Method and touchpad interface device using light for displaying level

A touchpad interface device includes a sensing board, a light guide plate, a control panel, and a plurality of lighting elements. The control panel includes a plurality of transparent areas and a plurality of covering areas to form a plurality of patterns. Users can understand the operating functionality of the control panel according to the plurality of patterns. The plurality of patterns includes a plurality of scale patterns, and the plurality of scale patterns have a volume adjusting area. The plurality of light members is located under the control panel and corresponding to the volume adjusting area. When the plurality of lighting elements illuminate, the scale patterns at the corresponding position are illuminated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a touchpad interface device, and, more particularly, to a touchpad interface device disposed next to a keyboard of a portable computer.

2. Description of the Related Art

The manufacturing technology of touchpad devices has improved rapidly these few years. The performance and quality of the products have improved too, and the price has been reduced. Therefore, various touchpad devices have become more and more popular.

Generally, touchpad devices can be divided into three types: capacitive touchpads, resistive touchpads, and electromagnetic touchpads. These different touchpad devices have their own benefits and drawbacks, and capacitive touchpads are more suitable for portable computers.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,639,584 “Methods and Apparatus For Controlling A Portable Electronic Device Using A Touchpad” discloses a similar technology.

Some products have some figures or text print on the touchpad so that users can be aware of specific functionalities.

Furthermore, some mobile phone keyboards have lighting effects for decorative purposes.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and a touchpad interface device using light for displaying level to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a touchpad interface device using light for displaying level, which can help users operate the application software in the computer.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a touchpad interface device using light for displaying level, which can help the user know the current volume level.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the touchpad interface device of the present invention comprises a sensing board, a light guide plate, a control panel, and a plurality of lighting elements.

The control panel has a plurality of transparent areas and a plurality of covering areas forming a plurality of patterns, such that the user can understand the operating functionality of the control panel according to the plurality of patterns. The plurality of pattern comprises a plurality of scale patterns, and the plurality of scale patterns comprises a volume adjusting area.

The sensing board is disposed under the control panel for sensing physical contact. The sensing board has a volume adjustment sensing area corresponding to the position of the volume adjusting area.

The plurality of lighting elements are disposed under the control panel and at a position corresponding to the volume adjusting area. When the lighting elements illuminate, the scale patterns at the corresponding position are illuminated.

Furthermore, when the user touches the volume adjusting area, the volume adjustment sensing area is activated to control the brightness of the lighting element such that the plurality of scale patterns are illuminated. More scale patterns being illuminated indicates the volume is at a higher level, and the user is made aware of the level of the volume by the brightness of the scale pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIG. 1. A touchpad interface device10is installed next to a keyboard91of a portable computer90. Please refer toFIG. 1A. The portable computer90comprises the keyboard91, a processor92, a memory93(such as DRAM, a hard disk, or an optical disk), a screen94, and a speaker95. The memory93has system programs and a multimedia application program931(such as mp3, mp4 player programs) and a multimedia operation interface control program932. The touchpad interface device10of the present invention is used for operating the multimedia operation interface control program932to control the multimedia application program931.

As shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 4, the touchpad interface device10comprises a sensing board20, a light guide plate30, a control panel40, and a plurality of lighting elements53.

The sensing board20has a volume adjustment sensing area21for the user to adjust a media volume level and a player control sensing area22for the user to control the media play execution. In this embodiment, the volume adjustment sensing area21has several volume sensing areas211, which individually process an input value from zero to a specific amount. As shown in the drawing, the volume adjustment sensing area21has five volume sensing areas211, which process input values from zero to four and their respective volume control percentages 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Furthermore, the player control sensing area22has a media play execution sensing area221disposed at the center of the arc-shaped volume adjustment sensing area21, and eight option sensing areas222(used for such functions as selecting image files or multimedia programs) arranged in a ring shape and disposed between the media play execution sensing area221and the volume sensing area211. Moreover, the player control sensing area22has a play/pause sensing area223, a previous one sensing area224, a next one sensing area225, and a repeat sensing area226, all disposed at the same radius distance from the volume sensing area211. The player control sensing area22has a stop sensing area227, a fast rewind sensing area228, and a fast forward sensing area229in its very outer circle. The arrangement of the volume adjustment sensing area21and the player control sensing area22can be various.

More important, all sensing areas (the volume sensing area211, the option sensing area222, etc.) divided on the sensing board20can also be identified by the coordinate position of the physical contact on the sensing board20, and the corresponding coordinate position indicates the related functionality.

The light guide plate30is disposed on the sensing board20and used for the purpose of emitting light evenly. The light guide plate30comprises a first light guide plate31and a second light guide plate32. The first light guide plate31is disposed above the volume adjustment sensing area21of the sensing board20, and the second light guide plate32is disposed above the player control sensing area22of the sensing board20. Furthermore, a gap301exists between the first light guide plate31and the second light guide plate32to prevent light interference.

