Patent Application
20120068934
Computer peripherals are continually being refined to expand functionality and provide quality user experiences. One area of improvement has been to provide peripheral devices that combine keyboard-type input functionality with the ability to display output to the user. In many cases, this is implemented by providing a keyboard with a display region that is spatially separate from the keys. For example, in a conventional keyboard layout, a rectangular liquid crystal display (LCD) can be situated above the function keys or number pad.
Another approach to combining input and output capability in a peripheral device is the use of a virtual keyboard on a touch interactive display. In this case, the display capability is provided directly on the keys: each key typically is displayed by the touch interactive display with a legend or symbol that indicates its function. The virtual keyboard approach has many benefits, including the ability to dynamically change the display for each key. Interactive touch displays are often less desirable, however, from a pure input standpoint. Specifically, touch displays do not have mechanically-depressible keys, which can provide a more, responsive and agreeable typing experience. On the other hand, mechanical keyboards do not provide the visual interactivity that is increasingly being expected in connection with computer peripherals.
The present application is directed to a keyboard with viewable output display capability. The keyboard includes a display device, a plurality of keys situated over the display device, with each of the keys being mechanically depressible so that the key is reciprocally movable toward and away from the display device. Furthermore, each of the keys is configured to permit image light from the display device to pass through the key. The keyboard also includes an electrical trace network underneath the keys and formed at least in part from a transparent conductive material to permit image light from the display device to pass through the electrical trace network. The electrical trace network is operable, for each of the plurality of keys, to produce an electrical signal associated with the key in response to depression of the key toward the display device.
In this way, the electrical trace network may be provided in the keyboard to enable detection of key input without interfering with imagery that may be projected through the electrical traces. Therefore, in some examples the viewing area through the keycaps may be increased when an at least partially transparent electrical trace network is used.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
The present disclosure is directed to a keyboard and associated computing system in which the keyboard provides viewable output display capability, and additionally acts as an input device. The keyboard includes mechanically-depressible keys situated over an underlying display device. The keys have a central viewing window, or are otherwise configured to permit image light from the underlying display device to pass through the keys for viewing by a user.
In response to depression of a key toward the underlying display device, the keyboard electrically produces a signal associated with the key (e.g., to activate entry of a particular alphanumeric character). The electrical signal functionality is provided by an electrical trace network located underneath the keys. The electrical trace network may include an upper trace set and a lower trace set. Depression of a given key causes a resilient deformation in which a portion of the upper trace set is brought into electrical contact with an associated portion of the lower trace set. This contact produces the electrical signal associated with the key, which in turn is applied as an input to control a computing device.
The keyboard typically is configured to maximize the ability of a user to view images from the display device underlying the mechanically-depressible keys. Therefore, it will often be desirable to employ transparent materials in the construction of the various structures situated between the display device and the vantage point of a user. For example, as indicated above, the keys will often have a central viewing window. In some cases, the window is implemented with a transparent material; another option is for the center of the key to be hollow to permit direct viewing of the display. The mechanical understructure of the key (e.g., scissors, post-and-plunger, etc.) may also be made transparent. In addition, as will be described in numerous examples, the electrical trace network may instead be formed from transparent materials to permit image light from the display device to pass through the electrical trace network. Furthermore, in some cases, the electrical trace network may be routed around cutouts for the keys in the membrane sheets, allowing the centrally hollow portion of each key to extend all the way to the display device. When the trace sets are formed of a transparent material, there is less of a constraint on a user's ability to view image light from the underlying display device, thereby improving display capability.
In some examples, displayable output of the keyboard is provided from an LCD or other display device. The image light from the display device is viewed through mechanically-depressible keys disposed over the top of the display device. Individual keys are depressed to provide inputs, for example, in the form of electrical signals to control computing system 20.
The terms “input” and “output” will be used frequently in this description in reference to example keyboard embodiments. When used in connection with a keyboard key, the term “input” will generally refer to the input signal that is provided by the keyboard in response to operation of the key. “Output” will generally refer to the display provided for a key, such as the displayed legend, icon, or symbol that indicates the function of the key.
