Keyboard having touch input device

• US 8,866,744 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howay Corp.
• Original Assignee: Howay Corp.
• Inventors: Yang, Yan-Mei
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles V
• Application Number:
  US12/750,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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

Abstract

A keyboard having a touch input device includes a keyboard body and a touch input device. The touch input device is disposed on the keyboard body and is used in a digital input mode. The touch input device has a touch pad and a pattern layer. The pattern layer is bonded to a surface of the touch pad, and has a plurality of key indication areas. Each key indication area is corresponding to a key used in the digital input mode, for being recognized and selected by a user. In addition, through a switching module disposed on the keyboard, the digital input mode can be switched to a cursor control mode, a gesture control mode, or a handwriting input mode, thereby achieving a wide range of applications.

Claims

1. A keyboard having a touch input device, comprising:

a keyboard body; and

a touch input device, disposed on the keyboard body, and used in a digital input mode, wherein the touch input device comprises;

a touch pad comprising a light source emitting light into a light guiding layer for illuminating the touch pad; and

a pattern layer, bonded to a surface of the touch pad, and having a plurality of key indication areas, wherein each of the key indication areas is corresponding to a key used in the digital input mode, for being recognized and selected by a user, wherein the light source of the touch pad only illuminates the touch pad when the touch input device operates in digital input mode, and does not illuminate the touch pad when the touch input device operates in cursor control mode, gesture control mode, or handwriting input mode.

6. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard body has an accommodation area and at least one first conductor, the touch pad is accommodated in the accommodation area and has a touch surface and at least one second conductor, a plurality of capacitive sensors is distributed on the touch surface, and the second conductor is electrically connected to the capacitive sensors.

7. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 6, further comprising a flexible frame disposed between the touch pad and the keyboard body.

8. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 6, further comprising at least one rail disposed between the touch pad and the keyboard body.

9. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 6, further comprising a touch pad position locking/unlocking mechanism disposed between the touch pad and the keyboard body.

10. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 6, wherein the first conductor is electrically connected to a constant voltage source, a constant current source, or a ground terminal.

11. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 6, further comprising a controller, for measuring capacitances of the plurality of capacitive sensors, so as to detect a touch position of at least one conductor on the touch pad.

12. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is used for measuring capacitances of the plurality of capacitive sensors, so as to detect a conducting state between the first conductor and the second conductor.

13. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 12, wherein when a conductor touches the touch pad and the first conductor and the second conductor are not conducted, the controller sends a first control signal.

14. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 13, wherein when the conductor touches the touch pad and the first conductor and the second conductor are conducted, the controller sends a second control signal.

15. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 6, further comprising a switch disposed between the touch pad and the keyboard body, wherein one end of the switch is connected to the first conductor, the other end of the switch is connected to the second conductor, and the two ends are conducted when the switch is pushed by the touch pad.

25. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern layer is printed on the surface of the touch pad.

26. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern layer is laminated to the surface of the touch pad.

27. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch pad is a capacitive touch pad.

2. A keyboard having a touch input device, comprising:

a keyboard body;

a touch input device, disposed on the keyboard body, wherein the touch input device comprises;

a touch pad comprising a light source emitting light into a light guiding layer for illuminating the touch pad;

a pattern layer, bonded to a surface of the touch pad, for being operated and input by a user; and

a switching module, disposed on the keyboard body, for switching to any one of a digital input mode, a cursor control mode, a gesture control mode, or a handwriting input mode, wherein the light source of the touch pad only illuminates the touch pad when the touch input device is switched to digital input mode, and does not illuminate the touch pad when the touch input device is switched to cursor control mode, gesture control mode, or handwriting input mode.

3. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 2, wherein the pattern layer is printed on the surface of the touch pad.

4. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 2, wherein the pattern layer is laminated to the surface of the touch pad.

5. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 2, wherein the touch pad is a capacitive touch pad.

16. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 2, wherein the keyboard body has an accommodation area and at least one first conductor, the touch pad is accommodated in the accommodation area and has a touch surface and at least one second conductor, a plurality of capacitive sensors is distributed on the touch surface, and the second conductor is electrically connected to the capacitive sensors.

17. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 16, further comprising a flexible frame disposed between the touch pad and the keyboard body.

18. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 16, further comprising at least one rail disposed between the touch pad and the keyboard body.

19. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 16, further comprising a touch pad position locking/unlocking mechanism disposed between the touch pad and the keyboard body.

20. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 16, wherein the first conductor is electrically connected to a constant voltage source, a constant current source, or a ground terminal.

21. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 16, further comprising a controller, for measuring capacitances of the plurality of capacitive sensors, so as to detect a touch position of at least one conductor on the touch pad.

22. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 21, wherein the controller is used for measuring capacitances of the plurality of capacitive sensors, so as to detect a conducting state between the first conductor and the second conductor.

23. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 22, wherein when a conductor touches the touch pad and the first conductor and the second conductor are not conducted, the controller sends a first control signal.

24. The keyboard having a touch input device according to claim 23, wherein when the conductor touches the touch pad and the first conductor and the second conductor are conducted, the controller sends a second control signal.