Logitech Europe S.a.

Kuo Hsiang Chen

Chun-Wei Su

Chia Feng Lee

Laurent Mealares

Kuan-Lin Wu

Chih-Wei Chen

Joe Chiu

Thibaut Mauron

Charles Gigandet

Christina Chen

Alice Liu

Laurent Plancherel

Feng-Hao Lin

Jérémie Willemin

Etienne Julien-Laferriere

Feng Hao Lin

Cheng Kai Yuan

A keyboard key structure comprising a key stem, a contact-based mechanical trigger, and a contactless analog key switch. The key stem is configured to be depressed and move along a linear path over a range of operation. The contact-based mechanical trigger is configured to activate after the key stem is depressed a threshold distance in the range of operation. In response to the contact-based mechanical trigger activating, the contactless analog key switch is configured to detect, at a sample rate, a position of the key stem between the threshold distance and an end of the range of operation after the key stem is depressed. The contact-based mechanical trigger can be a galvanic-type key switch. The contactless analog key switch can be one of an optical key switch, a magnetic key switch, or an inductive key switch.

Hybrid analog key structure

In some embodiments, an input device includes a housing having a top surface, a touch sensor disposed on the top surface of the housing, and a processor disposed in the housing. The touch sensor can be configured to detect a contact by a hand on the top surface of the housing and generate touch data corresponding to the detected contact by the hand. The processor can be configured to control operation of the touch sensor and receive the touch data, determine an orientation of the hand with respect to the housing based on the touch data, and calibrate a detected movement of the input device based on the determined orientation of the hand with respect to the housing. An image sensor and/or one or more IMUs can be used to detect 2D and/or 3D movement of the input device.

Input device

An input device having an overlapping key structure includes a plurality of keys, each of the plurality of keys configured to actuate a respective key switch in response to an applied mechanical force; and a key support frame, where each of the plurality of keys includes a spring arm portion coupled to the key support frame at a first end of the each of the plurality of keys such that the each of the plurality of keys deflects through a range of motion in response to the applied mechanical force, and each of the plurality of keys overlaps with another one of the plurality of keys such that each of the plurality of keys is included in an envelope of a two-dimensional cross section of the range of motion of another one of the plurality of keys when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the two-dimensional cross section.

Input device with overlapping key structure

Embodiments of the present invention provide a circuit structure that allows the use of a single sided Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with a mechanical key structure that has a light emitting element in the middle of the key structure. An LED with pins for protruding through a printed circuit board allows a layout only on the bottom side of the PCB. In one embodiment, the PCB includes at least one low ohm resister forming a bridge for a switch matrix conductor over a perpendicular switch matrix conductor.

Keyboard illuminated switch circuit

Growing community of inventors

Miaoli County, Taiwan

Kuo Hsiang Chen