Overlay type touch keyboard device and its touch electrode module

Abstract

This invention relates to a superimposed touch keyboard device, comprising a first thin film, conductive units, touch sensing units, and keycaps. The conductive units are formed on the first lower surface of the first thin film. The touch sensing units are spaced apart below the first thin film. The keycaps are disposed on the first upper surface of the first thin film of the touch electrode module, and each keycap corresponds one-to-one with a conductive unit, with the conductive units positioned corresponding to the center of each keycap. In this way, the superimposed touch keyboard device with the touch electrode module provides both touch and keyboard input functions, eliminating the need for a separate touch panel. This reduces the overall size of the electronic device with the superimposed touch keyboard device, making it more portable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] A keyboard device, particularly a superimposed touch keyboard device and its touch electrode module. Prior Technology

[0002] Please refer to Figures 5 and 6. A typical keyboard device 50 has a plurality of keycaps 51 for the user to press, allowing the user to perform input operations by operating the keyboard device 50. These keycaps 51 are disposed on a membrane unit 52, which has an upper membrane 521 and a lower membrane 522. The upper membrane 521 has a plurality of upper electrodes 5211, and the positions of these upper electrodes 5211 correspond to the keycaps 51. For example, these upper electrodes 5211 are respectively disposed directly below the keycaps 51. The lower membrane 522 has a plurality of lower electrode lines 5221, one end of which corresponds to the upper electrodes 5211, and the other end extends through a wiring to a wiring area 53. This wiring area has a connection port 54 for connecting to an electronic device to output key signals. When a user operates the keyboard device 50 and presses one of the keycaps 51, the keycap 51 is pressed down and pushes against the upper membrane 521 of the membrane unit 52, causing the upper membrane 521 to deform and the upper electrode 5211 of the upper membrane 521 to move downward and directly contact the lower electrode line 5221 of the lower membrane 522, forming an electrical connection. In this way, the electronic device connected to the keyboard device 50 can confirm whether the keycap 51 has been pressed through the connection port 54, and generate corresponding feedback when the keycap 51 is pressed, such as executing a program or inputting text.

[0003] However, the existing keyboard device 50 only provides keycaps 51 for user input. If touch operation is required, a separate touchpad is needed. In other words, this electronic device, such as a typical laptop, requires a separate touchpad in addition to the keyboard to provide touch functionality and perform mouse operations. This necessitates additional area for the touchpad, limiting the overall size of the electronic device and making the laptop bulky and less portable. Therefore, the existing keyboard device 50 needs further improvement to further reduce the overall size of the electronic device equipped with it, making it easier to carry. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the drawback that existing keyboard devices do not have touch functionality, requiring the additional configuration of a touchpad and preventing further reduction in the overall size of electronic devices, the present invention provides a superimposed touch keyboard device and its touch electrode module. The touch electrode module of the superimposed touch keyboard device includes a first thin film, a plurality of conductive units, and a touch sensing unit.

[0005] The first thin film has a first upper surface and a first lower surface opposite to each other. The conductive units are formed on the first lower surface of the first thin film. The touch sensing units are spaced apart below the first thin film.

[0006] Furthermore, the superimposed touch keyboard device includes the aforementioned touch electrode module and a plurality of keycaps. These keycaps are disposed on the first upper surface of the first thin film of the touch electrode module. Each keycap corresponds one-to-one with a conductive unit, and each conductive unit is disposed at a center position corresponding to a keycap.

[0007] The touch electrode module of this overlay touch keyboard device has a touch sensing unit that can provide touch functionality. When the overlay touch keyboard device is equipped with this touch electrode module, in addition to directly pressing the keycaps to perform normal keyboard input operations, users can also directly use the touch function to perform mouse operations on the overlay touch keyboard device. This eliminates the need for a separate touch panel, effectively reducing the overall size of the electronic device equipped with the overlay touch keyboard device, making the electronic device more portable.

