KR101043569B1 - Touch screen device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch screen device capable of detecting a position by using a light beam emitted from a light pen or a digital pen, wherein the touch screen device includes a plurality of first and second crosses perpendicular to each other inside the base member. Optical waveguides; A plurality of structures formed at each intersection of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides to couple light beams emitted from the digital pen or the light pen to the first and second optical waveguides; First and second optical detection means disposed at both ends of the plurality of first optical waveguides and configured to detect X-axis coordinates of light beams coupled to the first optical waveguide by the structure; And third and fourth optical detection means disposed at both ends of the plurality of second optical waveguides and configured to detect the Y-axis coordinates of the light beams coupled to the second optical waveguide by the structure. It is done.

Touch screen device, optical waveguide, clad, digital pen, light pen

Description

TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE {TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a touch screen device, and more particularly, to a touch screen device capable of detecting a position by using a light beam emitted from a light pen or a digital pen.

In general, the touch screen does not use an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and detects a position when a character, such as a human finger or a stylus pen, contacts a character or a specific position on the screen. An input device that performs a specific function. The touch screen may be classified into a resistive film type, a capacitive type, an infrared (IR) type, an ultrasonic wave (SAW) type, and the like according to an implementation method.

In the resistive film method, when a pressure is applied to a screen by a finger or a stylus pen, two substrates are contacted and energized to detect a position. Since the resistive film has a low light transmittance, a brighter screen should be provided from the display device to solve the problem, which requires additional power of the terminal, thereby degrading battery efficiency. In addition, since the two electrodes are pressed to each other by pressing the surface by a finger or a stylus pen, etc., there is a problem that durability is poor.

The capacitive method is a method of detecting and driving static electricity generated in a human body, and has a high price, and does not work with a gloved finger, a stylus pen, or the like.

Infrared method is a method that detects the position when the signal is not detected because it is blocked by finger, pen, etc. by using infrared ray with straightness, and is likely to malfunction when the surface is contaminated, and the lens to make collimated beam There is a problem that an additional component such as is required.

Ultrasonic method detects the position by generating ultrasonic waves on the screen and detecting some of the ultrasonic waves when the finger is touched on the panel and reducing the size of the ultrasonic waves. There is a problem that it does not work with a gloved finger, a stylus pen, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch screen device capable of detecting a position using a light beam emitted from a light pen or a digital pen.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch screen device including: a plurality of first and second optical waveguides perpendicularly intersecting with each other inside a base member; A plurality of structures formed at each intersection of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides to couple light beams emitted from the digital pen or the light pen to the first and second optical waveguides; First and second optical detection means disposed at both ends of the plurality of first optical waveguides and configured to detect X-axis coordinates of light beams coupled to the first optical waveguide by the structure; And third and fourth optical detection means disposed at both ends of the plurality of second optical waveguides and configured to detect the Y-axis coordinates of the light beams coupled to the second optical waveguide by the structure. It is done.

The touch screen device according to the present invention for achieving the above technical problem is a base member; A plurality of structures formed inside the base member to change a traveling direction of a light beam emitted from a digital pen or a light pen positioned above the base member; And first to fourth light detection means installed to face each side of the base member to detect the position of the light flux emitted from the digital pen or the light pen by detecting the light flux whose direction of travel is changed by the structure. Characterized in that the configuration.

The touch screen device further includes a plurality of first and second optical waveguides formed at regular intervals so as to vertically intersect with each other inside the base member, wherein the structure includes each intersection of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides. And a light beam formed in the portion to couple the light flux emitted from the digital pen or the light pen into the first and second optical waveguides.

The structure is characterized in that the pyramid shape, the inside is characterized in that made of air (Air).

The bottom width of the structure is characterized in that the same as the width of the optical waveguide.

The inclined surface of the structure is characterized in that the 40 ° ~ 44 ° range.

The height of the structure is characterized in that the range of 20㎛ ~ 27.5㎛.

