Keyboard device and proximity sensing method

Abstract

A keyboard device and a proximity sensing method are provided. The keyboard device includes a plurality of keyboard input lines, a plurality of keyboard output lines, a processing module and a proximity sensing module. The processing module is coupled to the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines. The proximity sensing module is coupled in parallel to at least one of the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines. During a plurality of first sub-periods of a scanning period, the processing module disables the proximity sensing module and executes key sensing. During a second sub-period of the scanning period, the processing module enables the proximity sensing module. The proximity sensing module performs proximity sensing.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus, and more particularly to a keyboard apparatus and a proximity sensing method. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Traditional keyboard devices equipped with proximity sensing modules require an additional wire separate from the key circuitry to serve as the sensing antenna. As a result, traditional keyboard devices equipped with proximity sensing modules have the problems of large device size and high device cost. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] The present invention provides a keyboard device and a proximity sensing method, which can achieve good proximity sensing function.

[0004] The keyboard device of the present invention includes a plurality of keyboard input lines, a plurality of keyboard output lines, a processing module, and a proximity sensing module. The processing module is coupled to the plurality of keyboard input lines and the plurality of keyboard output lines. The proximity sensing module is coupled to at least one of the plurality of keyboard input lines and the plurality of keyboard output lines. During a plurality of first sub-periods of a scan, the processing module disables the proximity sensing module and performs key sensing. During a second sub-period of a scan, the processing module enables the proximity sensing module, and the proximity sensing module performs proximity sensing.

[0005] The proximity sensing method of the present invention is applicable to a keyboard device. The keyboard device includes a plurality of keyboard input lines, a plurality of keyboard output lines, a processing module, and a proximity sensing module. The proximity sensing module is coupled to at least one of the plurality of keyboard input lines and the plurality of keyboard output lines. The proximity sensing method includes the following steps: during a plurality of first sub-periods during a scan, disabling the proximity sensing module through the processing module and performing key sensing; and during a second sub-period during a scan, enabling the proximity sensing module through the processing module and performing proximity sensing through the proximity sensing module.

[0006] Based on the above, the keyboard device and proximity sensing method of the present invention can incorporate the sensing period of the proximity sensing module during the keyboard scanning period to realize the proximity sensing function.

[0007] In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below, and detailed descriptions are given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Implementation Method

[0008] To make the contents of this invention more readily apparent, the following specific embodiments are provided as examples on which this disclosure can indeed be implemented. Furthermore, wherever possible, elements / components / steps using the same reference numerals in the drawings and embodiments represent the same or similar parts.

[0009] FIG1 is a circuit diagram of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG1, the keyboard device 100 includes a processing module 110, a proximity sensing module 120, a keyboard module 130, a backlight module 140, a complex number of keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M, and a complex number of keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N, wherein M and N are positive integers. The processing module 110 is coupled to the proximity sensing module 120, the keyboard module 130, and the backlight module 140. In one embodiment, the keyboard device 100 may not include the backlight module 140. In this embodiment, the processing module 110 may be a processor, a controller, or other electronic components with data processing and signal processing functions. In this embodiment, the proximity sensing module 120 may be, for example, a capacitive proximity sensing module or an inductive proximity sensing module.

[0010] In this embodiment, the keyboard module 130 includes a plurality of keyboard switches K(1,1) to K(N,M). The processing module 110 is coupled to the keyboard switches K(1,1) to K(N,M) via keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N. In this embodiment, the proximity sensing module 120 is coupled to the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the proximity sensing module 120 may be coupled to at least one of the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N. In one embodiment, the proximity sensing module 120 is coupled in parallel to at least one of the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N.

[0011] In this embodiment, the keyboard device 100 may be a membrane keyboard. The keyboard switches K(1,1) to K(N,M) may be a plurality of membrane switches. In one embodiment, each keyboard switch K(1,1) to K(N,M) is formed by the intersection of the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N. The keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N may be a plurality of membrane traces. In this embodiment, the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N are distributed in the key area of ​​the keyboard device 100. The key area refers to the area of ​​the actual keyboard where keys are configured, and the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N may, for example, be formed in the gap area between different keyboard switches in the keyboard key area. However, the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N of the present invention may also be arranged outside the key area according to the wiring requirements of the keyboard device 100, and are not limited to this embodiment.

