KR20090114509A - Input sensor and input sensing apparatus including same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An input detection sensor and an input detection device for the same are provided to offer a convenient and efficient input interface by generating the contact information or pressure information by accepting contact and pressure. CONSTITUTION: A contact sensor(210) generates the contact information by accepting the contact. A pressure sensor(220) generates the pressure information by accepting the pressure. The contact sensor generates the contact information by using a capacitance component generated according to the accepted contact. The pressure sensor generates the pressure information by using the capacitance component generated according to the accepted pressure. The electrodes of the pressure sensor include conductive materials.

Description

INPUT SENSOR AND INPUT SENSING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input sensing sensor, comprising: an input sensing sensor capable of providing a convenient and efficient input interface using a contact or pressure accompanied by an input by receiving contact or pressure to generate contact information or pressure information. It relates to an input sensing device comprising.

With the trend of miniaturization and various functions of electronic devices, various technologies have been proposed that can reduce the size of electronic devices and provide electronic devices that can operate as multiplayer. In particular, recently, various types of input detection sensors have been applied to electronic devices.

Unlike conventional mechanical input devices that apply mechanical pressure to the input unit, the touch sensor detects contact with the input unit to determine the presence of the input and the type of the input. Therefore, the touch sensor does not need to protrude to the outside of the electronic device or to be distinguished from the external appearance of the electronic device, unlike the mechanical input device, which is advantageous in terms of thickness reduction of the electronic device and freedom of design.

However, the touch sensor can easily react to unintentional contact, which can cause malfunctions, and the need for a separate means to provide visual, auditory, or tactile feedback to the input makes it perfect for conventional mechanical input devices. It cannot be replaced.

As an alternative to these problems with touch sensors, pressure sensors that sense force or pressure have been proposed as a new type of input device. It is rated as not suitable for input.

However, these distinctive advantages and disadvantages of contact and pressure sensors are only considered as alternative input devices, and the applicability of a new input device combining both sensors with all the advantages of these sensors has not yet been examined. I'm not doing it.

Moreover, the device employing both the touch sensor and the pressure sensor only adds to the user's confusion about the input method, and when the heterogeneous input sensor is used to provide various functions, the number of input parts increases, making the input interface operation complicated and inconvenient. Can be done.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a complex input sensing sensor including a sensor capable of sensing contact and pressure, thereby reducing the size of the input unit to increase the degree of freedom in design, and simplify the input interface. An object of the present invention is to provide an input sensing sensor capable of increasing efficiency and an input sensing device including the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the input detection sensor according to the present invention includes a touch sensor that receives contact to generate contact information, and a pressure sensor that receives pressure to generate pressure information.

In addition, the input sensing device according to the present invention includes an input unit, a sensor unit for sensing the contact and pressure received by the input unit, and a control unit for processing the input by using the contact or pressure sensed by the sensor unit.

According to the present invention, the input detection sensor includes a touch sensor for detecting a touch and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure, thereby determining various types of input. In addition, one input unit may determine one or more inputs, thereby reducing the number of input units included in the electronic device and maximizing convenience and efficiency of the input interface. In addition, the present invention overcomes the limitations of conventional input sensing devices and presents new possibilities in terms of enabling a new input method combining contact and pressure.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device including a touch sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a display unit 110 for outputting an image, a housing 120 forming an appearance, and an input device 130 that receives an input and transmits the input to a central processing unit of the electronic device 100. And the like. Hereinafter, throughout this specification, accepting an input is not only directly receiving an input applied by a physical contact of a user's human body, but also in various forms such as electrically recognizing indirect contact or pressure application through a tool. It should be understood in a broad sense to encompass the way the input is accepted.

1 illustrates a mobile communication terminal as the electronic device 100, the electronic device 100 to which the input sensing sensor according to the present invention can be applied includes a portable media player (PMP), a PDA, a notebook computer, Portable electronic devices such as navigation devices, home appliances such as remote controls, television sets, DVD players, refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, and the like, and various industrial devices and medical devices.

The input device 130 may include at least one input unit exposed to the outside of the electronic device 100, a sensor unit that senses contact and pressure received by the input unit, and a controller that processes an input using the contact or pressure sensed by the sensor unit. And the like. In this case, the sensor unit may be formed of a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and the control unit may be implemented as one integrated circuit chip connected to the flexible printed circuit board through a predetermined circuit.