The refractive index of the optical waveguide is higher than the refractive index of the base member.

Each of the first to fourth light detecting means may include a plurality of light detectors disposed at ends of the respective optical waveguides.

The position of the light beam emitted from the digital pen or the light pen is a pair having a maximum value among the sum of the light beams detected by a pair of light detectors disposed at both ends of each of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides. It is characterized in that it is detected by the XY coordinates according to the position of the photo detector.

As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

First, whether the light pen is in contact with the light pen through optical coupling between the light pen and the touch screen device using a pyramid-shaped structure at each intersection of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides arranged to vertically intersect at regular intervals. Since the position detection method through the pressure is not used, the durability of the touch screen device can be greatly increased.

Second, even if the light pen is inclined to a certain range through complementation of the optical detectors disposed on both sides of the optical waveguide, it is possible to detect whether the light pen is in contact and the contact position.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a touch screen device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

1 and 2, a touch screen device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a base member (or clad) 100; A plurality of first and second optical waveguides 102, 104; A plurality of structures 106; And first to fourth light detecting means (110, 210, 310, 410).

The base member 100 is formed to a predetermined thickness on the front of the display panel (not shown), and is formed of a transparent material that allows light to pass through without loss as much as possible in order to minimize the decrease in brightness of the image output from the display panel. It is preferable to be formed to have a refractive index of the degree.

The first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104 are formed inside the base member 100 to receive light beams emitted from the light pen (or digital pen) 500 by the first to fourth optical detection means 110 and 210. , 310, 410). In this case, in order to couple the light beams emitted from the light pen (or the digital pen) 500 to the first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104, the plurality of structures 106 may be connected to the first and second optical waveguides 102. , At the vertical intersection of 104).

The plurality of first optical waveguides 102 are formed to have a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction).

The plurality of second optical waveguides 104 are formed to have a predetermined interval along the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) so as to perpendicularly cross each of the plurality of first optical waveguides 102.

On the other hand, the plurality of first and second optical waveguides (102, 104) is formed to have a refractive index of about 1.47 for coupling of the light beam emitted from the light pen 500 through the refractive index difference with the base member 100 desirable. In addition, the plurality of first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104 may be formed of a transparent material that allows light to pass through without loss as much as possible in order to minimize deterioration of brightness of an image output from the display panel.

The plurality of structures 106 may be formed in a pyramid (or square pyramid) shape at the intersections of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104. Such a structure 106 couples the light beams emitted from the light pen 500 toward the first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104, thereby emitting light emitted from the light pen 500, as shown in FIG. 3. The luminous flux is directed through the optical waveguides 102 and 104 as much as possible to reach the optical detection means 110, 210, 310, 410.

Meanwhile, in order to increase the light coupling efficiency between the light emitted from the light pen 500 and the optical waveguides 102 and 104 and minimize the propagation loss of the optical waveguides 102 and 104, the plurality of structures 106 may be formed. The interior may be made of air.

The optimization structure of the structure 106 for improving the light coupling efficiency in the optical waveguides 102 and 104 by the plurality of structures 106 will be described below.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the refractive indices of the base member 100 and the optical waveguides 102 and 104 are 1.45 and 1.47, respectively, and the distance between the base member 100 and the light pen 500 is 50 μm. It is assumed that the width Wcore and the height Hcore of the optical waveguides 102 and 104 are set to 50 μm, and the divergence angle of the light beam 510 output from the light pen 500 is 10 °.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the width of the bottom side of the structure 106 is fixed to 50 μm, and the height of the structure 106 is increased to determine the speed of the light beams coupled to the optical waveguides 102 and 104. When the intensity is detected by the ray tracing method, it can be seen that the light coupling efficiency is high when the height of the structure 106 is 20 to 27.5 μm. Here, when the height of the structure 106 is 25㎛ the inclined surface angle of the structure 106 is 45 °.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the inclination angle of the structure 106 is fixed to 45 °, the height of the structure 106 is increased, and the intensity of the light beams coupled to the optical waveguides 102 and 104 is increased. When it is detected by the ray tracing method, it can be seen that the higher the height of the structure 106, the higher the light coupling efficiency.