[0012] In this embodiment, the processing module 110 can also be coupled to the proximity sensing module 120 through the sensing signal line 101 and the enable signal line 102. The processing module 110 can enable or disable the proximity sensing module 120 through the enable signal line 102. When the processing module 110 enables the proximity sensing module 120 through the enable signal line 102, the processing module 110 can obtain the proximity sensing signal generated by the proximity sensing module 120 through the sensing signal line 101.

[0013] In one embodiment, the proximity sensing module 120 may be a proximity sensor. The proximity sensing module 120 can generate a corresponding sensing capacitance value based on the sensing result and use the sensing capacitance value as the proximity sensing signal. The processing module 110 can receive the proximity sensing signal to determine whether an object is approaching based on the sensing capacitance value. In other words, in one embodiment, the proximity determination operation can be performed by the processing module 110.

[0014] In another embodiment, the proximity sensing module 120 may include a proximity sensor and a processing circuit. The proximity sensor of the proximity sensing module 120 can generate a corresponding sensing capacitance value based on the sensing result, and the processing circuit of the proximity sensing module 120 can determine whether an object is approaching based on the sensing capacitance value. Then, the processing circuit of the proximity sensing module 120 can use the determination result as the proximity sensing signal and output it to the processing module 110 to notify the processing module 110 of its determination result. In other words, in another embodiment, the proximity determination operation can be performed by the proximity sensing module 120.

[0015] In this embodiment, when at least one of the keyboard switches K(1,1) to K(N,M) is pressed, that is, when a key of the keyboard device 100 is pressed, at least one keyboard input line and at least one keyboard output line will be turned on. It should also be noted that the keyboard module 130 shown in FIG1 only represents the correspondence between the keyboard switches K(1,1) to K(N,M) and the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N in an array form, rather than the actual arrangement of the keyboard keys.

[0016] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a switching unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the processing module 110 can be coupled to the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N respectively through a plurality of switching units coupled to the terminals of a plurality of pins. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of switching units can be implemented, for example, with the circuit architecture of the tri-state logic gate 200 shown in Figure 2. However, the switching unit of the present invention is used to switch the signal input, signal output, or off state between the processing module 110, the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M, and the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N. The switching unit can also be a tri-state buffer, a tri-state inverter, an analog switch, or a digital switch, etc., and is not limited to this embodiment.

[0017] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG2, the tri-state logic gate 200 includes buffers 210 and 220. The input terminal of buffer 210 is coupled to the output terminal of buffer 220. The input terminal of buffer 210 and the output terminal of buffer 220 can be coupled to the corresponding keyboard input line or keyboard output line via the same pin to provide an output signal Sout to the keyboard input line or keyboard output line, or to receive an input signal Sin from the keyboard input line or keyboard output line. The output terminal of buffer 210 can be coupled to processing module 110 to provide an input signal Sin to processing module 110, and the input terminal of buffer 220 can be coupled to processing module 110 to receive an output signal Sout from processing module 110.

[0018] In this embodiment, the enable terminal of buffer 210 can also receive an input enable signal En_In provided by processing module 110. The enable terminal of buffer 220 can also receive an output enable signal En_Out provided by processing module 110. In this embodiment, the tri-state logic gate 200 can operate as an input state, an output state, and a high impedance state according to the input enable signal En_In and the output enable signal En_Out. For example, when processing module 110 disables buffer 210 and buffer 220 respectively according to the input enable signal En_In and the output enable signal En_Out, the tri-state logic gate 200 is in a high impedance state. The high impedance state can be regarded as setting the tri-state logic gate 200 to an open circuit (i.e., the off state of the switching unit) to isolate the signal path between processing module 110 and keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M or keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N.

