PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11281305-B2
Application Number: US-201916720548-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Keyboard with touch sensor and illumination

Abstract:
A keyboard may be provided that has keys overlapped by a touch sensor. The keyboard may have key sensor circuitry for monitoring switching in the keys for key press input. The keyboard may also have touch sensor circuitry such as capacitive touch sensor circuitry that monitors capacitive electrodes in the touch sensor for touch sensor input such as multitouch gesture input. The keyboard may include an outer layer of fabric that overlaps the keys. The fabric may have openings that are arranged to form alphanumeric characters. Light sources may emit light that passes through the openings and illuminates the alphanumeric characters. The touch sensor may have signal lines that are not visible through the openings. The signal lines may be transparent, may be covered by a diffuser, or may circumvent the openings so that they do not overlap.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a substrate; 
 an array of keys, wherein each key in the array of keys has a switch mounted on the substrate and a movable key member that overlaps the switch; 
 a touch sensor layer having a first surface facing the movable key members and a second surface facing the substrate, wherein the touch sensor layer is interposed between the movable key members and the substrate, the first surface is exposed between adjacent keys, and the touch sensor layer comprises conductive traces formed on a flexible substrate; and 
 a light source mounted to the substrate, wherein the light source illuminates the movable key members. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the flexible substrate comprises fabric. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensor layer has an array of perforations through which light from the light source passes. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein the perforations pass though the conductive traces. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensor layer comprises rigid regions and flexible regions. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 5 , wherein the rigid regions are overlapped by the movable key members and include transparent conductive traces and wherein the flexible regions comprise non-transparent conductive traces. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensor layer is configured to receive multitouch input. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the movable key members are formed from light diffusing material. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein each of the movable key members has a printed ink layer. 
     
     
       10. A keyboard, comprising:
 an array of keys, wherein each key has a movable key member; 
 an array of light sources that illuminate the array of keys; and 
 a fabric touch sensor layer that includes conductive strands woven in a fabric layer that form capacitive touch sensor electrodes, wherein the fabric layer is disposed between the array of light sources and the movable key members. 
 
     
     
       11. The keyboard defined in  claim 10  wherein the movable key members comprise light diffusing material. 
     
     
       12. The keyboard defined in  claim 11  wherein each of the movable key members has first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface faces the fabric layer, and the second surface is coated with a light-masking coating. 
     
     
       13. The keyboard defined in  claim 12  wherein the light-masking coating has openings that are arranged to form alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
       14. The keyboard defined in  claim 13  wherein the light diffusing material of the key members obscures the conductive strands from view. 
     
     
       15. A keyboard, comprising:
 an array of switches; 
 at least one key having a key cap that is configured to press against and close a switch of the array of switches, wherein the key cap is formed from light diffusing material with light scattering particles and has a light blocking layer that forms an alphanumeric character; 
 a flexible capacitive touch sensor layer with conductive traces formed on a flexible substrate overlapped by the key cap; and 
 a light source, wherein the light source emits light through the flexible capacitive touch sensor layer to illuminate the key cap and the light diffusing material with light scattering particles of the key cap obscures the conductive traces from view. 
 
     
     
       16. The keyboard defined in  claim 15  wherein the flexible capacitive touch sensor layer is interposed between the switch and the key cap. 
     
     
       17. The keyboard defined in  claim 16  wherein the flexible capacitive touch sensor layer comprises a fabric with conductive signal lines. 
     
     
       18. The keyboard defined in  claim 15  wherein the light blocking layer comprises a light-masking coating.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/690,119, filed Aug. 29, 2017, which claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/395,254, filed Sep. 15, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices such as keyboards and, more particularly, to devices such as keyboards with touch sensor functionality. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Keyboards may be incorporated into laptop computers and may be used as accessories for electronic devices such as tablet computers and other devices. 
     Some keyboards have trackpads to allow a user to supply touch input. Due to space considerations and other constraints, it can be difficult or impossible to provide desired touch sensor functionality to components such as keyboards. 
     SUMMARY 
     A keyboard may have keys that are overlapped by a touch sensor. The keys may be pressed by a user and the touch sensor may be used to supply touch input. 
     Key sensor circuitry in the keyboard may be coupled to switches in the keys using traces on a printed circuit or other substrate. The switches may be mounted to the substrate under movable key members. During operation, the key sensor circuitry may monitor the switches to determine when the keys are being pressed by the user. 
     The keyboard may also have touch sensor circuitry. The touch sensor circuitry may be capacitive touch sensor circuitry that monitors capacitive electrodes in the touch sensor for touch input from the user. 
