Viscoelastic Keyboard Key Design

Abstract

A system and method which provide a keyboard with keys which are configured using a viscoelasticity model. More specifically, with the viscoelasticity model at least certain keys within the keyboard include an elastic component and a viscous component. The elastic component provides a component force which occurs substantially immediately upon application of a stress to the key and relaxes substantially immediately upon release of the stress from the key. In this way the elastic component functions similarly to a spring in a mechanical dashpot model key. The viscous component provides a component force which grows with time as long as a stress is applied to the key. In this way, the viscous component functions similarly to a dash in a mechanical dashpot model key.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.