KR102044802B1 - Touch input appratus for sensing force which is added at a side of the touch input apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The touch input device according to the present invention includes at least a cover layer on the front surface,
And a controller arranged horizontally with the cover layer to detect a pressure applied to a side of the touch input device from a pressure sensor for detecting touch pressure and an electrical signal sensed by the pressure sensor.

Description

TOUCH INPUT APPRATUS FOR SENSING FORCE WHICH IS ADDED AT A SIDE OF THE TOUCH INPUT APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a touch input device for sensing a pressure applied to a side surface, and more specifically, a touch input for sensing pressure applied to a side surface by using a pressure sensor disposed horizontally with a cover layer to detect touch pressure. Relates to a device.

Various types of input devices are used for the operation of the computing system. For example, input devices such as buttons, keys, joysticks, and touch screens are used. Due to the easy and simple operation of the touch screen, the use of the touch screen is increasing in the operation of the computing system.

The touch screen may constitute a touch surface of a touch input device including a touch sensor panel, which may be a transparent panel having a touch-sensitive surface. Such a touch input device may be attached to the front of the display screen such that the touch-sensitive surface covers the visible side of the display screen. By simply touching the touch screen with a finger or the like, the user can operate the computing system. In general, a computing system may recognize a touch and a touch location on a touch screen and interpret the touch to perform the calculation accordingly.

Recently, a touch input device capable of detecting a pressure level of a touch as well as a touch position according to a touch on a touch screen has emerged.

In addition, in the case of a touch input device which is carried like a smart phone, there is an attempt to detect pressure applied to the side surface. In this case, in a touch input device capable of detecting a touch pressure magnitude, there is a need for detecting pressure applied to the side of the touch input device using a conventionally provided front sensor instead of providing an additional side sensor. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to detect a magnitude of pressure applied to a side of a touch input device by using a front sensor without separately providing a side sensor.

The touch input device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes at least a cover layer on a front surface thereof, and is disposed horizontally with the cover layer to detect a touch pressure, and a touch sensor of the touch input device from an electrical signal sensed by the pressure sensor. It may include a control unit for sensing the pressure applied to the side.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to detect the magnitude of the pressure applied to the side of the touch input device by using the front sensor without separately providing the side sensor.

1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of a capacitive touch sensor included in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration for an operation thereof.
2 illustrates a control block for controlling touch position, touch pressure, and display operation in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3A to 3B are conceptual views illustrating a configuration of a display module in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4A to 4E illustrate an example in which a pressure sensor is formed in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5A to 5C are cross-sectional views illustrating an embodiment of a pressure sensor directly formed on various display panels of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6A to 6F are cross-sectional views of a touch input device illustrating an arrangement relationship between a pressure sensor and a light blocking layer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a perspective view showing a first form of a touch input device according to the present invention.
8A through 8F are cross-sectional views of the touch input device of FIG. 7.
9 is a perspective view showing a second form of the touch input device according to the present invention.
10A to 10I are cross-sectional views of the touch input device of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a view referred to to show that the shape of the touch input device is changed differently according to a position at which the side of the touch input device is pressed.
12A to 12D are views illustrating shapes of electrodes included in the touch input device according to the present invention.
13 is a view showing a case in which the pressure sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention is a strain gauge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are different but need not be mutually exclusive. For example, certain shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be embodied in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention with respect to one embodiment. In addition, it is to be understood that the location or arrangement of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention, if properly described, is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Like reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same or similar functions throughout the several aspects.

Hereinafter, a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, the capacitive touch sensor panel 100 and the pressure detection module 400 are illustrated, but the touch sensor panel 100 and the pressure detection module 400 capable of detecting a touch position and / or touch pressure in an arbitrary manner. ) May be applied.

1A is a schematic diagram of a capacitive touch sensor 10 included in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration for its operation. Referring to FIG. 1A, the touch sensor 10 includes a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm, and a plurality of driving electrodes for operation of the touch sensor 10. Touch by receiving a detection signal including information on the capacitance change according to the touch on the touch surface from the driving unit 12 for applying a driving signal to the TX1 to TXn, and the plurality of receiving electrodes (RX1 to RXm) And a detector 11 for detecting a touch position.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the touch sensor 10 may include a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm. In FIG. 1A, although the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm of the touch sensor 10 form an orthogonal array, the present invention is not limited thereto. The electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may have any number of dimensions and application arrangements thereof, including diagonal, concentric circles, and three-dimensional random arrangements. Here, n and m are positive integers and may have the same or different values, and may vary in size according to embodiments.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be arranged to cross each other. The driving electrode TX includes a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn extending in the first axis direction, and the receiving electrode RX includes a plurality of receiving electrodes extending in the second axis direction crossing the first axis direction. RX1 to RXm).

12A and 12B, in the touch sensor 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on the same layer. Can be. For example, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on an upper surface of the display panel 200A, which will be described later.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 12C, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on different layers. For example, any one of the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm is formed on the upper surface of the display panel 200A, and the other one is formed on the lower surface of the cover to be described later or the display panel. It may be formed inside the 200A.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed of transparent conductive materials (for example, indium tin oxide (ITO) or ATO made of tin oxide (SnO 2) and indium oxide (In 2 O 3)). (Antimony Tin Oxide)) and the like. However, this is only an example and the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may be formed of another transparent conductive material or an opaque conductive material. For example, the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may include at least one of silver ink, copper, silver silver, and carbon nanotubes (CNT). Can be. In addition, the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may be implemented with a metal mesh.

The driving unit 12 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may apply a driving signal to the driving electrodes TX1 to TXn. In an embodiment of the present invention, the driving signal may be applied to one driving electrode at a time from the first driving electrode TX1 to the nth driving electrode TXn in sequence. The driving signal may be repeatedly applied again. This is merely an example, and a driving signal may be simultaneously applied to a plurality of driving electrodes in some embodiments.

The sensing unit 11 provides information about the capacitance Cm 14 generated between the driving electrodes TX1 to TXn to which the driving signal is applied and the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm. By receiving a sensing signal that includes a touch can detect whether the touch position. For example, the sensing signal may be a signal in which the driving signal applied to the driving electrode TX is coupled by the capacitance Cm 14 generated between the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX. As described above, a process of sensing the driving signals applied from the first driving electrode TX1 to the nth driving electrode TXn through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be referred to as scanning the touch sensor 10. Can be.

