The change would bring it closer to the Surface Pro Touch cover, which was thinner than current models but didn’t feel quite as tactile. Interestingly, the mockups of the touchpad show more rounded edges on the bottom corners, which is interesting. The thickness of the Surface Pro keyboard isn’t really an issue when in use, but it does add to the bulk when in a bag or being held. In essence, it undoes some of the hard work engineers have done to make the tablet thinner. “Techniques for a circuit board for an input device are described. In at least some embodiments, an input device is integrated with a circuit board of a device,” explains the patent. “For example, a touch interaction area of the input device is formed by cutting and / or etching a portion of the circuit board such that the touch interaction area is movable with respect to adjacent portions of the circuit board. In one or more embodiments, an input device includes a switch such that movement of the touch interaction region actuates the switch to generate a click-enter event.”
Surface Pro Re-design Rumors
It’s worth noting that rumors suggest the next generation Surface Pro will feature a redesign. Many are hoping for the sleek, curved bezel-less look of the iPad Pro, but accessory redesigns could also play a part. Ultimately, though patents don’t always describe practical designs. Considerations such as cost, tactility, and more could all stop this design coming to market. We’ve previously seen designs for a secondary display, which is interesting but even less likely.