Therefore, the structure 106 is preferably formed with a width of the bottom side of 50㎛, 20 ~ 27.5㎛ height.

An optimized structure of the structure 106 for minimizing propagation loss in the optical waveguides 102 and 104 by the plurality of structures 106 described above is as follows.

First, each of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104 is uniformly formed in the base member 100 at 500 μm intervals Λ, and each of the ten structures 106 is formed of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104. After arranging the second optical waveguides 102 and 104 at each intersection, the change in the speed of light passing through each intersection is illustrated in FIG. 5.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, when the height of the structure 106 is 25 μm, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the light coupling efficiency of the light pen 500 and the optical waveguides 102 and 104 is the best. However, while the propagation loss is increased very seriously, when the height of the structure 106 is 22.5 μm, the light coupling efficiency of the light pen 500 and the optical waveguides 102 and 104 is excellent and the propagation loss is minimized. Able to know.

As a result, through the above-described Figures 4a to 5, the optimal structure of the structure 106, the light coupling efficiency is increased while the propagation loss is minimized, the width of the bottom side is 50㎛, the height is 20 ~ 27.5㎛ range (preferably It is 22.5㎛), and it can be seen that the inclination angle of the inclined surface is in the range of 40 ° to 44 ° (preferably 42 °). Here, since the width of the bottom side of the structure 106 of the optimal structure is the same as the width of the optical waveguides 102 and 104, the width of the bottom side of the structure 106 is set to be equal to the width of the optical waveguides 102 and 104. desirable.

1 and 2, the first light detecting means 110 is provided with a plurality of first light through a plurality of first light detectors 112 arranged to be connected to one end of each of the plurality of first optical waveguides 102. The intensity of the light beam propagated by each of the waveguides 102 is detected. At this time, the X-axis coordinates for detecting the position of the light beam are set in each of the plurality of first light detectors 112.

The second optical detection means 210 is formed by each of the plurality of first optical waveguides 102 through a plurality of second optical detectors 212 arranged to be connected to the other end of each of the plurality of first optical waveguides 102. Detects the intensity of the propagating light beam. At this time, the X-axis coordinates for detecting the position of the light beam are set in each of the plurality of second photodetectors 212.

Each of the first and second light detecting means 110 and 210 may be driven by the light pen 500 using each of the plurality of light detectors 112 and 212 arranged in the first optical waveguide 102 to face each other. By detecting the intensity of the light beam 510 emitted and propagated by the first optical waveguide 102, the X-axis coordinate of the light beam 510 emitted by the light pen 500 is detected. In this case, the X-axis coordinates of the light beam 510 detected by the first and second light detection means 110 and 210 may be determined by Equation 1 below.

X axis coordinates = Max (A _ray + B _ray )

In Equation 1, A _ray means the number of light beams detected by each of the plurality of first light detectors 112 arranged in the first light detection means 110, and B _ray means the second light detection means 210. ) Means the number of luminous fluxes detected by each of the plurality of second photodetectors 212. Max (A _ray + B _ray ) indicates the positions of the photo detectors 112 and 212 having the maximum value among the sum of the number of luminous fluxes detected by the first and second photo detectors 112 and 212 facing each other. it means.

The third optical detecting means 310 is formed by each of the plurality of second optical waveguides 104 through a plurality of third optical detectors 312 arranged to be connected to one end of each of the plurality of second optical waveguides 104. Detects the intensity of the propagating light beam. At this time, Y-axis coordinates for detecting the position of the light beam are set in each of the plurality of third light detectors 312.