     The keyboard may include an outer layer of fabric that overlaps the keys. The fabric may have openings in the shapes of alphanumeric characters. Light sources may emit light that passes through the openings and illuminates the alphanumeric characters. The touch sensor may have signal lines that are not visible through the openings. The signal lines may be transparent, may be covered by a diffuser, or may circumvent the openings so that they do not overlap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device and associated keyboards in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of a keyboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key in a keyboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illuminated structure such as a keyboard key in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of an illustrative keyboard with keys and an overlapping grid of touch sensor electrodes in a capacitive touch sensor in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of an illustrative fabric for a keyboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative keyboard key that is overlapped by a fabric touch sensor and an outer fabric layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative keyboard key that is overlapped by a fabric touch sensor, a diffuser, and an outer fabric layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative keyboard key that is overlapped by a fabric touch sensor in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing illustrative steps involved in forming touch sensor signal lines on an outer fabric layer for a keyboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of an illustrative touch sensor fabric in which touch sensor signal lines circumvent an opening that forms an alphanumeric character for a key in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of an illustrative touch sensor fabric in which touch sensor signal lines are at least partially transparent in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative keyboard key that is overlapped by a touch sensor substrate and an outer fabric layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of an illustrative touch sensor substrate in which touch sensor signal lines circumvent an opening that forms an alphanumeric character for a key in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of an illustrative touch sensor substrate in which touch sensor signal lines are formed from a metal mesh in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram showing illustrative steps involved in forming openings through an outer fabric layer and a touch sensor layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of an illustrative touch sensor in which openings are formed in touch sensor signal lines in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative keyboard in which light sources are interposed between a touch sensor and an outer fabric layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative keyboard keys that are overlapped by a touch sensor having transparent signal line segments in rigid portions of the touch sensor and non-transparent signal line segments in flexible portions of the touch sensor in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative keyboard key in which a light-reflecting wall surrounds a light source that illuminates the key in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative keyboard keys in which key members diffuse light to obscure touch sensor lines in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A keyboard may be provided with keys to receive keypress input from a user and may be provided with overlapping touch sensor circuitry to receive touch input from a user. An illustrative system of the type that may include keyboards is shown in  FIG. 1 . The system of  FIG. 1  may include an electronic device such as electronic device  10 . Device  10  may be an electronic device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user&#39;s head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic device  10  is mounted in a kiosk, in an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle, other electronic equipment, or equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices. If desired, electronic device  10  may be a removable external case for electronic equipment or other device accessory, may be a strap, may be a wrist band or head band, may be a removable cover for a device, may be a case or bag that has straps or that has other structures to receive and carry electronic equipment and other items, may be a necklace or arm band, may be a wallet, sleeve, pocket, or other structure into which electronic equipment or other items may be inserted, may be part of a chair, sofa, or other seating (e.g., cushions or other seating structures), may be part of an item of clothing or other wearable item (e.g., a hat, belt, wrist band, headband, shirt, pants, shoes, etc.), or may be any other suitable device that includes circuitry. 
     Keyboards  12  may be used to gather input from a user. As shown in  FIG. 1 , keyboards  12  may be incorporated into electronic devices such as device  10  or may be coupled to electronic devices such as device  10  via a path such as path  14 . Path  14  may be a wired or wireless path. Configurations in which device  10  includes an embedded keyboard  12  and is also coupled to a stand-alone external keyboard  12  by path  14  may be used, if desired. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of keyboard  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , keyboard  12  may have an array of keys  16 . Keys  16  may be pressed by a user to supply keyboard  12  with keypress input (keypress events). Keys  16  may be alphanumeric keys, may be keys labeled with text (e.g., “backspace,” “shift,” etc.), may serve as function keys, may include special-function keys (e.g., keys to alter the magnification of on-screen content, keys for placing a device in a sleep mode, etc.), may be single-function or multi-function buttons, may be alphanumeric keys arranged in a QWERTY format, may be arranged in rows and columns or other patterns, may be configured to form other types of keyboard devices (e.g., numeric keypads, etc.), or may be any other suitable keys. 
     A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key in keyboard  12  is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a user&#39;s finger (finger  34 ) or other external object may be used to press down (inwardly) on key  16  in direction  20 . Key  16  may have a movable key member such as movable key member  24  (sometimes referred to as a key cap). When pressed in direction  20 , key member  24  may move in direction  20  and may press against and close switch  26  (e.g., a dome switch or other suitable switch with open and closed states). In response to closing switch  26 , keyboard control circuitry in keyboard  12  may detect a keypress event and may supply the keypress information to control circuitry in device  10 . The keypress event may then be used as a control input for keyboard  12  and/or device  10 . 
     Springs or other biasing structures such as biasing structures  28  may be used to restore key  16  to its original undepressed state after pressure from finger  34  is released (i.e., biasing structures  28  may push key member  24  upwards in direction  18  when a user lifts finger  34  off of key  16 ). Biasing structures  28  may be formed from springy structures such as foam, elastomeric polymer, spring metal, etc. If desired, biasing structures  28  may be implemented using a scissor-shaped structure with springs that support and bias key member  24  upwards. Other types of structures for supporting and biasing key members  24  for keys  16  may be used, if desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , keyboard  12  may have a housing such as housing  32 . Housing  32  may be formed from one or more layers of material such as plastic, metal, fabric, and other materials. Keyboard substrate  30  may be mounted within housing  32 . Biasing structures  28  may be coupled between movable key members such as key member  24  and substrate  30  and/or may be coupled between key member  24  and housing  32  or other structures in keyboard  12 . 
     Keyboard substrate  30  may include signal traces  36  that allow control circuitry to communicate with keys  16  (e.g., traces that allow circuitry to monitor switches  26 ). Substrate  30  may be, for example, a printed circuit (e.g., a flexible printed circuit formed from a sheet of polymer with metal traces or a rigid printed circuit formed form a rigid printed circuit board material such as fiberglass-filled epoxy). Switches  26  may be mounted to substrate  30  (e.g., with solder, conductive adhesive, welds, etc.). Traces  36  on substrate  30  may be coupled between the switch  26  of each key  16  and associated key sensor circuitry so that the circuitry may detect keypress events (i.e., so that the circuitry can determine which keys  16  have been depressed by monitoring which switches  26  have been closed). 
     Key members  24  may be covered with one or more layers of plastic, metal, fabric, or other materials (see, e.g., illustrative layer  22 ). To help ensure that the shape of layer  22  conforms to the raised key shapes of keys  16 , layer  22  may be debossed (embossed) in a die (e.g., a heated die with key-shaped impressions that compresses layer  22  between opposing upper and lower structure into the shapes of keys  16 ). Laser processing techniques and/or other techniques may be used to form perforations and/or other openings in layer  22 , may be used to selectively cut fibers, and/or may otherwise be used to process portions of the material of layer  22  (e.g., to adjust key stiffness, keyboard appearance, and/or other attributes of keyboard  12 ). 
