TWI545494B - Cursor device and keyboard - Google Patents

Description

Cursor device and keyboard

The invention relates to a cursor device and a keyboard, in particular to a capacitive cursor device and a keyboard with a cursor device.

The traditional keyboard only provides the key input function. If you need to provide the cursor function, you can use the cursor device, such as sliding and touchpad. At present, there are integrated input devices, and at the same time, the key input and the cursor control are provided, but only the horizontal arrangement of the two (key and cursor devices) is juxtaposed in the same device housing, which is not structural integration. In addition, there is also a disclosure of a keyboard device that integrates a key input and a flat touch function, but most of them are used to lay down the structure required for each function. If the backlight structure of the backlit keyboard is added, the thickness of the entire device is bound to be It is difficult to reduce and the structure is complicated. The more the number of components used in the device, the less manageable the process and product reliability.

In view of the problems in the prior art, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a vernier device in which a capacitive sensing circuit is integrated with a light guide sheet, which contributes to simplification of the device structure and avoids excessive use of components of the device, resulting in process and product reliability. It is difficult to maintain and the thickness of the device is difficult to reduce.

The cursor device of the present invention comprises a light guide, a light source, a capacitive sensing circuit and a processing module. The light guide sheet has a light-emitting surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light-emitting surface, and the light in the light guide sheet can emit the light guide sheet from the light-emitting surface. The light source injects the light into the light guide. The capacitive sensing line is formed on the light guide sheet. The processing module is electrically coupled to the capacitive sensing line to perform a touch operation. In this way, the cursor device has both a touch and an optical indicating function, and the capacitive sensing circuit is integrated with the light guide sheet, thereby reducing the number of components and simplifying the device process, thereby improving the reliability of the process and the product, and also helping To reduce the thickness of the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard comprising the cursor device of the present invention to integrate the touch operation and the button operation in the same area, thereby improving the function of the keyboard, and avoiding the use of too many components of the device, thereby making the process and product reliability difficult. Maintenance and the problem that the thickness of the device is difficult to reduce.

The keyboard of the present invention comprises a light guide, a light source, a capacitive sensing circuit, a processing module and a keyboard portion. The light guide sheet has a light-emitting surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light-emitting surface, and the light in the light guide sheet can emit the light guide sheet from the light-emitting surface. The light source injects the light into the light guide. The capacitive sensing line is formed on the light guide sheet. The processing module is electrically coupled to the capacitive sensing line to perform a touch operation. The keyboard portion has a plurality of key caps disposed on the light guide sheet; wherein, in practice, the light from the light guide sheet is emitted as a backlight of the plurality of keycaps. Thereby, the touch operation and the key operation can be integrated in the same area, which is convenient for the user to operate. In addition, by integrating the capacitive sensing line with the light guide sheet, the number of components can be reduced, the device process can be simplified, the process and product reliability can be improved, and the thickness of the device can be reduced.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

1‧‧‧ cursor device

3‧‧‧ keyboard

10, 30‧‧‧ device housing

12‧‧‧Light guide

14‧‧‧Light source

15, 37‧‧‧ circuit board

16‧‧‧Capacitive sensing line

16a‧‧‧First electrode pad

16b‧‧‧Second electrode pad

18‧‧‧Processing module

20‧‧‧Protection film

22‧‧‧reflector

24‧‧‧Rough surface

25‧‧‧ outlets

32‧‧‧ Keyboard Department

34‧‧‧Film board

35‧‧‧Flexible round

36‧‧‧pressure sensor

102, 302‧‧‧ accommodating space

122‧‧‧Glossy surface

124‧‧‧ bottom surface

182‧‧‧Communication interface

322‧‧‧Key Cap

322a‧‧‧Protruding

322b‧‧‧Light transmissive department

342‧‧‧Switch

L1, L2‧‧‧ rays

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a vernier device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cursor device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the cursor device in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a vernier device in accordance with another embodiment.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a vernier device in accordance with another embodiment.

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a keyboard in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a functional block diagram of the keyboard in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard in accordance with another embodiment.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard in accordance with another embodiment.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard in accordance with another embodiment.

