FR3078181A1 - TACTILE DEVICE FOR ENLARGING THE IMAGE DISPLAYED BY A TOUCH SCREEN OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The image magnifying device (10) displayed by a touch screen (12) of an electronic device (14) comprises an image enlargement lens (16) displayed by the touch screen (12) of the electronic device (14), a touch-sensitive film (18) secured to the enlarging lens (16), and an electronic control unit (22) operatively connected to the touch-sensitive film (18) on the one hand and capable of to be operably connected to the electronic device (14), on the other hand.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a tactile device for enlarging the image displayed by a touch screen of an electronic device.

Description of the prior art

It is known, for example from US Patent 9,426,342 B1, a portable electronic magnifying glass intended to provide an enlarged representation of an object. The magnifying glass includes a housing having a camera face and an opposite display face, a camera inside the housing for acquiring an image of the object, and a display screen extending over the display face to display the enlarged representation of the object. The portable electronic magnifier also includes a handle and a two-axis hinge assembly rotatably connecting the housing and the handle about first and second orthogonal axes extending respectively along a length of the housing and of a width of the handle.

Such a device is however complex and costly, in particular because it comprises numerous electronic elements.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to propose a tactile device for enlarging the image displayed by a touch screen of an electronic device, not presenting at least certain drawbacks of known enlargement devices. The invention relates in particular to a tactile device for enlarging the image displayed by a touch screen of an electronic device of simple design and, thus, inexpensive.

To this end, the invention provides a tactile device for enlarging the image displayed by a touch screen of an electronic device, the tactile enlargement device comprising:

- a lens for enlarging the image displayed by the touch screen of the electronic device;

- a tactile film secured to the enlargement lens; and

- an electronic control unit, functionally connected to the touch film, on the one hand, and capable of being functionally connected to the electronic device, on the other hand.

Thus, advantageously, the tactile enlargement device according to the invention can be used like the electronic device, the tactile enlargement device however having a larger and clearer display than the electronic device.

According to preferred embodiments, the device according to the invention has one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination:

the enlargement lens is a Fresnel lens;

the device further comprises an electrochromic film functionally connected to Γ electronic control unit, Γ electronic control unit controlling the electrochromic film so that it is opaque or translucent on a peripheral portion around a portion corresponding to the projection of the touch screen of the electronic device on the enlargement lens;

the electrochromic film is fixed on one face of the enlargement lens, preferably on the face of the enlargement lens intended to be oriented towards the electronic device, and the tactile film is fixed on the electrochromic film;

the electrochromic film and the touch film are the same film, fixed on one face of the enlargement lens, preferably on the face of the enlargement lens intended to be oriented towards the electronic device;

the electrochromic film is fixed on a first face of the enlargement lens, preferably on the face of the enlargement lens intended to be oriented towards a user of the device, and in which the touch film is fixed on a second face of the enlargement lens, opposite the first face, the second face of the enlargement lens preferably being the face of the enlargement lens intended to be oriented towards the electronic device;

the device further comprises a protective glass, forming the face of the tactile enlargement device intended to be oriented towards a user;

the device preferably comprises a surface treatment of the enlargement lens on its face intended to be oriented towards a user;

the device comprises means for functionally connecting the electronic control unit wirelessly to the electronic device; and the device further comprises a support for the electronic device, forming for example a housing for receiving the electronic device, the enlargement lens being integral with the support, the support, preferably, being formed by a covering piece of interior of a motor vehicle or comprising means for being fixed in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge during the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically represents a first example of a tactile device for enlarging the image displayed by a touch screen of an electronic device and such an electronic device comprising a touch screen,

FIG. 2 illustrates the masking of the electronic device produced by the electrochromic screen of the tactile enlargement device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a second example of a tactile device for enlarging the image displayed by a touch screen of an electronic device and such an electronic device comprising a touch screen, and

- Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of a third example of a touch device for enlarging the image displayed by a touch screen of an electronic device and such an electronic device comprising a touch screen.

Detailed description of the invention

In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. For the sake of brevity, only the elements which are useful for understanding the embodiments described are shown in the figures and are described in detail below. Similarly, only the differences between the exemplary embodiments described below are described in detail.

