TWI461971B - Pressure-sensitive cursor control device - Google Patents

Description

Pressure sensor control device

The invention relates to an index control device, in particular to a pressure sensitive index control device.

Commonly used computer devices such as notebook computers, desktop computers, or personal digital assistant devices often use a mouse or a touch panel as a control device for a cursor (also known as a cursor). The touch panel is often used with a stylus to control the indicator, and the user can also input text data or graphic data by handwriting. Since the user can use the general writing pen, the touch panel and the stylus are superior in comfort and flexibility to the conventional mouse.

Some manufacturers have developed a stylus that can be used without a touch panel. The stylus can illuminate and use the surface of a desktop or other object as a reflective surface, and then receive reflected light for positioning. However, the reflected light to be received is easily interfered by ambient light (also known as ambient light); the different reflective coefficients of different reflective surfaces can greatly affect the performance of the stylus.

In addition, the conventional stylus cannot recognize the stroke pressure applied by the user. Although it allows the user to perform handwriting input, it does not reach the feel of a brush or a brush. In the drawing application, it is also impossible for the user to change the thickness of the line by changing the stroke pressure.

In order to solve the problem that the above-mentioned conventional stylus pen is susceptible to environmental interference and is incapable of recognizing the pen pressure, a pressure sensitive index control device is proposed. The pressure sensitive index control device includes a body portion and an elastic contact portion. The elastic contact portion extends from one end of the body portion, and the elastic contact portion includes a receiving groove and a distance sensing unit disposed in the receiving groove. The deformation occurs when the elastic contact portion is stressed, and the distance sensing unit senses the deformation of the elastic contact portion, and accordingly outputs a pressure sensing signal.

According to an embodiment, the body portion may have a contact surface that contacts the resilient contact portion. The accommodating groove may have a first surface opposite to the contact surface, and has an elastic wall surrounding the first surface and between the contact surface and the first surface; the contact surface, the first surface and the elastic wall form the accommodating groove One of the accommodation spaces. When the elastic contact portion is stressed, the first face or the elastic wall is deformed. The distance sensing unit is disposed on the contact surface and faces the first surface to sense a sensing distance between the distance sensing unit and the first surface, and outputs a pressure sensing signal according to the sensing distance; wherein the sensing distance is The deformation of the first side or the elastic wall changes. The pressure sensing signal can be a voltage signal, and the intensity of the voltage signal is inversely proportional to the length of the sensing distance.

The distance sensing unit can be an infrared transceiver, a hall sensor, a laser transceiver or an ultrasonic transceiver. The distance sensing unit in the embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking an infrared transceiver as an example. The infrared transceiver can include an infrared emitter and an image receiver. The infrared emitter emits an infrared ray toward the first side; the image receiver is paired with the infrared ray emitter and receives infrared light reflected by the first surface.

According to an embodiment, the pressure sensitive index control device may further include a micro control unit (MCU) and a transmission unit. The MCU can be electrically connected to the distance sensing unit, receive the pressure sensing signal, and convert the pressure sensing signal into an output signal. The transmission unit can be electrically connected to the MCU and transmit the output signal wirelessly or by wire.

The micro control unit may include an analog/digital converter (A/D converter) for receiving the pressure sensing signal and converting the pressure sensing signal into an output signal. And the micro control unit can transmit the output signal to the transmission unit through an Inter-Integrated Circuit Bus (I2C bus).

According to an embodiment, the pressure sensitive index control device may further include a battery and a charging line. The battery can be connected to the micro control unit to provide power to the micro control unit. The charging line can be electrically connected to the battery to charge the battery.

The body portion may be a hollow pen holder, and the micro control unit, the transmission unit, the battery, and the charging line may all be disposed in the hollow pen holder. The material of the elastic contact portion may be conductive rubber or conductive foam.

In summary, the pressure sensitive index control device can perform index control and detect the deformation of the elastic contact portion to output a pressure sensing signal representative of the pen pressure strength. Moreover, the distance sensing unit and the first surface as the reflecting surface are disposed in the receiving groove, so the performance of sensing the pen pressure is not affected by external ambient light or humidity.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the Detailed Description of the Detailed Description of the <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> <RTIgt; The objects and advantages associated with the present invention can be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The invention provides a pressure sensitive index control device, which can cooperate with a touch panel to perform index control on a cursor (also called a cursor) of a computer device. Please refer to "FIG. 1", which is a schematic diagram of a pressure sensitive index control device of an embodiment.

The pressure sensitive index control device includes a body portion 20 and an elastic contact portion 30, wherein the elastic contact portion 30 extends from one end of the body portion 20. The user can make the elastic contact portion 30 of the pressure sensitive index control device abut against the surface of the touch panel 40 and move on the surface to perform index control.