For example, the detector 11 may include a receiver (not shown) connected to each of the reception electrodes RX1 to RXm through a switch. The switch is turned on in a time interval for detecting the signal of the corresponding receiving electrode RX, so that the detection signal from the receiving electrode RX can be detected at the receiver. The receiver may comprise an amplifier (not shown) and a feedback capacitor coupled between the negative input terminal of the amplifier and the output terminal of the amplifier, i.e., in the feedback path. At this time, the positive input terminal of the amplifier may be connected to ground. In addition, the receiver may further include a reset switch connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor. The reset switch may reset the conversion from current to voltage performed by the receiver. The negative input terminal of the amplifier may be connected to the corresponding receiving electrode RX to receive a current signal including information on the capacitance Cm 14, and then integrate and convert the current signal into a voltage. The sensor 11 may further include an analog to digital converter (ADC) for converting data integrated through a receiver into digital data. Subsequently, the digital data may be input to a processor (not shown) and processed to obtain touch information about the touch sensor 10. In addition to the receiver, the detector 11 may include an ADC and a processor.

The controller 13 may perform a function of controlling the operations of the driver 12 and the detector 11. For example, the controller 13 may generate a driving control signal and transmit the driving control signal to the driving unit 12 so that the driving signal is applied to the predetermined driving electrode TX at a predetermined time. In addition, the control unit 13 generates a detection control signal and transmits the detection control signal to the detection unit 11 so that the detection unit 11 receives a detection signal from a predetermined reception electrode RX at a predetermined time to perform a preset function. can do.

In FIG. 1A, the driver 12 and the detector 11 may configure a touch detection device (not shown) capable of detecting whether the touch sensor 10 is touched and the touch position. The touch detection apparatus may further include a controller 13. The touch detection apparatus may be integrated and implemented on a touch sensing integrated circuit (IC) corresponding to the touch sensor controller 1100 to be described later in the touch input device including the touch sensor 10. The driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX included in the touch sensor 10 are included in the touch sensing IC through, for example, conductive traces and / or conductive patterns printed on a circuit board. It may be connected to the driving unit 12 and the sensing unit 11. The touch sensing IC may be located on a circuit board on which a conductive pattern is printed, for example, a touch circuit board (hereinafter referred to as touch PCB) in FIGS. 6A to 6F. According to an embodiment, the touch sensing IC may be mounted on a main board for operating the touch input device.

As described above, a capacitance Cm having a predetermined value is generated at each intersection point of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX, and such capacitance when an object such as a finger approaches the touch sensor 10. The value of can be changed. In FIG. 1A, the capacitance may represent mutual capacitance (Cm). The electrical characteristics may be detected by the sensing unit 11 to detect whether the touch sensor 10 is touched and / or the touch position. For example, the touch and / or the position of the touch on the surface of the touch sensor 10 formed of the two-dimensional plane including the first axis and the second axis may be sensed.

More specifically, when the touch on the touch sensor 10 occurs, the position of the touch in the second axis direction may be detected by detecting the driving electrode TX to which the driving signal is applied. Similarly, when the touch on the touch sensor 10 is detected, a change in capacitance from the received signal received through the receiving electrode RX may be detected to detect a position in the first axis direction of the touch.

In the above, the operation method of the touch sensor 10 that detects the touch position has been described based on the mutual capacitance change amount between the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the touch position may be sensed based on the amount of change in the self capacitance.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating another capacitive touch sensor 10 included in a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and an operation thereof. The touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1B includes a plurality of touch electrodes 30. As illustrated in FIG. 12D, the plurality of touch electrodes 30 may be disposed in a lattice shape at regular intervals, but is not limited thereto.

The driving control signal generated by the control unit 13 is transmitted to the driving unit 12, and the driving unit 12 applies the driving signal to the preset touch electrode 30 at a predetermined time based on the driving control signal. In addition, the sensing control signal generated by the controller 13 is transmitted to the sensing unit 11, and the sensing unit 11 receives the sensing signal from the touch electrode 30 preset at a predetermined time based on the sensing control signal. Receive input. In this case, the detection signal may be a signal for the change amount of the magnetic capacitance formed in the touch electrode 30.

At this time, whether the touch on the touch sensor 10 and / or the touch position is detected by the sensing signal detected by the sensing unit 11. For example, since the coordinates of the touch electrode 30 are known in advance, it is possible to detect whether the object touches the surface of the touch sensor 10 and / or its position.

In the above description, for convenience, the driving unit 12 and the sensing unit 11 are described as being divided into separate blocks, but the driving signal is applied to the touch electrode 30 and the sensing signal is input from the touch electrode 30. It is also possible to perform in one driving and sensing unit.

Although the capacitive touch sensor panel has been described in detail as the touch sensor 10, the touch sensor 10 for detecting whether or not a touch is detected in the touch input device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention Surface capacitive, projected capacitive, resistive, SAW (surface acoustic wave), infrared, optical imaging, and distributed signals other than those described above It can be implemented using any touch sensing scheme such as dispersive signal technology and acoustic pulse recognition scheme.

2 illustrates a control block for controlling touch position, touch pressure, and display operation in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the display function and the touch position detection, in the touch input device 1000 configured to detect the touch pressure, the control block includes a touch sensor controller 1100 for detecting the aforementioned touch position and a display controller for driving the display panel. 1200 and a pressure sensor controller 1300 for detecting pressure. The display controller 1200 receives input from a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), or the like, which is a central processing unit on a main board for operating the touch input device 1000, to the display panel 200A. It may include a control circuit to display the desired content. Such a control circuit may be mounted on a display circuit board (hereinafter referred to as display PCB). Such control circuits may include display panel control ICs, graphic controller ICs, and other circuits necessary for operating the display panel 200A.

The pressure sensor controller 1300 for detecting pressure through the pressure sensing unit may be configured similarly to the configuration of the touch sensor controller 1100 to operate similarly to the touch sensor controller 1100. In detail, the pressure sensor controller 1300 may include a driver, a detector, and a controller, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and detect the magnitude of the pressure by a detection signal detected by the detector. In this case, the pressure sensor controller 1300 may be mounted on a touch PCB on which the touch sensor controller 1100 is mounted, or may be mounted on a display PCB on which the display controller 1200 is mounted.