[0008] In addition, the first lower surface of the first film is also provided with the conductive units. When the user presses the keycaps, the keycaps can push against the conductive units, thereby changing the distance between the conductive units and the touch sensing unit, increasing the sensing amount of the touch sensing unit, increasing the reliability of operation, and reducing misjudgments. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0009] Figure 1 is a top view of the superimposed touch keyboard device of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the superimposed touch keyboard device of the present invention. Figure 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the superimposed touch keyboard device of the present invention. Figure 3B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the superimposed touch keyboard device of the present invention. Figure 3C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the superimposed touch keyboard device of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the touch electrode module of the superimposed touch keyboard device of the present invention. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the wiring of the thin-film unit of a conventional keyboard device. Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the conventional keyboard device. Implementation

[0010] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. The superimposed touch keyboard device 1 of the present invention includes a touch electrode module 10.

[0011] Please refer to Figure 3A. The touch electrode module 10 includes a sensing enhancement unit 11, a touch sensing unit 12, and a plurality of conductive units 13.

[0012] The sensing enhancement unit includes a first thin film 111, and the first thin film 111 has a first upper surface 1111 and a first lower surface 1112 opposite to each other. The conductive units 13 are formed on the first lower surface 1112 of the first thin film 111. The touch sensing units 12 are spaced apart on the first lower surface 1112 of the first thin film 111.

[0013] The touch electrode module 10 of the overlay touch keyboard device has a touch sensing unit 12, which can be used to provide touch functionality. Therefore, when the overlay touch keyboard device is equipped with the touch electrode module 10, in addition to directly pressing the keycaps 20 to perform general keyboard input operations, users can also directly use the touch function to perform mouse operations on the overlay touch keyboard device. This eliminates the need for a separate touch panel, effectively reducing the overall size of the electronic device equipped with the overlay touch keyboard device, making the electronic device more portable.

[0014] Furthermore, as shown in FIG3A, in a first embodiment, a plurality of gap blocks 113 are provided between the first film 111 and the touch sensing unit 12 to separate the first film 111 and the touch sensing unit 12. There are also gaps between these gap blocks 113, allowing the conductive units 13 to move downwards. For example, the gaps between the gap blocks 113 are respectively aligned with the conductive units 13, and a keycap 20 is respectively disposed directly above each conductive unit 13. When the keycap 20 is pressed down, the keycap 20 can push against the first film 111, causing the first film 111 to deform, further causing the conductive units 13 on the first lower surface 1112 of the first film 111 to move downwards, reducing the distance or contact between the conductive units 13 and the touch sensing unit 12. In another embodiment, an elastic gap layer is provided between the first film 111 and the touch sensing unit 12 to separate the first film 111 from the touch sensing unit 12.

[0015] The touch sensing unit 12 determines the touch position by detecting changes in the sensing value caused by the proximity of a conductive object. Generally, the conductive object is the user's finger. When the user performs a touch operation with their finger, the finger acts as a conductor and approaches the touch sensing unit 12, causing a change in the sensing value. This change in the finger's position is then used to execute the touch operation function. For example, the touch sensing unit 12 is a projected capacitive input (PCAP) module.

[0016] Since the touch sensing unit 12 senses the presence of conductive objects, such as fingers, it can determine the location of any conductive object as long as it falls within its sensing range, regardless of whether the object can directly contact it. The distance between the conductive object and the touch sensing unit 12 also affects the sensing intensity. Generally, a smaller distance results in a greater sensing intensity.

[0017] For example, when the user presses the keycaps 20, the keycaps 20 can push against the conductive units 13, thereby compressing the distance or contact between the conductive units 13 and the touch sensing unit 12, increasing the sensing capacity of the touch sensing unit 12, increasing the reliability of operation, and reducing misjudgments.

[0018] Furthermore, as shown in FIG3B, in a second embodiment, the touch electrode module 10 further includes a second thin film 112 having a second upper surface 1121 and a second lower surface 1122 opposite to each other, and being disposed below the first thin film 111 at a distance. The second upper surface 1121 of the second thin film 112 faces the first lower surface 1112 of the first thin film 111, and the touch sensing unit 12 is disposed on the second lower surface 1122 of the second thin film 112.

