Control method, keyboard and electronic device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a control method, a keyboard and an electronic device. The method comprises: in response to a target operation acting on a key contact in the keyboard, determining a key position mode of the keyboard; based on the key position mode, determining a key value of the key contact in the keyboard; wherein the keyboard comprises a plurality of first keycaps and at least one second keycap; the first keycap corresponds to only one first key contact, and the key values of the first key contacts are different; the second keycap corresponds to at least two second key contacts, and the key values of the at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contact and the second key contact constitutes a target character set of the keyboard; in response to the key contact corresponding to any keycap being triggered, based on the key value of the triggered key contact, determining a key signal of any keycap.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of keyboard technology, and more specifically, to a control method, keyboard, and electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Keyboard devices from different countries or regions have a variety of different key layout designs, which means that different keyboard structures need to be used when configuring different types of keyboard devices. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a control method, a keyboard, and an electronic device.

[0004] The first aspect of this disclosure provides a control method, comprising:

[0005] In response to the target operation applied to the key contacts on the keyboard, determine the keyboard key pattern;

[0006] Based on the key pattern, determine the key value of the key contact point in the keyboard;

[0007] The keyboard includes multiple first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one first key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two second key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard;

[0008] In response to the triggering of the key contact corresponding to any keycap, the key signal of any keycap is determined based on the key value of the triggered key contact.

[0009] According to embodiments of this disclosure, determining the key value of a key contact point on a keyboard based on the key pattern includes at least one of the following:

[0010] When the keyboard is in the first key mode, configure the key values ​​of at least two second key contacts to be the same;

[0011] When the keyboard is in the second key mode, configure the key values ​​of at least two second key contacts to be different.

[0012] According to embodiments of this disclosure, determining the key value of a key contact point on a keyboard based on the key pattern further includes:

[0013] Based on the key pattern, control the connection relationship between key contacts;

[0014] Specifically, when at least two buttons are connected to each other, the key values ​​between the button contacts are the same; when at least two buttons are not connected to each other, the key values ​​between the button contacts are different.

[0015] According to embodiments of this disclosure, determining the key value of a key contact point on a keyboard based on the key pattern further includes:

[0016] Based on the key output mode, the driving mode of the driving circuit in the electronic device is determined; the driving circuit is used to receive the status signal when the key contact is triggered, and to determine the key value of the triggered key contact based on the status signal.

[0017] In different driving modes, the driving circuit determines the key value of the triggered button contact based on the status signal.

[0018] According to embodiments of this disclosure, controlling the connection relationship between key contacts based on key pattern includes at least one of the following:

[0019] Based on the first key pattern, control at least two first key contacts to connect to a target contact, where the target contact is any one of the at least two first key contacts;

[0020] Based on the second key pattern, control the disconnection of at least two second key contacts.

[0021] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the driving mode of the driving circuit in the electronic device is determined based on the key output mode, including at least one of the following:

[0022] For the first key contact, based on the key pattern, the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined to be the first driving mode; wherein, in the first driving mode, the driving circuit is configured to convert the received status signals of each first key contact into the same key value.

[0023] For the second key contact, based on the key pattern, the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined to be the second driving mode; wherein, in the second driving mode, the driving circuit is configured to convert the received state signals of each second key contact into different key values.

[0024] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a keyboard, including: a keyboard base and keycaps;

[0025] The keyboard base has multiple key contacts on one side, and the key value of each key contact is determined based on the keyboard's key layout.

[0026] Keycaps are mounted on the corresponding key contacts;

[0027] The keycaps include multiple first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one first key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two second key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard;

[0028] The key signal of any keycap is determined based on the key value of the corresponding key contact point.

[0029] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the keyboard further includes a control component;

[0030] Control components for adjusting the keyboard's key layout;

[0031] When the keyboard is in first key mode, at least two first key contacts are adjusted to the same key value;

[0032] When the keyboard is in second key mode, at least two second key contacts are adjusted to different key values.

[0033] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the keyboard further includes a driving circuit;

[0034] The driving circuit is used to receive the status signal when the key contact is triggered, and to determine the key value of the triggered key contact based on the status signal.

[0035] In different driving modes, the driving circuit determines the key value of the triggered key contact based on the status signal; the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined based on the key position mode.

[0036] A third aspect of this disclosure provides an electronic device, including: a keyboard and a processor;

[0037] A keyboard consists of a keyboard base and keycaps;

[0038] The keyboard base has multiple key contacts on one side; the key value of each key contact is determined based on the keyboard's key layout; keycaps are mounted on the corresponding key contacts.

[0039] The keycaps include multiple first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two key contacts, and the key values ​​of at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard;

[0040] When a key contact corresponding to any keycap is triggered, the processor generates a key signal for that keycap based on the key value of the triggered key contact.

[0041] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0042] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become clearer from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0043] Figure 1 The schematic diagram illustrates a flow chart of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] Figure 2 The illustration shows one of the schematic diagrams of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0045] Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a second schematic representation of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the principle of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (Figure 3).

