CN115763128A - Keyboard device with variable key display - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a keyboard device with variable key display, which comprises a printed circuit board, a keyboard module and a display film material. The printed circuit board includes at least one lower pixel electrode disposed on the printed circuit board. The keyboard module comprises a transparent substrate, at least one upper pixel electrode and a plurality of key mechanisms. The upper pixel electrode and the key mechanisms are arranged on a transparent substrate. The display film is arranged between the printed circuit board and the keyboard module, and the display film is suitable for being driven by the upper pixel electrode and the lower pixel electrode to display at least one image, wherein the image is suitable for being displayed through any one of the key mechanisms. The display film material comprises a bistable display material or an electronic paper material. The first display substrate and the second display substrate of the display film material are different from the printed circuit board and the transparent base material.

Description

Keyboard device with variable key display

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a keyboard, and more particularly, to a keyboard device with variable key display.

Background

Keyboards are commonly used as human interface devices. Generally, a keyboard has a plurality of keys with different functions, and the upper surface of each key is printed with characters, symbols and/or graphics. In many application scenarios, a user may define keys of the keyboard (change the function of the keys) by himself. In any case, although the definition/function of the key is changed, the general keypad cannot dynamically change the display/designation of the key.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a keyboard device with a function of variable key display.

In an embodiment of the invention, the keyboard device includes a printed circuit board, a keyboard module, and a display film. The printed circuit board includes at least one lower pixel electrode disposed on the printed circuit board. The keyboard module comprises a transparent substrate, at least one upper pixel electrode and a plurality of key mechanisms. The upper pixel electrode and the key mechanisms are arranged on a transparent substrate. The display film is arranged between the printed circuit board and the keyboard module, and the display film is suitable for being driven by the upper pixel electrode and the lower pixel electrode to display at least one image, wherein the image is suitable for being displayed through any one of the key mechanisms. The display film material comprises a first display substrate, a second display substrate and a display layer. The display layer is arranged between the first display substrate and the second display substrate. The display layer includes a bistable display material or an electronic paper material. The first display substrate and the second display substrate are different from the printed circuit board and the transparent base material.

Based on the above, the keyboard device according to the embodiments of the present invention has the display film. The display film can be shared by a plurality of key mechanisms of the keyboard module, that is, the display film can present images through any one of the key mechanisms. When the system changes the definition (function) of a key, the system can change the image/graphic presentation of the key by driving the display film. Therefore, the keyboard device has the function of variable key display.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of a transparent substrate of a keyboard module according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key mechanism of a keyboard module according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 4 in an uncompressed state according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the key mechanism, the display film and the printed circuit board shown in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the keycap of FIG. 4 in a pressed state according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key mechanism of a keyboard module according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 8 shown in an uncompressed state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 8 in a depressed state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key mechanism of a keyboard module, according to yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key mechanism of a keyboard module, according to yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 12 in a depressed state according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the key mechanism, the display film and the printed circuit board shown in FIG. 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 12 in an uncompressed state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key mechanism of a keyboard module, according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap of FIG. 16 shown in an uncompressed state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the key mechanism, the display film and the printed circuit board shown in FIG. 16 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the keycap of FIG. 16 in a depressed state, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key mechanism of FIG. 16 according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the key mechanism of FIG. 16 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

100 keyboard device

110 connecting interface

120 keyboard controller

121: press sensing circuit

130 keyboard module

131. 131a, 131b transparent substrates

132 key mechanism

133 upper pixel electrode

134 conductive pad

135a, 135b, 135c, 135d, 135e keycaps

136 transparent window

137a, 137b, 137c, 137d, 137e transparent electrodes

138a conductive rubber cap

138b, 138c rubber tops

139 transparent variable resistance material

140 display driving circuit

150 display film material

151. 153 display substrate

152 display layer

160 power management circuit

170 light source driver

180 backlight source

190 printed circuit board

191 lower pixel electrode

Display pixel capacitance

C _ f, C _ f1, C _ f2, C _ k, the pressure sensing capacitor

d1 and d2 distance

FE1, FE2 flexible electrodes

GND ground voltage

PF presser foot

SPL spacer layer

VBUS power cord

Vdd _ dis, vss _ dis display drive voltages

Vdis display drive voltage electrode

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

The term "coupled" as used throughout this specification, including the claims, may refer to any means for connecting, directly or indirectly. For example, if a first device couples (or connects) to a second device, that should be interpreted as that the first device may be directly connected to the second device or the first device may be indirectly connected to the second device through some other device or connection means. The terms "first," "second," and the like, as used throughout this specification, including the claims, are used to refer to elements or components by name or to distinguish one element from another, and are not used to limit the number of elements or components, nor the order in which the elements or components are arranged. Further, wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. Components/parts/steps that have the same reference numerals or use the same terms in different embodiments may be referred to one another in relation to the description.

