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US 2013/0293398 A1Published application
Separation walls on keypads
OwnerYong Yaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of utilizing raised parts on a keypad surface, called separation walls, is disclosed. Separation walls can help prevent unintended key hits so that keys can be smaller and be placed with higher densities on small devices. Separation walls with slits can also make light beam keypads operable with multiple fingers at a higher input speed.
Claims11
An input device comprising:
- (a) a plurality of keys that can generate input signals when being triggered,
- (b) a plurality of separation walls between said keys, and
- (c) means for setting said separation walls with predetermined heights, shapes, and relative positions to said keys so that when an object, such as a finger, is moving to or from, or is pressing on a said key, the neighboring said keys are shielded from said object,
- whereby more keys can be put on a smaller surface of a device and be operated with less force and higher speed.
1 more element
A method of preventing keys on an input device from being hit unintentionally, comprising:
- (a) providing space between said keys,
- (b) providing separation walls,
- (c) placing said separation walls on said space to shield the neighboring said keys,
- (d) raising said separation walls to a predetermined height that said keys can only be triggered when the top surface of said keys are below the top of said separation walls.
1 more element
An input device comprising:
- (a) a plurality of light emitters that can emit light beams with predetermined spectra,
- (b) a plurality of light receivers that can generate electrical signals upon changes of received said light beams from said light emitters,
- (c) a plurality of separation walls between said light emitters and said light receivers,
- (d) said separation walls have transparent portion or slits to let a predetermined amount of said light beams from said light emitters pass through to reach said light receivers,
- (e) an opaque object can only block said light beam when placed between said separation walls and below the top of said separation walls,
- whereby said input device can avoid unintended triggering and have a faster input speed.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.