[0047] Figure 5 The fourth schematic diagram illustrates the principle of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] Figure 6 The fifth schematic diagram illustrates the principle of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] Figure 7 A block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure for ease of explanation. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and techniques are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0051] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. The terms “comprising,” “including,” etc., as used herein indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, or components.

[0052] All terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein are to be interpreted in a manner consistent with the context of this specification, and not in an idealized or overly rigid way.

[0053] When using expressions such as "at least one of A, B and C", they should generally be interpreted in accordance with the meaning that is commonly understood by those skilled in the art (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B and C" should include, but is not limited to, a system having A alone, a system having B alone, a system having C alone, a system having A and B, a system having A and C, a system having B and C, and / or a system having A, B and C, etc.).

[0054] The relevant technologies involved in the embodiments of this disclosure will be described below.

[0055] In related technologies, different countries and regions have developed various keyboard layout standards due to differences in language and writing habits and character input needs. These keyboards differ significantly in the physical position of keycaps, key character mapping, and the functional combinations of some keys. For example, some keyboards have a single "Shift" key in the lower left corner, while others have two keys with independent values ​​in the corresponding position. These differences in physical layout and key value configuration lead to customized keyboard structural designs.

[0056] To adapt to the keyboard layout standards of different countries and regions, the keyboard manufacturing process requires the development of independent molds for different keyboards to make keycaps, keyboard bases and other structural components that match different layouts. At the same time, because the keycap positions are different under different layouts, the keyboard's circuit structure also needs to be customized to adjust the keycap positions and adapt to the positioning requirements of the key contacts.

[0057] In view of the above, this disclosure provides a control method, comprising: determining a key pattern of the keyboard in response to a target operation acting on key contacts in the keyboard; determining key values ​​of key contacts in the keyboard based on the key pattern; wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one first key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two second key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes a target character set of the keyboard; and determining a key signal of any keycap based on the key value of the triggered key contact in response to a key contact corresponding to any keycap being triggered.

[0058] Figure 1 The schematic diagram illustrates a flow chart of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, the control method includes operations S110 to S130.

[0060] Operation S110, in response to a target operation acting on a key contact point on the keyboard, determines the keyboard key mode.

[0061] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the target operation is directed to the key contacts in the keyboard. Different target operations may target different or the same key contacts. When a user needs to adapt the keyboard to a specific key pattern, the key pattern of the keyboard is changed by triggering the target operation, adjusting the key value of a single key contact, adjusting the key value obtained by the combination of multiple key contacts, or adjusting the connection relationship between key contacts.

[0062] In the embodiments of this disclosure, when the key layout of the keyboard changes, at least some of the key contacts will generate different key signals after being triggered.

[0063] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the key value of the key contact is the driving signal value generated after the state signal generated by the corresponding key contact when it is pressed is input to the driving circuit of the keyboard.

[0064] In embodiments of this disclosure, one or more drive signal values ​​can be input into an electronic device configured with a keyboard, and after processing by the electronic device, they can be converted into specific character signals, i.e. key signals.

[0065] Operator S120 determines the key value of the key contact point on the keyboard based on the key pattern.

[0066] The keyboard includes multiple first keycaps and at least one second keycap. Each first keycap corresponds to only one first key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different. Each second keycap corresponds to at least two second key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are different. The key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard.

[0067] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the first keycap is a keycap in the keyboard that corresponds to only one key contact. The key value of the first key contact corresponding to each first keycap is different. When the key contact corresponding to the first keycap is triggered, a key signal is generated in the electronic device using the keyboard based on the key value of the single key contact.

[0068] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the second keycap is a keycap in the keyboard that corresponds to at least two key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two key contacts are different from each other. When the key contact corresponding to the second keycap is triggered, a key signal is generated in the electronic device using the keyboard based on the key values ​​of the at least two key contacts.

[0069] Operation S130: In response to the triggering of the key contact corresponding to any keycap, the key signal of any keycap is determined based on the key value of the triggered key contact.

[0070] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the target character set is a set of mapping relationships consisting of key value combinations between different key contacts and mapping relationships between keycap characters. The electronic device can determine the key signal when it receives one or more key values ​​generated by the keyboard at a certain point in time by using the calibrated mapping relationships in the target character set.

[0071] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the above control method can be applied to a keyboard device with keyboard functionality. When the keyboard device is connected to another device, the keyboard device can respond to the triggering of the key contact corresponding to any keycap, determine the key signal of any keycap based on the key value of the triggered key contact, and input the key signal to the other device.

[0072] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the above control method can be applied to an electronic device connected to a keyboard; when the electronic device is communicatively connected to the keyboard, the electronic device can respond to the triggering of a key contact corresponding to any keycap, and generate a key signal for any keycap in the electronic device based on the key value of the triggered key contact.

[0073] In some application scenarios, some electronic devices have a keyboard function structure to perform operations S110 to S130.

