Abstract: A keyboard activates areas of a touchscreen according to user interaction with the keyboard. A discharge circuit provides a discharge path for altering the electrostatic field of the touchscreen. Such discharge circuit excludes the user's finger (or stylus). Instead of grounding to the user, a ground plane in varying embodiments may be contained within the keyboard, or be formed at least in part by by the case of the keyboard, the case of the host device, or the ground plane of the host device. The keyboard includes an electrical ground member to absorb the capacitive discharge and/or conduct such discharge to the ground plane.

Abstract: A keyboard activates areas of a touchscreen according to user interaction with the keyboard. A discharge circuit provides a discharge path for altering the electrostatic field of the touchscreen. Such discharge circuit excludes the user's finger (or stylus). Instead of grounding to the user, a ground plane in varying embodiments may be contained within the keyboard, or be formed at least in part by by the case of the keyboard, the case of the host device, or the ground plane of the host device. The keyboard includes an electrical ground member to absorb the capacitive discharge and/or conduct such discharge to the ground plane.