An electronic apparatus includes a host, a main display, a keyboard, an auxiliary display, and a supporting mechanism. The main display is pivotally connected to the host. The keyboard is slidably disposed on the host. The auxiliary display is disposed on the host and is arranged side by side with the keyboard. The auxiliary display includes a movable end and a lifting end, the keyboard contacts the movable end, and the movable end is slidably connected to the host. The supporting mechanism includes a first link, a second link, and a third link. The first link is slidably connected to the host and is pivotally connected to the second link. The second link is pivotally connected to the host and is pivotally connected to the third link. The third link is pivotally connected to the lifting end.

A system to facilitate communication in English uses a keyboard having at least one phoneme key that displays a phonetic pronunciation symbol that represent sounds of spoken English. The system also includes a computer board disposed within the keyboard and a processor and associated memory in electrical communication with an input from the phoneme key. The processor executes a set of computer instructions that bi-directionally translates the input as a standard English letter to a phonetic pronunciation or from a phonetic input to a standard English letter. An output device in electrical communication with the keyboard wherein the standard English letter is displayed is also provided. In one embodiment, a computing device configured to execute a set of computer instructions is provided that display a digitally produced keyboard for display that uses a downloadable APP to translate between a phonetic input and a standard English letter and displays a result.

Provided is a keyboard device that can suppress a reduction in the operability of a key. A rear guiding member comprises a pair of guiding surfaces that, in a side view of a key, face forward and rearward and are formed along an arc that is convex toward the front. The key comprises a pair of sliding surfaces that slide against the pair of guiding surfaces. Due to this sliding of the guiding surfaces and the sliding surfaces, rotation of the key can be guided while displacement of the key in the front-rear direction is regulated. Consequently, because forward and rearward displacement of the key during key pressing can be suppressed, a reduction in operability (feeling of touch) during pressing of the key can be suppressed.

One variation of a keyboard system includes: a substrate including an array of inductors; a tactile layer arranged over the substrate defining an array of key locations over the array of inductors; an array of magnetic elements, each arranged within the tactile layer at a key location configured to inductively couple to an adjacent inductor and configured to move relative to the adjacent inductor responsive to application of a force on the tactile layer at the key location; and a controller configured to read electrical values from the inductors. In response to detecting a change in electrical value at a first inductor, the controller also configured to: register a first keystroke of a first key type associated with a first key location defined over the first inductor; and drive an oscillating voltage across the first inductor to oscillate the tactile layer over the substrate during a haptic feedback cycle.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed that implement an off-screen indication of battery charge in mobile platforms. In an example, the apparatus includes a keyboard, an interface circuitry, and a processor circuitry. The example processor circuitry to instantiate remaining state of charge (RSOC) controller circuitry to detect a battery charge level display event on a mobile device, the mobile device in a pre-boot state. The example processor circuitry additionally to instantiate fuel gauge circuitry to determine a charge level of a battery of the mobile device and keyboard display circuitry to, after the battery charge level display event, cause a display of the charge level of the battery in the pre-boot state with ones of backlights of a second ones keys on the keyboard.

An input device with a backlight function and a backlight color adjustment method are provided. The input device with the backlight function includes a casing, plural color light-emitting elements, a control module and a charge-coupled device. The control module provides electric power to at least two selected color light-emitting elements through a power supply circuit. By the control module, the chromaticity value of a mixed white light beam from the color light-emitting element is adjusted to be consistent with the chromaticity value of a white light beam, and the luminance value of the mixed white light beam from the color light-emitting element is adjusted to be consistent with the luminance value of the white light beam.

Harsh environment key panel and bezel structures for a user interface device are disclosed. In embodiments, a user interface device includes a printed board, a switch mounted to the printed board, and a key panel disposed upon the printed board. The key panel includes a plurality of printed device layers forming a bezel, a button configured to actuate the switch, and a deformable interface between the bezel and the button. The plurality of printed device layers can include at least one continuous printed device layer that forms portions of the bezel, the button, and the deformable interface. The continuous printed device layer may include at least one rigid device material that forms a portion of the bezel and a portion of the button and a deformable device material that forms a portion of the deformable interface between the bezel and the button.

A control device is provided. A key structure of the control device includes a keycap, an optical film layer and a membrane switch. A protrusion structure is formed on the optical film layer or the membrane switch. When the keycap is pressed down by the user, the arrangement of the protrusion structure can facilitate the user to trigger the underlying membrane switch more precisely.

Key switches of the inventive subject matter are designed to give users the tactile feel of key switches from expensive mechanical keyboards without drawback typically associated with alternative key switches. In some embodiments, key switches described in this application are designed to function with a sheet of membrane switches, while in other embodiments, key switches of the inventive subject matter incorporate optical switching in place of membrane switching. Embodiments for use with membrane switching feature a plunger and rocker combination that prevents the pressure from a user's key press from being directly transferred to a membrane switch, thereby reducing wear and tear. In optical switching embodiments, pressing the key switch causes an actuator, e.g., come between an optical emitter/receiver pair to register a key press.

A system uses a barometer to determine both a user interface event and a change in elevation. Portable devices are often limited by space to provide a user with features that make a product useful. The system uses the barometer to measure air pressure within a cavity of a housing of a wearable device. The cavity is enclosed by a cover that appears as a physical button. The cover is attached to the housing by a flexible seal that allows the cover to move in response to changes in air pressure or physical touch. If movement of the cover causes a change in air pressure in the cavity beyond a threshold, the change is interpreted to be a user input event. Otherwise, the change in air pressure is determined to be a change in altitude. Using a barometer to determine user input allows for a compact wearable device.