Patent ID: 6703552
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: G10H

Abstract:
A continuous keyboard system, comprising:a flat control surface; a plurality of rods proximate to said flat control surface, said rods connected with springs mounted to a chassis; a plurality of first end magnets, each of said first end magnets coupled to a first end of a rod; a plurality of second end magnets, each of said second end magnets coupled to a second end of a rod; a plurality of first end Hall-Effect sensors responsive to the movement of said first end magnets; a plurality of second end Hall-Effect sensors responsive to the movement of said second end magnets; and a controller operable to receive sensor values from said first and second end Hall-Effect sensors, generate coordinates corresponding to a depression in said flat control surface and predict a potential new position of said depression in said flat control surface; wherein the potential new position of said depression is calculated using at least one set of previously generated coordinates and a computed derivative of the at least one set of previously generated coordinates.