US20090036189A1

US20090036189A1 - Electronic device with game keypad

Info

Publication number: US20090036189A1
Application number: US12/166,819
Authority: US
Inventors: Shun-Lung Wang
Original assignee: Asustek Computer Inc
Current assignee: Asustek Computer Inc
Priority date: 2007-07-30
Filing date: 2008-07-02
Publication date: 2009-02-05
Also published as: TWI341482B; TW200905521A

Abstract

An electronic device having a game keypad includes a device body and a game keypad. The device body has an input area. The game keypad is disposed on the input area. The game keypad includes a keypad body, an input element, a processing circuit and two securing elements. The processing circuit is coupled with the input element and generates an input signal to the device body. The securing elements are disposed at two opposite sides of the keypad body and secured with two sides of the device body.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 096127834 filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on Jul. 30, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an electronic device and, more particularly, to an electronic device having a game keypad.
2. Related Art
Nowadays, the processing performance of portable electronic devices such as notebook computers becomes strong increasingly. Therefore, the portable electronic devices are not only competent in commercial or daily usage, they are also capable of executing image processing such as playing or recording audio and video and executing games which have high demands for hardware successfully.
As shown in FIG. 1, the notebook computer 11 can be used to process work, browse web pages or execute games and so on. When the notebook computer 11 executes games, the two extra game keypads 12 are connected to the connecting ports of the notebook computer 11 as manual input devices. Then, a user may operate the game keypad 12 to play games.
The joystick-type game keypad 12 usually needs to be secured on a plane, and then a user may easily and successfully operate. However, when the user carries the notebook computer 11 outside, and no proper desk for placing the notebook computer 11 exists, the game keypad 12 is hard to be secured, and the user operates difficultly. In addition, detachable or external game keypad 12 occupies large room and is used inconveniently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electronic device having a game keypad in the invention includes a device body and a game keypad. The device body has an input area on which the game keypad is disposed. The game keypad includes a keypad body, an input element, a processing circuit and two securing elements. The processing circuit is coupled to the input element, and it generates an input signal to the device body. The securing elements are deposed at the two opposite sides of the keypad body and secured with two sides of the device body.
Therefore, the electronic device having a game keypad in the invention allows the game keypad to be disposed on the input area and to be installed on the device body by the securing elements. Thus, the game keypad is capable of being fixed at the device body, and a user can play games by operating the game keypad on the device body directly.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional notebook computer and a game keypad;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic diagrams showing an electronic device having a game keypad according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electronic device having the game keypad according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electronic device having a game keypad according to another preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 are schematic diagrams showing the game keypad according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The electronic device having a game keypad in a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with the appended drawings. The same elements are denoted by the same reference numbers.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an electronic device 2 includes a device body 21 and a game keypad 22. The device body 21 may be a notebook computer, a tablet computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA). What follows takes a notebook computer as an example of the device body 21.
The device body 21 includes a screen 212 and a host 213 pivotally connected to the screen 212. The input area 211 is provided at the host 213. The host 213 has a plurality of keys 214 provided at the input area 211. A user inputs via the keys 214 to operate the electronic device 2. The input area 211 includes a partial housing of the host 213 for a user to put hands to operate the keys 214 besides the area that the keyboard corresponds to. In addition, a touch-control type mouse and button also may be disposed in the input area 211.
The game keypad 22 may be disposed on the input area 211, and it includes a keypad body 221, a plurality of input elements 222 and 223, a processing circuit (not shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) and two securing elements 225 and 226.
The input elements 222 and 223 may be a joystick 222 or a key 223, and a user may operate the input elements 222 and 223 to play a game. When the electronic device 2 executes a game, a user may put the hands on the keypad body 221 to operate the input elements 222 and 223, and the input signal generated by the input elements 222 and 223 may control the process of the game. The keypad body 221 has enough strength. Therefore, when the keypad body 221 sustains the downward force applied by the hands of the user, it does not have a great deflection and does not touch the input area 211 of the device body 21. That is, a user may avoid touching the keys 214 by mistake, and the game process is not affected.
The game keypad 22 is not necessarily disposed on the keys 214 of the device body 21. It also may be disposed at other positions of the input area 211. For example, the game keypad 22 may be disposed in front of the keys 214 and near the position where the hands put.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, before the game keypad 22 is installed, it may be separated from the device body 21. When the game keypad 22 is installed, the securing elements 225 and 226 are disposed at the two opposite sides of the keypad body 221 and secured with the two sides of the device body 21. Therefore, it is assured that the whole game keypad 22 is installed with the device body 21 steadily (as shown in FIG. 3). If the user does not need the game keypad 22 anymore, he can detach the game keypad 22 from the device body 21.
The advantages of the game keypad 22 are described hereinbelow. The user can play computer games more easily on the device body 21. It breaks through the limitation of playing computer games on a keyboard of a common notebook. Thus, the operation performance and the fun in playing computer games are increased, and a user may avoid touching the keys by mistake and then avoid affecting the game process. In addition, since the game keypad 22 and the device body 21 are assembled together, the appearance has more aesthetic feeling, and room is saved.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, in the embodiment, the game keypad 22 includes a processing circuit 224 which is coupled to the input elements 222 and 223 and generates an input signal to the device body 21. The electronic device 2 further includes a signal wire 23 coupled to the processing circuit 224 and the device body 21 to transmit the input signal to the host 213 of the device body 21. The transmission specification of the signal wire 23 may be common universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394 or conditional serial or parallel transmission and so on. In addition, the processing circuit 224 may be achieved at a circuit board disposed in the keypad body 221.
