Back to results
US 10,289,210 B1Granted
Enabling touch on a tactile keyboard
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsPaul X. Wang, Liquan Tan, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Alex J. Lehmann, Aidan N. Zimmerman, Ivan S. Maric
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a multi-function input device, such as a keyboard. The multifunction input device has a touch-sensing layer that enables a user to use the multifunction input device as a standard keyboard and also as a touch sensitive surface such as, for example, a trackpad.
Claims20
A touch-sensitive keyboard, comprising:
- a frame;
- a base plate;
- an array of keys positioned at least partially within the frame, each key comprising:
- a keycap;
- a support mechanism connected to the keycap and the base plate and configured to bias the keycap upward in an absence of an exerted force;
- and
- a touch-sensing layer attached to and positioned above the keycap, wherein the array of keys comprises a plurality of flexible electrical connectors, wherein each flexible electrical connector connects the touch-sensing layers of a respective pair of adjacent keys, and wherein each flexible electrical connector has a length that is longer than a distance that separates the respective pair of adjacent keys.
4 more elements
An input device, comprising:
- a first key comprising:
- a first collapsible dome;
- a first keycap disposed over the first collapsible dome;
- and
- a first touch-sensing layer disposed above the first keycap;
- a second key comprising:
- a second collapsible dome;
- a second keycap disposed over the second collapsible dome, wherein there is a gap between the first and second keycaps;
- and
- a second touch-sensing layer disposed above the second keycap;
- and
- a flexible electrical connector that extends across the gap from the first touch-sensing layer to the second touch-sensing layer.
9 more elements
An input device comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a key within the frame, comprising:
- an insulating layer;
- a touch-sensing layer beneath the insulating layer;
- a keycap beneath the touch-sensing layer;
- a collapsible dome beneath the keycap;
- a contact beneath the collapsible dome;
- and
- a flexible electrical connector extending, at a non-right angle, from the touch-sensing layer and positioned beneath the insulating layer;
- wherein
- the insulating layer is affixed to the touch-sensing layer;
- and
- the insulating layer is not affixed to the flexible electrical connector.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.