TW201435549A - Detachable keyboard cover, tablet computer, and operating and control method for tablet computer - Google Patents

Abstract

A detachable keyboard cover and a tablet computer corresponding thereto, and an operating and control method for the tablet computer are disclosed. A detachable keyboard cover includes flexible keys, a connector and a flexible pad assembled with the flexible keys and the connector. The press status of the flexible keys is conveyed to a tablet computer via the connector. The flexible pad is implanted with conductive elements and is grounded via a ground connection between the connector of the detachable keyboard cover and a connector of the tablet computer. The tablet computer operates a touch screen thereof to perform capacitance detection and, when detecting that the detachable keyboard cover is spread over to cover the touch screen, the tablet computer performs power management accordingly.

Description

Covered soft keyboard, tablet, and tablet control method

The invention relates to a cover type soft keyboard and a tablet computer, in particular to a power management of a tablet computer.

The Detachable Keyboard Cover is a peripheral device for tablets that can be connected to a tablet for use as a keyboard.

Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B illustrate the use of two outer cover type flexible keyboards KB in a side view. The tablet TC of Figure 1A is designed with a stand; the stand can be used to connect the tablet TC and the cover soft keyboard KB as a personal computer. Figure 1B shows the KB extension of the cover-type soft keyboard as a stand. It can also be combined with the tablet TC to provide PC functions. The cover type soft keyboard KB is convenient to carry and can be overlaid on the touch screen of the tablet TC when not in use.

Traditionally, if the touch screen of the tablet TC has no touch, the cover type soft keyboard KB is not pressed, and the tablet TC is idle, the power management of the tablet TC will switch to the connected standby (Connected Standby). )mode. The Connected Standby mode is designed for the always-on-always-connected (AOAC) of today's personal mobile devices. The system can be used with very low power consumption, but can be quickly woken up.

However, in actual use, the cover-type soft keyboard KB is often folded in the bag with the tablet TC, and accidental pressing often occurs, and the system is easily erroneously awake frequently.

The invention discloses a cover type soft keyboard and a correspondingly designed tablet computer and tablet operation method.

A cover type flexible keyboard implemented according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a soft button, a connector, and a soft pad for assembling the soft button and the connector. The pressing state of the soft button is transmitted to a tablet through the connector. The flexible mat is implanted with a conductor and grounded by a ground connection (eg, a GND pin) between the connector and a connector on the tablet. In this way, the tablet computer can recognize the condition of the cover-type soft keyboard covering the touch screen by the capacitive sensing of the touch screen, thereby performing power management. The accidental pressing that occurs when the cover-type soft keyboard and the tablet are folded can be effectively ignored.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tablet computer corresponding to the outer cover type flexible keyboard design includes a touch screen controller, a system power management interface, and an embedded controller in addition to the connector and the touch screen. (Embedded Controller). The embedded controller controls the touch screen controller to control the touch screen, and the embedded controller further operates when the touch screen senses a capacitance formed by the cover of the cover soft keyboard. The system power management interface performs power management.

A method for controlling a tablet computer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: operating a touch screen of a tablet computer for capacitive sensing; and, Power management is performed when the touch screen senses the capacitance formed by the covering of the cover-type flexible keyboard.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

202‧‧‧Soft button

204‧‧‧Cover type soft keyboard KB connector

206‧‧‧Soft mat

208, 210‧‧‧planted areas with conductors

212‧‧‧ Tablet PC TC Connector

214‧‧‧ touch screen

302‧‧‧Touch Screen Controller

304‧‧‧System Power Management Interface

306‧‧‧ embedded controller

402...408‧‧‧Multiple states of embedded controller 306

GND‧‧‧Ground connection

KB‧‧‧Cover soft keyboard

TC‧‧‧ tablet

1A and 1B illustrate the use of two outer cover type flexible keyboards KB in a side view; FIG. 2 illustrates a cover type soft keyboard KB and a tablet computer TC implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; The block diagram illustrates a detailed implementation of the tablet TC. The tablet TC includes a touch screen controller 302 and a system power management interface, in addition to the connector 212 and the touch screen 214. As ACPI 304, and an Embedded Controller 306; and FIG. 4 illustrates the state machine design of the embedded controller 306.

