• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The invention relates to a keyboard (10) comprising at least: • a key (11, 12) intended to be operated by a user, the maneuver of the key (11, 12) for forming a signal representative of the maneuver, • a plane waveguide (20) having first and second outer faces (22, 23), a wave that can be reflected completely between the two faces (22, 23), • a plunger (14, 15) adapted to be moved by the key (11, 12) between two positions, one in contact with the first face (22) of the waveguide (20) and the other at a distance from the first face (22), the contact of the plunger (14, 15) on the first face (22) causing a local frustration of the reflection of the wave in the waveguide (20), • a sensor (26, 27) disposed in a free space delimited by the second face (23), the sensor (26, 27) being associated with the plunger (14, 15) and configured to detect the frustration of reflection, the sensor (26, 27) forming the representational ignal.
    公开号:FR3030797A1
    申请号:FR1402876
    申请日:2014-12-17
    公开日:2016-06-24
    发明作者:Vincent Toraille；Jacques Bellon
    申请人:Thales SA；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [0001] The invention relates to a keyboard whose reliability is improved. Keyboards are present in many electronic equipment. They are used for a user to enter data. Known keyboards include keys intended to be operated by a user. The operation of a key causes that of a switch for making an electrical connection between two points in order to pass or not an electrical signal depending on the pressing of the key. The switch comprises for example a metal dome integral with a printed circuit. The dome is destined to collapse under the effect of pressing the key. Collapsing, the dome creates an electrical contact on the printed circuit. This type of keyboard generates many constraints on the equipment. First, the life of the keyboard is limited by the mechanics of the keys and associated switches. Moving parts and their attachment can reach their fatigue limit. To achieve a desired life, it may be necessary to oversize some components, which leads to additional costs and may interfere in a search for miniaturization. In addition, the protection of keyboards vis-à-vis electromagnetic disturbances can cause problems. Indeed, the electrical signals passing through the switches can be disturbed or disturb other equipment. The presence of moving parts of the keyboards can make it difficult to achieve shielding screens to isolate signals from the external environment. The invention provides a solution to these various problems by providing a keypad much simpler to achieve and allowing the easy implementation of a shielding screen. The invention makes it possible, in particular, to decouple the movement of the key from the formation of a signal representative of the movement of the key. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a keyboard comprising at least: a key intended to be operated by a user, the maneuvering of the key making it possible to form a signal representative of the maneuver, a planar waveguide having a first and a second outer face, a wave that can be reflected completely between the two faces, - a plunger adapted to be moved by the key between two positions, one in contact with the first face of the waveguide and the other at a distance from the first face, the contact of the plunger on the first face causing a local frustration of the reflection of the wave in the waveguide, - a sensor disposed in a free space delimited by the second face, the sensor being associated with the plunger and configured to detect the frustration of reflection, the sensor forming the representative signal. Advantageously, the keyboard comprises at least one cover 15 for protecting the sensor from a parasitic wave not coming from the frustration caused by the contact of the plunger associated with the sensor. The mask may be formed by a mask that is opaque to the wave propagating in the waveguide, the mask covering the second face, with the exception of a hole centered opposite a zone intended to receive the contact of the waveguide. diver on the first side. In one embodiment of the invention, the wave propagated in the guide is a light wave. The first face of the waveguide includes an altered zone so that a portion of the wave exits the waveguide through the altered zone. The altered zone may include means for focusing the light extracted by the first face around a direction perpendicular to the plane of the waveguide. The keyboard may include first and second wave sources propagating in the waveguide and each transmitting in a wavelength band, the two bands being distinct. The sensor is then configured to detect a wave of the band of the first source and the band of the second source is used to exit the waveguide by the altered zone. Advantageously, the keyboard comprises a light source controlled by the representative signal and allowing feedback to the user depending on the contact of the plunger with the first face of the waveguide.
