元器件交易网讯  4月18日消息，据外媒报道，一家初创公司Tactus为iPad mini设计了一个外壳，可以在触摸屏上实现物理键盘输入。

　　Tactus与台湾电子制造商纬创设计了一款变形iPad外壳，可以从屏幕中冒出物理键盘。

　　在今年1月的消费电子展上展出了一款Tactus原型，在1350万美元的B轮融资后，上月与纬创达成合作关系，该公司准备今年开始以80美元到100美元之间的价格出售这款外壳。

　　Tactus制造了一个很薄很清晰的一层，看起来像屏保的装置，用户可以把它安在iPad上。表面是半弹性聚合物，下面是一个小通道充满一种特殊的微型流体。通过添加或移走液体按钮，Tactus可以让键盘弹出或融化。

　　这一层屏保将连接到硬壳背面，硬壳在边上有开关。通过移动开关，透明、物理按键变会从iPad标准键盘上冒出来，按键可以在瞬间出现或消失。

　　纬创，为苹果、宏基和黑莓公司提供设备，将出售这款外壳，该公司还能够与Tactus合作利用的变形技术大规模生产该产品。这意味着，以后用户不需要单独购买这款外壳，可以买到使用Tactus微流体取代大猩猩屏幕的手机。

　　Tactus CEO 切希拉（Craig Ciessla）表示，他希望在明年生产内置该屏幕的手机。

　　切希拉与他的合伙人Micah Yairi于2008年提出这个想法，当时Yairi正给一家公司做微流体医疗设备。切希拉过去一直用黑莓手机，发现最近iPhone触屏打字很麻烦，很希望有键盘支持。

　　两人想试试他们是否可以使用微流体来创建一个动态键盘。6年过去，他们准备出产此产品。

　　（元器件交易网董蕾 译）

　　外媒原文如下：

　　A startup is creating a case for the iPad Mini that can create a keyboard on top of a touchscreen seemingly by magic.

　　Tactus Technology is working with Tawainese electronics manufacturer Wistron to create a shape-shifting iPad case that can lift a physical keyboard out of a flat screen whenever you need to type.

　　We first saw the Tactus prototype this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, but after a $13.5 million Series B fundraise and the partnership with Wistron cemented last month, the company will be ready to start shipping cases this year for between $80 and $100.

　　Here's how it works:

　　Tactus has created a thin, clear layer that looks almost exactly like a screen protector you'd place on your iPad. The surface is a semi-elastic polymer, and underneath it are little channels filled with a special micro-fluid. By adding or taking away fluid, Tactus can make the keyboard either pop up or melt away.

　　When you buy the iPad case, this layer will connect to the hard-shell backing, which will have a switch on its side. By moving the switch, you can push out transparent, physical buttons over the iPad's standard keyboard. The keys can appear and disappear almost instantly.

　　Wistron, which has produced devices for companies such as Apple, Acer, and BlackBerry, will have the cases ready to go this year. The company is also capable of mass producing products with Tactus' shape-shifting tech baked inside. Meaning, instead of buying a case, you could simply buy a phone that replaces the usual Gorilla glass screen with one made using Tactus micro-fluids. Tactus CEO Craig Ciessla told Business Insider that he hopes to start manufacturing phones with the Tactus screen built-in sometime next year. 

　　Ciesla and his co-founder Micah Yairi came up with the idea for Tactus in 2008 when Yairi was working with a company making micro-fluids for medical devices. Ciesla, who had always used a BlackBerry, had troubling typing with the recently released iPhone's  touch-screen and longed for his keyboard back. The pair decided to try to see if they could use micro-fluids to create a dynamic keyboard. Six years later, they're ready to ship their first product.