Mechanical keyboard overlay for touch screen
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsEliyahu BAREL, Amir ZYSKIND, Ilan GELLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical keyboard for use on a touch screen comprises an individually and resiliently depressible key and a network of electrical conductors. They key includes a user-facing outer portion and a screen-facing, electrically conductive inner portion, the inner portion being configured to approach the touch screen during depression of the key. The network of electrical conductors is configured to conduct a drive signal to the inner portion of the key, the drive signal being received, during the depression of the key, at a locus of touch screen directly beneath the key.
Claims20
A mechanical keyboard for use on a touch screen, the mechanical keyboard comprising:
- an individually and resiliently depressible key including a user-facing outer portion and a screen-facing, electrically conductive inner portion, the inner portion being configured to approach the touch screen during depression of the key;
- and
- a network of electrical conductors configured to conduct a drive signal to the inner portion of the key, the drive signal being received, during the depression of the key, at a locus of touch screen directly beneath the key.
An electronic device adaptable to receive a mechanical keyboard, the electronic device comprising:
- a touch screen;
- and
- an electrical interface for connection to the mechanical keyboard, the mechanical keyboard comprising an individually and resiliently depressible key including a user-facing outer portion and a screen-facing, electrically conductive inner portion, the inner portion being configured to approach the touch screen during depression of the key;
- and a network of electrical conductors configured to conduct a drive signal to the inner portion of the key, the drive signal being received, during the depression of the key, at a locus of touch screen directly beneath the key.
A mechanical keyboard for use on a touch screen, the mechanical keyboard comprising:
- an individually and resiliently depressible key including a user-facing outer portion and a screen-facing, electrically conductive inner portion, the inner portion being configured to approach the touch screen during depression of the key;
- and
- a network of electrical conductors configured to receive a drive signal electrostatically from the touch screen and to conduct the drive signal to the inner portion of the key, the drive signal being received back into the touch screen, during the depression of the key, at a locus of the touch screen directly beneath the key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.