Patent ID: 8735755

Claim:
A keyboard comprising: a capacitance-based keyswitch matrix comprising: a plurality of keycaps, each keycap of the plurality of keycaps including a surface configured to be pressed by a user of the keyboard; a plurality of first electrodes, each of the plurality of first electrodes comprising magnetic material, wherein the plurality of first electrodes is associated with the plurality of keycaps such that each keycap of the plurality of keycaps is associated with an electrode of the plurality of first electrodes; a plurality of second electrodes capacitively coupled with the plurality of first electrodes, the plurality of second electrodes associated with the plurality of keycaps such that each keycap of the plurality of keycaps is associated with an electrode of the plurality of second electrodes, wherein a press applied by the user to the surface of a first keycap of the plurality of keycaps moves the first keycap and causes a change in a measureable capacitance of the capacitance-based keyswitch matrix by moving the electrode of the plurality of first electrodes associated with the first keycap relative to the electrode of the plurality of second electrodes associated with the first keycap; and a controller communicatively coupled to the capacitance-based keyswitch matrix, the controller configured to: operate the capacitance-based keyswitch matrix to sense changes in measurable capacitances of the capacitance-based keyswitch matrix; and determine which keycap is pressed based upon changes in the measurable capacitances.