By applying the input detection sensor according to the present embodiment, the input device 130 can recognize the pressure as well as the contact input. In one embodiment, in addition to the electrode for detecting the user's touch applied to the input device 130, by forming an electrode for sensing the pressure and an elastic layer for determining the degree of pressure in the input sensor, It is possible to determine the pressure that the input entails. Therefore, it is possible for one input unit to provide a plurality of functions according to the operation mode of the electronic device 100.

In an embodiment, when the display unit 110 of the electronic device 100 displays a predetermined image, the input device 130 selects a specific function related to the displayed image by touching a specific key, and the same function is selected for the selected function. By applying a predetermined pressure through a key or other key, the function can be activated or an additional function associated with the function can be executed.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an input sensing sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the input detection sensor 200 according to the present embodiment includes a touch sensor 210 for detecting a contact and a pressure sensor 220 for detecting a pressure, and the contact sensor 210 and the pressure sensor. 220 is connected to the controller 230 for processing the input by using the sensed contact or pressure.

The touch sensor 210 detects a touch accompanying an input, and in one embodiment, detects a touch using a capacitance generated according to the touch. Information about the contact detected by the touch sensor 210 is transmitted to the controller 230, and the controller 230 may determine the number and location of the contact and process the input. The contact sensor 210 may include an electrode made of a conductive material in order to generate the capacitive component according to the contact.

The pressure sensor 220 generates pressure information when the input involves pressure in addition to contact. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor 220 may sense the pressure by using a capacitance or a resistance component generated according to the pressure accompanying the input. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor 220 includes an elastic layer whose thickness is changed according to the applied pressure, and can measure the degree of pressure by using the capacitance component or the resistance component according to the thickness change of the elastic layer. have.

In this case, the elastic layer included in the pressure sensor 220 is preferably formed of a dielectric material having elasticity. When the elastic layer is disposed on the pressure sensor 220 and an electrode layer capable of receiving an input on the elastic layer is disposed, the thickness of the elastic layer is changed due to the pressure applied to the electrode layer. The pressure sensor 220 may transmit information on the size of the capacitance component or the resistance component according to the change in the thickness of the elastic layer, to the controller 230 as pressure information.

The controller 230 processes the input using the contact or pressure sensed by the touch sensor 210 and the pressure sensor 220. The controller 230 may determine a location where the input occurs or the type of the input, and process the input according to the determination result. In an embodiment, when the electronic device 100 displays an image on the display unit 110 and a contact input with pressure occurs, the controller 230 inputs the input using the contact information included in the input. To determine the degree of image change, image selection, and the like, and to reduce, enlarge, rotate, or change the image displayed on the display unit 110 by determining the degree of pressure applied using the pressure information. Secondary image control such as can be performed.

3A and 3B illustrate an input sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3A, the input sensing device 300 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 312 for processing a user input, a sensor unit 314 for detecting contact and pressure, and an input unit 330 for receiving an input. It includes.

The input unit 330 is connected to the input device 130 of the electronic device 100 and receives an input through the input device 130. In one embodiment, the input unit 330 includes a plurality of electrodes and an elastic layer for detecting a contact or pressure generated according to the user's input, so that not only the contact generated due to the input, but also the pressure to detect a variety of inputs The method can be provided to the user.

The input unit 330 may be manufactured in the form of a flexible printed circuit board, and may include a predetermined input area 340 corresponding to the input device 130 of the electronic device 100. The input area 340 may vary according to the size and shape of the input device 130 included in the electronic device 100 and the number of input keys constituting the input device 130. The input through is received through the input unit 330.

The sensor unit 314 senses an input that the input unit 330 receives. In one embodiment, the sensor unit 314 may receive and detect the input of the contact form and the input of the pressure form. In an embodiment, when the input unit 330 receives contact or pressure through a plurality of electrodes and an elastic layer, and a predetermined capacitance component or resistance component is generated according to the received pressure, the sensor unit 314 may generate the electrostatic force. Capacitive or resistive components can be used to sense contact or pressure. The contact or pressure sensed by the sensor unit 314 is processed by the controller 312.

The controller 312 processes the input by using the contact or pressure sensed by the sensor unit 314. In one embodiment, the control unit 312 is formed in the form of a single integrated circuit (IC) chip 310 together with the sensor unit 314 and a flexible circuit board including a connection circuit 320 connected to the input unit 330. It can be mounted on.

