Patent Document ID: 20040008129
Application ID: 10617602
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1 ) An iterative method for controlling an array of non-bistable keys to uniquely determine which one, if any, key of the array thereof has been touched by a user, wherein each of the keys provides a respective signal output representative of the coupling of the user thereto, the method comprising the iterated steps of: comparing the respective signals from all the keys and; selecting the key having the highest signal output associated therewith and, if the highest signal output exceeds a selected signal threshold value, incrementing the respective associated counter value, comparing the incremented counter value with a selected terminal count value and, if the incremented counter value exceeds the terminal count value, determining that the key having the highest signal associated therewith is the touched key and decrementing the respective counter value uniquely associated with each of the other keys; and otherwise determining that no key has been touched by the user.