KEYBOARD APPARATUS INTEGRATED WITH COMBINED TOUCH INPUT MODULE

• US 20120026096A1
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adesso Incorporated (Old Republic International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Adesso Incorporated (Old Republic International Corporation)
• Inventors: KU, ALLEN
• Granted Patent: US 8,624,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A keyboard apparatus integrated with a combined touch input module is disclosed. The combined touch input module having a touchpad module and a tablet module conducts a handwriting mode and a cursor mode for the keyboard apparatus. According to one of the embodiments, a keyboard controller for processing and transferring keystroke signals is included. The keyboard controller also performs the interpretation of the signals generated in the touch input module, which is integrated into the keyboard for providing both touching and handwriting functions. Further, a mode switching circuit, in response to user'"'"'s operation, is used to switch the touch input module to the handwriting mode or the cursor mode. A micro controller within the touch input module is included to process the input signals generated by the touchpad and tablet modules.

Claims

1. A keyboard apparatus integrated with a combined touch input module, comprising:

(a) a keyboard controller used to process the input/output signals of the keyboard apparatus, and to convert a scan code received from a keyboard scan circuit connected with a key array, and to transmit the scan code to a computer system;

(b) a communication unit electrically connected to the keyboard controller, used to output the signals generated by the keyboard apparatus to the computer system via a communication port;

(c) a touch input module electrically connected to the keyboard controller, supporting a cursor mode and a handwriting mode, transmitting touch control signals to the computer system through the keyboard controller, and the touch input module further comprises;

(c1) a micro controller, electrically connected with the keyboard controller, for converting signals and generating the touch control signals, and then delivering the touch control signals;

(c2) a touchpad module, electrically connected with the micro controller via a touch-sensing circuit, for sensing a touch event through a touch panel in the cursor mode;

(c3) a tablet module, electrically connected with the micro controller via a signal-tracking circuit, for sensing a handwriting event through a sensor board in the handwriting mode; and

(c4) a mode switching circuit, electrically connected with the micro controller, for switching the cursor mode or the handwriting mode in response to a switch signal made by the key array;

wherein the touch input module and the circuits for the keyboard apparatus jointly use a power supply and the communication port.

2. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keyboard apparatus further comprises a power module, the power module electrically connects to the keyboard controller and manages the power for the keyboard apparatus.

3. The keyboard apparatus of claim 2, wherein the touch input module is electrically connected to the power module.

4. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touchpad module is situated above the tablet module within the touch input module which is installed onto the keyboard apparatus.

5. The keyboard apparatus of claim 4, wherein the touchpad module is mechanically made of a first conductive layer, an insulator layer, and a second conductive layer.

6. The keyboard apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tablet module is mechanically made of a scratch-resistant layer, a sensor board, and a substrate.

7. The keyboard apparatus of claim 4, wherein the touch input module has a protective cover exposed outside the apparatus.

8. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits the signals to the computer system over wired or wireless communication.

9. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch input module further comprises a buffer memory that is used to record a series of coordinates during a period of time.

10. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mode switching circuit switches the keyboard apparatus to the tablet mode as the touch input module receives a signal triggered by a pressing event made with a stylus.