The first light guide plate31has a plurality of interference slits311at the position corresponding to the volume adjustment sensing area21of the sensing board20to form several individual light emitting faces312. The first light guide plate31has a light introducing face313corresponding to each lighting element53. As shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, these light introducing faces313are used for receiving the light transmitted from the lighting elements53and reflecting it, and the light is then emitted evenly through each individual light emitting face312. In this embodiment, the first light guide plate31has eight light emitting faces312at the position corresponding to the volume adjustment sensing area21of the sensing board20. Therefore, each lighting element53corresponding to the individual light introducing face313can be controlled by different volume sensing areas211and illuminate simultaneously.

The top of the second light guide plate32forms a light emitting face321, and the second light guide plate32has a tooth-shaped light introducing face322corresponding to each lighting element53. The light introducing face322of the second light guide plate32receives the light transmitted from the lighting elements53and reflects it, and the light is then emitted through the light emitting face321of the second light guide plate32. These lighting elements53can be light-emitting diodes (LED), and the color of the light from the lighting elements53of the first light guide plate31can be different from the color of the light from the lighting elements53of the second light guide plate32. Thus, the first and second light guide plates31,32can emit lights of different colors.

Moreover, if the lighting elements53need to be placed deeper in the light guide plate30, some lighting elements53can be placed in the gap301, or a plurality of containing slots314can be disposed on the light guide plate30for placing the lighting elements53.

Please refer toFIG. 3AandFIG. 3B. The control panel40is a flat panel and disposed on the light guide plate30. The control panel40has an inner surface401and an outer surface402. The inner surface401has a first cover layer (covering area)41, and the first cover layer41is non-translucent. The first cover layer41can be paint material which is attached to the inner surface401of the control panel40by being painted or plated.

The first cover layer41has more than one transparent area45, and the transparent areas45are arranged to form a pattern47(such as letters, symbols, or figures) required by the customer.

A projected image of the transparent areas45and the first cover layer41is formed on the outer surface402of the control panel40. Substantially, the transparent area45has a smooth surface as the inner surface of the control panel40, so the light transmitted from the light guide plate30can enter into the control panel40via the inner surface401.

The outer surface402of the control panel40individually has a plurality of second cover layers (covering area)42corresponding to the projected image area of the transparent areas45, and the second cover layer42is used for isolating the light from entering the control panel40via the transparent areas45. The second cover layer42can be paint material which is attached to the outer surface402of the control panel40by being painted or plated. The size of the second cover layer42is smaller than the pattern47of the transparent areas45.

Because the size of the second cover layer42(e.g. a symbol or pattern) is smaller than the pattern47of the transparent areas45, a double-layered pattern47is formed by the second cover layer42and transparent areas45such that the light is transmitted from the outer surface402of the control panel40via the transparent areas45to form the protruding pattern47with a three dimensional visual effect.

The control panel40utilizes the functional pattern47formed by the first cover layer41and the second cover layer42to provide a volume adjusting area43and a player control area44for the user. In this embodiment, the volume adjusting area43is used for enabling the user to adjust the volume. The volume adjusting area43of the control panel40is disposed on the volume adjustment sensing area21of the sensing board20, and the plurality of patterns47on the volume adjusting area43has a plurality of scale patterns471(such as small bar-shaped blocks). The plurality of scale patterns471are aligned continuously and in an arc-shaped radiant arrangement, and are disposed at the positions corresponding to the light emitting face312of the first light guide plate31. Furthermore, the player control area44of the control panel40has different functional patterns47at the positions corresponding to the different sensing areas of the player control sensing area22of the sensing board20. When the user touches the volume adjusting area43or the player control area44of the control panel40, the corresponding volume adjustment sensing area21or the player control sensing area22of the sensing board20receives a signal to control the execution of the media and generate a visual effect on the control panel40at the same time.

When the user first turns on the touchpad interface device10, all lighting elements53in the player control sensing area22transmit light to the second light guide plate32, so the player control area44of the control panel40generates a three dimensional visual effect and provides functional options for the user to operate the media. As for the lighting elements53in the volume adjustment sensing area21, only the lighting element53corresponding to the volume sensing area which has an input value of 0 illuminates light, which makes the light emitting face312corresponding to the first light guide plate31emit light such that only part of the volume adjusting area43of the control panel40has a three dimensional visual effect, as shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 8.

Please refer toFIGS. 9 to 13, related to how the user would adjust the volume level via the volume adjusting area43.

Please refer toFIG. 9. Assuming the beginning volume level is the minimum, only the lower portion of the scale pattern471is illuminated, and the user can judge the level of volume by the number of the illuminated scale patterns471. For clarity, the illuminated scale patterns are indicated as471a, and the non-illuminated scale patterns are indicated as471b. As shown inFIG. 9, the illuminated scale patterns471aare arranged contiguously, and the non-illuminated scale patterns471bare also arranged contiguously.

