Patent ID: 8432301
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A keyboard comprising: an arrangement of keys; circuitry forming a grid of circuits underneath respective keys of the arrangement of keys, a circuit of the grid of circuits being configured to generate a signal in response to a keystroke in which a respective key of the arrangement of keys is depressed; a first processor configured to receive the signal from the circuit of the grid of circuits, and compare a location of the respective circuit to a character map to determine how to interpret the keystroke; a plurality of proximity sensors forming a grid of sensors underneath the keys, the proximity sensors being configured to measure a proximity of an object to the respective proximity sensors, and produce a signal representative of the measured proximity; and a second processor configured to receive the signal representative of the measured proximity, determine at least one of a position or movement of the object relative to the proximity sensors based on the respective signal, and produce a gesture signal representative of the determined at least one of position or movement, the gesture signal being interpretable into one or more commands or instructions for directing performance of one or more operations of an apparatus or software operating on the apparatus.