Method of converting touch pad into touch mode or number-key and/or hot-key input mode

• US 20100164880A1
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ortek Technology, Inc. (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ortek Technology, Inc. (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Huang, Li-Chun, Wu, Yen-Chun
• Application Number:
  US12/458,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20100164880A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is to provide a method for converting a touch pad into a touch mode or a number-key and/or hot-key input mode, which is applicable to a touch pad including a main control unit and at least one mode conversion key. The main control unit automatically turns on the touch pad and brings the touch pad into the touch mode. After the at least one mode conversion key is pressed, the main control unit converts the touch pad into the number-key and/or hot-key input mode. At this time, each position on the touch pad is defined by a set of absolute coordinates. The plural sets of absolute coordinates correspond respectively to a plurality of arrayed number and/or function blocks each having a unique key code value, thus allowing the touch pad to be used as a keyboard for inputting numbers and/or providing hot-key functions.

Claims

1. A method for converting a touch pad into a touch mode or a number-key and/or hot-key input mode, applicable to a keyboard device having the touch pad, wherein the keyboard device is connected to a computer and comprises a main control unit, a main keyboard area, the touch pad, and at least a mode conversion key, and the main control unit is connected to related internal electronic elements of the keyboard device so as for the keyboard device to operate normally and transmit input signals from the main keyboard area and the touch pad to the computer, the method comprising steps, executed by the main control unit when the keyboard device receives electric power, of:

automatically turning on the touch pad and bringing the touch pad into the touch mode;

converting the touch pad into the number-key and/or hot-key input mode upon receiving a conversion command transmitted from the at least a mode conversion key;

defining each of a plurality of positions on the touch pad by a set of absolute coordinates, wherein the plurality of sets of absolute coordinates correspond to a plurality of arrayed number and/or function blocks, respectively, each said number and/or function block having a unique key code value; and

detecting whether or not the touch pad is pressed.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

converting the touch pad from the number-key and/or hot-key input mode into the touch mode, by the main control unit, when the main control unit receives again the conversion command transmitted from the at least a mode conversion key.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

determining by the main control unit whether or not a number-lock key of the main keyboard area is activated, if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in a number-key mode.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

directly transmitting to the computer, by the main control unit, the key code value corresponding to a said number and/or function block being pressed, if the main control unit determines that the number-lock key of the main keyboard area is activated.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit determines that the number-lock key of the main keyboard area is deactivated, of:

transmitting a number-lock key signal to the computer for converting a number-lock key status of the computer into an activated status;

transmitting to the computer the key code value corresponding to a said number and/or function block being pressed; and

transmitting another number-lock key signal for restoring the computer into the original number-lock key status.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

displaying, by a display device of the computer when the computer receives the key code value transmitted from the main control unit, a corresponding value.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

displaying, by a display device of the computer when the computer receives the key code value transmitted from the main control unit, a corresponding value.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in the touch mode, of:

determining various sensing results including pressed positions, displacements, and moving directions; and

transmitting the sensing results to the computer.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in the touch mode, of:

determining various sensing results including pressed positions, displacements, and moving directions; and

transmitting the sensing results to the computer.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

executing corresponding procedures, by the display device of the computer, when the computer receives the sensing results transmitted from the main control unit.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

executing corresponding procedures, by the display device of the computer, when the computer receives the sensing results transmitted from the main control unit.

12. A method for converting a touch pad into a touch mode or a number-key and/or hot-key input mode, applicable to a keyboard device having the touch pad, wherein the keyboard device is connected to a computer and comprises a main control unit, a main keyboard area, and the touch pad, and the main control unit is connected to related internal electronic elements of the keyboard device so as for the keyboard device to operate normally and transmit input signals from the main keyboard area and the touch pad to the computer, the method comprising steps, executed by the main control unit when the keyboard device receives electric power, of:

automatically turning on the touch pad and bringing the touch pad into the number-key and/or hot-key input mode;

defining each of a plurality of positions on the touch pad by a set of absolute coordinates, wherein the plurality of sets of absolute coordinates correspond to a plurality of arrayed number and/or function blocks, respectively, each said number and/or function block having a unique key code value; and

detecting whether or not the touch pad is pressed.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the keyboard device further comprises at least a mode conversion key, and the method further comprises converting the touch pad from the number-key and/or hot-key input mode into the touch mode, by the main control unit, when the main control unit receives a conversion command transmitted from the at least a mode conversion key.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

determining by the main control unit whether or not a number-lock key of the main keyboard area is activated, if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in a number-key mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

directly transmitting to the computer, by the main control unit, the key code value corresponding to a said number and/or function block being pressed, if the main control unit determines that the number-lock key of the main keyboard area is activated.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit determines that the number-lock key of the main keyboard area is deactivated, of:

transmitting a number-lock key signal to the computer for converting a number-lock key status of the computer into an activated status;

transmitting to the computer the key code value corresponding to a said number and/or function block being pressed; and

transmitting another number-lock key signal for restoring the computer into the original number-lock key status.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

displaying, by a display device of the computer when the computer receives the key code value transmitted from the main control unit, a corresponding value.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

displaying, by a display device of the computer when the computer receives the key code value transmitted from the main control unit, a corresponding value.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in the touch mode, of:

determining various sensing results including pressed positions, displacements, and moving directions; and

transmitting the sensing results to the computer.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in the touch mode, of:

determining various sensing results including pressed positions, displacements, and moving directions; and

transmitting the sensing results to the computer.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

executing corresponding procedures, by the display device of the computer, when the computer receives the sensing results transmitted from the main control unit.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

executing corresponding procedures, by the display device of the computer, when the computer receives the sensing results transmitted from the main control unit.

