HAND-HELD COMBINATION KEY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INPUTTING INFORMATION BY HAND-HELD COMBINATION KEY APPARATUS

• US 20140071056A1
• Filed: 04/30/2011
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benlin Liu, Bushan Liu, Liming Zhao, Qiong Wang, Xiqing liu, Zheng Wang
• Original Assignee: Liming Zhao
• Inventors: Liu, Benlin, Liu, Xiqing, Wang, Qiong, Wang, Zheng, Zhao, Liming, Liu, Bushan
• Granted Patent: US 9,383,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

A hand-held combination key apparatus configured to input information to an intelligent electronic apparatus is provided. Three to five key groups, which correspond to each corresponding finger of a single hand respectively, are set on one of left side and right side of a shell, each key group having two combination keys, and each combination key being the key with compound functions of touch conduction and press conduction. Various combination states of touch conduction of each combination key are used to search and pre-display characters or operational function symbols; and press conduction of each combination key is used to determine character input or operational function input. The hand-held combination key apparatus can be used in any state without limitation absolutely, such as when the user is sitting, standing, lying down and moving, other than the normal standard keyboard which needs a practicable plane to support in use, saving space.

Claims

1. A hand-held combination key apparatus, comprising:

a shell (1), configured to input information to an intelligent electronic apparatus, wherein;

three to five key groups, which correspond to each corresponding finger of a single hand respectively, are configured on one of a left side and a right side of the shell, each key group having two combination keys, and each combination key being the key with compound functions of touch conduction and press conduction;

a plurality of combination states of touch conduction of each combination key are used to search and pre-display characters or operational function symbols; and

press conduction of each combination key is used to determine character input or operational function input.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus is held and operated in a right hand;

the apparatus also includes a touch key (22) and circuit device (7);

the shell (1) is designed to a shape that is held conveniently by a hand or the same shape as the hand held mobile apparatuses based on human engineering and operating requirements;

the apparatus is held by the thumb and the index finger;

the shell (1) is formed by fixedly connecting a front cover (11) with a back cover (12);

various key groups are placed on the left side of the shell (1); and

a holding portion which protrudes to the right side and conducts electricity is set on the upper right side of the shell (1);

the circuit device (7) includes a printed-circuit board, a microcontroller (71) set on the printed-circuit board, a retrieval sampling circuit (72), a control circuit (73) and a DC power supply (74), wherein;

the circuit device (7) is set inside the shell (1) and fixedly connected to the shell (1);

the circuit device (7) has seven retrieval sampling circuits (72) and three control circuits (73);

various retrieval sampling circuits (72) of the circuit device (7) have same circuit structure, including a capacitive detection circuit or a resistance-type detection circuit;

when the retrieval sampling circuit (72) is a resistive-type detection circuit, the retrieval sampling circuit (72) uses the inverter or op-amp as a main circuit;

one of positive and negative poles of power supply of the printed-circuit board is used as a ground and is electrically connected to the held portion (13); and

output ports of various retrieval sampling circuits (72) are connected to one I/O port of the microcontroller (71);

a touch key (22) is fixed on the shell (1);

the touch key (22) includes a conductive touch keycap (22-1), wherein the touch keycap (22-1) is electrically connected to a control port of a corresponding retrieval sampling circuit (72) and is located at held position of an index finger;

three groups of combination keys are a first key group (3), a second key group (4) and a third key group (5) according to a top-to-bottom order, wherein;

the first key group (3) includes a first combination key (31) and a second combination key (32) arranged in order;

the second key group (4) includes a third combination key (41) and a fourth combination key (42) arranged in order;

the third key group (5) includes a fifth combination key (51) and a sixth combination key (52) arranged in order;

six combination keys (31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52) of the three combination key groups have the same circuit structure;

each combination key includes a conductive keycap (31-1), an elastic insulator (31-3) and a movable stationary contact component;