     Keyboard  12  may have light-transmitting regions that provide illumination for keys  16 . For example, keyboard  12  may have light-transmitting regions formed from openings  38  in layer  22  that allow light  44  from light sources  40  to pass through layer  22  and thereby illuminate keys  16  for a user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a viewer such as viewer  94  may view keyboard  12  in direction  96 . A light source such as light source  40  may be formed in the interior of keyboard  12 . Light source  40  may be formed from one or more light-emitting diodes (e.g., organic light-emitting diodes, light-emitting diode dies formed from crystalline semiconductor, quantum dot light-emitting diodes, light-emitting diodes with phosphors, etc.) or may be formed from other light-emitting structures. With one illustrative configuration, which may sometimes be described herein as an example, light sources for item  10  such as light source  40  may be formed from micro-light-emitting diodes (e.g., small crystalline light-emitting diodes having dimensions of 100 microns or less, 200 microns or less, 20-200 microns, more than 10 microns, less than 500 microns, or other suitable size). Other types of light-emitting devices (e.g., lasers, electroluminescent panels, etc.) may be used in providing illumination for keyboard  12  if desired. The use of micro-light-emitting diodes for forming light source(s)  40  is merely illustrative. Light sources for item  10  may generate light at visible wavelengths, infrared wavelengths, and/or ultraviolet wavelengths (see, e.g., light  44  of  FIG. 3 ). If desired, luminescent material (e.g., phosphors formed from phosphorescent materials, fluorescent dyes, a polymer or other material containing quantum dots, etc.) may be used in converting light to desired wavelengths. 
     Layer  22  may have openings such as openings  38 . Openings  38  may have the shape of an alphanumeric character or other symbol (glyph) or may have any other suitable shape. As shown in  FIG. 3 , openings  38  (i.e., the symbol, label, or other patterned structure formed from openings  38 ) may be illuminated with illumination  44  (i.e., illumination  44  may serve as backlight for an illuminated area formed from opening  38 ). Because openings  38  may have a shape that forms a symbol or other desired pattern, openings such as opening  38  of  FIG. 3  may sometimes be referred to as patterned openings or illuminated regions. 
     Openings such as openings  38  of  FIG. 3  may be formed by stamping (punching), cutting, machining, plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, heating, ablation, chemical removal (e.g., polymer dissolving techniques, metal etching techniques, etc.), laser-based techniques (sometimes referred to as laser hole formation or laser drilling), and/or other suitable material removal techniques. Openings such as openings  38  may also be formed during the process of fabricating some or all of layer  22  (e.g., by molding openings into layer  22  as layer  22  is formed during a plastic molding process, by intertwining strands of material so that openings are formed as layer  22  is constructed, or by using other fabrication techniques in which openings such as opening  38  are formed during fabrication of layer  22  rather than by removing material from layer  22  after layer  22  has been fabricated). 
     Patterned openings in fabric and/or other materials (see, e.g., layer  22  of  FIG. 3 ) may be used in forming illuminated regions in item  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , layer  22  may overlap an input-output component such as key  16 . Key  16  may be surrounded by an illuminated region such as opening  38 A that forms an illuminated trim (i.e., an illuminated ring-shaped halo that runs around the periphery of key  16 ). Key  16  may also have an illuminated region such as region  38 B. Region  38 B may form a symbol or other pattern. For example, illuminated region  38 B may form a label for key  16  (e.g., region  38 B may be patterned to form an alphanumeric character  72  such as the letter “G” or other symbol associated with the operation of the key). Regions such as regions  38 A and  38 B may be formed from transparent portions of an opaque layer (e.g., perforations or larger openings in a fabric or other material that are filled with transparent material, air-filled openings, etc.). In some configurations, printed ink or other coating material may be provided on layer  22  (e.g. on the outer surface of layer  22 ) to help make a label on key  16  visible to a user in the absence of illumination through regions  38 A and/or  38 B. 
     Although illustrative illuminated regions  38 A and  38 B of  FIG. 4  are associated with an input-output device such as key  16  in keyboard  12 , this is merely an example. Regions such as regions  38 A and  38 B may have any suitable size and shape, may be formed on any suitable portion of electronic device  10 , may form labels, symbols, text, decorative patterns (e.g., trim), parts of status indicators, parts of displays, parts of buttons (e.g., buttons such as power buttons, volume buttons, sleep/wake buttons, and other buttons besides the keys in a keyboard), may be formed on surfaces of electronic device  10  that are not associated with keys, etc. The illuminated key configuration of  FIG. 4  is merely an example. 
     In addition to pressing on desired keys  16  to supply keypress input, a user of keyboard  12  may desire to supply keyboard  12  with touch input. Keyboard  12  may, if desired, be provided with a trackpad (e.g., a capacitive touch sensor with a rectangular outline or other suitable shape that is used to gather touch input from a user). A trackpad may, as an example, be located below rows of keys in the middle of keyboard  12 . 
     Keyboard  12  may also be provided with a touch sensor that overlaps one or more of keys  16 . This touch sensor may be formed from capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor structures. With one illustrative configuration, keyboard  12  may incorporate a touch sensor that is formed from conductive strands of material in a layer of fabric (see, e.g., layer  22  of  FIG. 3 ). The conductive strands in a fabric touch sensor may include horizontal strands of material that overlap with perpendicular vertical strands of material to form a grid of touch sensor electrodes that intersect at an array of intersection locations. In other arrangements, the touch sensor in keyboard  12  may be formed from conductive signal traces on the surface of a fabric layer or other substrate (e.g., a substrate formed from polymer or other suitable material). 
