Multi-mode input device and electronic product

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of computer input devices, and particularly relates to a multi-mode input device and an electronic product. The device comprises a shell, a flexible display screen, a physical keyboard and a flexible substrate arranged in the shell; the shell comprises a hollow cavity, and a working opening in communication with the cavity is arranged on a panel of the shell; the flexible display screen covers the working opening and is fixedly connected with the shell, the physical keyboard is arranged in stack with the flexible display screen, and the flexible substrate is arranged to slide and switch between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen and the top surface of the physical keyboard and between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard and the bottom surface of the cavity; when the flexible substrate is arranged between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen and the top surface of the physical keyboard, the flexible display screen and the flexible substrate are arranged in stack, and when the flexible substrate is arranged between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard and the bottom surface of the cavity, the flexible display screen, the physical keyboard and the flexible substrate are arranged in stack. The technical scheme of the present disclosure meets various input use requirements and can have the functions of a touchpad, a display and a physical keyboard.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of computer input devices, and in particular to a multi-mode input device and electronic product. BACKGROUND

[0002] There are various input requirements when using a computer. For example, when using a notebook computer, if there is a need for drawing or recording a business meeting by hand, an external handwriting board needs to be connected to the notebook computer, which is inconvenient. At present, two methods are commonly used to solve the above problem. One is to combine the notebook computer with a second touch display screen, and the other is to use a virtual keyboard.

[0003] However, both methods still have defects. In the first method, after combining with the second touch display screen, the overall space is compressed, and the keyboard and touchpad are also moved to the right side, thereby requiring the user to change the use habit. In the second method, the virtual keyboard does not have the feedback of physical keys and cannot meet the pressing habit of the user. SUMMARY

[0004] To solve at least the above technical problems in the prior art, the present disclosure provides a multi-mode input device and electronic product.

[0005] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a multi-mode input device, which comprises a housing, a flexible display screen, a physical keyboard and a flexible substrate arranged in the housing; the housing comprises a hollow cavity, the flexible display screen, the physical keyboard and the flexible substrate are arranged in the cavity, and a working opening in communication with the cavity is arranged on a panel of the housing; the flexible display screen covers the working opening and is fixedly connected with the housing, the physical keyboard is arranged on the flexible display screen, the flexible substrate is arranged between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen and the top surface of the physical keyboard and between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard and the bottom surface of the cavity and is switched by sliding; when the flexible substrate is arranged between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen and the top surface of the physical keyboard, the flexible display screen and the flexible substrate are stacked and the flexible display screen and the physical keyboard are separated by the flexible substrate; when the flexible substrate is arranged between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard and the bottom surface of the cavity, the flexible display screen, the physical keyboard and the flexible substrate are stacked and the physical keyboard is pressed by pressing the flexible display screen.

[0006] In some embodiments, the flexible substrate further comprises a handle, the area of the flexible substrate is greater than the area of the flexible display screen and the physical keyboard, and the handle is arranged on the part of the flexible substrate extending out of the flexible display screen and the physical keyboard; the end of the handle is higher than the surface of the flexible display screen, and the flexible substrate is switched by sliding by pushing the handle.

[0007] In some embodiments, the shell further comprises a strip-shaped opening located at one side of the working opening; an end of the handle passes through the strip-shaped opening and is located outside the shell.

[0008] In some embodiments, the strip-shaped openings are located at two sides of the working opening respectively; the flexible substrate is provided with two handles respectively connected with the two strip-shaped openings.

[0009] In some embodiments, a guide channel is provided at one side of the flexible display screen and the physical keyboard in the cavity; an arc-shaped guide surface is provided in the guide channel towards one side of the flexible display screen and the physical keyboard; one end of the flexible substrate is bent at the arc-shaped guide surface.

[0010] In some embodiments, a magnetic induction sensor is further included, which comprises a first induction end and a second induction end; the first induction end is provided on the flexible substrate, and the second induction end is provided between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen and the top surface of the physical keyboard; when the flexible substrate is located between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen and the top surface of the physical keyboard, the first induction end and the second induction end generate a magnetic induction signal; when the flexible substrate is located between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard and the bottom surface of the cavity, the magnetic induction signal of the first induction end and the second induction end disappears.

[0011] In some embodiments, the flexible display screen comprises a touch induction film, a polaroid, a thin film packaging layer, a light-emitting layer, a thin film transistor and a stretchable circuit substrate which are sequentially stacked; and / or the physical keyboard comprises a physical button, a thin film and a circuit substrate which are sequentially stacked.

[0012] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides an electronic product comprising the multi-mode input device described above.

