WO2011111906A1

WO2011111906A1 - Touch panel

Info

Publication number: WO2011111906A1
Application number: PCT/KR2010/005046
Authority: WO
Inventors: 최종필; 변현희; 유영기
Original assignee: 주식회사 디오시스템즈
Priority date: 2010-03-11
Filing date: 2010-07-30
Publication date: 2011-09-15
Also published as: KR101033154B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a touch panel. The touch panel of the present invention comprises: a first touch-sensing unit disposed at a side of a display module on which an image is displayed to sense a corresponding touch location when the display module is touched; and a second touch-sensing unit including an elastic body which is elastically biased toward the first touch-sensing unit, said second touch-sensing unit being disposed at one side or the other side of the display module to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module when a touch is performed. When compared to the prior art, the touch panel of the present invention can significantly reduce the frequency of unintended touch input errors by sensing not only a touch location, but also a touch pressure.

Description

Touch panel

The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly, to a touch panel that can sense not only a touch position but also a touch pressure, thereby significantly reducing a touch input due to an unintended touch operation. .

TOUCH PANEL, which is sometimes used as a TOUCH SCREEN, is widely used as a means for inputting a signal on a display surface of a display device without using a remote controller or an additional input device in order to efficiently use various electronic devices. .

That is, the touch panel displays an electronic organizer, a flat panel display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma dispaly panel (PDP), an electroluminescense (EL), and an image display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT). It is installed on the surface and used to allow the user to select desired information while viewing the image display device.

Touch methods of touch panels known to date are classified into resistive overlay, capacitive overlay, infrared beam, and surface acoustic wave.

These schemes are briefly described with reference to FIG. 1 as follows.

In resistive overlay, a resistive material is coated on a glass or transparent plastic display module, a polystyrene film is covered on it, and insulating bars are installed at regular intervals so that the two sides of the display module do not touch each other. Has a structure. When touched by a finger, the two surfaces of the display module are connected. At this time, the resistance value is changed and the voltage is also changed, thereby recognizing the touch position of the touched finger with the change of the voltage. In the case of the resistive film, it is inexpensive, highly accurate, and advantageous for miniaturization, but it is difficult to manufacture it firmly because two display modules physically recognize touch.

In capacitive overlay, a special conductive metal is coated on both sides of the glass to apply voltage to the four corners of the screen to spread the high frequency across the surface and to detect the touch position by analyzing the changed high frequency waveform at the touch of a finger. That's the way. The capacitive method is a method of sensing and driving static electricity generated by a human body, which is durable, short in response time, and good in permeability. However, the capacitive method is expensive and does not work on a pen or a gloved hand. Have. It was used in some industrial or casino game consoles, and is now beginning to be adopted in mobile phones.

Infrared Beam is a method that uses the straightness of infrared light which is invisible to the human eye. The infrared LED and the phototransistor, which are light emitting elements, are arranged facing each other to form a matrix, and the object is placed on an object such as a finger. It detects the light blocked by the sensor and recognizes the touch position. Infrared method does not need ITO film, so it can be realized with one glass display module, so it has the best transmittance. It is mainly used in large size game machines of 50 inches or more.

Surface Acoustic Wave has a transmitter that attaches a sound wave emitter to one corner of the glass, and then reflects the sound waves at regular intervals, and a receiver on the opposite side. It is manufactured in the form, and when an object that disturbs sound waves, such as a finger, interferes with the path of sound waves, it calculates the time point and recognizes the touch position. Although the surface ultrasonic method has good light transmittance, it has a weak disadvantage in sensor contamination and liquid, but it is known to be excellent in accuracy and clarity.

Such a touch panel that can be applied in various ways forms a display device together with a controller, driver software (SW), and the like.

When the coordinates based on the touch position from the touch panel are detected and transmitted to the controller, the controller converts the signal transmitted from the touch panel into a digital signal and outputs the coordinates on the display. The driver software converts the digital signal from the controller. The touch panel will be implemented for each operating system.

On the other hand, although the touch panels of the above-described methods have their advantages and disadvantages and are widely used as input means for signals, unintentional input errors are often generated. That is, since the touch panels of the above-described type have a principle and a structure of detecting only a touch position, an input error may occur due to an unintended momentary touch operation when handling the display device.

Such an input error can be solved by a touch input only when a force greater than a predetermined strength (force) or the like is applied, but this is based on the premise that it has a structure that can sense touch pressure. In the above-described touch panels that cannot sense pressure, this is a difficult problem to solve.

Therefore, there is a need for a touch panel having a new structure that can accurately sense the touch pressure as well as the touch position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel that can sense not only the touch position but also the touch pressure and can significantly reduce the touch input due to an unintentional touch operation.

According to the present invention, not only the touch position but also the touch pressure can be sensed together, so that the touch input due to an unintended touch operation can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art.

FIG. 1 is a comparison table for a resistive method, a resistive method, a capacitive overlay, an infrared beam, and a surface acoustic wave.

2 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exploded perspective view of the first touch sensing unit and the display module illustrated in FIG. 2.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the coupled state of FIG.

5 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

10-12 are various modifications of the leaf spring.

13 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

14 is a cross-sectional view of the coupled state of FIG.

15 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

16 to 18 are cross-sectional views of touch panels according to eighth to eleventh embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

19 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

20 is a circuit block diagram applied in FIG. 19.

21 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

An object of the present invention, according to the present invention, is disposed on one side of the display module in which the image is formed, the first touch sensing unit for detecting a touch position corresponding to the touch operation on the display module; And a second touch sensing unit having an elastic body elastically biased toward the first touch sensing unit and disposed on one side or the other side of the display module to sense the touch pressure applied to the display module during the touch operation. It is achieved by a touch panel characterized in that.

The first touch sensing unit may include a touch substrate; An ITO film attached to the lower surface of the touch substrate; And it may include an electrode printed on the lower surface of the ITO film.