     The touch sensor in keyboard  12  may, as an example, overlap most or all of keys  16  and thereby may serve as a keyboard-sized integral touch surface with which a user may supply touch input (multitouch gestures, single-finger pointer-control input for an on-screen cursor, swipes, taps, and other touch commands). To conserve space in this type of keyboard, it may be desirable to omit any separate trackpads (i.e., keyboard  12  may be formed from an array of keys and a touch sensor that extends over some or all of the keys and need not have any separate trackpad structures). Configurations of this type may sometimes be described herein as an example. In general, keyboard  12  may include any suitable input-output devices (e.g., buttons, capacitive touch sensors or other touch sensors, etc.). 
       FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of an illustrative keyboard having a touch sensor such as touch sensor  66 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , keyboard  12  may include control circuitry  52  such as touch sensor circuitry  54  and key sensor circuitry  56 . Keyboard  12  may have an array of switches  26  ( FIG. 3 ) associated with a corresponding array of keys  16 . 
     Signal paths such as paths  48  (e.g., traces  36  on substrate  30 ) may be used to couple key sensor circuitry  56  to the switches  26  of keys  16 . Whenever a user presses on a given one of keys  16 , the switch  26  in that key will change state (e.g., from open to closed). Sensor circuitry  56  monitors the status of all of switches  26  in keyboard  12  and, in response to detection of a change of switch state, generates corresponding output signals on path  50  (e.g., signals that inform control circuitry in device  10  or other equipment of each detected key press event). 
     Conductive lines  46  may serve as capacitive electrodes in capacitive touch sensor  66  (e.g., a touch sensor grid) that overlaps keys  16 . Any suitable number of horizontal and vertical lines  46  may overlap each key  16 . For example, there may be 1-5, more than 2, more than 3, 2-4, fewer than 10, fewer than 5, or other suitable number of horizontal lines  46  overlapping each key  16  and there may be 1-5, more than 2, more than 3, 2-4, fewer than 10, fewer than 5, or other suitable number of vertical lines  46  overlapping each key  16 . Conductive lines  46  may be formed from patterned thin-film metal traces on layer  22 , may be formed from conductive strands of material in a layer of fabric, may be formed from patterned traces on a layer that is separate from outer layer  22  such as a layer of polymer or other material, and/or may be formed from other conductive structures that form capacitive touch sensor electrodes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , touch sensor  66  includes touch sensor circuitry  54  coupled to a set of horizontal lines  46  and a perpendicular set of vertical lines  46 . Touch sensor circuitry  54  may provide drive signals D to one of these sets of lines  46  (i.e., horizontal lines  46  in the example of  FIG. 5 ) and may gather corresponding sense signals S on the other of these sets of lines  46  (i.e., vertical lines  46  in the example of  FIG. 5 ). Capacitive coupling between the drive and sense lines varies in the presence of a user&#39;s finger over a drive-line-to-sense-line intersection. As a result, touch sensor circuitry  54  can process the drive and sense signals to determine which of the intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines  46  are being overlapped by a user&#39;s finger(s) or other external objects. When touch input is detected in this way, touch sensor circuitry  54  may provide a processor or other control circuitry in device  10  or other equipment with information on the touch input using a path such as path  58 . 
     In a typical scenario, a user may enter text or other key press input into keyboard  12  by typing on keys  16 . Key sensor circuitry  56  may convey information on the text or other input that the user is typing into keyboard  12  over path  50 . When the user desires to reposition an on-screen cursor, to make a multitouch gesture (e.g., a pinch-to-zoom gesture, a two-finger swipe, a three-finger swipe, a two-finger or three-finger tap, etc.), to make a one-finger swipe or other gesture, or to supply keyboard  12  with other touch input, the user may move one or more of the user&#39;s fingers across the surface of keys  16 . During touch input events such as these, touch sensor circuitry  54  may monitor capacitance changes at the intersections of the horizontal and vertical capacitive touch sensor electrodes (paths  46 ) to gather touch input data and may supply the touch input that is gathered from the capacitive touch sensor electrodes to control circuitry such as control circuitry in device  10  and/or control circuitry in keyboard  12  via path  54 . 
     Touch sensor electrodes  46  may be formed from conductive strands of material in layer  22 . Layer  22  may, as an example, include fabric. The fabric may be woven, knitted, or braided and/or may include strands of material that have been intertwined using other techniques (e.g., felt). With one suitable arrangement, the fabric of layer  22  may be woven fabric and electrodes  46  may be formed from selected warp and weft strands in the woven fabric, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of an illustrative arrangement in which touch sensor  66  is incorporated into a fabric layer such as fabric  60 . Fabric  60  may be used as the outer layer of keyboard  12  (e.g., fabric  60  may form layer  22  of  FIG. 3 ) or fabric  60  may be located behind an outer layer of keyboard  12  (e.g., fabric  60  may be located under layer  22  of  FIG. 3 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , fabric  60  may include warp strands  62  and weft strands  64 . Warp strands  62  run along a first dimension of fabric  60  (e.g., the vertical dimension in the orientation of  FIG. 6 ) and weft strands  64  run perpendicularly along a second dimension of fabric  60  (e.g., the horizontal dimension in the orientation of  FIG. 6 ). Some of warp strands  62  such as strands  621  may be insulating and some of strands  62  such as strands  62 C may be conductive and may therefore serve as the vertically extending electrodes  46  in touch sensor  66 . Some of weft strands  64  such as weft strands  641  may be insulating and some of strands  64  may be conductive such as strands  64 C and may therefore serve as horizontally extending electrodes  46  in touch sensor  66 . Woven fabric  60  of  FIG. 6  has a plain weave, but in general, fabric  60  may have any suitable construction (e.g., fabric  60  may have a basket weave, may be knitted, may be braided, or may have any other suitable fabric construction). Plain weave fabric constructions may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     The strands of material in fabric  60  such as strands  62  and  64  may each include one or more monofilaments (sometimes referred to as fibers or monofilament fibers). The monofilaments may have one or more layers (e.g., a core layer alone, a core layer with an outer coating, a core layer with an inner coating layer that is covered with an outer coating layer, a core layer coated with three or more additional layers, etc.). Strands of material that are formed from intertwined monofilaments may sometimes be referred to as yarns, threads, multifilament strands or fibers, etc. In general, any suitable types of strands or combination of different types of strands may be used in forming fabric  60  (e.g., monofilaments, yarns formed from multiple monofilaments, etc.). Strands with multiple monofilaments may have 2-200 monofilaments, 2-50 monofilaments, 2-4 monofilaments, 2 monofilaments, 4 monofilaments, fewer than 10 monofilaments, 2-10 monofilaments, fewer than 6 monofilaments, more than 2 monofilaments, or other suitable number of monofilaments. 
