Keyboard

Abstract

There is described a touch sensor for a keyboard, the touch sensor comprising one or more holes. Also described is a keyboard comprising the touch sensor as well as methods of manufacturing the touch sensor and the keyboard.

1 - 93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . A system comprising:
 a keyboard comprising:
 a plurality of keys; 
 a touch sensor for detecting the touch of a user on the keys; 
 wherein a keypress relating to the keys is detected using the touch sensor. 
   a controller, wherein the controller is capable of:
 detecting a touch input using the touch sensor; 
 detecting a keypress relating to the keys using the touch sensor; and 
 distinguishing between a touch input and a keypress. 
   
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein each key is associated with a conductive coating, wherein each conductive coating is arranged such that when said key is pressed the corresponding coating moves relative to the touch sensor so as to cause a change in a local electric field. 
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein in order to distinguish between a touch input and a keypress, the controller is arranged to determine a magnitude of a change in a local electric field measured by the touch sensor. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein in order to distinguish between a touch input and a keypress, the controller is arranged to determine a direction of the change in the local electric field measured by the touch sensor. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein in order to distinguish between a touch input and a keypress, the controller is arranged to determine a mode of the keyboard. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein each coating is arranged on one or more of:
 a transmittal mechanism of a corresponding key; and   an exterior surface, an interior surface, and/or a tip of said transmittal mechanism   
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein each coating comprises one or more of: a conductive coating; a metal coating; and a metal oxide semiconductor. 
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the touch sensor is arranged so that each key impacts the touch sensor when said key is depressed. 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the touch sensor is arranged so that a conductive coating associated with a key impacts the touch sensor when said key is depressed. 
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein in order to distinguish between the touch of a user and the keypress, the controller is arranged to determine at least one of:
 a duration of a change measured by the touch sensor; and   a rate of a change measured by the touch sensor.   
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the controller is calibrated to determine at least one of:
 a baseline output;   an output corresponding to a touch input; and   an output corresponding to a keypress.   
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the controller is arranged to drive a signal for another component of the keyboard in dependence on a signal relating to the touch sensor. 
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the controller is arranged to determine a mode of the keyboard based on a list of possible modes, wherein the list of possible modes includes at least:
 a pointer input mode and/or a touch mode; and   a keypress mode.   
     
     
         108 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the controller is arranged to switch the keyboard between a plurality of modes based on a user input. 
     
     
         109 . The system of  claim 108 , wherein the user input comprises one or more of:
 a keypress;   a plurality of keypresses;   a combination of keypresses; and   a touch input.   
     
     
         110 . The system of  claim 108 , wherein switching the mode comprises determining whether an input relates to a mode switching input and/or determining whether an input relates to a function in the current mode. 
     
     
         111 . The system of  claim 94 , being a keyboard, wherein the keyboard comprises the controller. 
     
     
         112 . The system of  claim 94 , being one or more of: a computer device, a personal computer, and a laptop. 
     
     
         113 . A method of determining an input, the method being performed by a controller, the method comprising:
 providing a keyboard comprising:
 a plurality of keys; 
 a touch sensor for detecting the touch of a user on the keys; and 
   detecting at the controller, using the touch sensor, an input that is either a touch input or a keypress; and   distinguishing between a touch input and a keypress.