the keycap (31-1) is electrically connected to a control port of a corresponding retrieval sampling circuit (72);

the elastic insulator (31-3) is set between the keycap (31-1) and a movable contact of the movable stationary contact component, and insulates the keycap (31-1) and the movable contact;

the movable contact and the stationary contact of the movable stationary contact component forms circuit of a push button;

each control circuit (73) of the circuit device (7) has the same circuit structure;

each key group corresponds to one control circuit (73);

each control circuit (73) is one OR gate constituted by push buttons in parallel of two combination keys of the same key group;

two inputs of the OR gate are electrically connected to a ground of the power supply of the printed-circuit board;

an output of the OR gate connects to one corresponding I/0 port of the microcontroller (71);

the movable contact and the stationary contact of the combination key contact with each other when the keycap (31-1) is pressed, turning on the corresponding push button and the OR gate of the corresponding control circuit (73), thus outputting a low level to the microcontroller (71) as a confirmation signal;

when the apparatus inputs information to the intelligent electronic apparatus, the microcontroller (71) of the circuit device 7 creates a bidirectional connection to the intelligent electronic apparatus'"'"'s main chip through a wireless way, a wired way, or a direct connection way; and

the corresponding pre-display floating window is set in a display screen of the intelligent electronic apparatus, where the pre-display floating window is open or close.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the front cover (11) and the rear cover (12) are insulation injection molding, and the front cover (11) is an injection molding with a conductive frustum-shaped insert;

the front cover (11) is formed by a front frame plate (11-1) and 4side plates, including an upper side plate (11-2), a left side plate (11-3), a lower side plate (11-4) and a right-side plate (11-5), where the 4 side plates are connected to the front frame plate (11-1) and the 4 side plates are also connected to each other in order;

the conductive frustum-shaped insert as the held portion (13) of the shell (1) locates on the upper part of the right-side plate (11-5) of the front cover (11) and protrudes to the right side;

a through-hole of the touch keycap is set on the upper part of the left side plate (11-3) of the front cover (11), opposing to the location of the held portion (13);

from the top to bottom, 3 groups of keyholes are set in the middle part of the left side plate (11-3) of the front cover (11), known as the first group keyhole, the second group keyhole and the third group keyhole, respectively;

each group has two keyholes set up in the order of front and rear, and the shape of each keyhole is rectangular;

in each group keyhole, the keyhole at the rear side is slightly higher than the keyhole at the front side;

the shape of each keycap (31-1) is small-left and right-large bevel shape; and

each combination key exposes to the left of the shell (1) from a corresponding keyhole of the front cover (11) of the shell (1) by the each keycap (31-1).

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

a touch key (22) also includes an insulation mounting base (22-2) and a lead (22-3);

the touch keycap (22-1) of the touch key (22) is a frustum-shaped projection;

the insulation mounting base (22-2) is set to the upper part of the left side plate (11-3) of the front cover (11) of the shell (1), wherein;

The touch keycap (22-1) is fixed on the insulation mounting base (22-2);

the insulation mounting base (22-2) is fixed to the inner wall of the front cover (11) of the shell (1);

one end of the lead (22-3) is fixed by welding on the touch keycap (22-1), and the other end of the lead (22-3) is electrically connected to a control port of a corresponding retrieval sampling circuit (72); and

the touch keycap (22-1) passes through the shell (1) from the circular touch keycap through-hole located on the upper part of the left side plate (11-3) of the front cover (11) and protrudes to the left side.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the keycap component of each combination key also includes a lead (31-2), an elastic insulator (31-3) and a movable stationary contact component;

one end of the lead (31-2) is fixedly welded at the keycap (31-1);

the other end of the lead (31-2) is electrically connected to a control port of a corresponding retrieval sampling circuit (72);

the keycap (31-1) of each combination key, the elastic insulator (31-3), and a movable contact are arranged from left to right;

the movable contact is a conductive plate (31-4);

the stationary contact as a copper insert is the first electrode (31-5) and the second electrode (31-6) fixed on the insulation mounting base (31-8);

the conductive plate (31-4) as the movable contact along with the first electrode (31-5) and the second electrode (31-6) as the stationary contact form a corresponding push button;

the insulation mounting base (31-8) is fixed on the front cover (11) of the shell (1); and

a compression spring as an elastic strutting piece (31-7) is set between the conductive plate (31-4) and the left side of the inner cavity of the insulation mounting base (31-8).

