CN102968198B

CN102968198B - Touch control pen

Info

Publication number: CN102968198B
Application number: CN201210531647.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄纪祯; 徐荣辉
Original assignee: AU Optronics Corp
Current assignee: AU Optronics Corp
Priority date: 2012-09-28
Filing date: 2012-12-11
Publication date: 2015-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-11
Also published as: TWI463353B; TW201413510A; CN102968198A

Abstract

A touch pen comprises a shell and a contact induction module. The contact sensing module is arranged in the accommodating space of the shell and comprises a moving piece, an elastic piece, a light-emitting element and a light sensor. The moving member includes a transparent layer and a light blocking layer. The elastic piece is arranged between the moving piece and the bottom end of the accommodating space. The light sensor is arranged on the inner wall of the shell. In the first state, the elastic element is compressed by an external force, so that the light-transmitting layer is positioned in front of the light sensor, and the light sensor detects a light signal passing through the light-transmitting layer to trigger the light-emitting element to start. In the second state, the elastic part provides thrust to the moving part, so that the light blocking layer is positioned in front of the light sensor to block the light signal.

Description

Touch control pen

[ technical field ] A

The present invention relates to a touch pen, and more particularly, to a touch pen suitable for light-induced touch technology.

[ background of the invention ]

Referring to fig. 1, a tip 110 of a conventional light-sensing stylus 100 is illustrated. A chamber 120 is disposed at the pen tip 110 of the light-sensing touch pen 100 to accommodate the light-emitting element 130, the magnetic moving element 140 and the magnetic fixing element 150. The light emitting element 130 is fixedly connected with the magnetic mover 140. The movable magnetic element 140 and the fixed magnetic element 150 have the same magnetic pole and are disposed in the effective range of magnetic force therebetween, so that the light emitting element 130 keeps protruding out of the pen tip 110 due to the repulsive magnetic force between the movable magnetic element 140 and the fixed magnetic element 150. At this time, the light emitting element 130 is disconnected from the power supply line (not shown) and does not emit light.

When the light-sensing type touch pen 100 performs touch input on a touch device (not shown) such as a touch panel, a touch pad, or an electronic whiteboard, the light-emitting element 130 pushes against the touch device to move towards the inside of the accommodating chamber 120, so as to drive the magnetic moving element 140 to move towards the magnetic fixing element 150. At this time, the light emitting element 130 is electrically connected to a power supply line (not shown) to emit light.

That is, to electrically connect the light emitting element 130 to the power supply line, an external force must be applied to the light emitting element 130 to overcome the repulsive magnetic force between the magnetic moving element 140 and the magnetic fixing element 150. However, due to the action of the repulsive magnetic force, the user must continuously output a force greater than the force capable of overcoming the repulsive magnetic force. If the light-emitting device 130 cannot continuously emit light, the touch signal sensed by the touch device is discontinuous.

Furthermore, when the user encounters an opposing force, the output force of the user is usually increased gradually, so that it takes a certain period of time to overcome the repulsive magnetic force, and the user cannot perceive that the touch device performs a corresponding action by sensing the light emitting element 130 when the user applies a touch action in real time.

In addition, when the light-sensing type stylus pen 100 performs touch input on the touch device, the touch position is controlled and a certain output force is maintained, so that the problem of inaccurate touch position is easily caused in operation.

[ summary of the invention ]

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a touch pen to solve the problems of slow response time and inaccurate operation caused by resetting a light emitting device by a magnetic device in the prior art.

An embodiment of the invention provides a touch pen, which includes a housing and a touch sensing module.

The shell comprises an accommodating space, an opening and a pen point inner wall. The accommodating space comprises a top end and an opposite bottom end. The opening is positioned at the top end of the accommodating space. The inner wall of the pen point extends from the opening and surrounds the accommodating space.

The contact sensing module is arranged in the accommodating space of the shell and comprises a moving piece, an elastic piece, a light-emitting element and a light sensor. The moving member includes a transparent layer and a light blocking layer connected to each other. The elastic piece is arranged between the moving piece and the bottom end of the accommodating space, and the light blocking layer is located on one side of the adjacent elastic piece. The light-emitting element is arranged on the light-transmitting layer of the moving piece and emits light in a direction far away from the light-transmitting layer when being started.

The light sensor is arranged on the inner wall of the pen point of the shell. In the first state, the elastic element is compressed by an external force, so that the light-transmitting layer is positioned in front of the light sensor, and the light sensor detects a light signal passing through the light-transmitting layer to trigger the light-emitting element to start. In the second state, the elastic piece provides thrust for the moving piece, so that the light blocking layer is positioned in front of the light sensor, the light sensor is blocked from receiving light signals, and the light emitting element is closed.