[0013] In some embodiments, a circuit board is further included, and the multi-mode input device is located above the circuit board; one end of the flexible display screen and the physical keyboard away from the communication end of the first supporting space and the second supporting space are respectively connected with the circuit board.

[0014] In some embodiments, the electronic product is a notebook computer, a tablet computer or a mobile terminal device.

[0015] The multi-mode input device and the electronic product provided by the present disclosure include two input modes, i.e. a touch input mode and a physical keyboard input mode. In the touch input mode, the flexible display screen can also be used as a second display to perform multi-program display application, and the switching between the two input modes can be realized by changing the position of the flexible substrate. In the technical solution of the present disclosure, the multi-input use requirements can be met, the functions of the touchpad, the display and the physical keyboard can be integrated, the structure of the device is simple, the volume is small, and the device is less limited by space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, several embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example in which:

[0017] In the drawings, identical or corresponding reference signs indicate identical or corresponding parts.

[0018] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the multi-mode input device in one mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the switching process of the multi-mode input device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the multi-mode input device in another mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 4 A front view of the housing of the multi-mode input device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] In the drawings:

[0023] 1: flexible display screen; 2: physical keyboard; 3: flexible substrate; 4: first support space; 5: second support space; 6: handle; 7: housing; 8: working opening; 9: strip-shaped opening; 10: guide channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the objectives, features and advantages of the present disclosure more obvious and easy to understand, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0025] As Figures 1 to 4As shown, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a multi-mode input device, which comprises a shell 7, a flexible display screen 1, a physical keyboard 2 and a flexible substrate 3 arranged in the shell 7; the shell 7 comprises a hollow cavity, the flexible display screen 1, the physical keyboard 2 and the flexible substrate 3 are arranged in the cavity, and the shell 7 is provided with a working opening 8 communicating with the cavity; the flexible display screen 1 covers the working opening 8 and is fixedly connected with the shell 7, the physical keyboard 2 is arranged on the flexible display screen 1, and the flexible substrate 3 is arranged between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen 1 and the top surface of the physical keyboard 2 and between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard 2 and the bottom surface of the cavity and is switched by sliding.

[0026] In the cavity, the physical keyboard 2 has a certain moving space upward or downward, and the moving action is realized by the sliding switching of the flexible substrate 3. When the flexible substrate 3 is switched by sliding to between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen 1 and the top surface of the physical keyboard 2, a first supporting space 4 is formed in the area to accommodate the flexible substrate 3, and the physical keyboard 2 is gradually lifted by the flexible substrate 3 with the sliding switching of the flexible substrate 3, wherein in the lifting process, the key part of the physical keyboard 2 is pressed downward to provide space for switching, and finally the flexible substrate 3 is switched by sliding to between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard 2 and the bottom surface of the cavity, and the flexible substrate 3 is partially left at the edge of the key of the physical keyboard 2, that is, a second supporting space 5 (equivalent to the first supporting space 4 switched to the place) is formed in the area.

[0027] The flexible display screen 1 has display and touch functions, and can also be deformed. For example, the flexible display screen 1 comprises a touch sensing film, a polaroid, a thin film packaging layer, a light emitting layer, a thin film transistor and a stretchable circuit substrate arranged in sequence.

[0028] The physical keyboard 2 comprises a physical key, a thin film and a circuit substrate arranged in sequence. After the physical key is pressed, a rebound force is generated to generate a "feedback feeling" to the user's finger.

[0029] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure of the flexible display screen 1 and the physical keyboard 2 is not improved, and the existing flexible display screen 1 and physical keyboard 2 can be used.

[0030] The flexible substrate 3 needs to have supporting ability and rollability. For example, the material of the flexible substrate 3 is aluminum foil, thinned stainless steel, etc., and the flexible substrate 3 can support the flexible display screen 1 and the physical keyboard 2 respectively, and due to the rollability, the switching between the first supporting space 4 and the second supporting space 5 can also be realized.

[0031] As shown in the figure, Figure 1As shown, when the flexible substrate 3 is located within the first support space 4, the flexible display screen 1 and the flexible substrate 3 are stacked, and the flexible display screen 1 and the physical keyboard 2 are separated by the flexible substrate 3. At this time, the flexible substrate 3 supports the flexible display screen 1, and touch operations such as handwriting input can be performed through the flexible display screen 1, or the flexible display screen 1 can function as a display screen.

