TWI478009B - Touchpad blank key control method - Google Patents

Description

Touch panel blank key control method

The invention relates to a touchpad blank key, in particular to a touchpad blank key control method.

Due to space limitations, notebook computers are usually equipped with smaller keyboards, and some notebook computers use a touchpad or trackpoint to implement the mouse function in order to provide more convenient operation. 1 is a schematic diagram of the pointing stick 10 and the touchpad 12 on the notebook computer. The position of the pointing stick 10 is usually arranged in the gap of the keyboard button, and the position of the touch panel 12 is arranged on the lower side of the keyboard button area. In addition, the left mouse button 14 and the right button 16 are disposed adjacent to the touch panel 12. In order to minimize the size of the keyboard, some notebook computers use only the pointing stick 10 instead of the touch panel 12, but the pointing stick 10 is not as convenient as the touch panel 12. Although the use of a touchpad or a pointing stick is advantageous for the user to work for a long time, the hardware is costly and requires extra space.

U.S. Patent No. 5,841,423 digs a long groove-embedded cylindrical rod sensor on a keyboard blank button to detect sliding, rotating or pressing to control the cursor on the screen. Although the space can be reduced, the structure is very complicated and easy because Move the cursor by accidentally touching the sensor. US Patent No. 7,659,887 combines a miniature touchpad that provides a mouse function on the upper surface of the button. Although it can also reduce the space, it is also easy to cause the button signal to be triggered by mistake when the mouse is operated, or to move the cursor when the button is pressed. A very complicated algorithm to distinguish the operation of the buttons and the touchpad, and the operation of the micro touchpad is controlled by the controller chip of the keyboard, resulting in poor response sensitivity of the keyboard, especially the touchpad and keyboard. The detection methods of the buttons are different, the scanning frequency is very different, and the amount of data that the touchpad needs to process is much higher than that of the keyboard. It is difficult to integrate them together to share a controller chip, and the performance is not good.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a touch panel blank key of a keyboard.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a control method for a touch panel blank key that reduces false touch operation.

According to the present invention, a method for controlling a touchpad blank key includes detecting whether a finger touches the touchpad blank key, and generating a corresponding signal according to whether an operation of pressing a blank key is performed.

In an embodiment, the touchpad blank button includes a touchpad for detecting a touch of the touchpad blank key, and the touchpad has a left button area and a right button area respectively defined as a left button of the mouse and Right click. When it is detected that the touchpad blank key is controlled, the corresponding signal is sent according to the touch position of the finger. When it is detected that a finger touches the touchpad blank key but the touchpad blank key is not pressed, the movement of the finger is detected and the corresponding moving coordinate is sent.

In an embodiment, the touchpad blank button includes a touchpad for detecting a touch of the touchpad blank key, and the touchpad has a left button area and a right button area respectively defined as a left button of the mouse and Right click. When it is detected that the touchpad blank button is pressed, the corresponding signal is sent according to the touch position of the finger. If it is detected that the touch panel blank key is touched by the finger but the touchpad blank key is not pressed, it is detected whether the touchpad blank key is tapped, and if so, the blank key signal is sent, if not, then Detecting the movement of the finger and sending the corresponding moving coordinate.

In an embodiment, the touchpad blank button includes a touchpad for detecting a touch of the touchpad blank key, and when detecting that the touchpad blank key is pressed, sending a blank key signal, Detected When a finger touches the blank button of the touchpad but does not press the blank button of the touchpad, the movement of the finger is detected and the corresponding moving coordinate is sent.

