KR101133493B1 - TOUCH PAD AND MUlTI-TOUCH RECOGNITION METHOD USING THE SAME - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a technique for recognizing a multi-touch using a touch pad of a touch screen device. The present invention relates to a capacitive value using a lower layer pad while sequentially activating each pattern line of an upper layer pad while the touch pad is activated. Measure the sensor, arrange the changed capacitance value according to the coordinate value, and detect the sensing data of the matrix method, and after detecting at least one actual coordinate value corresponding to the detected sensing data, An operation control corresponding to the coordinate value may be performed.

Description

TOUCH PAD AND MUlTI-TOUCH RECOGNITION METHOD USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a technique for recognizing a multi-touch using a touch pad, and more particularly, a touch pad suitable for recognizing a multi-touch of an object using data sensed through a capacitive touch pad and a multi-touch using the same. The present invention relates to a touch recognition method.

As is well known, in recent years, with the rapid development of the processor technology, the increase of the memory capacity, and the development of the multimedia encoding technology, the functions included in the portable terminals such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are becoming more and more diversified. In addition, the menu for utilizing the functions provided in the portable terminal is also increasing, which makes it inappropriate to utilize various functions provided in the portable terminal only with a keypad having a conventional fixed matrix arrangement.

In addition, in recent years, the application program provided in the portable terminal has changed from a number or text-based interface to a graphic-based interface, and thus, a conventional mobile terminal cannot effectively use a graphic-based application with only numbers, letters, or direction keys. There is an increasing demand for a display device having a wider view while having various video display functions such as multimedia playback and portable Internet function.

Accordingly, recently, a touch screen capable of simultaneously performing input and display on a single device without having a separate keypad has been adopted in a portable terminal. The touch screen uses a finger or a pen to display a button or graphic object displayed on the display area. Input operations are simplified because the user can use the mobile terminal interactively and intuitively just by touching them, and the interface objects displayed for input are optimized for the application so that the user can recognize the input interface more easily. It has the advantage of being easy.

In addition, since the touch screen is integrally installed with the display device and the touch pad, the touch screen does not need to have a keypad installation space as in a conventional portable terminal, and thus a display device having a larger visible screen may be employed in the portable terminal. .

Such touch screens include, for example, a contact capacitive method, an infrared light sensing method, a surface ultrasonic method, a piezoelectric method, an integrated tension measuring method, a resistive film method, and the like according to a driving method. For example, various operations of the touch screen may be controlled by using sensing data expressed for each X * Y axis.

1A and 1B illustrate a capacitive touch pad according to a related art, and FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate sensing data when an object is in contact with a capacitive touch pad. In the capacitive touch pad, contact of an object may be recognized according to Equation 1 below.

Here, τ denotes a time constant in the RC circuit, R denotes the resistance of the touch pad, Cp denotes the capacitance of the touch pad, and Cf denotes the capacitance of the touched object. When an object approaches, the value of Cf changes to change the time constant, and the time constant can be continuously measured to determine whether the object is in contact.

Meanwhile, a conventional capacitive touch pad has a diamond type pattern as shown in FIG. 1A or a layer bar type pattern as shown in FIG. 1B. In this case, the sensing data of the X-axis may be represented as shown in FIG. 2B as shown in FIG. 2A. Accordingly, an object contacting the touch pad has a coordinate value of (4, 7). The touch screen operation corresponding to the coordinate value may be performed.

3A and 3B illustrate sensing data when a plurality of objects are in contact with a capacitive touch pad, for example, when two objects are in contact with the touch pad, sensing data of an X axis may be As shown in FIG. 3A, sensing data of the Y-axis may be represented as shown in FIG. 3B. Accordingly, an object contacting the touch pad may have values of 1 and 5 for the X-axis and 2 and 8 for the Y-axis. , We have (1, 2), (1, 8), (5, 2), and (2, 8) as coordinate values, so we have two coordinates which are actually two coordinates.

As described above, it is not difficult to drive the touch screen by recognizing one touch object in the touch pad of the fixed capacitance type method, but when there are a large number of touch objects, the actual coordinate values and the virtual coordinate values coexist. Difficult to distinguish coordinate values.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a touch pad and a multi-touch recognition method using the same, in which a multi-touch of a touch object can be easily recognized using a touch pad including an upper layer pad and a lower layer pad arranged in a matrix manner. .