According to an embodiment, the touch sensor controller 1100, the display controller 1200, and the pressure sensor controller 1300 may be included in the touch input device 1000 as different components. For example, the touch sensor controller 1100, the display controller 1200, and the pressure sensor controller 1300 may be configured with different chips. In this case, the processor 1500 of the touch input device 1000 may function as a host processor for the touch sensor controller 1100, the display controller 1200, and the pressure sensor controller 1300.

The touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a tablet PC, an MP3 player, a notebook, or the like. It may include an electronic device including the same display screen and / or a touch screen.

In order to manufacture such a touch input device 1000 in a slim and light weight, the touch sensor controller 1100, the display controller 1200, and the pressure sensor controller 1300, which are separately configured as described above, are manufactured. Can be integrated into one or more configurations, depending on the embodiment. In addition, each of these controllers may be integrated into the processor 1500. In addition, in some embodiments, the touch sensor 10 and / or the pressure sensing unit may be integrated into the display panel 200A.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the exemplary embodiment, the touch sensor 10 for detecting a touch position may be located outside or inside the display panel 200A. The display panel 200A of the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment is included in a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the like. It may be a display panel. Accordingly, the user may perform an input operation by performing a touch on the touch surface while visually confirming the screen displayed on the display panel.

3A and 3B are conceptual views illustrating the configuration of the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention. First, a configuration of a display module 200 including a display panel 200A using an LCD panel will be described with reference to FIG. 3A.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the display module 200 includes a display panel 200A, which is an LCD panel, a first polarization layer 271 disposed on the display panel 200A, and a display panel 200A disposed below the display panel 200A. The polarizing layer 272 may be included. In addition, the display panel 200A, which is an LCD panel, includes a liquid crystal layer 250 including a liquid crystal cell, a first substrate layer 261 and a liquid crystal layer 250 disposed on the liquid crystal layer 250. It may include a second substrate layer 262 disposed under the. In this case, the first substrate layer 261 may be a color filter glass, and the second substrate layer 262 may be a TFT glass. In some embodiments, at least one of the first substrate layer 261 and the second substrate layer 262 may be formed of a bendable material such as plastic. In FIG. 3A, the second substrate layer 262 is formed of various layers including a data line, a gate line, a TFT, a common electrode (Vcom), a pixel electrode, and the like. Can be done. These electrical components can operate to produce a controlled electric field to orient the liquid crystals located in the liquid crystal layer 250.

Next, a configuration of the display module 200 including the display panel 200A using the OLED panel will be described with reference to FIG. 3B.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the display module 200 may include a display panel 200A, which is an OLED panel, and a first polarization layer 282 disposed on the display panel 200A. In addition, the display panel 200A, which is an OLED panel, has an organic layer 280 including an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a first substrate layer 281 disposed above the organic layer 280, and a lower portion of the organic layer 280. The second substrate layer 283 may be disposed. In this case, the first substrate layer 281 may be encapsulation glass, and the second substrate layer 283 may be TFT glass. In some embodiments, at least one of the first substrate layer 281 and the second substrate layer 283 may be formed of a bendable material such as plastic. In the OLED panel illustrated in FIGS. 3D to 3F, an electrode used to drive the display panel 200A, such as a gate line, a data line, a first power line ELVDD, and a second power line ELVSS, may be included. Can be. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) panel is a self-luminous display panel using the principle that light is generated when electrons and holes combine in the organic material layer when electric current flows through the fluorescent or phosphorescent organic thin film. Determine the color

Specifically, OLED uses a principle that the organic material emits light when the organic material is placed on glass or plastic to flow electricity. In other words, when holes and electrons are injected into the anode and cathode of the organic material and recombined in the light emitting layer, excitons are formed in a high energy state, and energy is emitted as the excitons fall to a low energy state to emit light having a specific wavelength. Is to use the generated principle. At this time, the color of light varies according to the organic material of the light emitting layer.

OLED is composed of line-driven passive-matrix organic light-emitting diode (PM-OLED) and individual-driven active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM-OLED) depending on the operating characteristics of the pixels constituting the pixel matrix. exist. Since both require no backlight, the display module can be made very thin, the contrast ratio is constant according to the angle, and color reproducibility with temperature is good. In addition, undriven pixels are very economical in that they do not consume power.

In operation, the PM-OLED emits light only during a scanning time at a high current, and the AM-OLED maintains light emission during a frame time at a low current. Therefore, the AM-OLED has the advantages of better resolution, greater area display panel driving, and lower power consumption than PM-OLED. In addition, each device can be individually controlled by embedding a thin film transistor (TFT), so it is easy to realize a sophisticated screen.

In addition, the organic material layer 280 may include a HIL (Hole Injection Layer), a HTL (Hole Transfer Layer), an EIL (Emission Material Layer), an ETL (Electron Transfer Layer), and an EML. (Electron Injection Layer, light emitting layer) may be included.

Briefly described for each layer, HIL injects holes, using a material such as CuPc. HTL functions to move the injected holes, and mainly uses materials having good hole mobility. As the HTL, arylamine, TPD and the like can be used. EIL and ETL are layers for the injection and transport of electrons, and the injected electrons and holes combine and emit light in the EML. EML is a material expressing the color emitted, and is composed of a host that determines the lifetime of the organic material and a dopant that determines the color and efficiency. This is merely to describe the basic configuration of the organic material layer 280 included in the OLED panel, the present invention is not limited to the layer structure or material of the organic material layer 280.

The organic layer 280 is inserted between an anode (not shown) and a cathode (not shown). When the TFT is turned on, a driving current is applied to the anode to inject holes, and the cathode is injected into the cathode. Electrons are injected, and holes and electrons move to the organic layer 280 to emit light.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the LCD panel or OLED panel may further include other configurations and may be modified to perform display functions.

The display module 200 of the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention may include a configuration for driving the display panel 200A and the display panel 200A. Specifically, when the display panel 200A is an LCD panel, the display module 200 may include a backlight unit (not shown) disposed below the second polarization layer 272, and may include an LCD panel. It may further include a display panel control IC, a graphic control IC and other circuitry for the operation of.

