ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20110187649A1
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Tai, Tzu-Wei, Chen, Hsin-Ying, CHU, Chao-Ming, Lin, Sheng-Ta
• Application Number:
  US13/015,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20110187649A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• 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 3/03547 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

An electronic device includes a host module and an input module. The input module includes a keyboard unit and a touch unit. The keyboard unit is electrically connected to the host module. The touch unit includes a touch pad and a plurality of key sets. The touch pad is electrically connected to the key sets. The key sets are selected to be disposed next to the touch pad or not. This can improve the flexibility for the user to use the electronic device with a touch pad and a plurality of key sets.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a host module; and

an input module, including;

a keyboard unit electrically connected to the host module; and

a touch unit electrically connected to the host module, wherein the touch unit includes a touch pad and a plurality of key sets, the touch pad is electrically connected to the key sets, and the key sets are selected to be disposed next to the touch pad or not.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch pad is a single-point touch pad or a multi-point touch pad.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch pad is a resistor touch pad or a capacitor touch pad.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the key sets at least includes one key.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch pad is disposed at one side of the keyboard unit, the key sets are disposed at two sides of the keyboard unit, and one of the key sets is disposed corresponding to the touch pad.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the function of the key sets is the same as control functions of the left and right keys of a mouse.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a display module electrically connected to the host module.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit further comprises a touch pad disposed adjacent to the keyboard unit and electrically connected to the host module.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, which is a notebook computer, a palmtop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a global positioning system (GPS), an electronic book, an electronic dictionary, a game boy or a mobile communication device.