KR100988724B1 - Touch screen and method for detecting touch on touch screen - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch screen and a touch sensing method thereof are disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, to detect a touch on the touch screen, a control panel for controlling the touch screen and the panel comprising a matrix consisting of an X-axis including n ports and a Y-axis comprising m ports The control unit outputs a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis among the X-axis and the Y-axis of the matrix, and when a predetermined time elapses, the control unit switches a port that outputs the pulse to an input port to perform a touch on the matrix by using a frequency change of the pulse. Detect.

According to the present invention, a small touch can be detected, and the configuration is simple, but there is an advantage that the multi-touch can be detected.

Touch screen, resistive, matrix, frequency, position

Description

Touch screen and method for detecting touch on touch screen}

The present invention relates to a touch screen and a touch sensing method, and more particularly, to a touch screen capable of touch sensing using a frequency and a touch sensing method thereof.

BACKGROUND With the development of electric / electronic devices, as input devices such as computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs), touch screens for inputting information by touching a finger or a pen on a screen have been widely used.

Such touch screens include a resistive film method for sensing a touch by using a change in resistance value according to a touch and a capacitive method for detecting a touch by using a change value in capacitance according to a touch when a touch is made.

In the resistive method of the touch sensing method of the conventional touch screen, when a touch is applied to the upper substrate, mechanical resistance of the transparent conductive layers of the upper and lower substrates is achieved.

At this time, the X-axis and Y-axis potentials formed at the contact points of the counterpart substrates are sensed, respectively, and the position is indirectly detected by the potential value.

On the other hand, in the case of the capacitive type, a matrix composed of X and Y axes is generally formed, and when the touch is performed on the formed matrix, the touch position is detected by finding the X and Y axes of which capacitance changes.

Since the resistive type of the touch sensing method of the conventional touch screen must be accompanied by mechanical contact, it is possible to clearly sense the touch to the user and to detect a relatively accurate touch position.

However, ADC (Analog Digital Converter) is necessary because the position is indirectly detected by the potential value by sensing the X-axis and Y-axis potential, and there is a problem that a small contact of the user is difficult to detect.

On the other hand, the capacitive method of the touch detection method of the conventional touch screen of the touch does not necessarily require the ADC, and it is easy to detect a small contact of the user, but does not give the user a clear sense of touch, but forms a matrix. If the distance between the ports constituting the matrix is wide, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately detect the touch position.

In addition, the touch sensing methods of the conventional touch screen can detect only one touch, and there is a problem that it is difficult to detect when a multi-touch is made.

In order to solve the conventional problems as described above, the present invention proposes a touch screen and a touch sensing method capable of detecting a small touch of a user while having a simple configuration.

In addition, the present invention proposes a touch screen capable of detecting an accurate touch position and multi-touch and a touch sensing method thereof.

Still other objects of the present invention will be readily understood through the following description of the embodiments.

In order to achieve the above object, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a touch screen.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a touch screen comprising: a panel comprising a matrix consisting of an X-axis comprising n ports and a Y-axis comprising m ports for sensing a touch on the touch screen n, m is one or more natural numbers; And a controller for controlling the touch screen, wherein the controller outputs a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis among the X-axis and the Y-axis of the matrix, and switches the port outputting the pulse to an input port when a predetermined time elapses. By using the frequency change of the pulse is provided a touch screen, characterized in that for detecting the touch on the matrix.

The panel may include a transparent conductive layer and a substrate structure on which the port is formed.

The controller may compare the change in frequency at each port to determine a touch position with respect to the preset axis by using the compared value.

The control unit outputs a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis among the X-axis and the Y-axis of the matrix, and when a predetermined time elapses, when the frequency output of the pulse is generated by switching the port outputting the pulse to an input port, When a predetermined time elapses after outputting a pulse to a port of an axis, the port that outputs the pulse may be switched to an input port to detect a frequency change of the pulse to determine a touch position on the matrix.

The controller may compare the frequency change at each port to calculate the touch intensity using the compared value.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a touch sensing method in a touch screen is provided.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the touch sensing method on a touch screen,

Outputting a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis among the X axis and the Y axis in a matrix consisting of an X axis including n ports and a Y axis including m ports to sense a touch on the touch screen ( a) —wherein n and m are one or more natural numbers; Switching the port outputting the pulse to an input port when a preset time elapses; (C) determining whether the frequency of the pulse is changed at at least one port; And (d) determining that a touch on the matrix is made when the frequency of the pulse is changed in the at least one port.

The step (d) may further include determining a touch position with respect to the one predetermined axis by using the compared value by comparing the frequency change at each port.