In the following description, when reference is made to qualifiers of absolute position, such as the terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", etc., or relative, such as the terms "above", "below", "upper", "lower", etc., or to qualifiers of orientation, such as "horizontal", "vertical", etc., it is made reference, unless otherwise specified, to the orientation of the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first example 10 of a tactile device for enlarging the image displayed by a touch screen 12 of an electronic device 14, in position relative to the electronic device 14. The electronic device 14 can in particular be a smart phone or smartphone, touch pad or even a computer with a touch screen.

As illustrated, the tactile enlargement device 10 firstly comprises a lens 16 for enlarging the image displayed by the touch screen 12 of the electronic device 14. The enlargement lens 16 may in particular be a lens Fresnel or stepped lens, that is to say a plano-convex lens cut from concentric annular sections optimized to lighten the lens. Such a design makes it possible to obtain a short focal distance for a relatively large lens size, while retaining a reduced weight and volume of the enlargement lens 16.

The enlargement lens 16 has for example a thickness of between 1 mm and 5 mm, for example 2 mm.

The enlargement lens 16 is for example made of glass or of polymethyl methacrylate (or "PMMA", from the English poly (methyl methacrylate)).

The enlargement lens 16 has, for example, an enlargement ratio of between 1.5 and 5, for example 2.

The enlargement lens 16 has two faces:

a first face 16a oriented towards the electronic device 14; and a second fax machine 16b, opposite the first face 16a and oriented towards a user 17 of the enlargement touchscreen device 10.

The enlargement touchscreen device 10 also includes a touchscreen film 18 secured to the enlargement lens 16. Here, by "secured" is meant "attached directly or indirectly to". By "indirectly fixed on" is meant fixed to a part or to a set of parts fixed to each other, which is fixed to the enlarging lens 16. As illustrated, the tactile film 18 is placed under the lens. magnification 16. In other words, here, the touch film 18 is disposed between the touch screen 12 of the electronic device 14 and the magnification lens 16, preferably at a distance from the touch screen 12 of the electronic device 14.

The touch film 18 is preferably substantially transparent. The tactile film 18 can for example have a thickness of between 0.1 and 1 mm, for example 0.5 mm. The tactile film 18 is for example of the capacitive type. In this case, an electrostatic field is created in the tactile film 18 and / or in the enlargement lens 16, which is disturbed in the event of contact of a finger, for example, on the enlargement lens 16. A grid embedded in the tactile film then makes it possible to determine the coordinates of the contact point of the finger, so that the tactile film 18 emits an electrical signal representing these coordinates.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, an electrochromic screen 20 is also interposed between the touch film 18 and the enlargement lens 16. Such an electrochromic screen 20 is suitable for changing color and / or appearance (in particular to pass from a substantially transparent state to a being translucent or even opaque) on one or more parts of its surface, as a function of an electrical control signal. The electrochromic screen 20 has for example a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, in particular 0.5 mm.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the tactile enlargement device 10 also comprises an electronic control unit 22 which is functionally connected with the electronic device 14, the tactile film 18 and the electrochromic screen 20. In particular, the connection 24 between the electronic control unit 22 and the electronic device 14 can be a wireless link, in particular of the Bluetooth, infrared or equivalent type. The link 24 between the electronic control unit 22 and the electronic device 14 is advantageously a bidirectional link, so that the electronic control unit 22 can send information signals to the electronic device 14 and that the electronic device 14 can also send information signals to

Électronique electronic control unit 22.

The connections 26, 28 between the electronic control unit 22, on the one hand, and the touch film 18 and the electrochromic screen 20, respectively, on the other hand, are preferably wired connections. The link 26 between the electronic control unit 22 and the touch film 18 can be a unidirectional link, so that the touch film 18 can send signals to the electronic control unit 22. However, the link 26 can also allow the electrical supply of the touchscreen film 18. Alternatively, the link 26 can be bidirectional, in particular in the case where the touchscreen film 18 is equipped with a haptic function making it possible to have a feeling of vibration when a user touches the film touchscreen 18.

