200307221 玖、發明說明： 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本說明書要求一美國6¾時專利說明書申請曰期的優勢， 該說明書之案號為60/373,022、於2002年4月16日提出申請、200307221 发明 Description of the invention: [Technical field to which the invention belongs] This specification claims the advantages of the application date of the patent specification at 6¾ U.S., the case number of this specification is 60 / 373,022, the application was filed on April 16, 2002,
標題為「在接觸區域的周緣上具有一連串電阻鏈的觸控榮 幕」（Touchscreen Having A Series Resistor Chain 〇n The periphery 〇f AThe title is "Touchscreen Having A Series Resistor Chain 〇n The periphery 〇f A
Touch Area)，該文件在此一併附上作為參考。 本發明領域涉及接觸感測器技術，更特言之，係涉及電 阻和電容的接觸感測器技術。 【先前技術】 接觸感測器是透明或不透明的輸入裝置，用於電腦和其 他電子系統。如其名稱所暗示，接觸感測器由使用者的手 指、或一觸控筆或一些其他裝置的接觸而啟動。透明的接 觸感測器，而且特別是觸控螢幕，通常放置在顯示裝置例 如像陰極射線管（CRT)監視器和液晶顯示器之上，以建立接 觸顯示器系統。這些系統逐漸用於商業應用，例如像餐應 吁位系統、工業流程控制應用、互動式博物館展覽、公用 具汛τ、呼叫态、蜂巢式電話、個人數位助理和電視遊樂 器。 目珂王要使用的接觸技術是電阻、電容、紅外線和聲音 技2。結合這些技術的觸控螢幕已經以具競爭力的價格提 供高標準的效能。以上全都是透明裝置，藉由傳送接觸位 置坐;到王担電腦來回應一次接觸。觸控勞幕效能的重要 硯點在於，位於接觸感測器上的接觸敏感區域之内所有位 84971 200307221 置處（也就疋說’接觸區）真正和測量過的接觸位置之間的 接近通信。 一種電阻式觸控螢幕的類型，特別是5線的電阻觸控螢幕 ，例如，位於加州 Fremont 的 Elo TouchSystems 公司的 AccuTouchTM 產品線’已為許多觸控螢幕應用廣泛地接受。在這些觸控 螢幕中’來自一根手指或觸控筆的機械壓力導致塑膠的薄 膜表面層板彎曲，並使實體接觸一基礎玻璃基板。該玻璃 基板塗佈有一電阻層，在該層上，電壓梯度經由沿著基板 周緣處理的電極圖案受到刺激。經由電連接至塗佈玻璃基 板的四個隅角，相關的電子可以連續刺激乂和γ方向的梯度 ，如美國專利第3,591，718號所描述。表面層板的下側具有傳 導性塗料，提供在接觸位置和電壓感應電子之間的電連續 性。關於5線的電阻觸控螢幕的進一步詳細說明，請見美國 專利第 4,220,815、4,661，655、4,731，508、4,822,957、5,045,644、和 5,220，136 號。 在典型的5線電阻觸控螢幕中，一電極圖案沿著基板的每 -邊録「來源」模式和「非來源」模式中運作。例如，圖 ^ 2 ^個觸担式螢幕基板2，其中個別的X和Y激勵， 藉由/口著基板2的周緣8延伸、施加不同隅角電壓（在這情況 圖案6，以便在接觸區4上產生。箭頭表 :;流=接觸區4的方向，而且虛線表示等位的線，也就 ΐί效Si广"壓是持續的。所謂理想的線性觸控 =二線應完全是直線，如圖1和2所建議。電流 線垂直’因此#等位線是直線的時候， 84971 200307221 電流的線是直的。 如圖1所示，一 X激勵係藉由傳送電流產生，透過在邊框 電極圖案6的右側注入以及在左侧收集的接觸區4。也就是 說，左側和右側是在X激勵的「來源」（或吸收）模式中。理 想上，X激勵沒有電流從上下兩側進入或離開接觸區4。也 就是上下兩側是X激勵的「非來源」。 如圖2所示，一Y激勵係藉由傳送電流產生，透過在邊框 電極圖案6的右側注入以及在左侧收集的接觸區4。也就是 說’上下兩側是處於Y激勵的「來源」（或吸收）模式中。理 心上’ Y激勵沒有電流從左側和右侧進入或離開接觸區4。 也就是說，左和右側是Y激勵的「非來源」。電子可以經由 如上所描述的電壓激勵從5線電阻觸控螢幕取得接觸資訊， 以及目觔的注入和電容的架構。還在有一 9線的連接配置， 可提供電子和各四個隅角連接點之間的傳動和感測線連接 。這些和其他技術描述於美國專利說明書第〇9/7〇5,383號中 ，此處已一併附上作為參考。 5線連接接觸感測咨利用具有不連續的重疊電阻器的周 邊電極圖案，例如Elo TouchSystems公司的AccuTouch™產品， 並揭示於美國專利第5,045,644號中，此處已一併附上作為參 考。在本案例中，平行電阻電流的路徑係透過接觸區對側 上周邊電極圖案之間的隔絕線内的間隙提供。該電流路徑 在周邊電極圖案附近的接觸區内產生一個不希望存在的波 紋非線性。因此，在這個區域以直線移動的一根手指，將 經歷激勵電壓的變化，測量座標的變化也由此而來（除非加 84971 200307221 以更正，否則會產生變化）。相鄰上下兩側電阻鏈的相當多 波紋，限制這一個區域的測量準確度的，因此，減少有效 的接觸區大小。 因此’電阻鏈已設計來減少在接觸區周緣處時常發現的 波紋。美國專利申請書第〇9/7〇5,383號揭露一種方法，藉由 增加在電極邊框和接觸區之間的不連續電連接的密度，減 少觸控螢幕基板來源側上的波紋非線性，也就是，增加隔 絕線内的間隙數。 但當增加電極邊框和接觸區之間不連續電連接的密度以 改進來源側上的直線性時，會發生問題，它提供更多機會 給在非來源側上電流的寄生來源和吸收。在非來源側上的 電連接若密度較高，容易使事情更糟。尤其，如果接觸區 有比私極電壓更多的連接，那麼會很難避免相同電極電壓 的連接對，以及所希望的線性電壓梯度因而產生的扭曲。 事貫上，在來源側上大幅改良直線性，能夠溫和地減少在 非來源側上的直線性。雖然這似乎是相當合理的工程妥協 ，但市場擔心這會使觸控螢幕效能降級。 這個問遞在觀念上在美國專利申請書第〇9/7〇5,383號中加 以解決，解決方法是找到電極間接面上的某些間隙，因此 這些間隙内的有效電壓會位於相鄰電極的電壓之間。例如 ，圖3顯示一電阻鏈48，具有z電極5〇，該電極具有重疊的 外W内部讀5卜52，才目鄰電極的内部部份52最靠近接面 列，孩電極與内部部份52平行。一些間隙兄位在接面5社 84971 200307221 。如圖4所示的相等線路中， 5〇之間交互連接分門，、 在概心上以成兩個相鄰電極 壓之間的一半，藉：減Τ’於有效電壓為相鄰電極50的電 ^ ^ r "厂乂觸控螢幕非來源側上的波紋。非 末源杈式中泥過串聯電阻鏈 、、六 面間隙區域的次要電「. “不為Ij’流過接 個相等電阻的簡；後者在概念上等同於包含兩 隙…」 電壓除法器電路。因此，可得知間 ϋ 序列為 vN“、(Vi + Vn)/2、(Vn+Vn+i)/2、ν_·... 但=已決以目鄰電極5G之間的有效電壓，實際上並不 使S刀隔開。絕緣區55通當於罟产办a 土 、 5通吊放置在非常靠近串聯電阻鏈電 」，以回應市場對於最小邊框寬度的需求。 是通常間隙寬度會比串聯電阻鏈電極5〇的間隔要大"果 由於讀的長寬比’電極電壓vN和W尤沒有足夠空間.、. 合並提供平均電壓(vn+vn+1)/2給觸控螢幕。有效的是，接觸匕 區的等位線「看到」兩者的電極電壓。