KR20100052367A - Touchscreen device having conductive sensing-net of two dimensions - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A touch screen device having conductive sensing-net of two dimension is provided to form the conductive sensing-net on substrate one side of substrate member, thereby simplifying a manufacturing process. CONSTITUTION: A substrate member has touch sensing area. A conductive sensing net(31) is formed into a 2D net structure having a plurality of nodes and unit branches on one side of the substrate to map to the touch sensing area and transmits a scanning signal. A plurality of scanning signal input terminal(35-1~35-4) is electrically connected to the conductive sensing net in different location. A scanning signal generator(21) generates the scanning signal. A switching circuit(22) provides selective electronic connection between the scanning signal generating source and the scanning signal input terminals.

Description

TOUCHSCREEN DEVICE HAVING CONDUCTIVE SENSING-NET OF TWO DIMENSIONS}

The present invention relates to a touch screen device, and more specifically, to a two-dimensional conductivity having improved operation performance that can increase productivity, reduce manufacturing costs, realize high resolution, and facilitate large-area, by a simplified structure. The present invention relates to a touch screen device having a sensing network.

The touch screen does not use an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and detects the position of a person's hand or an object on a character or a specific location on the screen (screen) to process the specific function. It is attached a lot. The touch screen device includes a resistive film type, surface acoustic wave type, infrared light shielding type, electromagnetic induction type, and capacitive type.

In general, a resistive touch screen uses a PET substrate having a conductive film (ITO) formed on its rear surface, and faces an electrically conductive film (ITO) formed on a glass with an air layer thereon. Spacers are arranged at equal intervals in the space in order to maintain the space between the two surfaces and prevent mutual contact (short) when not touching. As described above, the resistive touch screen is inevitably reduced in light transmittance due to its structural features. Moreover, in order to maintain durability, the conductive film must be thickened because the conductive films are in mechanical contact with each other when they are touched. As a result, the transmittance becomes worse and even yellowish.

In the touch screen using the surface acoustic wave, when the vibration is transmitted from the transducer for transmission on the X and Y axes, the elastic wave propagates on the glass surface. At this time, when the finger is placed on the glass surface, the vibration of the portion is absorbed by the finger so that the vibration is not transmitted and the position can be detected. This method may not be detected when touched by an object that does not absorb elastic waves on the glass surface such as nails or sticks. In addition, if water droplets remain, surface acoustic waves are absorbed there, which may interfere with touch detection.

Infrared light shielding type touch screen installs light emitting surface using LED on one side of horizontal and vertical and light receiving surface on the other side. Thus, when the screen is touched, the light is blocked so that it is possible to determine where the light is blocked. Since there is no detection element on the screen, the transmittance is 100%. While there is such an advantage, the environment that can be used is limited because it is weak to an object blocking the light source such as dust or insects. In addition, if the light or sunlight enters the screen, there may be a problem.

Electro-induced touch screen is a special device that can generate a magnetic field, and has been used in tablets and the like, but its application range is limited because it cannot be operated with a finger. In general, when the light passes through the membrane, reflection occurs at the boundary between the air and the membrane or at the boundary between the membrane and the material. Therefore, the smaller the number of films and layers, the less unnecessary reflection occurs. In this regard, the capacitive touch screen has good transmittance and almost no unnecessary reflection because there is no air layer between the layers. However, in order to increase the resolution, simply miniaturizing the pattern has several problems.

While these types of touchscreens are widely installed in various devices, there are some areas to be solved to reduce the price and to improve the performance. In other words, there is a need for a touch screen device having a simplified structure and improved operating performance. In addition, existing touch screen devices have a problem in that large area is not easy.

An object of the present invention is a touch screen device having a two-dimensional conductive sensing network having improved operation performance that can increase productivity, reduce manufacturing costs, implement high resolution sensing capability, and facilitate large area by a simplified structure. To provide.

One aspect of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem relates to a touch screen device. The touch screen device of the present invention comprises: a substrate member having a touch sensing area; And a conductive sensing network having a two-dimensional network structure having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of unit branches on one surface of the substrate member to be mapped to the touch sensing region, and transmitting a scan signal.