1 to 3, FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vernier device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vernier device 1, and FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the vernier device 1. The vernier device 1 includes a device housing 10, a light guide 12, a light source 14, a capacitive sensing circuit 16, a processing module 18, a protective sheet 20, and a reflective sheet 22. The light guide sheet 12, the light source 14, the capacitive sensing line 16, the processing module 18, the protective sheet 20 and the reflective sheet 22 are housed in the accommodating space 102 formed by the device housing 10. The light guide sheet 12 has a light exit surface 122 and a bottom surface 124 opposite to the light exit surface 122. The light source 14 is disposed on one side of the light guide sheet 12 for generating the light beam L1 and the light beam L1 is incident into the light guide sheet 12 from the side. The light beam L2 in the light guide sheet 12 can emit light from the light exit surface 122. Sheet 12. In this embodiment, the reflective sheet 22 is substantially attached to the bottom surface 124 (or adjacent to the bottom surface 124), but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, although the reflective sheet 22 has a gap with the bottom surface 124, The effect of reflecting light to return to the light guide sheet 12 via the bottom surface 124. Therefore, when the light beam L2 exits the light guide sheet 12 from the bottom surface 124, it can be reflected by the reflection sheet 22 to re-enter the light guide sheet 12, and the light beam L2 is allowed to exit the light guide sheet 12 from the light exit surface 122. The capacitive sensing circuit 16 is formed on the light guiding sheet 12, wherein the capacitive sensing circuit 16 includes a plurality of first electrode pads 16a and a plurality of second electrode pads 16b. The plurality of first electrode pads 16a are formed on the light emitting surface 122. The plurality of second electrode pads 16b are formed on the bottom surface 124. In practice, the plurality of first electrode pads 16a and the plurality of second electrode pads 16b are not limited to the opposite arrangement. The processing module 18 is electrically connected to the capacitive sensing circuit 16 and includes a communication interface 182. The communication interface 182 can be a wired communication or wireless communication interface. The protective sheet 20 covers the light-emitting surface 122 of the light guide sheet 12 and has the functions of protecting the plurality of first electrode pads 16a of the light guide sheet 12 and the capacitance sensing line 16. When the cursor device 1 is used, the user can touch the finger on the protection sheet 20. The processing module 18 senses the user's touch operation through the capacitive sensing circuit 16 to send a signal about the touch operation via the communication interface 182. For further use, for example, the host computer receives this signal as a cursor control operation, such as cursor movement, click, and the like.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the protective sheet 20 can be made of a transparent or translucent material, and the light L2 can pass through the protective sheet 20 after the light-emitting surface 122 is emitted from the light-emitting surface 122 to provide optical indication to the user. . In addition, the capacitive sensing circuit 16, in particular the plurality of first electrode pads 16a, may be transparent to facilitate the emission of the light guide sheet 12 from the light exit surface 122 by the light L2. In practice, the capacitive sensing circuit 16 can form a conductive polymer, a nano silver or a carbon nanotube on the light guide sheet 12 by printing, or form indium tin oxide (ITO) by sputtering. On the light sheet 12. In addition, in the present embodiment, the reflective sheet 22 is used to reflect the light L2 emitted from the bottom surface 124 so that the majority of the light L2 can be returned to the light guide sheet 12, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the reflection sheet 22 may be omitted regardless of the efficiency with which the light ray L2 emits the light guide sheet 12 from the light-emitting surface 122. For example, after the plurality of second electrode pads 16b are formed on the bottom surface 124, the bottom surface 124 is coated with a reflective material so that the light L2 in the light guide sheet 12 is on the bottom surface 124 (ie, the light guide sheet). The interface between 12 and the reflective layer is directly reflected; at this time, the reflective layer replaces the reflective sheet 22.

In addition, in practice, the light guide sheet 12 can have a light-steering structure formed on the bottom surface 124 for diverting the light L2 to the light-emitting surface 122 to increase the light L2 emitted from the light-emitting surface 122 to the light guide sheet 12. strength. As shown in FIG. 4, the light guide sheet 12 forms a rough surface 24 (or a serrated surface) at a plurality of locations on the bottom surface 124 as the light turning structure; as shown in FIG. 5, the light guide sheet 12 has more than 124 at the bottom surface 124. A dot 25 forming a reflective material (for example, realized by the printed reflective material after the plurality of second electrode pads 16b are formed on the bottom surface 124) serves as the light redirecting structure. Both the rough surface 24 and the halftone dots 25 contribute to the light ray L2 exiting the light guide sheet 12 from the light exit surface 122. In the architecture shown in Figures 4 and 5, the reflective sheet 22 is still disposed to help inhibit light L2 from escaping from the bottom surface 124. In addition, in the present embodiment, the light source 14 (for example, but not limited to a plurality of LEDs arranged in a row on a circuit board 15) can only provide light on one side of the light guide sheet 12 from the perspective of FIG. In principle, the intensity of the light L2 which is farther from the light source 14 in the light guide sheet 12 is weaker, so that the intensity of the light L2 emitted from the light-emitting surface 122 from the light guide sheet 12 is also weaker from the light source 14 . Therefore, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rough surface 24 and the halftone point 25 which are farther from the light source 14 have a larger occupied area to compensate for the attenuation of the intensity of the light ray L2. In addition, in practice, it is also provided on opposite sides of the light guide sheet 12. For the light source, for example, another light source is disposed on the left side of the light guide sheet 12 in FIG. 2 so that the intensity of the light L2 in the light guide sheet 12 can be uniform.

