Patent Application
20110268487
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 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 device 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 provide tactile feedback, which can provide a more responsive and agreeable typing experience.
Accordingly, the disclosure provides for a computer peripheral in which a keyboard assembly with a plurality of keys is disposed over a display device so that images produced by the display device are viewable through the keyboard assembly. Each of the keys includes a keycap and a mechanical understructure that is configured to guide reciprocating movement of the keycap toward and away from the display device. The mechanical understructure is disposed away from a central portion of the keycap, to permit images produced by the display device to be viewed through the central portion of the keycap.
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.
In some examples, displayable output of the computer peripheral is provided from a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other display device, and is viewed through the keys of a keyboard assembly that is disposed over the top of the display device. Individual keys may be implemented via a keycap and a mechanical understructure that guides reciprocating up-and-down movement of the keycap, relative to the underlying display device. To facilitate through-key viewing of images, the mechanical understructure for a key may be disposed away from a central portion of the keycap.
The terms “input” and “output” will be used frequently in this description in reference to the keyboard functionality of the exemplary computer peripherals. When used in connection with a keyboard key, the term “input” will generally refer to the input signal that is provided by the peripheral upon activation 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 (
Computer peripheral 26 can provide a wide variety of displayable output. In some examples, the computer peripheral 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 need not 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. Indeed, the present disclosure encompasses display output for any purpose. 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 computer peripheral 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 capacitance-based technology, resistive-based technology or other suitable methods.
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. Indeed, LCD devices will be frequently referred to in the examples discussed herein, though this is non-limiting and it should be appreciated that the keyboard assembly may be coupled with a variety of other display types.
As in the examples of
Referring now specifically to
As indicated above, a mechanical understructure may be provided for each key to guide and/or constrain reciprocal upward and downward movement of keycap 50. In the examples of
Continuing with the specific examples of
The mechanical understructure (e.g., scissors assembly 60) may be variously configured to guide and/or constrain keycap movement. For example, it will often be desirable to ensure that the keycaps are constrained to move linearly inward and outward relative to the display device, without twisting or tilting. In addition, as indicated above, the understructure in many cases will be configured so that it is offset or otherwise positioned away from the center of the keycap. Such an arrangement can facilitate viewing of images produced by the underlying display device through the keycap.
In the depicted example, scissors assembly 60 is a pivoting assembly formed from a pair of rigid perimetric frames 63 and 64 that are pivotably coupled together via pivoting connection 66. The frames collectively form a collapsible pivoting mechanism that supports keycap 50 as it moves up and down during actuation. Each of the rigid perimetric frames generally conforms in shape to the outer edge or periphery of the supported keycap. When situated underneath the keycap, the frame bodies generally underlie a periphery of the keycap, and collectively define an opening or aperture through the scissors assembly. This opening typically is aligned with central portion 54 of keycap 50, so that the scissors assembly does not obstruct through-key viewing of images produced by display device 40.
Continuing with
Scissors assembly 60 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 over-molding and/or 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 “shift” key or “spacebar” key of a keyboard). Further still, the entire scissors assembly may be formed from metal or another suitably rigid material other than plastic.
It will be appreciated that the portions of the scissors assembly 60 pivot relative to one another when the key is depressed downward toward base structure 62. The pivoting action results in an overall lowering of the scissors assembly, and produces a slight increase in the effective length of the scissors assembly. To accommodate this length variation, the scissors assembly may be coupled with adjoining structures in a way that allows for some lateral movement. Referring specifically to the example of
With reference to
Continuing with
In addition to collapsing the feedback dome, the depression of the key causes occurrence of an electrical event which 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. In one example, a three-layer construction is used on base structure 62, in which conductors 110 and 112 are separated by insulating layer 114. The layers collectively form a switch mechanism. In particular, depression of the key and collapse of the tactile feedback dome causes conductors 110 and 112 to contact each other through a hole 114a in insulating layer 114, thus establishing an electrical connection which produces the input signal. This is but one example of a switching mechanism; a variety of other state detectors may be employed, including detectors that detect more than whether the key is in an “up” or “down” state. For example, pressure detection or other methods may be used to determine multiple states, including intermediate key-press positions and/or the force applied to a key.