10‧‧‧ pointing stick

12‧‧‧ Trackpad

14‧‧‧ Mouse left button

14’‧‧‧left button area

16‧‧‧Smooth right

16’‧‧‧right area

18‧‧‧Touchpad blank button

20‧‧‧ keyboard

22‧‧‧ Busbar

24‧‧‧ motherboard

26‧‧‧ switch

28‧‧‧ Controller chip

1 is a schematic diagram of a pointing stick and a touchpad on a notebook computer; FIG. 2 is a keyboard to which the present invention can be applied; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the touchpad blank key of FIG. 2 in operation; FIG. The top view of the touchpad blank key; Figure 5 is a top view of another touchpad blank key; Figure 6 is a top view of another touchpad blank key; Figure 7 is another touchpad blank key Figure 8 is a control method of the touch panel blank key of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is another control method of the touchpad blank key of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6; FIG. 10 is the touch of FIG. 4 or FIG. The control method of the control panel blank key; and FIG. 11 shows another control method of the touchpad blank key.

As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention replaces the traditional blank key on the keyboard 20 with the touchpad blank key 18. The touchpad blank key 18 provides a pointing function in addition to the function of providing a blank key, and the touchpad blank key The left side 14 and the right side 16 of the mouse are disposed on the lower side of the 18 side. The touchpad blank key 18 has the same appearance as a conventional blank key, but has a built-in touchpad (not shown) that can detect a touch on the surface of the touchpad blank key 18. In other embodiments, the touchpad can also be combined with other buttons as desired.

3 is an exploded view of the touchpad blank key 18 and the keyboard 20 of FIG. 2. The touchpad blank key 18 has a touchpad (not shown) for detecting a touch on the touchpad blank key 18. The signal generated by the touch panel is sent out by the bus bar 22. A switch 26 is mounted on the main board 24 of the keyboard 20 below the touchpad blank key 18. Pressing the touchpad blank key 18 can squeeze the switch 26 to trigger a switch signal. The controller chip 28 of the keyboard 20 is mounted on the lower surface of the main board 24. The touchpad's touch wafer (not shown) can be mounted on the touchpad blank key 18 or on the motherboard 24, which controls the operation of the touchpad.

4 is a top view of the touchpad blank key 18 of FIG. 2, which houses the touchpad 12, and when the finger touches the upper surface of the touchpad blank key 18, the touchpad 12 can detect the touch position of the finger and mobile. The touchpad detects the touch position and movement of the finger as the basic functions of the touchpad, and is a conventional technique.

5 is a top view of another touchpad blank key 18, which removes the mechanical structure and circuitry of the left and right keys 14 and 16 shown in FIG. 2, and uses the touchpad 12 to simulate the left button of the mouse. 14 and right button 16. In this embodiment, the left and right sides of the touch panel 12 are respectively provided with a left button region 14' and a right button region 16' defined as a left mouse button 14 and a right button 16, preferably on the touchpad blank button 18. The surface marks the left and right keys. When the finger touches the left button area 14' or the right button area 16', the touchpad 12 will generate a corresponding left or right button signal to perform the left or right button function of the mouse. Simulating a key with a touchpad is a conventional technique, see, for example, U.S. Patent No. 7,274,353.

6 is a top view of another touchpad blank key 18, which completely removes the mechanical structure and circuitry of the key. The touchpad 12 not only simulates the left and right keys 14 and 16 of the mouse, but also simulates a blank key. In the habit of the general user, the force of pressing the keyboard button is relatively large, and the lower pressure channel for moving the cursor by the touch pad is relatively small, so that the force can be used to distinguish different operations, for example, when the touch panel 12 detects When the lower pressure channel is about 50g, it means that the user is tapping the touchpad blank key 18. When the touchpad 12 detects that the lower pressure channel exceeds 150g, it means that the user presses the touchpad blank key 18.

FIG. 7 is a top view of yet another touchpad blank key 18, which replaces the conventional blank key with the touchpad 12, but still retains the freestanding left and right keys 14 and 16. Similarly, the touchpad blank key 18 can be Different operations are distinguished by pressing the force of the touch panel 12, such as tapping the touchpad blank key 18 or pressing the touchpad blank key 18.

