Input Device Securing Techniques

Abstract

Input device adhesive techniques are described. A pressure sensitive key includes a sensor substrate having one or more conductors, a spacer layer, and a flexible contact layer. The spacer layer is disposed proximal to the sensor substrate and has at least one opening. The flexible contact layer is spaced apart from the sensor substrate by the spacer layer and configured to flex through the opening in response to an applied pressure to initiate an input. The flexible contact layer is secured to the spacer layer such that at first edge, the flexible contact layer is secured to the spacer layer at an approximate midpoint of the first edge and is not secured to the spacer along another portion of the first edge and at a second edge, the flexible contact layer is not secured to the spacer layer along an approximate midpoint of the second edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An input device comprising:
 a sensor substrate having a first set of one or more conductors of a first key and a second set of one or more conductors of a second key;   a spacer layer disposed proximal to the sensor substrate and having first and second openings that expose the first and second sets of conductors, respectively; and   a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate by the spacer layer and configured to flex through the first and second openings responsive to an applied pressure to initiate respective first and second inputs, in which an arrangement of discrete portions of applied adhesive that secures the flexible contact layer to the spacer layer along one or more edges of the first key is different than an arrangement of applied adhesive that secures the flexible contact layer to the spacer layer along one or more edges of the second key.   
     
     
         2 . An input device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the arrangements define portions along the edges of the first and second keys, respectively, that do not include adhesive thereby permitting greater flexibility of the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate at a location disposed proximal the portion of the edge that does not include the adhesive in comparison with a portion of the edge that does include the adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . An input device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
         4 . An input device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first key is configured for inclusion as part of a home row of a keyboard. 
     
     
         5 . An input device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first key is configured for inclusion as part of a home row of a keyboard and the second key is not included as part of the home row of the keyboard. 
     
     
         6 . An input device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the arrangements are configured to address a likelihood of missed hits of the respective first and second keys. 
     
     
         7 . An input device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second keys are configured to provide inputs describing an amount of the pressure received. 
     
     
         8 . An input device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible contact layer includes a force sensitive ink. 
     
     
         9 . An input device comprising:
 a sensor substrate having a first set of one or more conductors of a first key and a second set of one or more conductors of a second key;   a spacer layer disposed proximal to the sensor substrate and having first and second openings that expose the first and second sets of conductors, respectively; and   a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate by the spacer layer and configured to flex through the first and second openings responsive to an applied pressure to initiate respective first and second inputs, in which flexibility at locations of the first key is different than flexibility at corresponding locations of the second key through arrangement of discrete portions of applied adhesive that secures the flexible contact layer to the spacer layer along one or more edges of the respective first and second keys.   
     
     
         10 . An input device as described in  claim 9 , wherein the arrangements define portions along the edges of the first and second keys, respectively, that do not include adhesive thereby permitting greater flexibility of the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate at a location disposed proximal the portion of the edge that does not include the adhesive in comparison with a portion of the edge that does include the adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . An input device as described in  claim 9 , wherein the first key is configured for inclusion as part of a home row of a keyboard and the second key is not included as part of the home row of the keyboard. 
     
     
         12 . An input device as described in  claim 9 , wherein the arrangements are configured to address a likelihood of missed hits of the respective first and second keys. 
     
     
         13 . An input device as described in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second keys are configured to provide inputs describing an amount of the pressure received. 
     
     
         14 . A keyboard device comprising:
 a sensor substrate having a first set of one or more conductors of a first key of the keyboard and a second set of one or more conductors of a second key of the keyboard;   a spacer layer disposed proximal to the sensor substrate and having first and second openings that expose the first and second sets of conductors, respectively; and   a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate by the spacer layer and configured to flex through the first and second openings responsive to an applied pressure to initiate respective first and second inputs.   
     
     
         15 . A keyboard device as described in  claim 14 , wherein an arrangement of discrete portions of applied adhesive that secures the flexible contact layer to the spacer layer along one or more edges of the first key is different than an arrangement of applied adhesive that secures the flexible contact layer to the spacer layer along one or more edges of the second key. 
     
     
         16 . A keyboard device as described in  claim 15 , wherein the arrangements define portions along the edges of the first and second keys, respectively, that do not include adhesive thereby permitting greater flexibility of the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate at a location disposed proximal the portion of the edge that does not include the adhesive in comparison with a portion of the edge that does include the adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . A keyboard device as described in  claim 14 , wherein the first key is configured for inclusion as part of a home row of a keyboard. 
     
     
         18 . A keyboard device as described in  claim 14 , wherein the first key is configured for inclusion as part of a home row of a keyboard and the second key is not included as part of the home row of the keyboard. 
     
     
         19 . A keyboard device as described in  claim 14 , wherein flexibility at locations of the first key is different than flexibility at corresponding locations of the second key through arrangement of discrete portions of applied adhesive that secures the flexible contact layer to the spacer layer along one or more edges of the respective first and second keys. 
     
     
         20 . A keyboard device as described in  claim 14 , wherein the arrangements define portions along the edges of the first and second keys, respectively, that do not include adhesive thereby permitting greater flexibility of the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate at a location disposed proximal the portion of the edge that does not include the adhesive in comparison with a portion of the edge that does include the adhesive.