Patent Publication Number: US-2009225052-A1

Title: Input device

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 97107955, filed Mar. 6, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates in general to an input device, and more particularly to an input device with touch control function. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Nowadays, most electronic devices have an input interface for the user to operate with. Examples of the interface include keyboard, mouse, key set and touch panel. The user operates the built-in software of the electronic device to capture data, input data 1  communicate with other electronic device or get connected to the Internet by the interface. 
     Currently, the most popular input method is implemented by a keyboard accompanied by a mouse or a keyboard accompanied by a touch panel. As the keyboard and the mouse are two different entities, when the user types via the keyboard, if the user would like to move the cursor on the screen, the user&#39;s one hand has to move to the mouse from the keyboard. During long duration of use, the user may find the reciprocal movements troublesome. Several function keys disposed on the keyboard for the user&#39;s convenience. In addition to the most commonly seen function keys such as window key, control key and function key (such as F1, F2), examples of the hot keys further include website hot key and volume key. Besides, the input interface has several fast keys on the keyboard for the user&#39;s convenience of operation. However, the above method does not do the user too much good. Let the fast key be taken for example. The user has to remember many key combinations, and this method is difficult to those who are not skilled in operating the key combinations. Thus, how to make the input device more user-friendly more humanized and smoother in use has become an imminent goal to achieve. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to an input device, a first action or a second action are performed according to the content of a touching signal being received, so that a keyboard can perform two different actions, saving user&#39;s trouble during operation. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, an input device is provided. The input device includes a base, a keyboard structure, a touch panel, a press-sensing element and a control unit. The keyboard structure is disposed above the base. The touch panel moving relative to the base upward and downward is disposed above the base. When the touch panel is touched by an object, the touch panel generates a touching signal. The press-sensing element is disposed between the base and the touch panel. When the press-sensing element senses that the touch panel is pressed by the object, the press-sensing element generates a pressing signal. At the time that the control unit receives the pressing signal, the control unit performs a first action or a second action according to the content of the touching signal being received. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, an input device including a base, a plurality of keys and a touch panel is provided. The keys are disposed above the base. The touch panel is disposed above the base and located among the keys. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, an input device including a keyboard and a touch panel is provided. The keyboard includes a base. The touch panel is disposed at a part of the base. 
     The invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a top view of an input device according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a cross-sectional view along a cross-sectional line  1 B- 1 B′ of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  shows a first action drove by an object which touches or presses a touch panel according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a screen corresponding to the first action shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a second action drove by an object which touches or presses a touch panel according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a screen corresponding to the second action shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of an input device according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7A  shows a top view of an input device according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7B  shows a cross-sectional view along a cross-sectional line  7 B- 7 B′ of  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of an input device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a top view of an input device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows a top view of an input device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a top view of an input device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  at the same time.  FIG. 1A  shows a top view of an input device according to a first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1B  shows a cross-sectional view along a cross-sectional line  1 B- 1 B′ of  FIG. 1A . The input device  100  includes a base  130 , a keyboard structure  120 , a touch panel  150 , a press-sensing element  160  and a control unit  170 . The keyboard structures  120  are disposed above the base  130 . The touch panel  150  is disposed above the base  130 . When the touch panel  150  is touched by an object OB, the touch panel  150  generates a touching signal St. The press-sensing element  160  is disposed between the base  130  and the touch panel  150 . When the press-sensing element  160  senses that the touch panel  150  is touched by the object OB, the press-sensing element  160  generates a pressing signal Sp. At the time that the control unit  170  receives the pressing signal Sp, the control unit  170  performs a first action or a second action according to the content of the touching signal St being received. 
     In the present embodiment of the invention, the keyboard structure  120  includes a plurality of keys  122 . The touch panel  150  is disposed on one of the keys. In the present embodiment of the invention, the touch panel  150  can be disposed on the space key of the keyboard structure  120 , the enter key, or any key  122  of the keyboard structure  120 . 
