KR102374597B1 - Touch apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch device, wherein the touch device includes a touch unit on which a touch operation is performed, a force touch sensor configured to output an electrical signal corresponding to a force applied to the touch unit to determine whether the touch unit has been touched, and the touch unit. and a touch object detection sensor configured to detect the surface shape of the touch object to be touched and determine the type of the touch object.

Description

touch device {TOUCH APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a touch device.

In general, a touch sensor module (touch panel) for inputting a command or performing a switching operation using a touch operation is attached to a portable electronic device such as a smart phone, an MP3 player, or a home appliance such as a refrigerator. .

Accordingly, the touch panel may be manufactured such that a display device module for visually outputting information and a touch sensor module for recognizing a user's touch operation are combined.

As such, when the touch panel is manufactured to be combined with the display module and the touch sensor module, the display module used in the touch panel is typically an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, particularly an AMOLED (active matrix organic light emitting diodes) or liquid crystal displays are used.

In addition, the touch sensor module uses a three-dimensional touch sensing method for additionally sensing the intensity of a touch applied in the Z-axis direction as well as a two-dimensional touch sensing method for detecting a touch point using coordinates of the X-axis and Y-axis.

For such a three-dimensional touch sensing method, there is a problem in that, although the intensity of touch is sensed using a pressure sensor or an image sensor, the change in touch intensity cannot be accurately detected.

In addition, it is determined that the touch operation is performed according to a change in state due to an unwanted force in addition to the user's desired touch operation, so that an operation that the user does not want is executed.

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1777733 (Registration Date: September 06, 2017, Title of Invention: 3D Touch Device Using Image Sensor and Opaque Member)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to increase reliability of an operation for a touch device.

A touch device according to one aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is a touch unit on which a touch operation is performed, and a force touch sensor configured to output an electrical signal corresponding to a force applied to the touch unit to determine whether the touch unit is touched and a touch object detection sensor configured to detect a surface shape of the touch object touched by the touch unit to determine the type of the touch object.

The force touch sensor may be an inductance force sensor that outputs the electrical signal using an inductance that changes according to a force applied to the touch unit.

The force touch sensor includes a coil unit including a substrate and at least one coil disposed on at least one of a lower surface and an upper surface of the substrate, and the coil unit is spaced apart from the coil unit by a predetermined distance on the coil unit and the touch unit is located. It may include a touch panel.

The touch device according to the above feature may further include a lower layer positioned below the coil unit.

The lower film may include a plurality of lower film portions at least partially spaced apart from each other, or may consist of a single plate.

The touch device according to the above feature may further include a spacer positioned between the coil unit and the touch plate to space the coil unit and the touch plate by a predetermined distance.

The touch object detection sensor may be located at a position corresponding to the hollow surrounded by the coil.

The touch object detection sensor may be mounted on the substrate in contact with the hollow surrounded by the coil.

The touch object detection sensor may be an ultrasonic sensor.

The touch device according to the above feature may further include an ultrasonic wave transmitting unit positioned between the upper surface of the touch object sensing sensor and the inner surface of the touch surface to be in contact with the upper surface and the inner surface and made of an ultrasonic transmitting material.

The touch object detection sensor may be attached to an inner surface of the touch plate facing the hollow surrounded by the coil.

The force touch sensor may be a capacitance force sensor that outputs the electrical signal using a capacitance that changes according to a force applied to the touch unit.

The force touch sensor includes a lower film made of a metal, a touch plate spaced apart from the lower film by a predetermined distance, a touch plate made of metal and positioned between the lower film and the touch plate, and a dielectric layer made of a dielectric material. may include

The touch object detection sensor may be attached to the inner surface of the touch plate.

The force touch sensor may be a strain method using a change in voltage or impedance according to a piezo effect using a piezoelectric film.

The piezoelectric film may be attached to the inner surface of the touch plate on which the touch unit is located.

The touch plate may form a side surface of an electronic device including the touch device.

The touch device according to the above feature is connected to the force touch sensor and the touch object detection sensor, and when it is determined that the touch object is touched on the touch unit using a signal output from the force touch sensor, the touch object detection sensor A signal processing unit that determines the surface shape of the touch object using a signal output from the and determines that the touch unit is normally touched by the touch object when the determined surface shape is the same as a predetermined surface shape of the touch object may further include.

The touch device according to the above feature may further include a storage unit in which a predetermined surface shape of the touch object is stored.

The storage unit may store at least one fingerprint as a predetermined surface shape of the touch object, and the control unit may store at least one fingerprint as the determined surface shape is a fingerprint, the determined fingerprint is the same as one of the fingerprints stored in the storage unit and if the determined fingerprint is the same as the fingerprint stored in the storage unit, it may be determined that the touch unit has been normally touched.