As indicated by the “Q”, “W”, “E”, “R”, “T”, “Y”, etc., on keys 28 (
Keyboard 26 can provide a wide variety of displayable output. In some examples, the keyboard causes a display of viewable output on or near the individual keys 28 to indicate key function. This can be seen in
The display capability contemplated herein may be used to provide any type of viewable output to the user of computing system 20, and is not limited to alphabets, letters, numbers, symbols, etc. As an alternative to the above examples, images may be displayed in a manner that is not necessarily associated in a spatial sense with an individual key. An image might be presented, for example, in a region of the keyboard that spans multiple keys. The imagery provided does not have to be associated with the input functionality of the keyboard. Images might be provided, for example, for aesthetic purposes, to personalize the user experience, or to provide other types of output. The present disclosure encompasses display output for any purpose, including purposes other than to indicate the function of particular keys.
Also, in addition to display provided on or near keys 28, display functionality may be provided in other areas, for example in an area 32 located above keys 28. Still further, area 32 or other portions of keyboard 26 may be provided with touch or gesture-based interactivity in addition to the keyboard-type input provided by keys 28. For example, area 32 may be implemented as an interactive touchscreen display, via capacitive-based technology, resistive-based technology, or other suitable methods. Also, as described elsewhere herein, the portion of the device that underlies the keyboard may also include capabilities in addition to display, including touch sensitivity, machine vision and the like.
Turning now to
A variety of types of display device 40 may be employed. As indicated briefly above, one type of suitable display device is an LCD device. References to an LCD or other specific type of display device are non-limiting; the keyboard examples discussed herein may include any display type suitable for use with overlying mechanically-depressible keys.
Electrical trace network 401 is operable, upon depression of key 400, to produce an electrical signal associated with the key (e.g., to command entry of an alphanumeric character). In many examples, electrical trace network 401 will have a layered structure, in which an upper trace set 402 and a lower trace set 404 are separated by an insulator 406. Both the upper trace set 402 and lower trace set 404 may include multiple electrical traces in various patterns and topographies, which in many cases can be intricate and extensive, to provide associated, individualized electrical signals for all of the keys of a keyboard.
Depression of key 400 causes a resilient deformation in a portion of electrical trace network 401 to produce an electrical signal. Specifically, the resilient deformation results in a portion 408 of upper trace set 402 being brought into contact with an associated portion 410 of lower trace set 404. The contact may occur through a hole 412 formed in insulator 406 for the purpose of permitting the associated portions to electrically contact one another. When employed for an entire keyboard, insulator 406 typically includes a hole for each of the mechanically-depressible keys of the keyboard. In this way, each key may produce an electrical signal via electrical trace network 401 responsive to depression of the key. Viewed from the top, the insulating sheet will typically appear as an expanse with holes distributed throughout.
Upper substrate 502 may be formed in various configurations. In some examples, the upper substrate has a cutout for each key to permit passage of image light from a display device. For example, the substrate may include a cutout for each key, with the cutout being aligned with the central viewing window of the keycap. Additionally, or alternatively, the upper substrate may be formed from a transparent material to permit passage of image light. The substrate may also be flexible or otherwise configured to allow for resilient deformation in response to downward pressure resulting from key operation. In particular, in some examples the upper substrate 502 is implemented as a transparent flexible sheet with the upper trace set applied to an underside of the sheet (i.e., facing insulator 406, lower trace set 404, and lower substrate 504). Regardless of the particular implementation, upper trace set 402 may be applied to a downward-facing surface 506 of upper substrate 502. In this way, the upper trace set is disposed on a surface of the upper substrate, where the surface of the upper substrate faces the display device.
