Keypad with integrated touch sensitive apparatus

摘要

A touch sensitive keypad device (101) for an electronic device (100) includes one or more keys (106,107,108,109,110) situated in a keypad carrier (206). One or more conductive layers (115,116,117,118) span the keys. One or more transverse conductive layers (119,120,121,122,123,124) are integrated with a non-key component, such as the keypad carrier (205). A capacitance sensing circuit (126) detects changes in capacitance between the conductive layers and the transverse conductive layers to detect user input, thereby allowing a user (1990) to use a matrix (1902) of keys as a touch pad.

主权项

1. A touch sensitive apparatus for an electronic device, comprising:
one or more keys of a keypad situated on a keypad carrier and configured for movement within the keypad structure; a conductive layer integrated with the one or more keys; a transverse conductive layer integrated with a non-key component and electrically isolated from the conductive layer; an intermediate conductive layer electrically isolated from the conductive later and the transverse conductive layer; a substrate; and one or more actuators disposed between the none-key component and the substrate; wherein an electrical capacitance defined between the conductive layer and the transverse conductive layer is configured to change when a conductive object is proximately located with the conductive layer; and at least one actuator is to compress in response to an actuation force applied to at least one corresponding key.