the following: Optical analog key switch; Magnetic analog key switch; or Inductive analog key switch.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The optical analog key switch includes: Phototransistor; A light-emitting element, operable to guide light toward the phototransistor in response to activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger; and A blocking device, connected to the key rod, is configured such that: It moves along a linear path together with the key; and The amount of light reaching the phototransistor from the light-emitting element is controlled based on the position of the blocking device within the operating range. The optical analog key switch detects the position of the key lever based on the controlled amount of light reaching the phototransistor.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The inductive analog key switch includes: A conductive target, coupled to the key, and configured to move along a linear path with the key within at least a portion of the operating range; and One or more induction coils, configured to detect the conductive target and generate corresponding signals. The inductive analog key switch detects the position of the key lever based on the strength of the corresponding signal.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The sampling rate is the first sampling rate. The non-contact analog key switch is configured to detect the position of the key lever at a second sampling rate at a second threshold distance. Wherein, the second threshold distance is between the threshold distance and the endpoint of the operating range, and The second sampling rate is faster than the first sampling rate.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, The second threshold distance is user-programmable, and wherein, when the second threshold distance is programmed to be within 1 mm of the threshold distance, the non-contact analog key switch operates independently of and without response to the activation of the contact-based mechanical trigger.

20. A keyboard key structure, comprising: Keyboard; Contact-based key switches; as well as Non-contact analog key switch, The key lever is configured to be pressed. The contact-based mechanical trigger is configured to be activated first when the key lever is pressed, and In response to the activation of the contact-based key switch, and after the key lever has been pressed a further distance, the non-contact analog key switch is activated and operable to detect the position of the key lever within an operating range at a sampling rate.

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