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 computer. 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. As will be described in more detail below, display performance can be enhanced in certain embodiments by having a thinner keyboard assembly. Tactile feedback domes made of metal can often be employed to reduce the keyboard assembly 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 scissors assembly such that they are compressed by actuation of the scissors assembly. 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.
As discussed throughout, various considerations can arise relating to the viewing of images produced by display device 40 (
In some cases, it may be desirable to implement a display device in which the image plane is beneath the keys, at the surface of the display device. This is in contrast to a method involving projection of the image plane to a location on top of the keys, at some distance above the surface of the display device. Referring to
The obscuring of the display may be mitigated to some extent through use of a turning film, prism, and/or other turning element employed in the central portion of the key. In particular, it will be desirable in some embodiments to employ a turning element in connection with the keycap. It will often be desirable that the turning element be employed near the top of the key, for example near the upper surface of the keycap 50. Light rays from the underlying display device would then be refracted toward the user at a point near the top of the key. Because the refraction is occurring near the top of the key, the sidewall portions of the key will obscure less of the display.
As indicated above, the keys of the computer peripheral will typically be employed so that the central portion of each keycap is transparent, allowing the user to see images from the display device through the keycap. As previously discussed, it will often be desirable to configure supporting mechanical components (e.g., the scissors assembly) so that they are located at the periphery of the key, so as to not block images being viewed through the central portion of the key. Furthermore, for aesthetic and other reasons, in some cases the peripheral portion of the keycap will be made opaque in order to conceal the scissors assembly (e.g., to provide a cleaner look and/or to prevent visual distractions that might distract from the images being provided by the display device).
One approach to providing opacity at the periphery while permitting light/images to pass through the center is to form the keycap as a single transparent piece and then paint the periphery of the keycap. Precision painting operations can be difficult, however, and particularly so when performed in mass production settings with small parts. Also, the painting operation is a separate step that can increase the time and cost of manufacturing. Accordingly, in some cases it will be advantageous to form a two piece keycap in which the central portion and the perimeter portion are separate. The above-described examples discussed with respect to
Separate-piece constructions for keycap 50 may be achieved in a variety of ways. In some embodiments, central piece 54 and perimeter piece 52 are molded or otherwise formed separately, and then affixed to one another in a separate joining step. Attachment may be achieved via snap fitting, adhesive (e.g., pressure-sensitive adhesive), ultrasonic welding, or any other suitable joining method. Alternatively, the two pieces may be formed as separate distinct pieces, but in a co-molding process, in which one of the pieces is molded first, and then the second piece is molded onto or over the first.
Computing systems such as that depicted in
Executable instructions may be employed, for example, by a processor in component enclosure 24 to generate a displayable output on display device 40 for each of the keys of keyboard assembly 42 (
The executable instructions may be held, along with other data, in any appropriate data-holding subsystem. When instructions are executed to carry out the methods and processes described herein, the result may include the transformation of data held in the data-holding subsystem. Data may be held on removable and/or built-in devices/media, including optical memory devices, semiconductor memory devices, and/or magnetic memory devices, among others. Suitable data-holding devices/media may have one or more of the following characteristics: volatile, nonvolatile, dynamic, static, read/write, read-only, random access, sequential access, location addressable, file addressable, and content addressable.
Display device 40 may form part of a computing system's display subsystem. As the herein described methods and processes change the data held by the data-holding subsystem, and thus transform the state of the data-holding subsystem, the state of display subsystem may likewise be transformed to visually represent changes in the underlying data. For example, the visual output from display device 40 that is viewable through keyboard assembly 42 may change.
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.
