Virtual keyboard, electronic device using the same and input method

• US 9,507,522 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chien, Shun-Ta, Su, Sheng-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, PRIYANK J
• Application Number:
  US12/954,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20120013533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 715/773
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0224 Key guide holders
• 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: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability

Abstract

A keyboard includes a holographic film having a holographic information of a keyboard arrangement recorded on a surface thereof; a virtual keyboard generated from the holographic film; and a touch panel adjoining the holographic film, configured to detect an information corresponding to a position being touched thereon. The keyboard is of the advantage of multi-function, convenience and portability. An electronic device using the keyboard and an input method are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a holographic film having a holographic information of a keyboard arrangement;

a light source disposed corresponding to the holographic film;

a touch panel adjoining the holographic film, wherein the holographic film is detachably fixed to the touch panel, and the touch panel comprises a touch surface; and

a snap-fitted assembly connected to the touch panel and the holographic film, wherein the snap-fitted assembly comprises a snap holding and an elastic element, wherein the snap holds the touch panel and is configured to hold the holographic film;

wherein the elastic element abutts the snap, and wherein the snap is slidable to replace the holographic film;

wherein, when in use, light beams emitted from the light source pass through the holographic film to form a virtual keyboard on the touch surface of the touch panel, the touch panel senses at least one physical touch on the touch surface and generates at least one signal corresponding to the virtual keyboard.

2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned under the holographic film to emit, when in use, single-color light beams to generate the virtual keyboard.

3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein a size of the virtual keyboard matches that of the touch surface of the touch panel.

4. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the snap-fitted assembly is disposed on an end of the touch panel and the holographic film.

5. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the holographic film is detachably attached to one surface opposite to the touch surface of the touch panel.

6. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the holographic film is made of a transparent insulation material.

7. The keyboard according to claim 6, wherein the transparent insulation material is made of glass, emulsion, photonic crystal or plastic.

8. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the holographic film is formed by photographing using a transmission holography technology.

9. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode or a laser diode, and the light beams are single color light.

10. The keyboard according to claim 2, further comprising an expender disposed in front of the light source.

11. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, an infrared sensing touch panel, an electromagnetic sensing touch panel, or an acoustic wave sensing touch panel.

12. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel comprises a touch sensing layer.

13. The keyboard according to claim 12, wherein the touch sensing layer comprises a transparent conductive material.

14. The keyboard according to claim 2, further comprising a frame, wherein the touch panel is mounted on the frame and the light source is positioned under the touch panel.

15. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel comprises a touch sensing layer comprising a plurality of sensing units, and a plurality of virtual keys of the virtual keyboard correspond to the plurality of sensing units.

16. An input method, comprising:

providing a holographic film of a keyboard having a holographic information of a keyboard arrangement and a light source of the keyboard disposed corresponding to the holographic film;

emitting light beams from the light source to pass through the holographic film to generate a virtual keyboard, wherein the virtual keyboard is positioned on a touch surface of a touch panel of the keyboard, and wherein the holographic film is detachably fixed to the touch panel, and wherein the keyboard comprises a snap-fitted assembly connected to the touch panel and the holographic film, wherein the snap-fitted assembly comprises a snap holding the touch panel and the holographic film and an elastic element abutting the snap, and the snap is slidable to replace the holographic film;

sensing at least one physical touch on the touch surface by the touch panel; and

generating at least one signal corresponding to the virtual keyboard.

17. The input method according to claim 16, wherein the touch panel comprises a touch sensing layer comprising a plurality of sensing units, and a plurality of virtual keys of the virtual keyboard correspond to the plurality of sensing units.

18. The input method according to claim 16, wherein the light source is positioned under the holographic film to emit, when in use, single-color light beams to generate the virtual keyboard.

19. The input method according to claim 16, wherein the snap-fitted assembly is disposed on an end of the touch panel and the holographic film.

20. The input method according to claim 16, wherein the holographic film is detachably attached to one surface opposite to the touch surface of the touch panel.