KEYBOARD PROXIMITY SENSING
In one general aspect, a system can include a key set including a plurality of keys, a membrane keyboard including a plurality of key pads and a plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, where at least one of the plurality of key pads corresponds to a one of the plurality of keys. The system further includes a feature plate that provides a rigid backing for the membrane keyboard.
1 . A system comprising:
a key set including a plurality of keys;
a membrane keyboard including a plurality of key pads and a plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of key pads corresponds to a one of the plurality of keys; and
a feature plate that provides a rigid backing for the membrane keyboard.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane keyboard is coupled to the feature plate.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein electric fields emanate from the plurality of sensor electrodes through the key set.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein electric fields emanate from a plurality of runs connecting the plurality of sensor electrodes.
5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes detect a proximity of a conductive object with the system by sensing a capacitance of the object.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the conductive object is a human body part.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the human body part is a hand.
8 . A computing device comprising:
a key set;
a membrane keyboard including a plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes;
a self-capacitance measurement device;
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing at least one processor of the computing device to perform operations comprising:
emanating, by the plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, electrical fields through the key set;
sensing, by the plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, a capacitance;
providing, by the plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, an electrical signal indicative of the sensed capacitance to the self-capacitance measurement device;
determining, by the self-capacitance measurement device, a change in a self-capacitance; and
performing an action on the computing device based on the determined change in the self-capacitance.
9 . The computing device of claim 8 , wherein sensing, by the plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, a capacitance comprises sensing the capacitance of a part of a human body.
10 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the part of the human body is a hand.
11 . The computing device of claim 8 , wherein performing an action on the computing device comprises activating keyboard backlighting.
12 . The computing device of claim 8 , wherein performing an action on the computing device comprises activating a microphone.
13 . The computing device of claim 8 , wherein performing an action on the computing device comprises transitioning the computing device from a sleep or reduced power mode to a full power mode.
14 . The computing device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a feature plate coupled to the membrane keyboard; and
a chassis, wherein the feature plate is not grounded to the chassis.
15 . A method comprising:
emanating, by a plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes included in a membrane keyboard of a computing device, electrical fields through a key set;
sensing, by the plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, a capacitance proximate to the key set;
providing, by the plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, an electrical signal indicative of the capacitance to a self-capacitance measurement device;
determining, by the self-capacitance measurement device, a change in a self-capacitance; and
performing an action on the computing device based on the determined change in the self-capacitance.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein sensing, by the plurality of interconnected sensor electrodes, a capacitance comprises sensing the capacitance of a part of a human body.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the part of the human body is a hand.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the action performed on the computing device comprises activating keyboard backlighting.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the action performed on the computing device comprises activating a microphone.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the action performed on the computing device transitions the computing device from a sleep or reduced power mode to a full power mode.