The touch control pen suitable for the light-sensing touch control technology can judge whether the touch control pen executes the touch control input action according to whether the moving part interrupts the light signal or not, so that the light-emitting element emits light, the defect of utilizing a magnetic element in the prior art can be overcome, and the touch control pen has the advantages of quick response time, high light-emitting stability, smooth operation and the like.

[ description of the drawings ]

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a pen point of a conventional light-sensing stylus.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a stylus according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a stylus tip according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the triggering light-emitting element according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit of a stylus according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a pen tip of a stylus according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a stylus tip according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit of a stylus according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a stylus tip according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a force versus displacement graph for an elastic sheet according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[ description of main element symbols ]

120. Chamber

140. Magnetic mover

150. Magnetic fastener

200. Touch pen

220. Casing

221. 222. Cndot. C accommodating space

2211. Top

2212. Bottom end

223. Open-ended

224. Cndot. Inner wall of pen

2241. Top wall

2242. Cndot. Wall part

2243. Bottom wall

225. The inner wall of the pen body

226. Light-transmitting hole

230. Contact sensing module

233. Light-emitting element

2331. Cndot. LED chip

2332. Cndot. Transparent layer

235-light source element

236. DEG. Optical filter

237. Elastic sheet

2371. Bulging portion

2372. Cndot. A connection part

240. Control circuit

2411. First end

2412. Second end

2413. Control terminal

242. Power supply

243. The amplification unit

244. Control unit

245 & ltcndot. & gtcndot.. Cndot.. Light amount modulation unit

L, L'. Cndot.

S.cndot.

K.cndot. control signal

[ detailed description ] embodiments

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a stylus 200 according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 isbase:Sub>A schematic diagram ofbase:Sub>A tip end 210 ofbase:Sub>A stylus 200 according tobase:Sub>A first embodiment of the invention (i.e.,base:Sub>A cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 2).

Referring to fig. 2 and 3 together, a stylus 200 suitable for light-sensing touch technology is illustrated, wherein the stylus 200 includes a housing 220 and a touch sensing module 230. The housing 220 includes a receiving space 221, a receiving space 222, an opening 223, a pen tip inner wall 224 and a pen body inner wall 225.

The receiving space 221 includes a top end 2211 and an opposite bottom end 2212. The opening 223 is located at the top end of the accommodating space 221. The inner wall 224 of the nib extends from the opening 223 and surrounds the accommodating space 221. That is, the opening 223 is located at the top of the tip end 210 of the stylus pen 200, and the inner wall 224 of the tip end 210 forms a receiving space 221 for receiving the contact sensing module 230.

Here, the nib inner wall 224 may include a top wall 2241, a side wall 2242, and a bottom wall 2243. The top wall 2241 and the bottom wall 2243 are disposed opposite to each other, and the side wall 2242 is interposed between the top wall 2241 and the bottom wall 2243 and contacts with an edge of the top wall 2241 and an edge of the bottom wall 2243, so that the top wall 2241, the side wall 2242 and the bottom wall 2243 form the accommodating space 221.

In some embodiments, the top wall portion 2241, the side wall portions 2242, and the bottom wall portion 2243 are integrally formed.

In some embodiments, the bottom wall portion 2243 is movably connected to the side wall portion 2242. For example, the bottom wall 2243 may be a unitary piece and the side wall 2242 may have an annular groove to engage and secure the bottom wall 2243.

As shown in fig. 3, the contact sensing module 230 is disposed in the accommodating space 221 of the housing 220. The contact sensing module 230 includes a moving member 231, an elastic member 232, a light emitting element 233 and a light sensor 234. In the present embodiment, the elastic element 232 is a spring, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the elastic element 232 may be an elastic thin plate (i.e. a spring plate) which can be compressed and deformed by an external force and then can return to its original shape.

The moving member 231 includes a light-transmitting layer 2311 and a light-blocking layer 2312 connected to each other. The elastic member 232 is disposed between the moving member 231 and the bottom 2212 of the accommodating space 221, wherein the light-blocking layer 2312 is located on one side of the adjacent elastic member 232. The light emitting element 233 is disposed on the light-transmitting layer 2311 of the moving element 231 to emit light in a direction away from the light-transmitting layer 2311 when activated. That is, the light emitting element 233, the light transmissive layer 2311, the light blocking layer 2312 and the elastic member 232 are sequentially connected along the opening 223 toward the bottom 2212 of the accommodating space 221 (i.e., the compression direction of the elastic member 232), and are fixedly connected to the bottom 2212 of the accommodating space 221 at the end of the elastic member 232. Here, the elastic member 232 may be fixedly connected to the bottom wall 2243 (i.e., the bottom end 2212 of the accommodating space 221) by means of adhesion, locking, snap connection, or the like.

