Key board and portable electronic device with key board

• US 10,162,427 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiiCs & Partners (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: MiiCs & Partners (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Tsung-Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): Pervan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/497,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20180074598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 200237-345, 341 20- 35, 345168-169, 345173-178, 400490-4951
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03 Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A removable key board for keying in on a touch panel, includes an insulating spacer defining a plurality of receiving holes, a plurality of supporting pillars in the receiving holes and a plurality of electrical connecting pads configured for electrically connecting to the touch panel and arranged on one side of the insulating spacer. Pressing each key on the removable keyboard applies an input touch to the touch panel. A portable electronic device is also provided.

Claims

1. A key board, configured for placement on and keying into a touch panel, comprising:

an insulating spacer defining a plurality of receiving holes;

a plurality of supporting pillars, each of the plurality of supporting pillars corresponding to and receiving in one of the plurality of receiving holes;

a plurality of electrical connecting pads configured for electrical connecting to the touch panel and arranged on one side of the insulating spacer, each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads corresponding to and connected to one of the plurality of supporting pillars;

a plurality of insulating pads configured to be pressed for keying in and arranged on another side of the insulating spacer, each of the plurality of insulating pads corresponding to and connected to one of the plurality of supporting pillars; and

a plurality of elastic elements arranged between the insulating spacer and the plurality of insulating pads, each of the plurality of elastic elements corresponding to one of the plurality of insulating pads.

2. The key board of claim 1, wherein the plurality of supporting pillars is made of electronic material, each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads is integrated with a corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

3. The key board of claim 1, wherein the plurality of supporting pillars is made of insulating material, each of the plurality of insulating pads is integrated with a corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

4. The key board of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads is a hollow capsule.

5. The key board of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads is a hollow capsule with a narrow portion connected with a corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars and a wider portion away from the corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

6. The key board of claim 1, further comprising a supporting body comprising a first surface configured for connecting with the touch panel, and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

the supporting body defining a receiving groove from the first surface to the second surface, the insulating spacer fixed in the receiving groove and spaced from a bottom surface of the receiving groove;

the supporting body further defining a plurality of through holes from the bottom surface to the second surface, each of the plurality of through holes corresponding to one of the plurality of receiving holes, each of the plurality of insulating pads exposed from a corresponding one of the plurality of through holes.

7. The key board of claim 6, wherein the second surface is a three dimensional surface.

8. The key board of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of supporting pillars passes through a corresponding one of the plurality of through holes, the plurality of insulating pads is arranged above the second surface, a plurality of baffles is arranged between the bottom surface and the plurality of elastic elements, each of the plurality of baffles is corresponding to and fixed on one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

9. The key board of claim 6, wherein the plurality of supporting pillars and the plurality of insulating pads are received in the receiving groove, each of the plurality insulating pad is in contact with the bottom surface when the elastic element is at rest.

10. The key board of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of elastic element is a coil spring covering a corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

11. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch panel comprising a capacitive touch screen defining a plurality of touch areas; and

a key board removably positioned on and connected to the touch panel, the key board comprising;

an insulating spacer defining a plurality of receiving holes;

a plurality of supporting pillars, each of the plurality of supporting pillars corresponding to and received in one of the plurality of receiving holes;

a plurality of electrical connecting pads arranged on one side of the insulating spacer, each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads corresponding to and connected to one of the plurality of supporting pillars, each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads corresponding to one of the plurality of touch areas;

a plurality of insulating pads arranged on another side of the insulating spacer, each of the plurality of insulating pads corresponding to and connected to one of the plurality of supporting pillars; and

a plurality of elastic elements arranged between the insulating spacer and the plurality of insulating pads, each of the plurality of elastic elements corresponding to one of the plurality of insulating pads;

wherein when one of the plurality of insulating pads is pressed, one corresponding elastic element is compressed, and one corresponding electrical connecting pad is moved to be in contact with a corresponding one of the plurality of touch areas of the touch panel and apply input.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of supporting pillars is made of electronic material, each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads is integrated with a corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of supporting pillars is made of insulating material, each of the plurality of insulating pads is integrated with a corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads is a hollow capsule.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of electrical connecting pads is a hollow capsule with a narrow portion connected with a corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars and a wider portion away from the corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 11, further comprising a supporting body comprising a first surface configured for connecting with the touch panel, and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

the supporting body defining a receiving groove from the first surface to the second surface, the insulating spacer fixed in the receiving groove and spaced from a bottom surface of the receiving groove;

the supporting body further defining a plurality of through holes from the bottom surface to the second surface, each of the plurality of through holes corresponding to one of the plurality of receiving holes, each of the plurality of insulating pads exposed from the corresponding one of the plurality of through holes.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the second surface is a three dimensional surface.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of supporting pillars passes through one corresponding through hole, the plurality of insulating pads is arranged above the second surface, a plurality of baffles is arranged between the bottom surface and the plurality of elastic elements, each of the plurality of baffles is corresponding to and fixed on one of the plurality of supporting pillars.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of supporting pillars and the plurality of insulating pads are received in the receiving groove, each of the plurality of corresponding insulating pad is in contact with the bottom surface when the elastic element is at rest.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of elastic element is a coil spring covering a corresponding one of the plurality of supporting pillars.