The connection circuit 320 is a circuit for electrically connecting the input unit 330, the control unit 312, and the sensor unit 314. For example, the connection circuit 320 is formed on a predetermined circuit board having flexibility by printing or etching. Can be. In particular, when the connection circuit 320 is formed on the flexible circuit board, by mounting the control unit 312 and the sensor unit 314 in the form of a single integrated circuit chip 310 on the flexible circuit board, the electronic device While reducing the space occupied by the touch sensing apparatus 300 in the 100, it is possible to flexibly cope with various types of mechanisms.

3B is a perspective view illustrating a partially disassembled input unit of the touch sensing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3A. Referring to FIG. 3B, the touch sensing apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment may be electrically connected through an integrated circuit chip 310 and a connection circuit 320 including a controller 312 and a sensor unit 314. The substrate 332 may include an elastic layer 334 attached to the flexible substrate 332 and having a thickness that changes depending on the pressure when the user input is accompanied by a pressure, and an electrically grounded ground layer 336.

The elastic layer 334 is a layer including an elastic dielectric material whose thickness varies according to the degree of pressure applied by the user. In one embodiment, the elastic layer 334 is made of a material such as silicone or urethane. When an input is received through the input device 130 of the electronic device 100, a capacitive component or a resistive component may be generated using the electrode and the ground layer included in the flexible substrate 332 as a metal substrate and the elastic layer 334 as a dielectric. Can be. At this time, the capacitance C is determined as in Equation 1.

In Equation 1, ε is the dielectric constant of the material forming the elastic layer 334, A is the electrode area of the pressure sensor, d is the distance between the electrode and the ground layer 336. When the user's input is accompanied by a pressure, d, the distance between the electrode and the ground layer 336, is changed by the pressure, so that the capacitance information indicating the amount of change in capacitance according to the change of d is the pressure information according to the input Can be generated as:

The ground layer 336 is a layer electrically connected to the ground electrode of the circuit formed on the electrode of the flexible substrate 332. In one embodiment, the ground layer 336 is formed of a separate cross-section flexible printed circuit board or integrated with the flexible substrate 332. It can be formed by folding as folded after forming. By connecting the ground electrode to the ground layer 336, the sensor unit 314 may more accurately sense the capacitance component or the resistance component generated by contact or pressure.

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a cross section of an input unit included in the input sensing device shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4A, the input unit 400 according to the present exemplary embodiment may be applied to a flexible substrate 410a including electrode layers 413a and 415a on which electrodes are formed, an insulating layer 411a, and the like. An elastic layer 420a whose thickness varies with pressure, and a third electrode layer 430a electrically connected to a ground electrode of a circuit formed on the flexible substrate 410a. 4A illustrates a structure including a plurality of electrode layers 413a and 415a, and pressure sensors 415a and 419a to 430a are disposed below the contact sensors 413a and 417a. The input detection sensor 300 having the input unit 400 having the above structure has a pressure sensor 415a or 419a to 430a disposed below the contact sensor 413a and 417a to perform a primary function by contact. In addition, it may support a complex type of input method that performs a secondary function when pressure is additionally applied thereto.

The flexible substrate 410a includes an insulating layer 411a, a plurality of electrode layers 413a and 415a formed on the insulating layer 411a, and protective layers 417a and 419a formed on the electrode layers 413a and 415a. can do. The insulating layer 411a may include insulating polyimide (PI), polyester (Polyestere), or liquid crystal polymer (LCP).

The electrode layers 413a and 415a are conductive thin film layers formed on the insulating layer 411a and are usually formed of nickel, gold, chromium, copper, or the like. The electrode layers 413a and 415a may be formed on the insulating layer 411a by casting, laminating, or plating. When using the laminating method, a predetermined adhesive layer may be formed between the insulating layer 411a and the electrode layers 413a and 415a. (adhesive layer) may be disposed.

The electrode layers 413a and 415a receive a contact or pressure transmitted through a user's input through the input device 130 of the electronic device 100. In an embodiment, the first electrode layer 413a formed on one surface of the insulating layer 411a may receive contact, and the second electrode layer 415a may receive pressure. A circuit formed in a predetermined pattern on the electrode layers 413a and 415a may sense a contact through the first electrode layer 413a and a pressure through the second electrode layer 415a. In an embodiment, the first electrode layer 413a is connected to a separate electrode tip included in the input device 130 to sense a contact with the electrode tip, or to configure an input unit of the input device 130. The contact with the dielectric layer can be detected.