Please refer toFIG. 10. When the user uses his/her finger80to touch the volume adjusting area43on the control panel40and moves along the arc-shaped arranged scale patterns471upward, the light displayed on the volume adjusting area43moves simultaneously with the user's finger80, and the volume is also changed correspondingly. As shown inFIG. 11, the number of the illuminated scale patterns471ais increased, and the number of the non-illuminated scale patterns471bis decreased. If the user's finger80first touches the illuminated scale patterns471aand then moves to the non-illuminated scale patterns471b, the playing volume is turned up more, and the number of the illuminated scale patterns471ais increased.

Please refer toFIG. 12. When the user wants to turn down the volume, the user uses the finger80to touch the volume adjusting area43on the control panel40and moves along the arc-shaped arranged scale patterns471downward. As shown inFIG. 13, the number of the illuminated scale patterns471ais decreased, and the number of the non-illuminated scale patterns471bis increased. If the user's finger80first touches the non-illuminated scale patterns471band then moves to the illuminated scale patterns471a, the playing volume is turned down further, and the number of the illuminated scale patterns471ais decreased.

FIG. 10toFIG. 13illustrate that when the user uses the finger80to touch the volume adjusting area43on the control panel40and moves along the arc-shaped arranged scale patterns471upward or downward, the number of the illuminated scale patterns471simultaneously increases or decreases. Therefore, the user can be aware of the level of the volume according to the scale pattern471.

Please refer toFIG. 14. In order to provide convenience for the user, when the user uses his/her finger to touch the scale pattern471to adjust the volume level, it can be limited such that the user's finger must first touch the adjusting area474for adjustment to take place. In other words, movement either in the direction474b, toward the non-illuminated scale patterns471b, or in the direction474a, toward the illuminated scale patterns471a, must begin in the adjusting area474. The adjusting area474is defined as the area between the illuminated scale patterns471aand the non-illuminated scale patterns471b. When the user uses his/her finger to touch the adjusting area474and then moves the finger to the non-illuminated scale patterns471b, the adjusting signal increases both the volume output and the number of the illuminated scale patterns471a, with a corresponding decrease in the number of the non-illuminated scale patterns471b. If the user first touches the adjusting area474and then moves the finger to the illuminated scale patterns471a, the adjusting signal decreases both the level of the volume output and the number of the illuminated scale patterns471a, with a corresponding increase in the number of the non-illuminated scale patterns471b.

In order to achieve the effect shown inFIG. 10toFIG. 14, a multimedia operation interface control program932needs to be executed. The following description explains the flowchart of the volume adjustment process, as shown inFIG. 15.

Receiving a moving signal, which is activated by the user.

The moving signal is generated, as shown inFIG. 10orFIG. 12, when the user is moving his or her finger80in the volume adjusting area43. The volume sensing area211of the sensing board20detects the movement of finger80. Consequently, the sensing board20transmits the moving signal to the processor92.

Transmitting an adjustment signal according to the moving signal. The adjusting signal is used for controlling the level of the performance output. The performance output can be the volume output as described in this embodiment, screen brightness output, screen color fullness, etc.

The processor92transmits an adjustment signal according to the moving signal to the speaker95. The adjustment signal can be an adjustment value for the output volume (such as 80% of the volume output) or a signal for increasing or decreasing the volume.

The moving signal can be a series of coordinate signals, and the coordinate signals are used for determining the request from the user. Furthermore, the moving signal can also determine the request from the user by different volume sensing areas211as described in this embodiment. Since the analysis technology for the moving signal is well known to those skilled in the art, no further description is provided.

Please refer toFIG. 14. One way to determine whether the adjusting signal is transmitted is to determine whether the adjusting area474has been touched. If it has been touched, the adjusting signal is transmitted to control the level of the performance output. If the user first touches the adjusting area474and then moves to the non-illuminated scale patterns471b, the adjusting signal increases both the level of the performance output and the number of the illuminated scale patterns471a. If the user first touches the adjusting area474and then moves to the illuminated scale patterns471a, the adjusting signal decreases both the level of the performance output and the number of the illuminated scale patterns471a.

Transmitting a lighting control signal. The lighting control signal is used for controlling whether the plurality of lighting elements53illuminate, with more lighting elements53illuminating indicating a higher level of the performance output.

The lighting control signal determines which lighting elements53should illuminate basically according to the moving signal so the corresponding scale patterns471are illuminated. As in the previous description, the light guide plate30introduces the light to the control panel40evenly or by a special effect. Therefore, the light guide plate30should be placed between the sensing board20and the control panel40.

However, the design of the present invention is an absolute volume design, not the well-known relative volume design. When the user wants to increase the volume, his/her finger moves along the volume adjusting area43, and the light follows the user's finger and appears on the volume adjusting area43. When the user's finger moves to any portion of the volume adjusting area43, the light simultaneously appears on the volume adjusting area43. Therefore, the absolute volume level required by the user can be indicated by the three dimensional visual effect generated simultaneously such that the user can immediately know the current volume level without fine-tuning.