In one embodiment, the plurality of scan signal input terminals are electrically connected to different locations of the conductive sensing network.

In one embodiment, a scan signal generator for generating the scan signal; And a switching circuit providing a selective electrical connection between the scan signal source and the plurality of scan signal inputs.

In one embodiment, the switching circuit has a normal mode and a sleep mode, in the normal mode switching operation so as to have a periodic electrical connection to the plurality of scan signal input terminals sequentially in the sleep mode, in the sleep operation mode The scan signal source is fixed to any one of the plurality of scan signal input terminals to have an electrical connection.

In an exemplary embodiment, the scan signal generator may include a plurality of scan signal generators generating the scan signals and individually connected to the plurality of scan signal input terminals.

In one embodiment, a ratio of the electrical characteristics of the plurality of output signals including a scan signal output terminal electrically connected to the conductive sensing network, input through the plurality of scan signal input terminal output to the scan signal output terminal The touched position in the touch sensing area is determined by analysis.

In one embodiment, it includes a plurality of scan signal output terminals electrically connected to different locations of the conductive sensing network.

In example embodiments, the touched position in the touch sensing area is determined by a ratio comparison analysis of electrical characteristic values of the plurality of output signals output from the plurality of scan signal output terminals.

In one embodiment, the resistance of the unit branches disposed on the outermost side of the conductive sensing network is not the same as the resistance of the unit branches disposed on the inner side.

In one embodiment, a scan signal source for generating the scan signal; A stylus fan configured to input the scan signal to the conductive sensing network; And a stylus fan driver connected between the scan signal source and the stylus fan to drive the stylus fan.

In one embodiment, the conductive single scan line comprises any one of a transparent indium tin oxide, a transparent conductive polymer, and an opaque conductor.

In one embodiment, the substrate member includes a protective film covering the conductive single scan line.

In one embodiment, the scan signal comprises an alternating current signal.

In one embodiment, the scan signal comprises a modulated signal.

In one embodiment, the substrate member comprises a ground shield.

In an exemplary embodiment, the display device may include a polarizer mounted on one surface of the substrate member.

According to the touch screen device having the two-dimensional conductive sensing network of the present invention, since the conductive sensing network is formed on one surface of the substrate member, the manufacturing process can be simplified and productivity can be increased, thereby making the manufacturing cost very low. Since the network structure of the conductive sensing network can be configured very densely and precisely, a high resolution touch screen can be realized. In addition, it is possible to easily achieve a large area of the touch screen by repeatedly expanding the simplified network structure. In addition, since the conductive sensing network is completed in a single layer using a single substrate member, the touch screen device can be thinned.

In order to fully understand the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment of the present invention may be modified in various forms, the scope of the invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described in detail below. This embodiment is provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the shape of the elements in the drawings and the like may be exaggerated to emphasize a more clear description. It should be noted that the same members in each drawing are sometimes shown with the same reference numerals. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and constructions which may be unnecessarily obscured by the gist of the present invention are omitted.

1 is a view showing a circuit configuration of a touch screen device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing a conductive sensing net and a portion thereof formed on one surface of the substrate member. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the substrate member.

1 to 3, the touch screen device 10 of the present invention includes a substrate member 38 having a touch sensing area 30 and a conductive sensing network 31 formed on one surface of the substrate member 38. Include. The conductive sensing net 31 is configured on one surface of the substrate member 38 to be mapped to the touch sensing region 30. The conductive sensing net 31 is formed in a two-dimensional network structure in which a plurality of nodes 32 and a plurality of unit branches 33 are arranged in a lattice shape. Therefore, the conductive sensing network 31 is formed with a plurality of empty cells 34 surrounded by a square by a plurality of nodes 32 and a plurality of unit branches 33. A plurality of scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35-4 and a plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 are connected to the conductive sensing network 31. For example, when the conductive sensing network 31 has a rectangular structure as a whole, four scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35-4 and four scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 are conductive sensing networks. It can be connected to the four corners of 31.

