Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
  • H01H13/78—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
  • H01H13/785—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard characterised by the contacts or the contact sites characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
  • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
  • H01H13/703—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H1/00—Contacts
  • H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
  • H01H1/021—Composite material
  • H01H1/023—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material
  • H01H1/0237—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material and containing oxides
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
  • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
  • H01H13/704—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2201/00—Contacts
  • H01H2201/022—Material
  • H01H2201/026—Material non precious
  • H01H2201/028—Indium tin oxide [ITO]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2203/00—Form of contacts
  • H01H2203/012—Microprotrusions
  • H01H2203/014—Grains; Microspheres
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2203/00—Form of contacts
  • H01H2203/036—Form of contacts to solve particular problems
  • H01H2203/05—Form of contacts to solve particular problems to avoid damage by deformation of layers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2203/00—Form of contacts
  • H01H2203/036—Form of contacts to solve particular problems
  • H01H2203/052—Form of contacts to solve particular problems for backlighted keyboards
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2205/00—Movable contacts
  • H01H2205/016—Separate bridge contact
  • H01H2205/022—Conductive rubber
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2209/00—Layers
  • H01H2209/024—Properties of the substrate
  • H01H2209/038—Properties of the substrate transparent
  • H01H2209/04—Glass
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2209/00—Layers
  • H01H2209/046—Properties of the spacer
  • H01H2209/056—Conductive rubber
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2209/00—Layers
  • H01H2209/068—Properties of the membrane
  • H01H2209/082—Properties of the membrane transparent
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2227/00—Dimensions; Characteristics
  • H01H2227/002—Layer thickness
  • H01H2227/012—Conductive rubber
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2227/00—Dimensions; Characteristics
  • H01H2227/002—Layer thickness
  • H01H2227/012—Conductive rubber
  • H01H2227/014—Conductive particles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a multicontact tactile sensor with spacing means of variable size and impedance.
• the present invention relates to the field of multicontact transparent tactile sensors.
• This type of sensor is provided with means for simultaneous acquisition of the position, the pressure, the size, the shape and the displacement of several fingers on its surface, in order to control an equipment, preferably via an interface graphic.
• They may be used, in a non-limiting manner, as interfaces for personal computers, portable or not, cell phones, automated teller machines (banks, points of sale, ticketing), game consoles, portable media players digital players, control of audiovisual equipment or appliances, control of industrial equipment, GPS navigators.
• the present invention more particularly relates to a multicontact tactile sensor comprising an elastically deformable interaction layer and a support layer, the interaction layer having on its lower surface an array of conductive tracks, the support layer having on its upper surface a network of conductive tracks that are not parallel to the network of conductive tracks of the interaction layer, said interaction and support layers being separated by a first series of rigid insulating spacers.
• the conductive tracks are thus arranged in a matrix of nodes formed by the intersection of rows and columns.
• at least one line and one column make contact at a node and act as a closed switch.
• a voltage measurement across each node of the array is performed sequentially and quickly to recreate an image of the sensor several times per second.
• a multicontact tactile sensor is described as comprising two transparent conductive layers on which are printed lines or columns corresponding to conducting wires, and an insulating material. between said two transparent conductive layers.
• the insulating material may advantageously consist of insulating rigid spacers of spherical shape, arranged between the two conductive layers of the sensor.
• the conductive tracks are advantageously made from a surface deposit of indium tin oxide (ITO), ie "indium tin oxide” in the English-speaking language.
• the disadvantage of this solution lies, on the one hand, in the disturbances on the data measured by the sensor, which significantly impacts the accuracy and sensitivity of the touch sensor implemented. These disturbances are due to false detections, as well as phenomena related to the resistivity of the materials coating the conductive tracks, in particular in the case of transparent conductive materials in indium-tin oxide deposition. On the other hand, during a excessive deformation of a conductive track of the interaction layer, it would be likely to be damaged or broken. Such a sensor is thus weakened, which gives it a short life.
• the aim of the present invention is to remedy these technical problems, by making it possible, on the one hand, to limit the phenomena of false detections when two conductive tracks of the respective interaction and support layers are brought together and, on the other hand, to reduce the amplitude of the deformations of the conductive tracks of the interaction layer when tactile contact is made.
• the approach of the solution consisted in looking for a means allowing at the same time to obtain an electrical contact between two conductive tracks of different layers, without generating false local detections around this point of contact nor to deform the conductive tracks too much.
• the subject of the present invention is a multicontact tactile sensor of the type mentioned above, comprising an elastically deformable interaction layer and a support layer, the interaction layer having on its lower surface an array of conductive tracks, the support layer having on its upper surface an array of conductive tracks that are not parallel to the network of conductive tracks of the interaction layer, said interaction layers and support being separated by a first series of rigid insulating spacers.
• This sensor also comprises a second series of conductive spacers disposed in contact with at least one of the two networks of conductive tracks. The impedance of the spacers of the second series is between the impedance of the spacers of the first series and the impedance of the conductive tracks.
• the dimensions of the spacers of the second series are smaller than the dimensions of the spacers of the first series.