For example, the touch panel 40 can be a capacitive touch panel, and the pressure sensitive index control device can be a stylus of a capacitive touch panel. The body portion 20 can be a hollow pen holder, and the elastic contact portion 30 can be bonded to the body portion 20 by adhesion, fitting or snapping; however, the body portion 20 and the elastic contact portion 30 can also be integrally formed. The material of the elastic contact portion 30 may be conductive rubber or conductive foam, so that the capacitive touch panel generates a small current by using the conductive elastic contact portion 30 and is accordingly positioned.

The elastic contact portion 30 includes a receiving groove 32 and a distance sensing unit 34 , wherein the distance sensing unit 34 is disposed in the receiving groove 32 . When the user abuts the elastic contact portion 30 against the surface of the touch panel 40, the elastic contact portion 30 is stressed and deformed. When the accommodating groove 32 in the elastic contact portion 30 is deformed by the force, the distance sensing unit 34 senses the deformation of the elastic contact portion 30 and outputs a pressure sensing signal accordingly.

The touch panel 40 can be a touch screen of a computer device 60 such as a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone or a camera, as shown in FIG. 2A. The touch panel 40 may be an input peripheral device that is externally connected to the computer device 60, such as a tablet or a tablet, as shown in FIG. 2B. The touch panel 40 is capable of sensing the coordinates of the pressure sensitive index control device and transmitting it to the computer device 60 in a wireless or wired manner.

Next, please refer to "3A", "3B" and "4", which are respectively a schematic view of an elastic contact portion of an embodiment, a force diagram of the elastic contact portion, and a schematic diagram of the distance sensing unit.

The accommodating groove 32 may be a cubic shape or a cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto. The body portion 20 can have a contact surface 21 that contacts the resilient contact portion 30. The accommodating groove 32 may have a first surface 322 opposite to the contact surface 21 , and the accommodating groove 32 may have a resilient wall 324 surrounding the first surface 322 and between the contact surface 21 and the first surface 322 . The contact surface 21 , the first surface 322 , and the elastic wall 324 form an accommodating space in the accommodating groove 32 . The distance sensing unit 34 is disposed on the contact surface 21 and faces the first surface 322 to sense a sensing distance between the distance sensing unit 34 and the first surface 322 .

According to an embodiment, the body portion 20 can include a baffle 22 disposed between the body portion 20 and the resilient contact portion 30. The elastic contact portion 30 forms an opening of the accommodating groove 32 in a plane in contact with the contact surface 21, and the opening can be covered by the shutter 22. The distance sensing unit 34 can be disposed on the contact surface 21 of the baffle 22 and facing the first surface 322.

The distance sensing unit 34 can be an infrared transceiver, a hall sensor, a laser transceiver or an ultrasonic transceiver.

When the distance sensing unit 34 is an infrared transceiver, the infrared transceiver (distance sensing unit 34) may include an infrared emitter 342 and an image receiver 344. The infrared emitter 342 is paired with the image receiver 344. The infrared emitter 342 and the image receiver 344 can both be disposed on the contact surface 21 and accommodated in the accommodating space of the accommodating groove 32. The infrared emitter 342 can be, for example, a light emitting diode (LED). The infrared emitter 342 can emit an infrared ray toward the first face 322, and the infrared ray is reflected by the first face 322. The image receiver 344 can receive the infrared light reflected by the first surface 322, and then calculate the sensing distance between the distance sensing unit 34 and the first surface 322.

Similarly, the laser emitter, the ultrasonic transmitter or the Hall sensor can be disposed on the contact surface 21, and the laser receiver, the ultrasonic receiver or the magnet is disposed on the first surface 322; A laser emitter, an ultrasonic transmitter or a Hall sensor may be disposed on the upper first surface 322, and a laser receiver, an ultrasonic receiver or a magnet may be disposed on the contact surface 21; The sensing distance between the sensing unit 34 and the first face 322.

According to an embodiment, the pressure sensing signal can be a voltage signal. After the image receiver 344 calculates the sensing distance, the voltage signal V _out is output as the pressure sensing signal according to the sensing distance. And the output voltage signal V _out will change with the sensing distance. As shown in the distance-voltage relationship curve 50 shown in Fig. 5, the intensity of the voltage signal within a certain interval may be inversely proportional to the length of the sensing distance.

When the elastic contact portion 30 is pressed against the touch panel 40, the elastic contact portion 30 is pressed between the shutter 22 of the main body portion 20 and the touch panel 40, as shown in FIG. 3B. The first face 322 or the elastic wall 324 may be deformed by an external force from above and below. Depending on the manner in which the user holds the body portion 20 and the writing habits of the user, the elastic contact portion 30 may also be subjected to an external force having a horizontal component and deformed, thereby causing the first face 322 or the elastic wall 324 to also deform. Since the deformation of the first face 322 or the elastic wall 324 causes the distance between the distance sensing unit 34 and the first face 322 to change, the distance sensing unit 34 can detect the deformation and the deformation by sensing the change of the distance. Size, and output pressure sensing signal according to the sensing distance.