因此，v_v 線傾向在電極50上綠丨卜，Hi v ^ 、扣 Μ止且Vn和Vwi《間的所有等位線在 接面54處聚集，如圖5所示。同樣地，圖㈣電阻鏈卿每 上具有如圖6說明的相同電路。 、 觸控螢幕的 因此，仍然需要改良具有不連續電阻器結構 非來源側的直線性。 【發明内容】 本發明4曰向一接觸感測器，利用接面間隙内導電島，以 便在間隙之内提供真正的電壓除法器，藉此提供一沿著而 阻鏈的線性變壓序列。該接觸感測器可以如電阻式接 測器般運作，例如，5或9線的電容接觸感測器，或任何g 84971 -10- 200307221 要串聯電阻鏈的接觸感測器。 —接觸感4 $包括-基板，具有—由複數個周邊邊緣所界 定的電阻表面。基板假传右自s 土极m使百觸控螢幕可以是透明的，或半 透明的。電阻表面有-接觸區，位在周邊邊緣的内部。接 觸感測器另包括-串聯電阻鏈，靠近一周邊邊緣，用於建 互跨越接觸區的電場。電阻鏈包括複數個傳導性電極（例如 ，Z-電極)，排列成與表面電阻區串聯，在其間形成重疊的 電阻器。每個電極有内部部份面對接觸區，相鄰電極的内 邵部份，由接面分隔開。 接觸感測器另包括-線性陣列的絕緣區，在接觸區和電 阻鏈之間的電阻表面(未提供電阻層的區域卜絕緣區由間 隙分隔開，例如像電阻表面完全保持原狀的區域。至少兩 個間隙在接觸區和内部部份之間形成，而且其中一個間隙 ^妾觸區和-接面之間形成接面間隙。在較佳具體實施例 中，接面間隙在接觸區和至少内部部份其中之一 面之間形成。 接觸感測器另包括位於接面間隙内的—傳導性島。依此 万式’電壓除法器在接面間隙之内形成，藉此縮減在非來 源k式期間電極上的等位線聚束。在較佳具體實施例中， -傳導性島料複數個接面間隙之内，以提供最大利益。 右要在不同間隙之間提供可變電阻，舉例來說沿著電阻鏈 的長度提供抱物線可變電阻’非接面間隙可以各種不同的 万式設計。例如’要提供最大電阻，—非接面間隙可以是 空的’也就是說’它沒有包含導電材料。若要提供最小電 84971 200307221 二非接面間隙可包含來自電極内部部份的延伸區。若要 在：之間某處提供—電阻’非接面間隙可包含一要 本發明也指向利Μ久# 不同4义的間隙控制間隙電阻值 器。接觸感測器可如上所述同樣地建構。 ，至少兩個間隙（可台匕σ技工a ,上 一又 λλ 此疋接面及/或非接面間隙）從一空間隙 的不同部份選取，—島 .、 有來自内部部份之導“，一電極間隙具 r的—個導電延伸。例如，其中兩個間Touch Area), the document is attached here for reference. The field of the present invention relates to touch sensor technology, and more particularly to touch sensor technology of resistance and capacitance. [Prior art] Touch sensors are transparent or opaque input devices used in computers and other electronic systems. As its name implies, the touch sensor is activated by the user's finger, or by a stylus or some other device. Transparent touch sensors, and especially touch screens, are often placed on display devices such as cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and liquid crystal displays to create a touch display system. These systems are increasingly used in commercial applications, such as meal call systems, industrial process control applications, interactive museum exhibits, utility floods, call states, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and television rides. The contact technology to be used by Mu Kewang is resistance, capacitance, infrared and sound technology2. Touch screens incorporating these technologies have provided high standards of performance at competitive prices. All of the above are transparent devices, sitting by transmitting contact positions; responding to a contact by going to Wang Dan's computer. The important point of the performance of the touch screen is that all positions within the touch-sensitive area on the touch sensor 84971 200307221 are placed (that is to say, the 'contact area') the close communication between the real and measured contact position . A type of resistive touch screen, especially a 5-wire resistive touch screen, for example, Elo TouchSystems' AccuTouchTM product line ’in Fremont, California has been widely accepted for many touch screen applications. In these touch screens, the mechanical pressure from a finger or a stylus causes the plastic thin-film surface laminate to bend and physically contact a basic glass substrate. The glass substrate is coated with a resistive layer on which a voltage gradient is stimulated via an electrode pattern processed along the periphery of the substrate. Via the four corners electrically connected to the coated glass substrate, the associated electrons can continuously stimulate the gradient in the hafnium and gamma