According to this feature of the present invention, the touch operation performed by the user's will is accurately determined using the type of the touch object, specifically the surface shape, as well as the pressure applied from the outside for the touch operation.

Accordingly, the operation of the electronic device equipped with the touch device is prevented from being performed by the pressure applied to the touch device regardless of the user's intention.

In addition, by the touch object sensing sensor, the user may operate the touch device using other types of touch objects as well as the body (eg, fingerprint). Accordingly, since the operation of the touch device can be accurately performed not only with bare hands but also with gloves on, the user's convenience is improved.

In addition, it is determined that the touch device is in a normal operating state only when a touch operation is made with a touch object registered by the user in a state in which the force touch sensor is operated. Accordingly, the accuracy of the operation of the corresponding electronic device is further improved.

1 is a perspective view of an example of an electronic device equipped with a touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 .
3 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view illustrating various examples of a plan view of a lower layer used in a touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of another example of a touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
7 is a block diagram of a touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is an operation flowchart of a touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that adding a detailed description of a technique or configuration already known in the relevant field may make the gist of the present invention unclear, some of it will be omitted from the detailed description. In addition, the terms used in this specification are terms used to properly express embodiments of the present invention, which may vary according to a person or custom in the relevant field. Accordingly, definitions of these terms should be made based on the content throughout this specification.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of referring to specific embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms also include the plural forms unless the phrases clearly indicate the opposite. As used herein, the meaning of 'comprising' specifies a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element and/or component, and other specific characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, component, and/or group. It does not exclude the existence or addition of

Hereinafter, a touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, an electronic device equipped with a touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 1 and 2 .

1 and 2 , an example of the electronic device 10 equipped with a touch device is shown to be a smart phone, but in the present invention, the electronic device 10 is not only a smart phone but also a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a smart watch, and a wireless device. It may be various types of electronic devices having a wireless communication function, such as a wearable device such as an earphone, a TV, a medical measuring device, and a head mounted device.

1 and 2 , the electronic device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 100 , a circuit board 200 , a touch device 300 , a bracket 400 , and the like.

The housing 100 forms an internal space for accommodating various parts. In a broad sense, the housing 100 may include all components constituting the exterior of the electronic device 10 . Specifically, in the case of the electronic device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the housing 100 is a display device constituting the front surface of the electronic device 10 (forming the outermost front surface of the electronic device and made of glass, transparent plastic, etc.) a transparent member) 101 , a side case 102 forming a side surface, and a rear case 103 forming a rear surface. However, in some cases, in a narrow sense, the housing 100 may include only the side case 102 and the rear case 103 excluding the display device 101 . In this specification, the housing 100 is basically used in the broad sense described above.

In addition, in the housing 100 of this example, the side case 102 and the rear case 103 are manufactured as separate parts, but unlike this, the housing 100 has a lower surface and a side surface connected to the lower surface and a display device 101 constituting the upper surface of the housing 100 positioned on the rear case and the rear case.

In addition, in some cases, the exterior of the electronic device 10 may be composed of parts other than the display device 101 and the cases 102 and 103 . In this case, the housing 100 may also include such other components.

Various components may be accommodated in the inner space formed by the housing 100 . Specifically, the circuit board 200 , the touch device 300 , the bracket 500 , and the like may be accommodated. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a battery, a storage device, various sensors, and various connection elements may be accommodated in the inner space in which the housing 100 is formed.

Various components such as an electric/electronic device for controlling the operation of the electronic device 10 , a signal processing chip or a control chip, etc. may be mounted on the circuit board 200 .

In addition, although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a storage device, various sensors, and various semiconductor chips having various functions may be mounted on the circuit board 200 .

The touch device 300 is a part operated by the user for the operation of the electronic device 10 , and a physical pressure (ie, force) applied by the user and the touch device 300 for application of the physical pressure. It is finally determined whether a touch operation has occurred according to the type of the touched object, that is, the material of the touched object.

The touch device 300 of this example determines whether a touch is made according to whether or not a physical force is applied, and determines whether a touch operation is performed according to the user's intention by using the material of the touch material.

Accordingly, the touch device 300 of this example includes a first sensor 310 for determining whether a touch has been made, a second sensor 320 for determining whether a touch operation is performed according to a user's intention, and first and second sensors 310 . , and a signal processing unit 330 that finally determines whether a touch is made by using the monitoring signal applied from the 320 .

In this example, the first sensor 310 uses an inductance or capacitance that changes according to an applied force, or uses a piezoelectric effect of a piezoelectric film, and uses a voltage or impedance due to displacement to determine the state of the corresponding state. It may be a force touch sensor that outputs a detection signal.