Fig. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a keyboard apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The connection interface 110 of the keyboard apparatus 100 may be connected to a host (host) system. The connection interface 110 may include a PS/2 interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and/or other connection interfaces according to practical design. The keyboard apparatus 100 further includes a keyboard controller 120 and a keyboard module 130. The keyboard module 130 includes a plurality of key mechanisms. The keyboard controller 120 may scan and sense (read) the operation states of the key mechanisms to obtain a sensing result. The operation state includes whether a key is pressed (i.e., whether a pressing event occurs). When any key of the keyboard module 130 is pressed, the keyboard controller 120 may transmit a corresponding interrupt signal of the pressed key to a host system (not shown) through the connection interface 110.

The keyboard device 100 further includes a display driving circuit 140, a display film 150, a power management circuit 160, a light source driver 170, and a backlight 180. The power management circuit 160 may be connected to the power line VBUS of the host system through the connection interface 110. Based on the control of the display drive circuit 140, the power supply management circuit 160 can adjust the display drive voltage supplied to the pixel electrode (pixel electrode). A host system (not shown) may control the display driving circuit 140 and the light source driver 170 through the connection interface 110. The light source driver 170 may drive the backlight 180 to provide backlight to the display film 150. Based on the control of the host system, the display driving circuit 140 may drive the pixel electrodes configured on the keyboard module 130 to cause the display film 150 to display one or more images. The image displayed by the display film 150 is mapped to the key mechanism of the keyboard module 130. For example, the user can see the image "P" displayed by the display film 150 through a key mechanism of the keyboard module 130, so that the user can know that the definition (function) of the key mechanism is "letter P key".

According to different design requirements, the implementation manners of the keyboard controller 120, the display driving circuit 140, and (or) the pressing sensing circuit 121 (described later) of the keyboard controller 120 may be hardware (hardware), firmware (firmware), software (software, i.e. program), or a combination of multiple ones of the foregoing. In terms of hardware, the keyboard controller 120, the display driving circuit 140 and/or the press sensing circuit 121 may be implemented as logic circuits on an integrated circuit (integrated circuit). The related functions of the keyboard controller 120, the display driver circuit 140 and/or the press sensing circuit 121 may be implemented as hardware using a hardware description language (e.g., verilog HDL or VHDL) or other suitable programming language. For example, the functions of the keyboard controller 120, the display driver circuit 140, and/or the push sensing circuit 121 may be implemented in various logic blocks, modules, and circuits of one or more controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital Signal Processors (DSPs), field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and/or other processing units.

In software and/or firmware, the functions of the keyboard controller 120, the display driving circuit 140 and/or the pressure sensing circuit 121 may be implemented as programming codes. For example, the keyboard controller 120, the display driving circuit 140 and/or the press sensing circuit 121 may be implemented by a general programming language (e.g., C + +, or assembly language) or other suitable programming languages. The programming code may be recorded/stored in a "non-transitory computer readable medium". In some embodiments, the non-transitory computer readable medium includes, for example, read Only Memory (ROM), tape (tape), disk (disk), card (card), semiconductor Memory, programmable logic, and/or Memory devices. The storage device includes a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid-state drive (SSD), or other storage devices. The Central Processing Unit (CPU), controller, microcontroller, or microprocessor can read and execute the programming code from the non-transitory computer readable medium, thereby implementing the functions of the keyboard controller 120, the display driving circuit 140, and/or the pressure sensing circuit 121.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the keyboard apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to fig. 1 and fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows the keyboard module 130, the display film 150 and the printed circuit board 190 of the keyboard apparatus 100. The printed circuit board 190 includes at least one lower pixel electrode 191 disposed on the printed circuit board 190. The display driving circuit 140 may drive the lower pixel electrode 191. The keyboard module 130 includes a transparent substrate 131, at least one upper pixel electrode (not shown in fig. 2), and a plurality of key mechanisms 132, wherein the upper pixel electrode and the key mechanisms 132 are disposed on the transparent substrate 131. The display driving circuit 140 may drive the upper pixel electrode. The display film 150 is disposed between the printed circuit board 190 and the keyboard module 130. The display film 150 is adapted to be driven by the upper pixel electrode of the keyboard module 130 and the lower pixel electrode 191 of the printed circuit board 190 to display one or more images. The image(s) are adapted to be presented by any of the key mechanisms 132.

