Adaptive Keyboard Scanning for Low-Latency Active Key Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing keyboards suffer from high latency, increased power consumption, and unnecessary scanning of unused keys, which is inefficient and can introduce noise during operations.

Innovation Solution

Adaptive keyboard scanning methods that dynamically adjust the number of scanned keys and scan matrix based on operational modes, such as gaming or normal modes, reducing the number of scanned keys and increasing scan rate for active keys.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If all keys are scanned continuously at a high rate, then key detection precision is improved, but power consumption increases and latency increases for unused keys

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey detection precisionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The keyboard scanning system dynamically adjusts the scan rate based on operational mode. In gaming mode, the scan rate is increased for actively used keys while reducing or eliminating scanning of inactive keys. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high detection precision for relevant keys while significantly reducing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary scans of unused keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different scan rates are applied to different regions or groups of keys based on their usage patterns. Active keys (such as WASD in gaming) receive higher scan rates for precise detection, while inactive keys are scanned at lower rates or not at all. This localized quality approach ensures measurement precision is optimized where needed without wasting energy on irrelevant keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If all keys are scanned continuously, then no key presses are missed, but latency increases and noise is introduced during operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey press detection reliabilityVSAvoidscanning latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts scanning behavior based on operational context. In gaming mode, the scan rate is optimized for commonly used keys while reducing scans for less frequently used keys. This dynamic approach maintains reliable detection of game-relevant key presses while reducing overall latency and eliminating noise from scanning unused keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of scanning all keys at maximum rate, the system applies partial scanning focused on actively used keys. In gaming mode, only the subset of keys relevant to gameplay are scanned at high rates, while other keys are scanned less frequently or not at all. This partial action approach maintains detection reliability for critical keys without the latency and noise penalties of universal high-rate scanning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Speed

If the scan rate is increased for all keys, then response time is improved, but power consumption increases and noise is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey scan rateVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

High scan rates are applied locally only to actively used keys rather than uniformly across all keys. In gaming mode, keys such as WASD and spacebar are scanned at high rates for rapid response, while inactive keys are scanned at lower rates. This localized high-speed scanning improves response time for relevant keys without the power consumption penalty of system-wide high-rate scanning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The scan rate is dynamically adjusted based on operational mode and key usage patterns. During gaming, the system increases scan rates for game-relevant keys while maintaining lower rates for other keys. This dynamic rate adjustment optimizes response speed where needed while conserving power by avoiding excessive scanning of unused keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If unused keys are scanned, then comprehensive key coverage is maintained, but noise is introduced and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey coverage comprehensivenessVSAvoidscanning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and focuses scanning resources on actively used keys while removing or reducing scanning of unused keys. In gaming mode, the scan matrix is configured to prioritize game-relevant keys, effectively taking out the unnecessary scanning of inactive keys. This extraction approach maintains comprehensive coverage of needed keys while eliminating noise and improving scanning efficiency by excluding irrelevant keys from the scan cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12481373B2Methods and apparatus for adaptive keyboard scanning

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for adaptive keyboard scanning are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to adaptively control operation of a keyboard includes at least one memory, instructions, and processor circuitry. The processor circuitry is to determine whether to operate the keyboard in a first mode or in a second mode different from the first mode, the first mode corresponding to a first number of keys, the second mode corresponding to a second number of keys less than the first number of keys, and set the keyboard to operate in the first mode or the second mode based on the determination.