Overlay Keyboard Keys With Dual Capacitive Input Modes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays often lack a versatile physical keyboard that can efficiently facilitate both alphanumeric input and cursor movement, limiting their usability in handheld devices with limited space.

Innovation Solution

A physical keyboard that temporarily overlays the touch-sensitive display, featuring individual keys with distinct levels of capacitive coupling, allowing users to enter alphanumeric content by pressing keys and move a cursor by touching keycaps without pressing, thereby enabling dual user-interface modalities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a physical keyboard is added to a portable electronic device, then alphanumeric input capability is improved, but device portability and space utilization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealphanumeric input capabilityVSAvoiddevice space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The keyboard transitions from a static integrated component to a dynamic removable overlay that can be placed over the touch-sensitive display when needed and removed when not needed, allowing the device to adapt its physical configuration based on usage requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The keyboard is designed as a separate overlay layer that sits on top of the touch-sensitive display, adding a third dimension to the interface. This allows physical key feedback without occupying horizontal or vertical display space, resolving the space conflict

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a physical keyboard overlays the touch-sensitive display, then physical feedback is improved, but display area and versatility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysical feedbackVSAvoiddisplay area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The keyboard overlay is designed to be temporarily placeable and removable, allowing the display to dynamically switch between full-screen mode and keyboard-assisted mode, maintaining versatility while providing physical feedback when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The keyboard acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the touch-sensitive display, providing physical feedback without permanently blocking the display. The transparent or see-through design allows the display content to remain visible through the keyboard overlay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If individual keys provide varying levels of capacitive coupling, then user-interface modality versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser-interface modalityVSAvoidkeyboard structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the keyboard (or different keys within the keyboard) are designed with different capacitive coupling characteristics, allowing the same physical structure to support multiple input modalities such as light touches for cursor movement and firm presses for character entry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The keyboard utilizes variations in capacitive coupling parameters across different keys or key states to enable multiple functions. By detecting different levels of capacitive change, the system can distinguish between different types of user interactions without requiring separate physical mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enhances the usability of portable devices by allowing simultaneous alphanumeric input and cursor control, leveraging the keyboard's flexibility and scalability across various formats and sizes.

Implementation Method 1

each individual key selectively provides a first level of capacitive coupling to the touch-sensitive display and a second level of capacitive coupling to that touch-sensitive display

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS9285837B2Temporary keyboard having some individual keys that provide varying levels of capacitive coupling to a touch-sensitive display

Publication Date: 2016.03.15 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

A physical keyboard having a plurality of individual keys temporarily overlays a touch-sensitive display. Each individual key selectively provides either of a first level of capacitive coupling and a second, different level of capacitive coupling to the touch-sensitive display. By one approach the key provides that first level of capacitive coupling to the touch-sensitive display when a user asserts the key (for example, by pressing upon the key) to thereby communicate to the touch-sensitive display a selection of that individual key. The key can provide that second level of capacitive coupling when a user touches, but does not assert, the individual key. So configured, this second level of capacitive coupling serves to communicate to the touch-sensitive display an input instruction other than a selection of that individual key.