Touch keyboard device with key layout easy to replace

Abstract

The utility model discloses a touch keyboard device with a key layout easy to replace. The touch keyboard device comprises a global uniform pressing unit, a control unit, a display unit, a touch unit and a keycap unit, the global uniform pressing unit comprises a base, a substrate, a linkage module and a pressing trigger module. The control unit is arranged on the top side of the substrate, is electrically connected with the pressing trigger module, and is used for receiving a non-pressing signal or a pressing signal from the pressing trigger module. The touch control unit is electrically connected with the control unit and used for generating coordinate information corresponding to one touch control area to the control unit. The control unit is used for generating a key position output signal after receiving the pressing signal and the coordinate information. According to the utility model, the effect of improving the operation hand feeling is achieved by simulating the pressing hand feeling of the entity key, and the effect of easily replacing the key layout is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a touch keyboard device, and more particularly to a touch keyboard device with an easily interchangeable key layout. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, most existing keyboard devices pre-determine key positions based on common key layout specifications, meaning the key positions are fixed before leaving the factory. In other words, users cannot change the key layout to suit their specific application scenarios, resulting in a lack of flexibility in use.

[0003] In addition, another existing keyboard device adds multiple independently designed shortcut keys to the existing keyboard device, allowing users to define their output signals. However, as the number of shortcut keys increases, it is easy to forget the signals they output. Therefore, users often put stickers on the surface of the shortcut keys to remind them of their output signals (functions), but this can also lead to a lack of consistency and aesthetics in their appearance.

[0004] Clearly, both of the aforementioned existing keyboard devices still have room for improvement. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a touch keyboard device that allows for easy replacement of button layouts and improves the tactile feel of pressing.

[0006] This utility model relates to a touch keyboard device with an easily replaceable key layout, comprising a globally uniform pressing unit, a control unit, a display unit, a touch unit, and a keycap unit. The globally uniform pressing unit includes a base, a substrate, a linkage module disposed between the base and the substrate, and a pressing trigger module located between the base and the substrate. The linkage module enables the substrate to move relative to the base between an unpressed position and a pressed position. When the substrate is in the unpressed position, the pressing trigger module generates an unpressed signal; when the substrate is in the pressed position, the pressing trigger module generates a pressed signal. The control unit is disposed on the top side of the substrate and electrically connected to the pressing trigger module. The control unit is used to receive signals from the pressing trigger module. The control unit receives the non-press signal or the press signal; the display unit is disposed on the top side of the control unit and electrically connected to the control unit, and the display unit defines multiple display areas; the touch unit is disposed on the top side of the display unit and electrically connected to the control unit, the touch unit defines multiple touch areas whose respective positions correspond to the display areas, and is used to generate coordinate information corresponding to one of the touch areas to the control unit through operation; the keycap unit is disposed on the top side of the touch unit and includes multiple keycap portions whose respective positions correspond to the touch areas, and all keycap portions are transparent; wherein, the control unit is used to generate a key output signal according to the coordinate information after receiving the press signal and the coordinate information.

[0007] The present invention relates to a touch keyboard device with easily interchangeable key layouts. The control unit has a touch interface module and a central processing module electrically connected to the press trigger module and the touch interface module. The touch interface module is electrically connected to the touch unit to receive the coordinate information. The central processing module is used to receive the non-press signal or the press signal from the press trigger module and to receive the coordinate information via the touch interface module. After receiving the press signal and the coordinate information, the central processing module is used to generate the key output signal based on the coordinate information.

[0008] The present invention relates to a touch keyboard device with an easily replaceable key layout, suitable for signal connection to a computer host. The control unit further includes a communication interface module and a display processing module electrically connected to the central processing module. The communication interface module is used to signal connect to the computer host to receive image information and key function information corresponding to the image information from the computer host. The key function information has multiple key code values ​​respectively corresponding to the touch area. The central processing module is used to receive the image information and the key function information from the communication interface module and send the image information to the display processing module. The display processing module is used to control the display unit to display an image corresponding to the image information according to the image information.

[0009] The touch keyboard device of this utility model, which allows for easy replacement of button layouts, further includes a memory module electrically connected to the central processing module. The central processing module stores the image information and the button function information in the memory module.