In addition, the present invention by detecting the sensing data of the matrix method for the capacitance value measured through the touch pad and by detecting the actual coordinate value corresponding thereto, the touch pad that can easily recognize the multi-touch of the contact object and using the same An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-touch recognition method.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, an upper layer pad having a plurality of horizontal lines or a plurality of vertical lines and sequentially shielding each horizontal line or each vertical line, and orthogonal to each of the horizontal lines or each vertical line A lower layer pad having a plurality of vertical lines or a plurality of horizontal lines to sense an external object through the plurality of vertical lines or the plurality of horizontal lines in response to the shielding of each of the horizontal lines or the vertical lines sequentially; Provided is a touch pad that includes.

According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, when the touch pad is activated, a plurality of lower layer pads constituting lower layer pads while sequentially shielding a plurality of horizontal lines or a plurality of vertical lines constituting an upper layer pad of the touch pad, respectively. Sensing the external object through a vertical line or a plurality of horizontal lines, and measuring the capacitance value of the external object when the external object is in contact, and according to the sequential shielding of the upper layer pad; Detecting sensing data by a matrix coordinate value through a plurality of horizontal lines, and detecting at least one actual coordinate value having the relatively high capacitance value among the detected sensing data; A multi-touch recognition method is provided.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present invention, it has an upper layer pad having a first cell pattern in the form of a first matrix, sequentially shielding each cell of the first cell pattern, and a second matrix form. Each cell of the third cell pattern in response to each cell of the first cell pattern being sequentially shielded, wherein a third cell pattern of the third matrix form is arranged corresponding to each cell in an array of two matrix forms. A touch pad including a lower layer pad for sensing an external object is provided.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, when the touch pad is activated, the third cell pattern constituting the lower layer pad is sequentially shielded while sequentially shielding each cell of the first cell pattern constituting the upper layer pad of the touch pad. Sensing an external object through each cell, and measuring a capacitance value of the external object upon contact with the external object, and performing a matrix through each cell of the third cell pattern according to the sequential shielding of the upper layer pad. A method of detecting multi-touch using a touch pad, the method comprising: detecting sensing data using coordinates of a method; and detecting at least one actual coordinate value having the relatively high capacitance value among the detected sensing data. Is provided.

According to the present invention, the capacitive value is measured using the lower layer pad while sequentially activating each pattern line of the upper layer pad while the touch pad is activated, and the changed capacitive value is changed according to the coordinate value when the object is touched. Arrangement may be performed to detect sensing data in a matrix manner, and after detecting at least one actual coordinate value corresponding to the detected sensing data, operation control corresponding to the detected actual coordinate value may be performed.

In addition, the present invention, the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad is arranged in a line form or matrix form, the matrix coordinates in accordance with the capacitance value measurement using the lower layer pad in accordance with the sequential shielding of the upper layer pad The value can be easily detected, making it easier to recognize multi-touch of external objects.

1A and 1B illustrate a capacitive touch pad according to the related art;
2A and 2B illustrate sensing data when an object comes into contact with a capacitive touch pad according to the related art;
3A and 3B illustrate sensing data when an object is multiplely contacted to a capacitive touch pad according to the related art;
4 is a block diagram of a touch screen device having a capacitive touch pad according to the present invention;
5 is a diagram illustrating a capacitive touch pad according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a diagram illustrating sensing data according to multi-touch of a contact object according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a view for explaining a configuration of a capacitive touch pad arranged in a matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention;
8 is a view for explaining a configuration of a capacitive touch pad arranged in a matrix according to another embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a view for explaining a configuration of a capacitive touch pad arranged in a matrix according to another embodiment of the present invention;
10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of recognizing a multi-touch using a capacitive touch pad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the capacitive value is measured using the lower layer pad while sequentially activating each pattern line of the upper layer pad while the touch pad is activated, and the changed capacitive value is changed according to the coordinate value when the object is touched. Arrangement to detect the sensing data of the matrix method, and after detecting the actual coordinate value corresponding to the detected sensing data, to perform the operation control corresponding to the detected actual coordinate value, through such technical means The problem can be solved.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various forms, and only the embodiments of the present invention make the disclosure of the present invention complete and the general knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. The following terms are defined in consideration of the functions in the embodiments of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention of the user, the intention or the custom of the operator. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

Each block of the accompanying block diagrams and combinations of steps of the flowchart may be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be mounted on a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment such that instructions executed through the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment may not be included in each block or flowchart of the block diagram. It will create means for performing the functions described in each step. These computer program instructions may be stored in a computer usable or computer readable memory that can be directed to a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement functionality in a particular manner, and thus the computer usable or computer readable memory. It is also possible for the instructions stored in to produce an article of manufacture containing instruction means for performing the functions described in each block or flowchart of each step of the block diagram. Computer program instructions may also be mounted on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, such that a series of operating steps may be performed on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a computer-implemented process to create a computer or other programmable data. Instructions that perform processing equipment may also provide steps for performing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and in each step of the flowchart.

