14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is constantly looking into ways to improve its Surface lineup, and the next stop for the company appears refining the design and feature package of the Surface keyboard.
A patent discovered recently by WR reveals one method that relies on haptic feedback and which Microsoft could use to shoot two birds with one stone.
First of all, with haptic feedback the typing experience would be substantially improved, helping Microsoft better reproduce the perception of using a typical keyboard.
And second of all, it could allow the company to create a thinner Surface keyboard by reducing the overall physical travel of the key, with the haptic feedback in charge of generating a vibration that could simulate a longer travel.
Just a patent for now
The patent, which is called Push button with haptic feedback, describes a method that combines physical keys with haptic feedback in order to create a thinner keyboard that doesn’t affect the typing experience in any way.
“Mechanical key design for keyboards often includes rubber or metal dome switches along with scissor mechanisms that offer a desirable feel and overall performance or achieve the key travel necessary to meet shrinking overall keyboard thickness specifications, but not both,” the patent reads.
“Haptic feedback devices offer a user sensory feedback signifying a selection has been made without any physical travel of a keypad, but also may not offer the user a desirable feel and overall performance. The following describes in detail keys or push buttons that offer the user a desirable feel and performance, while meeting shrinking overall keyboard thickness specifications.”
As with every single patent, this is no guarantee the technology would reach mass production, but it’s pretty clear that Microsoft is looking into ways to improve the Surface keyboard. The goal right now appears to be making the keyboard overall thinner, all without impacting the typing experience at all.