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

each combination key exposes to the left of the shell (1) from the front cover (11) of the shell (1) by each keycap (31-1);

the position of the second combination key (32) is slightly higher than the position of the corresponding first combination key (31);

the position of the fourth combination key (42) is slightly higher than the position of the corresponding third combination key (41);

the position of the sixth combination key (52) is slightly higher than the position of the corresponding fifth combination key (51);

the convex portion of the second combination key (32) is smaller than the convex portion of the first combination key (31);

the convex portion of the fourth combination key (42) is smaller than the convex portion of the third combination key (41); and

the convex portion of the sixth combination key (52) is smaller than the convex portion of the fifth combination key (51).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus is held and operated in a right hand;

the apparatus further includes a circuit device (7) and a resilient mounting sleeve;

the shell (1) is designed to a shape that is held conveniently by a hand or the same shape as the hand held mobile apparatuses based on human engineering and operating requirements;

the resilient mounting sleeve set on the shell (1) is configured to hold the apparatus on the palm;

when the apparatus is held on the palm, the portion of the shell (1) contact with palm root is the held portion, and the held portion is a conductive portion;

the shell (1) is formed by fixedly connecting a front cover (11) with a back cover (12);

5 key groups are placed on the shell (1), where 4 key groups are placed on the left side of the shell (1) and 1 key group is placed on the right upper part of the shell (1);

the circuit device (7) includes a printed-circuit board, a microcontroller (71) set on the printed-circuit board, a retrieval sampling circuit (72), a control circuit (73) and a DC power supply (74), wherein;

the circuit device (7) is set inside the shell (1) and fixedly connected to the shell (1) through the printed-circuit board;

the circuit device (7) has 10 retrieval sampling circuits (72) and 5 control circuits (73);

various retrieval sampling circuits (72) of the circuit device (7) have the same circuit structure, which are a capacitive detection circuit or a resistance-type detection circuit;

when the retrieval sampling circuit (72) is a resistive-type detection circuit, the retrieval sampling circuit (72) uses the inverter or op-amp as a main circuit;

one of positive and negative poles of power supply of the printed-circuit board is used as a ground and is connected to the held portion (13); and

output ports of various retrieval sampling circuits (72) are connected to one I/O port of the microcontroller (71);

4 key groups located at the left side of the shell (1) in accordance with the order from top to bottom are the first key group, the second key group, the third key group and the fourth key group, respectively;

the 4 key groups correspond to the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the pinky finger, respectively when the 4 key groups are used;

the first key group includes a first combination key and a second combination key arranged in order;

the second key group includes a third combination key and a fourth combination key arranged in order;

the third key group includes a fifth combination key and a sixth combination key arranged in order;

the fourth key group includes a seventh combination key and an eighth combination key arranged in order;

the key group located in the upper right side of the shell (1) is the fifth key group;

the fifth key group corresponds to the thumb;

the fifth key group includes a ninth combination key and a tenth combination key arranged in order;

