Controller-less quick tactile feedback keyboard
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorMasaaki FUKUMOTO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some examples, techniques are provided for quick haptic feedback, without the use of a controller, which is local to individual, non-actuating keys, such as keys of a thin keyboard or keypad. The haptic feedback may be in the form of a simulated “key-click” feedback for an individual key that is pressed by a user such that the finger used to press the key feels the tactile sensation. The haptic feedback mimics the tactile sensation of a mechanical key (e.g., buckling spring, pop-dome key switch) to give a user the perception that they have actuated a mechanically movable key.
Claims20
A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keys beneath a flexible film, each of the plurality of keys comprising:
- a first electrode underneath the flexible film, the first electrode coupled to a high voltage signal source;
- a second electrode located beneath the first electrode, the second electrode coupled to an input detector;
- a spacer configured to maintain at least a threshold distance between the first electrode and the second electrode when there is less than a first threshold amount of touch pressure applied to a top surface of the flexible film above the first electrode;
- a piezoelectric actuator beneath the second electrode, a top surface of the piezoelectric actuator coupled to the second electrode, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is configured to deform in response to contact between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- a base plane beneath the piezoelectric actuator, the base plane coupled to a bottom surface of the piezoelectric actuator and a signal ground.
An electronic device comprising:
- a flexible film;
- a first electrode underneath the flexible film, the first electrode coupled to a high voltage signal source;
- a second electrode located beneath the first electrode, the second electrode coupled to an input detector;
- a piezoelectric actuator beneath the second electrode, a top surface of the piezoelectric actuator coupled to the second electrode;
- and
- a base plane beneath the piezoelectric actuator, the base plane coupled to a bottom surface of the piezoelectric actuator and a signal ground.
A method of making an actuator switch, the actuator switch configured to:
- receive a threshold amount of pressure on a top surface of a flexible film;
- in response to receiving the threshold amount of pressure, contact a first electrode with a second electrode;
- and
- in response to the first electrode contacting the second electrode, generate, by a piezoelectric actuator, haptic feedback and provide, by a voltage signal source, an input detection signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.