[0010] The touch keyboard device of this utility model with easily changeable key layout, wherein the central processing module is used to obtain one of the key code values ​​by comparing the coordinate information with the key function information after receiving the pressing signal and the coordinate information, and the central processing module is used to generate the key output signal corresponding to one of the touch areas according to the one key code value.

[0011] The touch keyboard device of this utility model with easy-to-change key layout includes a keycap unit that further includes a connecting plate portion connecting the keycap portion, wherein the keycap portion and the connecting plate portion are integrally formed.

[0012] The touch keyboard device of this utility model with easily replaceable key layout includes a control unit comprising a circuit board and a control circuit disposed on the top side of the circuit board. The circuit board and the substrate are jointly implemented by a rigid plate.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: by setting the keycap unit, the touch unit, the globally uniform pressing unit, and the control unit, the pressing feel of physical buttons is simulated, thereby improving the operating feel; furthermore, by setting the control unit and the display unit, the image information and the button function information are received from the computer host, and the display image and the button function information are defined by the user, thereby making it easy to change the button layout. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Other features and effects of this utility model will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional combined schematic diagram of an embodiment of the touch keyboard device of the present invention, which allows for easy replacement of the key layout;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the embodiment described;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a block diagram of the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of a globally uniform pressing unit in the embodiment described above;

[0019] Figure 5 This is another three-dimensional combined schematic diagram of the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0020] See Figures 1 to 3 This utility model provides an embodiment of a touch keyboard device with an easily replaceable key layout, suitable for signal connection to a computer host 9 to operate the computer host 9.

[0021] The embodiment includes a global uniform pressing unit 1, a control unit 2, a display unit 3, a touch unit 4, and a keycap unit 5.

[0022] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 The globally uniform pressing unit 1 includes a base 11, a substrate 12 located above the base 11, a linkage module 13 disposed between the base 11 and the substrate 12, and a pressing trigger module 14 located between the base 11 and the substrate 12. The linkage module 13 enables the substrate 12 to move relative to the base 11 between an unpressed position and a pressed position. When the substrate 12 is in the unpressed position, the pressing trigger module 14 generates an unpressed signal. When the substrate 12 is in the pressed position, the pressing trigger module 14 generates a pressed signal.

[0023] In this embodiment, the linkage module 13 has an elastic plate 131 and a reinforcing frame 135. The elastic plate 131 has two spring pieces 132, an abutment portion 133 connecting the spring pieces 132, and two reinforcing pieces 134 connecting the spring pieces 132. The reinforcing frame 135 has two first frame rods 136 and two second frame rods 137 connecting the first frame rods 136. The press trigger module 14 is disposed at the bottom of the base plate 12 and can move relative to the base 11 between the unpressed position and the pressed position. In other words, the linkage module 13 and the press trigger module 14 work together to achieve a globally uniform pressing effect. It is worth mentioning that the linkage module 13 has different implementations. For example, the prior applications filed by the applicant, TWM649077U, TWM659008U, and TWI829541B, specifically disclose that the linkage module 13 has different implementations, but can also jointly achieve the effect of uniform global pressing. The linkage module 13 is not limited to this embodiment.

[0024] See Figures 2 to 4 The control unit 2 is disposed on the top side of the substrate 12 and electrically connected to the press trigger module 14, and is used to receive the non-press signal or the press signal from the press trigger module 14. The control unit 2 includes a circuit board 21 and a control circuit 22 disposed on the top side of the circuit board 21. In this embodiment, the control unit 2 is implemented by hardware or firmware such as a field-programmable gate array, a microprocessor, or a system on a chip. The circuit board 21 and the substrate 12 are jointly implemented by a rigid board.

[0025] The control circuit 22 includes a touch interface module 221 electrically connected to the touch unit 4, a communication interface module 222 for signal connection to the computer host 9, a display processing module 223 electrically connected to the display unit 3, a memory module 224, and a central processing module 225 electrically connected to the press trigger module 14, the touch interface module 221, the communication interface module 222, the display processing module 223, and the memory module 224.