10 combination keys of the five combination key groups have the same structure;

each combination key includes a conductive keycap (31-1), an elastic insulator (31-3) and a movable stationary contact component;

the keycap (31-1) is electrically connected to a control port of a corresponding retrieval sampling circuit (72);

the elastic insulator (31-3) is set between the keycap (31-1) and a movable contact of the movable stationary contact component, and insulates the keycap (31-1) and the movable contact;

the movable contact and the stationary contact of the movable stationary contact component form circuit of a push button;

each control circuit (73) of the circuit device (7) has the same circuit structure;

each key group corresponds to one control circuit (73);

each control circuit (73) is one OR gate constituted by push buttons in parallel of two combination keys of the same key group;

two inputs of the OR gate are electrically connected to a ground of the power supply of the printed-circuit board;

an output of the OR gate connects to one corresponding I/0 port of the microcontroller (71);

the movable contact and the stationary contact of the combination key contact with each other when the keycap (31-1) is pressed, turning on a corresponding push button and an OR gate of the corresponding control circuit (73), thus outputting a low level to the microcontroller (71) as a confirmation signal;

when the apparatus inputs information to the intelligent electronic apparatus, the microcontroller (71) of this apparatus creates a bidirectional connection to the intelligent electronic apparatus'"'"'s main chip through a wireless way, a wired way, or a direct connection way; and

the corresponding pre-display floating window is set in a display screen of the intelligent electronic apparatus, where the pre-display floating window is open or close.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus further includes a touchpad (21);

the touchpad (21) is set on the rear cover (12) of the shell (1);

the rear cover (12) is a cover that has a touchpad hole at the upper left part; and

the touch side of the touchpad (21) is exposed outwardly from the left upper part of the rear cover (12) of the shell (1).

9. A method for inputting information using the apparatus of hand-held combination key according to claim 1, wherein:

Step 1;

when a user operates the apparatus, the index finger (20) holds the touch key (22) to conduct the corresponding retrieval sampling circuit (72);

then the microcontroller 71 receives this signal and the apparatus enters into the character retrieval and input state;

the middle finger (30) touches on either one or both of two combination keys (31, 32) of the first key group (3);

the ring finger (40) touches on either one or both of two combination keys (41, 42) of the second key group (4);

the pinky finger (50) touches on either one or both of two combination keys (51, 52) of the third key group (5);

when a finger touches the corresponding combination key, the retrieval sampling circuit (72) that is electrically connected to the keycap (31-1) of the combination key is in the corresponding conducting state; and

the retrieval sampling circuit (72) that is electrically connected to the untouched combination key is in the corresponding cut-off state;

Step 2;

the microcontroller (71) sets the state of the touched combination key which is connected to the conducting retrieval sampling circuit (72) to “

1”

state, while the microcontroller (71) sets the state of the untouched combination key which is connected to the cut-off retrieval sampling circuit (72) to “

0”

state; and

based on the different states of all combination keys, the microcontroller (71) identifies a corresponding set of three characters through a look-up table approach;

the microcontroller (71) of this apparatus creates a bidirectional connection to the intelligent electronic apparatus'"'"'s main chip; and

the three characters are pre-displayed on a pre-display floating window of the display device of the intelligent electronic apparatus by the main chip; and

Step 3;

when a user needs to confirm one pre-displayed corresponding character, the user only needs to press the corresponding key group which corresponds to the pre-displayed window;

the microcontroller (71) passes the confirmation information to the main chip of the intelligent electronic apparatus;

the main chip confirms character input; and

the character is entered into the corresponding intelligent electronic apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the apparatus further includes a touchpad (21);

the touchpad (21) is set on the rear cover (12) of the shell (1);

after the index finger (20) leaves the touch key (22), the apparatus exits the character retrieval and input state;

at this time, the apparatus is in an information processing and control operation state;

the first combination key (31) and the second combination key (32) touched by the middle finger (30) are changed to the held key of the apparatus;

when the apparatus is held by the middle finger (30), the thumb and the thumb metacarpal, the second key group (4) and the third key group (5) are changed into a left keystroke and a right keystroke, which are similar to the left button and the right button of the mouse, respectively; and

when the index finger moves on the touchpad (21), the movement of a cursor of the corresponding intelligent electronic apparatus is implemented.