Pressure sensitive keys

Abstract

Pressure sensitive key techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a device includes at least one pressure sensitive key having a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer, the flexible contact layer configured to flex responsive to pressure to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input, for a computing device, associated with the pressure sensitive key. At least one of the flexible contact layer or the sensor substrate are configured to at least partially normalize an output resulting from pressure applied at a first location of the flexible contact layer with an output resulting from pressure applied at a second location of the flexible contact layer that has lesser flexibility than the first location.

Description

BACKGROUND

Mobile computing devices have been developed to increase the functionality that is made available to users in a mobile setting. For example, a user may interact with a mobile phone, tablet computer, or other mobile computing device to check email, surf the web, compose texts, interact with applications, and so on. However, traditional mobile computing devices often employed a virtual keyboard that was accessed using touchscreen functionality of the device. This was generally employed to maximize an amount of display area of the computing device.

Use of the virtual keyboard, however, could be frustrating to a user that desired to provide a significant amount of inputs, such as to enter a significant amount of text to compose a long email, document, and so forth. Thus, conventional mobile computing devices were often perceived to have limited usefulness for such tasks, especially in comparison with ease at which users could enter text using a conventional keyboard, e.g., of a conventional desktop computer. Use of the conventional keyboards, though, with the mobile computing device could decrease the mobility of the mobile computing device and thus could make the mobile computing device less suited for its intended use in mobile settings.

SUMMARY

Pressure sensitive key techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a pressure sensitive key includes a sensor substrate having one or more conductors and a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex in response to an application of pressure to contact the sensor substrate. The flexible contact layer has a first location that is configured to contact the sensor substrate using force sensitive ink and a second location that is configured to contact the sensor substrate using force sensitive ink such that the second location has increased conductivity than the first location.

In one or more implementations, a pressure sensitive key includes a flexible contact layer configured to flex in response to an application of pressure and a sensor substrate spaced apart from the flexible contact layer and positioned for contact by the flexible contact layer responsive to the application of pressure. The sensor substrate has one or more conductors that are configured to be contacted by the flexible contact layer at first and second locations, the second location configured to have increased conductivity in relation to the first location.

In one or more implementations, a keyboard includes a plurality of pressure sensitive keys configured to initiate inputs of a computing device, each of the plurality of pressure sensitive keys comprising a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer. The flexible contact layer is configured to flex in response to an application of pressure to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input, for a computing device, associated with the pressure sensitive key. The sensor substrate has one or more conductors that are configured to be contacted by the flexible contact layer at respective first and second locations, the second location of the sensor substrate and the flexible contact layer configured to have increased conductivity in relation to the first location of the sensor substrate and the flexible contact layer.

In one or more implementations, a device includes at least one pressure sensitive key having a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer, the flexible contact layer configured to flex responsive to pressure to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input, for a computing device, associated with the pressure sensitive key. At least one of the flexible contact layer or the sensor substrate are configured to at least partially normalize an output resulting from pressure applied at a first location of the flexible contact layer with an output resulting from pressure applied at a second location of the flexible contact layer that has lesser flexibility than the first location.

In one or more implementations, an input device includes a plurality of pressure sensitive keys configured to initiate corresponding inputs of a computing device. Each of the plurality of pressure sensitive keys is formed from a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer. A first pressure sensitive key is configured to have a greater sensitivity to pressure than a second pressure sensitive key through configuration of at least one of respective said flexible contact layers or respective said sensor substrates.

In one or more implementations, a keyboard includes a plurality of pressure sensitive keys configured to initiate inputs of a computing device, each of the plurality of pressure sensitive keys includes a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer. The flexible contact layer is configured to flex responsive to a pressure to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input associated with the pressure sensitive key for a computing device. At least one of the flexible contact layer or the sensor substrate are configured to at least partially normalize an output resulting from pressure applied at a first location of the flexible contact layer with an output resulting from pressure applied at a second location of the flexible contact layer, the second location positioned closer to an edge of the spacer layer than the first location.

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 as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items. Entities represented in the figures may be indicative of one or more entities and thus reference may be made interchangeably to single or plural forms of the entities in the discussion.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an environment in an example implementation that is operable to employ the techniques described herein.

FIG. 2 depicts an example implementation of an input device of FIG. 1 as showing a flexible hinge in greater detail.

FIG. 3 depicts an example implementation showing a perspective view of a connecting portion of FIG. 2 that includes mechanical coupling protrusions and a plurality of communication contacts.