In an embodiment, the first electrode layer 413a and the second electrode layer 415a transmit a change in the capacitance component or resistance component generated according to contact and pressure to the sensor unit 314, and the sensor unit 314. Detects an input using a change in the capacitance component or the resistance component. When a touch is included in the user's input, the touch may be sensed through a capacitive component generated between the first electrode layer 413a and the body in contact with the user. On the other hand, if it is determined that the pressure is included in the user input, the thickness of the elastic layer 420a at the pressure application site is changed according to the pressure, the capacitance component or resistance according to the degree of pressure received by the elastic layer 420a The pressure can be sensed by the component.

The elastic layer 420a may be formed of a dielectric having elasticity and may use silicon as an example. When the thickness of the elastic layer 420a changes due to pressure, the capacitance between the second electrode layer 415a and the third electrode layer 430a changes according to the thickness change, so that the sensor unit 314 senses the pressure. can do.

The contact and pressure received by the input unit 400 are sensed by the sensor unit 314 electrically connected to the input unit 400, and the controller 312 processes the input by using the detected contact or pressure. In an embodiment, the controller 312 may be mounted on the sensor unit 314 and one integrated circuit chip 310 to process the input.

The third electrode layer 430a is a layer for forming an electrical ground to measure the capacitance generated in the elastic layer 420a by pressure. In one embodiment, the third electrode layer 430a is formed of a flexible circuit board having a cross-sectional structure and has a constant voltage. Keep it. In this case, it is preferable that the electrode layer included in the cross-section flexible circuit board is attached to the elastic layer, and the third electrode layer 430a is electrically connected to the ground electrode of the circuit included in the electrode layers 413a and 415a. By connecting the ground electrode of the first electrode layer 413a that receives the contact and the ground electrode of the second electrode layer 415a that receives the pressure to the third electrode layer 430a, the sensor unit 314 is connected to the contact or pressure. It is possible to accurately measure the capacitance or the resistance component generated by the.

4B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a cross section of an input unit of an input sensing sensor according to another exemplary embodiment. The input unit illustrated in FIG. 4B is connected to a first first electrode layer 414b for receiving an input, and a constant voltage. And a second electrode layer 430b applied to the ground layer, and accommodate both contact and pressure through the first first electrode layer 414b.

In the present embodiment, the first electrode layer 414b is disposed on the insulating layer 412b and may be formed by laminating, casting, plating, or the like as described above. The protective layer 416b may be selectively disposed on the first electrode layer 414b.

When a capacitive component is generated between the contact object and the first electrode layer 414b due to a contact received by the first electrode layer 414b, the sensor unit 314 senses a user's contact using the capacitive component. When the protective layer 416b is disposed, it is possible for the protective layer 416b to serve as a dielectric layer for generating a capacitance component.

On the other hand, when pressure is applied to the first electrode layer 414b, the thickness of the elastic layer 420b is changed by the pressure, and the sensor unit 314 is formed by using a capacitance component indicating an amount of change in capacitance according to the changed thickness. Can sense the pressure. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A, the thickness of the input sensing device 300 is implemented by implementing the input unit 400 capable of sensing contact and pressure with one first electrode layer 414b. It is possible to reduce it.

5A and 5B illustrate a method of operating a pressure sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5A, the pressure sensor according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of electrodes 510a and 520a for receiving pressure 500a from a user, and an elastic layer 530a disposed under the electrodes 510a and 520a. It includes.

The electrodes 510a and 520a may be disposed on the same plane, and in one embodiment, the electrodes 510a and 520a may be spaced apart from each other on the elastic layer 530a. Therefore, the thickness of the elastic layer 530a changes in the region including the electrode 510a to which the pressure 500a is applied, as shown in FIG. 5A.

That is, when the pressure 500a is not applied, the elastic layer 530a, which was maintained at the same thickness d, receives the pressure 500a as the thickness decreases to d 'in some regions by the pressure 500a. A change in electrical resistance, that is, a predetermined resistance component 540a, occurs between one electrode 520a and the other electrode 510a. In FIG. 5A, the elastic layer 530a is preferably made of a material having a uniform resistivity. Although the resistive component 540a is illustrated as being generated in this embodiment, since the width of the cross section of the elastic layer 530a is changed, a change in capacitance, that is, a capacitance component may occur between the electrodes 510a and 520a. have.