Likewise, the link 28 between the electronic control unit 22 and the electrochromic screen 20 can be unidirectional, so that the electronic control unit 22 can send electrical signals to the electrochromic screen 20. Here again, the link 28 can allow the electrical supply of the electrochromic film 20.

In FIG. 1, the tactile enlargement device 10 further comprises a support 30 for the electronic device 14, the support 30 advantageously forming a housing for receiving the electronic device 14. The enlargement lens 16, in particular, is integral with the support 30. In other words, the enlargement lens 16 is here directly or indirectly fixed on the support 30. The support 30 further comprises means for being fixed in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. Thus, according to the example shown, the support 30 is provided with a suction cup 32 which can in particular be fixed on the windshield or on the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

Alternatively, the support 30 can be formed by an interior trim part of a motor vehicle. In this case, the support 30 may in particular be formed by a motor vehicle dashboard or by a motor vehicle seat armrest.

In both cases, the electronic control unit 22 can be specific to the enlargement touchscreen device 10 or, on the contrary, be common to several functions of the motor vehicle.

The operation of the enlargement touchscreen device 10 is described below.

The electronic device 14 is received in the support 30. Thus, its position relative to the enlargement lens 16 is here fixed.

The electronic device 14 then communicates with électronique electronic control unit 22, for example by Bluetooth. The electronic device 14 can in particular indicate to the electronic control unit the position and the dimensions of the touch screen 12. Thus, the electronic control unit 22 can then determine the dimensions and the position of the projection of the screen touchscreen 12 on the enlargement lens 16 and on the touchscreen film 18. Next, the electronic control unit 22 can define an active area of the touchscreen film 18 which corresponds to the enlarged dimensions of the touchscreen 12 and make the rest of the surface of the non-functional touch film 18. This makes it possible to avoid or limit nuance signals emitted by the surface, outside of the active area when a user implements the tactile film 18.

Alternatively, the electronic device 14 only transmits an identifier indicating which electronic device it is (for example a model of mobile phone or touch pad). In this case, the electronic control unit 22 can have access to a database indicating to it, for the model corresponding to the identifier transmitted by the electronic device, the position and the dimensions of the touch screen 12 relative to the support 30. Alternatively or additionally, in this case, the position and the dimensions of the projection of the touch screen 12 on the lens 16 and on the touch film 18 can be obtained by the electronic control unit 22 by reading d 'a database, from the identifier issued by the electronic device 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this case, the electronic control unit 22 can control the electrochromic screen 20 so that it has:

a portion, here central, transparent 20a, which corresponds to the position of the projection 12 ′ of the touch screen 12 on the enlarging lens 16, and a translucent or opaque portion 20b, here peripheral, around the portion corresponding to the position of the projection 12 ′ of the touch screen 12 on the enlargement lens 16, ie the portion 20a. Thus, thanks to this translucent or opaque portion 20b, the tactile enlargement device 10 "hides" the technical parts of the electronic device 14, in particular the frame of the electronic device 14 around the touch screen 12. A better aesthetic appearance and / or greater clarity of the display on the enlargement lens 16 can thus be obtained.

A user 17 can then use the enlargement lens 16, as if it were the touch screen 12 of the electronic device 14. For example, by pressing with a finger, a signal is emitted by the touch film 18 by direction of the electronic control unit 22 which retransmits it to the electronic device 14 via the link 24, here wireless. Thus, a user 17 can use the enlargement touchscreen device 10 substantially like his electronic device 14. Advantageously, the enlargement device 10 allows better visibility than the touchscreen 12 of the electronic device 14.

The tactile enlargement device 100 of FIG. 3 differs from the tactile enlargement device 10 of FIG. 1 essentially by the position of the electrochromic film 20. Here, in fact, the electrochromic film 20 is fixed on the face 16b of the enlargement lens 16 oriented towards the user 17. In this case, the electrochromic film can have at least one other function chosen from an anti-glare function (anti-glare), an anti-reflection function, a mechanical protection of the enlargement lens 16 and an anti-fingerprint function. Specific treatments can be carried out on the electrochromic film 20 to obtain one or more of these functions.