FIG. 4 depicts an example of a cross-sectional view of a pressure sensitive key of a keyboard of the input device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 depicts an example of a pressure sensitive key of FIG. 4 as having pressure applied at a first location of a flexible contact layer to cause contact with a corresponding first location of a sensor substrate.

FIG. 6 depicts an example of the pressure sensitive key of FIG. 4 as having pressure applied at a second location of the flexible contact layer to cause contact with a corresponding second location of the sensor substrate.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the flexible contact layer of a single pressure sensitive key that is configured to normalize outputs generated at a plurality of locations of the switch.

FIG. 8 depicts an example of a pressure sensitive key of FIG. 4 that includes a plurality of sensors to detect pressure at different locations.

FIG. 9 depicts an example of conductors of a sensor substrate of a pressure sensitive key that is configured to normalize signals generated at different locations of the pressure sensitive key.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example system including various components of an example device that can be implemented as any type of computing device as described with reference to FIGS. 1-9 to implement embodiments of the techniques described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Pressure sensitive keys may be used as part of an input device to support a relatively thin form factor, such as less than approximately 3.5 millimeters. However, pressure sensitive keys may not provide a degree of feedback that is common with conventional mechanical keyboards and therefore may result in missed hits and partial hits to intended keys of the keyboard. Further, conventional configuration of the pressure sensitive keys often resulted in different sensitivities due to the flexibility of the material being deflected, e.g., greater deflection is generally observed at a central area of the key as opposed to an edge of the key. Therefore, conventional pressure sensitive keys could result in an inconsistent user experience with a device that employs the keys.

Pressure sensitive key techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a pressure sensitive key is configured to provide a normalized output, e.g., to counteract differences in the flexibility at different positions of the pressure sensitive key. For example, sensitivity at an edge of a key may be increased in comparison with the sensitivity at a center of the key to address the differences in flexibility of the key at those positions.

The sensitivity may be adjusted in a variety of ways. For example, sensitivity may be adjusted by increasing an amount of force sensitive ink at the edges of a flexible contact layer as opposed to a center of the flexibility contact layer. In another example, an amount of conductors available to be contacted in a sensor substrate may be increased. This may be performed in a variety of ways, such as through arrangement of gaps, amount of conductive material, surface area, and so on at an edge of a sensor substrate that is contacted by the flexible contact layer as opposed to at a center of the sensor substrate.

Sensitivity may also be adjusted for different keys. For example, keys that are more likely to receive a lighter pressure (e.g., a key at a bottom row, positioned near the edges of a keyboard, and so on) may be configured to have increased sensitivity in comparison with a key that is likely to receive a higher amount of pressure, e.g., such as keys in a home row. In this way, normalization may also be performed between keys of a keyboard as well as at the keys themselves. Further discussion of these and other features may be found in relation to the following sections.

In the following discussion, an example environment is first described that may employ the techniques described herein. Example procedures are then described which may be performed in the example environment as well as other environments. Consequently, performance of the example procedures is not limited to the example environment and the example environment is not limited to performance of the example procedures.

Example Environment

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an environment 100 in an example implementation that is operable to employ the techniques described herein. The illustrated environment 100 includes an example of a computing device 102 that is physically and communicatively coupled to an input device 104 via a flexible hinge 106. The computing device 102 may be configured in a variety of ways. For example, the computing device 102 may be configured for mobile use, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer as illustrated, and so on. Thus, the computing device 102 may range from full resource devices with substantial memory and processor resources to a low-resource device with limited memory and/or processing resources. The computing device 102 may also relate to software that causes the computing device 102 to perform one or more operations.

The computing device 102, for instance, is illustrated as including an input/output module 108. The input/output module 108 is representative of functionality relating to processing of inputs and rendering outputs of the computing device 102. A variety of different inputs may be processed by the input/output module 108, such as inputs relating to functions that correspond to keys of the input device 104, keys of a virtual keyboard displayed by the display device 110 to identify gestures and cause operations to be performed that correspond to the gestures that may be recognized through the input device 104 and/or touchscreen functionality of the display device 110, and so forth. Thus, the input/output module 108 may support a variety of different input techniques by recognizing and leveraging a division between types of inputs including key presses, gestures, and so on.

In the illustrated example, the input device 104 is configured as a keyboard having a QWERTY arrangement of keys although other arrangements of keys are also contemplated. Further, other non-conventional configurations are also contemplated, such as a game controller, configuration to mimic a musical instrument, and so forth. Thus, the input device 104 and keys incorporated by the input device 104 may assume a variety of different configurations to support a variety of different functionality.

