KR101646564B1 - Touchscreen device and method for comtrolling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch screen device includes: a touch detection unit including a transmitting module which transmits a touch measurement signal and a receiving module which receives the touch measurement signal transmitted from the transmitting module; a position display unit disposed on one side of the touch detection unit to emit visually recognizable light; and a control unit controlling the transmitting module and the receiving module, detecting a touch position, and controlling the position display unit to emit light. The touch screen device can detect a selection position of a user without contact of a finger of the user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a touch-

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a touch screen device, and more particularly, to a touch screen device capable of sensing a user's selected position and a control method thereof.

The touch screen is an input means other than a keyboard and a mouse. When a user brings a finger or an object to a desired position in order to select a character or a specific position displayed on the display unit, Allows direct input of requests.

In the initial touch screen, a touch panel is added to a screen of a general monitor to perform functions. The infrared rays invisible in the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the touch panel cause a lot of square grid on the screen, So that we can grasp the position of this grid. Since then, the capacitive touch screen has been widely used since then through the pressure sensitive touch screen.

A capacitive touch screen is a method of determining a touch position by sensing a change in capacitance caused when a user's finger touches the touch screen. To detect the touch position, a user's finger must touch the touch screen there is a problem.

Therefore, when an unspecified number of capacitive touch screens installed in a subway station, an airport, a hospital, or the like is used, there is a problem that germs and contaminants deposited on the user's finger are transmitted through the touch screen.

In particular, it is difficult to use a capacitive touch screen when hygiene must be thoroughly performed, such as in a hospital. For example, the use of a capacitive touch screen by a physician who is dealing with a large number of patients can cause great hygiene problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a touch screen device having a new structure and a control method thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a touch screen device and a control method thereof that enable a user to sense a user's selected position without touching a finger.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a touch screen apparatus and a control method thereof that can change a position where a user's finger is sensed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a touch screen device and a control method thereof that enable a user to easily recognize the position of a finger.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a touch screen apparatus and a control method thereof, in which a position at which a user's finger is sensed is spaced apart from the touch screen.

The touch screen device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a touch sensing unit including a transmission module for transmitting a touch measurement signal and a reception module for receiving a touch measurement signal transmitted from the transmission module; A control unit for controlling the calling module and the receiving module and detecting a touch position; And a support member for supporting the touch sensing unit such that the position of the touch sensing unit is variable.

The touch screen device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a touch sensing unit including a transmission module for transmitting a touch measurement signal and a reception module for receiving a touch measurement signal transmitted from the transmission module; A position display unit disposed at one side of the touch sensing unit to emit visible light; And a control unit for controlling the transmitting module and the receiving module to sense a touch position and to emit light at the position display unit.

The touch screen device includes a plurality of touch sensing units including a transmission module for transmitting a touch measurement signal and a reception module for receiving a touch measurement signal transmitted from the transmission module. A plurality of position display units disposed adjacent to the plurality of touch sensing units; And a controller for sensing a touch position through the plurality of touch sensing units and controlling the plurality of position display units.

A method of controlling a touch screen device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: operating a first touch sensing unit including a transmission module for transmitting a touch measurement signal and a reception module for receiving a touch measurement signal transmitted from the transmission module; Sensing a touch position in the first touch sensing unit by a control unit; And a first position display unit disposed at one side of the first touch sensing unit is operated by the control unit.

The present invention can provide a touch screen device having a new structure and a control method thereof.

In addition, the present invention can provide a touch screen apparatus and a control method thereof, in which a user can sense a user's selected position without touching a finger.

In addition, the present invention can provide a touch screen apparatus and a control method thereof that can change a position where a user's finger is sensed.

In addition, the present invention can provide a touch screen device and a control method thereof that enable a user to easily recognize the position of a finger.

In addition, the present invention can provide a touch screen device and a method of controlling the touch screen device in which a position at which a user's finger is sensed is spaced apart from the touch screen.

1 is a view for explaining a touch screen apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of a touch screen device according to the present invention.
3 is a view illustrating a position display unit of the touch screen device according to the present invention.
4 is a view for explaining how the position of the touch sensing unit varies in the touch screen device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of touch sensing units and a position display unit in a touch screen device according to the present invention.

In describing an embodiment according to the present invention, it is to be understood that each layer (film), region, pattern or structure may be referred to as being "on" or "under" Quot; on "and" under "refer to both " directly" or "indirectly & do. Also, the criteria for top, bottom, or bottom of each layer will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings, the thickness and size of each layer may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown for convenience and clarity of explanation. Also, the size of each component does not entirely reflect the actual size.

Hereinafter, a touch screen apparatus and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view for explaining a touch screen apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention.