If it is determined in step (c) that the frequency of the pulse is changed in at least one port, perform steps (a) to (c) for the other axis, and step (d) The method may further include determining a touch position with respect to the one predetermined axis by using the compared value by comparing the frequency change at each port.

In step (d), a control signal may be generated to compare the change in frequency at each port to calculate the touch intensity using the compared value.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium recording a program for implementing a touch sensing method in a touch screen.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a recording medium recording a program for implementing a touch sensing method on a touch screen, the X-axis and m ports including n ports for sensing a touch on the touch screen (A) outputting a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis among the X axis and the Y axis in a matrix consisting of the Y axis; Switching the port outputting the pulse to an input port when a preset time elapses; (C) determining whether the frequency of the pulse is changed at at least one port; And (d) determining that the touch on the matrix is made when the frequency of the pulse is changed in the at least one port. Is provided.

The step (d) may further include determining a touch position with respect to the one predetermined axis by using the compared value by comparing the frequency change at each port.

If it is determined in step (c) that the frequency of the pulse is changed in at least one port, perform steps (a) to (c) for the other axis, and step (d) The method may further include determining a touch position with respect to the one predetermined axis by using the compared value by comparing the frequency change at each port.

In step (d), a control signal may be generated to compare the change in frequency at each port to calculate the touch intensity using the compared value.

As described above, according to the touch screen and the touch sensing method according to the present invention, the configuration is simple, but there is an advantage of detecting a small touch of the user.

In addition, there is an advantage that can detect the correct touch position and multi-touch.

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing. In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known technology may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component.

And / or < / RTI > includes any combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of a plurality of related listed items.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components may be present in between. Should be.

On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Terms such as those defined in the commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art, and are not construed in ideal or excessively formal meanings unless expressly defined in this application. Do not.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or corresponding components will be denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a touch screen senses a touch by using a time change value, that is, a frequency of a pulse that is changed according to a touch, in a conventional resistive touch screen. Do it.

First, an example of a panel configuring a touch screen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

1 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional structure of a panel constituting a touch screen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a panel constituting a touch screen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a structure of a lower substrate 100 on which a transparent conductive film and a port 110 are formed, a transparent conductive film and a port 130. Dot spacer 150 and upper substrate 140 structure and lower substrate 100 to maintain the upper substrate 140 structure, and the upper substrate 140 structure and the lower substrate 100 structure at a predetermined interval. It may include a double-sided adhesive tape 120 for attaching the structure at a predetermined interval.

In addition, the upper and lower substrates have a structure of a wiring structure for inputting and outputting pulses from the ports 130 and 110 to the outside, and the position detection for the touch input is applied to the upper substrate 140 by applying a touch pressure on the upper and lower substrates. Mechanical contact of the transparent conductive films 140 and 100 is performed, and resistances are formed by contacting the counterpart substrates, respectively.

The cross-sectional structure of the panel constituting the touch screen according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is not significantly different from the panel of the conventional resistive touch screen, and thus, the resistive touch screen panel is used. There is an advantage that can be used as it is.

However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, unlike the conventional resistive touch screen panel, n ports on the X-axis and m ports on the Y-axis (110) instead of the two ports provided on the X-axis and the Y-axis respectively, respectively. ) To form a matrix of n * m (n, m is one or more natural numbers).

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a matrix composed of X and Y axes to enable detection of multi-touch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the X and Y axes are divided into four parts to form a matrix, but the number of X and Y axes constituting the matrix is not limited.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention by configuring a touch screen in a resistive manner, but by configuring a matrix for the X axis and Y axis, when the touch on each axis is made, it is possible to more accurately detect the position of the touch, It also enables detection of multi-touch.

The accurate detection of the touch position, the detection of the multi-touch, and the calculation of the touch intensity by the touch screen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

On the other hand, the matrix is configured according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are each independent and constitute the X-axis and Y-axis, each port that the pulse is output and the output pulse is input again, for example, X1 port, etc. do.

According to the present invention, first, all ports of the Y-axis are grounded under the control of a micro control unit (MCU), which is a control unit for controlling the touch screen, and pulses are applied to all ports of the X-axis. pulse).

After the application of such a pulse, more preferably immediately after switching a port that outputs the pulse to the input, the resistance is generated and the resistance is gradually weakened by this resistance.

When the pulse is weakened by a preset value, the process of repeatedly outputting a pulse having the same size as the first output pulse and immediately switching the port outputting the pulse to the input is repeated.

For example, in FIG. 2, after outputting a high pulse from all X-axis ports on the left side with respect to the X axis, all the X-axis ports on the left side with respect to the X axis are immediately converted into inputs.

