# US 2014/0190809 A1 · Auxiliary keyboard and auxiliary input device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190809 A1 - Document ID: US20140190809A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/791,790 - Filed: 2013-03-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Inventors: CHIA-CHING LIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190809A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1671: {Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/0393: {Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads} - G06F 2200/1633: Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer - G06F 2203/04809: Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard - H01H 2223/028: detachable - H01H 2223/044: Protecting cover - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract An auxiliary keyboard comprises an insulating board and a plurality of conductive keys. The insulating board has a sheet having a plurality of portions respectively defining a plurality of thru holes, a plurality of resilient supporting portions respectively connected to the sheet correspondingly arranged to the thru holes, and a plurality of combined portions respectively connected to the resilient supporting portions. The thickness of each combined portion is about 0.05 mm to 1 mm. Each conductive key is defined by a bonded portion and an exposed portion. The bonded portions of the conductive keys are respectively and seamlessly coupled to the combined portions, and the exposed portions are arranged to allow exposure from the insulating board. Thus, the conductive keys are firmly fixed on the insulating board by the connection between each conductive key and each combined portion. The instant disclosure also provides an auxiliary input device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An auxiliary keyboard for disposing on a tablet PC, comprising: an insulating board integrally formed, the insulating board comprising: a sheet having a first surface and an opposite second surface, wherein the sheet has a plurality of portions respectively defining a plurality of thru holes penetrating the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of resilient supporting portions each having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end of each resilient supporting portion connects to the sheet, and the resilient supporting portions are respectively connected to the portions of the sheet; and a plurality of combined portions respectively connected to the second ends of the resilient supporting portions, wherein the thickness of each combined portion is about 0.05 mm to 1 mm; and a plurality of conductive keys each defined by a bonded portion and an exposed portion, wherein the bonded portions of the conductive keys are respectively and seamlessly coupled to the combined portions, and the exposed portions are arranged to allow exposure from the insulating board; wherein when the second surface of the insulating board is disposed on the tablet PC, each combined portion and a touch panel of the tablet PC are arranged with a predetermined distance; wherein when at least one of the exposed portions is pressed, the resilient supporting portion corresponding to the pressed exposed portion is deformed which causes the combined portion to correspondingly press against the touch panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The auxiliary keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combined portions and the bonded portions are respectively arranged in a plurality of spaces surroundingly defined by the resilient supporting portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The auxiliary keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combined portions each has a trough-like structure, the bonded portions correspondingly conform to the combined portions in shape, and the bonded portions are respectively confined by the combined portions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The auxiliary keyboard as claimed in claim 3, wherein in each conductive key, the cross-sectional area of the bonded portion is smaller than the cross-sectional of the exposed portion, and a surface of the exposed portion connected to the bonded portion is seamlessly coupled to the corresponding combined portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The auxiliary keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of each combined portion is about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. ### Claim 6 An auxiliary input device for disposing on a tablet PC, comprising: an auxiliary keyboard, comprising: an insulating board integrally formed, comprising: a sheet having a first surface and an opposite second surface, wherein the sheet having a plurality of portions respectively defining a plurality of thru holes penetrating the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of resilient supporting portions each having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end of each resilient supporting portion connects the sheet, and the resilient supporting portions are respectively connected to the portions of the sheet; and a plurality of combined portions respectively connected to the second ends of the resilient supporting portions, wherein the thickness of each combined portion is about 0.05 mm to 1 mm; and a plurality of conductive keys each defined as a bonded portion and an exposed portion, wherein the bonded portions of the conductive keys are respectively and seamlessly coupled to the combined portions, and the exposed portions are arranged to allow exposure from the insulating board; an auxiliary casing having a foldable sheet-like structure, the auxiliary casing having a foldable body, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion; wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are respectively arranged on the opposite sides of the foldable body, the first connecting portion is fixed on the auxiliary keyboard, the second connecting portion is fixable onto the tablet PC, and the auxiliary device is adjustable to a desired position or a collapsed position by folding the auxiliary casing; wherein when the second connecting portion of the auxiliary device is fixed onto the tablet PC and the auxiliary device is adjusted to the desired position, the foldable body is disposed on a working surface so as to configure the tablet PC at an acute angle relative to the working surface, the second surface of the insulating board is disposed on the tablet PC, each combined portion and a touch panel of the tablet PC are configured with a predetermined distance; wherein when at least one of the exposed portions is pressed, the resilient supporting portion corresponding to the pressed exposed portion is deformed which causes the combined portion to correspondingly press against the touch panel; wherein when the second connecting portion of the auxiliary device is fixed onto the tablet PC and adjusted at the collapsed position, the foldable body, the second connecting portion, and the auxiliary keyboard are collapsibly configured to cover the touch panel of the tablet PC. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The auxiliary input device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first connecting portion is coupled to the first surface of the insulating board, and the first connecting portion surrounds the conductive keys. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The auxiliary input device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the combined portions and the bonded portions are respectively arranged in a plurality of spaces surroundingly defined by the resilient supporting portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The auxiliary input device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the combined portions each has a trough-like structure, the bonded portions correspondingly conform to the combined portions in shape, and the bonded portions are respectively confined by the combined portions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The auxiliary input device as claimed in claim 9, wherein in each conductive key, the cross-sectional area of the bonded portion is smaller than the cross-sectional of the exposed portion, and a surface of the exposed portion connected to the bonded portion is seamlessly coupled to the corresponding combined portion.