The first touch sensing unit may include a touch upper substrate; An upper electrode formed on a lower surface of the touch upper substrate; Touch lower substrate; And a lower electrode formed on an upper surface of the touch lower substrate.

The elastic body may be a leaf spring.

The leaf spring may be made of a conductive metal material, and the leaf spring may include: a body plate part having a touch pressure applying part to which the touch pressure is applied; And a plurality of through slots formed to penetrate the body plate portion in a circumferential region of the body plate portion.

The plurality of through slots may be regularly arranged along the circumferential direction of the body plate portion with respect to the center of the body plate portion at regular equiangular intervals.

The plurality of through slots are formed to penetrate in the form of a hole at a position spaced apart inward from the end of the body plate portion in the form of a hole or cut in the inner direction of the body plate portion at the end of the body plate portion. It can be prepared as.

The second touch sensing unit may include: a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one electrode on which one side of the touch pressure is electrically input; And a first spacer disposed between the plate spring and the printed circuit board such that the plate spring and the electrodes of the printed circuit board are spaced apart from each other when there is no touch operation.

The first spacer may be disposed in an outer region of the through slot in the body plate portion.

Is electrically connected to the first touch sensing unit and the second touch sensing unit, and whether the touch operation is input based on information from the first touch sensing unit and the second touch sensing unit, the touch position, and the The controller may further include a controller configured to control at least one of the strength of the touch pressure to be recognized.

The second touch sensing unit may further include a second spacer disposed between the display module and the leaf spring.

The elastic body may be silicon, and the second touch sensing unit may further include a module support frame to elastically support the display module by applying the silicon to an inner surface thereof.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, the first touch sensing unit is disposed on one side of the display module is formed image to sense the touch position corresponding to the touch operation on the display module; And a base, an elastic body disposed between the base and the first touch sensing unit, a first electrode plate disposed between the elastic body and the base, and a second electrode plate disposed between the first touch sensing unit and the elastic body. And a second touch sensing unit configured to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module during a touch operation based on a change in distance between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. Is also achieved.

The elastic body may be selected from materials of elastic material including silicon, leaf springs and torsion coil springs.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, the first touch sensing unit is disposed on one side of the display module is formed image to sense the touch position corresponding to the touch operation on the display module; And a base and at least one force sensing resistor (FSR) disposed between the base and the first touch sensing unit, and applied to the display module during the touch operation based on the FSR sensor. It is also achieved by a touch panel comprising a second touch sensing unit for sensing touch pressure.

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by explaining preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

2 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first touch sensing unit and the display module shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. It is a cross section.

As shown in these drawings, the touch panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention is disposed on one side of the display module 10 in which an image is formed, and the touch position corresponding thereto when the touch operation is performed on the display module 10. A first touch sensing unit 20 for detecting a second touch sensing unit 30 disposed on one side of the display module 10 and sensing a touch pressure applied to the display module 10 during a touch operation; And a scroll portion (not shown) for controlling them. Looking at each configuration sequentially as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the display module 10 includes a panel 11 on which an image is formed, and a backlight unit disposed behind the panel 11 to project predetermined light onto the panel 11. (13, Back Light Unit), the main mold frame (15, Mold Frame) for supporting the panel 11 and the backlight unit 13, and disposed between the main mold frame 15 and the panel 11 and the corresponding position The sub mold frame 17 for preventing light leakage to the panel 11 side is provided.

As described above, a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a field emission display (FED), and the like may be applied to the panel 11. (11) is applied.

In detail, the LCD panel 11 includes an upper glass 11a and a lower glass 11b which are partially faced to each other in a state in which a liquid crystal (not shown) is injected therein. . Although not shown, upper and lower polarizer films are attached to the outer surfaces of the upper glass 11a and the lower glass 11b, respectively.

The upper glass 11a, which forms an image of a color, has a smaller area than the lower glass 11b, which is TFT panel. Therefore, a portion where the upper glass 11a does not overlap exists on the upper surface of the lower glass 11b, and the driver IC 11c is mounted on this portion. The driver IC 11c is connected to the printed circuit board 50 by the FPC 11d (Flexible Printed Circuit) (see FIG. 2).

The backlight unit 13 is coupled to the main mold frame 15 together with the panel 11 to serve to project a predetermined light onto the panel 11.

The backlight unit 13 includes a light guide plate 13a, a reflective sheet 13b disposed below the light guide plate 13a, a pair of

diffusion sheets

13c and 13d disposed above the light guide plate 13a, and And a light shielding tape 13e bonded between the panel 11 and the diffusion sheet 13d and a flexible printed circuit (FPC 11c) coupled to one side of the panel 11 and connected to a large scale integration (LSI) for driving. FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuit Board, FPCB, including a) and LED mounting FPCB (13f) equipped with a light emitting diode (LED) for generating light to the light guide plate (13a) It is provided.

In the figure, the light guide plate 13a is shown as a substantially rectangular plate-like body. However, the light guide plate 13a may be formed to be inclined so that the upper surface toward the

diffusion sheets

13c and 13d is flat and the lower surface thereof becomes narrower from one end to the other end.

The reflective sheet 13b is disposed almost equal to the area of the light guide plate 13a to prevent light from leaking to the lower portion of the light guide plate 13a, as well as to reflect the leaked light back to the panel 11 through the light guide plate 13a. Role).

The

diffusion sheets

13c and 13d serve to diffuse light generated from the light guide plate 13a. Although no pattern is shown on the surfaces of the

diffusion sheets

13c and 13d in the drawings of the present embodiment, the surface of the

diffusion sheets

13c and 13d has a plurality of fine dot patterns continuously for diffusing more light. Can be formed. In addition, although light is uniform due to light diffusion, a prism sheet (not shown) having a prism pattern that exerts a light focusing effect may be used to prevent a decrease in brightness caused by side effects. In the present embodiment, two

diffusion sheets

13c and 13d are used, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the number thereof.

