Multi-function key in a keyboard for an electronic device

Abstract

Example embodiments described herein can include a display portion including a display; and a keyboard portion including a plurality of keys. One of the plurality of keys is a multi-function key configured to register a character on the display, and the multi-function key is configured to control movement of a cursor in multiple directions on the display. In yet other embodiments, the multi-function key is a space bar having a surface area substantially larger than other keys of the plurality of keys. The multi-function key can be rectangular shaped and sufficiently large to receive simultaneous contacts associated with each thumb of a user when the user types on the keyboard portion.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a keyboard portion including a plurality of keys, wherein at least a portion of the keys are biased upwards, wherein the plurality of keys includes a first multi-function key configured to register a character on a display in response to a first type of user input on the first multi-function key and to control movement of a cursor in multiple directions on the display in response to a second type of user input on the first multi-function key, wherein a strain gauge is located proximate to or in the first multi-function key and at least partially determines when input to the first multi-function key is the first type of user input or the second type of user input.   
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein in response to an applied force on the first multi-function key, the stain gauge can control the velocity of the movement of the cursor. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein one of the plurality of keys is a space bar multi-function key configured to register a space on a display in response to the first type of user input on the space bar multi-function key and to control movement of a cursor in multiple directions on the display in response to the second type of user input on the space bar multi-function key, wherein the space bar multi-function key is sufficiently large to receive simultaneous contacts associated with each thumb of a user when the user types on the keyboard portion. 
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the first multifunction key is a J key and a second multi-function key is an F key on a QWERTY keyboard. 
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein a third multi-function key is teardrop shaped and sufficiently large to receive simultaneous contacts associated with each thumb of a user when the user types on the keyboard portion. 
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the third multi-function key is to control movement of the cursor on the display in response to a dragging motion across the third multi-function key. 
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 logic to at least partially determine if the input on the first multi-function key is associated with registering the character on the display or is associated with controlling movement of a cursor on the display.   
     
     
         34 . A keyboard, comprising:
 a power source; and   a plurality of mechanical keys, wherein at least a portion of the mechanical keys are biased upward; and   a mechanical space bar configured to register a character on a display in response to a first type of user input on the space bar and to control movement of a cursor in multiple directions on the display in response to a second type of user input on the space bar, wherein a strain gauge is located proximate to or in the space bar and at least partially determines when the input on the space bar is the first type of user input or the second type of user input.   
     
     
         35 . The keyboard of  claim 34 , wherein the space bar has a surface area substantially larger than other keys of the plurality of keys. 
     
     
         36 . The keyboard of  claim 34 , wherein the space bar is generally rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         37 . The keyboard of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 logic to determine if the input on the space bar associated with registering the character on the display or is associated with controlling movement of a cursor on the display.   
     
     
         38 . The keyboard of  claim 34 , wherein the space bar is teardrop shaped and sufficiently large to receive simultaneous contacts associated with each thumb of a user when the user types on the keyboard portion. 
     
     
         39 . The keyboard of  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of keys includes a first multi-function key configured to register a character on a display in response to the first type of user input on the first multi-function key and to control movement of a cursor in multiple directions on the display in response to the second type of user input on the first multi-function key, wherein a strain gauge is located proximate to or in the first multi-function key and at least partially determines when input on the first multi-function key is the first type of user input or the second type of user input 
     
     
         40 . A method, comprising:
 receiving an input for a first mechanical key on a keyboard, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of mechanical keys and at least a portion of the mechanical keys are biased upwards and include electrically conductive pads and magnets beneath each key of the portion of the mechanical keys, wherein the first mechanical key is a multi-function key configured to register a character on a display of an electronic device in response to a first type of user input on the first multi-function key and to control movement of a cursor in multiple directions on the display in response to a second type of user input on the first multi-function key, wherein a strain gauge is located proximate to or in each the first multi-function key and at least partially determines when input on the first multi-function key is the first type of user input or the second type of user input, wherein in response to an applied force on the first multi-function key, the stain gauge can control the velocity of the movement of the cursor; and   displaying the character on the display upon the determination that input to the first mechanical key is the first type of user input; and   controlling movement of the cursor on the display upon the determination that input to the first mechanical key is the second type of user input.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the keyboard includes a space bar multi-function key, and the spacebar multi-function key is a mechanical space bar having a surface area substantially larger than other keys on the keyboard. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the space bar multi-function key is sufficiently large to receive simultaneous contacts associated with each thumb of a user when the user types on the keyboard. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the space bar multi-function key is teardrop shaped and sufficiently large to receive simultaneous contacts associated with each thumb of a user when the user types on the keyboard. 
     
     
         44 . A system, comprising:
 at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions that when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to:   receive an input for a first mechanical key on a keyboard, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of mechanical keys and at least a portion of the mechanical keys are biased upwards, wherein a strain gauge is located proximate to or in the first multi-function key and at least partially determines when input to the first multi-function key is a first type of user input or a second type of user input, wherein in response to an applied force on the first multi-function key, the stain gauge can control the velocity of the movement of the cursor; and   display a character on the display upon the determination that input to the first function key is the first type of user input; and   control movement of the cursor on the display upon the determination that input to the first function key is the second type of user input.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the keyboard includes a second multi-function key, wherein a strain gauge is located proximate to or in the second multi-function key and at least partially determines when input to the second multi-function key is the first type of user input or the second type of user input. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the first mechanical key is a J key and the second mechanical key is an F key on a QWERTY keyboard. 
     
     
         47 . The electronic device of  claim 44 , wherein the first user input is a tap and the second user input is pressure.