KR101598671B1 - Keyboard having touch screen and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a keyboard equipped with a touch screen. A keyboard according to the present invention includes: a key button unit including a plurality of key buttons; A touch screen unit including at least one touch screen installed at a lower end of the key button unit; Sensing means for sensing use of the key button portion; And a keyboard control unit for transmitting an input signal through the key button unit and the touch screen unit to a computer device and controlling input or output of the touch screen unit in cooperation with the sensing unit, And controls to display the screen displayed on the touch screen unit on the display of the computer device when the use of the key button unit is detected.
According to the present invention, since the touch screen mounted on the keyboard is used as an auxiliary input device and a secondary display of the computer, it is possible to provide a more convenient I / O interface to the user, thereby making it possible to utilize the multi- have.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a keyboard having a touch screen and a control method thereof,

The present invention relates to a keyboard, and more particularly, to a keyboard in which a touch screen is mounted on a lower end of a key button area and the operation of the touch screen is controlled according to a position of a user's hand.

Generally, a computer executes a program according to an input command to display information through a display.

Also, recent computers support multitasking, so that users can run multiple programs at the same time, so that they can perform various tasks such as accessing the Internet during document work, playing multimedia files such as music and video .

However, since only one display is connected to most computers, there is a disadvantage that the user can not immediately confirm execution information of many programs. These disadvantages can be solved to some extent through multiple monitors, but due to limitations in space and cost, it is very rare to use more than two monitors simultaneously on a computer.

In addition, on most computers, you can click the icon on the desktop or the status bar at the bottom of the screen to run the program or view information related to hardware and software.

However, since the icon on the desktop is not visible on the operation screen, there is inconvenience to move from the operation screen to the desktop in order to execute the desired program or check the information, and the icon displayed on the status bar at the bottom of the screen is too small There is a problem that it is difficult to confirm the desired information immediately.

On the other hand, the keyboard, which is a basic input device of a computer, has a disadvantage in that it is left unattended while there is no input action, in spite of being a device that the user frequently uses and contacts.

In recent years, in order to solve such a problem, research and development of a multifunctional keyboard having various functions in addition to the input function have been actively carried out.

For example, in a keyboard disclosed in Registration Utility Model No. 20-0420313, a liquid crystal display window is provided and a character corresponding to a pressed key button is displayed in real time on a liquid crystal display window so that a user can display a typewriter It is characterized in that it can be checked quickly.

However, since the keyboard according to the registered utility model is utilized only for displaying characters corresponding to the key buttons on the liquid crystal display window, it is still useless while there is no input action, and the computer hardware information and program execution information can not be checked There is a limit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a more diverse GUI environment and a convenient I / O interface for a computer user.

The present invention also provides an I / O interface interlocked with a multitasking function of a computer on a keyboard that has been used only as a simple input device, thereby enhancing the added value of the keyboard and facilitating user's convenience in a computer using environment that is becoming more and more complicated .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keypad comprising: a key button unit including a plurality of key buttons; A touch screen unit including at least one touch screen installed at a lower end of the key button unit; Sensing means for sensing use of the key button portion; And a keyboard control unit for transmitting an input signal through the key button unit and the touch screen unit to a computer device and controlling input or output of the touch screen unit in cooperation with the sensing unit, And controls to display the screen displayed on the touch screen unit on the display of the computer device when the use of the key button unit is detected.

Wherein the touch screen unit includes a plurality of screen areas controlled independently of each other, and the keyboard control unit displays a screen displayed in a screen area where part or all of the plurality of screen areas is blocked by use of the key button unit, On the display of the display device.

The sensing unit may be a proximity sensor disposed between the key button unit and the touch screen unit in a lateral direction.

The touch screen unit may include a plurality of screen areas, and the sensing unit may include a plurality of touch screen units corresponding to the plurality of screen areas.

In addition, a light emitting portion for status display may be formed around the touch screen portion to indicate a corresponding operation state of the touch screen.