For example, when the elastic contact portion 30 is not stressed (such as "3A"), the sensing distance D1 sensed by the distance sensing unit 34 is the original depth of the accommodating groove 32. However, when the elastic contact portion 30 is pressed by the pressure to deform the elastic wall 324 (for example, "Fig. 3B"), the depth of the accommodating groove 32 becomes shallow. Therefore, the sensing distance D2 when the elastic contact portion 30 is stressed is smaller than the sensing distance D1 when the elastic contact portion 30 is not subjected to force. The larger the external force received by the elastic contact portion 30, the larger the deformation, the shorter the detection distance, and the larger the voltage value of the output voltage signal.

Since all the components of the distance sensing unit 34 (for example, the infrared emitter 342 and the image receiver 344) and the first surface 322 as the reflecting surface are packaged in the accommodating space, the degree of deformation is not affected by the environment. Ambient light or interference with reflective surfaces with different reflection coefficients.

In addition to the body portion 20 and the resilient contact portion 30, the pressure sensitive index control device can have a micro control unit (MCU), a transmission unit, a battery, or a charging line. And when the body portion 20 is a hollow pen holder, the MCU, the transmission unit, the battery or the charging line can be disposed in the hollow pen holder. Please refer to "Fig. 6", which is a block diagram of a pressure sensitive index control device of an embodiment.

The MCU 24 can be electrically connected to the distance sensing unit 34. The MCU 24 can receive the pressure sensing signal and convert the pressure sensing signal into an output signal. The output signal may represent the degree of deformation of the elastic contact portion 30, and indirectly represents the extent to which the user applies force to the pressure sensitive index control device 10. The MCU 24 can include an analog-to-digital converter (A/D converter) 242 and receive the pressure sensing signal by the analog digital converter 242, and then convert the pressure sensing signal into an output signal.

The transmission unit 25 can be electrically connected to the MCU 24. In more detail, the MCU 24 can transmit the output signal to the transmission unit 25 through an Inter-Integrated Circuit Bus (I2C bus) 244. After receiving the output signal, the transmission unit 25 can package it into a package and then transmit the output signal to the computer device 60 in a wireless or wired manner.

The computer device 60 can include a driver program 62, an operating system 64, and at least one application program 66. The driver 62 may be for the pressure sensitive index control device 10 to receive an output signal. However, the driver 62 can also control the device 10 and the touch panel 40 for the pressure sensitive index. In other words, the transmission unit 25 can directly transmit the output signal to the computer device 60. The output signal can be transmitted to the touch panel 40, and then the output signal from the touch panel 40 is transmitted to the computer device 60. The touch panel 40 can sense the coordinates of the pressure sensitive index control device 10, integrate the coordinate data and the output signal received from the transmission unit 25, and transmit the coordinate data and the output signal to the computer device 60.

After the operating system 64 of the computer device 60 receives the data of the coordinates or the output signal through the driver 62, the operation of controlling the movement or clicking of the index can be controlled. The operating system 64 can also pass the coordinates or output signals of the coordinates to the application 66 to react to the definition of the various index operations by the application 66. For example, the application 66 can be a drawing software, and the size of the pen pressure is obtained according to the output signal, and the writing effect like a brush or a brush is generated.

The battery 26 of the pressure sensitive index control device 10 can be coupled to the MCU 24 to provide power to the MCU 24. The charging line 27 can be electrically connected to the battery 26 to charge the battery 26. The charging line 27 can obtain power in a wired or wireless manner and supply it to the battery 26.

According to an embodiment, the touch panel 40 can be a resistive touch panel, and the pressure sensitive index control device 10 can be a stylus of a resistive touch panel. The pressure sensitive index control device 10 may further include a pen point, and the elastic contact portion 30 is disposed between the body portion 20 and the pen tip portion. The hardness of the nib portion is relatively high, and the two conductive layers of the surface of the resistive touch panel can be laminated together when the resistive touch panel is touched, so that the resistive touch panel can be used for positioning. When the user presses the pressure sensitive index control device 10 against the surface of the touch panel 40, the elastic contact portion 30 deforms between the body portion 20 and the nib portion; therefore, the distance sensing unit 34 can sense the elastic contact portion. 30 deformation, and according to the output pressure sensing signal.