Lower substrate 504 similarly may be formed with a transparent material and/or cutouts for the keys, and may be flexible to permit selective contact between associated portions of the trace sets. In some cases, the lower substrate is implemented as a base sheet that is situated over a display device, for example between lower trace set 404 and display device 40. In other examples, the lower substrate is the outer surface of the display device (e.g., an outer glass surface or coating of an LCD device). Regardless of the particular implementation, lower trace set 404 may be applied to an upward-facing surface 508 of the lower substrate 504. In this way, the lower trace set is disposed on a surface of the lower substrate facing away from the display device. In some examples, the resilient deformation is provided largely as a result of the material properties of the upper material, and the lower substrate may be formed of a more rigid material such as glass. In fact, in some cases, the lower substrate may be the outer surface of the LCD device.
When insulator 406 is employed, it may be implemented using transparent materials and/or key cutouts, similar to the upper and lower substrate. In implementations where the various layers are transparent, the upper and lower substrate and the insulator may be implemented as polyester sheets (e.g., PET), or layers of another suitable transparent material. In many embodiments, insulator 406 will be an insulative sheet having a plurality of holes, with each hole corresponding to a particular key of the keyboard and its associated portions of upper trace set 402 and lower trace set 404. Thus, insulator 406 may be a transparent insulative sheet insulating the upper trace set from the lower trace set.
Still referring to
Transparent conductive materials may be printed, deposited, or otherwise applied to the substrates depicted in
Referring to key region 604,
In a second alternate perspective, the embodiment of the overlying non-depicted structures allows for a larger viewable area, denoted by dashed box 618. This may result, for example, through implementation of an alternate construction for the overlying key. In a third alternate perspective, a still larger viewable area has been achieved (denoted by dashed box 620), though it will be appreciated from the figure that the example trace set 602 overlaps the area defined by the dashed box 620. In one particular example, the key region may be 19 millimeters (mm) by 19 mm and the viewable area may be 13 mm by 13 mm. However, the key region and viewable area may have other dimensions.
From this third perspective (i.e., corresponding to dashed box 620), it will be appreciated that the use of transparent conductive materials may in some cases allow for improved display capability. In particular, when the trace set 602 is partially or completely transparent, it places less of a constraint on a user's ability to view/see image light from the underlying display, because the image light passes through the electrical traces. The viewable area of the display would then be determined by the structure and characteristics of the overlying mechanically-depressible keys, or at least without being constrained by the electrical trace network. In fact, if the entire electrical trace network is made of a sufficiently transparent conductive material, it can be made in any convenient topography or arrangement, without having to consider whether or not any portion of it will obscure image light.
It will be further appreciated that the present discussion encompasses a method of making a keyboard having viewable output display capability. An example of such a method is shown at 700 in
At 704, the method includes providing an electrical trace network underneath the plurality of keys. This may include, as shown at 706, forming at least part of the electrical trace network with a transparent conductive material, so that image light from the display device can pass through the electrical trace network. Further, as shown at 708, the method may include configuring the electrical trace network so that it produces an associated electrical signal for each key when it is depressed.
The electrical trace network may be formed to include an upper trace set and a lower trace set, as described above. Further, flexible and/or resilient structures and materials may be employed to enable a resilient deformation in which specific portions of the trace sets are brought into contact to produce electrical signals associated with the mechanically-depressible keys.
As indicated in the above examples, the transparent conductive material may be formed as a transparent conductive oxide, transparent conductive polymer, or using carbon nanotubes, to name a few non-limiting examples.
Method 700 enables a transparent electrical trace network to be applied to a substrate of a keyboard. In such an arrangement, the transparency of the electrical trace network prevents optical interference of a displayed output projected through the substrate of the keyboard. Therefore in some examples, the viewable area through the keys may be expanded when a transparent electrical trace network is utilized, enhancing the keyboard's display capability.
Referring specifically to the example of
Scissors structure 802 may include two portions 810 and 812 that pivot relative to one another via pivot point 814. Each portion includes a pair of opposed webs with a pair of rods extending between the webs.