The second sensor 320 is a touch object sensing sensor for detecting a type of a touch object that applies a force for a touch operation, and a resonance frequency reflected by a touch object such as a finger using a resonance frequency output by the piezoelectric film. It may be an ultrasonic sensor that analyzes , or a touch object detection sensor that checks the location information on the hand using a capacitance change using a parasitic capacitance generated by the touch object.

The first and second sensors 310 and 320 are attached to the inner surface of the side case 102 . Due to this, the side case 102 facing the attached side case 102 is possible as a touch plate on which a touch operation is made, and the corresponding part of the side case 102 to which a touch operation is made and a force is applied is touched. It becomes negative T101.

Accordingly, in this example, the side case 102 also constitutes a part of the touch device 300 .

The signal processing unit 330 may be formed in the form of a chip, and may be mounted on the circuit board 200 as shown in FIG. 2 .

Accordingly, as described above, the signal processing unit 330 determines whether a touch is made and the type of the touch object by using the detection signals output from the first sensor, the force touch sensor 310 and the second sensor, the touch object detection sensor 320 . It is determined that a normal touch operation is determined according to the user's intention, and when the normal touch operation is finally performed, a driving control signal corresponding to the function of the touch device 300 is output to the corresponding device.

In this example, the touch device 300 may function as a touch-type operation switch for executing a specified operation, for example, a volume switch for adjusting the volume of sound output from the electronic device 10 . or a power switch that supplies power.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3 , the structure of the touch device 300 , more specifically, the force touch sensor 310 and the touch object detection sensor 320 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As already described, the force touch sensor 310 outputs an electrical signal that changes according to a distance change according to the strength of a physical force applied to the touch unit T101 of the side case 102, which is a touch plate, from the outside. Thus, it is possible to determine whether the touch unit T101 is touched.

The force touch sensor 310 may be an inductance force sensor using a change in inductance according to a change in distance or a capacitance force sensor using a change in capacitance.

In addition, the force touch sensor 310 attaches a piezoelectric film to the touch plate, that is, the inner surface of the touch plate, and according to the strength of the physical force applied to the touch unit T101, the piezoelectric film is deformed by the piezoelectric effect. By outputting an electrical signal, it is possible to determine whether a touch occurs, and it may be a strain-type force sensor using a change in voltage or impedance due to displacement of the piezoelectric film.

Here, the piezoelectric film may be an element such as PVDF or ceramic having a predetermined thickness or more that can exhibit the piezoelectric effect.

The touch object detection sensor 320 is for detecting whether the touch object in contact with the touch unit T101 is a type of touch object designated by the user.

It recognizes the touch by the user by analyzing the ultrasonic wave reflected by the human skin (eg finger fingerprint), which is the touch object that comes in contact with the surface. First, with reference to FIG. 3 , the touch device 300 in the case where the force touch sensor 310 is an inductance force sensor will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the force touch sensor 310 which is an inductance force sensor includes a lower film 311 positioned at the bottom, a coil unit 312 positioned on the lower film 311 and a coil 3122 positioned therein, at least A spacer 313 positioned between the coil unit 312 including one coil 3122 and the side case 102 is provided.

The lower film 311 has a plate shape, and the coil unit 312 is positioned therein.

In this case, the lower layer 311 is made of a material having high conductivity or a material having low conductivity and high dielectric constant.

In this case, the high conductivity material may be a metal such as aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu). In addition, the material having low conductivity and high dielectric constant may be a material used for shielding polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI).

3, the coil unit 312 is located between the lower film 311 and the side case 102, and the lower film ( 311) and the side case 102 according to the change in the distance to output an electrical signal of the corresponding state.

Accordingly, the upper layer of the side case 102 may also be a conductive layer made of a metal such as aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu) or a conductive material such as ITO, and may be a physical layer applied according to the touch operation of the touch unit T101. It bends in proportion to the force.

In this example, the lower film 311 in close contact with the lower portion of the coil unit 312 is made in the form of a plate without an empty space in the middle, or according to an alternative example, as shown in FIG. 4 , A plurality of lower layer portions P11 - P1n (where n is a positive integer) may be provided that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

When the plurality of lower layer portions P11 - P1n are provided, as shown in FIG. 4A , as an example, the lower layer 311 includes a plurality of openings H311 completely penetrating the corresponding portions.

Accordingly, the lower layer 311 includes a plurality of lower layer portions P11-P1n and a plurality of lower layer portions P11-P1n that are spaced apart from each other by the width W11 of the opening H311 by the formed opening H311; It has a connected edge portion (P21).

At this time, since the forming position of the opening H311 corresponds to the coil forming position of the coil unit 312 located on the upper portion, the portion of the lower film 311 corresponding to each coil 3122 is spaced apart by the opening H311. The formed lower film portions P11-P1n are located.