The display module 200 of the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention may include a configuration for driving the display panel 200A and the display panel 200A. Specifically, when the display panel 200A is an LCD panel, the display module 200 may include a backlight unit (not shown) disposed below the second polarization layer 272, and may include an LCD panel. It may further include a display panel control IC, a graphic control IC and other circuitry for the operation of.

The touch sensor 10 for detecting a touch position in the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be located outside or inside the display module 200.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed outside the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000, a touch sensor panel may be disposed on the display module 200, and the touch sensor 10 may be a touch sensor panel. Can be included. The touch surface for the touch input device 1000 may be a surface of the touch sensor panel.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000, the touch sensor 10 may be configured to be positioned outside the display panel 200A. In detail, the touch sensor 10 may be formed on upper surfaces of the first substrate layers 261 and 281. In this case, the touch surface of the touch input device 1000 may be an upper surface or a lower surface of FIGS. 3A and 3B as an outer surface of the display module 200.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000, at least some of the touch sensors 10 may be configured to be positioned in the display panel 200A according to an embodiment, and the touch sensor At least some of the other portions 10 may be configured to be positioned outside the display panel 200A. For example, any one of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX constituting the touch sensor 10 may be configured to be positioned outside the display panel 200A, and the remaining electrodes are inside the display panel 200A. It may be configured to be located at. In detail, any one of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX constituting the touch sensor 10 may be formed on upper surfaces of the first substrate layers 261 and 281, and the remaining electrodes are formed on the first substrate layer ( 261 and 281, or may be formed on upper surfaces of the second substrate layers 262 and 283.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000, the touch sensor 10 may be configured to be positioned inside the display panel 200A. In detail, the touch sensor 10 may be formed on the bottom surface of the first substrate layers 261 and 281 or the top surface of the second substrate layers 262 and 283.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display panel 200A, an electrode for operating the touch sensor may be additionally disposed, but various configurations and / or electrodes positioned inside the display panel 200A may perform touch sensing. It may be used as a touch sensor 10 for. Specifically, when the display panel 200A is an LCD panel, at least one of the electrodes included in the touch sensor 10 may include a data line, a gate line, a TFT, and a common electrode (Vcom: common). at least one of an electrode and a pixel electrode, and when the display panel 200A is an OLED panel, at least one of the electrodes included in the touch sensor 10 is a data line. The gate line may include at least one of a gate line, a first power line ELVDD, and a second power line ELVSS.

In this case, the touch sensor 10 may operate as the driving electrode and the receiving electrode described with reference to FIG. 1A to detect the touch position according to the mutual capacitance between the driving electrode and the receiving electrode. In addition, the touch sensor 10 may operate as the single electrode 30 described in FIG. 1B to detect the touch position according to the self capacitance of each of the single electrodes 30. In this case, when the electrode included in the touch sensor 10 is an electrode used to drive the display panel 200A, the display panel 200A is driven in the first time interval, and the second time is different from the first time interval. The touch position may be detected in the section.

Hereinafter, in order to detect the touch pressure in the touch input device according to the embodiment of the present invention, a sensor other than the electrode used to detect the touch position and the electrode used to drive the display is disposed and used as a pressure sensing unit. For example, look at in detail.

In the touch input device 1000 of the present invention, an adhesive such as OCA (Optically Clear Adhesive) is formed between the cover layer 100 on which a touch sensor for detecting a touch position is formed and the display module 200 including the display panel 200A. It may be laminated. Accordingly, display color clarity, visibility, and light transmittance of the display module 200 which can be checked through the touch surface of the touch sensor may be improved.

4A to 4E illustrate an example in which a pressure sensor is formed in the touch input device according to the present invention.

Although the display panel 200A is directly attached and laminated to the cover layer 100 in FIGS. 4A and some drawings below, this is merely for convenience of description and the first polarization layers 271 and 282 are the display panel 200A. The upper display module 200 may be laminated and attached to the cover layer 100. When the LCD panel is the display panel 200A, the second polarizing layer 272 and the backlight unit are omitted.

In the description with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4E, a cover layer 100 having a touch sensor as the touch input device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is adhesive-bonded on the display module 200 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. For example, the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a case in which the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display module 200 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Can be. More specifically, in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the cover layer 100 on which the touch sensor 10 is formed covers the display module 200 including the display panel 200A, but the touch sensor 10 is the display module. The touch input device 1000 disposed inside the 200 and covered with the cover layer 100 such as glass may be used as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a tablet PC, an MP3 player, a notebook, or the like. It may include an electronic device including the same touch screen.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the midframe 300 is, for example, a circuit for operating the touch input device 1000 together with the housing 320 which is the outermost mechanism of the touch input device 1000. The mounting space 310 may be formed to surround the substrate and / or the battery. In this case, a circuit board for operating the touch input device 1000 may be mounted with a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP) as a main board. The circuit board and / or battery for operating the display module 200 and the touch input device 1000 are separated through the midframe 300, and electrical noise generated from the display module 200 and noise generated from the circuit board are performed. Can be blocked.

In the touch input device 1000, the touch sensor 10 or the cover layer 100 may be formed wider than the display module 200, the midframe 300, and the mounting space 310, and thus the housing 320. The housing 320 may be formed to surround the display module 200, the midframe 300, and the circuit board together with the touch sensor 10.

The touch input device 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention detects a touch position through the touch sensor 10, and is different from an electrode used to detect a touch position and an electrode used to drive a display. May be disposed and used as a pressure sensing unit to detect touch pressure. In this case, the touch sensor 10 may be located inside or outside the display module 200.

Hereinafter, a configuration for pressure detection will be collectively referred to as a pressure sensing unit. For example, in an embodiment, the pressure sensor may include pressure sensors 450 and 460.

In addition, the pressure sensing unit may further include, for example, a spacer layer 420 formed of an air gap, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4D.

In some embodiments, the spacer layer 420 may be embodied as an air gap. The spacer layer may be made of an impact absorbing material according to an embodiment. The spacer layer 420 may be filled with a dielectric material in some embodiments. According to an embodiment, the spacer layer 420 may be formed of a material having a recovery force that contracts upon application of pressure and returns to its original shape upon release of pressure. In some embodiments, the spacer layer 420 may be formed of an elastic foam. In addition, since the spacer layer is disposed under the display module 200, the spacer layer may be a transparent material or an opaque material.