directions, as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,591,718. The underside of the surface laminate has a conductive coating that provides electrical continuity between the contact location and the voltage-sensing electrons. For further details on 5-wire resistive touch screens, see US Patent Nos. 4,220,815, 4,661,655, 4,731,508, 4,822,957, 5,045,644, and 5,220,136. In a typical 5-wire resistive touch screen, an electrode pattern operates in each of the "source" and "non-source" modes of the substrate. For example, Figure ^ 2 ^ touch screen substrate 2, where the individual X and Y are excited, extend / mouthed the peripheral edge 8 of the substrate 2, apply different angle voltages (in this case, the pattern 6 in the contact area Generated on 4. Arrow table :; flow = the direction of contact area 4, and the dashed line indicates an equipotential line, which means that the pressure is continuous. The so-called ideal linear touch = the second line should be completely straight As suggested in Figures 1 and 2. The current line is perpendicular, so when the #equipment line is straight, the line of the current is 84971 200307221. As shown in Figure 1, an X excitation is generated by transmitting a current through the The right side of the bezel electrode pattern 6 is injected and the contact area 4 collected on the left side. That is, the left and right sides are in the "source" (or absorption) mode of the X-excitation. Ideally, the X-excitation has no current from the upper and lower sides. Enter or leave the contact area 4. That is, the upper and lower sides are the "non-sources" of the X-excitation. As shown in Fig. 2, a Y-excitation is generated by transmitting a current, injected through the right side of the frame electrode pattern 6, and on the left side. Collect the contact area 4. That means' up and down The side is in the "source" (or absorption) mode of Y stimulus. Ideally, 'Y stimulus has no current entering or leaving the contact zone from the left and right sides 4. That is, the left and right sides are the "non-source" of Y stimulus The electronics can obtain contact information from the 5-wire resistive touch screen through the voltage excitation as described above, as well as the injection of the eye and the structure of the capacitor. There is also a 9-wire connection configuration, which can provide electronics and four corners each The drive and sense line connections between the connection points. These and other technologies are described in U.S. Patent Specification No. 09 / 705,383, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The 5-wire connection contact sensing reference has no Peripheral electrode patterns of continuous overlapping resistors, such as the AccuTouch ™ product from Elo TouchSystems, are disclosed in US Patent No. 5,045,644, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this case, the path of the parallel resistance current is Provided through the gap in the insulation line between the peripheral electrode patterns on the opposite side of the contact region. This current path creates an undesired effect in the contact region near the peripheral electrode pattern. Existing ripples are non-linear. Therefore, a finger that moves in a straight line in this area will experience changes in the excitation voltage and the changes in the