The touch screen may operate in any one of a plurality of operation modes, and the plurality of operation modes may include a status display mode for displaying a status of a connected computer device; A shortcut icon mode for displaying a plurality of execution icons; A touch pad mode for sensing functions of a pointing device and an input device by sensing a user's touch; And a widget mode for displaying information provided through the Internet network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch screen device including a touch screen unit including a key button unit including a plurality of key buttons, at least one touch screen provided at a lower end of the key button unit, And a keyboard controller for transmitting an input signal through the key button unit and the touch screen unit to a computer device and controlling input or output of the touch screen unit in cooperation with the sensing unit, (a) driving the touch screen; (b) determining whether the key button unit is used; and (c) blocking input through the touch screen when it is determined that the key button unit is used.

In the control method of a keyboard according to the present invention, it is preferable that the step (b) determines that the key button unit is used when a proximity sensor installed between the key button unit and the touch screen unit detects a user's hand .

Also, the step (b) may determine that the key button unit is used when the contact area of the touch screen exceeds a reference contact area.

In addition, the step (c) may include displaying a screen displayed on the touch screen on a display of the computer device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch screen device including a touch screen unit including a key button unit including a plurality of key buttons, and at least one touch screen provided at a lower end of the key button unit, A method of controlling an operation of a keyboard, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an e-mail or a messenger from the computer device; Receiving a signal; (b) lighting the status display light emitting means.

According to the present invention, since the touch screen mounted on the keyboard is used as an auxiliary input device and a secondary display of the computer, it is possible to provide a more convenient I / O interface to the user, thereby making it possible to utilize the multi- have.

1 is a block diagram of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a block diagram of a keyboard and a computer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 illustrates a connection between a keyboard and a computer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of use of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention
5 is a diagram showing a state in which the touch screen is controlled independently
6 is a view showing a state where a light emitting portion for status display is installed around each touch screen
7 is a diagram illustrating a connection between a keyboard and a portable computer device according to another embodiment of the present invention;
8 is a view showing a keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention
9 is a view illustrating a mode selection screen
10 is a view illustrating a screen displayed when the status display mode is selected;
11 is a diagram illustrating a keyboard in which each touch screen is set in a shortcut icon mode, a touch pad mode, and a widget mode
12 is a view illustrating a mode in which an operation mode screen is moved from one touch screen to another touch screen

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a connection structure between the keyboard 100 and the computer apparatus 10, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the keyboard 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Is connected to and used by the computer device 10.

The keyboard 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a key button unit 110 having a plurality of key buttons and a touch screen unit 120 disposed at the lower end of the key button unit 110 in the horizontal direction, A keyboard control unit 102 for generating a signal corresponding to an operation of the key button unit 110 or the touch screen unit 120 and transmitting the generated signal to the computer device 10 and a key button unit 110 And a keyboard storage unit 160 for storing a program necessary for the operation of the keyboard control unit 102. [

The specific configuration and operation of the key button unit 110 are the same as those of a normal keyboard.

In the touch screen unit 120, a plurality of touch screen screens may be arranged in a row in the horizontal direction. To this end, a plurality of touch screens independent of each other may be mounted on the touch screen unit 120, or a screen may be divided into a plurality of screen areas after mounting one touch screen.

Hereinafter, in the case where a plurality of touch screens are installed or a single touch screen is divided into a plurality of screen areas, each screen area unit may be divided into a first touch screen 131, a second touch screen 132, a third touch screen 133, and the like.

3 and 7 illustrate that the first to fifth touch screens 131, 132, 133, 134 and 135 are installed on the touch screen unit 120. However, for convenience of description, the touch screen unit 120 includes three touch screens 131, 132, 133) are arranged.

When using the three touch screens 131, 132, and 133, the first touch screen 131 positioned at a portion where the user can see the key buttons while operating the key buttons (for example, the lower portion of the number pad) And the second and third touch screens 132 and 133, which are located at the lower end of the character button and are hidden by the user's hands at the time of operation, are preferably set as auxiliary touch screens that are selectively operated depending on whether they are working or not .