In this case, as the output port switches to the input port, a resistor is generated and the MCU receives a pulse that weakens according to the generated resistance.

When the pulse reaches the preset value, the MCU outputs the pulse to all ports of the X axis again.

This process is performed by first outputting the pulse output from at least one of the ports of the X axis (hereinafter, referred to as high pulse for convenience) (low pulse for convenience of description). It is repeatedly performed until there is a change in time, that is, a frequency, which is referred to as).

If there is a change in frequency from high pulse to low pulse in at least one of the ports of the X axis, a change occurred in the resistance due to the touch. In this case, all ports of the X axis are set to ground and all Output a high pulse to the port.

And as in the X-axis, when the port that outputs the pulse is converted to the input in the Y-axis as well, resistance is generated and the Y-port where the touch is made is found by using the change of frequency that the high pulse becomes weaker by this resistance. .

According to this method, the touch position can be easily detected by the configuration of the matrix, and the touch can be detected using the change of frequency at each port constituting the matrix, so that the touch can be detected even by a small contact of the user. .

Meanwhile, in the above description, the description has been focused on the MCU as a control unit for controlling the touch screen. However, the MCU for controlling the touch screen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention outputs a pulse to each port according to its function. Including various components such as an output module, a port switching module for converting a pulsed port to an input port, a frequency comparison module for detecting a change in frequency, and a control module for generating a control signal for controlling each component. It is obvious that it can be configured.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3, a procedure of determining a touch position to enable detection of multi-touch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of determining a touch position to enable detection of multi-touch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the order of determining the touch position to detect the multi-touch is performed by first scanning the X-axis (S300).

Scanning on X axis first sets all ports of Y axis to ground, outputs high pulse to all ports of X axis, and resistance is generated when switching the port which output pulse immediately after output of high pulse. The resistance may be a change in the frequency at which the high pulse becomes weaker.

If there is a change in frequency in at least one of the ports included in the X-axis (S302), if there is a change in frequency in at least one of the ports included in the X-axis, scan is performed on the Y-axis (S304).

The scan for Y axis first sets all ports of X axis to ground state, then outputs high pulse to all ports of Y axis, then converts the port that outputs pulse immediately after the output of high pulse to resistance, and this resistance It may be to detect a change in the frequency by which the high pulse becomes weaker by.

When the scan of the X-axis and the Y-axis is made, the port on which the frequency change of each of the X-axis and the Y-axis is made is determined as the coordinates of the X-axis and the Y-axis (S306).

For example, in FIG. 2, if there is a change in frequency at the X1 port as a result of the scan on the X axis and a change in frequency at the Y2 port as a result of the scan on the Y axis, the coordinates of the touched position become an intersection point where X1 and Y2 meet.

In FIG. 3, the scan of the X-axis is first performed to detect the frequency change of the X-axis. However, the order of scanning for each axis is not limited.

On the other hand, when forming a matrix using a resistive touch screen panel and determining the touch position using a change in frequency detected through the formed matrix, it may be possible to more accurately sense the touch position.

First of all, it is difficult to determine the exact position of the Y axis by assuming that only the positions of X1 and Y2 are found by using the matrix configuration, but the actual touch is made on the X1 port on the X axis, but is made between Y1 and Y2 on the Y axis.

However, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a touch is made between Y1 and Y2 on the Y axis, both Y1 and Y2 ports are affected.

Therefore, the change of the frequency input from the Y1 port and the Y2 port is different from the change of the frequency generated by the touch made on the Y1 port or the Y2 port.

By comparing these changes in frequency relatively, it may be possible to detect a more accurate touch position.

In addition, not only accurate touch detection but also multi-touch can be detected.

For example, suppose a touch is simultaneously made at two points (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2).

First, according to the X-axis scan in the present invention it can be detected that the touch of X1 and X2 made.

However, since two touches are made at the same time, the change in the frequency input from the X1 port and the X2 port has a different frequency change than if the touch is made only on the X1 port or the touch is made only on the X2 port.

However, if the frequency change on the X axis is made, the scan is performed on the Y axis, and thus the change of the frequency input from the Y1 port and the Y2 port is input again.

The Y-axis also has a different frequency change than when the touch is made only on the Y1 port or the touch is made only on the Y2 port.

Therefore, in this case, it is also possible to determine that the touch is made at the two points (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2), and thus determine that the touch is made at (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2).

It is also possible to calculate the intensity of the touch made by the user.

For example, even when the touch is made at the same position as (X1, Y1), the frequency may change in both the case where the touch is made strong by the user and when the touch is made weak, but the value in which the frequency is changed has a different value. .

