US 10,566,151 B1 · Items with fabric domes

Abstract

An item such as a fabric-based item may have one or more input devices. The input devices may have terminals that are electrically coupled to control circuitry. The control circuitry may make resistance measurements, capacitance measurements, and other measurements on the input devices to determine whether the input devices have been pressed by a user's finger or have otherwise received input. The input devices may be used to form an array of switches for a keyboard, may form buttons on an electronic device housing or case, may be part of an item of clothing, or may be incorporated into other items such as fabric-based items. The input devices may have collapsible fabric structures such as collapsible fabric domes. The terminals of the input devices may be formed from conductive strands of material in the fabric domes or may be supported by other structures that buckle under applied pressure.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An item, comprising:

a first fabric layer that forms a fabric dome with a first conductive portion;
a structure with a second conductive portion that is associated with the first conductive portion, wherein the structure defines a first plane;
control circuitry coupled to the first and second conductive portions;
and
a second fabric layer overlapping the first fabric layer, wherein the second fabric layer completely covers the fabric dome, wherein the second fabric layer has first and second portions, wherein the first portion overlaps a center of the fabric dome and the second portion does not overlap the fabric dome, wherein the second portion defines a second plane that is parallel to the first plane, and wherein the first portion lies in the second plane.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Items with fabric domes

Life of this patent

Items with fabric domes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18