    [0002] The light source for the feedback can be arranged to emit light perpendicular to the waveguide through it. The light source for feedback may emit in a wavelength band distinct from that for which the sensor is configured. Advantageously, the keyboard comprises an electric shielding screen disposed on one of the faces of the waveguide, the shielding screen being transparent to the wave propagated in the waveguide. The invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the detailed description of an embodiment given by way of example, a description illustrated by the attached drawing in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents in section a example of keyboard according to the invention; FIG. 2 represents a simulation of a backscattered wave for simultaneous presses on several keys of the keyboard; Figure 3 schematically shows the keyboard in perspective. For the sake of clarity, the same elements will bear the same references in the different figures. FIG. 1 represents a keyboard 10 comprising two keys 11 and 12. In practice, a keyboard according to the invention can comprise a larger number of keys, which is for example the case in a keyboard 30 allowing the input of characters alphanumeric. Conversely, the invention can be implemented in a keyboard having only one key. Returning to the example shown, the keys 11 and 12 are movable in translation relative to a support 13 for example plan and attached to an electronic equipment. Solidarity of each key 11 and 12, a plunger, respectively 14 and 15 follows the translational movement of the key considered. In practice the key and the plunger associated with it can be formed by the same mechanical part or by two separate mechanical parts fixed to one another. One can, however, distinguish the function of the key which is to receive the support of a user and the function of the diver who is to transmit this support. The plungers 14 and 15 can move in translation each along an axis, respectively 16 and 17, these axes being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the support 13. In FIG. 1, the axes 16 and 17 are represented vertically and the movement of the keys 11 and 12 are up and down along their respective axes. The displacement of each of the keys 11 and 12 is limited upwards by a stop, respectively 18 and 19, formed in the support 13. Each of the plungers 14 and 15 bears against its respective abutment. A return spring, respectively 20 and 21 can push the plunger towards its respective stop. In this position, pressing against its stop, the key and its plunger are in a rest position, that is to say a position not activated by a user. Conversely, when the user presses one of the keys 11 or 12, by means of a vertical support, the corresponding plunger leaves its support against its stop and pushes the associated return spring. The support 13 may be formed of two mechanical parts 13a and 13b fixed together to allow the mounting of the plunger and the corresponding spring. In the example shown, the return spring 20 or 21 exerts on the corresponding plunger 14 or 15 a force proportional to its displacement. It is possible to provide a tactile feedback to the non-proportional user, having for example a force / displacement curve having a maximum. This type of curve can be obtained for example by means of a "hard point" in the displacement of the plunger. This hard point may include a cam made on the plunger. A cam follower such as a ball, which can move horizontally relative to the support 13, is held in abutment against the cam by means of a spring. The shape of the cam defines the desired effort / displacement curve. The keyboard 10 comprises a plane waveguide 20 substantially perpendicular to the axes 16 and 17. The waveguide 20 serves to guide an electromagnetic wave, such as for example a light wave, in a central layer 24, limited by two faces. 22 and 23. The refractive index of the central layer 24 is greater than that of the medium in which the waveguide 20 is placed, such as air. This gives a total reflection of the wave propagating in the central layer 24 on the two outer faces 22 and 23. The waveguide 20 is for example made of glass or poly methacrylate methyl known by the abbreviated name PMMA , from its abbreviation Anglo-Saxon: "Polymethyl methacrylate". The plunger 14 or 15 can move between two positions, one in contact with the face 22 and the other at a distance from the face 22 and bearing against its abutment 18 or 19. In FIG. 1, the plunger 14 is shown at a distance from the face 22 and the plunger 15 is shown in contact with the face 22. The contact of the plunger 15 on the face 22 causes a local frustration of the reflection of the wave in the guide 20. This frustration causes a backscatter of the wave which passes through the guide 20 perpendicularly to its plane. Part of the wave then passes through the face 23 when the plunger 15 is in contact with the face 22. In the absence of contact between the plunger and the