Patent ID: 8174508

Claim:
An input device comprising: an array of adjacent capacitive sensors arranged into rows and columns, each capacitive sensor exhibiting a capacitance characteristic when in proximity to a conductive element; a plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms that are each deposited on and in contact with one of the capacitive sensors and configured to be actuated by a corresponding push button, each capacitive sensor discharging an electrical charge upon actuation of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism; each mechanical hysteresis mechanism comprises a first portion is-coupled to a corresponding one of the capacitive sensors and a second portion spaced apart from the corresponding capacitive sensor, and a plurality of ground pads, each ground pad corresponding to one of the capacitive sensors and being positioned between the capacitive sensor and the second portion of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism coupled to the capacitive sensor, wherein actuation of each of the mechanical hysteresis mechanism causes the mechanical hysteresis mechanism to come into contact with the ground pad; and an insulating overlay layer positioned over the array of capacitive sensors and the plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms to define each push button and to define a surface for accommodating the conductive element.