[0019] FIG3 is a flowchart of a proximity sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a scanning timing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG1, FIG3 and FIG4, the keyboard device 100 may perform the following steps S310 and S320. In step S310, during the plurality of first sub-periods P1_1 to P1_N of the scanning period SP, the processing module 110 disables the proximity sensing module 120 and performs key sensing. In step S320, during the second sub-period P2 of the scanning period SP, the processing module 110 enables the proximity sensing module 120 and performs proximity sensing through the proximity sensing module 120. The processing module 110 may receive the proximity sensing signal generated by the proximity sensing module 120 during the second sub-period P2 of the scanning period SP. In this embodiment, the processing module 110 can periodically execute the scanning period SP to poll the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N and enable the proximity sensing module 120, and the execution order of steps S310 and S320 is not limited.

[0020] In this embodiment, during the first sub-periods P1_1~P1_N, the processing module 110 sets the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N to normal mode. The normal mode uses the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N as keyboard key circuits, sensing the operation of keyboard switches K(1,1)~K(N,M) through the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N, i.e., sensing the key operations of the keyboard device 100. The processing module 110 can set the multiple switching units coupled to the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N to a normal mode capable of receiving or sending scan signals through the input enable signal En_In and output enable signal En_Out as described in the embodiment of FIG. 2 above. For example, the processing module 110 can receive scan signals by enabling the buffer 210 with the input enable signal En_In. Alternatively, the processing module 110 can send scan signals by enabling the buffer 220 with the output enable signal En_Out. In this embodiment, the processing module 110 sequentially outputs multiple scan signals to the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N, and sequentially senses the signal changes of the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M to confirm whether any keyboard switches K(1,1) to K(N,M) have been triggered, thereby executing the corresponding key operation. In other embodiments, the processing module 110 may also sequentially output multiple scan signals to the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M, and sequentially sense the signal changes of the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N, without being limited to this embodiment.

[0021] During the first sub-period P1_1 to P1_N, the processing module 110 can sequentially adjust the voltage levels of each keyboard input line KBI_1 to KBI_M or keyboard output line KBO_1 to KBO_N to send a scan signal. As shown in Figure 4, the scan period SP is from time t0 to time t9. During the first sub-period P1_1 from time t1 to time t2, the processing module 110 can switch the voltage level of the keyboard output line KBO_1 from a high voltage level to a low voltage level. During the first sub-period P1_2 from time t3 to time t4, the processing module 110 can switch the voltage level of the keyboard output line KBO_2 from a high voltage level to a low voltage level. Similarly, during the first sub-period P1_N from time t5 to time t6, the processing module 110 can switch the voltage level of the keyboard output line KBO_M from a high voltage level to a low voltage level.

[0022] For example, as shown in Figure 1, suppose the keyboard switch K(2,2) is pressed, which turns on the keyboard input line KBI_2 and the keyboard output line KBO_2. In this way, the scan signal of the keyboard output line KBO_2 will be transmitted to the keyboard input line KBI_2 through the pressed keyboard switch K(2,2), so that the processing module 110 can effectively determine that the keyboard switch K(2,2) is pressed by sensing the voltage level change of the keyboard input line KBI_2, and output the corresponding input command to the computer host coupled to the keyboard device 100, for example.

[0023] Next, during the second sub-period P2 of the scanning period SP, the processing module 110 sets the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N to antenna mode. The antenna mode uses at least one of the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N as the antenna line of the proximity sensing module, performing proximity sensing through the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and / or the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N. During the second sub-period P2, the processing module 110 can set the multiple pin endpoints coupled to the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N to a floating state to effectively reduce the impact of the processing module 110 on the signal lines. The floating state refers to the fact that the processing module 110 can set the complex switching units coupled to the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N to the off state through the input enable signal En_In and the output enable signal En_Out as described in the embodiment of FIG2 above.

[0024] In this embodiment, the proximity sensing module 120 can use the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and / or the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N as proximity sensing antennas to determine whether an object (such as a user's palm or fingers) is close to the keyboard device 100 by the signal changes on the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and / or the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N.