     Insulating strands may be formed from one or more dielectric materials such as polymers, cotton and other natural materials, etc. Conductive strands may be formed from metal or other conductive material and optional dielectric. For example, conductive strands may be formed from solid monofilament wire (e.g., copper wire), wire that is coated with one or more dielectric and/or metal layers (e.g., copper wire that is coated with polymer), a monofilament of polymer coated with metal or other conductive material, a monofilament of polymer coated with metal that is covered with an outer polymer coating, etc. The diameter of the monofilaments may be 5-200 microns, more than 10 microns, 20-30 microns, 30-50 microns, more than 15 microns, less than 200 microns, less than 100 microns, or other suitable diameter. The thickness of each of the coatings in a monofilament may be less than 40% of the diameter of the monofilament, less than 10% of the diameter, less than 4% of the diameter, more than 0.5% of the diameter, 1-5% of the diameter, or other suitable thickness. If desired, conductive monofilaments may be intertwined to form conductive yarn. Conductive yarn may include only conductive monofilaments or may include a combination of conductive monofilaments and insulating monofilaments. 
     If desired, conductive strands of material and other structures in fabric  60  that are associated with forming touch sensor  66  may be hidden from view by covering fabric  60  with an additional layer of material. This type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 7 . Fabric  60  (e.g., woven fabric with sets of horizontal and vertical conductive strands of material that serve as capacitive touch sensor electrodes as described in connection with  FIG. 6 ) may be located under outer layer  22  of keyboard  12 . Outer layer  22  may cover touch sensor  66  and may therefore hide touch sensor  66  from view. Outer layer  22  may be a layer of plastic, a layer of fabric, and/or one or more layers of other materials. Outer layer  22  may be formed solely from insulating strands and/or may be formed from strands of other materials that provide keyboard  12  with an attractive external appearance. Adhesive  106  may be used in attaching outer layer  22  to touch sensor layer  66 . 
     Outer layer  22  may have openings  38  for allowing light  44  from light sources  40  to pass through outer layer  22  and thereby illuminate key  16 . Openings  38  may, for example, be an array of small perforations that are arranged to form a glyph or other shape as a label for key  16  (e.g., openings  38  may be arranged in the shape of a “G” or other character as in the example of  FIG. 4 ). 
     In some arrangements, signal lines  46  in touch sensor  66  may be formed from non-transparent materials such as metal. If care is not taken, signal lines  46  in touch sensor  66  may block some of light  44  and/or may be visible to a user through openings  38 . 
     To help minimize the visibility of signal lines  46  through openings  38 , light-diffusing material may be located in openings  38  to help obscure lines  46  of touch sensor  66 . For example, material in openings  38  may contain metal oxide particles or other light scattering particles that render openings  38  translucent. With this type of arrangement, the light diffusing material in openings  38  may help hide signal lines  46  from view by a user. 
     If desired, a separate light-diffusing layer may be used to diffuse light over touch sensor  66  and thereby help minimize the appearance of signal lines  46 . An example of this type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a light-diffusing layer such as diffuser  68  may be interposed between outer layer  22  and fabric  60  of touch sensor  66 . Diffuser  68  may be formed from one or more layers of polymer and may include light-scattering features such as voids, inorganic light-scattering particles, other light-scattering structures, dyes, pigments, etc. Diffuser  68  may be attached to outer layer  22  using adhesive  106 - 1  and attached to fabric  60  of touch sensor  66  using adhesive  106 - 2 . 
     If desired, touch sensor  66  may be integrated into outer layer  22  of keyboard  12 , as shown in the example of  FIG. 9 . With this type of arrangement, outer layer  22  may be formed from a touch sensing fabric such as touch sensing fabric  60  of  FIG. 6 . Conductive strands in fabric  60  of layer  22  may be made visually indistinct from insulating strands in fabric  60  by matching the size and/or color of the insulating and conductive strands. For example, the diameters of the conductive strands and insulating strands may differ by less than 50%, less than 20%, less than 5%, 1-10%, more than 0.1%, or other suitable amount so that the conductive strands are not visibly distinct from the insulating strands. The conductive strands may also be coated with colored polymer having a color that matches the color of the insulating strands of material in fabric  60  or may otherwise be treated so that the appearance of the conductive strands matches that of the insulating strands. As an example, fabric  60  and/or the conducting and/or insulating strands may be coated with a colored polymer treatment (e.g., a colored ink coating such as a gray, black, or white coating, etc.). If desired, conductive strands may be formed from conductive monofilaments that are surrounded by intertwined insulating monofilaments, thereby hiding the conductive material in the conductive strands from view. The insulating monofilaments in conductive strands with this type of arrangement may have the same appearance (e.g., the same color) as insulating monofilaments in insulating strands of material in fabric  60  (as an example). 