[0032] When switching modes, the position of the flexible substrate 3 needs to be adjusted to move it from the first support space 4 to the second support space 5. For example... Figure 2 As shown, with the movement of the flexible substrate 3, one end of the flexible substrate 3 slides from the first support space 4 into the second support space 5. Most of the flexible substrate 3 eventually slides into the bottom of the physical keyboard 2.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, when the flexible substrate 3 is located within the second support space 5, the flexible display screen 1, the physical keyboard 2, and the flexible substrate 3 are stacked together, and the physical keyboard 2 is pressed by pressing the flexible display screen 1. At this time, the flexible substrate 3 supports the physical keyboard 2. When the physical keyboard 2 needs to be pressed, the finger presses on the flexible display screen 1 and touches the physical keyboard 2, so the feedback of pressing the physical keyboard 2 can be directly felt.

[0034] In this embodiment, the flexible display screen 1 can be used in conjunction with the physical keyboard 2 to improve the versatility and personalization of the physical keyboard 2. For example, the language or color of the letters on the keyboard can be changed via the display screen to meet the user's needs.

[0035] Continue to refer to Figures 1 to 4 As shown in the present embodiment, the flexible substrate 3 also includes a handle 6. The area of ​​the flexible substrate 3 is larger than the area of ​​the flexible display screen 1 and the physical keyboard 2. The handle 6 is provided on the portion of the flexible substrate 3 that extends beyond the flexible display screen 1 and the physical keyboard 2. The end of the handle 6 is higher than the surface of the flexible display screen 1. By pushing the handle 6, the flexible substrate 3 is moved to slide and switch within the first support space 4 and the second support space 5.

[0036] During mode switching, the position of the flexible substrate 3 is switched by moving the handle 6. The handle 6 can be moved electrically or manually. For example, a positioning post can be provided at the end of the flexible substrate 3, with the handle 6 located at the first side end of the flexible substrate 3 and the positioning post located at the second side end of the flexible substrate 3. Correspondingly, a groove is provided in the second support space 5. After the flexible substrate 3 reaches the designated position, the positioning post engages in the groove, thus defining the position between the flexible substrate 3 and the second support space 5.

[0037] In this embodiment of the disclosure, such as Figure 4As shown, the shell 7 further comprises a strip-shaped opening 9 located at one side of the working opening 8; the end of the handle 6 passes through the strip-shaped opening 9 and is located outside the shell 7.

[0038] The strip-shaped opening 9 forms a sliding track of the handle 6, and by controlling the length of the strip-shaped opening 9, the sliding position of the flexible substrate 3 can be controlled, that is, the length of the strip-shaped opening 9 can play a foolproof role, and each time the handle 6 is slid, it can be slid from one end to the other end of the strip-shaped opening 9.

[0039] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the end of the handle 6 slightly protrudes from the surface of the shell 7, which can meet the demand for pulling while not causing the surface of the shell 7 to be uneven.

[0040] For example, the strip-shaped openings 9 are arranged on both sides of the working opening 8; the flexible substrate 3 is provided with two handles 6, and the two handles 6 are connected with the two strip-shaped openings 9, respectively. For example, the two handles 6 are symmetrically arranged, and by arranging two handles, different operation habits can be met, and the two handles 6 are simultaneously operated to make the flexible substrate 3 bear force evenly and the sliding operation more smooth.

[0041] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a guide channel 10 is arranged on one side of the flexible display screen 1 and one side of one end of the first support space 4 and the second support space 5 in the cavity; the first support space 4 and the second support space 5 are communicated through the guide channel 10, and an arc-shaped guide surface is arranged on the side of the guide channel 10 facing the first support space 4 and the second support space 5.

[0042] When the flexible substrate 3 is switched between the first support space 4 and the second support space 5, the arc-shaped guide surface can make the sliding switching of the flexible substrate 3 more smooth and the pulling of the handle 6 more labor-saving.

[0043] For example, when the flexible substrate 3 is provided with a positioning column at the end, a gap for lifting the bottom of the physical keyboard 2 can be arranged in the sliding switching process, and the positioning column is first connected to the gap, thereby facilitating the lifting of the physical keyboard 2.

[0044] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the multi-mode input device further comprises a magnetic induction sensor, and the magnetic induction sensor comprises a first induction end and a second induction end; the first induction end is arranged on the flexible substrate 3, and the second induction end is arranged in the first support space 4; when the flexible substrate 3 is located in the first support space 4, the first induction end and the second induction end generate a magnetic induction signal, and when the flexible substrate 3 is located in the second support space 5, the magnetic induction signal of the first induction end and the second induction end disappears.

[0045] The magnetic induction sensor is connected with the controller of the electronic product, and the controller of the electronic product can determine the current mode according to the signal emitted by the magnetic induction sensor and switch the operating system adapted to the current mode.

[0046] The electronic product includes a notebook computer, a tablet computer or a mobile terminal device. The electronic product includes a circuit board, and the multi-mode input device is located above the circuit board. The flexible display screen 1 and the physical keyboard 2 are connected to the circuit board at one end away from the communication end of the first supporting space 4 and the second supporting space 5.

