KR20080078111A

KR20080078111A - Touch keypad assembly and management method thereof

Info

Publication number: KR20080078111A
Application number: KR1020070017700A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 이승이
Original assignee: 삼성전자주식회사
Priority date: 2007-02-22
Filing date: 2007-02-22
Publication date: 2008-08-27

Abstract

A touch keypad assembly and an operation method thereof are provided to increase use convenience of a device by preventing input error owing to sensitiveness of a usual touch pad, as data input or a corresponding function is performed through two stages. A keypad(11) includes a plurality of key tops including engraved characters, numbers, and functions. A circuit layer(20) for recognizing a function by a user touch is installed to a lower side of the keypad and is switched to a unit as one unit. More than one switch(25) operated by pressing the unit is installed between the unit and the device. The function is performed by first input of the touch pad and second input of the switch. The circuit layer is a hard type PCB(Printed Circuit Board), a touch sensor circuit layer is formed on the PCB and more than one switch is installed under the PCB. The switch provides restoring power to the unit after switching.

Description

TOUCH KEYPAD ASSEMBLY AND MANAGEMENT METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a perspective view of a portable terminal to which a touch keypad assembly is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is an exploded perspective view of the touch keypad assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating main parts of a state in which a touch keypad assembly is mounted on a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is an exploded perspective view of a touch keypad assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating main parts of a state in which the touch keypad assembly of FIG. 4 is mounted on a terminal according to the present invention;

6 shows the arrangement of a switching device on a terminal according to the invention;

7 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to the present invention;

8 is a flowchart illustrating a key input procedure of a touch keypad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; And

9 is a flowchart illustrating a key input procedure of a touch keypad assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a touch keypad assembly used as a data input means in various electronic devices, and more particularly, to a touch keypad assembly that is implemented to improve user convenience by preventing a user's input error. It is about an operation method.

Typically, various electronic devices, in particular portable electronic devices, comprise a keypad assembly having a plurality of corresponding key tops as part of the data input means. The keypad assembly described above provides convenience to a user by inputting letters or numbers or performing a corresponding function.

As the keypad assembly, a general mechanical metal dome structure and a touch pad method are mainly used.

As a mechanical metal dome structure of the keypad assembly described above, a metal dome is attached to an upper portion of a plurality of corresponding contacts of a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and on the upper portion thereof. A silicon keypad rubber having a predetermined thickness having a corresponding contact protrusion is laminated, and a keypad sheet or a corresponding key button is attached to the top thereof.

In addition, the touch keypad method is intersected so as to have a predetermined coordinate such as a known lead wire or touch bar on a predetermined substrate, and each end thereof is electrically connected to the touch pad circuit, so that a touch operation by a user's finger is performed. The touch pad circuit detects a change in current at a corresponding position. Accordingly, the sensing operation may display data of the pre-stored location on the device or execute the corresponding function.

Recently, in order to respond to various preferences of users, the latter touch keypad assembly has been applied to all or a part of devices.

However, the above-described touch pad method has the advantage that the user can perform the corresponding function only by touching the corresponding keytop, while the desired function is arbitrarily performed by the detection of a sensitive touch action even if it is not desired. Is a cause of lowering the reliability of the equipment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch keypad assembly and a method of operating the same, which are implemented to improve usability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch keypad assembly and a method of operating the same so that an input error by a user does not occur at all.

In order to solve the above object, the present invention provides a keypad for a touch keypad assembly of a device used as a data input means or a function execution means, the keypad comprising a plurality of keytops, each of which is stamped with a corresponding letter / number / function And at least one touch pad circuit layer installed below the keypad to recognize a function corresponding to a user's contact and intermittently connected to the device as a unit, and operated according to the pressurization of the unit between the unit and the device. By installing a switching device, the corresponding function is performed through the primary input of the touch pad circuit and the secondary input of the switching device.

Moreover, the present invention provides a device to which the touch keypad assembly having the above-described configuration is applied. Accordingly, the present invention provides a device including a touch keypad assembly that is used as a data input means or a function execution means, wherein a plurality of lead wires are installed to cross each other so as to sense a current change according to a user's touch of a corresponding position. A touch sensor circuit for recognizing, one or more switching devices to perform a switching operation according to a pressing operation of the touch keypad assembly, and a primary input according to a touch of the touch sensor circuit, and a second switching operation of the switching device It provides a control unit to detect the control to perform the function.

Preferably, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method of operating a touch keypad assembly having the above-described configuration. Accordingly, the present invention provides a touch sensor circuit for sensing a current change according to a user's touch of a corresponding position and recognizing a corresponding function, at least one switching device performing a switching operation according to a pressing operation of the touch keypad assembly; In the method of operating a touch keypad assembly of a device comprising a control unit for controlling to perform a corresponding function according to the input of the touch sensor circuit and the switching device, the process of checking whether the switching device is operating, when the switching device is operated, It provides a process of executing the corresponding function according to the touch position of the touch sensor circuit.