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to set a touch screen other than the first touch screen 131 as the main screen, and it is not necessary to specifically designate the main screen.

Each of the touch screens 131, 132 and 133 implements various functions and operations by interlocking the keyboard control unit 102 and the computer control unit 12.

For example, information on the computer device 10 may be displayed on at least one of the touch screens 131, 132, and 133, or information displayed on each of the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 may be displayed on the computer display 14. It is also possible to execute an instruction entered via each touch screen 131, 132, 133 on each computer display 14.

Accordingly, each of the first to third touch screens 131, 132 and 133 functions as an auxiliary display function for displaying status information, icons, widgets and the like of the computer device 10 and an auxiliary input device for inputting a user's operation command.

Since the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 are located at the bottom of the key button unit 110, they may be hidden when the user uses the key button, and a program that is not intended by the user may be executed by touching the touch screen.

Accordingly, when the user is using the key button, it is preferable to switch the screen screen to be disabled to the disable mode. In the disable mode, it is preferable that at least the input function is stopped and, if necessary, the display function is stopped.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a sensing sensor 140 is used to determine whether a user uses a key button.

The detection sensor 140 is for selectively controlling the operation of each of the touch screens 131, 132 and 133 by detecting the user's hand and determining whether or not the operation is performed. When there is an input action through the key button, a part of the touch screen unit 120 is hidden by the user's hand, so that the operation of the touch screen to be occluded is temporarily stopped or the mode is switched to the disable mode .

The sensing sensor 140 is horizontally disposed between the key button unit 110 and the touch screen unit 120 to sense a user's hand located at the upper portion. The type of the detection sensor 140 is not particularly limited. For example, optical sensors, ultrasonic sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, proximity sensors using induction magnetic forces, and the like can be used.

The first to third touch sensors 131, 132 and 133 may be independently controlled by providing first to third sensing sensors 140a, 140b and 140c at the upper ends of the first to third touch screens 131, 132 and 133, respectively.

5, when the right hand of the user operates the key button 110, the first and second sensing sensors 140a and 140b sense the right hand and output the first and second touch screens 131 and 132, The third sensing sensor 140c can not detect the third sensing sensor 140c, so that the third touch screen 133 can operate.

When the touch screens 131, 132 and 133 are independently controlled as described above, the LEDs 150a, 150b and 150c for status display can be formed around the touch screens 131, 132 and 133 as shown in FIG.

Each of the status display light emitting units 150a, 150b, and 150c may include at least one LED. Further, the light emitting units 150a, 150b, and 150c for each status display are preferably installed at the upper ends of the touch screens 131, 132, and 133, but are not limited in installation location and size.

The status display light emitting units 150a, 150b, and 150c may be set to, for example, turn on green when the corresponding touch screen 131, 132, or 133 is operating, or to turn on when the corresponding touch screen 131, 132, or 133 is in the disable mode.

When the computer display 14 and the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 are in the power save mode or the standby mode, when the e-mail, the messenger, etc. are received, the keyboard control unit 102 receives a predetermined signal from the computer device 10, The status display light emitting units 150a, 150b and 150c may be controlled such that the LEDs are flickered or LEDs of different colors are lit.

Further, in the case of the portable computer apparatus 10, the status display light emitting units 150a, 150b and 150c may be controlled to be turned on in a predetermined manner when the remaining battery power is insufficient.

Meanwhile, it is also possible to automatically switch the touch screens 131, 132 and 133 to the disable mode by sensing the approach of the user without using the detection sensor 140.

For example, it is possible to determine the operation mode of each of the touch screens 131, 132 and 133 by sensing the touch of the user's hands on the touch screens 131, 132, and 133, and to determine the operation modes of the touch screens 131, 132, It is possible.

A concrete method is as follows.

First, it uses the area that touches the touch screen. Generally, when the user operates the touch screen, the contact area is relatively narrow due to the use of the fingertip. In contrast, when the palm touches the touch screen 131, 132, 133 in the process of using the key button, the contact area is much wider.