[0074] Figure 2 The illustration shows one of the schematic diagrams of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0075] For example, such as Figure 2 The diagram shows the key contact areas corresponding to some keycap areas of the keyboard. These key contact areas include 12 key contacts, from A1 to C4. Keycap X corresponds to key contact A1, keycap Y corresponds to key contact A3, and keycap Z corresponds to key contacts C1 and C2. When key contact A1 of keycap X is triggered, the key signal corresponding to keycap X is generated based on the keycap character mapped to the target character set by key contact A1. When key contact A3 of keycap Y is triggered, the key signal corresponding to keycap Y is generated based on the keycap character mapped to the target character set by key contact A3. When key contacts C1 and / or C2 of keycap Z are triggered, the key signal corresponding to keycap Y is generated based on the keycap character mapped to the target character set by key contact C1 and / or C2.

[0076] By using the above method, the adaptation relationship between the first keycap, the second keycap and the corresponding key contact is configured respectively. The key contact key value is determined by combining the key pattern and the key signal is generated. This avoids the fixed correspondence between a single keycap and a single contact in the keyboard and realizes the flexible adaptation between key contacts and keycaps. Different keyboard configuration requirements can be built with only one set of hardware structure. There is no need to develop molds and custom circuit boards for different types of keyboard layouts, which reduces the development and manufacturing costs of the keyboard.

[0077] According to the embodiments of this disclosure, in operation S120, the key value of the key contact point in the keyboard is determined based on the key pattern, including operations S1201 to S1202.

[0078] Operation S1201 configures the key values ​​of at least two second key contacts to the same key value when the keyboard is in the first key mode;

[0079] Operate S1201 to configure the key values ​​of at least two second key contacts to different key values ​​when the keyboard is in the second key mode.

[0080] In the embodiments of this disclosure, each key mode is configured with at least one of the following: the correspondence between keycaps and key contacts, and the key value of each key contact.

[0081] Furthermore, when the key layout changes, the correspondence between the keycaps and the key contacts will change, or the key value of at least one key contact on the keyboard will change; or, the correspondence between the keycaps and the key contacts will change, and at the same time, the key value of at least one key contact on the keyboard will change.

[0082] Specifically, in operation S1201, in response to the target operation acting on the key contacts in the keyboard, after determining that the keyboard key mode is the first key mode, the key values ​​of at least two key contacts corresponding to the second keycap are configured to be the same key value, so that when the second keycap is pressed, the corresponding at least two key contacts generate the same key value input to the electronic device connected to the keyboard; at this time, since at least two key contacts generate the same key value at the same time, a key signal for the second keycap is generated in the electronic device based on the key value.

[0083] Specifically, in operation S1202, in response to the target operation acting on the key contacts in the keyboard, after determining that the keyboard key mode is the second key mode, the key values ​​of at least two key contacts corresponding to the second keycap are configured to be different key values; for example, when the key values ​​of the two key contacts corresponding to the second keycap are configured to be different key values, when one of the key contacts is triggered alone, a key signal of the first keycap type is generated in the electronic device based on the key value of that key contact.

[0084] Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a second schematic representation of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0085] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, when the keyboard is in the second key mode, the key values ​​of key contacts C1 and C2 are configured to be different. Simultaneously, a keycap is configured for key contact C1. By configuring keycaps for key contacts C2 This changes the area corresponding to the original keycap Z to a keycap that can have two different keys.

[0086] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the first key contact and the second key contact can be converted to each other based on the key position mode of the key. That is, when multiple key contacts determine the key signal of a keycap, the key contact is the second key contact; when a single key contact determines the key signal of a keycap, the key contact is the first key contact.

[0087] By adopting the above method, a key value differentiation configuration method based on different key position modes is constructed for the second key contact. By configuring at least two second key contacts with the same or different key values ​​in different key position modes, the function of the same group of second key contacts can be flexibly switched under different layout requirements. It can meet the needs of large key layouts with a single keycap corresponding to multiple contacts, as well as the standard layout requirements of multiple keycaps corresponding to multiple contacts. Different keyboard layout requirements can be adapted simply by adjusting the key value configuration, without disassembling or replacing the keyboard hardware structure, thus improving the convenience of keyboard key position mode switching.

[0088] In some scenarios, after determining the key layout, the key values ​​of multiple second key contacts corresponding to the second keycap are configured such that the key values ​​of the first part of the key contacts are the same, while the key values ​​of the second part of the key contacts are all different. If there is only one key contact in the second part, the key value of the key contact in the second part is different from the key value of the key contact in the first part. Subsequently, when a key contact in the first part is triggered, a new key signal can be generated based on the key value of the key contact in the first part; when one key contact in the second part is triggered, a new key signal can also be generated based on the key value of that single key contact.

[0089] Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the principle of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0090] like Figure 4 As shown, the key contacts configured for the second keycap E include: key contact B1, key contact C1, and key contact C2; after changing the key layout mode, key contacts B1 and C1 interact with the new second keycap. Correspondingly, key contact C2 and the new first keycap correspond.

[0091] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, in operation S120, determining the key value of the key contact point in the keyboard based on the key pattern, the operation further includes operation S1203.

[0092] Operation S1203 controls the connection relationship between key contacts based on the key pattern; wherein, when at least two keys are connected to each other, the key values ​​between the key contacts are the same; when at least two keys are not connected to each other, the key values ​​between the key contacts are different.

[0093] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the connection relationship between key contacts can be implemented through hardware circuitry or software configuration. For example, an electronic switch can be set in the keyboard's drive circuit, and the on / off state of the switch can be controlled by a key mode signal, thereby changing the electrical connection between the key contacts.