[0026] The communication interface module 222 is used to receive an image information and a key function information corresponding to the image information from the computer host 9. The key function information has multiple key code values ​​corresponding to the touch area 41. Each key code value represents a character that can be displayed by the computer host 9. For example: English symbols, Arabic numerals, phonetic symbols, etc.

[0027] The display processing module 223 is used to control the display unit 3 to display an image corresponding to the image information according to the image information.

[0028] The memory module 224 is used to store the image information and the button function information through operation. In this embodiment, the memory module 224 may be implemented by a flash memory (flash ROM) or a hard disk drive electrically connected to the central processing module 225.

[0029] The display unit 3 is disposed on the top side of the control unit 2 and electrically connected to the control unit 2, and the display unit 3 defines a plurality of display areas 31.

[0030] The touch unit 4 is disposed on the top side of the display unit 3 and electrically connected to the control unit 2. The touch unit 4 defines a plurality of touch areas 41, each with a position corresponding to the display area 31, and is used to generate coordinate information corresponding to one of the touch areas 41 to the control unit 2 through operation. In this embodiment, the touch unit 4 is a transparent capacitive touch sensing panel.

[0031] The keycap unit 5 is disposed on the top side of the touch unit 4 and includes a plurality of keycap portions 51 respectively corresponding to the touch area 41, and a connecting plate portion 52 connecting the keycap portions 51. The keycap portions 51 are all transparent so that the displayed image can pass through the keycap portions 51 and the touch unit 4.

[0032] In this embodiment, the keycap unit 5 is made of polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to maintain its transparency. The keycap portion 51 and the connecting plate portion 52 are integrally formed and contact the top side of the touch unit 4. It is worth mentioning that since the combined thickness of the keycap portion 51 and the connecting plate portion 52 is usually small (less than 0.3 cm), when a conductor (such as a finger) touches one of the keycap portions 51, the capacitance value of the corresponding touch area 41 will change accordingly to achieve the touch function.

[0033] See Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 Before actual operation, the following preparatory work needs to be carried out.

[0034] First, the image information and the key function information are generated by the computer host 9, and the central processing module 225 receives the image information and the key function information from the communication interface module 222.

[0035] Next, the central processing module 225 sends the image information to the display processing module 223, and the display processing module 223 controls the display unit 3 to display the image based on the image information.

[0036] Finally, the central processing module 225 stores the image information and the button function information in the memory module 224. This completes the preliminary work for this embodiment, defining each display area 31, each corresponding touch area 41, and each corresponding keycap 51 as a button (e.g., ...). Figure 5 As shown, it provides something different from Figure 1 (The buttons). In this way, the symbols, fonts, and functions of the buttons can be adjusted as needed to maintain a consistent appearance.

[0037] In actual operation, a finger is first used to touch one of the keycaps 51, triggering the corresponding touch area 41. The touch interface module 221 then receives the coordinate information from the touch unit 4. In this way, the central processing module 225 receives the coordinate information from the touch interface module 221.

[0038] Next, when force is applied to one of the keycaps 51 with a finger, the linkage module 13 moves the base plate 12 relative to the base 11 to the pressing position, causing the press trigger module 14 to generate the pressing signal. In this way, the central processing module 225 receives the pressing signal from the press trigger module 14, thereby mimicking the tactile feel of a physical key. If the press trigger module 14 does not generate the pressing signal (the press trigger module 14 is not actually pressed), that is, the central processing module 225 only receives the coordinate information, the central processing module 225 will not continue to execute the following steps.

[0039] Finally, after receiving the press signal and the coordinate information, the central processing module 225 uses the coordinate information to compare with the key function information to obtain one of the key code values. The central processing module 225 generates a key output signal corresponding to one of the touch areas 41 based on the key code value, and sends the key output signal to the computer host 9 via the communication interface module 222. Thus, the computer host 9 can obtain the corresponding character based on the key code value contained in the key output signal.

[0040] In summary, this embodiment has the following advantages:

[0041] (i) The keycap unit 5 imitates the shape of a physical key, and the touch unit 4 generates the corresponding coordinate information to the control unit 2. Then, the global uniform pressing unit 1 generates a uniform feedback force. Finally, the control unit 2 generates the key output signal after receiving the pressing signal and the coordinate information, so as to imitate the pressing feel of a physical key, thereby improving the operation feel.