The plurality of nodes 32 and the branches 33 constituting the conductive sensing net 31 may be, for example, transparent indium tin oxide or a transparent conductive polymer as a light transmissive conductor having a resistive component. The substrate member 38 may use a transparent substrate, for example, a PET film. When the touch screen device 10 is used as a display overlay touch screen mounted on a screen of a display device such as a liquid crystal display, the substrate member 38 and the conductive sensing net 31 use transparent materials for light transmission. However, when light transmission is unnecessary, the substrate member 38 or the conductive sensing net 31 may use a translucent or opaque material. Although not shown in detail in the drawing, the substrate member 38 is provided with a ground shield (not shown) surrounding the outer edge of the conductive sensing network 52. The ground shield may use the same material as the conductive sensing net 31.

As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate member 38 has a structure in which a protective film 39 is formed to cover the conductive sensing net 31 and the surface is mounted on the surface of the display device 40. The polarizing plate 42 is mounted on the upper surface of the substrate member 38. Therefore, the substrate member 38 may be protected by the polarizing plate 42, and the operating efficiency of the touch screen device may be improved.

4 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a modified structure of the empty cell of the conductive sensing network.

4 to 7, the structure of the empty cells 34 of the conductive sensing network 31 may be modified into various structures such as a rectangular structure, a circular structure, and an intersecting structure. In addition, the conductive wires 39a and 39b spirally extended to the inner region of the empty cell 34 may be configured, or the conductive wires 39c may be configured to extend in a comb-tooth structure.

8 is a diagram illustrating a pattern of the outermost branches of the conductive sensing network in a zigzag pattern to have a relatively high resistance.

Referring to FIG. 8, the unit branches 33 ′ disposed at the outermost portion of the conductive sensing net 31 may have a higher resistance than the unit branches 33 provided inside. For this purpose, for example, the shape may have a zigzag structure. It is possible to improve the touch sensitivity of the conductive sensing net 31 by having the unit branches 33 ′ configured to have a relatively high resistance.

9 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration method for plotting a plurality of scan signal output terminals.

As shown in (a) to (c) of FIG. 9, the plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 may be connected to the high resistance 37-1 for grounding to be grounded. . Alternatively, the capacitor 37-1a or the coil 37-1b may be connected to perform the same function. By such a structure, the touch sensitivity of the conductive sensing network 31 may be improved.

10 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a conductive sensing network and two-dimensional coordinates of a display device.

Referring to FIG. 10, the network structure of the conductive sensing net 31 has, for example, a two-dimensional network structure. The two-dimensional network structure formed of the plurality of nodes 32 and the plurality of unit branches 33 is disposed to have a uniform dispersion degree in the touch sensing area 30. Therefore, any point of the conductive sensing network 31 mapped to the touch sensing region 30 may correspond to two-dimensional coordinates. In addition, the output signals S1 to S4 output from the plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 have a correlation with the touched position of the conductive sensing network 31. That is, the ratio of the distance to the touched position TP and the respective distances L1 to L4 to the plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 and the plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36- The ratio of the electrical characteristic values (for example, the detection voltage) of the output signals S1 to S4 output from 4) is correlated. Therefore, the coordinate values of the touched position may be obtained by ratio comparison analysis of the voltages V_S1 to V_S4 detected by the plurality of sensing circuits 23 to 26.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the touch screen device 10 is driven by the touch screen driving circuit 20 to detect a touched position when there is a touch input in the touch sensing area 30 of the substrate member 38. The touch screen driving circuit 20 largely includes a scan signal generator 21, a switching circuit 22, a plurality of sensing circuits 23 to 26, and a controller 27. The signal generated from the scan signal source 21 inputs the scan signal to any one of the plurality of scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35 to 4 connected to the conductive sensing network 31 through the switching circuit 22. The plurality of sensing circuits 23 to 26 receive scan signals that are respectively connected and output to the plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 connected to the conductive sensing network 31 and detect voltage levels of the output signals. To the control unit 27. The controller 27 detects the touch position by ratio comparison analysis of the voltages V_S1 to V_S4 detected by the plurality of sensing circuits 23 to 26.