For example, the user can see the image "S" displayed by the display film 150 through a key mechanism 132 of the keyboard module 130, so that the user can know that the definition (function) of the key mechanism is "S-letter key". In many application scenarios, a user may define keys of keyboard module 130 (change the function of the keys) by himself. When the definition/function of a key is changed, the host system (not shown) can control the display driving circuit 140 to change the display of the display film 150. For example, assuming that the definition of one of the key mechanisms 132 of the keyboard module 130 is changed from "S-letter key" to "right key", the user can see through this key mechanism 132 that the image displayed on the display film 150 is changed from "S" to "→". Therefore, the keyboard apparatus 100 has a function of variable key display.

Fig. 3 is a layout diagram of the transparent substrate 131 of the keyboard module 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to fig. 2 and fig. 3. The upper pixel electrodes 133 are disposed on the transparent substrate 131 corresponding to the positions of the key mechanisms 132 of the keyboard module 130. In addition, the transparent substrate 131 is further provided with a plurality of conductive pads 134. The upper pixel electrode 133 and the conductive pad 134 may be electrically connected to the display driving circuit 140 and/or the keyboard controller 120.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a key mechanism 132 of the keyboard module 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 4. The transparent substrate 131, the key mechanism 132, the upper pixel electrode 133, the conductive pad 134, the display film 150, the printed circuit board 190 and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 4 can be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the display film 150 includes a display substrate 151, a display layer 152 and a display substrate 153. The display substrate 151 and the display substrate 153 are different from the printed circuit board 190 and the transparent substrate 131. The display layer 152 is disposed between the display substrate 151 and the display substrate 153. Depending on the actual design, in some embodiments, the display layer 152 may include a bi-stable display material, a multi-stable display material, an electronic paper material, or other display film material. According to practical design, the bistable display film may include Eink electronic paper material, polymer-dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) dimming film, surface-stabilized cholesterol Texture (SSCT) Liquid Crystal, ferroelectric Liquid Crystal (FLC), or other display film.

The host system (not shown) may select the key mechanism 132 shown in fig. 4 as the target key mechanism, and then drive the display layer 152 to change the image corresponding to the target key mechanism. As shown in fig. 4, in the vertical projection of the transparent substrate 131, the target key mechanism 132 overlaps the corresponding upper pixel electrode 133 and the corresponding lower pixel electrode 191. The host system (not shown) can control the display driving circuit 140 to change the display of the display film 150. For example, during the display driving of the target key mechanism 132, the first display driving voltage is applied to the corresponding upper pixel electrode 133, and the second display driving voltage is applied to the corresponding lower pixel electrode 191, so that the display film 150 between the corresponding upper pixel electrode 133 and the corresponding lower pixel electrode 191 presents a corresponding image below the target key mechanism 132.

The key mechanism 132 shown in fig. 4 further includes a key cap 135a and a transparent electrode 137a. The keycap 135a may be an electrically conductive elastic keycap. The conductive elastic key cap 135a may include transparent rubber, flexible film or other conductive elastic material. The key cap 135a is disposed on a first surface of the transparent substrate 131, and the upper pixel electrode 133 is disposed on a second surface of the transparent substrate 131. In other embodiments, the key cap 135a and the upper pixel electrode 133 can be disposed on the first surface of the transparent substrate 131 according to design requirements. As shown in fig. 4, in the vertical projection of the transparent substrate 131, the key cap 135a overlaps the corresponding upper pixel electrode 133 and the corresponding lower pixel electrode 191. The key cap 135a has a transparent window 136 adapted to peep at the image displayed on the display film 150. The transparent electrode 137a is disposed on the key cap 135a. The transparent electrode 137a includes a transparent substrate (transparent membrane) and a conductive electrode (conductive electrode). The transparent electrode 137a is electrically connected to the conductive pad 134. The transparent electrode 137a and the corresponding upper pixel electrode 133 form a pressing sensing capacitor for sensing the pressing operation of the key cap 135a.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap 135a of FIG. 4 in an uncompressed state according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the key mechanism 132, the display film 150 and the printed circuit board 190 shown in fig. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to fig. 4, 5 and 6. The distance between the upper pixel electrode 133 and the transparent electrode 137a is d1, so that the upper pixel electrode 133 and the transparent electrode 137a form a pressing sensing capacitance C _ f. The upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 form a display pixel capacitance C _ dis. During the display driving period, the display driving voltage Vss _ dis is applied to the upper pixel electrode 133 (one end of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis) and the display driving voltage Vdd _ dis is applied to the lower pixel electrode 191 (the other end of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis), so that the display film 150 between the upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 is displayed corresponding to the image below the key mechanism 132. The voltage levels of the display driving voltage Vss _ dis and the display driving voltage Vdd _ dis can be determined according to the actual design requirements and the characteristics of the display film 150.