The fourth optical detection means 410 is driven by each of the plurality of second optical waveguides 104 through a plurality of fourth optical detectors 412 arranged to be connected to the other end of each of the plurality of second optical waveguides 104. Detects the intensity of the propagating light beam. At this time, Y-axis coordinates for detecting the position of the light beam are set in each of the plurality of fourth light detectors 412.

Each of the third and fourth light detecting means 310 and 410 may be driven by the light pen 500 using each of the plurality of light detectors 312 and 412 arranged in the second optical waveguide 104 to face each other. The Y-axis coordinate of the light beam 510 emitted by the light pen 500 is detected by detecting the intensity of the light beam 510 emitted and propagated by the second optical waveguide 104. At this time, the Y-axis coordinates of the light beam 510 detected by the third and fourth light detecting means 310 and 410 may be determined by Equation 2 below.

Y-axis coordinates = Max (C _ray + D _ray )

In Equation 2, C _ray means the number of light beams detected by each of the plurality of third light detectors 312 arranged in the third light detecting means 310, and D _ray is the fourth light detecting means 410. The number of luminous fluxes detected by each of the plurality of fourth photodetectors 412 arranged at ()). Max (C _ray + D _ray ) indicates the positions of the light detectors 312 and 412 having the maximum value among the sum of the number of the light beams detected by the third and fourth light detectors 312 and 412 facing each other. it means.

As described above, the first to fourth light detecting means 110, 210, 310, and 410 may be configured to determine the speed of the light beam detected using the intensity of the light beam emitted from the light pen 500 through Equations 1 and 2 described above. XY coordinates are detected.

Meanwhile, since the posture of holding the light pen 500 may be different for each user, the intensity of the light beam detected by the first to fourth light detecting means 110, 210, 310, and 410 as the light pen 500 is inclined. May vary.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the case where the optical axis of the light pen 500 is perpendicular to the base member 100, that is, parallel to the z axis, when the tilt is not tilted (θ = 0), As the light pen 500 is tilted from the z-axis to the + y-axis, the intensity of the light beam 510 reaching each photodetector is changed.

As shown in FIG. 6B, as the light pen 500 is inclined in the + y axis, the intensity of the light beam detected by the second light detector arranged in the second light detector located on the + y axis side decreases rapidly. It can be seen that there is a problem that is not detected at all when tilted more than 8 °.

However, as the light pen 500 is inclined, light may not reach the light detecting means positioned on the inclined side, but the light detecting means positioned on the opposite side may detect the light beam of the light pen 500. Therefore, the above problem can be compensated for. That is, as shown in FIG. 6C, the luminous flux emitted from the light pen 500 by adding the intensity of the luminous flux detected by the arranged photodetectors of the photodetecting means facing each other and determining the position of the photodetector having the maximum value The position of 510 can be detected.

Thus, as can be seen in Figure 6c it can be seen that the tolerance for the tilt of the light pen 500 is within ± 12 °.

7 is a diagram for describing an operation of a touch screen device according to an exemplary embodiment.

The operation of the touch screen device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7 as follows.

First, various icons are displayed on the display panel, and assuming that the light beam 510 from the light pen 500 is irradiated to the icon at the position of the XY coordinates (5, 0), it is emitted from the light pen 500. The light beam 510 is optically coupled and propagated toward the first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104 by a structure formed at an intersection of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104.

Light propagated by the first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104 is configured by the photo detectors 112, 212, 312, and 412 constituting the first to fourth optical detection means 110, 210, 310, and 410, respectively. Is detected as shown in Table 1 below.

Light detection means A _ray B _ray C _ray D _ray




Location of light detector
0 0 0 6376 6376 One 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 5 24471 1109 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0

As can be seen from Table 1, the light pen 500 is provided through the intensity distribution of the luminous flux detected by the first and second photodetectors 112 and 212 arranged in the first and second photodetectors 110 and 210. It can be seen that the X-axis coordinate of the light beam 510 emitted from Equation 1 is " 5 " In the same way, it is emitted from the light pen 500 through the intensity distribution of the light beams detected by the third and fourth light detectors 312 and 412 arranged in the third and fourth light detection means 310 and 410. It can be seen that the Y-axis coordinate of the light beam 510 is "0" from Equation 2 described above. Accordingly, the first to fourth light detecting means 110, 210, 310, and 410 detect the position of the light beam 510 emitted from the light pen 500 as (5, 0).

