Sensitive Keyboard Key Layout Using Adjacent Signal Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboards face mechanical complexity due to the need for a large number of sensor elements to accurately represent geometrical points on a surface, leading to potential errors in key activation, especially when adjacent keys are activated unintentionally.
Innovation Solution
The keyboard subdivides each key element's contact surface into zones with distinct signal relationships to adjacent elements, allowing for higher resolution and reduced mechanical parts by analyzing electric parameters, and uses capacitive coupling for pressure-sensitive key elements to differentiate signals based on touch intensity and proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of sensor elements are used to represent geometrical points on the keyboard surface, then the input resolution is improved, but the mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface of each key element is segmented into multiple zones (e.g., first zone, second zone, third zone) with different signal characteristics. By analyzing the signal relationships between adjacent key elements and comparing them against predefined ranges, the system can identify which zone is activated. This segmentation allows the patent to achieve high input resolution without requiring a separate sensor element for every possible finger position, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Area of stationary object
If adjacent key elements are placed close together, then the keyboard area is improved, but the key activation accuracy deteriorates due to unintentional adjacent key activation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from multiple adjacent key elements to determine the intended key activation. When a finger touches or approaches a key element, it generates a signal that is compared against signals from adjacent key elements. By analyzing the signal relationships and determining which zone is activated based on signal strength patterns, the system can distinguish between intentional key presses and unintentional adjacent activations, thereby maintaining key activation accuracy even when keys are placed close together.
3Measurement precision
If the contact surface of key elements is subdivided into zones with different signal relationships, then the identifiable points increase, but the signal analysis complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific signal relationship parameters and predefined ranges for different zones. Each zone corresponds to a specific range of signal relationships between adjacent key elements. By establishing these predefined ranges during system design, the real-time signal analysis is simplified to merely comparing measured signal relationships against the predefined ranges, rather than performing complex calculations. This approach increases the number of identifiable points while keeping signal analysis complexity manageable.
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
This approach reduces mechanical complexity while enhancing the ability to accurately identify finger positions on the keyboard, reducing key activation errors and improving input resolution without increasing mechanical parts.
Implementation Method 1
The key elements may be provided as capacitive key elements. The capacity of each key element may depend on the touch intensity and/or the proximity of the finger. Further, said pressure sensitive key elements are coupled by capacitive coupling effects.
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a keyboard with a plurality of sensitive key elements (10, 12, 14) arranged on said keyboard according to a predetermined scheme. Each of the key elements (10, 12, 14) provides an analogue electric signal (U1, U2, U3). The analogous electric signal (U1, U2, U3) depends on the position of a fingertip. A contact surface of the key element (12) is subdivided into zones (A, B, C, D). The zones (A, B, C, D) are defined in such a way, that the zones (A, B, C, D) have different distances from the adjacent key elements (10, 14). Each zone (A, B, C, D) corresponds with a range of relationships between the signal (U2) of the key element (12) and the signal (U1, U3) of at least one adjacent key element (10, 14).