As previously described, the input device 104 is physically and communicatively coupled to the computing device 102 in this example through use of a flexible hinge 106. The flexible hinge 106 is flexible in that rotational movement supported by the hinge is achieved through flexing (e.g., bending) of the material forming the hinge as opposed to mechanical rotation as supported by a pin, although that embodiment is also contemplated. Further, this flexible rotation may be configured to support movement in one direction (e.g., vertically in the figure) yet restrict movement in other directions, such as lateral movement of the input device 104 in relation to the computing device 102. This may be used to support consistent alignment of the input device 104 in relation to the computing device 102, such as to align sensors used to change power states, application states, and so on.

The flexible hinge 106, for instance, may be formed using one or more layers of fabric and include conductors formed as flexible traces to communicatively couple the input device 104 to the computing device 102 and vice versa. This communication, for instance, may be used to communicate a result of a key press to the computing device 102, receive power from the computing device, perform authentication, provide supplemental power to the computing device 102, and so on. The flexible hinge 106 may be configured in a variety of ways, further discussion of which may be found in relation to the following figure.

FIG. 2 depicts an example implementation 200 of the input device 104 of FIG. 1 as showing the flexible hinge 106 in greater detail. In this example, a connection portion 202 of the input device is shown that is configured to provide a communicative and physical connection between the input device 104 and the computing device 102. In this example, the connection portion 202 has a height and cross section configured to be received in a channel in the housing of the computing device 102, although this arrangement may also be reversed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

The connection portion 202 is flexibly connected to a portion of the input device 104 that includes the keys through use of the flexible hinge 106. Thus, when the connection portion 202 is physically connected to the computing device the combination of the connection portion 202 and the flexible hinge 106 supports movement of the input device 104 in relation to the computing device 102 that is similar to a hinge of a book.

For example, rotational movement may be supported by the flexible hinge 106 such that the input device 104 may be placed against the display device 110 of the computing device 102 and thereby act as a cover. The input device 104 may also be rotated so as to be disposed against a back of the computing device 102, e.g., against a rear housing of the computing device 102 that is disposed opposite the display device 110 on the computing device 102.

Naturally, a variety of other orientations are also supported. For instance, the computing device 102 and input device 104 may assume an arrangement such that both are laid flat against a surface as shown in FIG. 1. In another instance, a typing arrangement may be supported in which the input device 104 is laid flat against a surface and the computing device 102 is disposed at an angle to permit viewing of the display device 110, e.g., such as through use of a kickstand disposed on a rear surface of the computing device 102. Other instances are also contemplated, such as a tripod arrangement, meeting arrangement, presentation arrangement, and so forth.

The connecting portion 202 is illustrated in this example as including magnetic coupling devices 204, 206, mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210, and a plurality of communication contacts 212. The magnetic coupling devices 204, 206 are configured to magnetically couple to complementary magnetic coupling devices of the computing device 102 through use of one or more magnets. In this way, the input device 104 may be physically secured to the computing device 102 through use of magnetic attraction.

The connecting portion 202 also includes mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210 to form a mechanical physical connection between the input device 104 and the computing device 102. The mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210 are shown in greater detail in the following figure.

FIG. 3 depicts an example implementation 300 shown a perspective view of the connecting portion 202 of FIG. 2 that includes the mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210 and the plurality of communication contacts 212. As illustrated, the mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210 are configured to extend away from a surface of the connecting portion 202, which in this case is perpendicular although other angles are also contemplated.

The mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210 are configured to be received within complimentary cavities within the channel of the computing device 102. When so received, the mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210 promote a mechanical binding between the devices when forces are applied that are not aligned with an axis that is defined as correspond to the height of the protrusions and the depth of the cavity.

For example, when a force is applied that does coincide with the longitudinal axis described previously that follows the height of the protrusions and the depth of the cavities, a user overcomes the force applied by the magnets solely to separate the input device 104 from the computing device 102. However, at other angles the mechanical coupling protrusion 208, 210 are configured to mechanically bind within the cavities, thereby creating a force to resist removal of the input device 104 from the computing device 102 in addition to the magnetic force of the magnetic coupling devices 204, 206. In this way, the mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210 may bias the removal of the input device 104 from the computing device 102 to mimic tearing a page from a book and restrict other attempts to separate the devices.