[0047] The multi-mode input device and the electronic product provided by the present disclosure include two input modes, i.e., a touch input mode and a physical keyboard 2 input mode. In the touch input mode, the flexible display screen 1 can also be used as a second display to perform multi-program display application. The two input modes are switched by changing the position of the flexible substrate 3. In the technical solution of the present disclosure, various input use requirements are met, and the functions of a touchpad, a display and a physical keyboard 2 can be integrated into one device. Meanwhile, the device has a simple structure, a small size and a small space limitation.

[0048] In the description of the present disclosure, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "an example", "a specific example" or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, the different embodiments or examples described in the present disclosure and the features of the different embodiments or examples can be combined and integrated by those skilled in the art without contradiction.

[0049] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for description purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present disclosure, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more, unless otherwise specifically limited.

[0050] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed by the present disclosure, which should be covered by the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-mode input device, characterized in that, Includes a housing (7) and a flexible display screen (1), a physical keyboard (2) and a flexible substrate (3) disposed within the housing (7). The housing (7) includes a hollow cavity, and the flexible display screen (1), the solid keyboard (2) and the flexible substrate (3) are disposed in the cavity. The panel of the housing (7) is provided with a working opening (8) that communicates with the cavity. The flexible display screen (1) blocks the working opening (8) and is fixedly connected to the housing (7). The physical keyboard (2) is stacked on top of the flexible display screen (1). The flexible substrate (3) is located between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen (1) and the top surface of the physical keyboard (2), and slides between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard (2) and the bottom surface of the cavity. When the flexible substrate (3) is located between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen (1) and the top surface of the physical keyboard (2), the flexible display screen (1) and the flexible substrate (3) are superimposed, and the flexible display screen (1) and the physical keyboard (2) are separated by the flexible substrate (3). When the flexible substrate (3) is located between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard (2) and the bottom surface of the cavity, the flexible display screen (1), the physical keyboard (2) and the flexible substrate (3) are superimposed, and the physical keyboard (2) is pressed by pressing the flexible display screen (1). The cavity is provided with a guide channel (10) on one side of the flexible display screen (1) and the physical keyboard (2); the guide channel (10) is provided with an arc-shaped guide surface on the side facing the flexible display screen (1) and the physical keyboard (2), and one end of the flexible substrate (3) bends and turns at the arc-shaped guide surface.

2. The multi-mode input device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible substrate (3) also includes a handle (6). The area of ​​the flexible substrate (3) is larger than the area of ​​the flexible display screen (1) and the physical keyboard (2). The handle (6) is provided on the portion of the flexible substrate (3) that extends out of the flexible display screen (1) and the physical keyboard (2). The end of the handle (6) is higher than the surface of the flexible display screen (1), and the flexible substrate (3) is slidably switched by pushing the handle (6).

3. The multi-mode input device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The housing (7) also includes a strip opening (9) located on one side of the working opening (8); the end of the handle (6) extends out of the strip opening (9) and is located on the outside of the housing (7).

4. The multi-mode input device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The strip openings (9) are respectively provided on both sides of the working opening (8). The flexible substrate (3) is provided with two handles (6), and the two handles (6) are respectively connected to the two strip openings (9).

5. The multi-mode input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, It also includes a magnetic induction sensor, which includes a first sensing end and a second sensing end; The first sensing end is disposed on the flexible substrate (3), and the second sensing end is disposed between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen (1) and the top surface of the physical keyboard (2); When the flexible substrate (3) is located between the bottom surface of the flexible display screen (1) and the top surface of the physical keyboard (2), the first sensing end and the second sensing end generate magnetic induction signals. When the flexible substrate (3) is located between the bottom surface of the physical keyboard (2) and the bottom surface of the cavity, the magnetic induction signals of the first sensing end and the second sensing end disappear.

6. The multi-mode input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The flexible display screen (1) comprises, in sequence, a touch-sensitive film, a polarizer, a thin-film encapsulation layer, a light-emitting layer, a thin-film transistor, and a stretchable circuit board; and / or The physical keyboard (2) includes physical keys, a membrane and a circuit board stacked on top of each other in sequence.

7. An electronic product, characterized in that, Includes the multi-mode input device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The electronic product according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a circuit board, with the multi-mode input device located above the circuit board; The flexible display screen (1) and the physical keyboard (2) are respectively connected to the circuit board at the ends away from the first support space (4) and the second support space (5).

9. The electronic product according to claim 7, characterized in that, The electronic product is a laptop or tablet computer.

Images