In addition, the reference potential layer may be disposed under the display module 200. Specifically, the reference potential layer may be formed in the midframe 300 disposed under the display module 200 or the midframe 300 itself may serve as a reference potential layer. In addition, the reference potential layer is disposed above the midframe 300 and disposed below the display module 200, and formed on a cover (not shown) that functions to protect the display module 200 or the cover itself. It can serve as a reference potential layer. As the display panel 200A is bent when the pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000 and the display panel 200A is bent, the distance between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may change. In addition, a spacer layer may be disposed between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensors 450 and 460. In detail, a spacer layer may be disposed between the display module 200 and the midframe 300 on which the reference potential layer is disposed or between the cover on which the display module 200 and the reference potential layer are disposed.

In addition, the reference potential layer may be disposed in the display module 200. In detail, the reference potential layer may be disposed on the top or bottom surface of the first substrate layers 261 and 281 of the display panel 200A or the top or bottom surface of the second substrate layers 262 and 283. When pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000, as the display panel 200A is bent and the display panel 200A is bent, the distance between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may change. In addition, a spacer layer may be disposed between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensors 450 and 460. In the touch input device 1000 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a spacer layer may be disposed on or inside the display panel 200A.

Similarly, in some embodiments, the spacer layer may be implemented with an air gap. The spacer layer may be made of an impact absorbing material according to an embodiment. The spacer layer may be filled with a dielectric material in accordance with an embodiment. In some embodiments, the spacer layer may be formed of an elastic foam. In this case, the elastic foam according to the embodiment may have a flexibility to be changed when the impact is applied, such that the elastic foam may have a restoring force while serving as a shock absorber, thereby providing performance uniformity for pressure detection. In addition, since the spacer layer is disposed on or inside the display panel 200A, the spacer layer may be a transparent material. At this time, the elastic foam according to the embodiment may include at least one of polyurethane (polyurethane), polyester (Polyester), polypropylene (Polypropylene) and acrylic (Acrylic).

 In some embodiments, when the spacer layer is disposed inside the display module 200, the spacer layer may be an air gap included in manufacturing the display panel 200A and / or the backlight unit. When the display panel 200A and / or the backlight unit includes one air gap, the air gap may function as a spacer layer, and when the display panel 200A and / or the backlight unit includes the air gap, the plurality of air gaps may be integrated. As a result, the spacer layer may function.

Hereinafter, the sensors 450 and 460 for detecting pressure are referred to as pressure sensors 450 and 460 so as to be clearly distinguished from the electrodes included in the touch sensor 10. In this case, since the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the rear surface of the display panel 200A, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be made of an opaque material as well as a transparent material. When the display panel 200A is an LCD panel, light must be transmitted from the backlight unit, and thus the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be made of a transparent material such as ITO.

In this case, in order to maintain the spacer layer 420 on which the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed, a frame 330 having a predetermined height may be formed along an edge of the upper portion of the midframe 300. In this case, the frame 330 may be attached to the cover layer 100 with an adhesive tape (not shown). In FIG. 4B, the frame 330 is formed on all the edges of the midframe 300 (eg, four sides of a quadrilateral), but the frame 330 is formed at least a part of the edge of the midframe 300 (eg, 4). Only on three sides of a square). According to an embodiment, the frame 330 may be integrally formed with the midframe 300 on the upper surface of the midframe 300. In an embodiment of the present invention, the frame 330 may be made of a material having no elasticity. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when pressure is applied to the display panel 200A through the cover layer 100, the display panel 200A may be bent together with the cover layer 100. Even if there is no deformation of the body, the magnitude of the touch pressure can be detected.

4C is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device including a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4C, pressure sensors 450 and 460 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be disposed on the bottom surface of the display panel 200A as the spacer layer 420.

The pressure sensor for detecting pressure may include a first sensor 450 and a second sensor 460. In this case, any one of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may be a driving sensor, and the other may be a receiving sensor. A driving signal may be applied to the driving sensor and a sensing signal including information on electrical characteristics that change as pressure is applied through the receiving sensor may be obtained. For example, when a voltage is applied, mutual capacitance may be generated between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460.

4D is a cross-sectional view when pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000 illustrated in FIG. 4C. The upper surface of the midframe 300 may have a ground potential for noise shielding. When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance d between the ground potential surface and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be reduced to d '. In this case, since the fringing capacitance is absorbed to the upper surface of the midframe 300 as the distance d decreases, the mutual capacitance between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may decrease. have. Therefore, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by obtaining a reduction amount of mutual capacitance from the detection signal obtained through the reception sensor.

In FIG. 4D, the case in which the upper surface of the midframe 300 is the ground potential, that is, the reference potential layer, has been described. However, the reference potential layer may be disposed in the display module 200. In this case, when pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance between the reference potential layer disposed inside the display module 200 and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 is changed, and thus the magnitude of the touch pressure can be calculated by acquiring a change in capacitance from a detection signal acquired through the receiving sensor. Can be.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed in response to a touch applying a pressure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the position showing the largest deformation when the display panel 200A is bent or pressed may not coincide with the touch position, but the display panel 200A may indicate bending at least at the touch position. For example, when the touch position is close to the edge and the edge of the display panel 200A, the position where the display panel 200A is bent or pressed the most may be different from the touch position, but the display panel 200A may be at least the touch position. It may indicate bending or pressing at.

The first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 are formed on the same layer, and each of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 illustrated in FIGS. 4C and 4D is illustrated in FIG. 12A. As shown, it may be composed of a plurality of sensors having a rhombic shape. Here, the plurality of first sensors 450 are connected to each other in the first axis direction, and the plurality of second sensors 460 are connected to each other in the second axis direction perpendicular to the first axis direction. At least one of the 450 and the second sensor 460 may have a plurality of rhombus-shaped sensors connected through a bridge such that the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 are insulated from each other. In this case, the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be configured as sensors of the type shown in FIG. 12B.