The scan signal generated by the scan signal generator 21 may use various types of AC signals such as high frequency signals and low frequency signals, and may use modulated signals by various modulation methods.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a voltage waveform of a scan signal output from a plurality of scan signal output terminals connected to a conductive sensing network, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between an input and an output of a scan signal.

Referring to FIG. 11, scan signals G1 to G4 that are switched through a plurality of scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35-4 and sequentially input, and a plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 according to respective inputs The touched position may be calculated by ratio comparison analysis of the detection voltages V_S1 to V_S4 of the output signals S1 to S4 simultaneously outputted at ˜36-4).

The switching circuit 22 preferably has two modes of operation, a normal mode and a sleep mode, in order to reduce power consumption. For example, in the normal mode, the switching circuit 22 switches the scan signal source 21 to the plurality of scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35-4 in order to have a periodic electrical connection. On the other hand, in the sleep operation mode, the switching circuit 22 fixes the scan signal source 21 to one of the plurality of scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35-4 to have an electrical connection. Therefore, in the sleep mode, since the switching operation of the switching circuit 22 is stopped, power consumption due to the switching operation can be reduced.

13 and 14 illustrate examples of modified positions of a plurality of scan signal input terminals and scan signal output terminals connected to a conductive sensing network.

13 and 14, the plurality of scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35-4 and the plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 are connected to the conductive sensing network 31. It can be changed in various ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35-4 are connected to four corners of the conductive sensing network 31, and scan signal output terminals 36-3 are respectively formed at the center of each side. 1 ~ 36-4) may be connected. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 14, scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 are connected to four corners of the conductive sensing network 31, and scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35 are respectively formed at the center of each side. -4) may be connected.

15 is a diagram illustrating a modified example in which individual scan signal sources are connected to a plurality of scan signal input terminals.

Referring to FIG. 15, the touch screen driving circuit 20a of the touch screen device 10a according to one modification of the present invention may include a plurality of scan signal generators 21-1 to 21-4 and a plurality of sensing circuits 23. 26, and a control unit 27. For example, four scan signal generators 21-1 to 21-4 are connected to one scan signal input terminal 35-1 to 35-4, respectively. The frequencies f1 to f4 of the scan signals generated from the four scan signal sources 21-1 to 21-4 may be different or the same. When having different frequencies, each scan signal generated from four scan signal sources 21-1 to 21-4 is simultaneously input to the scan signal input terminals 35-1 to 35-4, or has a predetermined period and is sequentially Can be entered. In case of simultaneous input, ratio comparison analysis is performed considering each frequency characteristic.

16 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the touch screen device including a stylus fan.

Referring to FIG. 16, the touch screen driving circuit 20b of the touch screen device 10b according to another modified embodiment of the present invention may include a scan signal source 21 and a scan signal source 21 for inputting a scan signal to the conductive sensing network 31. And a stylus fan driver 28 and a stylus fan 29. The stylus fan 29 receives a scan signal generated from the scan signal source 21 through the stylus fan driver 28. The stylus fan 29 has an electrode capable of outputting a scan signal at an end thereof, and the scan signal is input to the conductive sensing network 31 by contacting the touch sensing region 30 with the electrode.

The scan signal input to the conductive sensing network 31 is input to the plurality of sensing circuits 23 to 26 through the plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4. The plurality of sensing circuits 23 to 26 receive scan signals that are respectively connected and output to the plurality of scan signal output terminals 36-1 to 36-4 connected to the conductive sensing network 31 and detect voltage levels of the output signals. To the control unit 27. The controller 27 detects the touch position by ratio comparison analysis of the voltages V_S1 to V_S4 detected by the plurality of sensing circuits 23 to 26.