More preferably, the present invention provides another operating method of the touch keypad assembly having the above-described configuration. Accordingly, the present invention provides a touch sensor circuit for detecting a current change according to a user's touch of a corresponding position, and at least one switching device performing a switching operation according to a pressing operation of the touch keypad assembly. A method of operating a touch keypad assembly of a device including a control unit for controlling a function to perform a corresponding function according to an input of a touch sensor circuit and a switching device, the method comprising: checking whether a corresponding touch key of the touch sensor circuit is input; Searching for a function according to the corresponding input position and temporarily storing corresponding data, checking whether at least one switching device operates, and executing the function according to the temporarily stored data when the switching device operates. Provide course.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, if it is determined that the gist of the present invention may be unnecessarily obscured, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In describing the present invention, a portable terminal is illustrated and described with reference to a touch keypad assembly applied thereto. However, the touch keypad assembly according to the present invention is applicable to various electronic devices that may have data input means.

1 is a perspective view of a portable terminal to which a touch keypad assembly is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide type terminal 100 includes a main body 110 and a slide body 120 sliding in the longitudinal direction of the terminal 100 from the main body 110. . The touch keypad assemblies 10 and 30 according to the present invention used as data input means are installed on the surface of the main body 110 when the slide body 120 is completely open. The microphone device 111 is installed below the touch keypad assembly.

A display device 121 is installed on the slide body 120, a speaker device 123 is installed above the display device 121, and another keypad assembly 122 is installed below. The keypad assembly 122 may include a simple menu button and a navigation key button as a button for simply operating a function of the terminal even when the slide body 120 is closed at the main body 110. Again, the keypad assembly 122 of the slide body 120 is applicable as a touch keypad assembly according to the present invention.

On the other hand, the touch keypad assembly (10, 30) according to the present invention does not immediately perform a corresponding function, even if the user touches the key top to execute the data or function. That is, in the present invention, in order to input the corresponding function or data, the user needs to press more in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 1 while touching the corresponding key top to perform the function. Therefore, when the pressure in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 1, the entire touch keypad assembly is slightly lowered to perform a switching operation, and the user will be set to feel a slight click. This is due to solving the unwanted input error due to the sensitivity of the touch keypad which is a problem of the prior art of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view of the touch keypad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, which will be installed inside the main body 110 of the terminal 100, and only the key top 12 of the keypad 11 is located outside the terminal. Exposed. The letter / number is engraved on the keytop 12 to facilitate the user's data input.

The touch keypad assembly 10 includes a keypad 11, which is a dielectric layer, and a touch pad circuit layer 20.

The keypad 11 is exposed to the terminal main body 110, and a key top 12 having a corresponding letter / number engraved therein is formed on a plate of a predetermined width.

The touch pad circuit layer 20 may be attached by bonding or the like to be in close contact with the bottom surface of the keypad 11, and in one embodiment of the present invention, may be formed of a hard type printed circuit board (PCB). .

The touch pad circuit layer 20 may include a touch pad 21, a plurality of sensor units 22 included in the touch pad 21, and predetermined lead wires 23 drawn from the sensor unit 22, respectively. And a tail part 24 electrically connected to the main body of the terminal. The lead wire 23 may be formed of a metallic material such as known copper, and may be formed in a pattern on a PCB. In addition, the tail part 24 may be a flexible printed circuit (FPC) drawn out from the PCB.

3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating main parts of a touch keypad assembly 10 mounted on a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the touch pad circuit layer 20 is installed in one assembly with the keypad 11. The main board 110 is installed on the main board 110. In addition, the touch pad circuit layer 20 is a hard type PCB, a touch pad circuit is provided on the upper surface, the switching device 25 according to the present invention is installed on the bottom surface. The switching device 25 is preferably a mechanical switching device that is formed at the time of pressurization, the contact for the switching operation, is restored to its original position when the pressure is released. In the present invention, a metal dome is used, but a known tact switch and an actuator switch may be used.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the touch keypad assembly 10 including the keypad 11 and the touch pad circuit layer 20 is installed to be interrupted by the case frame 112 of the main body 110. At this time, the touch pad circuit layer 20 allows only the metal dome, which is the switching device 25 installed on the bottom thereof, to contact the case frame. Therefore, when the user presses the entire touch keypad assembly 10, the metal dome supported by the case frame 112 is pressed and the switching operation is performed. In addition, when the pressure is released, the touch keypad assembly may be restored to its original position (state of FIG. 3) by the restoring force of the metal dome. In this case, the tail part 24 drawn from the touch pad circuit layer may be electrically connected to the main board 115 of the main body through the case frame 112.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the touch keypad assembly 30 according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which the touch pad circuit layer 40 is formed of a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and has a base plate having a predetermined thickness (below). 50) was further installed. Accordingly, the keypad 11, the touch pad circuit layer 40, and the base plate 50 may be attached to each other to operate as one assembly.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a state in which the touch keypad assembly of FIG. 4 is mounted on a terminal, and the shaft 51 and the shaft 51 are installed or formed to protrude from the bottom surface of the base plate 50. And a spring 52 installed between the case frame 112 to press the touch keypad assembly 30 to the outside.