measurement coordinates (unless it is corrected by adding 84971 200307221). Phase The considerable ripples on the upper and lower resistance chains limit the measurement accuracy of this area, and therefore reduce the effective contact area size. Therefore, the 'resistor chains have been designed to reduce the ripples often found around the periphery of the contact area. US patent Application No. 09 / 7〇5,383 discloses a method for reducing ripple non-linearity on the source side of a touch screen substrate by increasing the density of discontinuous electrical connections between the electrode frame and the contact area, that is, increasing The number of gaps in the isolated line. However, when the density of the discontinuous electrical connection between the electrode frame and the contact area is improved to improve the linearity on the source side, a problem occurs, which provides more opportunities for parasitic sources and absorption of current on the non-source side. A higher density of electrical connections on the non-source side can easily make things worse. In particular, if there are more connections in the contact area than the private voltage, it will be difficult to avoid the distortion of the connection pairs of the same electrode voltage and the desired linear voltage gradient. In general, the linearity is greatly improved on the source side, and the linearity on the non-source side can be reduced gently. Although this seems to be a reasonable engineering compromise, the market is concerned that it will degrade touch screen performance. This question is conceptually solved in U.S. Patent Application No. 09 / 705,383. The solution is to find some gaps on the indirect surface of the electrode, so the effective voltage in these gaps will be at the voltage of the adjacent electrode. between. For example, FIG. 3 shows a resistor chain 48 with a z electrode 50. The electrode has an overlapped outer W internal reading 52. The inner portion 52 of the adjacent electrode is closest to the interface column, and the child electrode and the inner portion 52 parallel. Some clearance brothers are in the meeting 5 84971 200307221. In the equal circuit shown in FIG. 4, the gates are alternately connected between 50 and 50% between the two adjacent electrode voltages on the outline, by subtracting T ′ from the effective voltage to 50 for the adjacent electrode. Electricity ^ ^ r " Factory 的 ripple on the non-source side of the touch screen. In the non-terminal source type, the secondary electricity passing through the series resistance chain, and the six-sided gap region "." No equal current flows through Ij '; the latter is conceptually equivalent to including two gaps ... "Voltage division器 电路。 Circuit. Therefore, it can be known that the sequence of indica is vN ", (Vi + Vn) / 2, (Vn + Vn + i) / 2, ν _...... but the effective voltage between the adjacent electrodes 5G has been determined, In fact, the S knife is not separated. The insulation area 55 is connected to the production and production office, and the 5-way hoist is placed very close to the series resistor chain, in response to the market demand for the smallest frame width. It is usually that the gap width is larger than the interval of the series resistance chain electrode 50. "The electrode voltages vN