     Incorporating touch sensor signal lines  46  into outer layer  22  of keyboard  12  reduces the number of layers that light  44  must pass through to exit through openings  38 , which in turn can help increase the brightness efficiency of the keyboard. 
     If desired, touch sensor signal lines  46  may be formed on the surface of outer layer  22  rather than being incorporated as threads in outer layer  22 .  FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating how touch sensor signal lines  46  may be formed on an inner surface of outer layer  22 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , touch sensor traces  46  may be formed on a carrier layer such as carrier layer  70 . Carrier layer  70  may be a substrate formed from metal, polymer, ceramic, or other suitable material. Touch sensor signal lines  46  may be formed from flexible material such as polymer (e.g., silicone or other polymer) that has been doped with conductive filler (e.g., particles of metal, particles of carbon nanotube material, graphene particles, fibrous carbon material, or other conductive particles). 
     Carrier substrate  70  on which touch sensor signal lines  46  are formed may be attached to substrate  22  using adhesive  108  (e.g., epoxy, silicone, urethane, polyurethane such as thermoplastic polyurethane, acrylic, polyester, other polymers, or other suitable materials). Layer  108  may also help provide a waterproof sealant on outer layer  22  to prevent moisture and other contaminants from entering keyboard  12  through outer layer  22 . Once attached, touch sensor signal lines  46  may be sandwiched between layer  22  and carrier  70 . 
     After attaching carrier layer  70  and touch sensor signal lines  46  to layer  22 , carrier layer  70  may be removed, as shown in  FIG. 10 . Carrier  70  may be removed by ablation, cutting, machining, plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, heating, chemical removal (e.g., polymer dissolving techniques, metal etching techniques, etc.), and/or other suitable material removal techniques. 
     Following removal of carrier layer  70 , only touch sensor signal lines  46  may remain on outer layer  22 . Openings  38  may be formed in layer  22  prior to attaching layer  22  to carrier  70 , after attaching layer  22  to carrier  70 , or after removing carrier  70  from layer  22 . As in the example of  FIG. 9 , integrating touch sensor signal lines  46  with outer layer  22  helps reduce the number of layers that light needs to pass through provide illumination for keys  16  of keyboard  12 . 
     The example of  FIG. 10  in which traces  46  are formed on carrier  70  and subsequently attached to layer  22  is merely illustrative. If desired, traces  46  may be formed directly on layer  22  without the use of a carrier substrate. 
     In arrangements of the type shown in  FIGS. 7, 8, and 9  where touch sensor signal lines  46  are formed from conductive strands in fabric  60  (e.g., a fabric of the type shown in  FIG. 6 ), care must be taken to ensure that signal lines  46  are not visible through openings  38 .  FIGS. 11 and 12  show illustrative arrangements in which touch sensor signal lines  46  are formed in fabric  60  and are modified to minimize their visibility through openings  38 . If desired, the arrangements of  FIGS. 11 and 12  may be used in fabric  60  when fabric  60  is behind outer layer  22  (as in the example of  FIG. 7 ), when fabric  60  is behind outer layer  22  and behind a diffusing layer (as in the example of  FIG. 8 ), when fabric  60  is used to form outer layer  22  (as in the example of  FIG. 9 ), and any other suitable arrangement in which touch sensor signal lines  46  are formed from conductive strands in a layer of fabric. 
     In the example of  FIG. 11 , the conductive strands that form touch sensor signal lines  46  (e.g., conductive strands  62 C) are specifically placed in fabric  60  to avoid overlapping openings  38 . In other words, adjacent signal lines  46  may spread apart from one another to form a gap such as gap  110  that overlaps opening  38 . In arrangements where fabric  60  is behind outer layer  22  in keyboard  12  (as in the examples of  FIGS. 7 and 8 ), openings  38  may be formed in outer layer  22  and light  44  may pass through gap  110  to reach opening  38  in outer layer  22 . In arrangements where fabric  60  forms outer layer  22 , opening  38  may be formed in fabric  60 . The arrangement of  FIG. 11  in which only four strands in fabric  60  are shown surrounding opening  38  is merely illustrative. Additional strands may be located between the two conductive strands  62 C and between the two insulating strands  641  that are shown in  FIG. 11 . By circumventing opening  38  such that signal lines  46  and openings  38  are non-overlapping, signal lines  46  may be out of a user&#39;s sight and undetectable through openings  38 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 12 , signal lines  46  of touch sensor  60  are formed from transparent or semi-transparent materials. For example, conductive strands  64 C in fabric  60  may be formed from a fully or semi-transparent material such as clear polymer 76. Polymer 76 may include conductive filler such as conductive particles  74  (e.g., particles of metal, particles of carbon nanotube material, graphene particles, fibrous carbon material, or other conductive particles). With this type of arrangement, signal lines  46  that overlap openings  38  will not be visible by a user because light  44  from light source  40  ( FIG. 3 ) will be transmitted through the conductive strands that form signal lines  46 . 
     If desired, touch sensor  66  need not be formed from a fabric layer. In particular, touch sensor signal lines  46  may be formed from traces that are formed on a carrier substrate or that are formed directly on outer layer  22  (as in the example of  FIG. 10 ). 
     In  FIG. 13 , for example, touch sensor traces  46  are formed on top surface  78 T and bottom surface  78 B of carrier layer  78 . Carrier layer  78  may be a thin film of polymer or other substrate and may be semi-transparent or fully transparent. Touch sensor signal lines  46  may be formed from flexible conductive material such as polymer (e.g., silicone or other polymer) that has been doped with conductive filler (e.g., particles of metal, particles of carbon nanotube material, graphene particles, fibrous carbon material, or other conductive particles). In one illustrative arrangement, signal lines  46  are formed from optically clear silicone that includes conductive particles. Signal lines  46  may be fully transparent or the silicone may be light-diffusing silicone and may only be 70-80% transparent, if desired. 