An opening H311 is not located in a portion of the lower film 311 that does not correspond to the coil 3122 , for example, an edge portion P21 of the lower film 311 , but is connected to a plurality of lower film portions P11 . -P1n) is surrounded on all sides.

However, as another example, as shown in FIG. 4B , the lower layer 311 includes a plurality of completely separated sub lower layers S11 to S1n, and these sub lower layers S11 to S1n. are arranged to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance W11 in the corresponding direction. Each of the plurality of sub lower layers S11 - S1n constitutes a portion of the lower layer of the lower layer 311 , and the width W12 of each sub lower layer S11 - S1n is the lower portion of each sub layer of FIG. 4A . It may be equal to the width W12 of the membrane portions P11 - P1n.

Accordingly, the lower layer portions P11 - P1n of FIG. 4A are connected to each other at the edge portion P21, while the sub lower layers S11 - S1n of FIG. 5B are adjacent to the sub lower layer portions. It is completely separated from (S11-S1n).

The lower layer 311 performs an electromagnetic shielding function with an electric circuit such as a battery positioned under the touch device 300 .

Accordingly, by the lower layer 311 , the amount of change in inductance or capacitance of the touch device 300 is accurately sensed according to the degree of touch of the corresponding touch unit T101 without the influence of electromagnetic waves emitted from the electric circuit located thereunder.

In this example, the plurality of lower film portions P11-P1n) having edges connected to each other and partially spaced apart from each other and the plurality of sub lower film portions S11-S1n completely spaced apart from each other are referred to as a plurality of lower film portions for convenience. .

The lower layer 311 may be omitted if necessary.

The coil unit 3112 positioned between the lower film 3111 and the side case 102 includes a substrate 31121 and at least one coil 3112 positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 31121 .

In this case, the coil 3112 may be positioned on only one surface (eg, an upper surface) of the substrate 3121 . In this example, among the two surfaces of the substrate 3121 facing each other from opposite sides, the upper surface of the substrate 3121 is a surface adjacent to the touch unit T101 to which a physical force is applied, and the lower surface is the touch unit T101 ) and is located opposite to the surface adjacent to the lower layer 311 and is defined as a surface adjacent to the surface.

In this case, the substrate 3121 may be an insulating substrate made of a non-conductive material.

At least one coil 3122 positioned on the substrate 3121 is spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, and each coil 3122 has a polygonal shape such as a square or a corresponding position on the lower surface and upper surface of the substrate 31121, respectively It is wound in a circular shape and receives an alternating current from the outside.

Accordingly, the coil 3122 corresponding to the touch point of the side case 102 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the touch operation to the signal processing unit 330 .

Each coil 3122 positioned on the corresponding surface of the substrate 3121 is wound so as to be stacked not only in the plane direction (ie, the X-axis and Y-axis directions) of the substrate 3121 but also in the vertical direction (ie, the Z-axis direction). A plurality of layers may be provided.

For example, one metal wire (eg, a copper wire) is wound on a corresponding position on a corresponding surface (eg, an upper surface) of the substrate 3121 a predetermined number of times to form one layer (eg, a first coil layer).

Then, the metal wire is wound again on the first coil layer formed a predetermined number of times to form another layer (eg, a second coil layer) on the first coil layer.

In this way, since another coil layer is sequentially formed on the re-formed coil layer after one coil layer is formed in this way, n coil layers may be sequentially formed along the Z direction.

Accordingly, each of the coils 3122 in this example may be stacked on a corresponding portion of at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the substrate 3121 with one seamlessly connected metal wire. In this case, since the number of turns of each coil 3122 is greatly increased compared to the case where the coil layer is positioned as one layer on the corresponding surface of the substrate 3121, the inductance value of each coil unit 3122 also greatly increases, so that the force The sensitivity of the touch sensor 310 is improved.

As shown in FIG. 3 , in order to protect the coil 3122 positioned on the substrate 3121 , a molding process is performed using epoxy or the like on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 3121 to protect the coil 3122 . ) is present, but this molding process can be omitted.

The spacer 313 is positioned between the lower film 311 and the side case 102 to space the lower film 311 and the side case 102 apart by a predetermined distance.

Accordingly, the lower film 311 and the side case 102 are spaced apart by the thickness (ie, the length in the vertical direction) of the spacer 313 , and touch according to the magnitude of the force applied from the side case 102 side. A bending operation of the side case 102, which is a plate, can be made.

In the force touch sensor 310, which is an inductance force sensor having such a structure, when an alternating current is applied to each coil 3122, a magnetic field is formed around the coil 3122, and is spaced apart from the coil 3122 by the influence of the magnetic field. An induced current is generated in the side case 102 positioned to be symmetrical with the direction of the current applied to the coil 3122 .

At this time, the induced current varies according to the change in the strength of the magnetic field, and the strength of the force applied to the side case 102 is sensed according to the oscillation of the resonance frequency.

