Capacitive Touch Keycap Layout for Multi-Function Keyboard Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboards with reduced key layouts face higher learning costs, interaction costs, and production inefficiencies, while knob-type keyboards require users to change their typing posture.
Innovation Solution
A touch keycap with a capacitive sensing touch element integrated into the keycap body, allowing additional touch inputs via a capacitive sensing touch element connected to a microcontroller unit, which can be used to trigger multiple key combinations with a single finger without changing the typing posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the number of keys is reduced to improve space utilization, then space utilization is improved, but the number of available keys decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The keycap is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect pressing operations, sliding operations, and touching operations on its side surface. This allows a single keycap to replace multiple traditional keys, increasing the number of available keys without adding more physical keys to the keyboard layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends the interaction surface from the top face to the side surface of the keycap. By placing capacitive sensing touch elements on the side surface, users can access additional functions by touching the side of the keycap, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space rather than just the two-dimensional keyboard plane.
2Ease of operation
If traditional key operations are used to maintain simple interaction, then ease of operation is maintained, but interaction efficiency decreases for complex operations
Solution Approach 1:
The keycap is divided into multiple functional zones with capacitive sensing touch elements positioned at different locations (top face and side surface). Each zone can trigger different functions, allowing users to perform complex operations like volume adjustment or cursor control without leaving the typing posture, thereby improving interaction efficiency while maintaining ease of operation.
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
The touch keycap increases the effective number of keys by over 50% on 61-key layouts and maintains typing efficiency, enabling intuitive operations like volume adjustment and cursor movement without altering the typing posture.
Implementation Method 1
the touch circuit is electrically connected to a capacitive sensing touch element; the capacitive sensing touch element is one or more of a touch key, a touch slider, and a touch pad
Data Source
AI summary
A touch keycap includes a circuit board and a keycap body. The circuit board is located on the keycap body and/or a keyboard; the circuit board is provided with a touch circuit; the touch circuit is electrically connected to a capacitive sensing touch element; the capacitive sensing touch element is one or more of a touch key, a touch slider, and a touch pad; the touch circuit is provided with a microcontroller unit (MCU); the capacitive sensing touch element is electrically connected to the MCU; and the capacitive sensing touch element is located at any position of an inner surface, an interior, and an outer surface of a top wall of the keycap body, alternatively, located at any position of an inner surface, an interior, and an outer surface of a side wall of the keycap body, and alternatively, located at an edge of the keycap body.