1, a touch screen device 100 according to the present invention includes an information processing unit 200 for processing a signal sensed by the touch screen device 100, and a display unit 200 for displaying an image according to a signal of the information processing unit 200 And may be used in combination with or connected to the display unit 300.

The touch screen apparatus 100 includes a touch sensing unit including X-axis receiving / receiving modules 110 and 120, X-axis receiving / receiving module drivers 111 and 121, Y-axis receiving / receiving modules 130 and 140, and Y-axis receiving and receiving module drivers 131 and 141. The control unit 150 controls the touch sensing unit and senses a touch position.

In the embodiment, the direction based on the display unit 300 is exemplified as the X axis or the Y axis. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is possible to sense the touch position when the transmitting module and the receiving module are provided.

The touch screen device 100 is controlled by the X-axis sending module driver 121 and the Y-axis sending module driver 141 to receive a touch output from the X-axis sending module 120 and the Y- The X-axis receiving module 110 and the Y-axis receiving module 130 receive and measure a measurement signal, for example, an infrared signal, thereby detecting a change in the infrared signal.

The controller 150 processes the infrared signal received from the X-axis receiving module 110 and the Y-axis receiving module 130 and calculates coordinates of a position selected by the user. The controller 150 may calculate not only the coordinates of the position selected by the user but also the size (e.g., diameter) of the selected position. For example, when the user touches the first point 160 with the finger, the control unit 150 of the touch screen device 100 senses the touch position of the user's finger.

Here, the touch of the user does not mean that the finger touches the screen of the display unit 300, but it may mean that the user's finger is located on the space separated from the display unit 300. [ The capacitive touch screen is capable of recognizing the touch only when the user's finger touches or is very close to the display unit 300. However, when the finger is positioned at a position apart from the display unit 300, It is possible to detect the user's selection, i.e., the touch.

That is, the touch screen device 100 can sense a user's selection point located in the space between the X, Y axis transmitting modules 120 and 140 and the X and Y axis receiving modules 110 and 130.

The touch screen device 100 may be configured in various forms to detect a user's selection. For example, in FIG. 1, the transmission module and the reception module are arranged to face each other, but it is also possible that the transmission module and the reception module are alternately arranged on both sides.

In addition, the touch screen device 100 may use various scanning methods and control methods for accurately detecting the user's selection.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a section of a touch screen device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a position display part of the touch screen device according to the present invention.

2 and 3, a touch screen device according to the present invention includes a display unit 300, a position display unit 300 disposed in a space between the X, Y axis transmitting modules 120 and 140, and X and Y axis receiving modules 110 and 130, (170).

The position display unit 170 may form a light screen. Here, the light screen may have a structure in which light is projected on a surface of an object when the object is positioned in the space by irradiating the light in a certain space with a screen or a planar shape. The light screen may be formed such that light is not visible or almost invisible until the object is positioned, or light is visible on the object surface when the object is positioned.

The position indicator 170 may be formed of various light sources, and may include a device that emits light visually recognizable by a person. For example, the position display unit 170 may include a light emitting diode (LED), a laser diode, or the like. For example, the position indicator 170 may be formed of a laser diode. In addition, the position display unit 170 may be formed of an LED device, and may be selected from among a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED. However, the position display unit 170 is not limited to the illustrated laser diode or LED device for irradiating light that can be recognized by the user.

The position display unit 170 helps the user to recognize the position of the user's finger when the user touches the position selected by the user. For example, when the user places his / her finger on the space separated from the display unit 300, it is possible to accurately know whether or not the position of the finger is in a space where the touch screen apparatus 100 can sense the finger it's difficult. This is because the light sources used by the X, Y axis transmitting modules 120 and 140 of the touch screen device 100 may not be recognized by the user's eyes. For example, the light source may use an infrared light source, in which case it is not recognized by the user.

Accordingly, the position display unit 170 emits light that can be recognized by the user's view so that a light beam is projected on the user's finger when the user's finger is positioned at a specific position, so that the user can recognize the position of the finger do. For example, the position of the user's finger may be a predetermined distance from the display unit 300.

Meanwhile, although the user's finger is exemplified in the present embodiment, it is also possible that another object such as a pen is used instead of the user's finger.

The position display unit 170 may operate together with the X and Y axis transmitting modules 120 and 140 and the X and Y axis receiving modules 110 and 130 of the touch screen device 100. That is, the position indicator 170 may be configured to emit visible light when the X, Y axis emitting modules 120 and 140 emit infrared rays.

In this case, the user may be prevented from viewing the image displayed through the display unit 300 by the visible light emitted from the position display unit 170. Accordingly, the position display unit 170 may be set to selectively operate (emit visible light) only when a user's touch is sensed.