[0094] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, when the keyboard is in the first key mode, the control component connects key contacts C1 and C2 together via an electronic switch. At this time, these two contacts are electrically equivalent to one contact, and therefore their key values ​​are configured to the same key value Z. When the user presses the second keycap Z covering these two contacts, regardless of the press position, the drive circuit detects a unified signal and outputs the key value Z, thus generating the corresponding key signal. And... Figure 3 In the second key configuration shown, the control component disconnects the connection between key contacts C1 and C2. At this time, these two contacts are electrically independent and can therefore be configured with different key values ​​Z1 and Z2. When the user presses these two contacts respectively, the drive circuit detects different signals and outputs different key values, thus generating two different key signals corresponding to two new keycaps Z1 and Z2.

[0095] By associating key patterns with the connection relationships of key contacts, the corresponding logic between contact connection states and key values ​​is clarified. This enables the control of key contact function output from the hardware electrical connection level. Multiple contact key values ​​can be unified or independent through simple contact on / off control. The hardware control method offers faster response speed and higher stability. Furthermore, this method only adjusts the contact connection relationships to achieve functional changes without altering the original physical structure of the keyboard hardware.

[0096] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, in operation S120, determining the key value of the key contact point in the keyboard based on the key pattern, the operation further includes operation S1204.

[0097] Operation S1204 determines the driving mode of the driving circuit in the electronic device based on the key output mode; the driving circuit is used to receive the status signal when the key contact is triggered, and determine the key value of the triggered key contact based on the status signal; wherein, the driving circuit determines the key value of the triggered key contact differently based on the status signal in different driving modes.

[0098] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the key output mode refers to the specific way in which the keyboard outputs key value signals to the electronic device after the key contacts are triggered under different key modes. The key output mode is the manifestation of the key mode at the output level, and determines how the driving circuit converts the physical state signals of the key contacts into the final key values.

[0099] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the driving circuit is a circuit module inside the keyboard, used to scan and detect the on / off state (status signal) of all key contacts in real time, and convert these status signals into corresponding digital key values ​​according to the currently configured driving mode, and then send them to the connected electronic device.

[0100] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the driving mode is a pre-configured operating configuration within the driving circuit, defining how the driving circuit processes and converts the state signals of the key contacts. Under different driving modes, even if the same key contact is triggered, the driving circuit may output different key values, thereby achieving dynamic switching of keyboard functions. It should be noted that the driving mode can also be added or modified based on user needs.

[0101] For example, the driving circuit can be based on the keyboard's main control chip or a dedicated key scanning chip to implement its functions. Switching between driving modes can be achieved by writing different configuration register values ​​to the chip. For instance, in the first driving mode, the driving circuit is configured in "merge scan" mode, such as... Figure 2 As shown, when it is detected that key contacts C1 and C2 are pressed at the same time, the logic inside the drive circuit will calculate the status signals of the two contacts, merge them into a single status signal, and output a preset key value.

[0102] For example, in the second driving mode, the driving circuit is configured in "independent scanning" mode. When a key contact C1 or C2 is detected to be pressed, the driving circuit will identify the two independent status signals respectively and output two different key values ​​(such as Z1 and Z2) according to their positions in the scanning matrix.

[0103] The above method achieves linkage between key position mode and key value conversion at the driving mode level of the driving circuit. By matching the driving mode of the driving circuit with the key position mode, the driving circuit processes the status signals of the key contacts according to different rules, enabling flexible key value conversion without changing the keyboard hardware contact connection relationship. Simultaneously, the key position mode switching logic is transferred to the working configuration of the driving circuit, eliminating the need for additional hardware control components, simplifying the keyboard's hardware structure design, and reducing the complexity of hardware production and assembly. Furthermore, driving mode switching can be quickly completed via commands, making key position mode adjustments more flexible and scalable. New driving modes can be quickly configured according to different needs, meeting customized keyboard mode requirements and improving the keyboard's functional adaptability.

[0104] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, in operation S1203, based on the key pattern, the connection relationship between the key contacts is controlled, including at least one of operation S1203A to operation S1203B.

[0105] Operation S1203A controls at least two of the first key contacts to connect to a target contact based on the first key pattern, wherein the target contact is any one of the at least two first key contacts.

[0106] Operation S1203B controls the disconnection of at least two second button contacts based on the second key pattern.

[0107] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the connection relationship between key contacts is controlled based on the key pattern. Specifically, an electronic switch array is configured in the control component of the keyboard. The on / off state of the electronic switch array is controlled by the key pattern of the keyboard. Each electronic switch in the electronic switch array is connected to a different key contact, thereby realizing the switching of the electrical connection relationship between different key contacts.

[0108] Specifically, in operation S1203A, when at least two first key contacts are connected to a target contact based on a first key mode, where the target contact is any one of the at least two first key contacts, the control component will, according to the configuration instructions of the first key mode, activate the electronic switch between the target contact and the remaining first key contacts to be connected, thus creating a short circuit at the electrical level. At this time, all first key contacts connected to the target contact are equivalent to the target contact. When the drive circuit detects the key contact status, it only recognizes the on / off signal of the target contact, and the key values ​​of all first key contacts connected to the target contact are configured to be consistent with the key value of the target contact. Even if the keycap area corresponding to any first key contact is pressed, the drive circuit will output the key value corresponding to the target contact, thereby generating the same key signal.

