Flexible keyboard cover film

• US 9,829,990 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HannsTouch Solution, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HannsTouch Solution, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Hung-Yi, Wu, Yi-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosario, Nelson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Chun-Nan
• Application Number:
  US14/720,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20160239100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• 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 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A flexible keyboard cover film and a control process of the flexible keyboard cover film are provided. The flexible keyboard cover film allows a user to perform a touch function and is suitable for covering a keyboard of a computer, and the flexible keyboard cover film includes a flexible transparent base material, a touch device, and an input/output (I/O) interface. The flexible transparent base material covers the keyboard. The touch device is located on the flexible transparent base material and is electrically connected to the computer through the I/O interface.

Claims

1. A flexible keyboard cover film allowing a user to perform a touch function, the flexible keyboard cover film being suitable for covering a physical keyboard of a computer and comprising:

a flexible transparent base material used for covering the physical keyboard, wherein the physical keyboard comprises a plurality of keys allowing the user to push to be able to directly perform an input action independently of the flexible keyboard cover film, the flexible transparent base material has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface is configured to be in contact with the keys of the physical keyboard, the flexible transparent base material is capable of being moved in relation to the physical keyboard, the flexible transparent base material is not adhered to the physical keyboard, and the flexible transparent base material comprises silicone, polyimide resin or a multi-layered polymer composite material;

a touch device located on the flexible transparent base material, the touch device comprising a sensing electrode layer, a flexible substrate and a driver unit, wherein the sensing electrode layer of the touch device is located on the first surface of the flexible transparent base material, and the sensing electrode layer is located between the flexible substrate and the flexible transparent base material, and wherein the sensing electrode layer comprises a plurality of first sensing electrodes and a plurality of second sensing electrodes, the first sensing electrodes cross the second sensing electrodes, and the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes are in direct physical contact with a same surface of the flexible substrate; and

an input/output interface for connecting the computer, wherein the sensing electrode layer of the touch device is electrically connected to the input/output interface through the driver unit, the touch device is pervious to light, the driver unit is electrically connected between the input/output interface and the first sensing electrodes and between the input/output interface and the second sensing electrodes, the input/output interface comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a PS/2 interface, or an RS232 interface, the input/output interface has two ends, one of the ends of the input/output interface is in physical contact with an edge of the touch device, the input/output interface is protruded from the edge of the touch device, the other one of the ends of the input/output interface is outside the touch device and at a distance from the edge of the touch device, and the input/output interface is capable of being physically separated and electrically disconnected from the computer through the other one of the ends of the input/output interface.

2. The flexible keyboard cover film of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the flexible transparent base material is within a range from about 1 mm to about 8 mm.

3. The flexible keyboard cover film of claim 1, wherein the touch device is located on the first surface, and the second surface is configured to be in contact with the physical keyboard.

4. The flexible keyboard cover film of claim 1, wherein the first surface is a flat surface, and the flexible transparent base material has a plurality of cavities located on the second surface.

5. The flexible keyboard cover film of claim 1, wherein the first surface is a flat surface, and the flexible transparent base material has a plurality of protrusions located on the second surface.

6. The flexible keyboard cover film of claim 1, wherein the flexible transparent base material and the touch device are capable of being bent or rolled 180 degrees or 360 degrees.

7. The flexible keyboard cover film of claim 1, wherein the sensing electrode layer is located on the flexible substrate.

8. The flexible keyboard cover film of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive arranged between the touch device and the flexible transparent base material.

9. The flexible keyboard cover film of claim 1, wherein a transmittance of the flexible transparent base material and a transmittance of the touch device are respectively within a range from 80% to 100%.