Accordingly, when the user presses the touch unit T101 of the side case 102 that is the touch plate, the touch unit T101 is bent in proportion to the strength of the physical force according to the user's pressing operation.

Accordingly, the distance between the lower layer 311 and the corresponding coil 3122 is decreased, the magnitude of the induced current in the touch unit T101 increases with the decrease in the distance, and the touch unit T101 is affected by the increasing induced current. The magnetic field generated in the corresponding coil 31122 corresponding to the corresponding touch point of .

This reduction in the magnetic field reduces the effective inductance of the coil 31122 .

As such, the magnitude of the inductance of the corresponding coil 3122 is changed by a change in the distance between the side case 102 and the corresponding coil 3122 according to the degree of touch of the touch unit T101. Accordingly, the coil 3122 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the varying inductance magnitude to the signal processing unit 33 .

Also, as described above, when the lower film 311 positioned under the coil unit 312 is divided into a plurality of lower film portions P11-P1n or S11-S1n, each lower film portion P11-P1n or One eddy current is formed in S11-S1n), so that a plurality of eddy current generating regions are provided as many as the number of the lower layer portions P11-P1n or S11-S1n.

Accordingly, the eddy current magnitude range in the lower layer 111 is limited to each lower layer portion (P11-P1n or S11-S1n) so that one eddy current is generated in each lower layer portion (P11-P1n or S11-S1n). Thus, the intensity of the eddy current formed in the lower film 311 is greatly reduced compared to the side case in which only one eddy current is formed in the entire film.

For this reason, in the case of the lower film 3111 , although the separation distance L11 from the coil 3122 is much shorter than the separation distance L12 from the side case 102 , the eddy current formed in the lower film 311 is The intensity is smaller than the intensity of the eddy current formed in the side case 102 .

As such, since the intensity of the eddy current generated in the lower layer 311 is reduced by dividing the eddy current formed in the lower layer 311 into a plurality of pieces, the inductance of the coil 3122 is reduced due to the eddy current generated in the lower layer 311 . amount is also greatly reduced.

Accordingly, since the inductance of the coil 3122 changes according to the separation distance L12 between the side case 102 and the corresponding coil 3122 . Even if the lower film 311 is positioned adjacent to the coil unit 312 for electromagnetic shielding, a change in inductance according to the touch intensity in the Z-axis direction is easily sensed without the influence of the lower film 311 . Accordingly, a phenomenon in which the touch sensitivity of the touch device 300 is reduced is prevented.

In addition, if the piezoelectric film attached to the touch plate is used, ultrasonic waves can be generated, but depending on the strength of the physical force, it is possible to determine whether a touch is made by detecting a change in voltage or impedance, which is an electrical signal change due to deformation of the piezoelectric film. can

Referring back to FIG. 3 , the touch object detection sensor 320 may include an ultrasonic sensor and a capacitance sensor as previously described.

The surface shape of the touch object touching the touch unit T101 is sensed and a signal of the corresponding state is output to the signal processing unit 330 .

The touch object detection sensor 320 may be located at a position corresponding to the hollow surrounded by each coil 3122 without the coil 3122 being wound.

For example, when the touch object detection sensor 320 is mounted on the substrate 3121 , it may be located on a corresponding portion of the substrate 3121 in contact with the hollow surrounded by the coil 3122 . In this case, each touch object detection sensor 320 is surrounded by a corresponding coil 3122 wound around. In this example, the number of touch object detection sensors 320 provided in the touch device 300 may be one or a plurality.

As an example, the touch object detection sensor 320 generates ultrasonic waves and outputs them toward the touch unit T101 of the side case 102 to generate ultrasonic waves in the touch unit T101 of the side case 102 . and an ultrasonic receiver interposed between the side case 102 and the ultrasonic transmitter and receiving ultrasonic waves output from the ultrasonic transmitter.

Ultrasonic receiver fluoride-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE: Copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF: Polyvinylidene fluoride) can be made of a nanofiber web containing at least one material A piezoelectric receiving layer may be provided.

Accordingly, the piezoelectric receiving layer may convert ultrasonic energy reflected from the side case 102 into electric charge to generate electric charge, and convert the generated electric charge into an electric signal to output to the signal processing unit 33 .

The ultrasonic transmitter is a piezoelectric transmitter composed of a nanofiber web containing at least one material of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and fluoride-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE). layers may be provided.

Accordingly, by the piezoelectric transmission layer, the ultrasonic transmission unit expands or contracts according to a signal applied to the piezoelectric transmission layer to generate and output ultrasonic waves.