In the embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the shape of the opening 223 is a circle, but the embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto, and may be other geometric figures or may match the shape of the light emitting element 233.

Fig. 4 isbase:Sub>A schematic diagram (i.e.,base:Sub>A cross-sectional view along the linebase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A of fig. 2) of triggering the light emitting element 233 to start according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Reference is also made to fig. 3 and 4. The light sensor 234 is disposed on the inner wall 224 of the pen head of the housing 220, i.e. the light sensor 234 is disposed on the sidewall 2242 of the inner wall 224 of the pen head. In the first state, as shown in fig. 4, the elastic member 232 is compressed by an external force, so that the light-transmitting layer 2311 is located in front of the light sensor 234, and at this time, the light sensor 234 detects the optical signal L passing through the light-transmitting layer 2311, and triggers the light-emitting element 233 to start to emit light. In the second state, the external force disappears (or is weakened), as shown in fig. 3, the light-emitting element 233 protrudes from the opening 223 by the pushing force provided by the elastic member 232 to the moving member 231, and the light-blocking layer 2312 is located in front of the light sensor 234 to block the light signal L received by the light sensor 234, and at this time, the light-emitting element 233 is turned off and does not emit light. Therefore, whether the light emitting device 233 is moved inward by the stylus 200 abutting against the touch device can be used as a basis for whether the light emitting device 233 is caused to emit light.

Here, the light emitting element 233 may be a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode or a laser diode that can control whether light is emitted or not. As shown in fig. 3, the light-emitting element 233 is a light-emitting diode and includes a light-emitting diode chip 2331 and a light-transmitting layer 2332 surrounding the light-emitting diode chip 2331.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit 240 of the stylus pen 200 according to the first embodiment of the invention, which is used to illustrate how the light sensor 234 triggers the light emitting element 233 to start.

Referring to fig. 4 and 5 together, the stylus pen 200 further includes a control circuit 240. The control circuit 240 includes a trigger switch 241 and a power source 242. The trigger switch 241 includes a first end 2411, a second end 2412 and a control end 2413. The first end 2411 is electrically connected to the power source 242. The second end 2412 is electrically connected to the light emitting element 233. The control terminal 2413 is electrically connected to the optical sensor 234 for receiving the electrical signal S generated by the optical sensor 234 according to the received optical signal L, and the trigger switch 241 switches the first terminal 2411 and the second terminal 2412 on according to the electrical signal S, so that the light emitting device 233 receives the power from the power source 242 to be activated.

In some embodiments, an amplifying unit 243 is further connected between the photo sensor 234 and the trigger switch 241 for amplifying the electrical signal S and outputting the amplified electrical signal S to the trigger switch 241, so that the electrical signal S can be amplified to a voltage value that can be detected by the trigger switch 241. Here, the amplifying unit 243 may be, for example, an operational amplifier.

In some embodiments, the power source 242 may be disposed in the receiving space 222 defined by the inner wall 225 of the pen body. Furthermore, the bottom wall 2243 of the inner wall 224 of the pen tip may have at least one opening for the conductive circuit connected between the power source 242 and the light emitting device 233 to pass through the bottom wall 2243.

Here, the power source 242 may be a zinc-manganese battery, an alkali-manganese battery, a carbon-zinc battery, a hydrogen-oxygen battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a lithium battery, or a photovoltaic battery, and is used to provide power to the electronic components (such as the light emitting element 233 and the light source element 235) inside the stylus pen 200. The trigger switch 241 may be an electronic switch element formed by at least one transistor.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the contact sensing module 230 further includes a light source element 235 disposed on the inner wall 224 of the pen tip of the casing 220 and located opposite to the light sensor 234 for outputting the optical signal L.

Here, the control circuit 240 may further include a power switch (not shown) to determine whether the power source 242 provides power to the light source element 235 according to on/off of the power switch, so as to control whether the light source element 235 outputs the optical signal L. That is, when the user wants to use the stylus pen 200, the power switch needs to be turned on first, the light source element 235 continues to output the optical signal L, and when the user pushes the stylus pen 200 against the touch device so that the optical sensor 234 detects the optical signal L, the light emitting element 233 can emit light.