23. A method for converting a touch pad into a touch mode or a number-key and/or hot-key input mode, applicable to the touch pad, wherein the touch pad comprises a main control unit and at least a mode conversion key and is connected to a computer, and the main control unit is connected to related internal electronic elements of the touch pad so as for the touch pad to operate normally and transmit input signals from the touch pad to the computer, the method comprising steps, executed by the main control unit when the touch pad receives electric power, of:

automatically turning on the touch pad and bringing the touch pad into the touch mode;

converting the touch pad into the number-key and/or hot-key input mode upon receiving a conversion command transmitted from the at least a mode conversion key;

defining each of a plurality of positions on the touch pad by a set of absolute coordinates, wherein the plurality of sets of absolute coordinates correspond to a plurality of arrayed number and/or function blocks, respectively, each said number and/or function block having a unique key code value; and

detecting whether or not the touch pad is pressed.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

converting the touch pad from the number-key and/or hot-key input mode into the touch mode, by the main control unit, when the main control unit receives again the conversion command transmitted from the at least a mode conversion key.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the computer is further connected to a keyboard device, and the method further comprises determining by the main control unit whether or not a number-lock key of the keyboard device is activated, if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in a number-key mode.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

directly transmitting to the computer, by the main control unit, the key code value corresponding to a said number and/or function block being pressed, if the main control unit determines that the number-lock key of the keyboard device is activated.

27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit determines that the number-lock key of the main keyboard area is deactivated, of:

transmitting a number-lock key signal to the computer for converting a number-lock key status of the computer into an activated status;

transmitting to the computer the key code value corresponding to a said number and/or function block being pressed; and

transmitting another number-lock key signal for restoring the computer into the original number-lock key status.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:

displaying, by a display device of the computer when the computer receives the key code value transmitted from the main control unit, a corresponding value.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

displaying, by a display device of the computer when the computer receives the key code value transmitted from the main control unit, a corresponding value.

30. The method according to claim 28, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in the touch mode, of:

determining various sensing results including pressed positions, displacements, and moving directions; and

transmitting the sensing results to the computer.

31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in the touch mode, of:

determining various sensing results including pressed positions, displacements, and moving directions; and

transmitting the sensing results to the computer.

32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

executing corresponding procedures, by the display device of the computer, when the computer receives the sensing results transmitted from the main control unit.

33. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

executing corresponding procedures, by the display device of the computer, when the computer receives the sensing results transmitted from the main control unit.

34. A method for converting a touch pad into a touch mode or a number-key and/or hot-key input mode, applicable to the touch pad, wherein the touch pad comprises a main control unit and is connected to a computer, and the main control unit is connected to related internal electronic elements of the touch pad so as for the touch pad to operate normally and transmit input signals from the touch pad to the computer, the method comprising steps, executed by the main control unit when the touch pad receives electric power, of:

automatically turning on the touch pad and bringing the touch pad into the number-key and/or hot-key input mode;

defining each of a plurality of positions on the touch pad by a set of absolute coordinates, wherein the plurality of sets of absolute coordinates correspond to a plurality of arrayed number and/or function blocks, respectively, each said number and/or function block having a unique key code value; and

detecting whether or not the touch pad is pressed.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the touch pad further comprises at least a mode conversion key, and the method further comprises converting the touch pad from the number-key and/or hot-key input mode into the touch mode, by the main control unit, when the main control unit receives a conversion command transmitted from the at least a mode conversion key.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the computer is further connected to a keyboard device, and the method further comprises determining by the main control unit whether or not a number-lock key of the keyboard device is activated, if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in a number-key mode.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising:

directly transmitting to the computer, by the main control unit, the key code value corresponding to a said number and/or function block being pressed, if the main control unit determines that the number-lock key of the keyboard device is activated.

38. The method according to claim 36, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit determines that the number-lock key of the main keyboard area is deactivated, of:

transmitting a number-lock key signal to the computer for converting a number-lock key status of the computer into an activated status;

transmitting to the computer the key code value corresponding to a said number and/or function block being pressed; and

transmitting another number-lock key signal for restoring the computer into the original number-lock key status.

39. The method according to claim 37, further comprising:

displaying, by a display device of the computer when the computer receives the key code value transmitted from the main control unit, a corresponding value.

40. The method according to claim 38, further comprising:

displaying, by a display device of the computer when the computer receives the key code value transmitted from the main control unit, a corresponding value.

41. The method according to claim 39, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in the touch mode, of:

determining various sensing results including pressed positions, displacements, and moving directions; and

transmitting the sensing results to the computer.

42. The method according to claim 40, further comprising steps, executed by the main control unit if the main control unit detects that the touch pad is pressed while the touch pad is in the touch mode, of:

determining various sensing results including pressed positions, displacements, and moving directions; and

transmitting the sensing results to the computer.

43. The method according to claim 41, further comprising:

executing corresponding procedures, by the display device of the computer, when the computer receives the sensing results transmitted from the main control unit.

44. The method according to claim 42, further comprising:

executing corresponding procedures, by the display device of the computer, when the computer receives the sensing results transmitted from the main control unit.