In the above, it is illustrated that the touch pressure is detected from a change in mutual capacitance between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460. However, the pressure sensing unit may be configured to include only one pressure sensor of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460, in which case one pressure sensor and a ground layer (midframe 300 or display module). The magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected by detecting a change in capacitance, that is, a self capacitance, between the reference potential layers disposed inside the 200. In this case, a driving signal may be applied to the one pressure sensor, and a change in magnetic capacitance between the pressure sensor and the ground layer may be detected from the pressure sensor.

For example, in FIG. 4C, the pressure sensor may include only the first sensor 450. In this case, the pressure sensor may include the first sensor 450 caused by a change in distance between the midframe 300 and the first sensor 450. The magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected from the change in capacitance between the midframes 300. Since the distance d decreases as the touch pressure increases, the capacitance between the midframe 300 and the first sensor 450 may increase as the touch pressure increases. In this case, the pressure sensor does not have to have a comb-tooth shape or trident shape, which is necessary to increase the mutual capacitance variation detection accuracy, and may have a single plate (eg, rectangular plate) shape, as shown in FIG. 12D. The plurality of first sensors 450 may be arranged in a grid shape at regular intervals.

4E illustrates a case in which the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed in the spacer layer 420 on the upper surface of the midframe 300 and the lower surface of the display panel 200A. In this case, the first sensor 450 is formed on the lower surface of the display panel 200A, and the second sensor 460 includes a second sensor 460 formed on the first insulating layer 470. The second insulating layer 471 may be disposed on the upper surface of the midframe 300 in the form of a sensor sheet, which is formed on the second sensor 460.

When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance d between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may be reduced. In this case, as the distance d decreases, the mutual capacitance between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may increase. Therefore, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by acquiring an increase amount of mutual capacitance from the detection signal obtained through the reception sensor. In this case, since the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 are formed on different layers in FIG. 4E, the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 do not have to have a comb shape or a trident shape. One of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may have a shape of one plate (eg, a square plate), and the other may have a plurality of sensors spaced apart at a predetermined interval, as shown in FIG. 12D. It may be arranged in a grid shape.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be directly formed on the display panel 200A. 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views illustrating an embodiment of a pressure sensor directly formed on various display panels in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, FIG. 5A shows pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed in the display panel 200A using the LCD panel. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 262. In this case, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the lower surface of the second polarization layer 272. When pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000, when detecting the touch pressure based on the mutual capacitance change amount, a driving signal is applied to the driving sensor 450, and the reference potential layer spaced apart from the pressure sensors 450 and 460. (Not shown) receives an electrical signal from the receiving sensor 460 including information on the capacitance changes according to the distance change between the pressure sensors 450 and 460. When detecting the touch pressure based on the amount of change in the self capacitance, a driving signal is applied to the pressure sensors 450 and 460, and the distance between the reference potential layer (not shown) and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 spaced apart from the pressure sensors 450 and 460. An electrical signal is received from the pressure sensors 450 and 460, which includes information about the capacitance changing with the change.

Next, FIG. 5B shows pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed on the bottom surface of display panel 200A using an OLED panel (especially an AM-OLED panel). In detail, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 283. At this time, the method for detecting the pressure is the same as the method described with reference to Figure 5a.

In the case of the OLED panel, since light is emitted from the organic layer 280, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 283 disposed under the organic layer 280 may be made of an opaque material. However, in this case, since the pattern of the pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed on the bottom surface of the display panel 200A may be visible to the user, the second substrate may be directly formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 283. After the light blocking layer such as black ink is disposed on the lower surface of the layer 283, pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the light blocking layer.

In addition, although the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed on the lower surface of the second substrate layer 283 in FIG. 5B, a third substrate layer is disposed below the second substrate layer 283, and the third substrate layer is formed. Pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the bottom surface thereof. In particular, when the display panel 200A is a flexible OLED panel, since the display panel 200A composed of the first substrate layer 281, the organic material layer 280, and the second substrate layer 283 is very thin and well bent, A third substrate layer 285 may be disposed under the substrate layer 283 which is relatively hard to be bent. In this case, a light shielding layer may be disposed under the third substrate layer 285, which will be described later. In another embodiment of the present invention, a substrate having a light shielding function, such as a substrate colored in black, may be used as the third substrate layer 285. As such, when the third substrate has a light shielding function, a pattern of the pressure sensor 450 formed under the display panel 200A may not be visible to the user even without a separate light shielding layer.

Next, FIG. 5C shows a pressure sensor 450 formed in display panel 200A using an OLED panel. In detail, the pressure sensor 450 may be formed on the upper surface of the second substrate layer 283. At this time, the method for detecting the pressure is the same as the method described with reference to Figure 5a.

In addition, although the display panel 200A using the OLED panel has been described as an example in FIG. 5C, the pressure sensor 450 may be formed on the upper surface of the second substrate layer 272 of the display panel 200A using the LCD panel. It is possible.

In addition, in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the pressure sensor 450 is formed on the upper or lower surface of the second substrate layers 262 and 283, but the pressure sensor 450 is the upper or lower surface of the first substrate layers 261 and 281. It is also possible to be formed in.

Next, as described above, in particular, when the pressure sensor 450 is to be formed on the lower surface of the display panel 200A according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5B, when the display panel 200A is an OLED panel, the organic material layer 280 may be used. Since light emits light, when the pressure sensor 450 formed on the lower surface of the second substrate layer 283 disposed under the organic layer 280 is made of an opaque material, the pressure sensor formed on the lower surface of the display panel 200A ( The pattern 450 may be visible to the user. In order to prevent the pattern of the pressure sensor 450 from being seen, it is necessary to arrange a separate light shielding layer.

6A to 6F illustrate the shape of the display panel 200A due to the arrangement of the light blocking layer.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6A, after the light blocking layer 284 such as black ink is disposed under the second substrate layer 283, the pressure sensor 450 is disposed on the bottom surface of the light blocking layer 284. ) Can be formed.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6B, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the pressure sensor 450 is first formed in direct contact with the lower surface of the second substrate layer 283, and then the second pressure sensor 450 is formed. The light blocking layer 284 may be disposed under the substrate layer 283.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6C, the display panel 200A may arrange the third substrate layer 285 below the second substrate layer 283, wherein the third substrate layer 285 is disposed on the third substrate layer 283. After the light blocking layer 284 such as black ink is disposed below the substrate layer 285, the pressure sensor 450 may be formed on the bottom surface of the light blocking layer 284.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6D, the display panel 200A may arrange the third substrate layer 285 below the second substrate layer 283. The pressure sensor 450 may be first formed in direct contact with the lower surface of the third substrate layer 285, and then the light blocking layer 284 may be disposed under the third substrate layer 285 on which the pressure sensor 450 is formed.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6E, the display panel 200A may arrange the third substrate layer 285 below the second substrate layer 283. The pressure sensor 450 may be formed in direct contact with the lower surface of the third substrate layer 285, and the light blocking layer 284 may be disposed between the second substrate layer 283 and the third substrate layer 285. .