For example, when the user's finger is positioned between the X, Y axis emitting module 120, 140 and the X, Y axis receiving module 110, 130, the controller 150 senses the user's finger, The position display unit 170 may be operated by driving the display unit 173. If the user's finger is out of the X, Y axis sending module 120, 140 and the X, Y axis receiving module 110, 130, the operation of the position indicating part 170 may be stopped.

When the user's finger is positioned between the X, Y axis emitting module 120, 140 and the X, Y axis receiving module 110, 130, the position indicating part 170 includes a plurality of light emitting devices. As shown in FIG. 3, only some light emitting elements among a plurality of light emitting elements may be operated so that visible light may be irradiated only to a portion adjacent to the user's finger.

The position display unit 170 may further include a reflection plate 171 disposed at a position opposite to the plurality of light emitting devices. When a plurality of light emitting devices of the position indicating unit 170 are disposed on the first side of the display unit 300, the reflecting plate 171 is disposed on the second side of the display unit 300 facing the first side .

As shown in FIG. 3, the reflection plate 171 reflects the visible light emitted from the plurality of light emitting devices, thereby enabling the user to confirm that the visible light is reflected on the user's finger in various directions.

In addition, the position indicator 170 may further include a semi-reflector 172 on the front surface of the plurality of light emitting devices. The semi-reflector 172 transmits the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting devices and reflects the light reflected by the reflector 171 again to confirm that the user visually reflects the user's fingers in various directions Can be done.

Meanwhile, the display unit 300 may be supported by the display unit supporter 330. The display supporter 330 may be provided with a supporting member 320 including a first supporting member 321 and a second supporting member 322. The X and Y axis transmitting modules 120 and 140 and X and Y The axis receiving modules 110 and 130 and the position indicator 170 may be installed in the second support member 322.

The second support member 322 may be slidably engaged with the first support member 321. That is, the interval between the second support member 322 and the display unit 300 can be adjusted according to the degree to which the second support member 322 is slid, and as a result, the X, Y- 120 and 140 and the distance between the X and Y axis receiving modules 110 and 130 and the position display unit 170 from the display unit 300 can be varied. Therefore, the position where the user's finger is sensed can be adjusted in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the display unit 300 according to the physical characteristics or habits of the user. The first support member 321 and the second support member 322 are coupled by a slidable structure. However, the second support member 322 may be formed by various mechanical means such as a stepping motor, Can be varied.

4 is a view for explaining how the position of the touch sensing unit varies in the touch screen device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a touch sensing unit 100a is provided at a first position on the front surface of the display unit 300, and the touch sensing unit 100a is movable to a second position as indicated by an arrow.

The touch sensing unit 100a may include a sending module and a receiving module as described above and may be the X and Y axis transmitting modules 120 and 140 and the X and Y axis receiving modules 110 and 130. [

A location indicator 170a may be provided between the touch sensing unit 100a and the display unit 300. [ The position display unit 170a may be installed to move together with the movement of the touch sensing unit 100a, or may be installed at a fixed position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of touch sensing units and a position display unit in a touch screen device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the touch screen device according to the present invention includes a first touch sensing unit 100b and a first position display unit 170b at a first position on the front surface of the display unit 300, The second touch sensing unit 100c and the second position display unit 170c may be provided. The touch screen apparatus according to the present invention may include a third touch sensing unit 100d and a third position display unit 170d at a third position on the front surface of the display unit 300. [

The first position may be farther away from the display portion 300 than the second position and the second position may be farther away from the display portion 300 than the third position.

That is, the touch screen device according to the present invention may include a plurality of touch sensing units and a plurality of position display units.

The first position display unit 170b may be disposed between the first touch sensing unit 100b and the display unit 300 and the second position display unit 170c may be disposed between the second touch sensing unit 100c, And the third position display unit 170d may be disposed between the third touch sensing unit 100d and the display unit 300. In addition,

The first position display unit 170b may be disposed between the first touch sensing unit 100b and the second touch sensing unit 100c and the second position display unit 170c may be disposed between the second touch sensing unit And the third position display unit 170d may be disposed between the third touch sensing unit 100d and the display unit 300. The third touch sensing unit 100d may be disposed between the third touch sensing unit 100c and the third touch sensing unit 100d.

The first, second, and third position display units 170b, 170c, and 170d may include light emitting devices that emit visible light of the same color, and may include light emitting devices that emit visible light of different colors. For example, the first position indicator 170b may be formed as a red light source, the second position indicator 170c may be formed as a green light source, and the third position indicator 170d may be formed as a blue light source . When the first, second, and third position display units 170b, 170c, and 170d emit visible light of different colors, the user intuitively recognizes the depth of the touch position (distance distanced from the display unit 300) There is an advantage to be able to do.