The resistance component 540a generated between the electrodes 510a and 520a is sensed by the sensor unit 312. The sensor unit 312 is formed by the electrical resistance between the electrodes 510a and 520a without the pressure 500a applied, and the electrical resistance between the electrodes 510a and 520a generated as the pressure 500a is applied. The difference may be used to detect the pressure 500a.

In the above, FIG. 5A was demonstrated from the viewpoint of a pressure sensor. However, the electrodes 510a and 520a of FIG. 5A may be used as electrodes of the touch sensor. That is, when a light input such that the thickness of the elastic layer 530a is applied does not change, the touch is sensed through a contact sensor connected to the electrodes 510a and 520b, and the user applies a force to the thickness of the elastic layer 530a. When the pressure is changed by using the resistance component that occurs.

On the other hand, Figure 5a shows an example of the configuration of the pressure sensor, the electrodes 510a, 520a is located on the upper portion of the elastic layer, but unlike the electrode 510a, 520a is formed on the lower portion of the elastic layer, the same principle Pressure can be detected by

Referring to FIG. 5B showing another example of the configuration of the pressure sensor, in the pressure sensor, the plurality of electrodes 510b and 520b may be disposed to face each other. In one embodiment, the plurality of electrodes (510b, 520b) disposed to face each other may be formed on a printed circuit board. Accordingly, the layer in which the electrodes 510b and 520b are disposed includes a predetermined insulating layer 530b in addition to the electrodes 510b and 520b. The insulating layer 530b may be formed of an insulating material such as PSR (Photo Solder Resist) on the electrodes 510b and 520b made of metal such as copper.

At this time, when the insulating layer 530b is disposed in an area where the electrodes 510b and 520b face each other, the resistance component 550b according to the pressure 500b due to the difference in resistivity between the insulating layer 530b and the elastic layer 540b. It may be difficult to accurately measure. Accordingly, by forming a hole in an area where the electrodes 510b and 520b face each other to remove the insulating layer 530b, only the elastic layer 540b is disposed between the electrodes 510b and 520b so that the pressure 500b. ), The sensor unit 314 can accurately detect the change in the resistance component 550b. The above-described holes can be formed by not applying PSR ink to a region corresponding to the electrode by using a solder mask or the like in the flexible circuit board manufacturing process. The hole is preferably formed in the same shape as the electrodes 510b and 520b, but may be formed in a shape included in the areas of the electrodes 510a and 520b with a smaller area than the electrodes 510b and 520b.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a touch sensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the touch sensing apparatus 600 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an input unit 610 and an input unit at least in which a predetermined area is connected to an input device 130 of the electronic device 100 and the like to receive an input from a user. The sensor unit 620 may sense a contact and a pressure received by the 610, and a controller 630 may process an input using a pressure or a contact detected by the sensor 620.

Some areas of the input unit 610 may be connected to the input device 130 of the electronic device 100, and may receive an input from a user through the input device 130. Meanwhile, in order to display the activation state of the input unit 610 to the user, a predetermined light emitting device or the like may be provided in the input unit 610. In one embodiment, the input unit may be configured using a light emitting diode (LED). The activation state of 610 may be displayed.

The sensor unit 620 senses the contact and pressure that the input unit 610 receives. In one embodiment, the sensor unit 620 includes a contact detecting unit 622 for detecting a contact and a pressure detecting unit 624 for detecting a pressure, thereby detecting all of the contact and pressure that the input unit 610 receives. Can be.

The touch detector 622 detects the contact when the user touches the input unit 610 to input a specific command. The touch sensing unit 622 may receive a contact through a predetermined electrode layer, and sense a contact by using a capacitance component generated by the contact.

When the user applies a predetermined pressure to the input unit 610, the pressure detector 624 detects the presence or absence of pressure or the strength of the pressure. In one embodiment, the pressure sensing unit 624 may sense the pressure by using a change in the thickness of the elastic layer of the input unit 610 that appears as the pressure is applied. In this case, when the elastic layer is formed of a dielectric material having elasticity, the pressure may be sensed by using a capacitance component generated in the elastic layer by pressure, and the elastic layer is formed by using a material having a uniform resistivity. Therefore, the pressure can be sensed using the resistance component.