[0109] For example, the keyboard has three first key contacts: A1, B1, and C1. C1 is selected as the target contact. When the keyboard is in the first key position mode, the control component activates the electronic switches between A1 and C1, and B1 and C1, making A1 and B1 electrically connected to C1. At this time, the key values ​​of A1 and B1 are consistent with the key value of C1. After the user installs a second keycap in the area of ​​these three first key contacts, pressing any position of the second keycap will trigger any of the first key contacts A1, B1, or C1. The drive circuit will output the corresponding key signal based on the key value of C1, thus merging the functions of multiple first key contacts.

[0110] Specifically, in operation S1203B, when at least two second key contacts are disconnected based on the second key mode, the control component will disconnect the electronic switches between the previously interconnected second key contacts according to the configuration instructions of the second key mode, restoring these second key contacts to independent electrical states, and the on / off signals of each second key contact will no longer affect each other. The drive circuit will identify the on / off state of each second key contact, and the key value of each second key contact will be reconfigured to a different independent key value. At this time, the second keycaps originally covering the multiple second key contacts can be separated into multiple first keycaps, which are respectively assembled in the area corresponding to each second key contact. When different first keycaps are pressed to trigger the corresponding second key contact, the drive circuit will output the corresponding key signal based on the independent key value of the second key contact, realizing the functional separation of multiple key contacts corresponding to a single second keycap.

[0111] For example, when the keyboard switches from the first key layout mode to the second key layout mode, the control component immediately disconnects the electronic switches between A1 and C1, and B1 and C1, restoring the previously connected A1, B1, and C1 to three independent key contacts. Simultaneously, the drive circuit configures the key values ​​of A1, B1, and C1 to different independent key values. By assembling independent first keycaps in the areas corresponding to the three key contacts, pressing different first keycaps will cause the drive circuit to output different key signals based on the key values ​​of each key contact, thus completing the switch from function merging to function splitting.

[0112] In the embodiments of this disclosure, for the control process of the connection relationship of the key contacts, the control component will first complete the on / off switching of the electronic switch, and then synchronously send a key value configuration update command to the drive circuit to ensure that the connection relationship of the key contacts is synchronized with the key value configuration, so as to avoid the situation where the key signal output error is caused by the mismatch between the key value and the connection relationship.

[0113] It should be noted that the method of controlling the connection relationship of key contacts based on electronic switch array in this disclosure can adapt to the switching of different numbers of key contact combinations and meet the key contact connection requirements of various key position modes.

[0114] By controlling the on / off state of the key contacts, the merging and splitting of key functions can be achieved. The hardware control logic is simple and easy to implement, without the need to modify the core structure such as the keyboard base and keycaps, and it has strong adaptability. It enables fast and stable switching of the keyboard under different layout requirements.

[0115] According to embodiments of this disclosure, in operation S1204, the driving mode of the driving circuit in the electronic device is determined based on the key output mode, including at least one of operation S1204A to operation S1204B.

[0116] Operation S1204A determines the driving mode of the driving circuit to be the first driving mode based on the key position mode for the first key contact; wherein, in the first driving mode, the driving circuit is configured to convert the received status signals of each first key contact into the same key value.

[0117] Operation S1204A determines the driving mode of the driving circuit to be the second driving mode based on the key pattern for the second key contact; wherein, in the second driving mode, the driving circuit is configured to convert the received status signals of each second key contact into different key values.

[0118] Specifically, for operations S1204A to S1204B, during the determination and switching of the driving mode of the entire driving circuit, the driving circuit only matches and executes the corresponding status signal conversion rules according to the current key position mode of the keyboard, and performs key value conversion processing on the received key contact status signals. The conversion rules of different driving modes only apply to the conversion link from status signals to key values, and do not involve any hardware-level adjustments or changes to the connection relationship or assembly structure of the key contacts at the physical level of the keyboard. The key value conversion logic is adjusted only by switching the driving mode to adapt to the key value output requirements of different key position modes.

[0119] Furthermore, when operating S1204A and determining the driving mode of the driving circuit as the first driving mode based on the key pattern, in this driving mode, the driving circuit will normalize the status signal of the first key contact corresponding to the first keycap. Regardless of whether a single or multiple first key contacts in the first keycap trigger to generate a status signal, the driving circuit will uniformly convert these status signals into the same key value. The independent status signals of each first key contact corresponding to the first keycap are no longer individually identified and converted, but are only used as the overall trigger signal to complete one key value conversion, thereby realizing the conversion of the status signals of multiple first key contacts into a single key value.

[0120] For example, when the keyboard is... Figure 3 The key binding mode has been changed to Figure 2 In the key mode, the keyboard is equipped with key contacts C1 and C2. The driving mode of the driving circuit is determined to be the first driving mode. At this time, no matter which one or more key contacts C1 and C2 are pressed by the user, after the driving circuit receives the corresponding one or more status signals, it will convert these status signals into the same preset key value according to the configuration of the first driving mode. It will not perform separate key value conversion for the status signal of each first key contact, so as to achieve the effect of multiple contacts triggering a single key value output.

