Keyboard Touch Sensor Layout With Holes for Integrated Touch Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional keyboards and touchpads require frequent hand movement between typing and touchpad use, leading to inefficiency and potential user discomfort, and integrating a touch sensor with a keyboard can result in bulkiness and reduced user friendliness.

Innovation Solution

A keyboard design incorporating a touch sensor layer with strategically arranged holes for light passage, connection structures, and capacitive sensing elements, allowing for integrated touch input without compromising user experience or space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a touch sensor is integrated with a keyboard, then hand movement between typing and touchpad is reduced, but the keyboard becomes bulky and less user-friendly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehand movement timeVSAvoidkeyboard structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch sensor layer is divided into multiple independent sensor elements arranged in a grid pattern, allowing selective activation and reducing the need for continuous monitoring of the entire surface, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining touch functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the keyboard have different sensor densities and configurations - areas requiring higher precision have denser sensor elements, while less critical areas have sparser elements, optimizing performance while reducing overall complexity and bulk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If a touch sensor layer is added to a keyboard, then touch input capability is improved, but the keyboard thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput capabilityVSAvoidkeyboard thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The touch sensor layer is integrated within the existing keyboard structure by nesting it between the key switches and the keycaps, utilizing the existing structural space rather than adding external components, thereby maintaining thin profile while enabling touch functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch sensor elements are arranged in a two-dimensional grid pattern within the single-layer structure, allowing comprehensive touch detection coverage without increasing thickness by utilizing planar spatial arrangement rather than vertical stacking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If holes are added to the touch sensor layer for light passage and component connection, then functionality is improved, but sensor element disruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight passage and connectionVSAvoidsensor operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holes are positioned asymmetrically with respect to the sensor element grid, strategically located at intersections or edges where they minimize disruption to the capacitive sensing patterns, allowing light and component passage while maintaining sensor reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Conductive traces and intermediary structures are used to bridge sensor elements around the holes, maintaining electrical continuity and capacitive coupling pathways despite the physical interruptions caused by holes for light and component access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 seamless transition between typing and touch input without hand movement, maintaining user friendliness and reducing bulkiness by optimizing sensor placement and structure.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor elements are electrodes. Preferably, the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP4058875B1keyboard

Publication Date: 2026.03.18 CLEVETURA LTD

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AI summary

There is described a touch sensor for a keyboard, the touch sensor comprising one or more holes. Also described is a keyboard comprising the touch sensor as well as methods of manufacturing the touch sensor and the keyboard.