In summary, the pressure sensitive index control device can be used with the touch panel for index control. The pressure sensitive index control device can sense the degree of stress itself by sensing the deformation of the elastic contact portion, and output a pressure sensing signal representing the writing pressure strength, and output it to the computer device. In this way, the user can write lines with different thickness and difference, and the application can simulate different strokes such as a brushwork or a colored pencil according to the strength of the pen pressure. Moreover, since the distance sensing unit and the first surface as the reflecting surface are disposed in the receiving grooves that are not affected by ambient light or external humidity, the sensing performance is very stable without being affected by the outside world.

The above detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is intended to provide a further understanding of the scope of the invention. On the contrary, the intention is to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the scope of the invention as claimed.

10. . . Pressure sensor control device

20. . . Body part

twenty one. . . Contact surfaces

twenty two. . . Baffle

twenty four. . . Micro control unit

242. . . Analog digital converter

244. . . Internal integrated circuit bus

25. . . Transmission unit

26. . . battery

27. . . Charging line

30. . . Elastic contact

32. . . Locating slot

322. . . First side

324. . . Elastic wall

34. . . Distance sensing unit

342. . . Infrared emitter

344‧‧‧Image Receiver

40‧‧‧ touch panel

50‧‧‧ Distance-voltage curve

60‧‧‧Computer equipment

62‧‧‧Driver

64‧‧‧Operating system

66‧‧‧Application

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pressure sensitive index control device of an embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a touch panel of an embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a touch panel of an embodiment.

Fig. 3A is a schematic view of an elastic contact portion of an embodiment.

Figure 3B is a schematic view of the force of the elastic contact portion of an embodiment.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a distance sensing unit of an embodiment.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the distance-voltage relationship of an embodiment.

Figure 6 is a block diagram of a pressure sensitive index control device of an embodiment.

20. . . Body part

30. . . Elastic contact

32. . . Locating slot

34. . . Distance sensing unit

40. . . Touch panel

Claims (10)

A pressure-sensing index control device includes: a body portion; and an elastic contact portion extending from one end of the body portion, wherein the elastic contact portion is provided with a receiving groove and a one disposed in the receiving groove The sensing unit is configured to deform when the elastic contact portion is subjected to an external force, and the distance sensing unit senses the deformation state of the elastic contact portion, and accordingly outputs a corresponding pressure sensing signal; wherein the receiving portion receives the corresponding pressure sensing signal; An accommodating space is defined in the slot, and a sensing distance is defined in the accommodating space. When the elastic contact portion receives the external force, the accommodating space is deformed, and the sensing distance will change accordingly; The sensing unit detects the change of the sensing distance and outputs the corresponding pressure sensing signal accordingly. The pressure-sensing index control device of claim 1, wherein the body portion has a contact surface contacting the elastic contact portion, the receiving groove having a first surface opposite to the contact surface, the receiving portion The groove has an elastic wall surrounding the first surface and between the contact surface and the first surface, the contact surface, the first surface and the elastic wall forming the accommodating space in the accommodating groove; When the elastic contact portion receives the external force, the first surface or the elastic wall is deformed, and the distance sensing unit is disposed on the contact surface and faces the first surface to sense the distance sensing unit to the first The sensing distance between one side, and outputting the pressure sensing signal according to the sensing distance, wherein the sensing distance is due to the shape of the first surface or the elastic wall Change and change. The pressure sensing index control device of claim 2, wherein the pressure sensing signal is a voltage signal, and the intensity of the voltage signal is inversely proportional to the length of the sensing distance. The pressure sensitive index control device of claim 2, wherein the distance sensing unit is an infrared transceiver, a Hall sensor, a laser transceiver or an ultrasonic transceiver. The pressure sensitive index control device of claim 2, wherein the distance sensing unit is an infrared transceiver, and the infrared transceiver comprises: an infrared emitter for emitting an infrared light toward the first surface And an image receiver paired with the infrared emitter for receiving the infrared light reflected by the first surface. The pressure sensitive index control device of claim 1, further comprising: a micro control unit electrically connected to the distance sensing unit, receiving the pressure sensing signal, and converting the pressure sensing signal into an output And a transmission unit electrically connected to the micro control unit to transmit the output signal in a wireless or wired manner. The pressure-sensing index control device of claim 6, wherein the micro-control unit comprises: an analog-to-digital converter for receiving the pressure sensing signal and converting the pressure sensing signal into the output signal. The pressure sensitive index control device of claim 6, wherein the micro control unit transmits the output signal to the transmission unit through an internal integrated circuit bus. The pressure sensitive index control device of claim 6, further comprising: a battery electrically connected to the micro control unit for supplying power to the micro control unit; and a charging circuit electrically connected to the A battery to charge the battery. The pressure-sensing index control device of claim 9, wherein the body portion is a hollow pen holder, and the micro-control unit, the transmission unit, the battery, and the charging line are disposed in the hollow pen holder.