The touch screen device of the present invention easily detects two or three or more multi-point touch inputs as well as touch inputs at one point because output signal distortion components generated for a plurality of touch inputs are correlated to each touch position. can do. Even when the touch screen device has a large area, the conductive sensing network may be implemented as a whole, but two or more separate conductive sensing networks may be mapped to a single touch sensing region. For example, two conductive sensing networks may be divided and configured for one touch sensing region.

Embodiment of the touch screen device having a two-dimensional conductive sensing network of the present invention described above is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains various modifications and other equivalent implementation therefrom You can see that examples are possible. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the present invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1 illustrates a circuit configuration of a touch screen device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a conductive sensing network and a portion thereof formed on one surface of a substrate member.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the substrate member.

4 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a modified structure of the empty cell of the conductive sensing network.

8 is a diagram illustrating a pattern of the outermost branches of the conductive sensing network in a zigzag pattern to have a relatively high resistance.

9 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration method for floating processing of a plurality of scan signal output terminals.

10 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a conductive sensing network and two-dimensional coordinates of a display device.

11 is a diagram illustrating a voltage waveform of a scan signal output from a plurality of scan signal output terminals connected to a conductive sensing network.

12 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between an input and an output of a scan signal.

13 and 14 illustrate examples of modified positions of a plurality of scan signal input terminals and scan signal output terminals connected to a conductive sensing network.

15 is a diagram illustrating a modified example in which individual scan signal sources are connected to a plurality of scan signal input terminals.

16 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the touch screen device including a stylus fan.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10: touch screen device 20: touch screen drive circuit

21: scan signal source 22: switching circuit

23-26: sensing circuit 27: control part

30: touch sensing area 31: conductive sensing network

32: Node 33: branches

34: Empty cells 35-1 to 35-4: Scan signal input terminal

36-1 to 36-4: scan signal output terminal 38: substrate member

Claims (16)

A substrate member having a touch sensing area; And And a conductive sensing network having a two-dimensional network structure having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of unit branches on one surface of the substrate member so as to be mapped to the touch sensing region and transmitting a scan signal. The method of claim 1, And a plurality of scan signal input terminals electrically connected to different locations of the conductive sensing network. The method of claim 2, A scan signal generator for generating the scan signal; And And a switching circuit providing a selective electrical connection between the scan signal source and the plurality of scan signal inputs. The method of claim 3, The switching circuit has a normal mode and a sleep mode, In the normal mode, the scan signal source is switched so as to have a periodic electrical connection to the plurality of scan signal input terminals sequentially. And in the sleep operation mode, the scan signal source is fixed to any one of the plurality of scan signal input terminals to have an electrical connection. The method of claim 2, And a plurality of scan signal generation sources generating the scan signals and individually connected to the plurality of scan signal input terminals. The method of claim 4, wherein A scan signal output terminal electrically connected to the conductive sensing network; And a touch screen device for determining a touched position in the touch sensing area by a ratio comparison analysis of electrical characteristic values of a plurality of output signals inputted through the plurality of scan signal input terminals and output to the scan signal output terminals. . The method of claim 1, And a plurality of scan signal output terminals electrically connected to different locations of the conductive sensing network. The method of claim 4, wherein And determining a touched position in the touch sensing area by a ratio comparison analysis of electrical characteristic values of the plurality of output signals output from the plurality of scan signal output terminals. The method of claim 1, The resistance value of the unit branches disposed on the outermost side of the conductive sensing network is not the same as the resistance value of the unit branches disposed on the inner side. The method of claim 1, A scan signal generator for generating the scan signal; A stylus fan configured to input the scan signal to the conductive sensing network; And And a stylus fan driver connected between the scan signal source and the stylus fan to drive the stylus fan. The method of claim 1, The conductive single scan line A touch screen device comprising any one of a transparent indium tin oxide, a transparent conductive polymer, and an opaque conductor. The method of claim 1, The substrate member And a passivation layer covering the conductive single scan line. The method of claim 1, And the scan signal comprises an alternating current signal. The method of claim 1, And the scan signal comprises a modulated signal. The method of claim 1, And the substrate member comprises a ground shield. The method of claim 11, And a polarizing plate mounted on one surface of the substrate member.

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