8 is a control method of the touchpad blank key 18 applied in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. In step 30, the touchpad 12 continuously detects whether a finger touches the touchpad blank key 18 until a finger is detected. When the touchpad blank key 18 is touched, step 32 is performed to determine whether the touchpad blank key 18 is pressed. For example, whether the touchpad blank key 18 is determined according to the switch signal generated by the switch 26 or the force track detected by the touchpad 12 Was pressed. If it is detected that the touchpad blank key 18 is pressed, the motion detection function of the touchpad 12 is suspended to prevent the cursor from moving, and step 34 is further determined whether the touch position of the finger is in the left button region 14' or right button. The area 16', if yes, executing step 36 to send a left button signal or a right button signal to execute a left button function or a right button function of the mouse, wherein when the touch position is in the left button region 14', the left button signal is sent, when the touch position is When the right area 16' is selected, the right button signal is sent. If the touch position is not in the left button area 14' and the right button area 16', step 38 is performed to send a blank key signal to perform the blank key function. If the determination in step 32 is that the touchpad blank key 18 is not pressed, then step 40 is performed to determine whether the finger moves. If the finger moves, step 42 is sent to send the corresponding mobile coordinate to control the cursor movement. If the finger does not move, Then return to step 32.

9 is another control method of the touchpad blank key 18 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. In step 30, the touchpad 12 continuously detects whether a finger touches the touchpad blank key 18 until a finger is detected. Touching the touchpad blank key 18, step 32 determines whether the touchpad blank key 18 is pressed, for example, according to the switch signal generated by the switch 26 or the force track detected by the touchpad 12 to determine whether the touchpad blank key 18 is pressed. If the touch panel blank button 18 is detected, it indicates that the user is operating the left button 14 or the right button 16 of the mouse function, and the motion detection function is paused to prevent the cursor from moving, and the step 46 further determines the finger. The position of the touch is in the left button area 14' or the right button area 16', and then the left button signal or the right button signal of the mouse is sent in step 36; if the judgment in step 32 is that the touch panel blank button 18 is not pressed, step 44 is performed. The amount of pressure under the finger determines whether there is a tap of the touchpad blank key 18, and if so, the blank key signal is sent in step 38. If not, step 40 is performed to determine whether the finger moves, and if the finger moves, step 42 is sent to correspond. Move the coordinates to control the movement of the cursor. If the finger does not move, return to step 32. In other embodiments, when it is determined in step 32 that the touchpad blank key 18 is not pressed, step 40 may be performed to determine whether the finger moves. If the finger is not moved, step 44 is performed to determine whether there is a touchpad blank key. 18. If the touchpad blank key 18 is not tapped, return to step 32.

10 is a method for controlling the touchpad blank key 18 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7. In step 30, the touchpad 12 continuously detects whether a finger touches the touchpad blank key 18 until a finger touch is detected. When the blank button 18 is controlled, step 32 is performed to determine whether the touch panel blank key 18 is pressed. For example, whether the touch panel blank key 18 is determined according to the switch signal generated by the switch 26 or the force detected by the touch panel 12 There is a press. If it is detected that the touchpad blank key 18 is pressed, the motion detection function is suspended to prevent the cursor from moving, and at step 38, a blank key signal is sent to perform the blank key function. In step 32, if no touchpad blank key 18 is not pressed, the touchpad 12 performs a motion detection function, and step 40 continues to detect whether the finger moves. If the finger movement is detected, then step 42 is sent to send the corresponding moving coordinate to control the cursor movement.

FIG. 11 shows a method for controlling a blank button of a touch panel. When step 50 detects that a button other than the touch panel blank button 18 on the keyboard 20 is pressed, step 52 is performed to disable the touch function. When the button other than the touchpad blank key 18 is pressed, step 54 is performed to perform the detection of the touchpad blank key 18. The operation of step 54 is as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.

As shown in the above embodiments, the control method of the present invention can be applied to various touchpad blank keys, including a mechanical structure combined with a touchpad and a conventional blank key, and a touchpad instead of a conventional blank. Key.