Please refer to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a keyboard 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard 3, and FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the keyboard 3. The keyboard 3 includes most of the structure of the cursor device 1 described above. Therefore, the keyboard 3 still uses the component symbols of the cursor device 1. The description of the same components and related variations can be directly referred to the related description of the cursor device 1, and will not be further described. The keyboard 3 includes a device housing 30 and a light guide 12 housed in the accommodating space 302 formed by the device housing 30, a light source 14, a capacitance sensing circuit 16, a processing module 18, a protection sheet 20, and a reflection sheet 22. A keyboard portion 32, a thin film circuit board 34, and a plurality of pressure sensors 36. The keyboard portion 32 has a plurality of key caps 322 disposed on the light guide sheet 12. The thin film circuit board 34 includes a plurality of switches 342 disposed corresponding to the key caps 322. The plurality of pressure sensors 36 are disposed under the light guide plate 12 corresponding to the plurality of pressure sensors 36. In the embodiment, the plurality of pressure sensors 36 are disposed on a circuit board 37. The processing module 18 is electrically coupled to the thin film circuit board 34 and the plurality of pressure sensors 36. Thereby, when the keyboard 3 is used, the user can selectively press the keycap 322 to implement key input or slide on the keyboard portion 32 to perform a touch operation. Whether the key input or the touch operation, the processing module 18 can sense through the thin film circuit board 34, the capacitive sensing circuit 16 and the plurality of pressure sensors 36 and generate a touch input or touch according to the sensing signal. The control signal of the touch operation sends a control signal via the communication interface 182 for further utilization. For example, the computer host receives the signal as a cursor control operation, such as key input, cursor movement, click, and the like. In addition, in the embodiment, the key input area (ie, the area occupied by the distribution of the key cap 322) and the touch area (ie, the area occupied by the capacitance sensing line 16) are almost completely overlapped, so the keyboard 3 only needs to occupy the general keyboard space. (for example, the desktop), it can provide two input modes of buttons and touches at the same time, which improves the use efficiency of the keyboard 3.

In the embodiment, the keyboard portion 32 is a button pad, so that the plurality of key caps 322 are connected together, and the keyboard portion 32 can be made of, but not limited to, silicone, so that the keyboard portion 32 has flexibility, and the key cap 322 is available for use. Press. The key cap 322 is in the form of a protrusion in the embodiment, which is convenient for the user to recognize, but the invention is not limited thereto; a single cushion with a button area indicating pattern is printed thereon. It also serves as the keyboard portion of the present invention. In addition, in the embodiment, the thin film circuit board 34 is located under the protective sheet 20 and the light guide sheet 12, so the protective sheet 20 and the light guide sheet 12 need to have flexibility, so that the key cap 322 is moved downward and squeezed. When the protection sheet 20 and the light guide sheet 12 are protected, the protection sheet 20 and the light guide sheet 12 can also be deformed so that the corresponding switch 342 can be triggered. In the present embodiment, the key cap 322 includes a protruding portion 322a that can be easily triggered by the switch 342. In addition, in the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 36 can be configured such that when the switch 342 is triggered, the pressure sensor 36 can also sense the pressing of the corresponding key cap 322 at the same time, or when the keycap 322 is deeper. When pressed, the pressure sensor 36 can initially sense the press. This can be determined by product applications (such as cumulative press time, further triggering other functions), and will not be described in detail. The pressure sensor 36 is not limited to the corresponding key cap 322.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the keyboard portion 32 has completely covered the light guide sheet 12, so that the protective sheet 20 is also omitted. The reflective sheet 22 is also integrated with the thin film circuit board 34. For example, a surface of the bottom surface 124 of the substrate of the thin film circuit board 34 is coated with a reflective material, and the substrate can replace the reflective sheet 22. The keyboard portion 32 may be entirely or partially made of a transparent or translucent material. After the light beam L2 exits the light guide sheet 12 from the light exit surface 122, it may pass through the keyboard portion 32 to provide an optical indication to the user. When the keyboard portion 32 is made of a single material, the mask layer is printed on its lower surface (and/or upper surface) to allow only a portion of the light ray L2 to pass. In practice, the keyboard portion 32 can also be realized in a combined manner, for example, the keyboard portion 32 itself is opaque, but the portion indicated by the dashed line in Fig. 7 is replaced by other light transmissive material as the light transmissive portion 322b; At this time, the light beam L2 can only emit the keycap 322 from the light permeable portion 322b.