The light shielding tape 13e serves to shield light from leaking to portions outside the image display area of the panel 11. In the light blocking tape 13e, one region of the upper surface is bonded to the lower surface of the panel 11 and the sub mold frame 17, and one region of the lower surface is bonded to the upper surface of the main mold frame 13 and the diffusion sheet 13d. The light leakage phenomenon is prevented from occurring at a position adjacent to the image display area of the panel 11 at that position.

The main mold frame 15 supports the panel 11 and the backlight unit 13. And the main mold frame 17 is coupled to the main mold frame 15 to prevent the generation of light leakage to the panel 11 side.

The first touch sensing unit 20 is a part that forms the surface of the liquid crystal when one side of the display module 10, that is, the liquid crystal of a mobile phone, PDA, ATM, monitor, etc. using the touch panel of the present embodiment, It detects the touch position corresponding to the touch operation.

The first touch sensing unit 20 is provided by any one method selected from resistive overlay, capacitive overlay, infrared beam, and surface acoustic wave. Can be. For the structure and principle of these methods, reference may be made to the background art described above and FIG. 1.

As described above, the most preferred method among the aforementioned various methods is a resistive film method or a capacitive method. Therefore, in consideration of this, in the touch panel of the present embodiment, a resistive film is applied to the first touch sensing unit 20, and a schematic drawing thereof is shown in FIG. 3.

Next, the first touch sensing unit 20 as a resistive film method will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The first touch sensing unit 20 as a resistive film includes a touch upper substrate 2, a window film 4 attached to an upper surface of the touch upper substrate 2, and a touch upper substrate 2. An FPC bonded to one side of the upper surface of the touch lower substrate 1, the insulating adhesive member 3 interposed between the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1, and the lower surface of the touch lower substrate 1. (Flexible Printed Circuit). In FIG. 3, the upper and lower electrodes formed on the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1 and the patterns of the patterns formed on the electrodes are omitted for convenience.

The touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1 may be made of a flexible transparent film substrate or transparent glass, and the transparent conductive films may be disposed on the lower surface of the touch upper substrate 2 and the upper surface of the touch lower substrate 1. (Not shown), electrode patterns (not shown) are formed.

The insulating adhesive member 3 is interposed between the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1 to bond the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1 and at the same time, the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate ( 1) Prevent short circuit between. The insulating adhesive member 3 has an opening 3a formed at a position corresponding to the input region of the first touch sensing unit 20, and four energized portions at a position corresponding to the outer region of the first touch sensing unit 20. The hole 3b is formed. In this case, the four conducting holes 3b are four AG dots disposed between the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1 to electrically connect the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1. Provide a portion through which (not shown) penetrates.

The FPC 5 is interposed between the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1 and bonded to one side of the touch lower substrate 1. At this time, the FPC 5 is bonded to the touch lower substrate 1 by compressing the anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) applied to the lower surface thereof at high temperature / high pressure. The FPC 5 is responsible for electrically connecting the upper electrode (not shown) formed on the touch upper substrate 2 and the lower electrode (not shown) formed on the touch lower substrate 1 to the control unit (not shown). do. In this case, the control unit calculates the position of the point selected by the user in the input area of the first touch sensing unit 20.

The window film 4 is a protective film for protecting the touch upper substrate 2, especially the touch surface thereof, and is usually made of a PET (Poly Ethylen Terephthalate) film. The window film 4 is attached to the upper surface of the touch upper substrate 2 by an adhesive 8 such as an optical clear adhesive (OCA).

An ink print layer 6 formed by printing ink is formed in an outer region of the lower surface of the window film 4, and the ink print layer 6 includes the display module 10 in which the first touch sensing unit 20 is installed. By providing a frame surrounding the display surface of, the external design of the first touch sensing unit 20 is improved, while the electrode patterns formed on the touch upper substrate 2 and the touch lower substrate 1 are not exposed to the outside. Function.

On the other hand, while the first touch detection unit 20 mainly detects the touch position, the second touch detection unit 30 disposed on one side of the first touch detection unit 20 has the display module 10 during the touch operation. Detect the touch pressure applied by).

As described above, since the second touch sensing unit 30 is provided in addition to the first touch sensing unit 20, the touch panel of the present embodiment can sense not only the touch position but also the touch pressure, thereby providing a touch input by an unintended touch operation. It can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional.

The second touch sensing unit 30, which plays such a role, includes an elastic body 40 elastically biased toward the first touch sensing unit 20 and an electrode 51 on which one side of the touch pressure is electrically input. The printed circuit board 50 and the printed circuit board 50 such that the printed circuit board 50 and the electrode 51 of the printed circuit board 50 are spaced apart from each other when there is no touch operation. And a first spacer 60 disposed therebetween.

The elastic body 40 is elastically deformed due to the touch pressure generated when the touch operation is performed, that is, when the surface of the first touch sensing unit 20 is pressed by a finger or a touch fan, and the like, and the electrode 51 of the printed circuit board 50. ) To generate electrical signals.

The elastic body 40 may be provided as various types, but in this embodiment, the elastic body 40 is applied to the leaf spring 40 made of a conductive metal material. In the following description, the elastic body 40 will be referred to as a leaf spring 40 for convenience.

The leaf spring 40 includes a main body plate part 42 having a touch pressure applying part 41 to which touch pressure is applied, and a plurality of penetrating parts of the main body plate part 42 in the circumferential region of the main body plate part 42. Is provided with a through slot (43).

The main body plate part 42 has a substantially rectangular shape. The reason is that most of the display module 10 has a rectangular shape. If the shape of the display module 10 is different from that shown, the shape of the body plate part 42 may be changed accordingly.

The touch pressure applying unit 41 formed on the main body plate part 42 is a portion to which touch pressure is applied, and the main body plate part 42 is based on the center region of the main body plate part 42, that is, the line connecting the through slots 43. Is formed in the central region. The touch pressure applying unit 41 is deformed toward the printed circuit board 50 when the touch pressure is applied, but is restored to its original state when the applied touch pressure disappears.