A reference voltage (e.g., ground voltage GND) is applied to transparent electrode 137a of keycap 135a. The press sensing period (press sensing operation) of the key mechanism 132 may include a first sub-period and a second sub-period. In the first sub-period of the key cap 135a, a touch driving voltage (e.g., a first display driving voltage Vss _ dis or other voltages different from the ground voltage GND) is applied to the upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 (two ends of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis), and the push sensing capacitor C _ f is charged. In the second sub-period of the key cap 135a, the pressing sensing circuit 121 of the keyboard controller 120 is selectively coupled to the upper pixel electrode 133 to sense the upper pixel electrode 133 (pressing one end of the sensing capacitor C _ f), and the lower pixel electrode 191 is electrically floating (floating).

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap 135a of FIG. 4 in a pressed state according to one embodiment of the invention. When the key cap 135a is pressed, the distance between the upper pixel electrode 133 and the transparent electrode 137a is shortened from d1 to d2 because the key cap 135a deforms, i.e., the capacitance of the pressing sensing capacitor C _ f becomes larger. Therefore, the press sensing circuit 121 can sense the capacitance value change of the press sensing capacitor C _ f, so that the keyboard controller 120 can determine whether the key mechanism 132 shown in fig. 4 has a press event.

Fig. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key mechanism 132 of the keyboard module 130 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 8. The transparent substrate 131, the key mechanism 132, the upper pixel electrode 133, the conductive pad 134, the display film 150, the printed circuit board 190, and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 8 can be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. The transparent substrate 131, the upper pixel electrode 133, the conductive pad 134, the key cap 135b, the transparent electrode 137b, the display film material 150, the printed circuit board 190, and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 8 can refer to the transparent substrate 131, the upper pixel electrode 133, the conductive pad 134, the key cap 135a, the transparent electrode 137a, the display film material 150, the printed circuit board 190, and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 4, and therefore are not repeated. In the embodiment shown in fig. 8, the key mechanism 132 further includes a conductive rubber dome 138a. When the key cap 135b is pressed, the conductive rubber dome 138a deforms, so that the key cap 135b sinks closer to the transparent substrate 131.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap 135b of FIG. 8 in an un-pressed state according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 can also be regarded as an equivalent circuit diagram of the key mechanism 132, the display film 150 and the printed circuit board 190 shown in fig. 8. Please refer to fig. 6, 8 and 9. The upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 form a display pixel capacitance C _ dis. The distance between the upper pixel electrode 133 and the transparent electrode 137b is d1, so that the upper pixel electrode 133 and the transparent electrode 137b form a pressing sensing capacitance C _ f. During the display driving, a first display driving voltage Vss _ dis is applied to the upper pixel electrode 133 (one end of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis), and a second display driving voltage Vdd _ dis is applied to the lower pixel electrode 191 (the other end of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis), so that the display film 150 between the upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 presents a corresponding image below the key mechanism 132. The voltage levels of the first display driving voltage Vss _ dis and the second display driving voltage Vdd _ dis can be determined according to actual design requirements and characteristics of the display film 150.

