Patterned Conductive Traces in Elastomeric Dome-Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards lack integration of multi-touch input capabilities without altering their design or user experience, and existing alternative keyboards have failed to replicate the commercial success of mechanical keyboards.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive mechanical keyboard with patterned conductive traces within elastic dome-switches routes stimulation and sense signals, eliminating the need for separate circuitry and allowing for multi-touch input without changing the keyboard's appearance or functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate circuitry is used to route drive and sense lines to touch sensors in mechanical keyboards, then the keyboard can detect multi-touch input, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive and sense lines into a single shared set of conductive traces embedded within the dome-switch material. This merging eliminates the need for separate circuitry for drive and sense functions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining multi-touch detection capability through capacitive sensing along the shared trace paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive traces serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as both drive lines (applying stimulation signals) and sense lines (detecting capacitive changes) for multiple touch sensors. This multi-functionality allows the same physical structure to handle both signal transmission and detection, reducing the number of components needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate circuitry is used to route drive and sense lines, then touch sensor functionality is achieved, but the keyboard size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging drive and sense lines into shared conductive traces within the dome-switch, the patent eliminates redundant circuit board space. The traces are embedded in the flexible dome material itself, utilizing the existing structural space rather than requiring additional circuit board real estate, thus maintaining compact keyboard dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive traces are nested within the dome-switch material structure, with the elastic material serving as both the mechanical switch and the substrate for the conductive pathways. This nesting allows the circuitry to be integrated into the existing dome structure rather than requiring separate dedicated space.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional mechanical keyboard design is maintained, then typing functionality is preserved, but multi-touch input capabilities cannot be integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the system: the dome-switch material is made conductive in specific trace patterns while maintaining its elastic mechanical properties. This local quality change allows the same material to serve both traditional mechanical switching functions and capacitive touch sensing functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The dome-switch is constructed as a composite material system, combining elastic material with embedded conductive traces. This composite structure enables the dome to function both as a mechanical switch (providing tactile feedback) and as a capacitive sensor (enabling multi-touch detection), thus integrating new functionality while preserving traditional behavior.
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 simplifies the keyboard design, reduces size, and enables multi-touch input capabilities while maintaining traditional typing functionality, enhancing user experience without compromising text entry efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The dome-switch can be formed from an elastic (or malleable) material and can include patterned conductive traces within the elastic material
Implementation Method 2
The patterned conductive traces can be used to route stimulation signals and sense signals to and from the touch sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards and processes for routing the drive and sense lines of the touch sensitive keyboard using patterned dome-switches are provided. The keyboard can include one or more mechanical keys having a touch sensor located within or beneath a keycap. The keyboard can further include a dome-switch beneath each keycap to detect a depression of the corresponding key. The dome-switch can be formed from an elastic (or malleable) material and can include patterned conductive traces within the elastic material. The patterned conductive traces can be used to route stimulation signals and sense signals to and from the touch sensor. In some examples, a first end of the patterned conductive traces can be coupled to the drive and sense lines of the touch sensor and a second end of the patterned conductive traces can be coupled to a flexible circuit or PCB.