The controller 630 receives input information generated by the sensor unit 620 and processes the input received by the input unit 610. The control unit 630 uses the contact or pressure sensed by the touch sensing unit 622 and the pressure sensing unit 624 to determine the type and location of the input unit 610 that receives the input and the operation mode of the electronic device 100. An operation method of the input unit 610 that receives the input may be determined and the input may be processed. At this time, as mentioned above, by providing a device such as a light emitting diode in the input unit 610, it can be displayed to the user whether the input is properly processed.

7 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of operating an input sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the operation method of the input sensing apparatus 600 according to the present embodiment starts with the input unit 610 accepting an input (S700). The input received by the input unit 610 may include a contact, a pressure, and the like.

When the input unit 610 receives the input, the sensor unit 620 detects the contact and pressure accompanying the input (S710). In one embodiment, the contact included in the input may be detected by the touch sensor 622 including a touch sensor, the pressure may be detected by the pressure sensor 624 including a pressure sensor. If only the input is accompanied by a contact, the pressure sensing unit 624 outputs information indicating that no pressure is detected, and if the touch and input are accompanied at the same time, the touch sensing unit 622 indicates that a contact is detected. The information is output, and the pressure detector 624 outputs information indicating that the pressure is detected. On the other hand, the contact sensor may be disposed on the pressure sensor.

In one embodiment, the sensor unit 620 generates input information based on the detected contact or pressure (S720). The input information may include contact information or pressure information, and in one embodiment, the contact information is generated using the capacitive component according to the contact, and the pressure information is generated using the capacitive component or the resistance component according to the pressure. can do.

The sensor unit 620 may include an electrode layer having a predetermined circuit and a dielectric layer to generate input information. The body of the user who contacts the electrode layer and the input unit 610 is recognized as an electrode, and the capacitance generated in the dielectric layer disposed between the electrode layer and the body of the user may be used as contact information. In addition, by arranging the dielectric layer having elasticity, it is possible to use the capacitance component according to the thickness of the dielectric layer that changes with the applied pressure as the pressure information.

The input information generated by the sensor unit 620 is transferred to the control unit 630, and the control unit 630 processes the input accommodated by the input unit 610 according to the input information (S730). The control unit 630 receives the input information, and processes the received input according to the type, location, and operation of the input unit 610 according to the operation mode of the electronic device 100. Can be. The controller 630 may display the input processing result to the user through the input unit 610.

8 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of operating an input sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the operation method of the input sensing device 600 according to the present embodiment starts with the controller 630 recognizing an operation mode of the electronic device 100 (S800).

In an embodiment, the controller 630 may periodically monitor the operation mode change of the electronic device 100. The controller 630 recognizes the operation mode of the electronic device 100 regardless of whether the input of the input unit 610 is accepted, and when the input is accepted, the input received more efficiently according to the operation mode of the electronic device 100. Can be processed.

When the input unit 610 accepts an input (S810), the controller 630 determines an input that can be recognized according to an operation mode (S820). As an example, assume that the electronic device 100 operates in any of modes I, II, and III, and assume that the input unit 610 receives contact and pressure, pressure, and contact in each mode. The controller 630 may selectively operate the contact detector 622 or the pressure detector 624 of the sensor unit 620 according to the operation mode of the electronic device. Accordingly, the input sensing device 600 may selectively recognize the contact and the pressure accommodated by the input unit 610 according to the operation mode of the electronic device 100.

As a result of the determination in step S820, when it is determined that the electronic device 100 operates in the mode I, both the touch sensing unit 622 and the pressure sensing unit 624 are activated. Accordingly, the contact and the pressure accommodated by the input unit 610 are all recognized, and the contact sensor 622 and the pressure sensor 624 generate contact information and pressure information as input information (S830 to S840). As described above, the pressure detector 624 may generate pressure information by using the capacitance component and the resistance component according to the pressure (S830), and the contact detector 622 uses the capacitance component according to the contact. In operation S840, contact information may be generated.

As a result of the determination in step S820, when it is determined that the electronic device 100 operates in the mode II, only the pressure sensing unit 624 is activated. Therefore, the contact received by the input unit 610 is not recognized, only the pressure is recognized. The pressure sensing unit 624 generates pressure information as input information by using the capacitance component and the resistance component according to the pressure (S850).

On the other hand, if it is determined in operation S820 that the electronic device 100 operates in the mode III, only the touch sensing unit 622 is activated, and only the contact accompanying the input accepted by the input unit 610 is recognized. Therefore, the pressure detector 624 does not operate, and the touch detector 622 generates contact information by using the capacitance component according to the recognized contact (S860).

