Touch sensitive keypad with tactile feedback

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to control operation of the apparatus;
• and
• a keypad, comprising a plurality of discrete keys formed by touch sensors or a plurality of virtual keys in a touch sensitive area, said plurality of discrete or virtual keys being mechanically coupled to only one underlying biased electrical switch that is activated by downwardly pressing any of said discrete or virtual keys so that the keypad travels downwards to activate the biased electrical switch, wherein the touch sensors or the touch sensitive area are disposed on an upper side of a plate member, and the plate member is coupled to the biased electrical switch and said biased electrical switch is disposed under the plate member and between said plate member and a substrate, wherein the biased electrical switch comprises a collapsible member comprising a thin walled collapsible ring disposed between the plate member and the substrate and arranged substantially centered with relation to the plate, the thin walled collapsible ring comprising an inner ring member and an outer ring member, an outer perimeter of the inner ring member being connected to an inner perimeter of the outer ring member by a fold line, and wherein downwardly pressing any of said discrete or virtual keys results in pressure on the biased electrical switch and causes the inner ring member and the outer ring member to move relative to one another about the fold line and consequent activation of the biased electrical switch and wherein the biased electrical switch is arranged to form an electrical contact in collaboration with a contact disposed on said substrate for establishing electrical contact when activated;
• said processor being coupled to said keypad and said processor being configured to determine which of said plurality of discrete or virtual keys has been pressed from a signal from said touch sensors or touch plate, and said processor being configured to enter a keystroke only when said biased electrical switch is additionally activated, said entered keystroke corresponding to the determined one of the plurality of discrete or virtual keys.

A method comprising:

• determining, from a signal from a touch sensor or a touchplate, which of a plurality of discrete or virtual keys of a keypad or keyboard has been pressed;
• determining whether a biased electrical switch has been activated, wherein the keypad or keyboard comprises only one biased electrical switch and said only one biased electrical switch comprises a collapsible ring member which is centrally arranged beneath the keypad or keyboard, the collapsible ring member comprising an inner ring member and an outer ring member, an outer perimeter of the inner ring member being connected to an inner perimeter of the outer ring member by a fold line, the inner ring member and the outer ring member being configured to move relative to one another about the fold line when at least one of the plurality of discrete or virtual keys has been pressed;
• and
• registering a keystroke only when it is determined that at least one of the plurality of discrete or virtual keys has been pressed and the biased electrical switch has been activated.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured with program commands that, when executed by a processor, enable the processor to:

• determine, from a signal from a touch sensor or a touchplate, which of a plurality of discrete or virtual keys of a keypad or keyboard has been pressed;
• determine whether a biased electrical switch has been activated, wherein the keypad or keyboard comprises only one biased electrical switch and said only one biased electrical switch comprises a collapsible ring member which is centrally arranged beneath the keypad or keyboard, the collapsible ring member comprising an inner ring member and an outer ring member, an outer perimeter of the inner ring member being connected to an inner perimeter of the outer ring member by a fold line, the inner ring member and the outer ring member being configured to move relative to one another about the fold line when at least one of the plurality of discrete or virtual keys has been pressed;
• and
• register a keystroke only when it is determined that at least one of the plurality of discrete or virtual keys has been pressed and the biased electrical switch has been activated.