The connecting portion 202 is also illustrated as including a plurality of communication contacts 212. The plurality of communication contacts 212 is configured to contact corresponding communication contacts of the computing device 102 to form a communicative coupling between the devices. The communication contacts 212 may be configured in a variety of ways, such as through formation using a plurality of spring loaded pins that are configured to provide a consistent communication contact between the input device 104 and the computing device 102. Therefore, the communication contact may be configured to remain during minor movement of jostling of the devices. A variety of other examples are also contemplated, including placement of the pins on the computing device 102 and contacts on the input device 104.

FIG. 4 depicts an example of a cross-sectional view of a pressure sensitive key 400 of a keyboard of the input device 104 of FIG. 2. The pressure sensitive key 400 in this example is illustrated as being formed using a flexible contact layer 402 (e.g., Mylar) that is spaced apart from the sensor substrate 404 using a spacer layer 406, 408, which may be formed as another layer of Mylar, formed on the sensor substrate 404, and so on. In this example, the flexible contact layer 402 does not contact the sensor substrate 404 absent application of pressure against the flexible contact layer 402.

The flexible contact layer 402 in this example includes a force sensitive ink 410 disposed on a surface of the flexible contact layer 402 that is configured to contact the sensor substrate 404. The force sensitive ink 410 is configured such that an amount of resistance of the ink varies directly in relation to an amount of pressure applied. The force sensitive ink 410, for instance, may be configured with a relatively rough surface that is compressed against the sensor substrate 404 upon an application of pressure against the flexible contact layer 402. The greater the amount of pressure, the more the force sensitive ink 410 is compressed, thereby increasing conductivity and decreasing resistance of the force sensitive ink 410. Other conductors may also be disposed on the flexible contact layer 402 without departing form the spirit and scope therefore, including other types of pressure sensitive and non-pressure sensitive conductors.

The sensor substrate 404 includes one or more conductors 412 disposed thereon that are configured to be contacted by the force sensitive ink 410 of the flexible contact layer 402. When contacted, an analog signal may be generated for processing by the input device 104 and/or the computing device 102, e.g., to recognize whether the signal is likely intended by a user to provide an input for the computing device 102. A variety of different types of conductors 412 may be disposed on the sensor substrate 404, such as formed from a variety of conductive materials (e.g., silver, copper), disposed in a variety of different configurations as further described in relation to FIG. 9, and so on.

FIG. 5 depicts an example 500 of the pressure sensitive key 400 of FIG. 4 as having pressure applied at a first location of the flexible contact layer 402 to cause contact of the force sensitive ink 410 with a corresponding first location of the sensor substrate 404. The pressure is illustrated through use of an arrow in FIG. 5 and may be applied in a variety of ways, such as by a finger of a user's hand, stylus, pen, and so on. In this example, the first location at which pressure is applied as indicated by the arrow is located generally near a center region of the flexible contact layer 402 that is disposed between the spacer layers 406, 408. Due to this location, the flexible contact layer 402 may be considered generally flexible and thus responsive to the pressure.

This flexibility permits a relatively large area of the flexible contact layer 402, and thus the force sensitive ink 410, to contact the conductors 412 of the sensor substrate 404. Thus, a relatively strong signal may be generated. Further, because the flexibility of the flexible contact layer 402 is relatively high at this location, a relatively large amount of the force may be transferred through the flexible contact layer 402, thereby applying this pressure to the force sensitive ink 410. As previously described, this increase in pressure may cause a corresponding increase in conductivity of the force sensitive ink and decrease in resistance of the ink. Thus, the relatively high amount of flexibility of the flexible contact layer at the first location may cause a relatively stronger signal to be generated in comparison with other locations of the flexible contact layer 402 that located closer to an edge of the key, an example of which is described in relation to the following figure.

FIG. 6 depicts an example 600 of the pressure sensitive key 400 of FIG. 4 as having pressure applied at a second location of the flexible contact layer 402 to cause contact with a corresponding second location of the sensor substrate 404. In this example, the second location of FIG. 6 at which pressure is applied is located closer to an edge of the pressure sensitive key (e.g., closer to an edge of the spacer layer 406) than the first location of FIG. 5. Due to this location, the flexible contact layer 402 has reduced flexibility when compared with the first location and thus less responsive to pressure.

This reduced flexibility may cause a reduction in an area of the flexible contact layer 402, and thus the force sensitive ink 410, that contacts the conductors 412 of the sensor substrate 404. Thus, a signal produced at the second location may be weaker than a signal produced at the first location of FIG. 5.