The following description sets forth various embodiments of the invention. The following description sets forth the basic concepts of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention. The scope of the actual invention shall be defined in accordance with the scope of the patent application.

2 is a diagram showing a cover-type flexible keyboard KB and a tablet TC implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The cover type soft keyboard KB includes: a soft button 202, a connector 204, and a soft pad 206 for assembling the soft button 202 and the connector 204. The pressed state of the soft button 202 is transmitted to the tablet TC through the connector 204. The flexible pad 206 is implanted with conductors in regions 208 and 210. The conductor-bearing regions 208 and 210 are grounded by a ground connection (e.g., the GND pin of the POGO USB) between the connector 204 and the tablet TC-connector 212. As a result, when the cover-type flexible keyboard KB is overlaid on the touch screen 214, a capacitor is formed. The tablet TC can recognize the condition of the cover-type flexible keyboard KB on the touch screen 214 by the capacitive sensing of the touch screen 214, thereby performing power management. The above method will effectively eliminate the false pressing that occurs when the cover-type soft keyboard KB and the tablet TC are folded, to avoid erroneous operation of the tablet TC, and unnecessary energy consumption.

The second figure is for implanting conductors in regions 208 and 210 where the flexible button 202 and connector 204 are not assembled, but is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The conductor mating area of the soft pad can be designed with the user. Any conductor implant that can distinguish from the capacitive sensing of human touch can be applied to realize the soft pad of this case.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed implementation of the tablet TC. The tablet TC includes a touch screen controller 302 and a system power management interface (system) in addition to the connector 212 and the touch screen 214. A power menagement interface, such as ACPI) 304, and an embedded controller 306. The embedded controller 306 controls the touch screen controller 302 to control the touch screen 214, and the embedded controller 306 senses the cover soft keyboard KB (the planted with the touch screen 214) When the conductor is covered by the grounding of the connectors 204 and 212 to the GND ground, the system power management interface 304 is operated to perform power management.

FIG. 4 illustrates the state machine design of the embedded controller 306. In state 402, the embedded controller 306 is in a normal mode, and the user can operate the tablet TC via the cover soft keyboard KB or the touch screen 214. If the touch screen 214 detects the coverage of the cover-type flexible keyboard KB, the embedded controller 306 switches to the state 404, and the button input of the cover-type flexible keyboard KB and the touch input of the touch screen 214 are divided. Yes, make the tablet TC sleep. If the touch screen 214 detects that the cover-type flexible keyboard KB is open, the embedded controller 306 enables the touch sensing of the touch screen 214 and the key input of the cover-type flexible keyboard KB to self-state 404 switches back to state 402 in a normal mode.

In addition, the state 402 counts the idle condition of the tablet TC (eg, no touch or key input occurs, and the tablet does not execute application software). After a period of idle time Tth, the embedded system 306 switches to state 406, which operates the system power management interface 304 in a connected standby mode. The Connected Standby mode is designed for the always-on-always-connected (AOAC) of today's personal mobile devices. The system can be used with very low power consumption, but can be quickly woken up. Once the cover soft keyboard KB has a button input or the touch screen 214 is touched, the embedded controller 306 switches to the state 408, and the touch screen 214 is operated to detect whether the cover soft keyboard KB is overwritten. The touch screen 214 is on. If the cover soft keyboard KB is not overlaid on the touch screen 214, the embedded controller 306 immediately wakes up the tablet TC and switches back to the state 402 in the normal mode. If the cover-type flexible keyboard KB is overlaid on the touch screen 214, the embedded controller 306 switches to the state 404, and the button input of the cover-type flexible keyboard KB and the touch of the touch screen 214 Control input is disabled to eliminate false touches.

The above operation of the touch screen 214 to sense the capacitance of the outer cover type flexible keyboard KB for power management is not limited to being implemented by the embedded controller 306. A further embodiment of the present invention discloses a tablet computer control method, and any software or hardware technology implemented according to the method belongs to the scope of the present invention.

The disclosed tablet control method includes: operating the touch screen 214 of the tablet TC for capacitive sensing; and performing power management when the touch screen 214 senses the capacitance formed by the cover of the cover soft keyboard KB. .