face 22, no frustration occurs and the reflection of the wave is total on both sides 22 and 23. By placing under the waveguide 20, a sensor under each of the plungers 14 and 15, it is possible to detect the frustration and therefore the contact of the plunger considered on the face 22. A diver whose refractive index is greater than that of the air frustrates this reflection. For example, a white silicone diver performs this function well. It has the advantage of establishing a good contact with the face 22, in particular avoiding trapping air bubbles between the plunger and the face 22. The keyboard 10 comprises a printed circuit 25 arranged parallel to the waveguide 20 on the side of the face 23. The printed circuit carries a sensor 26 disposed opposite the plunger 14 on the axis 16 and a sensor 27 disposed opposite the plunger 15 on the axis 17. The sensors 26 and 27 are for example photodiodes sensitive to the light wave propagated in the waveguide 20. The sensors 26 and 27 form a signal representative of the support of the respective keys 11 and 12 by a user. For photodiodes the representative signal is electrical and can be processed by other components arranged on the printed circuit 25. The current from a photodiode can be processed by means of a voltage current converter followed by an operational amplifier comparing the voltage generated by the converter at a threshold. At the output of the operational amplifier a binary and available signal representing the detection of a key press for one of the levels and the absence of support for the other binary level. As an alternative, other types of sensors can be implemented in the context of the invention, such as for example a sensor delivering an optical signal. FIG. 2 represents a simulation of the backscattered wave for simultaneous pressings on four adjacent keys of the keyboard 10. The wave backscattered during the contact of a plunger on the face 22 is emitted around a direction perpendicular to the plane of the guide The different divers are marked in FIG. 2. The intensity of the backscattered wave is maximum on the direction perpendicular to the plane of the waveguide 20 and decreases for directions away from the perpendicular direction. . In Figure 2, lines represent the presence of a backscattered wave. The closer the traints are, the greater the intensity of the backscattered wave. In order to prevent the sensors 26 and 27 from detecting a wave backscattered by a neighboring plunger that it is not associated with it, the keyboard 10 comprises at least one cover enabling the sensor 26 or 27 to be protected from a parasitic wave not coming from frustration caused by the contact of the diver associated with the sensor. Several cover variants are shown in FIG. 1. The cover can be formed by a wall 28 placed on the printed circuit 25 between the sensors 26 and 27. It is also possible to provide a wall surrounding each of the sensors 26 and 27. cover may also be formed by an opaque mask 29 disposed on the face 23 preventing an oblique backscattered wave from leaving the waveguide 20. The mask may cover the entire face 23 with the exception of holes, for example circular, centered on the axes 16 and 17, in other words, with the exception of a hole if the keyboard comprises only one key or several holes centered each opposite a zone intended to receive the contact of one of the divers 14 or 15 on the first face 22. Advantageously, the waveguide 20 can be used to backlight the keyboard 10. This lighting can be implemented to display images, text areas or icons present between the keys on the 13. These images serve, for example, as a legend for the various keys of the keyboard 10. Light extracted from the waveguide 20 passes through the support 13 which is transparent or at least partially transparent. It is possible to allow the light to pass through the support 13 only in areas where the images are present. Outside of these image areas, the support may be covered with opaque paint, for example black. The support may also have diffuser properties in order to homogenize the light passing through it. It is also possible to back-light the keys of the keyboard 10. To extract light from the waveguide 20, the face 22 comprises one or more altered zones 37 so that a part of the wave propagating in the the guide comes out of the waveguide 20 by the altered zone or zones 37.
    [0003] The altered zones may be produced by means of a diffusing paint disposed on the face 22. Advantageously, the altered zones comprise means for focusing the light extracted by the face 22 around a direction perpendicular to the plane of the waveguide 20. The focusing means are for example formed by a micro-prism film, well known in the English literature under the name of BEF for the abbreviation of Brightness Enhancement Film. The focusing means make it possible to prevent the light extracted for the backlighting of the keyboard 10 from disturbing the detection of the frustration by the divers.