[0019] Furthermore, a plurality of gap blocks 113 are provided between the first film 111 and the second film 112 to separate the first film 111 and the second film 112. There are also gaps between these gap blocks 113, allowing the conductive units 13 to move downwards. The gaps between these gap blocks 113 are respectively aligned with the conductive units 13, and the keycaps 20 are respectively positioned directly above the conductive units 13. When the keycaps 20 are pressed down, they push against the first film 111, causing the first film 111 to deform, further causing the conductive units 13 on the first lower surface 1112 of the first film 111 to move downwards, reducing the distance or contact between the conductive units 13 and the touch sensing unit 12.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3C, in a third embodiment, an elastic gap layer 114 is provided between the first film 111 and the touch sensing unit 12 to isolate the first film 111 and the touch sensing unit 12, thus separating them. When the keycap 20 is pressed down, the keycap 20 can push against the first film 111, causing deformation of the first film 111 and the elastic gap layer 114, further causing the conductive unit 13 on the first lower surface 1112 of the first film 111 to move downward, reducing the distance between the conductive unit 13 and the touch sensing unit 12. For example, the elastic gap layer 114 is an elastic compression filler material.

[0021] Furthermore, the superimposed touch keyboard device 1 includes keycaps 20, which are disposed on the first upper surface 1111 of the first thin film 111 of the touch electrode module 10. Each keycap 20 corresponds one-to-one with a conductive unit 13, and each conductive unit is positioned at a center position of a keycap 20. Additionally, a stop block 21 may be provided below the center position of each keycap 20 to push against the conductive unit 13.

[0022] Preferably, the superimposed touch keyboard device 1 further includes a plurality of scissor-switch support brackets 30, which are respectively disposed on the first upper surface 1111 of the first thin film 111 of the touch electrode module 10. The keycaps 20 are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the scissor-switch support brackets 30, and are disposed on the first upper surface 1111 of the first thin film 111 of the touch electrode module 10 through the scissor-switch support brackets 30.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 4. The touch sensing unit 12 also includes a plurality of first electrodes 121 and a plurality of second electrodes 122.

[0024] The first electrodes 121 extend parallel to a first direction X and are arranged at parallel intervals in a second direction Y. In this embodiment, the first direction X is perpendicular to the second direction Y. The second electrodes 122 extend parallel to the second direction Y and are arranged at parallel intervals in the first direction X.

[0025] The touch sensing unit 12 has first electrodes 121 and second electrodes 122, which can be used to provide touch functionality. For example, the first electrodes 121 can serve as receiving electrodes (Rx) of a touch panel, while the second electrodes 122 can serve as transmitting electrodes (Tx) of the touch panel, providing capacitive touch functionality. When a user moves their finger over the touch sensing unit 12, the sensing amount received by the first electrodes 121 will change, and the user's finger position can be determined by the intersection of the first electrodes 121 and the second electrodes 122 where the sensing amount changes, thereby providing touch functionality. The above-described touch functionality is the same as the working principle of a conventional capacitive touchpad, and will not be described in detail here.

[0026] In this embodiment, the touch sensing unit 12 can be an F structure, an FF structure, or an F2 structure, but is not limited thereto. For example, in an F structure, the first electrodes 121 and the second electrodes 122 are disposed together on the same surface of a thin film, and the first electrodes 121 are connected by a bridge. In an FF structure, the first electrodes 121 are disposed on an upper surface of a first thin film, and the second electrodes 122 are disposed on an upper surface of a second thin film, and the first thin film and the second thin film are stacked. In an F2 structure, the first electrodes 121 are disposed on an upper surface of a common thin film, and the second electrodes 122 are disposed on a lower surface of the common thin film.

[0027] Furthermore, the superimposed touch keyboard device 1 further includes a processing unit 40. The processing unit 40 is electrically connected to the first electrodes 121 and the second electrodes 122 to receive a sensing signal. When the processing unit 40 determines that a change in the sensing signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold, the processing unit 40 executes a touch mode, and the processing unit 40 generates touch position information based on the sensing signal.

[0028] When a user moves their finger over the touch electrode module 10, the amount of sensing received by the first electrodes 121, i.e., the sensing signal, will change. Therefore, the processing unit 40 can determine whether the user's finger is moving over the touch electrode module 10 and wants to perform a touch function based on the change in the sensing signal. When the change in the sensing signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold, it means that the user wants to perform a touch function. The processing unit 40 then executes the touch mode to generate touch position information based on the sensing signal. That is, it uses the intersection of the first electrode 121 and the second electrode 122 where the sensing amount changes to confirm the user's finger position, generate touch position information, and thus provide touch function.