     Carrier layer  78  may be attached to substrate  22  using adhesive  108  (e.g., epoxy, silicone, urethane, polyurethane such as thermoplastic polyurethane, acrylic, polyester, other polymers, or other suitable materials). Layer  108  may also help provide a waterproof sealant on outer layer  22  to prevent moisture and other contaminants from entering keyboard  12  through outer layer  22 . 
     Because carrier film  78  and signal lines  46  are at least partially transparent, light  44  from light sources  40  can pass through openings  38  without a user being able to see signal lines  46  though openings  38 . 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show illustrative arrangements in which non-transparent materials are used to form touch sensor signal lines  46  and in which touch sensor signal lines  46  are modified to minimize their visibility through openings  38 . Although the examples of  FIGS. 14 and 15  show signal lines  46  on carrier layer  78 , signal lines  46  of  FIGS. 14 and 15  may instead be formed directly on outer layer  22  (as in the example of  FIG. 10 ). 
     In the example of  FIG. 14 , touch sensor signal lines  46  are specifically placed on substrate  78  to avoid overlapping openings  38 . In other words, adjacent signal lines  46  may spread apart from one another to form a gap such as gap  120  that overlaps opening  38 . In arrangements where signal lines  46  are formed on substrate  78  that is behind outer layer  22  in keyboard  12  (as shown in the example of  13 ), openings  38  may be formed in outer layer  22  and light  44  may pass through gap  120  to reach opening  38  in outer layer  22 . In arrangements where signal lines  46  are formed directly on outer layer  22  (as shown in the example of  FIG. 10 ), opening  38  may be formed in layer  22  between signal lines  46 . By circumventing opening  38  such that signal lines  46  and openings  38  are non-overlapping, signal lines  46  may be out of a user&#39;s sight and undetectable through openings  38 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 15 , signal lines  46  are formed using a mesh structure such as mesh  122 . Mesh  122  may be formed from metal wires or a sheet of metal with openings (e.g., an array of rectangular openings or openings of other shapes). The openings in mesh  122  may be filled with air or filler material  62  (e.g., elastomeric material, etc.). Mesh  122  may be formed from wires, fine lines of a metal thin-film, or other material. The lines may be sufficiently narrow to be invisible to a user of keyboard  12 . Width W 2  of the individual traces in mesh  122  may, for example, be between 25 microns and 35 microns, between 20 microns and 40 microns, between 10 microns and 50 microns, greater than 20 microns, or less than 20 microns. Since mesh  122  that forms signal lines  46  is undetectable by the human eye, users of keyboard  12  will be unable to see signal lines  46  even when signal liens  46  overlap openings  38  in layer  22 . 
     To reduce the electrical resistance of signal lines  46 , the overall width W 1  of signal line  46  may be significantly wider than width W 2  of individual traces that make up signal line  46 . The ratio of width W 1  to width W 2  may, for example, be 2:1, 10:1, 50:1, 100:1, or other suitable ratio. In the example of  FIG. 15 , the lines of mesh  122  are oriented so that they run at 45° relative to length L of signal line  46 . In other arrangements, the lines of mesh  122  may run parallel and perpendicular to length L of signal line  46 . Other mesh orientations and layouts may be used if desired. 
       FIG. 16  shows how perforations may be formed in outer layer  22  and touch sensor  66 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , carrier layer  78  may be attached to outer layer  22 . Touch sensor signal lines  46  may be formed on carrier  78  and may be sandwiched between layer  22  and carrier  78 . If desired, signal lines  46  may be formed directly on layer  22  (as in the example of  FIG. 10 ). The arrangement of  FIG. 16  in which signal lines  46  are formed on carrier  78  is merely illustrative. If desired, additional layers such as layer  80  may be attached to the lower surface of carrier  78 . Layer  80  may, for example, be a sealant (e.g., epoxy, polyurethane, or other sealant) or may be part of key  16  (e.g., may form part of key member  24 ). 
     Following attachment of carrier  78  to layer  22 , perforations  82  may be formed through outer layer  22 , signal lines  46 , carrier  78 , and layer  80 . Openings  82  of  FIG. 16  may be formed by stamping (punching), cutting, machining, plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, heating, ablation, chemical removal (e.g., polymer dissolving techniques, metal etching techniques, etc.), laser-based techniques (sometimes referred to as laser hole formation or laser drilling), and/or other suitable material removal techniques. By forming openings  82  after attaching layers  22 ,  78 , and  80 , openings  82  may pass completely through the entire stack, offering a clear path for light  44  from light sources  40  to exit keyboard  12  to illuminate key  16  ( FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 17  shows a top view of the perforated touch sensor layer of  FIG. 16 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , touch sensor layer  66  may include signal lines  46  formed on carrier  78 . Openings  82  may be formed in touch sensor  62 , thereby allowing light to pass through signal lines  46 . As with openings  38 , openings  82  may be arranged to form an alphanumeric character or other shape that illuminates and labels key  16  for a user of keyboard  12 . Although openings  82  pass through signal lines  46 , the resistance of signal lines  46  can be decreased by increasing the width of signal lines  46  on layer  78 . 
     The example of  FIG. 16  in which openings  82  are formed after attaching layers  22 ,  78 , and  80  is merely illustrative. If desired, openings such as openings  82  may be formed during the process of fabricating some or all layer  22 , layer  78 , and/or layer  80  (e.g., by molding openings into layer  22 ,  78 , or  80  during a plastic molding process, by intertwining strands of material so that openings are formed as layer  22  is constructed, or by using other fabrication techniques in which openings such as opening  82  are formed during fabrication of layer  22 ,  78 , or  80  rather than by removing material from layers  22 ,  78 , and  80  after layers  22 ,  78 , and  80  have been fabricated). 