• the dimensions of the struts of the first series are determined to prevent the contact at rest and allow the local contact during a deformation of the interaction layer, between the spacers of the second series and the network of conductive tracks of the opposite layer to the spacers of the second series.
• Such a sensor formed in addition to the combination of the first and second series of spacers, solves the above technical problems. Indeed, since the conductive spacers of the second series are arranged between the conductive tracks of different layers and their impedance being greater than the impedance of these conductive tracks, the problems of false detection when the conductive tracks of different layers are brought closer together are limited. In addition, because of the size and positioning of the conductive spacers of the second series, they will make the electrical contact between the conductive tracks of different layers when it is desired to achieve tactile contact. During this contact, the deformation of the conductive tracks of the interaction layer is limited since they no longer have to come into direct physical contact with the conductive tracks of the support layer.
• the two networks of conductive tracks comprise a conductive surface coating of indium tin oxide.
• the interaction layer consists of a polyester sheet.
• the support layer is rigid.
• the support layer advantageously consists of a glass substrate.
• the interaction layer is transparent
• the spacers of the first series are formed of a transparent polymer
• the spacers of the second series are formed by a transparent conductive polymer.
• a node being defined by the intersection of a conducting track of one of the two layers with the projection of a conductive track of the other layer :
• the two networks of conductive tracks are perpendicular to each other, the conductive tracks of at least one of the two conductive track networks are parallel and equidistant.
• the diameter of the spacers of the first series is greater than twice the diameter of the spacers of the second series.
• the ratio of the dimensions between the spacers of the two series then allows, at rest, the absence of contact and, during a tactile activation, the contact between the spacers of the second series and at least one conductive track of each layer.
• the present invention also relates to a controller of such a multicontact tactile sensor, also comprising a scanning circuit of the conductive tracks and means for acquiring an electrical characteristic at each scanning step, and a circuit for providing a signal (X, Y, Z ⁇ , ⁇ ), Z ⁇ , ⁇ denoting the electrical characteristic measured at a scanning step corresponding to an intersection of a conductive track X of a network and a conductive track Y of the other network.
• the present invention also relates to a multicontact touch screen comprising a display screen and such a multicontact touch sensor.
• the present invention finally relates to a keyboard comprising a set of discrete keys constituted by such a multicontact touch sensor.
• FIG. 1 a view of a passive matrix multicontact tactile electronic device in which the sensor is integrated; 2, a sectional view of a multicontact tactile sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3, a sectional view of a multicontact tactile sensor according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the multicontact tactile sensor according to this second embodiment of the present invention.
• a multicontact touch sensor according to the present invention is of the matrix type. It is more particularly a passive matrix, that is to say composed of two layers of transparent conductive material arranged in a matrix and separated by an insulating layer.
• FIG. 1 represents a view of a passive matrix multicontact tactile electronic device in which the multicontact tactile sensor is integrated.
• This device comprises a multicontact matrix touch sensor 1, a screen of visualization 2, a capture interface 3, a main processor 4 and a graphics processor 5.
• the first fundamental element of this tactile device is the multicontact tactile sensor 1, necessary for the acquisition - the multicontact manipulation - using a capture interface 3.
• This capture interface 3 contains the acquisition and processing circuits. 'analysis.
• the touch sensor 1 is of the matrix type. This sensor can be optionally divided into several parts to accelerate the capture, each part being scanned simultaneously.
• the data from the capture interface 3 is transmitted after filtering to the main processor 4.
• the main processor 4 also transmits to the graphic interface 5 the data to be displayed on the display screen 2. This graphic interface can also be driven by a graphics processor.
• the touch sensor is controlled as follows: one feeds successively, during a first scanning phase, the conductive tracks of one of the networks and the response is detected on each of the conductive tracks of the other network.
• Contact zones corresponding to the nodes whose state is modified with respect to the idle state are determined as a function of these responses.
• One or more sets of adjacent nodes are determined whose state is changed. A set of such adjacent nodes defines a contact area. From this set of nodes is computed a qualified position information in the sense of the present cursor patent. In the case of several sets of nodes separated by non-active zones, several independent cursors will be determined during the same scanning phase.
• Cursors are created, tracked or destroyed based on information obtained during successive scans.
• the cursor is an example calculated by a barycenter function of the contact zone.
• the general principle is to create as many sliders as there are zones detected on the touch sensor and to follow their evolution over time. When the user removes his fingers from the sensor, the associated sliders are destroyed. In this way, it is possible to capture the position and the evolution of several fingers on the touch sensor simultaneously.
• the matrix sensor 1 is for example a resistive type sensor or projected capacitive type. It is composed of two transparent layers on which are arranged lines or columns corresponding to conductive tracks. These tracks consist of conductive wires. These two layers of conductive tracks thus form a matrix network of conducting wires.
• the electrical characteristics - voltage, capacitance or inductance - are measured at the terminals of each node of the matrix.
• the device makes it possible to acquire the data on the whole of the sensor 1 with a sampling frequency of the order of 100 Hz, by implementing the sensor 1 and the control circuit integrated in the main processor 4.