The through slot 43 is provided to provide an elastic force to the body plate portion 42. In the present embodiment, the through slot 43 is formed to penetrate in the form of a hole, particularly in the form of a long hole at a position spaced apart from the end of the main body plate part 42 in the inward direction of the main body plate part 42. It is provided corresponding to one of four sides of 42). In other words, the through slots 43 are regularly arranged at regular equiangular intervals along the circumferential direction of the main body plate part 42 with respect to the center of the main body plate part 42, thereby providing elasticity in the touch pressure applying part 41. Allow deformation or elastic recovery.

As such, the leaf spring 40 must be elastically deformed or restored based on the operation of the user touching (pressing) the touch panel of the present embodiment, so that the leaf spring 40 can be organically operated without failure. At the time of manufacture of the leaf spring 40 should have a firmness while having elasticity against torsion or bending. Therefore, the leaf spring 40 should be made of a conductive metal material that satisfies these requirements, and the thickness and size of the body plate portion 42 and the size and position of the through slot 43 should be appropriately designed.

The printed circuit board 50 is disposed in parallel with the plate spring 40 at one side of the plate spring 40. One or more electrodes 51 are disposed on a portion of the printed circuit board 50 that faces the touch pressure applying portion 41 of the plate spring 40.

In detail, if only one electrode 51 is provided on the printed circuit board 50, if the touch pressure is to be detected or if the touch pressure is applied when the touch pressure is applied. Is enough. However, if the touch position is to be further detected in two dimensions, it is preferable that the plurality of electrodes 51 are disposed at at least five different positions on the printed circuit board 50.

However, in the present embodiment, since the touch position is sensed by the first touch sensing unit 20 which is combined with the second touch sensing unit 30 to form one touch panel, a large number of electrodes 51 ) Need not be provided on the printed circuit board 50. Of course, since this is only one embodiment, the position of the number of electrodes 51 provided on the printed circuit board 50 may be appropriately changed in design.

The first spacer 60 serves to allow the leaf springs 40 to be spaced apart from the printed circuit board 50 at regular intervals when there is no touch pressure applied thereto. The first spacer 60 is preferably disposed in the outer region of the through slot 43 in the body plate portion 42, so that it does not interfere with the elastic operation of the leaf spring 40.

The first spacer 60 may be stably fixed in position between the printed circuit board 50 and the leaf spring 40. To this end, a method of coupling both surfaces of the first spacer 60 to the printed circuit board 50 and the leaf spring 40 may be considered.

The coupling method of the first spacer 60 may include a double-sided tape, an adhesive, solder bonding, welding, rivet coupling, bolt (screw) coupling, and the like. Of course, since this is only one embodiment, the position and arrangement of the first spacer 60 and the coupling structure of the printed circuit board 50 and the leaf spring 40 may be changed according to circumstances. In the present embodiment, the first spacer 60 is divided into four pieces and is disposed between the printed circuit board 50 and the leaf spring 40. However, unlike the drawing, the first spacer 60 is one continuous closed loop. May be achieved.

The control unit (not shown) may be electrically connected to the first touch sensing unit 20 and one side of the leaf spring 40 which may be made of a conductive metal and the electrode 51 of the printed circuit board 50.

However, if the plate spring 40 is made of a non-conductor like a plastic, the conductive electrode pattern (not shown) that is electrically conductive to one surface of the plate spring 40 toward the printed circuit board 50 is bonded or printed Next, the control unit (not shown) may be electrically connected to the conductive electrode pattern (not shown) of the leaf spring 40 and the electrode 51 of the printed circuit board 50, respectively.

The control unit controls the first touch sensing unit 20 to recognize the touch position when a touch operation is input, that is, when the user presses the touch panel of the present embodiment.

In addition, the control unit detects the magnitude or change in capacitance generated between the plate spring 40 and the electrode 51 of the printed circuit board 50 when a touch operation is input, and then detects the magnitude or Based on the amount of change, control is performed to recognize whether a touch operation is input or the strength of the input touch pressure.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, the touch panel according to the present embodiment has the same size as the display module 10 and the first touch sensing unit 20, but is included in the second touch sensing unit 30. The size of the plate spring 40 and the printed circuit board 50 which are spaced apart from each other with the first spacer 60 therebetween is relatively larger than the size of the display module 10. .

The operation of the touch panel of this embodiment having such a configuration will be briefly described.

The user inputs a touch operation by touching a certain point with a finger or the like while watching an image of various patterns formed on the display module 10.

Then, the touch position is sensed and recognized by the first touch sensing unit 20 and the control unit, which may be provided by any one selected from the resistive film type, the capacitive type, the infrared type, and the surface ultrasonic type.

For example, if the first touch sensing unit 20 is a resistive film type as in the present embodiment, the controller recognizes the touch position based on the degree of change in voltage caused by the change in the resistance value when the touch operation is input. When the first touch sensing unit 20 is a capacitive type, the controller detects a touch position by analyzing a high frequency waveform that is changed when the touch operation is input by the controller. In particular, when the first touch sensing unit 20 is a capacitive type, multi-touch will be possible. If the first touch detection unit 20 is an infrared type, the control unit detects a sensor that blocks light and recognizes a touch position. If the first touch detection unit 20 is an ultrasonic type, the control unit obstructs the path of sound waves. When it is done, the point of time is calculated to recognize the touch position.

Meanwhile, the touch pressure is sensed and recognized by the second touch sensing unit 30 and the controller in parallel with the sensing or recognition of the touch position. That is, the controller detects the magnitude or change in capacitance generated between the plate spring 40 and the electrode 51 of the printed circuit board 50 when a touch operation is input, and then the magnitude or change in the detected capacitance. Based on whether the touch operation is input or the intensity of the input touch pressure is recognized.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the touch pressure as well as the touch position can be sensed together, thereby significantly reducing the touch input due to an unintended touch operation.