Therefore, it is possible to calculate the intensity of the touch by comparing the values at which these frequencies change.

When the matrix is configured on the resistive touch screen panel and the touch position is sensed using the change of frequency as in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the matrix is configured by minimizing the ports included in the X and Y axes. Even touch position can be detected.

However, as the number of ports included in the X-axis and the Y-axis increases, more accurate position detection of the touch may be possible, and thus, multi-touch may be easily detected, but is not limited thereto.

The above-described method of determining the touch position and detecting the multi-touch is merely an example, and there is no limitation as long as it uses a change in frequency generated when the touch is made.

Meanwhile, as described above, the touch sensing method in the touch screen according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be performed under the control of a micro control unit (MCU), which is a control unit for controlling the touch screen.

4, a method of sensing a touch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

4 is a graph illustrating a change in frequency detected according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the high pulse is set to 3.0v and the low pulse is set to 0.8v, when one port is immediately switched to the input port after the high pulse output, a resistance is generated and the high pulse is generated according to the generated resistance. Is changed to a low pulse.

At this time, the time value changed to a low pulse, which is a preset value, is t1 to t2. If the touch is not made, the time value at which the high pulse is changed to a low pulse is not changed as t2 to t3.

However, if the touch is made, switching to the input port immediately after the high pulse output adds not only the resistance generated but also the resistance generated by the touch, so that the time value at which the high pulse changes to a low pulse is increased as t3 to t4. do.

Therefore, since the inverse of the time value is the frequency, it can be determined that the touch is made by measuring the frequency.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for purposes of illustration, and those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additions should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional structure of a touch screen panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a matrix consisting of an X-axis and a Y-axis to enable detection of multi-touch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of determining a touch position to enable detection of multi-touch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a graph illustrating a change in frequency detected in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

In the touch screen, A panel comprising a matrix consisting of an X-axis comprising n ports and a Y-axis comprising m ports for sensing touch on the touch screen, wherein n and m are one or more natural numbers; And Including a control unit for controlling the touch screen, The control unit outputs a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis among the X-axis and the Y-axis of the matrix, and when a predetermined time elapses, the control unit switches a port that outputs the pulse to an input port and uses the frequency change of the pulse on the matrix. Touch screen, characterized in that to sense the touch. The method of claim 1, The panel includes a transparent conductive film and a substrate structure on which the port is formed. The method of claim 1, And the control unit compares the frequency change in each port to determine a touch position with respect to the predetermined axis by using the compared value. The method of claim 1, The control unit outputs a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis of the X-axis and Y-axis of the matrix, and when a predetermined time elapses, when the frequency output of the pulse occurs by switching the port outputting the pulse to an input port, And outputting a pulse to a port of another axis, and when a preset time elapses, switch the port that outputs the pulse to an input port to detect a change in frequency of the pulse to determine a touch position on the matrix. The method of claim 1, The control unit may compare the frequency change in each port to calculate the touch intensity by using the compared value. In the touch detection method on the touch screen, Outputting a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis among the X axis and the Y axis in a matrix consisting of an X axis including n ports and a Y axis including m ports to sense a touch on the touch screen (a ) -N and m are one or more natural numbers; Switching the port outputting the pulse to an input port when a preset time elapses; (C) determining whether the frequency of the pulse is changed at at least one port; And And (d) determining that a touch on the matrix is made when the frequency of the pulse is changed in the at least one port. The method of claim 6, Step (d) is, And comparing a frequency change at each port to determine a touch position with respect to the one predetermined axis using the compared value. The method of claim 6, If it is determined in step (c) that the frequency of the pulse at the at least one port is changed, Perform steps (a) to (c) for the other axis; The step (d) further comprises the step of determining the touch position with respect to the one predetermined axis by using the compared value by comparing the frequency change in each of the ports touch on the touch screen Detection method. The method of claim 6, Step (d) is, And comparing a change in frequency at each port to generate a control signal for calculating a touch intensity using the compared value. In the recording medium recording a program for implementing a touch sensing method on a touch screen, Outputting a pulse to a port of a predetermined axis among the X axis and the Y axis in a matrix consisting of an X axis including n ports and a Y axis including m ports to sense a touch on the touch screen (a ); Switching the port outputting the pulse to an input port when a preset time elapses; (C) determining whether the frequency of the pulse is changed at at least one port; And And (d) determining that a touch on the matrix has been made when the frequency of the pulse is changed in the at least one port. 15. The recording medium having recorded thereon a program for implementing a touch sensing method in a touch screen.

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