Further, because the flexibility of the flexible contact layer 402 is relatively low at this location, a relatively low amount of the force may be transferred through the flexible contact layer 402, thereby reducing the amount of pressure transmitted to the force sensitive ink 410. As previously described, this decrease in pressure may cause a corresponding decrease in conductivity of the force sensitive ink and increase in resistance of the ink in comparison with the first location of FIG. 5. Thus, the reduced flexibility of the flexible contact layer 402 at the second location in comparison with the first location may cause a relatively weaker signal to be generated. Further, this situation may be exacerbated by a partial hit in which a smaller portion of the user's finger is able to apply pressure at the second location of FIG. 6 in comparison with the first location of FIG. 5.

However, as previously described techniques may be employed to normalize outputs produced by the switch at the first and second locations. This may be performed in a variety of ways, such as through configuration of the flexible contact layer 402 as described in relation to FIG. 7, use of a plurality of sensors as described in relation to FIG. 8, configuration of the sensor substrate 404 as described in relation to FIG. 9, and combinations thereof as further described in relation to the following figures.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example 700 of the flexible contact layer of a single pressure sensitive key that is configured to normalize outputs generated at a plurality of locations of the switch. In this example, a view of the “bottom” or “underside” of the flexible contact layer 402 of FIG. 4 is shown that is configured to contact the conductors 412 of the sensor substrate 404.

The flexible contact layer 402 is illustrated as having first and second sensing areas 702, 704. The first sensing area 702 in this example corresponds generally to the first location at which pressure was applied in FIG. 5 and the second sensing area 704 corresponds generally to the second location at which pressure was applied in FIG. 6.

As previously described, flexing of the flexible contact layer 402 due to changes in distances from an edge of the switch may cause relatively stronger signals to be generated as distances increase from an edge of the key. Therefore, in this example the first and second sensing areas 702, 704 are configured to normalize the signals 706 generated at the different locations. This may be done in a variety of ways, such as by having a higher conductivity and less resistance at the second sensing area 704 in comparison with the first sensing area 702.

The differences in conductivity and/or resistance may be achieved using a variety of techniques. For example, one or more initial layers of a force sensitive ink may be applied to the flexible contact layer 402 that covers the first and second sensing areas 704, 702, such as through use of a silk screen, printing process, or other process by which the ink may be disposed against the surface. One or more additional layers may then be applied to the second sensing area 704 and not the first sensing area 702.

This causes the second sensing area 704 to have a greater amount (e.g., thickness) of the force sensitive ink than the first sensing area 702 for a given area, which causes a corresponding increase in conductivity and decrease in resistance. Therefore, this technique may serve to at least partially counteract the differences in flexibility of the flexible contact layer 404 at different locations. In this example, an increased height of the force sensitive ink at the second sensing area 704 may also act to reduce an amount of flexing involved in generating contact with the conductors 412 of the sensor substrate 404, which may also help to normalize the signals.

The differences in conductivity and/or resistance at the first and second sensing areas 702, 704 may be achieved in a variety of other ways. For example, a first force sensitive ink may be applied at the first sensing area 702 and a second force sensitive ink having a higher conductivity and/or resistance may be applied at the second sensing area 704. Further, although an arrangement of first and second sensing areas 702, 704 as “nested” is shown in FIG. 7, a variety of other arrangements may also be employed, such as to further increase sensitivity at the corners of the switch, employ more than two sensing areas having different sensitivities to pressure, use of a gradient of conductivities, and so forth. Other examples are also contemplated, such as to support use of a plurality of sensors for a single key, an example of which is described in relation to the following figure.

FIG. 8 depicts an example 800 of a pressure sensitive key of FIG. 4 that includes a plurality of sensors to detect pressure at different locations. As previously described, miss hits and limitations of flexibility may cause reduced performance at edges of a pressure sensitive key.

Accordingly, in this example a first sensor 802 and a second sensor 804 are employed to provide respective first and second sensor signals 806, 808, respectively. Further, the second sensor 804 is configured to have increased sensitivity (e.g., higher conductivity and/or lower resistance) that the first sensor 802. This may be achieved in a variety of ways, such as through different conductors and configurations of the conductors to act as sensors as part of the sensor substrate 404. Other configurations of the sensor substrate 404 may also be made to normalize 404 signals generated by the pressure sensitive key at different locations of the key, an example of which is described in relation to the discussion of the following figure.