Therefore, when the actual contact area is larger than the reference contact area by setting the reference contact area and comparing the actual contact area sensed by each of the first to third touch screens 131, 132, and 133 with the reference contact area, The key button is regarded as being in use and the touch screen that the user's hands touch can be switched to the disable mode. It is possible to switch to the disable mode only when the contact is maintained for a set period of time considering the contact area as well as the contact time.

In order to implement this function, it is necessary to be able to judge the contact area of the user on the touch screen. To this end, a touch screen capable of recognizing multiple contacts must be used. For example, a matrix-type touch screen having a plurality of first electrodes in the x-axis direction and a plurality of second electrodes in the y-axis direction may be spaced a predetermined distance may be used as the touch screen capable of recognizing multiple touches. In this case, for example, when a high-speed scanning signal is sequentially input to a plurality of first electrodes and a signal output from each of the plurality of second electrodes is detected, whether or not the first electrode and the second electrode are in contact with each other, It is possible to determine whether the electrostatic capacity is changed or not, and thereby, coordinates of all the portions pressed by the user can be detected.

Second, a separate pressure sensor may be installed at the lower portion or the periphery of each of the first to third touch screens 131, 132, and 133, and when a pressure higher than the set value is detected, . ≪ / RTI > Likewise, in this case, the mode may be switched only when the pressure higher than the set time exceeds the set time.

When the mode is switched based on the contact area and the contact pressure, the first to third touch screens 131, 132 and 133 can be independently switched to the mode.

Third, the mode can be switched based on whether the key button is input or not. That is, when the key button input is continued for a predetermined time or more, it is considered that the key button is being operated, and the corresponding touch screen among the first to third touch screens 131, 132 and 133 can be switched to the disable mode.

Meanwhile, when a certain touch screen is switched to the disable mode by using the user's key button, the keyboard control unit 102 regards the corresponding touch screen as being blocked by the user's hand, (10) and displayed on the computer display (14).

For example, a pop-up window may be displayed on a part of the computer display 14 and then a screen of the touch screen that has been switched to the disable mode may be displayed.

2, the computer apparatus 10 to which the keyboard 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected includes a computer control unit 12 for controlling overall operations in the same manner as a normal computer, A computer storage unit 16 for storing various programs and information, and the like.

The keyboard 100 may be connected to the main body of the computer device 10 by a connection cable 151 or may be connected to the main body of the computer device 10 by wireless communication such as Bluetooth.

On the other hand, the computer apparatus 10 is not limited to the desktop computer shown in Fig. 3, but may be a portable computer apparatus 10 as shown in Fig. The portable computer device 10 includes a portable electronic device having a computer function such as a tablet PC, a smart phone, a PDA, a PMP, an electronic notebook, and the like.

The portable computer device 10 may be connected to the keyboard 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention through a connection cable. However, for convenience of use, the portable computer device 10 may be connected to the keyboard 100 It is preferable to provide a docking port 152 for loading. It is needless to say that the docking port 152 is provided with a communication terminal that can be connected to the communication port of the portable computer device 10. [

Hereinafter, the operation of the keyboard 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, when the power of the computer device 10 is turned on, a normal desktop is displayed on the computer display 14, and at the same time, the keyboard controller 102 receives a predetermined signal from the computer device 10 or senses a power input The first to third touch screens 131, 132 and 133 are turned on to display a set screen.

It is desirable that the screen displayed on each of the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 is set as desired by the user.

The screen settings of the respective touch screens 131, 132 and 133 may be performed individually on the touch screens 131, 132 and 133 or may be performed on the first touch screen 131 designated as the main touch screen, You can also set the screen mode.

For convenience of description, the case of separately setting the screen modes of the respective touch screens 131, 132, and 133 will be described.

First, the keyboard control unit 102 displays a mode selection screen as illustrated in FIG. 9 on each of the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 after turning on the touch screens 131, 132, and 133.