Here, in addition, a mechanical protection glass 34 is fixed on the stack of the enlargement lens 16, of the touch film 18 and of the electrochromic film 20, on the face of this stack intended to be oriented in the direction of the user 17 .

Furthermore, the enlargement touchscreen device 200 of FIG. 4 differs from the enlargement touchscreen device of FIG. 1, firstly because it comprises an 18 ’touch film also forming an electrochromic screen.

In addition, here, the tactile enlargement device 200 is devoid of protective glass on its face intended to be oriented towards a user 17. However, a surface treatment 36 is applied to the face of the lens intended to be oriented towards User 17. This surface treatment can advantageously bring at least one function chosen from an anti-glare function (from the English term "antiglare"), an anti-reflection function, a mechanical protection function for the enlargement lens 16 and an anti-fingerprint function.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but is on the contrary susceptible of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art.

In particular, the various embodiments described above can be combined.

Furthermore, in the examples described, the lens, the touch film, the electrochromic screen, if necessary, as well as the protective glass, if necessary, are fixed by common means (not shown) or glued to each other. other. In the latter case, a transparent adhesive is preferably used to maintain the optical properties of these different elements. A silicone adhesive, for example OCA, can be used in this case. However, other adhesives and / or other means of fixing these various elements are accessible to those skilled in the art.

Also, the relative position of the lens, the touch film and the electrochromic screen can be different from the examples described.

Finally, in the example illustrated, the enlargement lens is fixed in position relative to the support and therefore to the electronic device. Advantageously, the device is provided with means for determining the relative position of the enlargement lens relative to the support or to the electronic device, in particular for determining the distance between the enlargement lens and the touch screen of the electronic device, these means being adapted to communicate corresponding information to the electronic unit or to the electronic device, so as to make the correspondence between a point of support by the user on the enlarging touch device with a point on the touch screen of the electronic device 14 .

Claims (10)

1. Touch-sensitive device (10) for enlarging the image displayed by a touch-screen (12) of an electronic device (14), the touch-sensitive enlargement device (10) comprising: a lens (16) for enlarging the image displayed by the touch screen (12) of the electronic device (14); a touch film (18) secured to the enlargement lens (16); and an electronic control unit (22), operatively connected to the touch film (18), on the one hand, and adapted to be operatively connected to the electronic device (14), on the other hand. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the enlargement lens (16) is a Fresnel lens. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an electrochromic film (20) operatively connected to Γ electronic control unit (22), Γ electronic control unit (22) controlling the electrochromic film (20) so that that -it is opaque or translucent on a peripheral portion (20b) around a portion (20a) corresponding to the projection of the touch screen (12) of the electronic device (14) on the enlargement lens (16). 4. Device according to one of claims 3, wherein the electrochromic film (20) is fixed on one face of the enlargement lens (16), preferably on the face (16a) of the enlargement lens (16 ) intended to be oriented towards the electronic device (14), and the touch film (18) is fixed to the electrochromic film (20). 5. Device according to claim 3, in which the electrochromic film (20) and the tactile film (18) are the same film, fixed on one face of the enlarging lens (16), preferably on the face (16a). of the enlargement lens (16) intended to be oriented towards the electronic device (14). 6. Device according to claim 3, in which the electrochromic film (20) is fixed on a first face of the enlargement lens (16), preferably on the face (16b) of the enlargement lens (16) intended to be oriented towards a user of the device (17), and in which the touch film (18) is fixed on a second face of the enlargement lens (16), opposite to the first face, the second face of the lens d enlargement (16) preferably being the face (16a) of the enlargement lens (16) intended to be oriented towards the electronic device (14). 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a protective glass (34), forming the face of the tactile enlargement device (10) intended to be oriented towards a user (17). 8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a surface treatment (36) of the enlargement lens (16) on its face intended to be oriented towards a user (17). 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for operatively connecting the electronic control unit (22) wirelessly to the electronic device (14). 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a support (30) for the electronic device (14), for example forming a housing for receiving the electronic device (14), the enlargement lens (16) being integral with the support (30), the support (30), preferably, being formed by a piece of interior trim of a motor vehicle or comprising means for being fixed in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.