     In the present embodiment of the invention, the keyboard structure  120  preferably further includes a circuit board  110  and a plurality of pivot  180 . The circuit board  110  is disposed on the base  130 , which is used for supporting the circuit board  110 . The pivots  180  correspond to a plurality of keys  122 . Each pivot  180  is disposed on the base  130  and connected to one end of a corresponding key  122 . Thus, each key  122  swings relatively to the base  130  upward and downward around the pivot  180 . At the time that the touch panel  150  disposed on the key  122  is pressed by the object OB, the key  122  and the touch panel  150  swing relatively to the base  130  upward and downward around the pivot  180 , and the press-sensing element  160  generates the pressing signal Sp. The press-sensing element  160  of the present embodiment of the invention is an elastomer for example. When the object OB presses the key  122  and the touch panel  150 , the elastomer is squeezed by an external force and activates the circuit board  110  to generate a pressing signal Sp. Besides, the press-sensing element  160  is not limited to an elastomer, and a stage switch, a touch switch or a micro switch would also do. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B . In the present embodiment of the invention, the content of the touching signal St includes a moving distance for which the object OB is moved on the touch panel  150  within a predetermined time. The control unit  170  performs the first action or the second action according to the content of the touching signal St. The control unit  170 , according to the content of the touching signal St, determines whether the moving distance for which the object OB is moved on the touch panel  150  within the predetermined time is larger than a predetermined distance. If yes, the control unit  170  performs the first action; otherwise the control unit  170  performs the second action. Thus, the control unit  170  can recognize whether the object OB indicates the first action or the second action on the touch panel  150 . In the present embodiment of the invention, the first action, for example, is clicking and is equivalent to the action of pressing the touch panel  150 , and the second action, for example, is keying in and is equivalent to the action of pressing the keyboard key. 
     A practical example is disclosed below for elaborating the operation of the input device  100 . The object OB is exemplified by a user&#39;s finger. Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  shows a first action drove by the object which touches or presses the touch panel according to the first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3  shows a screen corresponding to the first action shown in  FIG. 2 . In the present embodiment of the invention, the predetermined time is exemplified by 1 second, and predetermined distance is 0.5 cm for example. In order to perform the action of clicking a file holder  186  with a cursor  182  of  FIG. 3  when the user&#39;s finger is located at a first position P 1  of  FIG. 2 , the user&#39;s finger will slide on the touch panel  150  to control the cursor  182  of the screen  184  so as to move the cursor  182  to the file holder  186 . Next, the touch panel  150  is pressed to perform the action of clicking. Thus, the moving distance for which the finger is moved within a predetermined time, that is, 1 second, substantially is larger than a predetermined distance, that is, 0.5 cm, and the touch panel  150  is pressed for enabling the press-sensing element  160  to send the pressing signal Sp to the control unit  170 . According to the content of the touching signal St, if the moving distance for which the finger is moved on the touch panel  150  within the predetermined time is larger than the predetermined distance, the control unit  170  performs the first action. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 4  shows a second action drove by the object which touches or presses the touch panel according to the first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5  shows a screen corresponding to the second action shown in  FIG. 4 . When the user would like to input a space by pressing the space key, the finger directly presses the touch panel  150  for enabling the press-sensing element  160  to send a pressing signal Sp to the control unit  170 . Thus, the finger will not move for more than 0.5 cm within the predetermined time, that is, 1 second. According to the content of the pressing signal Sp, the control unit  170  performs the second action. 
