Fusion keyboard

摘要

Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards for detecting touch events and key depressions on the keyboard are provided. The keyboard can include a set of individually depressible mechanical keys having a touch sensitive area located on their surface. A touch sensor can be included to detect touch events on the surface of the keys. A keypad can also be included to detect a depression of the mechanical keys. One or more of the depressible mechanical keys can be multi-purpose keys capable of being depressed to multiple levels. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can receive key depression input, touch event input, or combinations thereof at the same time. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can further include a processor for distinguishing detected touch events from detected key depressions. The processor can generate a key depression command or a touch event command in response to the detected touch events and key depressions.

主权项

1. A keyboard comprising:
a plurality of depressible keys, wherein at least one key of the plurality of depressible keys is a dual-purpose key configured to be depressed a first distance to a first level and a second distance to a second level; a plurality of switch sensors configured to detect a depression of a key of the plurality of depressible keys, wherein at least one switch sensor of the plurality of switch sensors is configured to detect the at least one dual-purpose key being depressed the first distance to the first level and the at least one dual-purpose key being depressed the second distance to the second level; an array of capacitive sensors configured to detect a touch event on a surface of one or more of the plurality of depressible keys; and a processor configured to:
receive a touch event signal indicating that the touch event has been detected by the array of capacitive sensors on the surface of the one or more of the plurality of depressible keys;receive a key depression signal indicating that the depression of the key of the plurality of depressible keys has been detected by at least one of the plurality of switch sensors;generate a key depression command signal in response to receiving the key depression signal; andgenerate a touch event command signal in response to a threshold length of time elapsing from receiving the touch event signal without receiving the key depression signal.