FIG. 9 depicts an example of conductors 412 of a sensor substrate 404 that are configured to normalize signals generated at different locations of a pressure sensitive key. In this example, conductors 412 of the sensor substrate 404 are configured in first and second portions 902, 904 of inter-digitated trace fingers. Surface area, amount of conductors, and gaps between the conductors are used in this example to adjust sensitivity at different locations of the sensor substrate 404.

For example, pressure may be applied to a first location 906 may cause a relatively larger area of the force sensitive ink 410 of the flexible contact layer 402 to contact the conductors in comparison with a second location 908 of the sensor substrate 404. As shown in the illustrated example, an amount of conductor contacted at the first location 906 is normalized by an amount of conductor contacted at the second portion 906 through use of gap spacing and conductor size. In this way, by using smaller conductors (e.g., thinner fingers) and larger gaps at the center of the key as opposed to the edge of the key specific performance characteristics for the keys may be adjusted to suite typical user input scenarios. Further, these techniques for configuring the sensor substrate 404 may be combined with the techniques described for configuring the flexible contact layer 402 to further promote normalization and desired user input scenarios.

Returning again to FIG. 2, these techniques may also be leveraged to normalize and support desired configuration of different keys, such as to normalize a signal generated by a first key of a keyboard of the input device 104 with a signal generated by a second key of the keyboard. As shown in the QWERTY arrangement of FIG. 3 (although this is equally applicable to other arrangements), users are more likely to apply greater typing pressure to a home row of keys located at a center of the input device 104 than keys located closer to the edges of the device. This may include initiation using fingernails of a user's hand for the shift key row as well as an increased distance to reach for the numbers, different strengths of different fingers (index versus pinky finger), and so on.

Accordingly, the techniques described above may also be applied to normalize signals between these keys, such as to increase sensitivity of number keys in relation to home row keys, increase sensitivity of “pinky” keys (e.g., the letter “a” and semicolon key) as opposed to index finger keys (e.g., the letters “f,” “g,” “h,” and “j”), and so forth. A variety of other examples are also contemplated involving changes to sensitivity, such as to make keys having a smaller surface area (e.g., the delete button in the figure) more sensitive in comparison with larger keys, such as the shift keys, spacebar, and so forth.

Example System and Device

FIG. 10 illustrates an example system generally at 1000 that includes an example computing device 1002 that is representative of one or more computing systems and/or devices that may implement the various techniques described herein. The computing device 1002 may be, for example, be configured to assume a mobile configuration through use of a housing formed and size to be grasped and carried by one or more hands of a user, illustrated examples of which include a mobile phone, mobile game and music device, and tablet computer although other examples are also contemplated.

The example computing device 1002 as illustrated includes a processing system 1004, one or more computer-readable media 1006, and one or more I/O interface 1008 that are communicatively coupled, one to another. Although not shown, the computing device 1002 may further include a system bus or other data and command transfer system that couples the various components, one to another. A system bus can include any one or combination of different bus structures, such as a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a universal serial bus, and/or a processor or local bus that utilizes any of a variety of bus architectures. A variety of other examples are also contemplated, such as control and data lines.

The processing system 1004 is representative of functionality to perform one or more operations using hardware. Accordingly, the processing system 1004 is illustrated as including hardware element 1010 that may be configured as processors, functional blocks, and so forth. This may include implementation in hardware as an application specific integrated circuit or other logic device formed using one or more semiconductors. The hardware elements 1010 are not limited by the materials from which they are formed or the processing mechanisms employed therein. For example, processors may be comprised of semiconductor(s) and/or transistors (e.g., electronic integrated circuits (ICs)). In such a context, processor-executable instructions may be electronically-executable instructions.

The computer-readable storage media 1006 is illustrated as including memory/storage 1012. The memory/storage 1012 represents memory/storage capacity associated with one or more computer-readable media. The memory/storage component 1012 may include volatile media (such as random access memory (RAM)) and/or nonvolatile media (such as read only memory (ROM), Flash memory, optical disks, magnetic disks, and so forth). The memory/storage component 1012 may include fixed media (e.g., RAM, ROM, a fixed hard drive, and so on) as well as removable media (e.g., Flash memory, a removable hard drive, an optical disc, and so forth). The computer-readable media 1006 may be configured in a variety of other ways as further described below.