FIG. 6 isbase:Sub>A schematic view ofbase:Sub>A tip end 210 ofbase:Sub>A stylus 200 according tobase:Sub>A second embodiment of the invention (i.e.,base:Sub>A cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2).

Referring to fig. 6, the stylus 200 of the present embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, except that the casing 220 of the present embodiment further includes a light hole 226 disposed at a side opposite to the light sensor 234 for a light source outside the casing 220 to pass through to form a light signal L. That is, the first embodiment uses the light source element 235 to generate the light signal L, and the present embodiment uses the light source outside the housing 220 to form the light signal L through the light-transmitting hole 226.

Here, the housing 220 may further include a collecting mirror (not shown) disposed on the light hole 226 to converge the light source outside the housing 220 to generate a stronger light signal L than when the collecting mirror is not disposed.

In some embodiments, the housing 220 may include the light-transmitting hole 226 disposed on a side opposite to the light sensor 234 for a light source outside the housing 220 to pass through to form the light signal L. Meanwhile, the touch sensing module 230 further includes the light source element 235 and a light detection module (not shown). The light source element 235 is disposed on the inner wall 224 of the pen tip of the housing 220 and located opposite to the light sensor 234 for outputting another light signal L. The light detecting module is disposed at a position (e.g., outside the housing 220) capable of receiving a light source outside the stylus pen 200, and is used for detecting the intensity of the ambient light and selectively turning on the light source element 235 accordingly. That is, light source element 235 may be turned off when the ambient light intensity is sufficient to be detected by light detection module 238, and light source element 235 may be turned on when the ambient light intensity is insufficient.

FIG. 7 isbase:Sub>A schematic view ofbase:Sub>A tip end 210 ofbase:Sub>A stylus 200 according tobase:Sub>A third embodiment of the invention (i.e.,base:Sub>A cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2).

Referring to fig. 7, the touch pen 200 of the present embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, except that the touch sensing module 230 of the present embodiment further includes a filter 236. The optical filter 236 is attached to the transparent layer 2332 and has a gradually decreasing transmittance along the compression direction of the elastic member 232. That is, the filter 236 has a gradual pattern with colors from light to dark, such that the magnitude of the optical signal L (i.e., the optical signal L') to the optical sensor 234 is changed by the optical signal L passing through different transmittance positions of the filter 236 according to the magnitude of the external force. The light emitting device 233 outputs a corresponding amount of light according to the magnitude of the light signal L' detected by the light sensor 234. When the force of the stylus 200 against the touch device is small, the inward displacement of the moving member 231 is small, so that the optical signal L is emitted to the position of the filter 236 with small transmittance, and the optical signal L' received by the optical sensor 234 is small. On the contrary, when the force of the stylus 200 against the touch device is larger, the inward displacement of the moving member 231 is larger, so that the optical signal L is emitted to the position of the optical filter 236 with larger transmittance, and the optical signal L' received by the optical sensor 234 is larger. Therefore, when the light emitted from the light emitting device 233 changes with the light signal L 'received by the light sensor 234, the touch device can receive the amount of light emitted by the stylus 200 that changes with the magnitude of the user's force, so that the touch device can show the change of the pen touch strength in a visual or auditory manner.

Here, the filter 236 of the present embodiment can also be applied to the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit 240 of a stylus pen 200 according to a third embodiment of the invention.

As shown in fig. 8, the difference between the control circuit 240 of the present embodiment and the control circuit 240 of the first embodiment is that the control circuit 240 of the present embodiment further includes a control unit 244 and a light amount modulation unit 245. The control unit 244 is connected between the light sensor 234 (or the amplifying unit 243) and the trigger switch 241, and is used for turning on the trigger switch 241 according to the received electric signal S. The control unit 244 is further connected to the light amount modulation unit 245 for adjusting and outputting the control signal to the light amount modulation unit 245 according to the electrical signal S. The light amount modulation unit 245 is electrically connected between the trigger switch 241 and the light emitting device 130, and is used for adjusting the voltage or/and the current from the power source 242 according to the control signal K to control the intensity of the light emitted from the light emitting device 130.

Here, the control unit 244 may be a microprocessor. The light modulating unit 245 may be a current limiting element, such as a variable resistor, a transistor, etc.

FIG. 9 isbase:Sub>A schematic view ofbase:Sub>A tip end 210 ofbase:Sub>A stylus 200 according tobase:Sub>A fourth embodiment of the invention (i.e.,base:Sub>A cross-sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 2).