    [0004] Figure 3 schematically shows a keyboard 10 in perspective. In this figure are shown sources for generating the wave propagated in the waveguide 20. The keyboard 10 is flat and extends for example according to a parallelepiped surface. The waveguide 20 extends substantially over the entire surface of the keyboard 10. The wave sources propagating in the waveguide 20 may be formed of light-emitting diodes disposed around the periphery of the waveguide 20 and the waveguide 20. illuminating by its slice. The sources can all be identical and all emit on the same wavelength. Alternatively, it is possible to differentiate sources according to their use. More specifically, it is possible to use different sources of wavelength for the detection of the support by the divers and for the backlighting of the keyboard 10. For example, it is possible to implement diodes emitting in an infrared band for the detecting the support of the plungers and diodes emitting in a band of visible wavelength for the backlighting. The two types of diodes are for example alternated around the waveguide. The proportion of diodes emitting in each of the bands is adapted according to the need. Thus, the risk of interference between the backlight and the detection of the support by the divers is reduced. The sensors 26 and 27 are also adapted to detect the wavelength band chosen for the diodes provided for detecting the support of the divers. In FIG. 3, diodes 40 emit in the infrared and diodes 41 emit in a band of visible length. The altered zones 37 may comprise a particular treatment to limit the wavelength transmission chosen for the diodes provided for detecting the support of the divers. It is advantageous to take advantage of the presence of the waveguide to allow feedback to the user depending on the contact of a plunger on the face 22. For this purpose, the keyboard comprises a light source 45 driven by the representative signal from the corresponding sensor. This light source 45 is activated according to the support by the user on the corresponding key. The feedback can be direct, the light source 45 can be active only in case of support. The feedback can be indirect, for example when a single-effect key is used to control a relay. The light source 45 is activated when the key activating the relay is pressed for the first time and deactivated during a subsequent press deactivating the relay. The light source 45 may be arranged to emit in the waveguide 20. The source is then disposed at the periphery of the waveguide 20 as the sources 40 and 41. Alternatively, the light source 45 is disposed of to emit light perpendicular to the waveguide 20 through it. This alternative is well suited to a keyboard with several keys and for which we want a separate order of return for each of the keys. The light source 45 is for example formed of one or more light-emitting diodes arranged on the printed circuit 25 near the sensor corresponding to the key for which feedback is desired. The wall 28 can separate the light source 45 from the corresponding sensor. Alternatively or in addition, as for the segregation between the backlight and the detection of the support, the sensor can be insensitive to the light emitted by the source 45. Similarly, it is possible to differentiate the color of the backlight from that of the feedback. For example the sensor can work in the infrared, the backlight in the red and the feedback in the green. It is possible to provide several different colors for different feedbacks, for a keyboard with several keys, or for the same key depending on its use. A keyboard according to the invention makes it possible to separate the mechanical action on the key from the detection of this mechanical action. Physically this separation is done by the waveguide 20. This physical separation can be used to electromagnetically isolate the keys of the keyboard 10 and the electrical signals deviated by the keyboard as a function of key presses. For this purpose, the keyboard 10 comprises an electric shielding screen 50 disposed on one of the faces of the waveguide, the shielding screen being transparent to the wave (or waves) propagated in the guide of the waveguide. wave 20 and optionally transparent to the light used for the return of order. The shielding screen is for example made by means of a transparent conductive electrode disposed on one of the faces 22 and 23. This electrode is for example made of tin-doped indium oxide 25 well known under the name of ITO for its abbreviation Anglo-Saxon: Indium tin oxide. Other technologies can be implemented to achieve the shielding screen 50, such as for example the implementation of a transparent film incorporating a conductive grid. This type of film is known in the Anglo-Saxon literature under the name of "micro mesh film".