In one embodiment of the present invention, if the switching device 25 is installed as a component of the touch keypad assembly 10 and used its own elastic force, in another embodiment of the present invention, the switching device 54 is connected to the case frame of the main body. 112) and provided a separate elastic force. Accordingly, the switching device 54 is installed on a predetermined side PCB 53 and installed on the case frame 112 of the main body, and is electrically connected to the main board 115 of the main body by a predetermined thin wire cable 55. Connected. In addition, the tail part 44 drawn from the touch pad circuit layer 40 may be electrically connected to the main board 115 of the main body through the case frame 112.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of switching devices on a terminal according to the present invention, in which all four locations (ones indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 5) are installed at each corner of the main body 110, but are not limited thereto. It doesn't work. Depending on the configuration of the keytop, one to two or four or more may be installed, and when the touch keypad assembly is pressed, it may be set to allow key input even if any one of the plurality of switching devices is switched.

7 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to the present invention.

The lead wires formed in the touch pad circuit layer 20 are provided such that the upper lead wires A, B, and C and the lower lead wires D, E, and F cross each other in a lattice manner. Although implemented in an integrated manner, various circuit lines receiving other known currents may be used without being limited thereto. Therefore, when a user touches a corresponding region of the touch pad circuit layers 20 and 40, the touch sensor circuit 702 detects a current change in a region where a uniform current is conducted and transmits it to the controller 701. Will be provided. Accordingly, the control unit 701 is to input the data for the area or to perform the corresponding function of the device.

The control unit 701 controls the overall operation of the terminal and receives the detection of the touch sensor circuit 702 according to the present invention and temporarily stores it in the storage unit 704. In addition, by sensing the switching operation of the switching device to control to execute the temporarily stored data or function in the storage unit 704.

The display unit 705 displays the data or function sensed by the touch sensor circuit 702 to the user before the switching operation is performed.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a key input procedure of a touch keypad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step 801, the controller checks whether a switching device is operating. If it is detected that the switching device operates, the controller proceeds to step 803 to search for a function or data according to a corresponding input position of the touch key, and enters step 805 to perform a corresponding function.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a key input procedure of a touch keypad assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. The controller checks whether a touch key is input in step 901. In this case, the input test refers to a state in which the user touches the touch key, not the pressure of the touch keypad assembly to the extent that the switching device operates.

Thereafter, when an input of the touch key is detected, a predetermined timer is driven in step 903. The timer may be reset as a destructive timer when a predetermined time elapses or when a touch key input change request to be described later is requested. Thereafter, in step 905, the function is searched for according to the corresponding input position, and the data is temporarily stored in the storage unit. In operation 907, the temporarily stored function or data may be displayed on the display of the device to inform the user of the function or data to be input.

Thereafter, in step 909, it is checked whether there is a request for changing the input of the touch key. If there is a request for changing the input of the touch key, the process proceeds to step 903 to reset the timer and updates data or functions to be temporarily stored in the storage unit.

If there is no request for changing the input of the touch key, the process proceeds to step 911 and checks whether the switching device operates. The switching device is a state in which the switching device is operated by further pressing while the user touches a keytop for data / function. Thereafter, when it is detected that the switching device is operated, the process proceeds to step 913 to output data temporarily stored in the storage unit or execute a corresponding function.

If the operation of the switching device is not detected in step 911, the process proceeds to step 915 to check whether the timer expires. If the timer expires, the algorithm is terminated. This is to allow the controller to determine an input error and to perform a corresponding function of the terminal even if the corresponding keytop is touched after a certain time has elapsed and the switching device does not operate. In addition, if it is detected in step 915 that the timer has not expired, the process proceeds to step 909 to check whether there is a change in input of the touch key.

Apparently, there are many ways to modify these embodiments while remaining within the scope of the claims. In other words, there may be many other ways in which the invention may be practiced without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Since the touch keypad assembly according to the present invention allows a user to perform data input or a corresponding function in two steps, an input error due to the sensitivity of a conventional touch pad device may be prevented in advance, thereby improving convenience of use of the device. There is.