In the present embodiment, the thin film circuit board 34 is mainly triggered by the direct pressing of the reflective sheet 22 to trigger the switch 342 thereon, but the invention is not limited thereto. Please refer to FIG. 9, which is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, an elastic round protrusion 35 is disposed on the corresponding circuit board 34 on the thin film circuit board 34. When the key cap 322 is pressed, the elastic circular protrusion 35 is elastically deformed by direct compression of the reflective sheet 22. The thin film circuit board 34 is extruded to trigger the corresponding switch 342. In the present embodiment, the elastic knob 35 can provide a feedback force pressed by the user to increase the user's pressing feel.

In the foregoing cursor device 1, the description of the light steering structure is also in the structure of the keyboard 3. Applicable. For example, in the keyboard shown in FIG. 10, the light guide sheet 12 forms a rough surface 24 (or a serrated surface) at a plurality of locations on the bottom surface 124 as the light turning structure; in the keyboard shown in FIG. 11, at the bottom A plurality of dots 124 forming a reflective material on the surface 124 (for example, realized by the printed reflective material after the plurality of second electrode pads 16b are formed on the bottom surface 124) serve as the light redirecting structure. In the foregoing cursor device 1, other descriptions regarding the rough surface 24 and the halftone dot 25 are also applicable here, and will not be further described.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

3‧‧‧ keyboard

30‧‧‧ device housing

37‧‧‧ boards

16‧‧‧Capacitive sensing line

16a‧‧‧First electrode pad

16b‧‧‧Second electrode pad

20‧‧‧Protection film

22‧‧‧reflector

32‧‧‧ Keyboard Department

34‧‧‧Film board

36‧‧‧pressure sensor

122‧‧‧Glossy surface

124‧‧‧ bottom surface

302‧‧‧ accommodating space

322‧‧‧Key Cap

322a‧‧‧Protruding

322b‧‧‧Light transmissive department

342‧‧‧Switch

L1, L2‧‧‧ rays

12‧‧‧Light guide

Claims (16)

A vernier device comprising: a light guide sheet having a light emitting surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light emitting surface, wherein the light in the light guiding sheet can emit the light guiding sheet from the light emitting surface; a light source, Light is incident on the light guide; a capacitive sensing circuit is formed on the light guide, the capacitive sensing circuit is transparent; and a processing module is electrically connected to the capacitive sensing line to perform a touch operation. The vernier device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensing circuit forms a conductive polymer, a nano silver or a carbon nanotube on the light guide sheet in a printed manner. The vernier device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensing line forms indium tin oxide on the light guide sheet by sputtering. The vernier device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensing circuit comprises a plurality of first electrode pads and a plurality of second electrode pads, wherein the plurality of first electrode pads are formed on the light emitting surface, and the plurality of second electrodes A mat is formed on the bottom surface. The vernier device of claim 1, wherein the light guide sheet has a light turning structure formed on the bottom surface for diverting the light to the light exiting surface. The cursor device of claim 1, further comprising a reflective sheet adjacent to the bottom surface. A keyboard comprising: a light guiding sheet having a light emitting surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light emitting surface, wherein the light in the light guiding sheet can emit the light guiding sheet from the light emitting surface; a light source, the light Injection into the light guide sheet; a capacitive sensing circuit formed on the light guide sheet, the capacitance sensing circuit is transparent; a processing module electrically connected to the capacitive sensing line to perform a touch operation; and a The keyboard portion has a plurality of key caps disposed on the light guide sheet. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the keyboard portion has flexibility. The keyboard of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of pressure sensors disposed corresponding to the plurality of keycaps under the light guide sheet. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the key cap has a light transmissive portion, and the light emitted from the light exiting surface can exit the key cap through the light transmissive portion. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the capacitive sensing circuit forms a conductive polymer, a nano silver or a carbon nanotube on the light guide sheet in a printed manner. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the capacitive sensing line forms indium tin oxide on the light guide sheet by sputtering. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the capacitive sensing circuit comprises a plurality of first electrode pads and a plurality of second electrode pads, wherein the plurality of first electrode pads are formed on the light emitting surface, and the plurality of second electrode pads Formed on the bottom surface. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the light guide sheet has a light turning structure formed on the bottom surface for diverting the light to the light exiting surface. The keyboard of claim 7, further comprising a reflective sheet adjacent to the bottom surface. The keyboard according to claim 7 further includes a plurality of switches, which are set corresponding to the plurality of key caps.