[0121] Furthermore, regarding the second button contact, when the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined to be the second driving mode based on the key pattern, in this driving mode, the driving circuit will independently identify and process the status signals of each received second button contact. The status signal generated by each second button contact will be converted into the corresponding key value by the driving circuit separately. The status signals of different second button contacts will not be merged and processed. Each status signal will complete an independent key value conversion, realizing the separate conversion of multiple second button contact status signals into multiple independent key values.

[0122] For example, when the keyboard is... Figure 2 The key binding mode has been changed to Figure 3 In the key layout mode, the keyboard has key contacts C1 and C2. The driving mode of the drive circuit is determined to be the second driving mode. When the user presses and triggers any one or more key contacts C1 and C2, the drive circuit receives the corresponding status signal and, according to the configuration of the second driving mode, individually identifies the status signal of each contact, converting the status signal of key contact C1 into its corresponding independent key value, and the status signal of key contact C2 into its corresponding independent key value. If multiple contacts are triggered simultaneously, the drive circuit will synchronously complete the conversion and output of multiple independent key values, achieving the effect of multiple contacts triggering corresponding to multiple independent key values ​​output to the electronic device, so that the electronic device will simultaneously generate keycaps. and keycaps The button signal.

[0123] The above method achieves precise matching between the driving mode and the key contact type, ensuring that different types of contacts can stably output key values ​​that meet the layout requirements under the corresponding driving mode. At the same time, the merging and splitting of multi-contact functions can be achieved simply by adjusting the conversion rules of the driving circuit, without any hardware operation, making the switching of keyboard key modes more convenient and efficient. Furthermore, the differentiated configuration of the driving mode can flexibly adapt to different numbers and types of key contact combinations, greatly improving the adaptability of the driving circuit to different keyboard layouts.

[0124] This disclosure also provides a keyboard, including: a keyboard base and keycaps;

[0125] The keyboard base has multiple key contacts on one side, and the key value of each key contact is determined based on the keyboard's key layout.

[0126] Keycaps are mounted on the corresponding key contacts;

[0127] The keycaps include multiple first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one first key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two second key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard;

[0128] The key signal of any keycap is determined based on the key value of the corresponding key contact point.

[0129] In the embodiments of this disclosure, the keyboard base is the basic support structure of the keyboard and the mounting carrier for various functional components of the keyboard. The side surface of the keyboard facing the keycaps has a number of key contacts distributed according to a preset layout rule for triggering key presses. The arrangement of these key contacts is adapted to the assembly position of the keycaps. The keyboard base provides a stable assembly support foundation for the keycaps, and at the same time, the key contacts on it realize the linkage triggering with the keycap pressing action.

[0130] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the keyboard further includes a control component;

[0131] A control component for adjusting the key layout mode of the keyboard; wherein, when the keyboard is in a first key layout mode, at least two first key contacts are adjusted to the same key value; and when the keyboard is in a second key layout mode, at least two second key contacts are adjusted to different key values.

[0132] In embodiments of this disclosure, the control component may be a button switch configured outside the keyboard. By triggering different button switches, the driving circuit and the way the internal processor processes the state signals of the button contacts are adjusted, so that the key values ​​between specific key contacts become the same or different, thereby controlling the key mode of the keyboard.

[0133] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the control component is further configured to:

[0134] Based on the key pattern, control the connection relationship between key contacts;

[0135] Specifically, when at least two buttons are connected to each other, the key values ​​between the button contacts are the same; when at least two buttons are not connected to each other, the key values ​​between the button contacts are different.

[0136] In embodiments of this disclosure, the control component may be a hardware switch structure for adjusting the connection relationship between key contacts. By determining the connection relationship between specific key contacts in different key modes, the key values ​​between specific key contacts become the same or different, thereby controlling the key mode of the keyboard.

[0137] Figure 5 The fourth schematic diagram illustrates the principle of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0138] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, button contact C1 and button contact C2 are connected together by a contact piece and then connected to the drive circuit, where they are configured with the same key value. When the contact piece is rotated, button contact C1 and button contact C2 are disconnected and are configured with different key values.

[0139] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the control component is further configured to:

[0140] Based on the first key pattern, control at least two first key contacts to connect to a target contact, where the target contact is any one of the at least two first key contacts;

[0141] Based on the second key pattern, control the disconnection of at least two second key contacts.

[0142] Figure 6 The fifth schematic diagram illustrates the principle of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0143] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, the control component adjusts the connection relationship between two key contacts based on the key pattern. When the two key contacts are connected to the target contact, they share a keycap and input the same key value when triggered. When the two key contacts are disconnected, they are configured with two different keycaps and generate different key values ​​when triggered.

[0144] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the keyboard further includes a driving circuit;

[0145] The driving circuit is used to receive the status signal when the key contact is triggered, and determine the key value of the triggered key contact based on the status signal; wherein, the driving circuit determines the key value of the triggered key contact differently based on the status signal in different driving modes; the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined based on the key position mode.

