Recessed keys for non-mechanical keys
View Patent ↗An embodiment provides an apparatus, including: an input device having one or more keys; and a controller receiving input from the one or more keys; one or more of the one or more keys having a recessed surface relative to a bezel surface of the input device; the recessed surface responding to user input in the absence of mechanical displacement. Other aspects are described and claimed.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an input device having a bezel surface with a substantially flat plane and one or more keys; and
a controller receiving input from the one or more keys;
one or more of the one or more keys having a recessed surface relative to the bezel surface of the input device;
the recessed surface responding to user input in the absence of mechanical displacement;
wherein a peripheral edge of at least one key having a recessed surface additionally has a lip defined between the bezel surface and the peripheral edge of the at least one key; and
wherein said at least one key is not mechanically displaceable.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the recessed surface comprises a touch sensitive surface.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the touch sensitive surface is a capacitive surface or a resistive surface.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the recessed surface comprises a compound curve having a curve about both a horizontal and a vertical axis.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the recessed surface has a depth below the bezel surface of not more than about 0.5 mm.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more keys comprise a plurality of keys having a recessed surface relative to the bezel surface.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of keys having a recessed surface relative to the bezel surface includes a home row of keys.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keys comprises one or more subsets of keys, wherein one or more other keys do not include a recessed surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lip comprises a cutout in the bezel having a depth of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
10. An information handling device, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a keyboard providing input to the one or more processors;
the keyboard having a bezel surface with a substantially flat plane and comprising one or more keys;
one or more of the one or more keys having a recessed surface relative to the bezel surface of the keyboard;
the recessed surface responding to user input in the absence of mechanical displacement;
wherein a peripheral edge of at least one key having a recessed surface additionally has a lip defined between the bezel surface and the peripheral edge of the at least one key; and
wherein said at least one key is not mechanically displaceable.
11. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the recessed surface comprises a touch sensitive surface.
12. The information handling device of claim 11 , wherein the touch sensitive surface is a capacitive surface or a resistive surface.
13. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the recessed surface comprises a compound curve having a curve about both a horizontal and a vertical axis.
14. The information handling device of claim 13 , wherein the recessed surface has a depth below the bezel surface of not more than about 0.5 mm.
15. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more keys comprise a plurality of keys having a recessed surface relative to the bezel surface.
16. The information handling device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of keys having a recessed surface relative to the bezel surface includes a home row of keys.
17. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of keys comprises one or more subsets of keys, wherein one or more other keys do not include a recessed surface.
18. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the lip comprises a depth of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
19. An information handling device, comprising:
one or more processors;
a display device having a display surface; and
a keyboard providing input to the one or more processors;
the keyboard having a bezel surface with a substantially flat plane and comprising one or more keys and a bezel surface;
one or more of the one or more keys having a recessed surface relative to the bezel surface of the keyboard;
the display device and the keyboard being arranged in a clamshell configuration such that when the clamshell is closed, the display surface contacts the bezel surface but does not contact the recessed surface of the one or more keys;
wherein a peripheral edge of at least one key having a recessed surface additionally has a lip defined between the bezel surface and the peripheral edge of the at least one key; and
wherein said at least one key is not mechanically displaceable.