     To summarize, in the present embodiment of the invention, the control unit  170  determines whether the pressing signal Sp to be performed is the first action or the second action according to the content of the pressing signal Sp. Thus, if the user would like to use the cursor in the manner of using a mouse, then the user can control the cursor by pressing and moving the cursor on the touch panel  150  like what the conventional practice would do. If the user would like to input in the manner of using a keyboard, that is, the user uses the touch panel  150  as a keyboard and inputs the data via the touch panel  150 , then the control unit  170  of the present embodiment of the invention will automatically determine the action to be performed by the user according to the content of the touching signal St. Thus, the user can perform the action of clicking or keying in by way of pressing and moving on the touch panel  150  of the present embodiment of the invention. When using a computer, the user does not have to move his finger between the keyboard and the mouse reciprocally, not only saving the user a lot of troubles but also increasing the convenience in operating the keyboard. Besides, the predetermined time and the predetermined distance exemplified in the present embodiment of the invention can be adjusted according to the sensitivity of the touch panel  150 , the user&#39;s habits and reference, and actually needs. For example, for a touch panel  150  with high sensitivity, the predetermined distance can be increased to avoid the control unit  170  making incorrect judgments due to high sensitivity. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view of an input device according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown. The keyboard structure  220  of the second embodiment moves the keys  240  upward and downward by way of a bar linkage  280 . The second embodiment differs with the first embodiment in the mechanism of moving the key  240  upward and downward when the key  240  is pressed, and other similarities are not repeated here. 
     In the present embodiment of the invention, the keyboard structure  220  preferably includes a plurality of keys  240  and a bar linkage  280 . Only a key  240  and a bar linkage  280  are illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The bar linkage  280  is disposed between the base  130  and key  240 . The bar linkage  280  includes two rods coupled to each other, wherein one end of each rod is coupled to the base  130 , and the other end of each rod is disposed on the bottom surface of the key  240 . Thus, each key  240  can move relatively to the base  130  upward and downward by way of the bar linkage  280 . In the present embodiment of the invention, when the touch panel  150  located on the key  240  is pressed by the object OB (shown in  FIG. 1B ), the touch panel  150  moves relatively to the base  130  upward and downward by way of the bar linkage  280 . Thus, when the touch panel  150  is pressed by the object OB, the press-sensing element  260  moves downward to activate the circuit board  110  to generate the pressing signal Sp (Shown in  FIG. 1B ). 
     Third Embodiment 
     Referring to at the same time  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B .  FIG. 7A  shows a top view of an input device according to a third embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7B  shows a cross-sectional view along a cross-sectional line  7 B- 7 B′ of  FIG. 7A . The touch panel  350  of the third embodiment is disposed among a plurality of keys  322  of the keyboard structure  320 . The third embodiment differs with the first embodiment in the design of disposing the touch panel  350 , and other similarities are not repeated here. 
     The input device  300  includes a base  330 , a keyboard structure  320 , a touch panel  350 , a press-sensing element  160  and a control unit  170 . The keyboard structures  320  are disposed above the base  330 . The touch panel  350 , moving relatively to the base  330  upward and downward, is disposed above the base  330 . When the touch panel  350  is touched by an object OB, the touch panel  350  generates a touching signal St. The press-sensing element  160  is disposed between the base  330  and the touch panel  350 . When the press-sensing element  160  senses that the touch panel  350  is pressed by the object OB, the press-sensing element  160  generates a pressing signal Sp. At the time that the control unit  170  receives the pressing signal Sp, the control unit  170  performs a first action or a second action according to the content of the touching signal St being received. 
     In the present embodiment of the invention, the keyboard structure  320  includes a plurality of keys  322 , wherein the touch panel  350  is disposed above the base  330  and located among the keys  322 . The touch panel  350 , for example, is disposed in the middle of the keyboard structure  120  and located among the keys  322  but is not limited thereto. The actual arrangement of the keys  322  and the touch panel  350  are determined according to actual needs. 
     In the present embodiment of the invention, the input device  300  further includes a pivot  380  which is disposed on the base  330  and connected to one end of the touch panel  350 . Thus, the touch panel  350  swings relatively to the base  330  upward and downward around the pivot  380 . When the touch panel  350  of the present embodiment of the invention is pressed by the object OB, the touch panel  350  swings relatively to the base  330  upward and downward around the pivot  380 , so that the press-sensing element  160  generates the pressing signal Sp. 