[0029] Furthermore, when the processing unit 40 determines that the change in the sensing signal is greater than or equal to a second threshold, the processing unit 40 executes a keyboard mode, and the processing unit 40 generates keyboard key information based on the sensing signal.

[0030] When the keycap 20 is pressed down, it pushes against the first thin film 111, changing the distance between the conductive unit 13 and the touch sensing unit 12, thus altering the change in the sensing signal. Therefore, the processing unit 40 can determine whether the user has pressed down the keycap 20 to perform keyboard input by observing this change in the sensing signal. When the change in the sensing signal is greater than or equal to the second threshold, it indicates that the user wants to perform keyboard input. The processing unit 40 then executes the keyboard mode, identifying the position of the pressed keycap 20 by using the intersection of the first electrode 121 and the second electrode 122 where the sensing signal changes, thus determining which keycap 20 the user has pressed down and providing keyboard input functionality.

[0031] Furthermore, when the keycap 20 is pressed down, the distance between the first electrode 121 and the second electrode 122 changes, and the resulting change in the sensing quantity is greater than or equal to the change in the sensing quantity generated when the finger touches it. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

[0032] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0033] 1: Overlay type touch keyboard 10: Touch electrode module 11: Sensing Enhancement Unit 111: First Thin Film 1111: First upper surface 1112: First lower surface 112: Second thin film 1121: Second upper surface 1122: Second lower surface 113: Gap block 114: Elastic gap layer 12: Touch sensing unit 121: First electrode 122: Second electrode X: First direction Y: Second direction 13: Conductive unit 20: Keycaps 21: Top Block 30: Scissor-leg support frame 40: Processing Unit 50: Keyboard device 51: Keycaps 52: Thin Film Unit 521: Apply film 5211: Upper electrode 522: Lower film 5221: Lower electrode circuit 53: Wiring Area 54: Connecting Port

Claims

1. A touch electrode module for a superimposed touch keyboard device, comprising: a first thin film having a first upper surface and a first lower surface opposite to each other; a plurality of conductive units formed on the first lower surface of the first thin film; and touch sensing units spaced apart below the first thin film; wherein, An elastic gap layer is provided between the first film and the touch sensing unit to isolate the first film from the touch sensing unit.

2. The touch electrode module of the superimposed touch keyboard device as described in claim 1 further comprises: a second thin film having a second upper surface and a second lower surface opposite to each other, and disposed at a distance below the first thin film; wherein, The second upper surface of the second film faces the first lower surface of the first film; wherein the touch sensing unit is disposed on the second lower surface of the second film.

3. The touch electrode module of the superimposed touch keyboard device as described in claim 2, wherein, A plurality of gap blocks are provided between the first film and the second film.

4. A superimposed touch keyboard device, comprising: a touch electrode module as described in any one of claims 1 to 3; a plurality of keycaps disposed on the first upper surface of the first thin film of the touch electrode module; wherein, These keycaps and these conductive units are in one-to-one correspondence, and these conductive units are respectively positioned at the center of these keycaps.

5. The overlay type touch keyboard device as described in claim 4, wherein, The touch sensing unit of the touch electrode module includes: a plurality of first electrodes extending in a straight line parallel to a first direction and arranged at parallel intervals in a second direction; a plurality of second electrodes extending in a straight line parallel to the second direction and arranged at parallel intervals in the first direction; wherein, the superimposed touch keyboard device further includes: a processing unit electrically connected to the first electrodes and the second electrodes to receive a sensing signal; wherein, when the processing unit determines that a change in the sensing signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold, the processing unit executes a touch mode, and the processing unit generates touch position information based on the sensing signal.

6. The overlay type touch keyboard device as described in claim 5, wherein, When the processing unit determines that the change in the sensing signal is greater than or equal to a second threshold, the processing unit executes a keyboard mode and generates keyboard key information based on the sensing signal.

7. The overlay type touch keyboard device as described in claim 6, wherein, The second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

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