The mode selection screen displays a plurality of mode selection menus such as a status display mode 181, a shortcut icon mode 182, a touch pad mode 183, a widget mode 184, and the like. Of course, the mode selection menu is not limited thereto.

For example, the first touch screen 131 may be in a status display mode 181, the second touch screen 132 may be a shortcut icon mode 182, and the third touch screen 133 may be a touch pad Mode 183, and may be changed to another screen mode as necessary.

The status display mode 181 is a screen mode in which various status information of the computer device 10 can be confirmed. 10, the touch screen includes the Internet 191, a program 192, a screen adjustment 193, a volume setting 194, a guitar 195, a previous setting screen 193, 196, etc.) are displayed. When these submenus are selected, corresponding programs are executed.

The mode selection menu, the submenu, and the like may be displayed as an icon instead of a text form.

If, for example, the Internet menu 191 is selected from the submenus, the Internet and / or network connection status can be displayed on the screen in the form of graphics or text.

Also, when the program menu 192 is selected, for example, information about the start program or the execution program can be displayed on the screen.

When the screen adjustment menu 193 is selected, a screen adjustment screen for adjusting brightness, color, and the like can be displayed. At this time, it is preferable that the screen adjusting function is applied not only to the screen of the computer display 14, but also to the screens of the first to third touch screens 131, 132, 133 provided on the keyboard 100.

More specifically, it is possible to set the screen setting conditions inputted through the screen adjustment screen to be applied to the computer display 14 and the first to third touch screens 131, 132 and 133 at the same time, It is possible to select any one of the third touch screens 131, 132, and 133 to adjust the screen.

On the other hand, since each of the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 has a limitation on the screen size, it may be configured to display a screen displayed on the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 on the computer display 14 when necessary. On the other hand, it is also possible to set a screen running on the computer display 14 to be displayed on any one of the first to third touch screens 131, 132, and 133.

The previous menu 196 shown in FIG. 10 is a menu for returning to the previous screen, that is, the mode selection screen of FIG. 9, and not only the status display mode screen but also the shortcut menu mode, the touch pad mode widget mode, 196 may be displayed.

9, the shortcut icon mode 182 displays the execution icons of frequently used main programs on the screens of the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 in the same manner as the desktop screen of the computer display 14.

Accordingly, when the execution icon displayed on the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 is selected, the keyboard control unit 102 transmits a predetermined signal to the computer device 10. The computer control unit 12 executes the corresponding program, Lt; / RTI > The specific execution icon may be set to be added and removed by the user after selecting the shortcut icon mode 182. [

For example, if the user touches the touch screen 131 (132, 133) to set the touch screen which is always visible to the user during the input through the key button to the shortcut icon mode 182, The user can touch the desired execution icon on the touch screen without returning to immediately execute the program associated with the corresponding icon, so that the usability can be greatly increased.

The touchpad mode 183 may be used to move the touch screen 131, 132 or 133 to a pointing device for moving the pointer displayed on the computer display 14 or to allow a user to press a hand or touch This mode is used as an input device to input letters or pictures with a pen.

 The widget mode 184 is a mode for displaying various kinds of widgets provided on the Internet portal site or the web server on the touch screens 131, 132, and 133. Conventionally, since the widget is displayed only on the desktop of the computer display 14, it is inconvenient to close the operation screen and switch to the desktop screen in order to check the widget information while the operation screen is being displayed.

Accordingly, when the widget is displayed on the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 that the user can always view, there is an advantage that the weather information, the stock information, the main news, the e-mail information, and the blog information desired by the user can be checked in real time.

11 illustrates a case where the first touch screen 131 is set to the widget mode, the second touch screen 132 is set to the touch pad mode, and the third touch screen 133 is set to the shortcut icon mode .

In addition to this operation mode, if a recently used messenger program or audio playback program is executed, a popup window of the program may be displayed on any one of the first to third touch screens 131, 132 and 133.