Referring to this figure, the touch panel of the present embodiment is also disposed on one side of the display module 10 in which an image is formed, and the first touch sensing unit sensing a touch position corresponding to a touch operation on the display module 10. 25, a second touch sensing unit 30 disposed on one side of the display module 10 to sense the touch pressure applied to the display module 10 during a touch operation, and a control unit for controlling them (not shown). It does not differ from the first embodiment in that it includes a).

However, in the case of the first embodiment described above, the first touch sensing unit 20 is applied in a resistive manner, whereas in the present embodiment, the first touch sensing unit 25 is provided in a capacitive manner. As such, when the first touch sensing unit 25 is provided in a capacitive manner, in particular, there is an advantage in that multi-touch is possible.

The display module 10, the second touch sensing unit 30, and the description of the control unit replace the description of the first embodiment, and here, the first touch sensing unit 25 provided in a capacitive manner will be described with reference to FIG. 5. See briefly.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first touch sensing unit 25 is printed on the touch substrate 25a, the ITO film 25b attached to the lower surface of the touch substrate 25a, and the lower surface of the ITO film 25b. And an electrode 25c.

The touch substrate 25a is disposed on one surface of the display module 10 and provided to protect the display module 10 on which an image is formed. In this embodiment, the touch substrate 25a is made of tempered glass having a flat plate shape. Here, tempered glass refers to a glass in which molded glass is heated to 500 to 600 ° C. close to a softening temperature, quenched by compressed cooling air to compressively deform the glass surface portion, and then tensilely strained inside to strengthen the glass. As such, when the touch substrate 25a is made of tempered glass, the touch substrate 25a may have excellent characteristics in impact resistance, heat resistance, and safety, as compared with acrylic or general glass. In addition, unlike glass cutting only, since the shape of the tempered glass can be variously changed by etching, a hole is formed in the touch substrate 25a or the edge of the touch substrate 25a is curved. By being able to be formed as a variety of designs of the product can be enabled.

The ITO film 25b refers to a film having conductive properties while still conducting electricity. ITO stands for Indium-Tin Oxide, which is a transparent and electrically conductive material. In general, ITO is a thin film coated on a transparent substrate by wet coating or dry coating to implement conductivity. In the past, ITO is coated on a glass plate and is widely used for LCD.

A specific type of ITO patterning layer (not shown) may be formed on the ITO film 25b as needed, and an electrode 25c is printed on the bottom surface of the ITO film 25b. Here, the electrode 25c may be manufactured using silver.

Accordingly, when the touch substrate 25a is touched using a finger or a touch pen, that is, when a touch operation is input, the isoelectric potential of the ITO film 25b is destroyed starting from the touched portion, and a current is generated. The amount of charged charge is sensed by a current sensor (not shown) connected to the silver electrode 25c printed at the edge of the ITO film 25b, and the conversion position is detected by an analog-to-digital converter (not shown). The touch position can be recognized. Since the first touch sensing unit 25 of the present embodiment is a capacitive type, in particular, the first touch sensing unit 25 may be implemented with only one sheet of ITO film 25b.

Referring to this drawing, the printed circuit board 50 provided in the touch panel of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of electrodes 51a at different positions on the printed circuit board 50.

When a plurality of electrodes 51a are provided at different positions on the printed circuit board 50 as shown in FIG. 6, whether the touch operation is input or the intensity of the input touch pressure may be detected by the second touch sensing unit 30. Of course, the touch position can be further detected in two dimensions.

Of course, in the present embodiment, since the first touch sensing unit 20 may be provided by any one selected from the capacitive type, the infrared type, and the surface ultrasonic type, the touch position may be sensed.

However, when the second touch sensing unit 30 detects the touch position in addition to the first touch sensing unit 20 as in the present embodiment, the control unit compares and analyzes the two pieces of information to derive a more accurate touch position. You can do it.

The touch panel shown in this drawing includes a first touch sensing unit 20a, a plate spring 40a, and a printed circuit board 50a corresponding to the display module 10a having a substantially square shape. This corresponds to the case where the second touch sensing unit 30a is manufactured in a square shape.

The touch panel illustrated in FIG. 7 may be easily applied to, for example, a liquid crystal of a digital camera, which may have an approximately square shape of a screen.

In the case of the touch panel shown in the drawing, the display module 10b having an image is provided with a first touch sensing unit 20b for detecting a touch position and a second touch sensing unit 30b for sensing touch pressure. It is not different from the above-described embodiments in that respect.

8, unlike the first embodiment of FIG. 4, the leaf spring 40b included in the display module 10b, the first touch sensing unit 20b, and the second touch sensing unit 30b. And the same size of the printed circuit board 50b, and an additional second spacer 70 is further disposed between the leaf spring 40b and the display module 10b.

The second spacer 70 may perform the same structure and role as the first spacer 60b.

Even if the second spacer 70 is further disposed between the leaf spring 40b and the display module 10b as in the present embodiment, it is impossible to detect and recognize the touch pressure by the second touch sensing unit 30b and the control unit. There is no. That is, when a touch operation is input, after detecting the magnitude or the change amount of the capacitance generated between the plate spring 40b and the electrode 51b of the printed circuit board 50b, it is based on the detected amount or change amount of the capacitance. There is no problem in the controller (not shown) to control whether the touch operation is input or the strength of the input touch pressure is recognized.

The touch panel of this embodiment is a case where the structure of the touch panel of FIG. 8 is modified. That is, the touch panel of FIG. 9 may also have a first touch sensing unit 20c sensing a touch position and a second touch sensing unit sensing touch pressure with respect to the display module 10c on which an image is formed, similarly to the touch panel of FIG. 8. 30c).

In FIG. 9, the display module 10b and the first touch sensing unit 20c have the same size, whereas the display module 10b is included in the second touch sensing unit 30c and interposed between the first spacer 60c. The size of the leaf spring 40c and the printed circuit board 50c spaced apart from each other is slightly smaller than the size of the display module 10c.