In addition, each block or step may represent a portion of a module, segment or code that includes one or more executable instructions for executing a specified logical function (s). It should also be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions mentioned in the blocks or steps may occur out of order. For example, the two blocks or steps shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks or steps may sometimes be performed in the reverse order, depending on the functionality involved.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a block diagram of a touch screen device including a capacitive touch pad according to the present invention, and may include a touch pad 102, a touch screen controller 104, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 4, the touch pad 102 recognizes a touch of an object in a capacitive manner. For this, the touch pad 102 senses the capacitance of the object in contact with the upper layer pad that shields the sensing of the capacitance with respect to the object in contact. 5, the touch pad 102 may include an upper layer pad (ITO) and a lower layer pad (ITO), and an upper layer. The pads are controlled by 'Ground (GND)' and 'High-Impedance (Open)', so that when they are 'GND', externally-induced capacitance (i.e. capacitive sensing of the object being touched) is blocked and transferred to the lower layer pad. Externally-induced capacitance can be measured on the lower layer pad if it is not delivered and is 'open'.

Accordingly, the touch pad 102 may arrange the upper layer pads and the lower layer pads in a matrix manner of M * N (here, M and N are integers), for example, a 7 * 10 matrix type touch. For pads, the pattern line of the upper layer pad is set to [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] = [Open, GND, GND, GND, GND, GND, GND] to sense the values in a matrix manner. When controlled, the capacitance values measured at the lower layer pad are (1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (1, 4), (1, 5), (1, 6), ( 1, 7), (1, 8), (1, 9), and measured data corresponding to the coordinate values of (1, 10) to detect the data. GND, Open, GND, GND, GND, GND, GND] → [GND, GND, Open, GND, GND, GND, GND] → [GND, GND, GND, Open, GND, GND, GND] → [GND, GND, GND, GND, Open, GND, GND] → [GND, GND, GND, GND, GND, Open, GND] → [GND, GND, GND, GND, GND, GND, Open] Layer pad Sensing data corresponding to the document measured capacitance value is detected in accordance with the coordinate value.

In addition, the touch pad 102 arranges the detected sensing data in a matrix manner according to the coordinate value, detects the actual coordinate value of the contact object with reference thereto, and provides the actual coordinate value to the touch screen controller 104. do.

As an example, FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating sensing data according to multi-touch of a contact object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Each column is controlled through lower layer pads while sequentially controlling shielding of the upper layer pads according to each row. Measure the capacitance value and arrange according to the coordinate value to detect the matrix type sensing data, and by detecting at least one coordinate value having a relatively high capacitance value from the detected sensing data, The value can be detected, and thus the actual coordinate values multi-touched are (2, 3) and (5, 10).

Herein, the configuration of the capacitive touch pad 102 will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a capacitive touch pad configuration arranged in a matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad are configured in a matrix manner, they may be configured in an M * N form. For example, in the 7 * 10 matrix method, the lower layer pads may be configured as 1 and 2 as shown in FIG. 7. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 horizontal lines are sequentially arranged in the vertical direction so as to correspond to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively. After the vertical lines are arranged in the horizontal direction as much as possible, they can be sensed for each region in a matrix manner from (1, 1) to (7, 10) as shown in the overlapping pattern 1. Here, each line constituting the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad may be configured such that its interface faces each other.

In addition, FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the configuration of a capacitive touch pad arranged in a matrix according to another embodiment of the present invention. When the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad are configured in a matrix manner, an M * N form is illustrated. For example, in the 7 * 10 matrix method, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower layer pads are assigned to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively. Arrange the horizontal lines in the vertical direction so as to correspond, and arrange the vertical lines in the horizontal direction so that the upper layer pads correspond to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively, As described above, each region may be sensed in a matrix manner from (1, 1) to (7, 10). Here, each line constituting the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad may be configured such that an interface thereof is spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

Meanwhile, the touch pad as shown in FIG. 7 and the touch pad as shown in FIG. 8 have been described in that upper layer pads are arranged in vertical lines, and lower layer pads are arranged in horizontal lines. Of course, it can be arranged in a horizontal line, the lower layer pad can be arranged in a vertical line.