As shown in FIG. 5, to decrease the fetter of the wires, the game keypad 22′ further may includes a wireless module 220 and a battery 229. The battery 229 provides the electricity for the processing circuit 224 and the wireless module 220. The processing circuit 224, the wireless module 220 and the battery 229 may be achieved on the same circuit board. The wireless module 220 is coupled to the processing circuit 224 to transmit the input signal to the host 213 of the device body 21. Thus, the signal wire 23 is not needed.
As shown in FIG. 2, the device body 21 of the embodiment further may include a loudspeaker 215. Therefore, the keypad body 221 further may include a plurality of through holes 227 disposed at the keypad body 221 correspondingly to the loudspeaker 215. Thus, the keypad body 221 does not cover the loudspeaker 215 and does not affect the volume of the game. The loudspeakers 215 and the through holes 227 are provided at both two sides of the keypad body 221. Therefore, users can enjoy three-dimensional acoustical effect.
The process of assembling the game keypad 22 and the device body 21 is described as follows. First, the securing elements 225 and 226 of the game keypad 22 are placed on the input area 211 of the device body 21. Then, the game keypad 22 is secured on the device body 21 via the securing elements 225 and 226. Then, the signal wire 23 is used to connect the game keypad 22 and the host 213 of the device body 21.
As shown in FIG. 6, to enhance the effect of holding the device body 21 via the securing elements 225 and 226, the securing element 225 has a spring 2251. The spring 2251 provides resilience for allowing the securing elements 225 and 226 to abut toward the device body 21. Under this design, the spring 2251 is connected to the keypad body 221. If the length of the keypad body 221 is less than the length of the device body 21, when the game keypad 22 needs to be installed with the device body 21, a user should draw the securing elements 225 and 226 away from the keypad body 221. At that moment, the spring 2251 is stretched and has resilience. Then, the user puts the securing elements 225 and 226 at the two sides of the device body 21 and releases the securing elements 225 and 226. The resilience of the spring 2251 draws the securing elements 225 and 226 to abut toward the device body 21. Thus, the securing elements 225 and 226 may be secured at the two sides of the device body 21. In addition, the spring 2251 also may be replaced by an elastic element, and the same effect may be obtained.
In addition, the implementing state that the securing element has a spring or an elastic element is described hereinbefore. However, the number of the securing element having a spring or an elastic element is not limited to be one, and the condition that both of the two securing elements have springs or elastic elements is within the scope of the invention.
The securing element 226 may have an adhering portion 2261. The adhering portion 2261 is adhered to the side of the device body 21. The adhering portion 2261 may be a glue or a Velcro. In addition, the implementing state that the securing element has an adhering portion 2261 is described hereinbefore. However, it is not limited that only the securing element 226 has the adhering portion 2261, and the condition that both of the two securing elements have the adhering portions are within the scope of the invention.
As shown in FIG. 7, the position where the spring 2251′ is disposed may be changed to be a surface of the securing element 225′, and the surface faces the device body 21. When the game keypad 22 is installed, the securing element 225′ needs to be drawn away outward slightly, and then the unsecured end of the spring 2251′ is capable of touching one side of the device body 21.
As shown in FIG. 8, in another embodiment, the securing element 226″ may have a hook 2262 hooking the device body 21. The securing element 225″ has a rough surface 2252 touching the side of the device body 21 to increase the friction between the securing element 225″ and the device body 21.
In addition, to cooperate with device body 21 with different size, the keypad body 221 has a first portion 2211 and a second portion 2212. The first portion 2211 and the second portion 2212 are relatively slidingly provided via at least a sliding track 228.
To sum up, for the electronic device having a game keypad of the invention, the game keypad is disposed on the input area, and securing elements are used to install the game keypad on the device body. Therefore, the game keypad is allowed to be secured at the device body, and a user can directly operate the game keypad to play games on the device body.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not for limiting the scope of the invention. Persons having ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments described above.

Claims

1. An electronic device having a game keypad comprising:

a device body having an input area; and

a game keypad disposed on the input area and comprising a keypad body, an input element, a processing circuit and two securing elements, wherein the processing circuit is coupled to the input element and generates an input signal to the device body, and the securing elements are disposed at two opposite sides of the keypad body and secured with two sides of the device body.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the device body comprises a screen and a host pivotally connected to the screen, and the input area is located at the host.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the host has a plurality of keys located at the input area.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the input element is a joystick or a key.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the securing elements has a spring or an elastic element for providing a resilience to allow the securing element to abut toward the device body.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the securing elements has an adhering portion adhered to the side of the device body.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the adhering portion is a glue.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the securing elements has a hook hooking the device body.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the securing elements has a rough surface touching the side of the device body.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the keypad body comprises a first portion and a second portion, and first portion and the second portion are relatively slidingly disposed via at least a sliding track.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the device body further comprises:

a signal wire coupled to the processing circuit and the device body to transmit the input signal to the device body.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the keypad body comprises:

a wireless module coupled to the processing circuit to transmit the input signal to the device body.

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the keypad body comprises:

a through hole disposed at the keypad body.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the device body has a loudspeaker, and the through hole is disposed correspondingly to the loudspeaker.