    [0005] The shielding screen 50 covers the entire surface of the waveguide 20 and is connected to an electrical ground of the keyboard, for example via the printed circuit board 25.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [0001]
    REVENDICATIONS1. Keyboard (10) comprising at least one key (11, 12) intended to be operated by a user, the operation of the key (11, 12) for forming a signal representative of the maneuver, characterized in that it comprises: a plane waveguide (20) having first and second outer faces (22, 23), a wave which can be reflected completely between the two faces (22, 23), - a plunger (14, 15, 35) adapted to be moved by the key (11, 12) between two positions, one in contact with the first face (22) of the waveguide (20) and the other at a distance from the first face (22), contact of the plunger (14, 15, 35) on the first face (22) causing a local frustration of the reflection of the wave in the waveguide (20), - a sensor (26, 27) disposed in a free space delimited by the second face (23), the sensor (26, 27) being associated with the plunger (14, 15, 35) and configured to detect the frustration of the reflection, the sensor (26, 27) forming the representative signal.
    [0002]
    2. Keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one cover (28, 29) for protecting the sensor (26, 20 27) from a parasitic wave not originating from the frustration caused by the contact. the plunger (14, 15) associated with the sensor (26, 27).
    [0003]
    3. Keyboard according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover is formed by a mask (29) opaque to the wave propagating in the waveguide (20), the mask covering the second face (23) to the exception of a hole centered opposite a zone (30, 31) intended to receive the contact of the plunger (14, 15) on the first face (22).
    [0004]
    4. Keyboard according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wave propagated in the guide is a light wave, and in that the first face (22) of the waveguide (20) comprises an altered zone. (37) so that a portion of the wave exits the waveguide (20) through the altered zone (37).
    [0005]
    5. Keyboard according to claim 4, characterized in that the altered zone (37) comprises means for focusing the light extracted by the first face (22) around a direction perpendicular to the plane of the waveguide (20). .
    [0006]
    6. Keyboard according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a first and a second wave sources (40, 41) propagating in the waveguide (20) and each emitting in a band of wavelength, the two bands being distinct, in that the sensor (26, 27) is configured to detect a wave of the band of the first source (40) and in that the band of the second source (41) is used to exit the waveguide (20) through the altered zone (37).
    [0007]
    7. Keyboard according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a light source (45) controlled by the representative signal and allowing a feedback to the user according to the contact of the plunger (14, 15). , 35) with the first face (22) of the waveguide (20).
    [0008]
    8. Keyboard according to claim 7, characterized in that the light source (45) for the feedback is arranged to emit light perpendicular to the waveguide (20) through it.
    [0009]
    9. Keyboard according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the light source (45) for the feedback of information transmits in a wavelength band distinct from that for which the sensor (26, 27) is configured.
    [0010]
    10. Keyboard according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electric shielding screen (50) disposed on one of the faces (22, 23) of the waveguide (20), the shielding screen (50) being transparent to the propagated wave in the waveguide (20).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP3035534A1|2016-06-22|
    US20160179212A1|2016-06-23|
    EP3035534B1|2018-04-04|
    FR3030797B1|2018-05-11|
    CA2915340A1|2016-06-17|
    US9778753B2|2017-10-03|
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    法律状态:
    2015-11-23| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |
    2016-06-24| PLSC| Search report ready|Effective date: 20160624 |
    2016-11-28| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 3 |
    2017-11-27| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 4 |
    2018-11-27| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 5 |
    2020-10-16| ST| Notification of lapse|Effective date: 20200906 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    FR1402876A|FR3030797B1|2014-12-17|2014-12-17|KEYBOARD WITH IMPROVED RELIABILITY|
    FR1402876|2014-12-17|FR1402876A| FR3030797B1|2014-12-17|2014-12-17|KEYBOARD WITH IMPROVED RELIABILITY|
    EP15200021.2A| EP3035534B1|2014-12-17|2015-12-15|Keyboard with improved reliability|
    CA2915340A| CA2915340A1|2014-12-17|2015-12-15|Keyboard with improved reliability|
    US14/971,966| US9778753B2|2014-12-17|2015-12-16|Keyboard with improved reliability|
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