Meanwhile, the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad may be arranged in a matrix form. The lower layer pad may include a third matrix type in which a plurality of second cell patterns in a second matrix form sensing a contact object are arranged. It has a cell pattern, the upper layer may be arranged to have a first cell pattern in the form of a first matrix configured to shield the third cell pattern into one cell.

For example, FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a capacitive touch pad configuration arranged in a matrix according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the upper layer pad is A * B (where A and B are Integer) matrix, and the lower layer pads may be arranged in a matrix of C * D (here, C and D are integers). As shown in FIG. Arranged in 6 matrix form, and the upper layer pads are arranged in 2 * 2 matrix forms of the lower layer pads (ie, (1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2) Set up the cells to be shielded to one cell, so that one shielded area is responsible (i.e. each shielded cell of (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) is a lower layer Can be arranged as a pattern 3 in the form of a 2 * 3 matrix so as to cover each 2 * 2 cell pattern constituting the pad, and thus the matrix for the contact object. The sensing data can be detected in a manner.

Here, each cell of the matrix form constituting the upper layer pad may be arranged to contact at the interface or spaced apart by a predetermined distance, and each cell of the matrix form constituting the lower layer pad is also contacted at the interface. It may be arranged or spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

Meanwhile, the touch screen controller 104 performs overall operation control of the touch screen device. The touch screen controller 104 sequentially provides control signals for sequential shielding of the upper layer pad to the touch pad 102 and uses the lower layer pad. The control signal for controlling the measurement of the capacitance value is provided to the touch pad 102, and receives the actual coordinate value detected from the touch pad 102 to control the operation of the touch screen corresponding thereto.

Accordingly, by measuring capacitive values using the pattern lines of the lower layer pad while sequentially shielding each pattern line of the upper layer pad using the touch pad in which the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad are arranged in a matrix manner, The sensing data arranged in a matrix manner at the time of contact can effectively detect and recognize actual coordinate values corresponding to the multi-touch.

Next, in the touch screen device including the touch pad having the above-described configuration, the capacitive value is measured using the lower layer pad while sequentially activating each pattern line of the upper layer pad while the touch pad is activated. And sensing the sensing data of the matrix method by arranging the changed capacitance values according to the coordinate values upon contact of the object, and after detecting the actual coordinate values corresponding to the detected sensing data, A process of performing operation control will be described.

10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of recognizing a multi-touch using a capacitive touch pad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, in the standby mode of the touch screen device (step 1002), the touch screen controller 104 checks whether a key operation signal for activating the touch pad 102 is input (step 1004).

As a result of the check in step 1004, when a key operation signal for activating the touch pad 102 is input, the touch screen controller 104 receives a control signal for driving the touch pad 102. The touch pad 102 is driven (activated) accordingly (step 1006).

Here, the touch pad 102 may be configured to include a lower layer pad that senses the capacitance of the object in contact with the upper layer pad that shields the sensing of the capacitance of the object being touched, the upper layer pad may be a plurality of A plurality of lines may be arranged such that a horizontal line or a plurality of vertical lines of, and correspondingly, the lower layer pad is orthogonal to each line of the upper layer pad.

In addition, the touch pad 102 may be arranged in a matrix form of the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad, respectively, the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad may be arranged in a matrix form, respectively, the lower layer pad is a contact object A second cell pattern in the form of a second matrix for sensing has a third cell pattern in the form of a third matrix in which a plurality of second cell patterns are arranged, and the upper layer is a first matrix in the form of a first matrix configured to shield the third cell pattern into one cell. It may be arranged to have a cell pattern.

In addition, the touch screen controller 104 provides a control signal for sequential shielding of the upper layer pad and a control signal for controlling measurement of the capacitance value using the lower layer pad to the touch pad 102. The pad 102 measures an external capacitance value in a plurality of line patterns or a plurality of cell patterns in the lower layer pad while sequentially shielding a plurality of line patterns or a plurality of cell patterns with respect to the upper layer pad (step 1008). .