[0146] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the driving circuit is further configured to:

[0147] For the first key contact, based on the key pattern, the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined to be the first driving mode; wherein, in the first driving mode, the driving circuit is configured to convert the received status signals of each first key contact into the same key value.

[0148] For the second key contact, based on the key pattern, the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined to be the second driving mode; wherein, in the second driving mode, the driving circuit is configured to convert the received state signals of each second key contact into different key values.

[0149] It should be noted that the keyboard in the embodiments of this disclosure corresponds to the method part in the embodiments of this disclosure, and their specific implementation details are the same. For the embodiments not mentioned, please refer to the embodiments on the method side, which will not be repeated here.

[0150] This disclosure also provides an electronic device, including: a keyboard and a processor;

[0151] A keyboard consists of a keyboard base and keycaps;

[0152] The keyboard base has multiple key contacts on one side; the key value of each key contact is determined based on the keyboard's key layout; keycaps are mounted on the corresponding key contacts.

[0153] The keycaps include multiple first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two key contacts, and the key values ​​of at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard;

[0154] When a key contact corresponding to any keycap is triggered, the processor generates a key signal for that keycap based on the key value of the triggered key contact.

[0155] In embodiments of this disclosure, the electronic device can be connected to an external keyboard or can be directly configured with a non-removable keyboard assembly. The processor of the electronic device receives key values ​​input from the keyboard and generates key signals based on the mapping relationship between key values ​​and key signals. Multiple key values ​​can be input simultaneously into the electronic device, or it can be a single key value.

[0156] Figure 7 A block diagram of an electronic device suitable for implementing the control method described above, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown schematically. Figure 7 The electronic device shown is merely an example and should not be construed as limiting the functionality and scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0157] like Figure 7As shown, an electronic device 700 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processor 701, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 702 or a program loaded from a storage portion 708 into a random access memory (RAM) 703. The processor 701 may include, for example, a general-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a CPU), an instruction set processor and / or an associated chipset and / or a special-purpose microprocessor (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), etc. The processor 701 may also include onboard memory configured for caching purposes. The processor 701 may include a single processing unit or multiple processing units configured to perform different actions of the method flow according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0158] RAM 703 stores various programs and data required for the operation of electronic device 700. Processor 701, ROM 702, and RAM 703 are interconnected via bus 704. Processor 701 performs various operations of the method flow according to embodiments of the present disclosure by executing programs in ROM 702 and / or RAM 703. It should be noted that the programs may also be stored in one or more memories other than ROM 702 and RAM 703. Processor 701 may also perform various operations of the method flow according to embodiments of the present disclosure by executing programs stored in said one or more memories.

[0159] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the electronic device 700 may further include an input / output (I / O) interface 705, which is also connected to a bus 704. The electronic device 700 may also include one or more of the following components connected to the input / output (I / O) interface 705: an input section 706 including a keyboard, mouse, etc.; an output section 707 including a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., and a speaker, etc.; a storage section 708 including a hard disk, etc.; and a communication section 709 including a network interface card such as a LAN card, modem, etc. The communication section 709 performs communication processing via a network such as the Internet. A drive 710 is also connected to the input / output (I / O) interface 705 as needed. A removable medium 711, such as a disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, semiconductor memory, etc., is installed on the drive 710 as needed so that computer programs read from it can be installed into the storage section 708 as needed.

[0160] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the method flow according to embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented as a computer software program. For example, embodiments of this disclosure include a computer program product comprising a computer program carried on a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program containing program code configured to perform the methods shown in the flowchart. In such embodiments, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via communication section 709, and / or installed from removable medium 711. When the computer program is executed by processor 701, it performs the functions defined in the system of embodiments of this disclosure. According to embodiments of this disclosure, the systems, devices, apparatuses, modules, units, etc., described above can be implemented by computer program modules.

[0161] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which may be included in the device / apparatus / system described in the above embodiments; or it may exist independently and not assembled into the device / apparatus / system. The computer-readable storage medium carries one or more programs that, when executed, implement the method according to the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0162] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the computer-readable storage medium can be a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. Examples include, but are not limited to: portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof. In this disclosure, the computer-readable storage medium can be any tangible medium that contains or stores a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0163] For example, according to embodiments of this disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium may include the ROM 702 and / or RAM 703 described above and / or one or more memories other than ROM 702 and RAM 703.

[0164] Embodiments of this disclosure also include a computer program product comprising a computer program containing program code configured to perform the methods provided in embodiments of this disclosure. When the computer program product is run on an electronic device, the program code is configured to cause the electronic device to implement the control methods provided in embodiments of this disclosure.

[0165] When the computer program is executed by the processor 701, it performs the functions defined in the system / apparatus of this disclosure embodiments. According to embodiments of this disclosure, the systems, apparatuses, modules, units, etc., described above can be implemented by computer program modules.