As shown in fig. 9, compared to the first embodiment, the present embodiment uses the elastic sheet 237 to realize the elastic member 232. The elastic sheet 237 has a reversible bulging portion 2371 and a connecting portion 2372 located on the bulging portion 2371. The connecting portion 2372 is used for connecting the moving member 231. In the second state, the bulging portion 2371 is inverted and depressed, and in the first state, the bulging portion 2371 is restored to the original state to restore the moving member 231. Here, the swelling portion 2371 may have a substantially circular shape, and the connecting portion 2372 is located at the center of the swelling portion 2371. The flexible thin plate 237 may be made of rubber, plastic, metal, etc.

Fig. 10 is a diagram of the relationship between force and displacement of the elastic sheet 237 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which shows that the design of the bulge portion 2371 makes the relationship between force and displacement non-linear, so that the user can feel tactile feedback when the stylus 200 is pressed against the touch device.

Here, the elastic sheet 237 of the present embodiment can also be applied to the second or third embodiment.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the photo sensor 234 and the photo detection module can be substantially implemented by a photo-electric conversion device such as a photo diode or a photo transistor.

In summary, according to the touch pen adapted to the light-sensing touch technology of the present invention, whether the touch pen 200 is performing the touch input operation can be determined according to whether the moving element 231 blocks the light signal L, so as to cause the light-emitting element 130 to emit light, which can improve the disadvantages of the prior art using a magnetic element, and has the advantages of fast reaction time, high light-emitting stability, smooth operation, and the like. Furthermore, by adding the filter 236, the strength of writing by the user using the stylus pen 200 can be further detected. Moreover, the light hole 226 can further use the ambient light as the light source for detecting the displacement of the moving member 231, so as to save the power consumption of the power source 242.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A stylus, comprising:

a housing, comprising:

the accommodating space comprises a top end and an opposite bottom end;

an opening located at the top end of the accommodating space; and

a pen head inner wall extending from the opening and surrounding the accommodating space; and

a contact sensing module disposed in the accommodating space of the housing, comprising:

a moving member including a light-transmitting layer and a light-blocking layer connected to each other;

the elastic piece is arranged between the moving piece and the bottom end of the accommodating space, and the light blocking layer is positioned on one side adjacent to the elastic piece;

a light emitting element arranged on the light transmitting layer of the moving part to emit light in a direction away from the light transmitting layer when being started; and

the optical sensor is arranged on the inner wall of the pen point of the shell, in a first state, the elastic piece is compressed by an external force, the light transmitting layer is positioned in front of the optical sensor, the optical sensor detects an optical signal passing through the light transmitting layer to trigger the light-emitting element to be started, in a second state, the elastic piece provides thrust to the moving piece, the light blocking layer is positioned in front of the optical sensor, the optical sensor is blocked from receiving the optical signal, and the light-emitting element is closed.

2. The touch pen of claim 1, wherein the light emitting element protrudes from the opening in the second state.

3. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing module further comprises:

the optical filter is attached to the light transmitting layer, so that the optical signal passes through different transmittance positions of the optical filter according to the magnitude of the external force to change the magnitude of the optical signal emitted to the optical sensor, and the light-emitting element outputs corresponding light quantity according to the magnitude of the optical signal detected by the optical sensor.

4. The touch pen of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is an elastic sheet having a bulged portion that can be reversed, the bulged portion being reversed and concave in the first state, and the bulged portion being restored in the second state.

5. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

6. The stylus of claim 1, further comprising:

a trigger switch, comprising:

a first end electrically connected to a power source;

a second end electrically connected to the light emitting element; and

the control end is electrically connected to the light sensor to receive an electric signal generated by the light sensor according to the received light signal, and the trigger switch conducts the first end and the second end according to the electric signal so that the light-emitting element receives the power supply of the power supply to be started.

7. The touch pen of claim 1, wherein the contact sensing module further comprises:

and the light source element is arranged on the inner wall of the pen point of the shell and is positioned opposite to the light sensor and used for outputting the optical signal.

8. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises:

and the light hole is arranged on one side opposite to the light sensor and used for a light source outside the shell to pass through so as to form the optical signal.

9. The stylus of claim 8, wherein the housing further comprises:

and the condenser lens is arranged on the light hole to condense the light source outside the shell to generate the optical signal.

10. The touch pen of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a light hole disposed at a side opposite to the light sensor for passing a light source outside the housing to form the light signal, the touch sensing module further comprises a light source element disposed on an inner wall of the pen point of the housing and located opposite to the light sensor for outputting another light signal, and a light detection module for detecting an intensity of an ambient light and selectively turning on the light source element accordingly.