For example, when the touch pad 102 is composed of an upper layer pad having a plurality of line patterns and a lower layer pad having a plurality of line patterns, each line of the lower layer pad is sequentially shielded with each line of the upper layer pad. It can be performed in a manner to measure the external capacitance value.

In addition, when the touch pad 102 includes a matrix upper layer pad and a matrix lower layer pad, the cell pattern of the lower layer pad corresponding to the cells sequentially shielded while sequentially shielding each cell of the upper layer pad. Each cell inside the cell may be performed by measuring an external capacitance value.

Next, the touch pad 102 checks whether an object comes into contact with the change of the capacitance value while measuring the external capacitance value (step 1010).

As a result of the check in the step 1010, when the object is in contact with the touch pad 102, the capacitance value measured in the step 1008 is arranged in accordance with the coordinate values corresponding to the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad matrix The sensing data of the method is detected (step 1012).

In operation 1014, the touch pad 102 detects an actual coordinate value according to the object contact through the detected sensing data. Herein, at least one actual coordinate value according to the object contact may be detected, and in the present invention, the sensing data of the matrix method is detected, and at least one coordinate value having a relatively high capacitance value is detected from the detected sensing data. By detecting, the actual coordinate value can be detected, whereby the actual coordinate value can be detected more effectively for the multi-touch.

Subsequently, the actual coordinate values detected by the touch pad 102 are transferred to the touch screen controller 104, and the touch screen controller 104 performs touch screen operation control corresponding to the actual coordinate values (step 1016).

Accordingly, by measuring capacitive values using the pattern lines of the lower layer pad while sequentially shielding each pattern line of the upper layer pad using the touch pad in which the upper layer pad and the lower layer pad are arranged in a matrix manner, The sensing data arranged in a matrix manner at the time of contact can effectively detect and recognize actual coordinate values corresponding to the multi-touch.

In the foregoing description, various embodiments of the present invention have been described and described. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be readily appreciated that branch substitutions, modifications and variations are possible.

102: touch pad 104: touch screen controller

Claims (18)

delete delete delete delete delete An upper layer pad having a first cell pattern in a first matrix form and sequentially shielding each cell of the first cell pattern;
A third cell pattern having a second matrix form, the third cell pattern having a third matrix form corresponding to each cell in the arrangement of the second matrix form, and corresponding to each cell of the first cell pattern being sequentially shielded; And a lower layer pad configured to sense an external object through each cell of the third cell pattern.
Touch pad. The method according to claim 6,
The lower layer pad measures sensing value of the capacitance of the external object and detects sensing data as a coordinate value of a matrix method through each cell of the third cell pattern according to sequential shielding of the upper layer pad.
Touch pad. The method of claim 7, wherein
The lower layer pad may detect at least one actual coordinate value having the relatively high capacitance value among the detected sensing data.
Touch pad. The method of claim 8,
The upper layer pad may be arranged such that each cell of the first cell pattern is contacted at an interface or spaced apart by a predetermined distance.
Touch pad. The method according to claim 8 or 9,
The lower layer pad may be arranged such that each cell of the third cell pattern is contacted at an interface or spaced apart by a predetermined distance.
Touch pad. delete delete delete delete When the touch pad is activated, sensing an external object through each cell of the third cell pattern constituting the lower layer pad while sequentially shielding each cell of the first cell pattern constituting the upper layer pad of the touch pad; ,
Measuring the capacitive value of the external object upon contact with the external object and detecting sensing data using coordinates of a matrix method through each cell of the third cell pattern according to sequential shielding of the upper layer pad; ,
Detecting at least one actual coordinate value having the relatively high capacitance value among the detected sensing data;
Multi-touch recognition method using touch pad. The method of claim 15,
The lower layer pad has a second matrix form, and in the array of the second matrix form, a third cell pattern of a third matrix form is arranged to correspond to each cell of the first cell pattern, and the first cell pattern Sensing the external object through each cell of the third cell pattern in response to sequentially shielding each cell of the cell;
Multi-touch recognition method using touch pad. 17. The method of claim 16,
The upper layer pad may be arranged such that each cell of the first cell pattern is contacted at an interface or spaced apart by a predetermined distance.
Multi-touch recognition method using touch pad. The method according to claim 16 or 17,
The lower layer pad may be arranged such that each cell of the third cell pattern is contacted at an interface or spaced apart by a predetermined distance.
Multi-touch recognition method using touch pad.

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