Claims

In the touch keypad assembly of the device used as data input means or function execution means,

A keypad including a plurality of keytops with corresponding letters / numbers / functions imprinted thereon; And

It is installed on the lower side of the keypad is installed so that the touch pad circuit layer for recognizing the corresponding function according to the user's contact to the device as a unit,

A touch keypad is provided between the unit and the device, and at least one switching device operating according to the pressurization of the unit to perform a corresponding function through the primary input of the touch pad circuit and the secondary input of the switching device. assembly.

The method of claim 1,

The touch pad circuit layer is a touch keypad assembly, characterized in that the hard type PCB.

The method of claim 2,

The touch sensor circuit layer is formed on the upper surface of the PCB, the bottom of the touch keypad assembly, characterized in that one or more switching devices are installed.

The method of claim 3, wherein

And said switching device provides restoring force to said unit after a switching operation by pressurization.

The method of claim 4, wherein

The switching device is a touch keypad assembly, characterized in that any one of the metal dome, tact switch, actuator switch.

The method of claim 1,

The touch pad circuit layer is a touch keypad assembly, characterized in that the flexible printed circuit drawn there is electrically connected to the main board through the case frame of the device.

The method of claim 1,

The case frame further comprises a base plate which is installed to be pressed outward by a predetermined elastic means, the touch keypad assembly, characterized in that the unit is fixed to the upper surface of the base plate.

The method of claim 7, wherein

A predetermined shaft protrudes from the bottom of the base plate so as to penetrate the case frame of the device, and a compression coil spring is installed between the base plate and the case frame in such a manner that the shaft penetrates to provide restoring force to the unit. Characterized by a touch keypad assembly.

The method of claim 7, wherein

The switching device is positioned between the base plate and the case frame of the device, the touch keypad assembly, characterized in that fixed to the upper surface of the case frame, the switching operation is performed by the pressing operation of the base plate.

The method of claim 9,

The switching device is installed on a predetermined PCB fixed on the case frame, the touch keypad assembly, characterized in that electrically connected to the main board of the device by a thin wire cable passing through the case frame.

The method of claim 10,

An apparatus comprising a touch keypad assembly used as data input means or function execution means,

A touch sensor circuit installed to cross a plurality of lead wires and detecting a current change according to a touch of a user's corresponding position to recognize a corresponding function;

At least one switching device configured to perform a switching operation according to a pressing operation of the touch keypad assembly; And

And a controller configured to detect a primary input according to a touch of the touch sensor circuit, and detect a secondary switching operation of the switching device to perform a corresponding function.

The method of claim 12,

And a storage unit for temporarily storing data corresponding to a primary input function by the touch sensor circuit.

The method of claim 13,

And a display device for outputting data corresponding to a primary input function by the touch sensor circuit.

The method of claim 12,

And a timer for determining elapse of a predetermined time after the primary input in order to determine the validity of the input of the secondary switching device after the input of the primary touch pad circuit.

The method of claim 15,

The controller drives the timer after the first input, and if a second input is not detected after a predetermined time elapses, the control unit performs another corresponding function of the device.

The method of claim 12,

The touch pad circuit is composed of a printed circuit including a keypad to operate any one of the switching device according to the physical pressure of the user.

The method of claim 17,

The switching device is characterized in that any one of a metal dome, tact switch, actuator switch.

A touch sensor circuit for sensing a current change according to a user's touch of a corresponding position, at least one switching device performing a switching operation according to a pressing operation of the touch keypad assembly, the touch sensor circuit and switching In the method of operating the touch keypad assembly of the device comprising a control unit for controlling to perform a corresponding function according to the input of the device,

Checking whether the switching device is in operation;

And when the switching device operates, executing a corresponding function according to a touch position of the touch sensor circuit.

The method of claim 19,

And the switching device executes a corresponding function according to a touch position when at least one of the switching devices operates.

Checking whether a corresponding touch key of the touch sensor circuit is input;

Searching for a function according to a corresponding input position and temporarily storing corresponding data when the touch key is input;

Checking whether at least one switching device is in operation; And

And executing a function according to the temporarily stored data when a switching device is operating.

The method of claim 21,

Driving a predetermined timer after checking whether the touch key is input;

And checking whether the timer expires when it is detected that the switching device is inoperative.

The method of claim 22,

And when the timer expires, invalidating the temporarily stored data and performing other corresponding functions of the device.

The method of claim 21,

And temporarily storing data corresponding to a function according to a corresponding input position of the touch key and outputting the information to a display device.

The method of claim 22,

The method may further include checking whether there is an input change of the touch key after temporarily storing data corresponding to a function according to a corresponding input position of the touch key.

And if there is an input change, enters into a process of resetting and restarting the timer.