Finally, according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6F, the display panel 200A may arrange the third substrate layer 285 below the second substrate layer 283. In this case, the light blocking layer 284 may be disposed under the third substrate layer 285, and the pressure sensor 450 may be disposed between the second substrate layer 283 and the third substrate layer 285.

In the six embodiments described above, the light shielding layer may include black ink, as well as a black elastic material that absorbs impact on the black film, black double adhesive tape (DAT), or touch input device. . In this case, the elastic material (or elastic foam) according to the embodiment has the flexibility to change the shape, such as being pressed when the impact is applied to provide a uniform performance for the pressure detection by having a resilience while acting as a shock absorption. For example, it may be configured to include at least one of polyurethane (polyurethane), polyester (Polyester), polypropylene (polypropylene) and acrylic (Acrylic).

The term 'black' according to an embodiment of the present invention may mean a complete black color without reflection of light, but may also mean a black color having at least one of black and lightness or saturation within a predetermined threshold range. For example, in the former case, it means 100 percent full black color, and in the latter case, at least one of black and lightness or saturation are different from each other within a predetermined predetermined threshold range (for example, 30 percent range). It may mean. In the latter case, the pressure sensor 450 may shield the pressure sensor 450 from light even if the pressure sensor 450 has only about 70 percent black brightness or saturation. In other words, the predetermined threshold range may be such that it can shield the pressure sensor 450 from light.

Until now, the touch pressure detection method applied toward the front surface of the touch input device 1000 has been described as in FIGS. 4C and 4D. Specifically, as the touch pressure is applied to the front surface 1 of the touch input device 1000 as shown in FIG. 7, the cover layer 100 is bent and the capacitance of the pressure sensor disposed horizontally with the cover layer 100. The change was used to detect touch pressure. However, in addition to the above, it is necessary to detect the touch pressure applied toward the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Therefore, hereinafter, the touch pressure detection method applied toward the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, the touch input device 1000 may include a cover layer 100 on the front surface 1. 7 illustrates a touch input device in which the cover layer 100 is flat, and FIG. 9 illustrates a touch input device in which the cover layer 100 is an edge type. In the present specification, the flat type means a shape in which the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 is cut down at a right angle as shown in FIG. 7, and the edge type means that the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 is illustrated in FIG. It means that it is formed curved in the X-axis direction. In addition, the flat type may include 2.5D glass in which the corner portion of the touch input device 1000 is roundly cut as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, and each component of the touch input device 1000 of FIG. 8A has the same role as each component of FIG. 4A. 10A is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9, and the role of each component of the touch input device 1000 of FIG. 10A is the same as that of each component of FIG. 8A.

The touch input device 1000 of the present invention includes at least a cover layer 100 on the front surface 1 and is disposed horizontally with the cover layer 100 so as to detect touch pressures 450 and 460. The controller 13 may detect a pressure applied to the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 from the electrical signals sensed by the pressure sensors 450 and 460. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressure applied to the side surface 2 may include a case in which the user grips both side surfaces 2 of the touch input device 1000 by hand.

At this time, the controller 13 determines whether the profile of the electrical signal detected by the pressure sensors 450 and 460 satisfies a predetermined condition, and if the predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller 13 applies the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000. It can be determined that the losing pressure is applied. In addition, when the profile of the electrical signals detected by the pressure sensors 450 and 460 satisfies the predetermined condition, the controller 130 may determine the magnitude of the pressure applied to the side surface 2 based on the magnitude of the detected electrical signal. Can be determined. That is, the controller 13 may detect only that pressure is applied to the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 or may determine the magnitude of the applied pressure.

For example, when at least one of the touch pressure, the touch time, and the touch area at the time of pressurization satisfies the predetermined condition, it is determined that the pressure applied to the side surface 2 is applied, based on the magnitude of the detected electrical signal. The magnitude of the pressure applied to the side surface 2 can be determined.

The electrical signal according to the present invention may mean a change in capacitance of the pressure sensors 450 and 460 or a change in resistance of the strain gauge as shown in FIG. 13.

The control unit 13 detects the touch pressure by a change in capacitance caused by a change in distance between the pressure sensors 450 and 460 generated according to the pressure applied to the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 and the reference potential layer. can do. In detail, when the pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000, the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A are bent, and the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A are bent, so that the reference potential layer and the pressure sensor ( The distance from 450,460 may vary. (d-> d ')

When the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the bottom surface of the display panel 200A as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C or 10A to 10E, the reference potential layer may be disposed on the top surface of the midframe 300. On the other hand, when the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the top surface of the midframe 300 as shown in FIGS. 8D to 8F or 10F to 10I, the reference potential layer may be formed inside the display panel 200A, and the display panel ( The display panel may be disposed on at least one of the upper surface of the 200A or the lower surface of the display panel 200A.

The cover layer 100 may be disposed on the front surface 1 of the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention, and a part of the housing 320 and the midframe 300 may be disposed on the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000. A part of) or part of the cover layer 100 may be disposed. Specifically, in the touch input device having the flat cover layer 100 as shown in FIG. 7, at least one of a part of the housing 320 and a part of the midframe 300 is formed on the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000. Can be deployed. On the other hand, in the touch input device in which the cover layer 100 as shown in FIG. 9 is an edge type, a part of the housing 320, a part of the midframe 300, and a cover layer (at the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000) At least one of the portions of 100) may be disposed.

When the cover layer 100 is flat as shown in FIG. 7, the cover layer 100 is bent in a convex form as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8E according to the pressure applied to the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 8C and 8F, the cover layer 100 may be bent in a concave shape.