[0025] For example, referring to FIG5A, FIG5A is a signal schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Taking the proximity sensing module 120 as a capacitive proximity sensing module in self-capacitance mode, and taking the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N as the antenna lines of the proximity sensing module 120 as an example, the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N may have a non-fixed capacitance value in the initial state, and its capacitance value will change with the charge carried by the surrounding objects (the capacitance value is inversely proportional to the distance between the object and the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N, that is, the closer the object is to the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N, the capacitance value will gradually increase). As shown in FIG5A, curve 501 is used to represent the change in capacitance value of one of the keyboard output lines KBO_1. When an object (such as a user's palm or fingers) is not significantly close to the keyboard output line KBO_1, the capacitance value C of the keyboard output line KBO_1 is lower than the actuation threshold Cth1 (capacitance threshold), and the proximity sensing module 120 determines that no object is approaching. When an object approaches the keyboard output line KBO_1 at time ta, the proximity sensing module 120 can sense an increase in the capacitance value of the keyboard output line KBO_1. Therefore, when the capacitance values ​​of the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N exceed the actuation threshold Cth1 (capacitance threshold), the proximity sensing module 120 can determine that an object is approaching and output a corresponding proximity sensing signal to the processing module 110.

[0026] For another example, referring to FIG5B, FIG5B is a signal schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. Taking the proximity sensing module 120 as a capacitive proximity sensing module in mutual capacitance mode, and taking the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N as the antenna lines of the proximity sensing module 120 as an example, the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N may have a non-fixed capacitance value in the initial state, and its capacitance value will change with the charge carried by the surrounding objects (the capacitance value is proportional to the distance between the object and the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N, that is, the closer the object is to the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N, the capacitance value will gradually decrease). As shown in FIG5B, curve 502 is used to represent the change in capacitance value of one of the keyboard output lines KBO_1. When the object (e.g., the user's palm or fingers) is not significantly close to the keyboard output line KBO_1, the capacitance value C of the keyboard output line KBO_1 is higher than the actuation threshold Cth1 (capacitance threshold), and the proximity sensing module 120 determines that no object is close. When an object approaches the keyboard output line KBO_1 at time tb, the proximity sensing module 120 can detect a decrease in the capacitance value of the keyboard output line KBO_1. Therefore, when the capacitance value of the keyboard output line KBO_1 falls below the actuation threshold Cth2, the proximity sensing module 120 can determine that an object is approaching and output a corresponding proximity sensing signal to the processing module 110.

[0027] However, the present invention is not limited to using all of the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N as antennas. In one embodiment, during the second sub-period P2 of the scanning period SP, the proximity sensing module 120 may use at least one of the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N as at least one proximity sensing antenna to determine whether an object (e.g., a user's palm or fingers) is close to the keyboard device 100 by sensing the signal changes of at least one of the keyboard input lines KBI_1~KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N.

[0028] In addition, in one embodiment, the second sub-period P2 may also be designed between two of the first sub-periods P1_1 to P1_N (for example, the second sub-period P2 may be designed between the first sub-periods P1_3 and the first sub-periods P1_4). Alternatively, the second sub-period P2 may also be designed before or after the first sub-periods P1_1 to P1_N, and is not limited to the last timing shown in FIG4.

[0029] FIG6 is a flowchart of a proximity sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG1 and FIG6, the keyboard device 100 can perform the following steps S610 to S660. In step S610, the processing module 110 disables the proximity sensing module 120. In step S620, the processing module 110 sets the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N to normal mode. In step S630, the processing module 110 sequentially outputs multiple scan signals to the keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N. The processing module 110 can scan the multiple keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N one by one in the multiple first sub-periods P1_1 to P1_N as shown in FIG4. In step S640, the processing module 110 enables the proximity sensing module 120. In step S650, the processing module 110 sets the multiple keyboard input lines and the multiple keyboard output lines to antenna mode. In step S660, the processing module 110 reads the proximity sensing signal output by the proximity sensing module 120. The processing module 110 can enable the proximity sensing module 120 during the second sub-period P2 as shown in FIG4. Furthermore, when the second sub-period P2 ends, the processing module 110 can re-execute step S610 to poll the keyboard output lines KBO_1~KBO_N and read the sensing signal output by the proximity sensing module 120.

[0030] It should be noted that the present invention does not limit the execution order of steps S610 to S660 in FIG6. Specifically, the present invention is not limited to performing proximity sensing only after fully scanning the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N. Alternatively, proximity sensing can be performed first after scanning a portion of the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N, and then scanning the remaining portion of the keyboard input lines KBI_1 to KBI_M and keyboard output lines KBO_1 to KBO_N. This allows the keyboard device 100 to flexibly switch and adjust the timing of proximity sensing and key sensing.