The touch screen device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above has a pyramidal structure 106 at each intersection of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides 102 and 104 arranged to vertically cross at regular intervals. By forming a structure, the structure 106 is coupled to the optical waveguides 102 and 104 to detect the position of the light beam emitted from the light pen 500 through the intensity of the light beam detected by the light detector. Therefore, the present invention does not use the position detection method through pressure by detecting whether the light pen 500 is in contact with the light pen 500 through the optical coupling of the light pen 500 and the touch screen device 10, and thus, Extremely high durability.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the following claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

1 is a view for explaining a touch screen device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining propagation of a light beam by light coupling of the optical waveguide shown in FIG. 1.

4A and 4B are graphs for explaining the light intensity detected according to the structure of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining light intensity detected through a structure formed at an intersection point in the optical waveguide shown in FIG. 1.

6A to 6C are diagrams for describing luminous intensity detected according to a tilt of a light pen in the photo detector shown in FIG. 1.

7 is a diagram for describing an operation of a touch screen device according to an exemplary embodiment.

<Explanation of Signs of Major Parts of Drawings>

10: touch screen device 100: base member

102, 104: optical waveguide 106: structure

110, 210, 310, 410: light detecting means 112, 212, 312, 412: light detector

500: light pen 510: light beam emitted from the light pen

Claims (11)

A plurality of first and second optical waveguides crossing perpendicularly to each other inside the base member; A plurality of structures formed at each intersection of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides to couple light beams emitted from the digital pen or the light pen to the first and second optical waveguides; First and second optical detection means disposed at both ends of the plurality of first optical waveguides and configured to detect X-axis coordinates of light beams coupled to the first optical waveguide by the structure; And And third and fourth optical detection means disposed at both ends of the plurality of second optical waveguides and configured to detect the Y-axis coordinates of the light beams coupled to the second optical waveguide by the structure. The structure is a touch screen device, characterized in that having a pyramid shape. A base member; A plurality of structures formed inside the base member to change a traveling direction of a light beam emitted from a digital pen or a light pen positioned above the base member; And A first to fourth light detecting means installed to face each side of the base member to detect the light flux whose direction of travel is changed by the structure to detect the position of the light flux emitted from the digital pen or the light pen; Is composed, The structure is a touch screen device, characterized in that having a pyramid shape. The method of claim 2, Further comprising a plurality of first and second optical waveguides formed at regular intervals so as to cross perpendicularly to each other inside the base member, And the structure is formed at each intersection of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides to couple the light beams emitted from the digital pen or the light pen into the first and second optical waveguides. delete 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The interior of the structure is a touch screen device, characterized in that made of air (Air). The method according to claim 1 or 3, The bottom width of the structure is the touch screen device, characterized in that the same as the width of the optical waveguide. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The inclined surface angle of the structure having the pyramid shape is in the range of 40 ° ~ 44 ° touch screen device. The method according to claim 1 or 3, The height of the structure is a touch screen device, characterized in that the range of 20㎛ ~ 27.5㎛. The method according to claim 1 or 3, The refractive index of the optical waveguide is higher than the refractive index of the base member, the touch screen device. The method according to claim 1 or 3, And each of the first to fourth light detecting means comprises a plurality of light detectors disposed at ends of the respective optical waveguides. 11. The method of claim 10, The position of the luminous flux emitted from the digital pen or the light pen is a pair having a maximum value among sums of luminous fluxes detected by a pair of optical detectors disposed at both ends of each of the plurality of first and second optical waveguides. And a XY coordinate according to the position of the photo detector.

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