As described above, the pressure applied to the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 may be applied through at least one of a part of the housing 320 and a part of the midframe 300 of FIG. 8A. In this case, the display panel 200A may include an OLED, a flexible OLED, or an LCD.

For each of the components of the touch input device illustrated in FIGS. 8D to 8F, except that the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the midframe 300, the respective components of FIGS. 8A to 8C described above. The features of the elements can equally apply.

On the other hand, when the cover layer 100 is an edge type as shown in FIG. 9, the cover layer 100 is bent in a convex form as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10G according to the pressure applied to the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000. 10C and 10H, the cover layer 100 may be bent in a concave shape.

As described above, the pressure applied to the side surface 2 of the touch input device 1000 may be a curved portion of the frame 330 or the cover layer 100, which is a part of the midframe 300 of FIGS. 10B and 10C. It may be applied through the edge portion (100b) formed in, or through a portion of the housing 320 of Figure 10e. In this case, the display panel 200A may include a flexible OLED.

For each of the components of the touch input device illustrated in FIGS. 10F to 10I, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the midframe 300 as described above with reference to FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C. , And the features of each component of FIG. 10E may be equally applied.

4A and 8A illustrate that the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are attached to the lower surface of the display panel 200A, the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 is similar to the pressure sensor 450 as shown in FIG. 10D. The same or similar may be applied to the case where the 460 is implemented in the form of an integrated sheet formed between the insulating layers 470 and 471.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the shapes of the cover layer 100 being bent in a concave shape or convex shape may be different depending on the position of the side surface 2 of the touch input device to which the touch pressure is applied. For example, the patterns of pressure sensed by the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be different from each other depending on the position of the user grasping the side 2. Meanwhile, the touch input device 1000 includes a separate memory (not shown), and stores data related to the pressure pattern in advance, and the pressure pattern detected by the pressure sensors 450 and 460 is stored in advance. When the condition is satisfied, it can be determined that the pressure is applied to the position of the corresponding side surface 2.

For reference, in FIG. 11, the numbers of the pressure sensors are indicated from (1) to (15), and the capacitance value of each sensor is also indicated. When the capacitance value is positive, the sensor and the reference potential layer are close, and when the capacitance value is negative, the sensor and the reference potential layer are away. This applies equally to FIG. 12 below.

For example, FIG. 11A illustrates that the upper side of the side 1 of the touch input device 1000 is pressurized. In the peripheral pressure sensors centered on the pressurized position, the capacitance value indicates a negative value so that the sensor and the reference The dislocation layer is shown away. This indicates that the upper surface of the touch input device 100 is bent in a relatively more convex shape than the remaining areas.

FIG. 11B illustrates a pressurization of the center side of the side 1 of the touch input device 1000. In the peripheral pressure sensors centered on the pressed position, the capacitance value is negative and the reference potential layer is separated from the sensor. Is shown. This indicates that the central side surface of the touch input device 100 is bent in a relatively more convex shape than the remaining areas.

FIG. 11C illustrates that the lower side of the side surface 1 of the touch input device 1000 is pressed. In the peripheral pressure sensors centered on the pressed position, the capacitance value is negative and the reference potential layer is far from the sensor. Is shown. This indicates that the lower side of the touch input device 100 is bent in a shape that is relatively more convex than the remaining areas.

Features, structures, effects, etc. described in the above embodiments are included in one embodiment of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, and the like illustrated in the embodiments may be combined or modified with respect to other embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, contents related to such combinations and modifications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

In addition, the above description has been made with reference to the embodiment, which is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be illustrated as above without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It will be appreciated that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment can be modified. And differences relating to such modifications and applications will have to be construed as being included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

In the touch input device comprising a cover layer at least on the front,
A pressure sensor disposed horizontally with the cover layer to detect touch pressure; And
And a controller configured to sense pressure applied to a side of the touch input device from the electrical signal sensed by the pressure sensor.
The method of claim 1,
The controller determines whether the profile of the electrical signal detected by the pressure sensor satisfies a predetermined condition, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied, determines that pressure is applied to the side of the touch input device.
The method of claim 2,
The controller determines the amount of pressure applied to the side of the touch input device based on the magnitude of the detected electrical signal when the profile of the electrical signal detected by the pressure sensor satisfies the predetermined condition. .
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
And the cover layer is curved in a concave shape or a convex shape according to the pressure applied to the side of the touch input device.
The method of claim 4, wherein
A display panel disposed under the cover layer;
A spacer layer disposed below the display panel;
A midframe disposed spaced apart from the display module with the spacer layer interposed therebetween; And
Further comprising a housing which is the outermost mechanism of the touch input device,
The cover layer is flat, and at least one of a portion of the midframe and a portion of the housing is disposed on a side of the touch input device.
The method of claim 5,
And the display panel comprises an OLED, a flexible OLED or an LCD.
The method of claim 4, wherein
A display panel disposed under the cover layer;
A spacer layer disposed under the display panel;
A midframe spaced apart from the display panel with the spacer layer interposed therebetween; And
Further comprising a housing which is the outermost mechanism of the touch input device,
The cover layer has an edge type, and at least one of a portion of the cover layer, a portion of the midframe, and a portion of the housing is disposed on a side of the touch input device.
The method of claim 7, wherein
And the display panel comprises a flexible OLED.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A reference potential layer;
The control unit,
And a touch input device that senses the touch pressure by a change in capacitance caused by a change in distance between the pressure sensor and the reference potential layer generated according to a pressure applied to a side of the touch input device.
The method of claim 9,
A display panel disposed under the cover layer;
A spacer layer disposed under the display panel;
And a midframe disposed spaced apart from the display module with the spacer layer interposed therebetween.
The pressure sensor is disposed on the lower surface of the display panel,
And the reference potential layer is disposed on an upper surface of the midframe.
The method of claim 9,
A display panel disposed under the cover layer;
A spacer layer disposed under the display panel;
And a midframe spaced apart from the display module with the spacer layer interposed therebetween.
The pressure sensor is disposed on the upper surface of the midframe,
And the reference potential layer is disposed on any one of an inside of the display panel, an upper surface of the display panel, or a lower surface of the display panel.
The method of claim 4, wherein
And a shape in which the cover layer is bent in the concave shape or the convex shape according to the position of the side surface of the touch input device to which the pressure is applied.

Images