A reference voltage (e.g., ground voltage GND) is applied to transparent electrode 137b of keycap 135 b. The press sensing period (press sensing operation) of the key mechanism 132 may include a first sub-period and a second sub-period. In the first sub-period of the key cap 135b, a touch driving voltage (e.g., a first display driving voltage Vss _ dis or a voltage different from the ground voltage GND) is applied to the upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 (two ends of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis), and the push sensing capacitor C _ f is charged. In the second sub-period of the key cap 135b, the pressing sensing circuit 121 of the keyboard controller 120 is coupled to the upper pixel electrode 133 to sense the upper pixel electrode 133 (pressing one end of the sensing capacitor C _ f), and the lower pixel electrode 191 is electrically floating.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap 135b of FIG. 8 in a pressed state according to one embodiment of the invention. When the key cap 135b is pressed, the conductive rubber dome 138a deforms, so that the key cap 135b sinks to be closer to the transparent substrate 131, i.e., the distance between the upper pixel electrode 133 and the transparent electrode 137b is shortened from d1 to d2 (the capacitance of the pressing sensing capacitor C _ f becomes larger). Therefore, the press sensing circuit 121 can sense the capacitance value change of the press sensing capacitor C _ f, so that the keyboard controller 120 can determine whether the key mechanism 132 shown in fig. 8 has a press event.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a key mechanism 132 of the keyboard module 130 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 11. The transparent substrate 131, the key mechanism 132, the upper pixel electrode 133, the conductive pad 134, the display film 150, the printed circuit board 190, and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 11 can be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. As shown in fig. 11, the transparent substrate 131, the upper pixel electrode 133, the conductive pad 134, the key cap 135c, the transparent window 136, the display film material 150, the printed circuit board 190, and the lower pixel electrode 191 can refer to the description of the transparent substrate 131, the upper pixel electrode 133, the conductive pad 134, the key cap 135a, the transparent window 136, the display film material 150, the printed circuit board 190, and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 4, and therefore are not repeated.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the key mechanism 132 further includes a transparent variable resistance material 139. A transparent variable resistance material 139 is disposed in the transparent window 136 of the key cap 135 c. The transparent variable resistance material 139 is electrically connected to the conductive pad 134. When the key cap 135c is pressed, the transparent variable resistance material 139 has a first resistance state because it is deformed. When the key cap 135c is not pressed, the transparent variable resistance material 139 returns to the original state and has the second resistance state. Therefore, the keyboard controller 120 can sense the resistance value change of the transparent variable resistance material 139, so that the keyboard controller 120 can determine whether the key mechanism 132 shown in fig. 11 has a pressing event.

Fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key mechanism 132 of the keyboard module 130 according to yet another embodiment of the invention. The transparent substrate 131, the key mechanism 132, the upper pixel electrode 133, the display film 150, the printed circuit board 190 and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 12 can be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. Please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3, and fig. 12. In the embodiment shown in fig. 12, the transparent substrate 131 includes a transparent substrate 131a and a transparent substrate 131b. The key mechanism 132 shown in fig. 12 further includes a key cap 135d, a rubber dome 138b, a spacer layer SPL, a display driving voltage electrode Vdis, a flexible electrode FE1, and a flexible electrode FE2.

The key cap 135d is disposed above the transparent substrate 131 a. In the vertical projection of the transparent substrate 131, the key cap 135d overlaps the upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 corresponding to the key cap 135 d. The key cap 135d has a transparent window 136 adapted to peep at the image displayed on the display film 150. The spacer layer SPL is disposed between the transparent substrate 131a and the transparent substrate 131b. The upper pixel electrode 133 and the display driving voltage electrode Vdis are disposed on the first conductive layer between the spacer layer SPL and the transparent base material 131b. According to practical design, the display driving voltage electrode Vdis can be regarded as an embodiment of the conducting pad 134 shown in FIG. 3.

The flexible electrodes FE1 and FE2 are disposed on the second conductive layer between the spacer layer SPL and the transparent substrate 131 a. The flexible electrode FE1 can be regarded as a first pressing sensing electrode, and the flexible electrode FE2 can be regarded as a second pressing sensing electrode. The flexible electrode FE2 can sense the pressing operation of the key cap 135 d. When the key cap 135d is pressed, a pressing force is applied to the transparent substrate 131a through the rubber dome 138b, so that the flexible electrodes FE1 and FE2 are deformed. Therefore, when the key cap 135d is pressed, the flexible electrode FE1 is deformed to electrically contact the display driving voltage electrode Vdis and the upper pixel electrode 133, so that the display driving voltage Vss _ dis of the display driving voltage electrode Vdis can be applied to the upper pixel electrode 133 through the flexible electrode FE 1. Similarly, when the key cap 135d is pressed, the flexible electrode FE2 (the second pressing sensing electrode) is deformed to electrically contact the display driving voltage electrode Vdis (the first pressing sensing electrode), so that the display driving voltage Vss _ dis is applied to the flexible electrode FE2. When the key cap 135d is not pressed, the flexible electrode FE1 is not in electrical contact with the display driving voltage electrode Vdis and the upper pixel electrode 133 due to the recovery, and the flexible electrode FE2 (the second pressing sensing electrode) is not in electrical contact with the display driving voltage electrode Vdis (the first pressing sensing electrode) due to the recovery.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap 135d of FIG. 12 in a pressed state, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the key mechanism 132, the display film 150 and the printed circuit board 190 shown in fig. 12 according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to fig. 12, fig. 13 and fig. 14. The upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 form a display pixel capacitance C _ dis. When the key cap 135d is pressed, the flexible electrode FE1 is deformed to electrically contact the display driving voltage electrode Vdis and the corresponding upper pixel electrode. Accordingly, the display driving voltage Vss _ dis of the display driving voltage electrode Vdis may be applied to the upper pixel electrode 133 (one end of the display pixel capacitance C _ dis). At this time, the display driving voltage Vdd _ dis is applied to the lower pixel electrode 191 (the other end of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis), so that the display film 150 between the upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 presents a corresponding image below the key mechanism 132.