In the case of FIG. 9, the second touch sensing unit 30c is implemented by minimizing the size of the unit in the exterior housing 71 without matching the size of the display module 10c. In addition, it is sufficient to provide the effect of the present invention that the touch pressure can also be sensed together, thereby significantly reducing the touch input due to an unintended touch operation.

Also in this embodiment, the second spacer 70a is further disposed between the leaf spring 40c and the display module 10c.

4, 7, 8, and 9, the shapes and sizes of the second

touch sensing units

30, 30a to 30c are necessarily the same as the shapes and sizes of the

display modules

10, 10a to 10c. It is not necessary to do this, and it can be seen that the display device can be changed as much as the condition of the display device.

However, in the case of the first

touch detection units

20, 20a to 20c, the front surface of the

display modules

10, 10a to 10c is formed to detect a touch position with respect to the

display modules

10, 10a to 10c. Therefore, the sizes of the first

touch sensing units

20, 20a to 20c and the

display modules

10, 10a to 10c should be equal to each other, but this is not necessarily the case.

Meanwhile, the

leaf springs

40, 40a to 40c illustrated in FIGS. 4, 7, 8 and 9 may be variously modified as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 below.

The plate spring 40d of FIG. 10 penetrates through the main body plate part 42d in which the touch pressure application part 41d to which touch pressure is applied is formed in one side, and the main body plate part 42d in the peripheral region of the main body plate part 42d. A plurality of through slots 43d are formed. At this time, the through slot 43d is different from the

leaf springs

40, 40a to 40c shown in FIGS. 4, 7, 8 and 9, and the body plate portion 42d at the end of the body plate portion 42d of the body plate portion 42d. It is provided in the form that is cut in the inner direction.

The leaf spring 40e of FIG. 11 also has the same structure as the leaf spring 40d of FIG. However, in the leaf spring 40d of FIG. 10, the touch pressure applying portion 41d forms an integral structure with the body plate portion 42d, while the touch pressure applying portion 41e of the leaf spring 40e of FIG. 11 is located here. This structure has a structure in which the open and separate transparent or translucent pressing plate 41e is provided.

The leaf spring 40f of FIG. 12 also penetrates the main body plate portion 42f to which the touch pressure applying portion 41f to which the touch pressure is applied is formed, and the main body plate portion 42f in the circumferential region of the main body plate portion 42f. Unlike the above-described embodiments in that a plurality of through slots 43f are formed, a plurality of through slots 43f provided in the leaf spring 40f of FIG. 12 are different from FIGS. 10 and 11. It differs in that it is penetratingly formed in the form of a hole at the position spaced apart from the end of the main body plate part 42f in the inward direction of the main body plate part 42f.

Thus, the shape of the leaf spring (40, 40a ~ 40e) can be variously modified, there is no problem in the operation and function of any structure is applied.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the coupled state of FIG. 13.

As shown in these figures, the touch panel of this embodiment includes the first touch sensing unit 20d, and silicon 40g is applied as the elastic body 40g.

When the silicon 40g is used as the elastic body 40g as described above, the second touch sensing unit 30d includes the module support frame 75 in addition to the printed circuit board 50d, and the silicon 40g is used for the module support. It is applied to the inner surface of the frame 75 to elastically support the display module (10d).

Of course, the case where one or more electrodes 51d are provided on the printed circuit board 50d is the same as the above-described embodiment, and correspondingly, the electrodes 51d 'are also provided in the display module 10d.

Looking at the silicon 40g as the elastic body 40g, the silicon 40g may be a simple structure that is applied to the inner surface of the module support frame 75 to elastically support the display module 10d.

However, since the spacing between the

electrodes

51d and 51d 'is a minute spacing of several hundred micrometers, when the silicon 40g is provided in this region, the elastic deformation due to the change of the force occurs in a very small region. In order to obtain the minimum amount of deformation required to obtain the information, an increase in the pressing force is required. On the other hand, when an excessive load is applied, it eventually causes plastic deformation, and it takes a lot of time to restore to the initial position when the force is removed. Due to this problem, when the amount of strain is used in the elastic deformation region by inserting the silicon 40g at a minute interval, the amount of deformation is inevitably small, which causes a decrease in sensitivity. On the other hand, in order to obtain a large deformation amount, the distance between the

electrodes

51d and 51d 'must be increased, but in this case, the thickness of the touch panel becomes thick.

However, if a groove having a concave-convex or V-shaped groove is formed in the module support frame 75 and the display module 10d, respectively, and the silicon 40g is inserted into the groove as shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. Since bending deformation can be used, large deformation is possible in the elastic deformation region even under the same conditions. That is, a large deformation can be obtained with a small force, so that the sensitivity can be increased, and a signal-to-noise ratio can be improved, thereby greatly improving the sensing performance of the touch pressure.

As a result, in the case of using the silicon 40g as the elastic body 40g, it is desirable to improve the structure in which the shear deformation or the bending deformation of the silicon 40g can be used even though the gap is narrow, as shown in the enlarged portion of FIG.

In the enlarged portion of FIG. 14, the region in which the silicon 40g is interposed is a V-shaped groove, but a concave-convex groove of the Hangul 'c' shape is also possible. As the contact of is made, all structural surfaces capable of utilizing shear deformation or bending deformation will be possible.

The touch panel of the present embodiment includes a first touch sensing unit 120 that forms a front surface of the display module 110 on which an image is formed, and detects a touch position corresponding to the touch operation on the display module 110. The second touch sensing unit 130 is disposed on one side of the first touch sensing unit 120 to sense the touch pressure during the touch operation.

The first touch sensing unit 120 is provided by any one method selected from resistive overlay, capacitive overlay, infrared beam, and surface acoustic wave. Can be. For the structure and principle of these methods, reference may be made to the background art described above and FIG. 1.