Specifically, portion 810 includes web 816. Rod 818 extends from a first end of web 816; rod 820 extends from a second end of web 816. The rods extend to an opposing similar web structure that cannot be seen in
Scissors structure 802 may be variously configured and formed from a variety of different materials. In some embodiments, the entire structure may be plastic. It may be desirable in other examples to form some or all of the parts from metal. In particular, some embodiments employ plastic webs that are over-molded around metal connecting rods. Such use of metal rods may be advantageous when stiffness and rigidity are of particular concern, for example in the case of large format keys (e.g., the “spacebar” key or “enter” key of a keyboard).
It will be appreciated that the portions of the scissors structure 802 pivot relative to one another when the key is depressed downward toward base structure 806. The pivoting action results in an overall lowering of the scissors structure, and produces a slight increase in the effective length of the scissors structure. To accommodate this length variation, the scissors structure may be coupled with adjoining structures in a way that allows for some lateral movement. The portions of scissors structure 802 are engaged with keycap 804 and base structure 806 as follows:
It will again be appreciated that the scissors structure may be disposed to the periphery of each key, thereby leaving the central area of the key/keycap unobstructed and maximally available for display purposes. In particular, when keycap 804 is viewed straight on from the top of the key, the webs and rods of the scissors structure are all positioned at the periphery of the key, underneath a perimeter piece 828 of the keycap. Thus, when an LCD or other display device is employed under the keyboard, the peripherally-configured scissors assemblies allow for a greater portion of the display to be viewed without obstruction through the key (i.e., through a transparent central piece 829). This arrangement, in conjunction with the transparent trace network, may result in a large increase in the unobstructed viewable area for each key.
Continuing with
In addition to collapsing the feedback dome, the depression of the key causes occurrence of an electrical event that produces the input signal or command associated with the key. This may be achieved through use of a switch or other state detector that is responsive to depression of the keycap. As discussed above with regard to
Regardless of the exact mechanism by which the signal is generated, use of a tactile structure can provide tangible, haptic feedback which affirms that the user's physical movement (i.e., pressing of the key) has sent the desired input signal to the attached computing device. The tactile structures typically are elastically deformable and may be implemented as tactile feedback domes formed from metal or silicone, or other elastomeric or rubber-like dome structures, to name but a few possible examples. Selection of a particular type of tactile structure may be informed by tradeoffs and considerations relating to key feel, keyboard thickness, display performance, manufacturing concerns, robustness, reliability and the like. Tactile feedback domes made of metal can often be employed to reduce the keyboard's thickness (relative to other types of domes), however in some cases these domes are less desirable from a tactile-feel standpoint. Conversely, a rubber-like tactile dome may provide the desired feel or action for the keyboard, but at the expense of an increased thickness which can affect the display performance.
As an alternative to the depicted arrangement, the tactile structures may be provided in other locations that do not impede display of images through the keycaps. For example, the tactile structure may be provided at a top or side edge of the holes in the base structure, as opposed to a bottom edge. Furthermore, tactile structures may be positioned underneath the mechanical understructure such that they are compressed by actuation of the mechanical understructure. Regardless of the particular configuration, the centrally-offset position of the tactile structures will often be desirable in that it minimizes or eliminates the possibility of interfering with the through-key display functionality.
It will be appreciated that the computing devices described herein may be any suitable computing device configured to execute the programs described herein. For example, the computing devices may be a mainframe computer, personal computer, laptop computer, portable data assistant (PDA), computer-enabled wireless telephone, networked computing device, or other suitable computing device, and may be connected to each other via computer networks, such as the Internet. These computing devices typically include a processor and associated volatile and non-volatile memory, and are configured to execute programs stored in non-volatile memory using portions of volatile memory and the processor. As used herein, the term “program” refers to software or firmware components that may be executed by, or utilized by, one or more computing devices described herein, and is meant to encompass individual or groups of executable files, data files, libraries, drivers, scripts, database records, etc. It will be appreciated that computer-readable media may be provided having program instructions stored thereon which, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to execute the methods described above and cause operation of the systems described above.
It is to be understood that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The specific routines or methods described herein may represent one or more of any number of processing strategies. As such, various acts illustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in other sequences, in parallel, or in some cases omitted. Likewise, the order of the above-described processes may be changed.
The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various processes, systems and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.