and W do not have enough space due to the read aspect ratio.... The combined voltage is provided (vn + vn + 1) / 2 give the touch screen. Effectively, the isoelectric lines touching the dagger area "see" both electrode voltages. Therefore, the v_v line tends to be green on the electrode 50, Hi v ^, 扣, and all isolines between Vn and Vwi are gathered at the junction 54 as shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, each of the resistor chains of Figure VII has the same circuit as illustrated in Figure 6. For the touch screen, there is still a need to improve the linearity of the non-source side with a discontinuous resistor structure. [Summary of the Invention] According to the present invention, a touch sensor utilizes conductive islands in a junction gap to provide a true voltage divider within the gap, thereby providing a linear voltage transformation sequence along the resistance chain. The touch sensor can function like a resistive sensor, for example, a 5 or 9-wire capacitive touch sensor, or any g 84971 -10- 200307221 contact sensor with a resistance chain in series. -Touch 4 $ includes-substrate, has-a resistive surface bounded by a plurality of peripheral edges. The substrate is falsely transmitted from s to m, so that the 100-touch screen can be transparent or translucent. The resistive surface has a contact area, located inside the peripheral edge. The touch sensor further comprises a series resistor chain, near a peripheral edge, for establishing an electric field across the contact area. The resistance chain includes a plurality of conductive electrodes (for example, Z-electrodes) arranged in series with the surface resistance region to form an overlapping resistor therebetween. Each electrode has an inner portion facing the contact area, and the inner portion of the adjacent electrode is separated by the joint surface. The touch sensor further includes an insulation region of a linear array, a resistance surface between the contact region and the resistance chain (the area where the resistance layer is not provided, and the insulation region is separated by a gap, such as an area where the resistance surface remains completely intact. At least two gaps are formed between the contact area and the inner portion, and one of the gaps forms a contact gap between the contact area and the-junction. In a preferred embodiment, the interface gap is between the contact area and at least The internal part is formed between one of the faces. The touch sensor also includes a conductive island located in the interface gap. In this way, a 'type' voltage divider is formed within the interface gap, thereby reducing the non-source k The equipotential lines on the electrodes are clustered during the formula. In a preferred embodiment, the conductive island material is within a plurality of junction gaps to provide the maximum benefit. Right is to provide variable resistance between different gaps, for example For example, the variable resistance provided along the length of the resistance chain. The non-contact gap can be designed in various ways. For example, 'to provide the maximum resistance, the non-contact gap can be empty', that is to say No conductive material is included. To provide the minimum electrical 84971 200307221 two non-contact gaps can include