     As disclosed above, the control unit  170  determines whether to perform the first action or the second action according to the content of the touching signal St. In the present embodiment of the invention, the first action, for example, is the action of clicking, and the second action, for example, is the action of keying in. Thus, the touch panel  350  has the conventional inputting functions of clicking the touch panel  350  and keying in, and the user can perform the function of clicking the cursor or keying in by way of the touch panel  350  of the present embodiment of the invention. 
     As the touch panel  350  of the present embodiment of the invention is located at the center of the keyboard structure, the touch panel  350  can also be used as any key at the center of a conventional keyboard structure such as the key H or the key G. However, the position of the touch panel  350  is not subjected to any specific restriction, and the position of the tpuch panel  350  panel  350  and the key being disposed thereabove can be adjusted according to the user&#39;s habits. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a cross-sectional view of an input device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown. The touch panel  450  of the fourth embodiment moves the touch panel  450  upward and downward by way of a bar linkage  480 . The fourth embodiment differs with the third embodiment in the mechanism of moving the touch panel  450  upward and downward when the touch panel  450  is pressed, and other similarities are not repeated here. 
     In the present embodiment of the invention, the input device preferably further includes a bar linkage  480 . Only a touch panel  450  and a bar linkage  480  are illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The bar linkage  480  is disposed on the base  330  and the touch panel  450 . The bar linkage  480  includes two rods coupled to each other, wherein one end of each rod is coupled to the base  330 , and the other end of each rod is disposed on the bottom surface of the touch panel  450 . Thus, the touch panel  450  can move relatively to the base  330  upward and downward by way of the bar linkage  480 . When the touch panel  450  of the present embodiment of the invention is pressed by the object OB (shown in  FIG. 1B ), the touch panel  450  moves relatively to the base  330  upward and downward by way of the bar linkage  480 . Thus, at the time when the object OB is pressed, the press-sensing element  460  moves downward to activate the circuit board  410  to generate the pressing signal Sp (shown in  FIG. 1B ). 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a top view of an input device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention is shown. According to the input device  500  of the fifth embodiment, the touch panel  550  is disposed at a part of the base  530  of the keyboard structure  520 . The fifth embodiment differs with the third embodiment in the design of disposing the touch panel  550 , and other similarities are not repeated here. 
     In the present embodiment of the invention, the input device  500  includes a keyboard structure  520  and a touch panel  550 . The keyboard structure  520  includes a base  530 . The touch panel  550  is disposed at a part of the base  530 . 
     Besides, the base  530  of the present embodiment of the invention includes an extension portion  530 a on which the touch panel  550  is disposed. 
     Sixth Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 1   0 , a top view of an input device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention is shown. The input device  600  includes a keyboard structure  620  and a touch panel  650 . The keyboard structure  620  includes a base  610 , and the touch panel  650  is disposed at a part of the base  610 . The base  610  includes an extension portion  610   a  on which the touch panel  650  is disposed. Thus, the user can directly operate the touch panel  650  on the input device  600  without having to move between the input device  600  and the mouse reciprocally, saving the user&#39;s trouble in use and increasing the convenience of operation. Besides, as the touch panel  650  and the key  620  are disposed above the same base  610 , the touch panel  650  does not need to be disposed above another base, hence effectively saving the manufacturing cost of the input device  600 . 
     Seventh Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a top view of an input device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention is shown. The input device  700  includes a base  710 , a plurality of keys  720  and a touch panel  750 . The keys  720  are disposed above the base  710 . The touch panel  750  is disposed above the base  710  and located among the keys  720 . Thus, the user can directly operate the touch panel  750  on the input device  700  in use without having to move between the input device  700  and the mouse reciprocally, hence saving the user&#39;s trouble in use and increasing the convenience of operation. 
     According to the input device disclosed in the above embodiments of the invention, the control unit automatically performs the first action or the second action according to the content of the pressing signal being received. That is, the user can perform the action of operating the touch panel on the input device or perform the action of keying in by pressing the key directly like typing. Thus, the user does not need to move between the keyboard and the mouse reciprocally, saving the user&#39;s trouble in use and providing the user with a multi-functional keyboard. 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.