The second touch sensing unit 130 may include a base 131, an elastic body 132 disposed between the base 131, and the first touch sensing unit 120, and a space between the elastic body 132 and the base 131. The first electrode plate 133 is disposed, and the second electrode plate 134 is disposed between the first touch sensing unit 120 and the elastic body 132. The second touch sensing unit 130 detects the touch pressure applied to the display module 110 during the touch operation based on the change in the distance between the first electrode plate 133 and the second electrode plate 134.

The base 131 is a frame forming a basic skeleton of the touch panel. For example, it may be a board such as a circuit display module (PCB and FPCB) or a simple plastic board. Although not shown in detail, the base 131 may have a shape of a rectangular ring through which the inside is penetrated except for an outer edge, and may be applied as a transparent board if the inside is not empty.

The base 131 has the shape of a rectangular ring through which the inside is penetrated or is applied as a transparent board. When the touch panel of the present embodiment is implemented as a display device, the rear parts of the base 131, for example, a backlight unit, etc. This is to prevent the light transmittance between the display modules 110 from being lowered.

The first electrode plate 133 is a plate-shaped electrode member which is being applied to a conventional capacitive touch panel and is made of a conductive material such as copper plate. The first electrode plate 133 is laminated (bonded) to one side of the upper surface of the base 131. The second electrode plate 134 may also be made of the same material or material as that of the first electrode plate 133.

On the other hand, the elastic body 132 is bonded to them in the region between the first electrode plate 133 and the second electrode plate 134. As such, the elastic body 132 is present between the first electrode plate 133 and the second electrode plate 134 to act as a kind of dielectric, and at the same time, the height thereof is resiliently elastically restored according to the intensity (size) of the applied touch pressure. The distance L between the first electrode plate 133 and the second electrode plate 134 is varied, thereby a sensing point corresponding to the upper and lower overlapping positions of the first electrode plate 133 and the second electrode plate 134. Their capacitance changes to vary in size depending on the size of the touch pressure.

The material and shape of the elastic body 132 need not be limited as long as it is a material and shape that can resiliently and elastically vary the distance L between the first electrode plate 133 and the second electrode plate 134. . For example, polyolefin-based, PVC-based, polystyrene-based, polyester-based, polyurethane-based, and polyamide-based widely known elastic materials or materials, in particular silicone, can be produced and used in a block shape such as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped.

By such a configuration, the user inputs a touch operation by touching a certain point with a finger or the like while watching an image of various patterns formed on the display module 110.

Then, the touch position is detected by the first touch sensing unit 120 which may be provided by any one selected from the resistive film type, the capacitive type, the infrared type, and the surface ultrasonic type.

Subsequently, the second pole plate 134 and the elastic body 132 are pressed by the applied touch pressure, and the elastic body 132 contracts, so that the distance L between the first pole plate 133 and the second pole plate 134 becomes the first. In the sensing points corresponding to the vertically overlapping positions of the first electrode plate 133 and the second electrode plate 134 by the change of the distance L, the formula of C = μA / d ( Where C is the capacitance, μ is the dielectric constant, A is the area, and d is the distance between the plates). Since the change amount of the capacitance is different depending on the magnitude (strength) of the touch pressure, the touch pressure can be easily detected. When the touch pressure is removed, the elastic body 132 is restored and returned to its original position.

Referring to these drawings, the eighth to eleventh embodiments of the present invention are essentially similar to the eighth embodiment described with reference to FIG.

To briefly explain the differences, in the ninth embodiment of FIG. 16, the first electrode plate 133a and the second electrode plate 134a are disposed while facing each other, but the elastic body 132a is disposed on the first electrode plate 133a and the second electrode plate. The structure is disposed between the base 131 and the display module 110, not between 134a. The elastic body 132a applied in FIG. 16 is made of a material such as silicon.

The tenth embodiment of FIG. 17 has the same structure as that of FIG. 16, but the elastic body 132b is applied to the torsion coil spring 132b instead of an elastic material such as silicon, and the eleventh embodiment of FIG. 132c is an example applied to the leaf spring 132c.

Even if the structure of FIG. 16 to FIG. 18 is applied, not only the touch position but also the touch pressure can be sensed together to provide an effect of the present invention that the touch input due to an unintended touch operation can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional art. Suffice.

19 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 20 is a circuit block diagram of FIG. 19.

As shown in these drawings, the touch panel of the present embodiment forms a front surface of the display module 210 in which an image is formed, but detects a touch position corresponding to a touch operation on the display module 210. A sensing unit 220 and a second touch sensing unit 230 disposed on one side of the first touch sensing unit 220 to sense the touch pressure during the touch operation.

The first touch sensing unit 220 is provided by any one selected from resistive overlay, capacitive overlay, infrared beam, and surface acoustic wave. Can be. For the structure and principle of these methods, reference may be made to the background art described above and FIG. 1.

The second touch sensing unit 230 includes a base 231 and an FSR sensor 232 (FSR, Force Sensing Resister) disposed between the base 231 and the first touch sensing unit 220, and the FSR sensor A second touch sensing unit 230 for sensing the touch pressure applied to the display module 210 during the touch operation based on the (232).

It is described with respect to the FSR sensor 232. The FSR sensor 232 was initially developed to develop an electronic piano that generates the sound by an electrical reaction when music players press the keys softly or hardly, and now the technology has been developed to press the electrical and mechanical devices. Sensitivity is optimized to adjust the force. The FSR sensor 232 is a type of polymer film device in which a decrease in resistance occurs when increasing a force on the surface thereof. Compared with conductive rubber, there is little electrical hysteresis and the price is relatively inexpensive. Compared to piezo film, the FSR sensor 232 is much less affected by vibration and heat, which is advantageous to apply to the touch panel as in the present embodiment. Unlike other sensors, the FSR sensor 232 is made of a bendable film, which is advantageous in that it can be arranged in various forms.