In addition, the pressing sensing circuit 121 of the keyboard controller 120 is coupled to the flexible electrode FE2. When the key cap 135d is pressed, the flexible electrode FE2 is deformed to electrically contact the display driving voltage electrode Vdis, so that the display driving voltage Vss _ dis of the display driving voltage electrode Vdis can be applied to the flexible electrode FE2. The pressing sensing circuit 121 can detect the display driving voltage Vss _ dis of the flexible electrode FE2 to determine that the key cap 135d has a pressing event.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap 135d of FIG. 12 in an un-pressed state according to one embodiment of the invention. When the key cap 135d is not pressed, the flexible electrode FE1 is not electrically contacted to the display driving voltage electrode Vdis and the upper pixel electrode 133 due to the recovery, so that the display driving voltage Vss _ dis is not applied to the upper pixel electrode 133. At this time, the display driving voltage Vdd _ dis is not applied to the lower pixel electrode 191. In addition, when the key cap 135d is not pressed, the flexible electrode FE2 is not electrically contacted to the display driving voltage electrode Vdis due to the recovery, so that the display driving voltage Vss _ dis is not applied to the flexible electrode FE2. The pressing sensing circuit 121 can detect the voltage of the flexible electrode FE2 to determine that the key cap 135d is not pressed.

Fig. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key mechanism 132 of the keyboard module 130 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The transparent substrate 131, the key mechanism 132, the upper pixel electrode 133, the display film 150, the printed circuit board 190 and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 16 can be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. The upper pixel electrode 133, the display film 150, the printed circuit board 190 and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 16 can be described with reference to fig. 4. Please refer to fig. 2, fig. 3, and fig. 16. In the embodiment shown in fig. 16, the key mechanism 132 further comprises a key cap 135e, a transparent electrode 137c, a transparent electrode 137d, a transparent electrode 137e, a rubber dome 138c, and a Pressure Foot (PF).

The key cap 135e is disposed on the first surface of the transparent substrate 131, and the upper pixel electrode 133 is disposed on the second surface of the transparent substrate 131. In the vertical projection of the transparent substrate 131, the key cap 135e overlaps the upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 corresponding to the key cap 135e. The key cap 135e has a transparent window 136 adapted to peep at the image displayed on the display film 150. The transparent electrode 137c is disposed on the key cap 135e. The transparent electrodes 137d and 137e are disposed on the second surface of the transparent substrate 131. According to practical design, the transparent electrode 137d and/or the transparent electrode 137e can be regarded as an embodiment of the conductive pad 134 shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap 135e of FIG. 16 shown in an uncompressed state, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the key mechanism 132, the display film 150 and the printed circuit board 190 shown in fig. 16 according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to fig. 16, 17 and 18. The upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 form a display pixel capacitance C _ dis. During the display driving, a display driving voltage Vss _ dis is applied to the upper pixel electrode 133 (one end of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis), and a second display driving voltage Vdd _ dis is applied to the lower pixel electrode 191 (the other end of the display pixel capacitor C _ dis), such that the display film 150 between the upper pixel electrode 133 and the lower pixel electrode 191 presents a corresponding image below the key mechanism 132.

The transparent electrode 137d and the transparent electrode 137e form a pressing sensing capacitance C _ k. The transparent electrode 137C and the transparent electrode 137d form a pressing sensing capacitor C _ f1. The transparent electrode 137C and the transparent electrode 137e form a pressing sensing capacitance C _ f2. The pressing sensing capacitors C _ k, C _ f1 and C _ f2 can sense the pressing operation of the key cap 135e. In the pressing sensing period of the key cap 135e, the touch driving voltage Vdd _ k is applied to the transparent electrode 137d (pressing the first end of the sensing capacitor C _ f 1), and the pressing sensing circuit 121 of the keyboard controller 120 is selectively electrically connected to the transparent electrode 137e (pressing the first end of the sensing capacitor C _ f 2) to sense the pressing operation of the key cap 135e. The level of the touch driving voltage Vdd _ k may be determined according to actual design.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the key cap 135e of FIG. 16 in a pressed state, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When the key cap 135e is pressed, the distance between the transparent electrode 137C and the transparent electrode 137d (137 e) is shortened because the key cap 135e sinks (the key cap 135e is closer to the transparent substrate 131), that is, the capacitance of the pressing sensing capacitor C _ f1 (C _ f 2) is increased. Therefore, the pressing sensing circuit 121 can sense the total capacitance value change of the pressing sensing capacitances C _ k, C _ f1 and C _ f2, so that the keyboard controller 120 can determine whether the key mechanism 132 shown in fig. 16 has a pressing event.

