TOUCH MOUSE SUPPORTING KEY FUNCTIONS OF KEYBOARD DEVICE AND RELATED METHOD USED IN TOUCH MOUSE

• US 20140098054A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Yin-Hui, Chang, Yen-Min
• Granted Patent: US 9,405,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method used in a touch mouse includes: providing a touch area; using the touch area to detect a touch of a user'"'"'s finger on the touch area to sense and generate a touch signal; and, generating a corresponding key output signal to a host by simulating a condition of pressing at least a key of a keyboard device according to the touch signal.

Claims

1. A method used in a touch mouse, comprising:

providing a touch panel having a touch area;

using the touch panel to detect a touch of a user'"'"'s finger on the touch area to sense and generate a touch signal; and

generating a corresponding key output signal to a host by simulating a condition of pressing at least one key of a keyboard device according to the touch signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch mouse supports a first operation mode and a second operation mode, and the method further comprises:

in the first operation mode, referring to the touch signal for generating a corresponding function signal to the host while manipulating the touch mouse;

wherein the step of generating the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device is performed in the second operation mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch area comprises a plurality of contact areas, and each contact area corresponds to at least a key of the keyboard device, and the step of generating the corresponding key output signal by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device further comprises:

referring to the touch signal for determining a contact area in the touch area that is touched by the user'"'"'s finger, and accordingly deciding the at least one key of the keyboard device; and

generating the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the contact areas correspond to at least one of a plurality of numeric keys, a plurality of function keys, and a plurality of combinational key of the keyboard device;

each combinational key comprises a plurality of keys of the keyboard device; and

the at least one key is at least one of a numeric key, a function key and a combinational key.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the contact areas are a plurality of contact points respectively, and the method further comprises:

determining a contact area touched by the user'"'"'s finger inside the touch area in accordance with the touch signal to decide the at least one key of the keyboard device; and

generating the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing at least one point light source, and utilizing the point light source to emit light toward at least one contact area within the contact areas for indicating a position of the at least one contact area.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing at least one positioning point on the touch area to indicate a position of at least one contact area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device comprises:

referring to the touch signal for determining a movement of the user'"'"'s finger while the user'"'"'s finger touches the touch area to decide the at least one key of the keyboard device; and

generating the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one key is one of a function key and a combinational key of the keyboard device.

10. A touch mouse, comprising:

a housing;

a touch panel, comprising a touch area disposed at a top area of the housing, the touch panel arranged for detecting a touch of a user'"'"'s finger on the touch area to sense and generate a touch signal; and

a processing circuit, coupled to the touch panel, the processing circuit arranged for generating a corresponding key output signal to a host by simulating a condition of pressing at least one key of a keyboard device according to the touch signal.

11. The touch mouse of claim 10, wherein the touch mouse supports a first operation mode and a second operation mode;

in the first operation mode, the processing circuit refers to the touch signal to generate a corresponding function signal to the host while the touch mouse is manipulated; and

in the second operation mode, the processing circuit generates the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device.

12. The touch mouse of claim 10, wherein the touch area comprises a plurality of contact areas, and each contact area corresponds to at least a key of the keyboard device;

and the processing circuit refers to the touch signal to determine a contact area in the touch area that is touched by the user'"'"'s finger and therefore decide the at least one key of the keyboard device, and generates the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device.

13. The touch mouse of claim 12, wherein the contact areas correspond to at least one of a plurality of numeric keys, a plurality of function keys, and a plurality of combinational keys of the keyboard device;

each combinational key comprises a plurality of keys of the keyboard device; and

the at least one key is at least one of a numeric key, a function key, and a combinational key.

14. The touch mouse of claim 12, wherein the contact areas are a plurality of contact points, respectively;

and the processing circuit refers to the touch signal to determine a contact area in the touch area that is touched by the user'"'"'s finger and therefore decide the at least one key of the keyboard device, and generates the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device.

15. The touch mouse of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one point light source, arranged for emitting light toward at least one contact area within the contact areas for indicating a position of the at least one contact area.

16. The touch mouse of claim 12, wherein the touch area comprises:

at least one positioning point, arranged to indicate a position of at least one contact area.

17. The touch mouse of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit refers to the touch signal to determine a movement of the user'"'"'s finger while the user'"'"'s finger touches the touch area and therefore decide the at least one key of the keyboard device, and generates the corresponding key output signal to the host by simulating the condition of pressing the at least one key of the keyboard device.

18. The touch mouse of claim 17, wherein the at least one key is one of a function key and a combinational key of the keyboard device.