The method further removes the touch sensing of the touch screen 214 and the key input of the cover soft keyboard KB when the touch screen 214 senses the coverage of the cover soft keyboard KB. To eliminate false touches. If the touch screen 214 senses that the cover soft keyboard KB is open, the method can enable the touch sensing of the touch screen 214 and the key input of the cover soft keyboard KB to facilitate the user. operating. In addition, if the tablet TC is idle for a period of idle time, the method may be connected to the standby mode for power management of the tablet TC, and operate when the cover type flexible keyboard KB has a key input or the touch screen 214 is touched. The touch screen 214 detects whether the cover-type flexible keyboard KB is overlaid on the touch screen 214 to eliminate the false touch condition.

While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not intended to limit the invention, and the present invention may be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of protection is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application.

204‧‧‧Cover type soft keyboard KB connector

212‧‧‧ Tablet PC TC Connector

214‧‧‧ touch screen

302‧‧‧Touch Screen Controller

304‧‧‧System Power Management Interface

306‧‧‧ embedded controller

GND‧‧‧Ground connection

KB‧‧‧Cover soft keyboard

TC‧‧‧ tablet

Claims (10)

A soft keyboard with a cover type, comprising: a soft button and a connector, wherein the pressing state of the soft button is transmitted to a tablet computer through the connector; and the device is provided with a conductor, and the soft button and the connector are assembled The soft pad is grounded by a ground connection between the connector and a connector in the tablet, so that the tablet can recognize the cover soft keyboard by the capacitive sensing of the touch screen. The status on the touch screen is used for power management. The cover-type flexible keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the guiding system is implanted in an area where the soft pad is not equipped with the soft button and the connector. A tablet computer comprising: a connector coupled to a connector of a cover-type flexible keyboard for receiving a signal of a soft button of the cover-type flexible keyboard, the cover-type flexible keyboard being assembled with a soft pad The connector and the soft button, the soft pad is implanted with a conductor and the ground cover is connected to the ground between the connector and the connector; the touch screen and the touch a control screen controller; a system power management interface; and an embedded controller, the touch screen controller is controlled to control the touch screen, and the touch screen senses the cover of the cover soft keyboard The capacitor operates when the system power management interface is operated for power management. For example, in the tablet computer described in claim 3, wherein: When the touch screen senses the coverage of the cover-type flexible keyboard, the embedded system disables the touch sensing of the touch screen and disables the key input of the cover-type flexible keyboard. The tablet computer of claim 4, wherein: the touch screen senses that the cover type soft keyboard is opened, the embedded system enables touch sensing of the touch screen and the outside Key input for the cover type soft keyboard. The tablet computer of claim 3, wherein: after a period of idle time, the embedded system operates the power management interface of the system to be a connected standby mode, and the button has a key input or the touch on the outer cover type flexible keyboard. The touch screen is operated when the touch screen is touched to detect whether the cover type soft keyboard is overlaid on the touch screen to eliminate the false touch condition. A tablet computer control method includes: operating a touch screen of a tablet computer for capacitive sensing; and performing power management when the touch screen senses a capacitance formed by a cover of a cover-type flexible keyboard; The tablet computer is connected to a connector of the outer cover type flexible keyboard by a connector to receive the signal of the soft button of the outer cover type flexible keyboard; the outer cover type soft keyboard is assembled with a soft pad. The connector and the soft button; the flexible pad is provided with a conductor and the grounding of the connector is connected to a ground line between the connector and the connector. The method for controlling a tablet computer as claimed in claim 7 includes: When the touch screen senses the coverage of the cover soft keyboard, the touch sensing of the touch screen is disabled, and the key input of the cover soft keyboard is disabled. The method for controlling a tablet computer according to claim 8 includes: when the touch screen senses that the cover soft keyboard is opened, enabling touch sensing of the touch screen and the cover Key input of soft keyboard. The method for controlling a tablet computer according to claim 7 includes: after a period of idle time, performing power management of the tablet in a connected standby mode, and having a key input or the touch on the outer cover type flexible keyboard; The touch screen is operated when the touch screen is touched to detect whether the cover type soft keyboard is overlaid on the touch screen to eliminate the false touch condition.