Keyboard Touch Sensor Layout for Backlit Key Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboards face challenges in integrating effective touch sensor functionality due to space constraints, making it difficult to provide desired touch input capabilities while maintaining keypress functionality.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard design that overlays keys with a capacitive touch sensor circuitry, using conductive strands in a fabric layer or on a substrate, allowing for both keypress and touch input detection without the need for a separate trackpad, with signal lines either hidden or made transparent to maintain aesthetic appeal and illumination efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate trackpad is added to provide touch input functionality, then touch input capability is improved, but device area and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the touch sensor functionality with the existing keyboard key structure. The touch sensor is integrated into the key members or positioned adjacent to them, allowing the same physical space to serve both mechanical keypress detection and capacitive touch input functions, thereby eliminating the need for a separate trackpad area.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard keys are designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical keypress input and capacitive touch sensing. The key members or adjacent structures serve dual purposes as both mechanical switches and capacitive touch sensors, enabling the device to provide both types of input within the same footprint.
2Reliability
If signal lines are made opaque to ensure electrical functionality, then electrical connectivity is improved, but light transmission and aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs transparent or translucent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide (ITO) coatings or conductive polymer films for the signal lines. These thin film structures maintain electrical conductivity while allowing light to pass through, thus preserving both functionality and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal lines are constructed using composite materials that combine conductive and transparent properties. Examples include transparent conductive oxides, conductive polymers, or hybrid structures that integrate metal nanoparticles within transparent matrices, achieving both electrical connectivity and optical transparency.
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 efficient space utilization by integrating touch sensor functionality into the keyboard structure, allowing for both keypress and touch input without obstructing the view or light transmission, enhancing user interaction and device compactness.
Implementation Method 1
The touch sensor circuitry may be capacitive touch sensor circuitry that monitors capacitive electrodes in the touch sensor for touch input from the user
Implementation Method 2
Light sources may emit light that passes through the openings and illuminates the alphanumeric characters
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard may be provided that has keys overlapped by a touch sensor. The keyboard may have key sensor circuitry for monitoring switching in the keys for key press input. The keyboard may also have touch sensor circuitry such as capacitive touch sensor circuitry that monitors capacitive electrodes in the touch sensor for touch sensor input such as multitouch gesture input. The keyboard may include an outer layer of fabric that overlaps the keys. The fabric may have openings that are arranged to form alphanumeric characters. Light sources may emit light that passes through the openings and illuminates the alphanumeric characters. The touch sensor may have signal lines that are not visible through the openings. The signal lines may be transparent, may be covered by a diffuser, or may circumvent the openings so that they do not overlap.