extensions from the inner part of the electrode. To be provided somewhere between-resistance 'non-contact gaps can include one to the invention Also point to 利 Ｍ 久 # Different gap clearance control gap resistors. The touch sensor can be constructed in the same way as above. At least two gaps (can be set up by σσ 工 工 a, the previous one and λλ this interface) And / or non-contact gaps) are selected from different parts of an empty gap—islands. There are guides from the inner part, and an electrode gap with r—a conductive extension. For example, two of them
I 個：二 間隙和一個島間隙、-個空的間隙和-I: two gaps and one island gap,-an empty gap and-
個電極間隙或一個鳥pHJ赠心 .^ L 隙，蛋一⑽電極間隙。假使有三個間 , ^ 可以是一個空的間隙，第二間隙可以是一個 間隙’第二間隙可以是一個電極間隙。 式’間隙可以是實質上具有相同的寬度，然而會 =:、有不同的電阻。例如’沿著-周邊電極的間隙可二 或間隙可以實質上具有不同的寬度 ，然而貫質上具有相同的電阻。 見又 【實施方式】 參見圖7,描述根據本發明較佳具體實 式觸控勞f系統·該觸控勞幕系統爾常包括= 105(也就是說，接觸咸丨丨 要觸一“具有-個透明的基板)、控制器 屯子110、和一顯示器120。觸控勞幕系統謂通常轉合到主 ^月^通常’控制器電子110從觸控勞幕105接收傳送 ==類比訊號。控制器電子n°也對觸控榮幕奶傳 运激勵㈣。明確地說，控制器電子爾立橫 祕的電壓梯度。在接觸點的電壓是代表位置 = 84971 -12- 200307221 電子110數位化這些電壓，並將這些數位化信號，或以這些 數位化信號為基礎建立的數位形式接觸資訊，傳送到主控 電腦115用於處理。 參見圖8，現在將更進一步地描述觸控螢幕1〇5。您將發 現到在某些附圖中的一些元件的厚度、高度或其他尺寸， 為解說起見加以放大。觸控螢幕105包括傾斜薄板195，該薄 板包括基板200，該基板具有一相同的電阻層2〇5，持久不變 地套用到該裝置的一表面。電阻層2〇5另包括一接觸區2〇6。 基板200的平面可以是例如平面的（如圖8所示），或其外 形可以是匹配一彎曲物件的表面，例如像一陰極射線管 (CRT)面或其他傳統視訊顯示器螢幕。基板2〇〇也可以具有任 何周長結構，例如矩形（如圖所示），實質上的矩形，或環 狀0 成。，在電阻層205之上間隔—小段距離處是—覆蓋層板加， 通常疋一彈性薄膜215 ’在該彈性薄膜215的下側上有一傳導 性塗料220。覆蓋層板21〇沿著它的相關邊緣，以黏著劑連結 若要提供必要的透明度，基板2〇〇和電阻層2〇5較好是用 實質上透明的材料做成。另一方面，如果所生產的產品要 是不透明的感測器，那麼基板細可由—個不透明的材料組 至觸控螢幕105的剩餘部份’或視需要，以—絕緣黏合框 225或類似事物連結至觸控螢幕。此外，一電極臟由導 線235,連接覆蓋層板21〇的傳導性塗料22〇至適當的外部電 路，例如像控制線路110。附加到覆蓋層板2ι〇的傳導性塗料 .藉由複數個小的透明絕緣體島或點，盘電阻層205 84971 -13 - 200307221 分隔，以避免傳導性塗料220和電阻層2〇5之間意外的接觸。 雖然圖8中描述的具體實施例利用覆蓋層板21〇，但是任 何傳導元件，例如像傳導觸控筆（未顯示），都可以當作替 代μ使用。當電阻層2〇5足夠持久時，可使用這個傳導觸控 筆以避免這類接觸的毁壞。當作另一替代選擇，一電容或 電阻現成的系統可連同使用者的手指或與適當的探測方式 一起使用。 繼續參見圖8,電阻鏈245與沿著電阻層2〇5的各邊緣有間 隔距離，並用於將電位施加至電阻層2〇5，以在其中建立直 角的電壓梯度。接下來的附圖顯示，電阻鏈245 (由傳導性 區域、絕緣區和電阻區組成）包括以串聯連接的不連續電阻 單7C。電阻鏈245的電阻值，部分取決於形成電阻鏈245的 一部件的電阻層205的電阻值。但是，電阻鏈245的電阻值 可根據設計需求改變。圖8具體實施例的四個電阻鏈245， 更明確地;示為250、255、260和265。每一電阻鏈250、255、 260或265的末端連結到或接近電阻層2〇5的隅角27〇。每一個 隅角270都具有個別的電導線275、28〇、285、29〇。依此方式 ，觸控螢幕105連接至控制器電子11〇，提供電壓給電阻鏈 245並處理來自觸控螢幕1〇5的資訊。 當下壓觸控螢幕105時，覆蓋層板210的傳導性塗料220會 與基板200上的電阻層205做直接的電接觸。對於一個類似 的DC電阻觸控螢幕，通常稱為「電阻觸控螢幕」，覆蓋層板 210可以當做感應接觸區電壓的電壓感應探測器，或當做電 流注入來源。如另一選擇，表面層板21〇可取代為一薄的介 84971 -14- 200307221 電質塗料，直接施加至電阻層205，在這種情況下，控制器 電子110可支援AC操作。 關於觸控式螢幕系統100的一般構造的更詳細資訊，揭露 於美國專利第6，163,313號中，該文件在此處一併附上作為參 考。 現在參見圖9，將更進一步地描述電阻鏈245的一部份。 電阻鏈245具有Z形電極305，每個電極都具有一外部部份310 和一内部部份315。一第一電極305的内部部份315與第二個 、相鄰的電極305的外部部份310重疊。因此，在這些内部 和外部部份之間的電阻層205(如圖8所示）形成一電阻連接 320。相鄰電極305的内部部份315彼此以接面325分隔。複數 個絕緣區330在傾斜薄板195(在圖8中顯示）中形成，例如， 藉由移除所選取位置的電阻層205。其後，電阻塗料205的區 域保持在相鄰的絕緣區33〇之間，此處稱為「間隙」335。一 些間隙335位在電極3〇5的内部部份315和接觸區206(稱為「非 接面間隙」）之間，一些間隙335則位在接面325和接觸區206 之間（稱為「接面間隙」）。 絕緣區330和間隙335也可以下列方式形成：先移除一排 的電阻層205(絕緣線），之後施加電阻材料，例如像ιτ〇，沿 考絕緣線在選定的薄板上塗佈。在說明的具體實施例中， 虼緣區330和間隙335排成一列與電極3〇5的内部部份平行 的配置。因此，建立複數個橫跨接觸區206的平行電流路徑 、乡巴緣區330很容易就可以雷射燒炫電阻層2〇5形成。也可 形成延伸在電極305之間的小部份絕緣區。這些小部份的雷 84971 -15- 200307221 射調整能夠有效地修整電極305之間的電阻器。 為了要達成相鄰電極305之間接面325處真正的電壓除法 态的目的，傳導性區域或「島」34〇位於接面間隙3%之内。 傳導性材料可以是例如，一傳導性熔塊。因此，接觸區2〇6 中的νΝ等位線透過接面間隙335再也「看」不到具有電壓％ 的電極，因為傳導性島340很單純地提供電子節點給所希望 的同等電路，如圖10所說明。 模擬和原型觸控螢幕已經顯示在接面間隙335之内傳導性 島340的使用不但避免增加在非來源側上的波紋非線性，而 且事實上，相較於每一重疊電阻器電極有一電連接的現有 商業產品，在非來源側上的直線性已有所改良。