     If desired, touch sensor  66  may be placed behind the light sources in keyboard  12  to avoid blocking light and to minimize the appearance of the touch sensor signal lines through openings in outer layer  22 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , for example, touch sensor  66  may be placed behind light sources  40  such that light sources  40  emit light away from touch sensor  66 . Touch sensor  66  may, for example, be formed from a substrate such as flexible polymer substrate  84  with conductive traces that form signal lines  46 . If desired, light sources  40  may be mounted and electrically connected to conductive traces on substrate  84  (e.g., substrate  84  may include a first set of traces that form touch sensor signal lines  46  and a second set of traces that provide power and control signals to light-emitting diodes  40 ). Because signal lines  46  are located behind light sources  40 , light  44  will be unobstructed by signal lines  46  and users will be unable to see signal lines  46  through openings  38 . 
     If desired, signal lines  46  may have some portions that are transparent and other portions that are non-transparent. This type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 19 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , signal lines  46  of touch sensor  66  may be incorporated into a layer such as layer  86  over key members  24  of keys  16 . Layer  86  may be a fabric layer located under outer layer  22  (as in the example of  FIGS. 7 and 8 ), may be a fabric layer that forms outer layer  22  (as in the example of  FIG. 9 ), or may be a non-fabric layer such as a layer of polymer (as in the example of  FIG. 13 ). 
     Layer  86  may have rigid portions and flexible portions. For example, layer  86  may have rigid portions  86 R that overlap key members  24  and flexible portions  86 F in portions of layer  86  that do not overlap key members  24 . Flexible portions  86 F may allow rigid portions  86 R of layer  86  to move downward when a user presses down on keys  16 . Rigid portions  86 R may be supported by key members  24  and may remain rigid and flat during key press events. 
     Because portions  86 R of layer  86  remain flat, the materials that form signal lines  46  in regions  86 R need not be as flexible as the materials that are used to form signal lines  46  in regions  86 F that need to bend and flex. For example, segments of signal lines  46  in rigid portions  86 R of layer  86  may be formed from indium tin oxide or other transparent conductive material, whereas segments of signal lines  46  flexible portions  86 F of layer  86  may be formed from more flexible conductive materials such as metal (e.g., flexible silver ink or other metal), conductive strands in fabric, or polymer with conductive filler (e.g., flexible silicone embedded with conductive particles). Because signal lines  46  are transparent in rigid portions  86 R, light  44  will not be obstructed in these regions and a user will be unable to see signal lines  46  through openings  38  in layer  22  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     If desired, a light guide tunnel may be used to help guide light from light source  40  through touch sensor  66 . An example, of this type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 20 . As shown in  FIG. 20 , light source  40  may be surrounded by a wall such as light-reflective wall  88  (e.g., a metal wall or a wall that is coated with a reflective material). Wall  88  may surround each light source  40  to contain light  44  and guide light  44  through touch sensor layer  66 . In the example of  FIG. 20 , light-reflective wall  88  extends from substrate  30  through touch sensor  66 . If desired, an optional diffuser such as diffuser  90  may be placed between touch sensor  66  and outer layer  22 . Diffuser  90  may be formed from one or more layers of polymer and may include light-scattering features such as voids, inorganic light-scattering particles, other light-scattering structures, dyes, pigments, etc. Touch sensor signal lines  46  may be specifically placed or formed in touch sensor  66  to avoid (circumvent) walls  88 . 
     In arrangements where touch sensor  66  of  FIG. 20  is formed from fabric (e.g., as in the example of  FIG. 6 ), walls  88  may pass through touch sensor  66  by passing between adjacent strands in the fabric. In arrangements where touch sensor  66  of  FIG. 20  is formed from conductive traces on a polymer substrate, walls  88  may pass through touch sensor  66  by forming openings in the substrate and subsequently inserting walls in the openings, or walls  88  may pass through touch sensor  66  by insert molding the touch sensor substrate around walls  88 . The presence of walls  88  in touch sensor  66  helps guide light through touch sensor  66  while also preventing signal lines  46  from overlapping openings  38  and becoming visible to a user. 
     In the example of  FIG. 21 , touching sensing layer  66  is interposed between key members  24  and light sources  40 . In this type of arrangement, touch sensing layer  66  may be a fabric touch sensor of the type shown in  FIG. 6  or may be a touch sensor formed from conductive traces on a substrate (e.g., a flexible polymer film or other substrate). 
     Key member  24  may be formed from a light diffusing polymer and may include light-scattering features such as voids, inorganic light-scattering particles, other light-scattering structures, dyes, pigments, etc. Key members  24  may have sufficient thickness T to effectively diffuse light  44  and obscure touch sensor signal lines  46  so that lines  46  are not visible to viewer  94 . 
     To form the desired alphanumeric character on keys  16 , a light-masking coating such as coating  98  (e.g., printed ink or other coating material) may be formed on key members  24 . Coating layer  98  may have openings  130  that form the desired alphanumeric character or other shape. Diffused light  44  may travel through openings  130  to thereby form an illuminated label on key  16 . The light-diffusing properties of key member  24  may help prevent lines  46  from being viewable through openings  130 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20191219
Publication Date: 20220322
Grant Date: 20220322
Priority Date: 20160915
Inventors: WANG, PAUL X.
WU, CHIA CHI
XU, QILIANG
GAO, ZHENG
SUNSHINE, Daniel D.
ZIMMERMAN, AIDAN N.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2239/006", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0416", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/98", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2217/9653", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2017/9602", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1669", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/9622", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/98", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2017/9602", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2239/006", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/9622", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 68979867