[0031] In this embodiment, when the processing module 110 receives a proximity sensing signal, the processing module 110 can determine that an object (such as the user's palm or fingers) is approaching the keyboard device 100, and the processing module 110 can drive the backlight module 140 to present a specific light-emitting effect.

[0032] In summary, the keyboard device and proximity sensing method of the present invention can use the existing keyboard input and output lines in the keyboard device as the sensing antennas of the proximity sensing module, without the need to add additional wires independent of the keyboard's key circuitry as sensing antennas. Furthermore, the keyboard device and proximity sensing method of the present invention can use the existing key circuitry for key sensing or proximity sensing respectively in a time-division multiplexing manner, further ensuring stable operation of both the keyboard's key function and proximity sensing function. Therefore, the keyboard device and proximity sensing method of the present invention can effectively save additional antenna configuration space and achieve a simplified keyboard size.

[0033] Although the present invention has been disclosed above by way of embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0034] Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a switching unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flowchart of a proximity sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a scanning timing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5A is a signal schematic diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5B is a signal schematic diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a flowchart of a proximity sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A keyboard device, comprising: Complex keyboard input lines; Complex keyboard output lines; A processing module is coupled to the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines; The system includes a proximity sensing module coupled to at least one of the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines; wherein during a plurality of first sub-periods of a scan period, the processing module disables the proximity sensing module and performs key sensing; wherein during a second sub-period of the scan period, the processing module enables the proximity sensing module and the proximity sensing module performs proximity sensing; wherein during the second sub-period, the proximity sensing module uses at least one of the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines as at least one proximity sensing antenna and generates a proximity sensing signal based on signal changes of the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines.

2. The keyboard device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: A backlight module is coupled to the processing module, wherein during the second sub-period, when the processing module receives the proximity sensing signal, the processing module drives the backlight module.

3. The keyboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the first sub-periods, the processing module sequentially outputs multiple scan signals to the keyboard output lines and sequentially senses the keyboard input lines.

4. The keyboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing module is coupled to the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines via a plurality of pin endpoints, and during the second sub-period, the processing module sets the pin endpoints to a floating state.

5. The keyboard device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the processing module is coupled to the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines at each pin endpoint via a switch unit, wherein during the second sub-period, the processing module sets the switch units to an off state.

6. The keyboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the scanning period, the second sub-period occurs between, before, or after two of the first sub-periods.

7. A proximity sensing method for a keyboard device, wherein the keyboard device includes a plurality of keyboard input lines, a plurality of keyboard output lines, a processing module, and a proximity sensing module, the proximity sensing module being coupled to at least one of the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines, wherein the proximity sensing method includes: During a plurality of first sub-periods of a scan period, the proximity sensing module is disabled by the processing module, and key sensing is performed; During a second sub-period of the scanning period, the proximity sensing module is enabled by the processing module and proximity sensing is performed by the proximity sensing module; and during the second sub-period, the proximity sensing module uses at least one of the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines as at least one proximity sensing antenna and generates a proximity sensing signal based on the signal changes of the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines.

8. The proximity sensing method as described in claim 7, further comprising: During the second sub-period, when the processing module receives the proximity sensing signal, it drives a backlight module.

9. The proximity sensing method as described in claim 7, wherein the step of performing button sensing includes: During these first sub-periods, the processing module sequentially outputs multiple scan signals to the keyboard output lines and sequentially senses the keyboard input lines.

10. The proximity sensing method as described in claim 7, further comprising: During the second sub-period, the processing module sets multiple pin endpoints to a floating state, wherein the processing module is coupled to the keyboard input lines and keyboard output lines through the pin endpoints.

11. The proximity sensing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processing module is coupled to the keyboard input lines and the keyboard output lines at each pin endpoint via a switching unit, and the step of setting the pin endpoints to the floating state includes: During the second sub-period, the processing module sets these switching units to an off state.

12. The proximity sensing method as claimed in claim 7, wherein during the scanning period, the second sub-period occurs between, before, or after two of the first sub-periods.

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