Keyboard type input device and portable information processor

• US 6,876,354 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ITX E-Globaledge Corp. (Nakanishi Metal Works Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Link Evolution Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Naritomi, Masanori, Nakamura, Kenji, Terasaki, Kazuhisa, Yamada, Akihiro, Ohyama, Takeshi, Kitazumi, Gontaro
• Primary Examiner(s): SHALWALA, BIPIN H
• Application Number:
  US10/019,404
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/157, 400/472, 400/493.1, 400/495.1, 200/5.A, 463 36- 38, 273/148.B, 273/237, 273/238, 341/22, 341/24, 341/34
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/004 Depressions or protrusions on switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/006 Force isolators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/014 composed of different layers; Lubricant in between
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/044 Injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/004 CRT
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/056 Keyboard or overlay identification features

Abstract

A key-board type input mechanism suitable for inputting large quantity of data is provided to a portable information technology device having a pen-input type display device. A keyboard (33 or 35) of the present invention comprises a key top panel portion (12 or 17) on which a plurality of input key portions (12a or 18) that are pressed down when carrying out a key input are integrally formed, a coordinate position information generating portion (13) and contact portions (16 or 19) for changing loads generated by pressing each input key portion of the key top panel portion down into a vertical load, a load distribution portion (14 or 20) for distributing unnecessary loads other than the vertical load changed by the coordinate position information generating portion and the contact portions, by deformation under a pressure. The key top panel portion, coordinate position information generating portion, contact portion, and load distribution portion are layered.

Claims

1. A key-board type input device comprising:

an input key panel on which a plurality of key tops are integrally formed, wherein each of the key tops can be pressed down to carry out a key input;

a press-down panel for changing loads generated when each key top of the input key panel is pressed down, into a vertical load; and

a load distribution panel for distributing unnecessary loads other than the vertical load changed by the press-down panel, by deformation under a pressure;

wherein the input key panel, the press-down panel, and the load distribution panel are layered.

2. A portable information technology device comprising:

a touch panel;

a control unit for processing position information inputted in the touch panel; and

the key-board type input device claimed in claim 1 which is placed on the touch panel, for inputting the position information into the touch panel.

3. The portable information technology device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a cover member attached to the portable information technology device so as to cover the touch panel, the cover member being opened and shut freely;

wherein the key-board type input device is formed integrally with the cover member, and the position information is inputted in the touch panel by the key-board type input device when the cover member is shut.

4. The portable information technology device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit comprises:

a key code storage unit for storing position information and a key code which are corresponding to the position information inputted in the touch panel by the key-board type input device;

a position information correction unit for correcting the position information stored in the key code storage unit by corrected coordinates, the corrected coordinates are calculated by comparing the position information inputted at first in the touch panel and the position information stored in the key code storage unit;

a position information specifying unit for specifying position information inputted at last from a plurality of the position information inputted in the touch panel; and

a key code output unit for outputting a key code corresponding to the position information specified by the position information specifying unit, from the key code storage unit.