In another example, the touch object detection sensor 320 may include a plurality of piezoelectric sensors having electrodes. In this case, when a voltage having a resonance frequency of the ultrasonic band is applied to the electrode, the piezoelectric sensor may vibrate in the vertical direction to generate an ultrasonic signal. As such, since the touch sensor 320 uses a known ultrasonic sensor, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3 , when the coil unit 312 is protected by the molding unit, the touch object detection sensor 320 is mounted on the corresponding surface (ie, the upper surface) of the substrate 3121 on which the coil unit 312 is located. Afterwards, a molding process is performed to protect the coil unit 312 . Accordingly, in this case, a portion of the side surface of the touch object detection sensor 320 may be located in the molding part.

In addition, the ultrasonic transmission unit 321 may exist in contact between the touch object detection sensor 320 and the side case 102 .

The ultrasonic transfer unit 321 is made of an ultrasonic transfer material and prevents the presence of an air layer between the touch object detection sensor 320 and the side case 102, so that the ultrasonic wave output from the touch object detection sensor 320 is generated by air. After being efficiently transmitted toward the outer surface of the side case 102 without loss, the ultrasonic wave is returned by the air layer by the hand to output an electrical signal in a state corresponding to the surface shape of the touch object.

In an alternative example, this ultrasonic transmission layer 321 may be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the touch object detection sensor 320 may be positioned to be attached to the inner surface of the side case 102 , which is a touch plate, rather than the substrate 3121 of the coil unit 312 . In this case, the touch object detection sensor 320 may be attached to the inner surface of the side case 102 facing the hollow surrounded by the coil 3122 .

In this example, the touch object detection sensor 320 may be attached to the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the side case 102 through an adhesive or an adhesive film.

As such, when the touch object detection sensor 320 is directly attached to the inner surface of the side case 102 , the existence of an air layer between the touch object detection sensor 320 and the side case 102 is not easy, so a separate ultrasonic wave A delivery unit may be unnecessary.

In addition, a metal film used to generate eddy currents of the inductance force sensor can be used as a capacitance sensor to be used as a touch object detection sensor.

In this case, it may be a touch object detection sensor that uses a parasitic capacitance generated by the touch object to check the location information on the hand by using the capacitance change.

Unlike FIGS. 3 and 5 , when the force touch sensor 310 is not an inductance force sensor but a capacitance force sensor, as shown in FIG. 6 , in the touch device 300 , the coil unit 312 is omitted and the lower film (311), it may be provided with a spacer 313 to space the gap between the lower film 311 and the side case (102).

At this time, as described above, the lower layer 311 is made of a conductive material such as a metal, and the side case 102 , which is a touch plate as an upper layer, is also made of a conductive material such as a metal.

In this case, the touch object detection sensor 320 is preferably attached to the inner surface of the side case 102, as shown in FIG.

In addition, the space between the lower surface 311 and the upper surface 102 is preferably a dielectric layer 322 filled with a dielectric. Accordingly, the lower surface 311 and the side case 102 function as a capacitor filled with a dielectric material therein.

In this case, when a physical force is applied to the touch part T101 of the side case 102 by a touch object such as a finger, the side case 102 is bent in the direction of application of the force, and the side case 102 and the lower part The distance between the faces 311 changes.

According to this distance change, the capacitance between the both ends of the lower surface 311 and the side case 102 is changed and applied to the signal processing unit 330 output from both ends of the lower surface 311 and the side case 102 The state of the signal is also changed.

Accordingly, the signal processing unit 330 determines whether a touch operation has occurred in the touch unit T101 using the signal applied from the capacitor touch sensor 310 .

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 , the corresponding operation is performed by determining the operation state of the corresponding touch device 300 using the detection signals respectively output from the force touch sensor 310 and the touch object detection sensor 320 . An operation of the controlling signal processing unit 330 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the signal processing unit 330 of this example includes a control unit 331 connected to the force touch sensor 310 and a touch object detection sensor 320 , and a storage unit 332 connected to the control unit 331 , respectively. ) is provided.

In this case, the controller 331 is a control unit that controls the overall operation of the touch device 300 , and determines whether a touch operation has occurred in the touch unit T101 using a detection signal applied from the force touch sensor 310 . It is determined, and the type of the touch object, that is, the surface shape, is determined using the detection signal output from the touch object detection sensor 320 to determine whether the touch device 300 is in an operating state.

The storage unit 332 is a storage medium such as a memory for storing data required for the operation of the touch device 300 or data generated during the operation. The type of touch object is stored.

In this example, the designation of the type of the touch object may be performed through a registration procedure using a user input unit (not shown) of the electronic device 10 .

For example, the user selects a touch object type registration command using the user input unit of the electronic device 10 to output a touch object type registration screen to the display apparatus 101 . Then, the user performs a touch operation on the touch unit 101 with a touch object of a desired type (ie, material), and then operates the input completion button using the user input unit.