For example, if the mode selection screen, the sub-menu screen, and the like set on the first touch screen 131 can be moved to the other touch screens 132 and 133, the usability can be further increased.

At this time, a screen movement menu may be separately disposed on the first touch screen 131. For convenience of use, the entire screen of the first touch screen 131 may be touch and drag ) Method.

FIG. 12 illustrates this state. When the user touches the first touch screen 131 and pushes the first touch screen 131 to the left, the status display mode screen displayed on the first touch screen 131 is displayed on the left second touch screen 132 And the mode selection screen as shown in FIG. 9 is automatically displayed on the first touch screen 131 again.

Thus, the user can select another mode on the first touch screen 131 again.

Also, the user can move the status display mode screen on the second touch screen 132 to the left third touch screen 133 in a touch-and-drag manner, and in this case also, the status display mode of the second touch screen 132 The screen is preferably switched back to the mode selection screen.

The screen displayed on each of the touch screens 131, 132 and 133 can be moved to the computer display 14 as well as the screen movement between the touch screens 131, 132 and 133. This can be done by selecting the scroll menu displayed on the touch screens 131, 132, Or may proceed in a touch-and-drag manner as described above.

In the above description, three touch screens 131, 132, and 133 are provided on the touch screen unit 120, but the number of the touch screens 131, 132, and 133 is not limited thereto, so that one touch screen may be used alone.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

10: COMPUTER DEVICE 12: COMPUTER CONTROLLER 14: COMPUTER DISPLAY
16: computer storage unit 100: keyboard 102: keyboard control unit
110: key button unit 120: touch screen unit
131, 132, 133, 134, 135: first, second, third, fourth, fifth touch screens
140: Detection sensor 151: Connection cable 152: Docking port
150a, 150b, and 150c: first, second, and third status display light-
160: keyboard storage unit

Claims (11)

A key button unit including a plurality of key buttons;
A touch screen unit including at least one touch screen provided at a lower end of the key button unit and including a plurality of screen areas independently controlled;
A plurality of proximity sensors installed in the lateral direction between the key button unit and the plurality of screen areas to detect use of the key button unit;
A plurality of status display light emitting units installed in the periphery of the touch screen unit corresponding to the plurality of screen areas, respectively, and indicating the operation status of each screen area;
A keyboard controller for transmitting an input signal through the key button unit and the touch screen unit to a computer device and controlling the input or output of the touch screen unit in cooperation with the plurality of proximity sensors,
Wherein the keyboard control unit displays a screen displayed in a screen area where a part or all of the plurality of screen areas is blocked by use of the key button unit by using the detection results of the plurality of proximity sensors, And controls to display the operation states of the respective screen areas corresponding to the plurality of status display light emitting units delete delete delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the touch screen operates in any one of a plurality of operation modes,
A status display mode for displaying the status of a connected computer device;
A shortcut icon mode for displaying a plurality of execution icons;
A touch pad mode for sensing functions of a pointing device and an input device by sensing a user's touch;
Widget mode that displays information provided through the Internet
And a keyboard A key button unit including a plurality of key buttons, a touch screen unit including a plurality of screen areas provided at a lower end of the key button unit and controlled independently of each other, And a plurality of proximity sensors provided in the horizontal direction between the plurality of screen areas of the touch screen unit and a plurality of proximity sensors provided in the periphery of the touch screen unit and corresponding to the plurality of screen areas, And a keyboard control unit for transmitting an input signal through the key button unit and the touch screen unit to a computer device and controlling the input or output of the touch screen unit in cooperation with the plurality of proximity sensors, A method of controlling an operation,
Driving the touch screen unit;
Determining whether the key button unit is used by using the detection results of the plurality of proximity sensors;
Wherein the display unit displays a screen displayed on a screen area where a part or all of the plurality of screen areas is blocked by use of the key button unit when the key button unit is determined to be used, And controlling the display unit to display an operation state of each corresponding screen area
And a control method of the keyboard delete delete delete delete

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