Input/output interface(s) 1008 are representative of functionality to allow a user to enter commands and information to computing device 1002, and also allow information to be presented to the user and/or other components or devices using various input/output devices. Examples of input devices include a keyboard, a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a microphone, a scanner, touch functionality (e.g., capacitive or other sensors that are configured to detect physical touch), a camera (e.g., which may employ visible or non-visible wavelengths such as infrared frequencies to recognize movement as gestures that do not involve touch), and so forth. Examples of output devices include a display device (e.g., a monitor or projector), speakers, a printer, a network card, tactile-response device, and so forth. Thus, the computing device 1002 may be configured in a variety of ways to support user interaction.

The computing device 1002 is further illustrated as being communicatively and physically coupled to an input device 1014 that is physically and communicatively removable from the computing device 1002. In this way, a variety of different input devices may be coupled to the computing device 1002 having a wide variety of configurations to support a wide variety of functionality. In this example, the input device 1014 includes one or more keys 1016, which may be configured as pressure sensitive keys, mechanically switched keys, and so forth.

The input device 1014 is further illustrated as include one or more modules 1018 that may be configured to support a variety of functionality. The one or more modules 1018, for instance, may be configured to process analog and/or digital signals received from the keys 1016 to determine whether a keystroke was intended, determine whether an input is indicative of resting pressure, support authentication of the input device 1014 for operation with the computing device 1002, and so on.

Various techniques may be described herein in the general context of software, hardware elements, or program modules. Generally, such modules include routines, programs, objects, elements, components, data structures, and so forth that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The terms “module,” “functionality,” and “component” as used herein generally represent software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof. The features of the techniques described herein are platform-independent, meaning that the techniques may be implemented on a variety of commercial computing platforms having a variety of processors.

An implementation of the described modules and techniques may be stored on or transmitted across some form of computer-readable media. The computer-readable media may include a variety of media that may be accessed by the computing device 1002. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may include “computer-readable storage media” and “computer-readable signal media.”

“Computer-readable storage media” may refer to media and/or devices that enable persistent and/or non-transitory storage of information in contrast to mere signal transmission, carrier waves, or signals per se. Thus, computer-readable storage media refers to non-signal bearing media. The computer-readable storage media includes hardware such as volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media and/or storage devices implemented in a method or technology suitable for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, logic elements/circuits, or other data. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, hard disks, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or other storage device, tangible media, or article of manufacture suitable to store the desired information and which may be accessed by a computer.

“Computer-readable signal media” may refer to a signal-bearing medium that is configured to transmit instructions to the hardware of the computing device 1002, such as via a network. Signal media typically may embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier waves, data signals, or other transport mechanism. Signal media also include any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.

As previously described, hardware elements 1010 and computer-readable media 1006 are representative of modules, programmable device logic and/or fixed device logic implemented in a hardware form that may be employed in some embodiments to implement at least some aspects of the techniques described herein, such as to perform one or more instructions. Hardware may include components of an integrated circuit or on-chip system, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and other implementations in silicon or other hardware. In this context, hardware may operate as a processing device that performs program tasks defined by instructions and/or logic embodied by the hardware as well as a hardware utilized to store instructions for execution, e.g., the computer-readable storage media described previously.

Combinations of the foregoing may also be employed to implement various techniques described herein. Accordingly, software, hardware, or executable modules may be implemented as one or more instructions and/or logic embodied on some form of computer-readable storage media and/or by one or more hardware elements 1010. The computing device 1002 may be configured to implement particular instructions and/or functions corresponding to the software and/or hardware modules. Accordingly, implementation of a module that is executable by the computing device 1002 as software may be achieved at least partially in hardware, e.g., through use of computer-readable storage media and/or hardware elements 1010 of the processing system 1004. The instructions and/or functions may be executable/operable by one or more articles of manufacture (for example, one or more computing devices 1002 and/or processing systems 1004) to implement techniques, modules, and examples described herein.

CONCLUSION

Although the example implementations have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the implementations defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claimed features.

Claims

1. A pressure sensitive key of a keyboard, the pressure sensitive key comprising: a sensor substrate having one or more conductors; anda flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate and configured to flex in response to an application of pressure to contact the sensor substrate, the flexible contact layer having a force sensitive ink disposed on the underside of the flexible contact layer and having: a first sensing area that is configured to contact the sensor substrate using the force sensitive ink; anda second sensing area that is configured to contact the sensor substrate using the force sensitive ink, the force sensitive ink in the second sensing area having a higher conductivity than the force sensitive ink in the first sensing area, the first sensing area and the second sensing area being configured to normalize signals generated at the first sensing area and the second sensing area.