The first, second, and third position display units 170b, 170c, and 170d may operate together with the first, second, and third touch sensing units 100b, 100c, and 100d, respectively, The second and third position display units 170b, 170c, and 170d may be operated only when the user touches the user's finger or an object on the first and second touch sensing units 100b, 100c, and 100d, It is possible for the included light sources to operate in whole or in part.

The first, second, and third touch sensing units 100b, 100c, and 100d may selectively or simultaneously operate according to the position of a user's finger or an object.

For example, when the user's finger is in the first position and moves to the second position, the first touch sensing unit 100b senses the user's selection position (touch position), and the second touch sensing unit 100c The first touch sensing unit 100b may stop the operation and the second touch sensing unit 100c may sense the selected position of the user. Similarly, when the user's finger is in the second position and moves to the third position, the second touch sensing unit 100c senses the user's selected position (touch position), and the third touch sensing unit 100d senses The second touch sensing unit 100c stops operating and the third touch sensing unit 100d senses the selected position of the user.

In such a case, as described with reference to FIG. 4, it is possible to have an effect similar to that of the movement of the touch sensing unit.

Of course, it is also possible that the first, second and third touch sensing units 100b, 100c, and 100d operate in accordance with the setting, thereby sensing the user's selected position.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments can be modified and implemented. It is to be understood that all changes and modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

100; Touch screen 200; An information processing unit 300; Display portion

Claims (16)

A touch sensing unit including a transmission module for transmitting a touch measurement signal and a reception module disposed at a position opposite to the transmission module for receiving a touch measurement signal transmitted from the transmission module;
A position display unit disposed at one side of the touch sensing unit to emit visible light to form a light screen;
A control unit for controlling the calling module and the receiving module and detecting a touch position; And
And a support member for supporting the touch sensing unit such that the position of the touch sensing unit is variable,
The supporting member causes the positions of the transmitting module and the receiving module to be simultaneously moved in the same direction,
Wherein the touch sensitive area and the light screen are spaced apart and parallel to each other. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the support member includes a first support member and a second support member slidably coupled to the first support member to support the touch sensing unit, delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit controls the position display unit to operate when the touch sensing unit senses the touch position. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the controller controls only a part of the light emitting devices included in the position display unit to operate according to the touch position sensed by the touch sensing unit. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the position indicator further includes a plurality of light source elements and a reflector disposed to face the plurality of light source elements and reflecting the light emitted from the plurality of light source elements. delete A display unit;
A plurality of touch sensing units disposed on a front surface of the display unit to form a plurality of touch sensing areas including a transmission module for transmitting a touch measurement signal and a reception module for receiving a touch measurement signal transmitted from the transmission module;
A plurality of position display units disposed adjacent to the plurality of touch sensing units to emit visible light to form a plurality of light screens; And
And a controller for sensing a touch position through the plurality of touch sensing units and controlling the plurality of position display units,
Wherein the plurality of touch sensing units include a first touch sensing unit and a second touch sensing unit disposed between the first touch sensing unit and the display unit, A first position display unit disposed between the touch sensing unit and a second position display unit disposed between the second touch sensing unit and the display unit,
Wherein the plurality of touch sensing areas and the plurality of light screens are spaced apart and parallel to each other. delete 9. The method of claim 8,
The plurality of touch sensing units may further include a third touch sensing unit disposed between the second touch sensing unit and the display unit, and the plurality of position display units may include a third touch sensing unit disposed between the third touch sensing unit and the display unit. And a 3-position display unit. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the first position indicator and the second position indicator emit different colors of visible light. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the control unit stops the operation of the first touch sensing unit when the second touch sensing unit senses the touch position while the first touch sensing unit senses the touch position. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the controller stops the operation of the first position indicator and controls the second position indicator to operate when the second touch sensor detects the touch position. A first touch sensing unit forming a touch sensing area including a transmission module for transmitting a touch measurement signal disposed on a front surface of a display unit and a reception module for receiving a touch measurement signal transmitted from the transmission module;
Sensing a touch position in the first touch sensing unit by a control unit;
A first position display unit disposed at one side of the first touch sensing unit and spaced apart from the touch sensing area and emitting a visually perceptible light to form a light screen;
A second touch sensing unit disposed between the first touch sensing unit and the display unit;
Detecting a touch position in the second touch sensing unit while the touch position is sensed by the control unit in the first touch sensing unit; And
And stopping the operation of the first touch sensing unit by the control unit. 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the controller controls a portion of the light emitting devices included in the first position display unit to be selectively operated. delete

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