[0042] (ii) The control unit 2 receives the image information and the key function information from the computer host 9, and controls the display unit 3 to display the display image corresponding to the image information according to the image information. Then, it obtains one of the key codes by referring to the key function information according to the coordinate information. Finally, it generates the key output signal according to one of the key codes to define the display image and the key function information, thereby having the function of easily changing the key layout.

[0043] Therefore, the touch keyboard device of this utility model, which allows for easy replacement of button layouts, not only mimics the pressing feel of physical buttons but also makes it easier to change the button layout, thus truly achieving the purpose of this utility model.

[0044] However, the above description is merely an embodiment of this utility model and should not be construed as limiting the scope of implementation of this utility model. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification of this utility model shall still fall within the scope of this utility model patent.

Claims

1. A touch keyboard device with an easily interchangeable key layout, characterized in that: The device includes a globally uniform pressing unit, a control unit, a display unit, a touch unit, and a keycap unit. The globally uniform pressing unit includes a base, a substrate, a linkage module disposed between the base and the substrate, and a pressing trigger module located between the base and the substrate. The linkage module enables the substrate to move relative to the base between an unpressed position and a pressed position. When the substrate is in the unpressed position, the pressing trigger module generates an unpressed signal; when the substrate is in the pressed position, the pressing trigger module generates a pressed signal. The control unit is disposed on the top side of the substrate and electrically connected to the pressing trigger module. The control unit receives the unpressed signal or the pressed signal from the pressing trigger module. A press signal is received; the display unit is disposed on the top side of the control unit and electrically connected to the control unit, and the display unit defines multiple display areas; the touch unit is disposed on the top side of the display unit and electrically connected to the control unit, the touch unit defines multiple touch areas whose respective positions correspond to the display areas, and is used to generate coordinate information corresponding to one of the touch areas to the control unit through operation; the keycap unit is disposed on the top side of the touch unit and includes multiple keycap portions whose respective positions correspond to the touch areas, and all keycap portions are transparent; wherein, the control unit is used to generate a key output signal according to the coordinate information after receiving the press signal and the coordinate information.

2. The touch keyboard device with easily interchangeable key layout according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit has a touch interface module and a central processing module electrically connected to the press trigger module and the touch interface module. The touch interface module is electrically connected to the touch unit to receive the coordinate information. The central processing module is used to receive the non-press signal or the press signal from the press trigger module and to receive the coordinate information via the touch interface module. After receiving the press signal and the coordinate information, the central processing module is used to generate the key output signal according to the coordinate information.

3. The touch keyboard device with easily interchangeable key layout according to claim 2, characterized in that: This system is suitable for signal connection to a computer host. The control unit further includes a communication interface module and a display processing module electrically connected to the central processing module. The communication interface module is used to signal-connect to the computer host to receive image information and corresponding key function information from the computer host. The key function information has multiple key code values ​​respectively corresponding to the touch area. The central processing module receives the image information and the key function information from the communication interface module and sends the image information to the display processing module. The display processing module controls the display unit to display an image corresponding to the image information based on the image information.

4. The touch keyboard device with easily interchangeable key layout according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control unit also has a memory module electrically connected to the central processing module, and the central processing module is used to store the image information and the button function information in the memory module.

5. The touch keyboard device with easily interchangeable key layout according to claim 4, characterized in that: The central processing module is used to obtain one of the key code values ​​by comparing the coordinate information with the key function information after receiving the press signal and the coordinate information. The central processing module is used to generate the key output signal corresponding to one of the touch areas based on the one of the key code values.

6. The touch keyboard device with easily interchangeable key layout according to claim 1, characterized in that: The keycap unit further includes a connecting plate portion that connects to the keycap portion, and the keycap portion and the connecting plate portion are integrally formed.

7. The touch keyboard device with easily interchangeable key layout according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit includes a circuit board and a control circuit disposed on the top side of the circuit board. The circuit board and the substrate are together implemented by a rigid plate.

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