U.S. patent application number 12/166819 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for electronic device with game keypad.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.. Invention is credited to Shun-Lung WANG.
Application Number | 20090036189 12/166819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40338673 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090036189 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WANG; Shun-Lung |
February 5, 2009 |
ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH GAME KEYPAD
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.
Inventors: |
WANG; Shun-Lung; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC
P.O. BOX 1364
FAIRFAX
VA
22038-1364
US
|
Assignee: |
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
|
Family ID: |
40338673 |
Appl. No.: |
12/166819 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/24 20140902;
A63F 13/02 20130101; A63F 13/235 20140902; A63F 2300/1043 20130101;
A63F 13/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/16 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2007 |
TW |
096127834 |
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.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.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
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an electronic device and, more
particularly, to an electronic device having a game keypad.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional
notebook computer and a game keypad;
[0012] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic diagrams showing an
electronic device having a game keypad according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electronic device
having the game keypad according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electronic device
having a game keypad according to another preferred embodiment of
the invention; and
[0015] 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
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
* * * * *