The basic circuit block for the FSR sensor 232 is shown in FIG. 20. Referring to FIG. 20 briefly, when the FSR sensor 232 is applied to the touch panel of the present embodiment, a change occurs in an external input voltage, and an output value may be adjusted according to the change of the voltage. It helps to sense the touch pressure in the touch panel of this embodiment.

Even if the same structure as in the present embodiment is applied, it is sufficient to provide the effect of the present invention that it is possible to sense not only the touch position but also the touch pressure, thereby significantly reducing the touch input due to an unintended touch operation. .

Unlike the above-described embodiments, the touch panel may be arranged as shown in FIG. 21. That is, assuming that the drawing of FIG. 21 is in the up-down direction, the display module 310 in which the image is formed is disposed at the bottom, and the second touch sensing unit 330 for sensing the touch pressure is located thereon, and the upper portion thereof. The first touch sensing unit 320 for detecting a touch position may be disposed.

In this case, the through part 351 may be formed in the printed circuit board 350 included in the second touch sensing unit 330. In this case, the printed circuit board 350 and the first touch sensing unit 320 may be formed. The transparent plate 360 is disposed between the lines. The transparent plate 360 serves to enable light transmittance between the first touch sensing unit 320 and the display module 310.

The elastic body 340 included in the second touch sensing unit 330 may have any of the above-described leaf spring structures or silicon structures.

Even if the touch panel has the arrangement as shown in FIG. 21, the touch panel can sense not only the touch position but also the touch pressure, thereby providing an effect of the present invention, which can significantly reduce the touch input due to an unintended touch operation. Is enough.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, such modifications or variations will have to be belong to the claims of the present invention.

The present invention can be used for a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a PAD, a smartphone, a digital camera, an MP3 player, a monitor of a television or a computer, and a screen or liquid crystal such as an ATM.

Claims

A first touch sensing unit disposed on one side of the display module in which an image is formed and sensing a touch position corresponding to the touch operation on the display module; And

And a second touch sensing unit having an elastic body elastically biased toward the first touch sensing unit and disposed on one side or the other side of the display module to sense the touch pressure applied to the display module during the touch operation. A touch panel characterized by the above.
The method of claim 1,

The first touch sensing unit,

Touch substrates;

An ITO film attached to the lower surface of the touch substrate; And

And an electrode printed on the bottom surface of the ITO film.
The method of claim 1,

The first touch sensing unit,

Touch upper substrate;

An upper electrode formed on a lower surface of the touch upper substrate;

Touch lower substrate; And

And a lower electrode formed on an upper surface of the touch lower substrate.
The method of claim 1,

The elastic body is a touch panel, characterized in that the leaf spring.
The method of claim 3,

The leaf spring is made of a conductive metal material,

The leaf spring is,

A body plate part on which one side of the touch pressure applying unit to which the touch pressure is applied is formed; And

And a plurality of through slots formed to penetrate the body plate portion in a circumferential region of the body plate portion.
The method of claim 5,

The plurality of through slots are regularly arranged with an equiangular interval therebetween in the circumferential direction of the body plate portion with respect to the center of the body plate portion.
The method of claim 5,

The plurality of through slots are formed to penetrate in the form of a hole at a position spaced apart inward from the end of the body plate portion in the form of a hole or cut in the inner direction of the body plate portion at the end of the body plate portion. Touch panel, characterized in that provided as.
The method of claim 5,

The second touch sensing unit,

A printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one electrode on which one side of the touch pressure is electrically input; And

And a first spacer disposed between the plate spring and the printed circuit board so that the plate spring and the electrodes of the printed circuit board are spaced apart from each other when the touch operation is not performed.
The method of claim 8,

The first spacer is disposed in the outer region of the through slot in the body plate portion.
The method of claim 8,

Is electrically connected to the first touch sensing unit and the second touch sensing unit, and whether the touch operation is input based on information from the first touch sensing unit and the second touch sensing unit, the touch position, and the And a controller configured to control at least one of the intensity of the touch pressure to be recognized.
The method of claim 8,

The second touch sensing unit further comprises a second spacer disposed between the display module and the leaf spring.
The method of claim 1,

The elastic body is silicon,

The second touch sensing unit further comprises a frame for supporting a substrate on which the silicon is applied to the inner surface to elastically support the display module.
A first touch sensing unit disposed on one side of the display module in which an image is formed and sensing a touch position corresponding to the touch operation on the display module; And

A base, an elastic body disposed between the base and the first touch sensing unit, a first electrode plate disposed between the elastic body and the base, and a second electrode plate disposed between the first touch sensing unit and the elastic body. And a second touch sensing unit configured to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module during a touch operation based on a change in distance between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.
The method of claim 13,

The first touch sensing unit,

Touch substrates;

An ITO film attached to the lower surface of the touch substrate; And

And an electrode printed on the bottom surface of the ITO film.
The method of claim 13,

The first touch sensing unit,

Touch upper substrate;

An upper electrode formed on a lower surface of the touch upper substrate;

Touch lower substrate; And

And a lower electrode formed on an upper surface of the touch lower substrate.
The method of claim 13,

The elastic body is a touch panel, characterized in that selected from the material of the elastic material comprising silicon, leaf spring and torsion coil spring.
A first touch sensing unit disposed on one side of the display module in which an image is formed and sensing a touch position corresponding to the touch operation on the display module; And

A base and at least one FSR (Force Sensing Resister) disposed between the base and the first touch sensing unit, the touch applied to the display module during the touch operation based on the FSR sensor And a second touch sensing unit sensing pressure.
The method of claim 17,

The first touch sensing unit,

Touch substrates;

An ITO film attached to the lower surface of the touch substrate; And

And an electrode printed on the bottom surface of the ITO film.
The method of claim 17,

The first touch sensing unit,

Touch upper substrate;

An upper electrode formed on a lower surface of the touch upper substrate;

Touch lower substrate; And

And a lower electrode formed on an upper surface of the touch lower substrate.