Hybrid Touch Keypad With Tactile Layer for Low-Power Input Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Touchscreens face issues such as obscuration during use, smearing, and increased brightness needs, while traditional keys provide better tactile response but are not as intuitive for pointing operations, and existing combinations of touchscreens and keypads do not fully address these issues.

Innovation Solution

A portable device with a combined touch and key detection system, featuring a touch control surface and a keypad with a sensing layer of electromagnetic detectors and a rubber layer for tactile response, allowing for simultaneous touch and key press detection with reduced mechanical shocks and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a touchscreen is used for pointing operations, then intuitive control is improved, but the user has to obscure the touchscreen with her finger and it smears the surface requiring increased brightness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintuitive controlVSAvoidbrightness power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a touchscreen display with a physical keypad into a single integrated device. The touchscreen provides intuitive pointing operations while the physical keypad offers tactile feedback for typing, merging the advantages of both input methods into one system that addresses the limitations of using either alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The input device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect both touch gestures on the touchscreen surface and key presses on the physical keypad. This multi-functionality allows the device to adapt to different input needs, providing intuitive control for pointing operations while maintaining tactile feedback for data entry, thereby reducing the need for increased brightness and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If actual keys are used for typing, then tactile response is improved, but they are not as intuitive for pointing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile responseVSAvoidpointing operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates a physical keypad with tactile feedback capabilities alongside a touchscreen interface. This combination allows the device to provide excellent tactile response for typing through the physical keys while simultaneously enabling intuitive pointing operations through the touchscreen, thus resolving the limitation of traditional keypads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The input device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect both touch gestures on the touchscreen surface and key presses on the physical keypad. This multi-functionality allows the device to adapt to different input needs, providing tactile feedback for typing while maintaining capability for intuitive pointing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If touchscreens and keypads are combined, then both functions are available, but the issues with touchscreens still remain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput method optionsVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a touchscreen display with a physical keypad into a single integrated device. The touchscreen provides intuitive pointing operations while the physical keypad offers tactile feedback for typing, merging the advantages of both input methods into one system that addresses the limitations of using either alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The input device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect both touch gestures on the touchscreen surface and key presses on the physical keypad. This multi-functionality allows the device to adapt to different input needs, providing intuitive control for pointing operations while maintaining tactile feedback for data entry, thereby reducing the need for increased brightness and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables reliable and efficient combined touch and key press detection, reducing power consumption and extending battery life, while providing a convenient tactile response and minimizing internal interference.

Implementation Method 1

capacitive sensing device for use in a keypad assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

sensing layer of electromagnetic detectors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2946275B1Input device

Publication Date: 2019.10.30 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

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AI summary

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed with: a touch surface having one or more key tops configured to identify one or more keys to a user; a key sensing circuitry configured to detect a key press of any one or more of the key tops; a network of electromagnetic touch detectors configured to continually detect touching of the touch surface; and an elastic layer between the key sensing circuitry and the key tops configured to relay pressing forces from the key tops to the key sensing circuitry.