• the main processor 4 executes the program for associating the sensor data with graphic objects that are displayed on the display screen 2 in order to be manipulated.
• FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of a multicontact tactile sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• This sensor comprises an interaction layer 10, a support layer 11, a first series of spacers 14 and a second series of spacers 15.
• the interaction layer 10 is an elastically deformable layer. She is made with a polyester sheet that can withstand scratches that may be caused for example by a stylus. It has a transparency allowing sufficient clarity for the display of graphic objects on the display screen 2 through the sensor 1.
• This interaction layer 10 has an array of conductive tracks 12 arranged in parallel and equidistant manner. These tracks are conductive wires made by surface deposition of indium tin oxide (ITO).
• ITO indium tin oxide
• the support layer 11 is the support element of the sensor 1, on which the elements 10 and 12 to 15 come to rest. It is made of glass substrate and has a transparency allowing sufficient clarity for the display of graphic objects. on the display screen 2 through the sensor 1.
• This support layer 11 has a network of conductive tracks 13 arranged in parallel and equidistant manner. These tracks are conductive wires made by surface deposition of indium tin oxide (ITO). They are arranged perpendicularly to the conductive tracks 12 of the interaction layer 10, so as to form a matrix network of conductive tracks 12, 13.
• ITO indium tin oxide
• the arrangement of these conductive tracks 12, 13 forms lines and columns.
• the intersection of a line and a column forms a point of contact.
• a column or columns located on the interaction layer 10 are brought into contact with one or more lines on the support layer 11, through the conductive spacer 15, creating thus one or more points of contact.
• This contact is caused by the deformation of the interaction layer 10 - and therefore conductive tracks 12 - until an electrical contact is formed with the conductive tracks 13 of the support layer 11 through the conductive spacer 15.
• the support layer 1 1 is deformable but of greater rigidity than the interaction layer 10, so as not to cause excessive shocks on the support layer 11 during a contact while making it possible to obtain tactile contact sensitivity via the interaction layer 10.
• the first series of spacers 14 separates the interaction layers 10 and support 11 - and therefore the conductive tracks 12 and 13 they have - with a given spacing on the entire sensor 1.
• the spacers 14 are arranged between the interaction layers 10 and support 11.
• These spacers are rigid to have a fixed spacing, and transparent to obtain a transparent sensor. They have a very large impedance so as to be insulating. They are made of a transparent insulating polymer, for example silicone.
• the second series of spacers 15 makes it possible, on the one hand, to avoid the physical proximity of the conductive tracks 12 and 13 - source of false detection, and to limit the amplitude of deformation of the conductive tracks 12 of the interaction layer 10.
• the spacers 15 are transparent to obtain a transparent sensor. They can be deposited by screen printing a transparent conductive polymer and have a spherical shape.
• spacers 15 of the second series have an impedance between the impedance of the spacers of the first series and the impedance of the conductive tracks. This makes it possible to obtain conductive spacers of the current.
• the electrical contact between the tracks 12 and 13 is obtained via the conductive spacers 15.
• a resistance for example 100 kilo-ohms is suitable for current conduction needs.
• the dimensions of these spacers 15 of the second series are smaller than the dimensions of the spacers 14 of the first series.
• the dimensions of the struts 14 of the first series are determined to: prevent the at rest contact between the struts 15 of the second series and the network of conductive tracks of the layer opposite to the struts 15 of the second series, and allow the local contact during a deformation of the interaction layer 10 between the spacers 15 of the second series and the network of conductive tracks of the layer opposite to the struts 15 of the second series.
• the diameter of the struts 14 of the first series is greater than twice the diameter of the struts 15 of the second series.
• This size ratio makes it possible to avoid the resting contact between the spacers 15 and the conductive tracks 13 and allows the electrical contact between the tracks 12 and 13 via the spacers 15, without however the deformation of the tracks 12 of the interaction layer 10 does not weaken them significantly.
• the spacers 14 and 15 of the first and second series respectively have, for example, diameters of 40 micrometers and 20 micrometers.
• the spacers 15 of the second series take the form of drops disposed on the intersections of the conductive tracks 12 of the interaction layer 10 with the projection of the conductive tracks 13 of the support layer 11.
• These spacers can to be arranged by serigraphy of a material which, when it dries, takes the form of a drop.
• the spacers 15 of the first series are arranged at the level of the conductive tracks 13 of the support layer 11.
• the results obtained with this embodiment are similar to those obtained with a sensor according to the first embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 2.

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• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
• Push-Button Switches (AREA)

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• 2008
  • 2008-08-05 FR FR0804469A patent/FR2934921B1/fr active Active
• 2009
  • 2009-08-05 EP EP09804599A patent/EP2321833A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-08-05 KR KR1020117005193A patent/KR20110047219A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2009-08-05 US US13/057,582 patent/US20110141026A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-08-05 WO PCT/FR2009/000978 patent/WO2010015749A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-08-05 JP JP2011521612A patent/JP5524963B2/ja active Active
  • 2009-08-05 CN CN2009801347488A patent/CN102144272A/zh active Pending

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