2. The pressure sensitive key as recited in claim 1, the force sensitive ink in the second sensing area having less resistance than the force sensitive ink in the first sensing area.

3. The pressure sensitive key as recited in claim 1, the second sensing area surrounding the first sensing area.

4. The pressure sensitive key as recited in claim 1 wherein the sensor substrate includes a plurality of conductors configured to be contacted by the force sensitive ink at corresponding first and second sensing areas.

5. The pressure sensitive key as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor substrate includes one or more conductors that are configured to be contacted by the force sensitive ink at corresponding first and second sensing areas, the second sensing area of the sensor substrate configured to have increased conductivity in relation to the first sensing area of the sensor substrate through use of smaller conductors in the first sensing area of the sensor substrate than in the second sensing area of the sensor substrate.

6. The pressure sensitive key as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor substrate includes one or more conductors that are configured to be contacted by the force sensitive ink at corresponding first and second sensing areas, the second sensing area of the sensor substrate configured to have increased conductivity in relation to the first sensing area of the sensor substrate through use of larger gaps between conductors in the first sensing area of the sensor substrate than in the second sensing area of the sensor substrate.

7. The pressure sensitive key as recited in claim 1, wherein an amount of the force sensitive ink applied to the second sensing area is greater than an amount of the force sensitive ink applied to the first sensing area.

8. The pressure sensitive key as recited in claim 7, wherein the amount of the force sensitive ink applied to the second sensing area is applied using at least two layers and the amount of the force sensitive ink applied to the first sensing area is applied using fewer layers than the layers used at the second sensing area.

9. The pressure sensitive key as recited in claim 7, the thickness of the force sensitive ink applied to the second sensing area being greater than the thickness of the force sensitive ink applied to the first sensing area.

10. A method of normalizing pressure inputs to multiple areas of a key of a keyboard, the method comprising: receiving a first pressure input applied to a first location of a flexible contact layer of the key resulting in force sensitive ink disposed on the underside of the flexible contact layer in a first area contacting a sensor substrate having one or more conductors; andreceiving a second pressure input applied to a second location of the flexible contact layer of the key resulting in the force sensitive ink disposed on the underside of the flexible contact layer in a second area contacting the sensor substrate, the second pressure input being less pressure than the first pressure input, the force sensitive ink in the second area having a higher conductivity than the force sensitive ink in the first area the first area and the second area being configured to normalize signals generated at the first area and the second area.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, the force sensitive ink in the second area having less resistance than the force sensitive ink in the first area.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, the second area surrounding the first area.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein an amount of the force sensitive ink applied to the second area is greater than an amount of the force sensitive ink applied to the first area.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the amount of the force sensitive ink applied to the second area is applied using at least two layers and the amount of the force sensitive ink applied to the first area is applied using fewer layers than the layers used at the second area.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, the thickness of the force sensitive ink applied to the second area being greater than the thickness of the force sensitive ink applied to the first area.

16. A keyboard comprising multiple pressure sensitive keys configured to initiate inputs of a computing device, each of the multiple pressure sensitive keys comprising a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer and having a force sensitive ink disposed on the underside of the flexible contact layer, the flexible contact layer configured to flex in response to an application of pressure such that the force sensitive ink contacts the sensor substrate to initiate an input, for a computing device, associated with the pressure sensitive key, the sensor substrate having one or more conductors that are configured to be contacted by the force sensitive ink, a first key of multiple keys being configured to contact the sensor substrate using the force sensitive ink and a second key of the multiple keys being configured to contact the sensor substrate using the force sensitive ink, the force sensitive ink at the second key having a higher conductivity than the force sensitive ink at the first key, the force sensitive ink at the first key and the force sensitive ink at the second key being configured to normalize signals generated at the first key and the second key.

17. The keyboard as recited in claim 16, the keyboard having a QWERTY arrangement, the first key comprising an index finger key and the second key comprising a pinky key.

18. The keyboard as recited in claim 16, the keyboard having a QWERTY arrangement, the second key having a smaller surface area than the first key.

19. The keyboard as recited in claim 16, the keyboard having a QWERTY arrangement, the first key comprising an key in a home row of keys and the second key comprising a key closer to an edge of the computing device.

20. The keyboard as recited in claim 16, the first key having a first sensing area that is configured to contact the sensor substrate using the force sensitive ink, and a second sensing area that is configured to contact the sensor substrate using the force sensitive ink, the force sensitive ink in the second sensing area having a higher conductivity than the force sensitive ink in the first sensing area.