[0166] In one embodiment, the computer program may rely on a tangible storage medium such as an optical storage device or a magnetic storage device. In another embodiment, the computer program may also be transmitted and distributed in the form of signals over a network medium, and may be downloaded and installed via the communication section 709, and / or installed from a removable medium 711. The program code contained in the computer program can be transmitted using any suitable network medium, including but not limited to: wireless, wired, etc., or any suitable combination thereof.

[0167] According to embodiments of this disclosure, program code configured to execute the computer programs provided in embodiments of this disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. Specifically, these computational programs can be implemented using high-level procedural and / or object-oriented programming languages, and / or assembly / machine languages. Programming languages ​​include, but are not limited to, languages ​​such as Java, C++, Python, "C", or similar programming languages. The program code can execute entirely on a user's computing device, partially on a user's device, partially on a remote computing device, or entirely on a remote computing device or server. In cases involving remote computing devices, the remote computing device can be connected to the user's computing device via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or it can be connected to an external computing device (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0168] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions configured to perform a specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions indicated in the blocks may occur in a different order than those indicated in the drawings. For example, two consecutively indicated blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in a block diagram or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram or flowchart, may be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or operation, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions. Those skilled in the art will understand that the features described in the various embodiments of the present disclosure can be combined and / or combined in various ways, even if such combinations are not explicitly described in the present disclosure. In particular, the features described in the various embodiments of this disclosure may be combined and / or combined in various ways without departing from the spirit and teachings of this disclosure. All such combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0169] The embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. However, these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Although various embodiments have been described above, this does not mean that the measures in the various embodiments cannot be used advantageously in combination. Various substitutions and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure, and all such substitutions and modifications should fall within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A control method, comprising: In response to a target operation acting on a key contact point on the keyboard, the key pattern of the keyboard is determined; Based on the key pattern, determine the key value of the key contact point in the keyboard; The keyboard includes a plurality of first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one first key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two second key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard; In response to the triggering of a key contact corresponding to any keycap, the key signal of any keycap is determined based on the key value of the triggered key contact.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the key value of the key contact point in the keyboard based on the key pattern includes at least one of the following: When the keyboard is in the first key mode, the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are configured to be the same. When the keyboard is in the second key position mode, the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are configured to different key values.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining the key value of the key contact point in the keyboard based on the key pattern: Based on the key pattern, control the connection relationship between the key contacts; Wherein, when the at least two buttons are connected to each other, the key values ​​between the button contacts are the same; when the at least two buttons are not connected to each other, the key values ​​between the button contacts are different.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining the key value of the key contact point in the keyboard based on the key pattern: Based on the key output mode, determine the driving mode of the driving circuit in the electronic device; The driving circuit is used to receive the status signal when the key contact is triggered, and to determine the key value of the triggered key contact based on the status signal. In different driving modes, the driving circuit determines the key value of the triggered button contact differently based on the status signal.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein controlling the connection relationship between the key contacts based on the key pattern includes at least one of the following: Based on the first key pattern, control at least two of the first key contacts to connect to a target contact, wherein the target contact is any one of the at least two first key contacts; Based on the second key pattern, control the disconnection of at least two second key contacts.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein determining the driving mode of the driving circuit in the electronic device based on the key output mode includes at least one of the following: For the first key contact, based on the key pattern, the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined to be the first driving mode; wherein, In the first driving mode, the driving circuit is configured to convert the received status signals of each of the first key contacts into the same key value; For the second key contact, based on the key pattern, the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined to be the second driving mode; wherein, in the second driving mode, the driving circuit is configured to convert the received state signals of each of the second key contacts into different key values.

7. A keyboard, comprising: Keyboard base and keycaps; The keyboard base has multiple key contacts distributed on one side, and the key value of the key contacts is determined based on the keyboard's key layout pattern. The keycaps are mounted on the corresponding key contacts; The keycaps include a plurality of first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one first key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two second key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard; The key signal of any keycap is determined based on the key value of the key contact corresponding to that keycap.

8. The keyboard according to claim 7, further comprising a control component; The control component is used to adjust the key layout mode of the keyboard; When the keyboard is in the first key mode, at least two of the first key contacts are adjusted to the same key value; When the keyboard is in the second key mode, at least two of the second key contacts are adjusted to different key values.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the keyboard further comprises a driving circuit; The driving circuit is used to receive a status signal when a key contact is triggered, and to determine the key value of the triggered key contact based on the status signal. in, The driving circuit determines the key value of the triggered key contact point differently based on the status signal under different driving modes; the driving mode of the driving circuit is determined based on the key position mode.

10. An electronic device, comprising: Keyboard and processor; The keyboard includes a keyboard base and keycaps; The keyboard base has multiple key contacts distributed on one side; wherein the key value of the key contact is determined based on the keyboard's key layout; and the keycaps are mounted on the corresponding key contacts. The keycaps include a plurality of first keycaps and at least one second keycap; each first keycap corresponds to only one key contact, and the key values ​​of each first key contact are different; each second keycap corresponds to at least two key contacts, and the key values ​​of the at least two second key contacts are different; the key value mapping combination of the first key contacts and the second key contacts constitutes the target character set of the keyboard; When a key contact corresponding to any keycap is triggered, the processor generates a key signal for that keycap based on the key value of the triggered key contact.

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