When a signal according to the operation of the input completion button is input to the signal processing unit 330 , the signal processing unit 330 uses a signal applied from the touch object detection sensor 320 to the surface of the touch object currently touched by the touch unit 101 . After determining the shape, the determined surface shape of the touched object is stored in a storage unit or the like, and the touched object is registered as a type of touch object designated by the user.

In this case, the human fingerprint shape may be already stored as a designated type of touch object as a default.

However, if necessary, the user may register fingerprints for himself/herself and a person designated by the user through the registration procedure described above, so that only the user and the designated person can use the corresponding electronic device 10 . An example of the operation of the signal processing unit 330 is shown in FIG. 8 .

As shown in FIG. 8 , when power required for the operation of the touch device 300 is supplied, the operations of the force touch sensor 310 , the touch object detection sensor 320 and the signal processing unit 330 are started.

Therefore, the control unit 331 of the signal processing unit 330 first reads the force touch detection signal output from the force touch sensor 310 ( S11 ), and sends it to the touch unit T301 where the force touch sensor 310 is located. It is determined whether a touch operation has occurred due to the application of a physical force (S12).

When it is determined that a touch operation has occurred in the touch unit T101 by applying a force equal to or greater than the set value to the touch unit T101 , the control unit 331 reads a touch object detection signal applied from the touch object detection sensor 320 . (S13).

At this time, the control unit 331 uses the position information of the coil 3122 for outputting the signal of the touch state among the plurality of coils 3122 or the position information on the part of the side case 102 having a capacitance value different from that of other parts. Thus, it is possible to determine the touch position by the touch object.

As such, the location information of the coil 3122 and the location information of the side case 102 for determining the touch location may already be stored in the storage unit 332 .

Next, the control unit 331 determines the surface shape of the touch object currently maintaining the touch state in the touch unit T101 by using the input touch object detection signal (S14).

Then, the control unit 331 determines whether the determined surface shape of the current touch object is the same as the surface shape of the designated touch object stored in the storage unit 332 (S15).

At this time, if the determined surface phenomenon of the current touch object has a similarity greater than or equal to a set ratio with the surface shape of the designated touch object stored in the storage unit 332 , the controller 331 may determine the surface shape to be the same as each other.

If it is determined that the surface shape of the current touch object is the same as the surface shape of the designated touch object (eg, a leather glove), the controller 331 touches the touch object (eg, a finger wearing a leather glove) designated by the user It is determined that the touch operation of the part T101 is performed.

In an alternative example, when the designated touch object is a fingerprint, when the surface shape of the current touch object is determined as a human fingerprint, the controller 331 again registers the determined fingerprint in the storage unit 332 . It is additionally determined whether it matches one of the existing fingerprints.

Then, if the currently determined fingerprint is not a fingerprint registered in the storage unit 332 , the controller 331 controls the current touch operation performed on the touch unit T101 by a person who does not have permission to use the corresponding electronic device 11 . It is judged as a touch operation by Accordingly, the controller 331 ignores the current touch operation.

However, if it is determined that the currently determined fingerprint is one of the fingerprints registered in the storage 332 , the controller 331 determines the currently performed touch operation as a normal touch operation. Accordingly, the controller 3310 executes a control operation corresponding to the touch operation of the touch device 300 .

As such, the controller 331 determines that the touch device 300 is driven, that is, the touch device 300 is pressed by the user, and outputs a driving signal corresponding to the selection of the touch device 300 to the related device. is done (S17).

For example, when the touch device 300 is a volume switch, the controller 331 determines whether the driving operation by the user is a volume up operation or a volume down operation using the touch position where the touch operation occurs. It may be determined and output a volume up control signal or a volume down control signal to the speaker for the determined driving operation.

Alternatively, when the touch device 300 is a power switch, the control unit 331 outputs an operation start signal or an operation end signal to a power supply unit (not shown) of the corresponding electric device 10 to supply power to the corresponding electronic device. or turn off the power.

However, in step S15, if the currently determined surface shape of the touch object is not the same as the surface shape of the designated touch object, the controller 332 determines that the touch operation generated in step S12 is a touch operation independent of the user's intention. or it is determined that the touch operation is not by a designated person.

Accordingly, if the currently determined surface shape of the touch object is not the same as the surface shape of the designated touch object (S15). The controller 331 controls the state of the touch device 300 to be a non-driving state even when the touch device 300 is touched.

Accordingly, since the touch device 300 determines only a touch operation intended by the user and controls the corresponding operation, the reliability of the operation for the touch device 300 is improved.

In addition, since a touch operation by a touch object having various materials as well as a finger print is necessarily sensed, it is not limited to a touch operation using a bare hand, and the user's convenience is improved.

In the above, embodiments of the touch device of the present invention have been described. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and variations will be possible from the point of view of those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be defined not only by the claims of the present specification, but also by those claims and their equivalents.

