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US 10,241,590 B2Granted
Capacitive keyboard having variable make points
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBlake R. Marshall, Liquan Tan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an input device having variable make points. More specifically, the various embodiments described herein are directed to an input device having a key, a first button member and a second button member. A dielectric may be positioned between the first button member and the second button member. The key is also associated with a capacitive sensor that is configured to determine a change in capacitance as a distance between the first button member and the second button member changes.
Claims20
An input device comprising:
- a ground layer;
- a first member positioned on and electrically coupled to a first side of the ground layer;
- a second member positioned on the first side of the ground layer between the ground layer and the first member, and electrically separated from the ground layer;
- and
- a dielectric material positioned between the first member and the second member such that a capacitance between the first member and the second member changes as the first member is moved towards the second member;
- wherein:
- the second member is electrically coupled to vias extending from the first side to a second side of the ground layer;
- and
- a first capacitance between the first member and the second member is associated with a first make point of the input device and a second capacitance between the first member and the second member is associated with a second make point of the input device.
6 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a ground layer having a first side and a second side;
- a substrate layer positioned on the second side of the ground layer;
- a first input device comprising:
- a first member positioned on and electrically coupled to the first side of the ground layer;
- a second member positioned on the first side of the ground layer between the ground layer and the first member, and electrically separated from the ground layer;
- and
- a first dielectric material positioned between the first member and the second member such that a first capacitance between the first member and the second member changes as the first member is moved towards the second member;
- and
- a second input device comprising:
- a third member positioned on and electrically coupled to the first side of the ground layer;
- a fourth member positioned on the first side of the ground layer between the ground layer and the third member, and electrically separated from the ground layer;
- a second dielectric material positioned between the third member and the fourth member such that a second capacitance between the third member and the fourth member changes as the third member is moved towards the fourth member;
- wherein:
- the second member is electrically coupled to a first set of vias extending from the first side to the second side of the ground layer;
- and
- the fourth member is electrically coupled to a second set of vias extending from the first side to the second side of the ground layer;
- and
- a value of the first capacitance greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold is associated with a first make point of the first input device and a value of the first capacitance greater than the second threshold is associated with a second make point of the first input device;
- and
- a value of the second capacitance greater than a third threshold and less than a fourth threshold is associated with a first make point of the second input device and a value of second capacitance greater than the fourth threshold is associated with a second make point of the second input device.
17 more elements
A method of detecting a gesture input to an input device of an electronic device, the input device comprising a first key and a second key, the method comprising:
- detecting a change in a capacitance at the first key between a first portion of the first key and a second portion of the first key;
- deciding that an actuation member is in proximity to the first key when the change in the capacitance at the first key is above a first threshold;
- detecting a subsequent change in a capacitance at the second key between a first portion of the second key and a second portion of the second key;
- detecting that the actuation member has moved to be in proximity to the second key when the change in the capacitance at the second key is above a second threshold;
- and
- deciding that the gesture input has occurred.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.