The input information generated by the sensor unit 620 in steps S830 to S860 is transferred to the control unit 630, and the control unit 630 processes the received input using the input information (S870). By determining an operation mode of the electronic device 100 and processing an input according to the operation mode, it prevents a user's input unit malfunction that may occur in the touch sensor, and various inputs according to the operation mode of the electronic device 100 by one input unit. It is possible to provide a function.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments of the present invention, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed in the claims. Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

1 illustrates an electronic device including an input sensing sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram illustrating an input sensing sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3A and 3B illustrate an input sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a cross section of an input unit included in the input sensing device shown in FIG. 3;

5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an operating method of a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a block diagram illustrating an input sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

7 and 8 are flowcharts provided to explain a method of operating an input sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the main parts of the drawing

200: input detection sensor 210: contact sensor

220: pressure sensor 300, 600: input sensing device

314, 620: sensor unit 312, 630: control unit

310: integrated circuit chip

Claims (26)

In the input detection sensor for detecting the input delivered by the user, A contact sensor that accepts the contact and generates contact information; And A pressure sensor that receives the pressure and generates pressure information; Input detection sensor comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact sensor, The input detection sensor, characterized in that for generating contact information using the capacitance component generated in accordance with the received contact. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor, And input pressure sensor by using the capacitance component generated according to the received pressure. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor, The input detection sensor, characterized in that for generating the pressure information by using a resistance component generated in accordance with the received pressure. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor, A plurality of electrodes comprising a conductive material; And An elastic layer whose thickness varies according to the pressure applied to the electrode; Input detection sensor comprising a. The method of claim 5, wherein the pressure sensor, And the plurality of electrodes are spaced apart from each other and disposed above or below the elastic layer. The method of claim 5, wherein the pressure sensor, The plurality of electrodes are disposed to face each other, And the elastic layer is disposed between the electrodes. The method of claim 7, wherein the pressure sensor, At least a portion of the electrode is connected to the elastic layer. The method of claim 5, wherein the pressure sensor, And input pressure sensor by using a capacitance component generated between the plurality of electrodes according to a change in thickness of the elastic layer. The method of claim 5, wherein the pressure sensor, And input pressure sensor by using a resistance component generated between the plurality of electrodes according to a change in thickness of the elastic layer. The method of claim 5, wherein the elastic layer, An input sensing sensor comprising a dielectric material having elasticity. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact sensor, An electrode layer comprising a conductive material; Input detection sensor comprising a. The method of claim 1, And the pressure sensor is disposed under the contact sensor. An input sensing device applied to an electronic device, An input unit; A sensor unit for sensing contact and pressure received by the input unit; And A controller configured to process an input using a contact or pressure sensed by the sensor unit; Input sensing device comprising a. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor unit, A touch sensing unit sensing the touch; And A pressure sensing unit sensing the pressure; Input sensing device comprising a. The method of claim 15, wherein the touch sensing unit, And detecting the touch by using the capacitive component generated by the contact. The method of claim 15, wherein the pressure sensing unit, And detecting the pressure by using the capacitance component generated by the pressure. The method of claim 15, wherein the pressure sensing unit, And detecting the pressure by using a resistance component generated by the pressure. The method of claim 15, wherein the input unit, A plurality of electrodes comprising a conductive material; And An elastic layer whose thickness is changed by the pressure; Input sensing device comprising a. The method of claim 19, wherein the input unit, And the plurality of electrodes are spaced apart from each other and disposed above or below the elastic layer. The method of claim 19, wherein the input unit, The plurality of electrodes are disposed to face each other, An input sensing device, wherein the elastic layer is disposed between the electrodes; The method of claim 19, wherein the input unit, Generating a capacitance component in accordance with the thickness change of the elastic layer, The sensor unit senses the pressure using the capacitance component. The method of claim 19, wherein the input unit, Generating a resistance component according to a change in thickness of the elastic layer, The sensor unit senses the pressure using the resistance component. The method of claim 19, wherein the input unit, Generating a capacitive component according to the contact through the electrode, The sensor unit is characterized in that for detecting the touch using the capacitance component. The method of claim 19, wherein the elastic layer, An input sensing device comprising a dielectric material having elasticity. The method of claim 14, wherein the control unit, And an input sensing device using input information generated by the sensor unit according to an operation mode of the electronic device.

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