Electrode arrangement for a keyboard proximity and tracking sensor

A keyboard assembly comprising:

• at least one key;
• a first electrode to transmit a transmitter signal;
• and
• at least one second electrode to receive the transmitter signal, wherein:
• the first electrode to transmit the transmitter signal is located at least partially under the second electrode to receive the transmitter signal and at least partially under the at least one key,
• a second electrode to receive the transmitter signal is at the at least one key, the first electrode to transmit the transmitter signal corresponds to a metal support plate of the keyboard assembly and the second electrode to receive the transmitter signal is coupled to a surface of the keyboard assembly above the support plate, and the surface to which the second electrode is coupled is a surface of a printed circuit board above the metal support plate, and
• transmission of the signal from the first electrode to the second electrode is to generate an electric field at a first detecting zone between the first and second electrodes and above the at least one key, the electric field to be generated at the first detecting zone above the keyboard assembly based on a distance between the first electrode at least partially under the second electrode and the second electrode.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first electrode to transmit a transmitter signal;
• and
• at least one second electrode to receive the transmitter signal, wherein:
• the first electrode to transmit the signal is located on a first level of a keyboard assembly,
• a second electrode to receive the transmitter signal is located on a second level of the keyboard assembly, the second level being different than the first level,
• transmission of the signal from the first electrode to the second electrode is to generate an electric field within a first detecting zone above at least one key of the keyboard assembly between the first and second electrodes, the electric field to be generated within the first detecting zone above the keyboard assembly based on a distance between the first electrode on the first level and the second electrode on the second level, wherein:
• the second electrode to receive the transmitter signal is located adjacent at least one key of the keyboard assembly, and
• the first electrode to transmit the transmitter signal is located at least partially under the at least one key and the second electrode,
• the first electrode is a conductive layer at a first surface of a frame of the keyboard assembly, and the second electrode is a conductive layer at a second surface of the frame of the keyboard assembly, the frame formed of a non-conductive material, wherein the first conductive layer is a conductive paint layer at a first surface of the frame of the keyboard assembly, and the second conductive layer is a conductive paint layer at a second surface of the frame of the keyboard assembly.