The above description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the disclosed embodiments. It is possible to make modifications or variations based on the above teachings or learning from the embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments are illustrative of the principles of the present invention and are familiar to the subject matter. The present invention has been selected and described in the practical application of the present invention in various embodiments. The technical idea of the present invention is intended to be determined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (19)

A method for controlling a blank button of a touchpad, wherein the touchpad blank button comprises a touchpad for detecting a touch of the touchpad blank key, the control method comprises the following steps: A.) detecting whether a finger touches the touchpad The touchpad blank key; B.) when detecting that the touchpad blank key is touched by the finger, determining whether the touchpad blank key is pressed; C.) if the touchpad blank key is pressed, sending out The blank key signal; and D.) if the touchpad blank key is not pressed and the movement of the finger on the touchpad blank key is detected, the corresponding mobile coordinate is sent according to the movement of the finger. The control method of claim 1, wherein the step B comprises determining whether the touchpad blank key is pressed according to a switch signal. The control method of claim 1, wherein the step B comprises determining whether the touchpad blank key is pressed according to the force track detected by the touchpad. The control method of claim 1 further includes invalidating the touch function of the touch panel when a button other than the touch panel blank button is detected. The control method of claim 1, further comprising suspending the motion detection function of the touchpad when the touchpad blank button is pressed to prevent the cursor from moving. The control method of claim 1, wherein the touch panel has a left button area and a right button area, and the step C includes sending a left button signal when the touch position is in the left button area. The control method of claim 1, wherein the touch panel has a left button area and a right button area, and the step C includes sending a right button signal when the touch position is in the right button area. The control method of claim 1, wherein the touch panel has a left button area and a right button area, and the step C includes sending the blank key signal when the touch position is not in the left button area and the right button area. The control method of claim 1, the touch panel has a left button area and a right button area, and the left button area and the right button area are respectively defined as a left button and a right button of the mouse. A touch panel blank key control method, the touchpad blank key includes a touchpad for detecting a touch of the touchpad blank key, and the touchpad has a left key area and a right key area, and the control method includes The following steps: A.) detecting whether a finger touches the touchpad blank button; B.) determining that the touchpad blank key is pressed when detecting a touchpad blank button; C. If the touchpad blank button is pressed, when the touch position is in the left button area, the left button signal is sent, and when the touch position is in the right button region, the right button signal is sent; D.) if the touchpad When the blank button is not pressed and the touchpad blank button is tapped, the blank button signal is sent; and E.) if the touchpad blank button is not pressed and the touchpad blank button is not When tapping, detect the movement of the finger on the blank key of the touchpad and send the corresponding moving coordinate. The control method of claim 9, wherein the step B comprises determining whether the touchpad blank key is pressed according to a switch signal. The control method of claim 9, wherein the step B comprises determining whether the touchpad blank key is pressed or tapped according to the force track detected by the touchpad. The control method of claim 9 further includes invalidating the touch function of the touch panel when a button other than the touch panel blank button is detected. The control method of claim 9 further includes suspending the motion detection function of the touchpad when the touchpad blank button is pressed to prevent the cursor from moving. The control method of claim 9, further comprising defining the left key area and the right key area as left and right keys of the mouse, respectively. A method for controlling a blank button of a touchpad, wherein the touchpad blank button comprises a touchpad for detecting a touch of the touchpad blank key, the control method comprises the following steps: A.) detecting whether a finger touches the touchpad The touchpad blank key; B.) when detecting that the touchpad blank key is touched by the finger, determining whether the touchpad blank key is pressed; and C.) if the touchpad blank key is detected Press to pause the touch function of the touchpad and send a blank key signal; D.) if the touchpad blank key is not pressed and the finger movement is detected, the touchpad is blank according to the finger The movement on the key sends the corresponding moving coordinate. The control method of claim 16, wherein the step B comprises determining whether the touchpad blank key is pressed according to a switch signal. The control method of claim 16, wherein the step B comprises determining whether the touchpad blank key is pressed according to the force track detected by the touchpad. The control method of claim 16 further includes invalidating the touch function of the touch panel when a button other than the touch panel blank button is detected.