10: electronic device 100: housing
101: display device 102: side case
103: lower case 300: touch device
310: force touch sensor 320: touch object detection sensor
311: lower film 312: coil unit
3121: substrate 3122: coil
313: spacer 321: ultrasonic transmission unit
322: dielectric layer 330: signal processing unit
331: control unit 332: storage unit
T101: touch unit

Claims (20)

On touch devices,
a touch unit for performing a touch operation;
a force touch sensor configured to output an electrical signal corresponding to a force applied to the touch unit to determine whether the touch unit has been touched;
a touch object sensing sensor configured to detect a surface shape of a material touched by the touch unit to determine a material of the touch object to determine whether a touch operation is performed according to a user's intention;
a storage unit storing a surface shape for the material of the touch object that is already determined; and
The force touch sensor, the touch object detection sensor, and a control unit connected to the storage unit
including,
The control unit is
When a touch object type registration command is input, the touch object type registration screen is output, and when a signal according to the operation of the input completion button is inputted, a signal applied from the touch object detection sensor is read and the touch object currently touched by the touch unit is read. Determine the surface shape for the material, and store the determined surface shape for the material of the touch object in the storage unit,
When it is determined that the touch object is touched on the touch unit using the signal output from the force touch sensor, the surface shape of the material of the touch object is determined using the signal output from the touch object detection sensor,
If the determined surface shape is the same as the surface shape of the material of the touch object already determined in the storage unit, it is determined that the touch unit is normally touched by the touch object and a driving signal corresponding to the touch operation of the touch device print out,
If the determined surface shape is not the same as the surface shape for the material of the touch material already determined in the storage unit, controlling the state of the touch device to a non-driven state
touch device. According to claim 1,
The force touch sensor is an inductance force sensor that outputs the electrical signal using an inductance that changes according to a force applied to the touch unit. 3. The method of claim 2,
The force touch sensor,
a coil unit including a substrate and at least one coil disposed on at least one of a lower surface and an upper surface of the substrate; and
A touch plate spaced apart from the coil part by a predetermined distance on the coil part and on which the touch part is located
A touch device comprising a. 4. The method of claim 3,
The touch device further comprising a lower film positioned below the coil unit. 5. The method of claim 4
The lower film includes at least a plurality of lower film portions spaced apart from each other or is formed of a single plate. 4. The method of claim 3,
The touch device further comprising a spacer positioned between the coil part and the touch plate to space the coil part and the touch plate by a predetermined distance. 4. The method of claim 3,
The touch object detection sensor is located in a position corresponding to the hollow surrounded by the coil. 8. The method of claim 7,
The touch object detection sensor is a touch device mounted on the substrate in contact with the hollow surrounded by the coil. 9. The method of claim 8,
The touch object detection sensor is an ultrasonic sensor. 10. The method of claim 9,
The ultrasonic transmission unit is located between the upper surface of the touch object detection sensor and the inner surface of the touch unit and is in contact with the upper surface and the inner surface and is made of an ultrasonic wave transmitting material.
A touch device further comprising a. 8. The method of claim 7,
The touch object sensing sensor is attached to an inner surface of the touch plate facing the hollow surrounded by the coil. According to claim 1,
The force touch sensor is a capacitance force sensor that outputs the electrical signal using a capacitance that varies according to a force applied to the touch unit. 13. The method of claim 12,
The force touch sensor,
a lower layer made of metal;
a touch plate spaced apart from the lower layer by a predetermined distance, made of metal, and on which the touch unit is located; and
A dielectric layer formed of a dielectric located between the lower layer and the touch plate
A touch device comprising a. 14. The method of claim 13,
The touch object detection sensor is a touch device attached to the inner surface of the touch plate. According to claim 1,
The force touch sensor is a touch device that is a strain type sensor using a change in voltage or impedance according to a piezo effect using a piezoelectric film. 16. The method of claim 15,
The piezoelectric film is a touch device attached to the inner surface of the touch plate on which the touch unit is located. 17. The method of any one of claims 3, 13 and 16,
The touch plate is a touch device forming a side surface of an electronic device including the touch device. According to claim 1,
a user input unit connected to the control unit and outputting a signal according to the operation of the touch object type registration command and the input completion button to the control unit; and
A display device for outputting the touch object type registration screen under the control of the controller
A touch device further comprising a. delete According to claim 1,
The storage unit stores at least one fingerprint as a surface shape for the material of the touch material that is already determined,
If the determined surface shape is a fingerprint, the control unit determines whether the determined fingerprint is the same as one of the fingerprints stored in the storage unit, and if the determined fingerprint is the same as the fingerprint stored in the storage unit, A touch device for determining that the touch unit has been normally touched.

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