Fig. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key mechanism 132 shown in fig. 16 according to another embodiment of the invention. The upper pixel electrode 133, the display film 150, the printed circuit board 190 and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 20 can be described with reference to fig. 16. In the embodiment shown in fig. 20, the transparent electrodes 137d and 137e are disposed on the first surface of the transparent substrate 131, and the upper pixel electrode 133 is disposed on the second surface of the transparent substrate 131.

Fig. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the key mechanism 132 of fig. 16 according to another embodiment of the invention. The upper pixel electrode 133, the display film 150, the printed circuit board 190 and the lower pixel electrode 191 shown in fig. 21 can be described with reference to fig. 16. In the embodiment shown in fig. 21, the upper pixel electrode 133, the transparent electrode 137d and the transparent electrode 137e are disposed on the first surface of the transparent substrate 131.

In summary, the keyboard apparatus 100 of the above embodiments has the display film 150. The plurality of key mechanisms 132 of the keyboard module 130 may share the display film 150, that is, the display film 150 may present an image to a user through any one of the key mechanisms 132. When the system (not shown) changes the definition (function) of one of the keys in the key mechanism 132, the system can change the image/graphic representation of the key by driving the display film 150. Therefore, the keyboard apparatus 100 has a function of variable key display.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, and not to limit the same; while the invention has been described in detail and with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some or all of the technical features may be equivalently replaced; and these modifications or substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the corresponding technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (13)

1. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a printed circuit board including at least one lower pixel electrode configured on the printed circuit board;

a keyboard module comprising a transparent substrate, at least one upper pixel electrode, and a plurality of key mechanisms, wherein the at least one upper pixel electrode and the plurality of key mechanisms are disposed on the transparent substrate; and

a display film disposed between the printed circuit board and the keyboard module, wherein the display film is adapted to be driven by the at least one upper pixel electrode and the at least one lower pixel electrode to display at least one image, and the at least one image is adapted to be presented by any one of the plurality of key mechanisms;

wherein the display film material comprises:

a first display substrate;

a second display substrate; and

a display layer disposed between the first display substrate and the second display substrate, wherein the display layer comprises a bi-stable display material or an electronic paper material;

wherein the first display substrate and the second display substrate are different from the printed circuit board and the transparent base material.

2. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of key mechanisms includes a target key mechanism that overlaps a corresponding upper pixel electrode of the at least one upper pixel electrode and a corresponding lower pixel electrode of the at least one lower pixel electrode in a vertical projection of the transparent substrate, and,

during the display driving period of the target key mechanism, a first display driving voltage is applied to the corresponding upper pixel electrode, and a second display driving voltage is applied to the corresponding lower pixel electrode, so that the display film material presents a corresponding image below the target key mechanism.

3. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein any of the plurality of key mechanisms comprises:

a key cap having a transparent window adapted to peek at the at least one image displayed by the display film material, wherein the key cap is disposed on a first surface of the transparent substrate, the key cap overlaps a corresponding upper pixel electrode of the at least one upper pixel electrode and a corresponding lower pixel electrode of the at least one lower pixel electrode in a vertical projection of the transparent substrate, and the at least one upper pixel electrode is disposed on the first surface or a second surface opposite to the first surface of the transparent substrate; and

and the transparent electrode is configured on the keycap, wherein the transparent electrode and the corresponding upper pixel electrode form a pressing sensing capacitor for sensing the pressing operation of the keycap.

4. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a reference voltage is applied to the transparent electrode of the key cap, the key cap press sensing period includes a first sub-period and a second sub-period,

in the first sub-period of the keycap, touch driving voltage is applied to the corresponding upper pixel electrode and the corresponding lower pixel electrode; and

in the second sub-period of the key cap, the press sensing circuit senses that the corresponding upper pixel electrode and the corresponding lower pixel electrode are floating.

5. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein any of the plurality of key mechanisms comprises:

a key cap having a transparent window adapted to peek into the at least one image displayed by the display film material, wherein the key cap is disposed above the first surface of the transparent substrate, and the key cap overlaps a corresponding upper pixel electrode of the at least one upper pixel electrode and a corresponding lower pixel electrode of the at least one lower pixel electrode in a vertical projection of the transparent substrate;

the first transparent electrode is configured on the keycap;

the second transparent electrode is configured on the transparent substrate, wherein the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode form a first pressing sensing capacitor for sensing the pressing operation of the keycap; and

and the third transparent electrode is configured on the transparent substrate, wherein the first transparent electrode and the third transparent electrode form a second pressing sensing capacitor for sensing the pressing operation of the keycap.

6. The keyboard apparatus of claim 5,

in a press sensing period of the key cap, a touch driving voltage is applied to the second transparent electrode, and a press sensing circuit is selectively electrically connected to the third transparent electrode to sense the press operation of the key cap.

7. The keyboard device of claim 5, wherein the second transparent electrode and the third transparent electrode are disposed on the first surface of the transparent substrate or a second surface opposite to the first surface.

8. The keyboard device of claim 5, wherein the at least one upper pixel electrode is disposed on the first surface of the transparent substrate or a second surface opposite to the first surface.

9. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein any of the plurality of key mechanisms comprises:

a key cap having a transparent window adapted to peek at the at least one image displayed by the display film material, wherein the key cap is disposed on the first surface of the transparent substrate, and the key cap overlaps a corresponding upper pixel electrode of the at least one upper pixel electrode and a corresponding lower pixel electrode of the at least one lower pixel electrode in a vertical projection of the transparent substrate;

and the transparent variable resistance material is configured on the transparent window of the keycap, wherein the transparent variable resistance material has a first resistance state due to deformation when the keycap is pressed, and the transparent variable resistance material has a second resistance state due to recovery when the keycap is not pressed.

10. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate comprises a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate, and any of the plurality of key mechanisms comprises:

a keycap disposed over the first transparent substrate, wherein the keycap overlaps a corresponding upper pixel electrode of the at least one upper pixel electrode and a corresponding lower pixel electrode of the at least one lower pixel electrode in a vertical projection of the transparent substrate;

a spacer layer disposed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, wherein the corresponding upper pixel electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer between the spacer layer and the second transparent substrate;

a first display driving voltage electrode disposed on the first conductive layer; and

a first flexible electrode disposed on the second conductive layer between the spacer layer and the first transparent substrate, wherein,

when the keycap is pressed, the first flexible electrode is deformed to electrically contact the first display driving voltage electrode and the corresponding upper pixel electrode, so that the first display driving voltage of the first display driving voltage electrode is applied to the corresponding upper pixel electrode, and

when the key cap is not pressed, the first flexible electrode is not in electrical contact with the first display driving voltage electrode and the corresponding upper pixel electrode due to recovery, so that the first display driving voltage is not applied to the corresponding upper pixel electrode.

11. The keyboard apparatus of claim 10,

when the key cap is pressed, a second display driving voltage is applied to the corresponding lower pixel electrode, so that the display film material presents a corresponding image below the key cap, an

When the key cap does not generate the pressing operation, the second display driving voltage is not applied to the corresponding lower pixel electrode.

12. The keyboard device of claim 10, wherein the any of the plurality of key mechanisms further comprises:

a second flexible electrode disposed on the second conductive layer for sensing the pressing operation of the keycap,

when the key cap is pressed, the second flexible electrode is deformed to electrically contact the first display driving voltage electrode, so that the first display driving voltage is applied to the second flexible electrode, and

when the key cap is not pressed, the second flexible electrode is not in electrical contact with the first display driving voltage electrode due to the reversion, so that the first display driving voltage is not applied to the second flexible electrode.

13. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate comprises a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate, and any of the plurality of key mechanisms comprises:

a keycap disposed over the first transparent substrate, wherein the keycap overlaps a corresponding upper pixel electrode of the at least one upper pixel electrode and a corresponding lower pixel electrode of the at least one lower pixel electrode in a vertical projection of the transparent substrate;

a spacer layer disposed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, wherein the corresponding upper pixel electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer between the spacer layer and the second transparent substrate;

a first pressing sensing electrode configured on the first conductive layer; and

a second pressure sensing electrode disposed on the second conductive layer between the spacer layer and the first transparent substrate,

when the keycap is pressed, the second press sensing electrode is in electrical contact with the first press sensing electrode due to deformation, and

when the key cap is not pressed, the second pressing sensing electrode does not electrically contact the first pressing sensing electrode due to the reversion.

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