這種改良 的理由可以從圖9中發現，該圖顯示當他們接近電極邊框時 接觸區206的等位線。由於一傳導區域處於固定不變的電壓 中，最多一個等位線可以在一傳導性電極305或傳導島340 上終止。相對地，許多等位線可終止在一絕緣區33〇之上。 見鬆地說，透過間隙335連接到接觸區的傳導區域「逐退」 等位線。間隙愈寬，等位線扭曲也愈大，因此波紋非線性 就愈多。以由兩個較小間隙圍繞的傳導性島來取代大間隙 ,可提供更多的非來源波紋非線性。 因此，使間隙寬度最小化可縮減非來源波紋非線性的數 里。但疋，應該注意到，較寬的間隙較佳用於縮減來源波 紋非線性。因此，最好避免間隙寬度有太多變化。但是， 這項避免間隙寬度不必要變化的要求，會與另一個設計需 求互為消長。在先前技術中已廣為人知，線性觸控螢幕的 84971 -16- 200307221 設計需要接觸區和電阻鏈串聯之間的連結電阻呈拋物線變 化。同樣地，一般較佳間隙寬度，至少在先前技術中，會 有所改變。 假設是這樣，電阻鏈245較好使用多種間隙設計。明確地 說’電阻鏈245包括三種不同類型的間隙設計：一空的間隙 ;一具有傳導性島340的間隙；以及一具有重疊電阻器電極 305的電極延伸的間隙（例如，一個「τ」）。這三類型如圖 lla-c說明。即使間隙是同樣寬度，如圖Ua-C所說明，三種 不同間隙設計在電阻鏈245和接觸區206之間提供不同的電 阻。如圖11a說明的空間隙有較高的阻抗，如圖llc的rT」 形電極延伸345提供最低的阻抗。另一方面，接觸區206有 相同阻抗的情況下，空的間隙將會更寬，且rT」形電極延 伸345會變得較窄。使用這個設計自由度提供一部份所需要 的拋物線電阻變動，能夠有效地降低間隙寬度所需變化至 某個程度，藉此改良直線性。這個彈性也協助避免容限問 題影響到非常小的傳導性島340和間隙335的螢幕列印。 如圖12所說明，電阻鏈245,除了在接面間隙335之内使用 傳導性島340之外，還在非接面間隙335之内如圖iia-c所示使 用不同類型的間隙設計，以提供必要的拋物線電阻變動。 雖然通常希望在接面間隙335内使用傳導性島340，以便沿著 非來源側改良波紋直線性，如先前所討論的一樣，但有時 會希望使用空的間隙設計（圖lla)作為接面間隙335。例如， 假使在希望有咼阻抗的地方，例如在相鄰隅角的間隙335處 ，使用空的間隙設計再結合一相當狹窄的間隙是很有幫助 84971 200307221 的，藉由這種方式，接觸區206透過接面間隙335「看到」電 極305對的純粹電壓的問題就很少。 應注意到，在—些應用中，可能會希望完全最佳化某一 座標的直線性，但犧牲另一座標所增加邊框的波紋非線性 ，例如’當有應用對x和Y直線性的需求不相同時。例如， 考慮圖13 ’該圖說明當檢視觸控螢幕系統100的顯示器時， 我們可能會看到的軟體接觸独355的示範顯示。如^顧 不’接觸按㈣5的寬度比高度要大^此，對於要正確啟 動所需接觸按㈣的使用者而言，觸控榮幕系統1〇〇必須 以小誤2正確地決定γ座標，但僅粗略地決定χ座標。 口如先可所討論，測量γ座標時，電極邊框的左和右兩側 是非來源的’而且上τ兩側則是提供來源。料這類库用 ^電極邊框的左右兩側上使用具有傳導性島34〇的間隙奶 /然後在上下兩側各電極處使用超過兩個以上的間隙，是 艮有*助&類设計導致在測量χ座標時沿著上下兩側 波紋非線性會增加，但是這對應用而言是次要的事， 13中所說明。 雖然上述的討論已經在電阻觸控螢幕系統卿的内容中發 表：但是它通用更多接觸感測系統的—般設定。這包括其 :::::接觸感測器(例如’不透明接觸墊或接觸感測機器 /豉)。可以想像出多種具有敏感表面的感測器。的確 手Γ:!勞幕系統100真的只是一個特定類型的接觸感測 ί幕附II職^傾斜隸195和覆蓋層板训在觸控 ^因此，本討論，在它最大範圍的觀點中， «4Q71 200307221 應該被視為適用更多的一般設定。 雖然本發明的特定具體實施例已經加以顯示及描述，但 是應瞭解到上述的討論不是要將本發明限制為這些具體實 犯例。本行業的專家將瞭解到可進行各種不同的變更和修 改二而仍不脫離本發明的精神和範圍。因此，本發明試圖 涵蓋落在申請專利範圍所定義的本發明的精神和範圍之内 的替代選擇、修改和同等替代物。 【圖式簡單說明】 附圖說明本發明的一個較佳具體實施例的設計和利用， =類似的元件以通用的參考數字參考。為了要更了解本 =月的優點和目標，應參考說明此—較佳具體實施例的附 视為限制它的範圍。根據…重公…'列’不細 的使用v - , /思事項，本發明將透過附圖 2用’以頟外具體性和細節加以描述及解釋，其中： 圖1是先前技術觸控螢慕的平 號，⑽〇 ❹的千面圖’可用來提供X激勵信 源模兩Μ處於來源模式，上下兩側則處於非來 疋无羽·技術觸控螢幕的平面圖， 號，以致力士石y k 了用來提供Y激勵fi 源模式； 术原杈式，上下兩側則處於來 圖3是一串聯電阻鏈 兩個間隙（一個接φ % / 重疊電阻器電極都具有 V幻接面和一個非接面）； 圖4疋圖3電阻鏈的相同電路； 圖5是圖3串聯雷細 鍵的—部份的簡圖，特別顯示當用於 200307221 非來源杈式時等位線以非線 ^ 性万式、，冬止於該電阻鏈上； 圖6疋圖3電阻鏈實際的相 7 e , Π私路特別顯示電流和電位； 圖7疋根據本發明一較佳且轉杂、α 功能性圖表； 貝她例所建構的接觸系統的 圖8是用於圖7接觸系統的觸控螢幕的分解圖. 圖9是用於圖7觸控螢幕的串聯電阻鏈的簡圖； 圖10是圖9電阻鏈的相同電路，· 圖圖1…用於圖9串聯電阻鍵的不同類型間隙配置的簡 二2是一用於圖7觸控螢幕的傾斜薄板右上角的平面圖. 圖13是顯示器的平面圖 圖’ ^ u 口狩別續不在x和γ方向上當i 有不對稱位置準確度需求的軟體接觸按紐。而要具 【圖式代表符號說明】 100 電阻式觸控螢幕系統 105 觸控螢幕 110 控制線路 115 主控電腦 120 顯示器 195 梯度薄板 2 觸控式螢幕基板 200 基板 205 電阻層 206 接觸區 215 彈性薄膜 傳導性塗料 絕緣黏合框 電極 導線 島或點 電阻鏈 電阻鏈 電阻鏈 電阻鏈 電阻鏈 隅角 電導線 電導線 導線 導線 第一電極 外部部份 内部部份 電阻連接 接面 絕緣區 間隙 傳導性島 接觸按钮 接觸區 電阻鏈 電阻鏈電極 内部部份 内部部份 接面 絕緣區 間隙 電極圖案 周緣One electrode gap or one bird pHJ gift heart. ^ L gap, egg-to-electrode gap. If there are three gaps, ^ may be an empty gap, and the second gap may be a gap '. The second gap may be an electrode gap. The gap of the formula 'may have substantially the same width, but will have =: and different resistances. For example, the gaps along the -peripheral electrodes may be two or the gaps may have substantially different widths, but have the same resistance in nature. [Embodiment] Referring to FIG. 7, a description is given of a preferred embodiment of a practical touch screen system according to the present invention. The touch screen system often includes = 105 (that is, contacting -A transparent substrate), the controller 110, and a display 120. The touch screen system is usually transferred to the main controller. Generally, the controller electronics 110 receives and transmits from the touch screen 105 = analog signals. The controller electronics n ° also stimulates the touch screen milk transport. Specifically, the controller electronics create a secret voltage gradient. The voltage at the contact point is the representative position = 84971 -12- 200307221 electronics 110 digitization These voltages, and the digitized signals, or the digital form contact information established on the basis of these digitized signals, are transmitted to the host computer 115 for processing. Referring to Fig. 8, the touch screen 1 will now be further described. 5. You will find the thickness, height, or other dimensions of some elements in some of the drawings, enlarged for illustration. The touch screen 105 includes a slanted sheet 195 that includes a substrate 200 that has the same of The resistive layer 200 is applied to a surface of the device permanently. The resistive layer 205 also includes a contact area 206. The plane of the substrate 200 may be, for example, planar (as shown in FIG. 8), or Its shape can be a surface that matches a curved object, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) surface or other traditional video display screens. The substrate 200 can also have any perimeter structure, such as a rectangle (as shown), essentially It is rectangular, or ring-shaped. It is spaced above the resistance layer 205 at a short distance—the cover plate is added. Usually, an elastic film 215 is provided. On the lower side of the elastic film 215 is a conductive coating 220. The cover sheet 21 is attached with an adhesive along its relevant edge. To provide the necessary transparency, the substrate 200 and the resistive layer 2 05 are preferably made of a substantially transparent material. On the other hand, If the product to be produced is an opaque sensor, the substrate can be made from an opaque material group to the rest of the touch screen 105 'or, if necessary, connected to the touch screen with an insulating bonding frame 225 or similar .this An electrode is dirty by a wire 235, which connects the conductive coating 2220 of the cover plate 21 to an appropriate external circuit, such as the control circuit 110. The conductive coating is attached to the cover plate 2m. With a plurality of small Transparent insulator islands or dots are separated by the disk resistive layer 205 84971 -13-200307221 to avoid accidental contact between the conductive coating 220 and the resistive layer 205. Although the specific embodiment described in FIG. 8 utilizes a cover sheet 21 However, any conductive element, such as a conductive stylus (not shown), can be used as a substitute for μ. When the resistive layer 2 05 is long enough, this conductive stylus can be used to avoid the damage of such contact. As an alternative, a capacitor or resistor off-the-shelf system can be used with the user's finger or with an appropriate detection method. With continued reference to Fig. 8, the resistance chain 245 is spaced from each edge along the resistance layer 205 and is used to apply a potential to the resistance layer 205 to establish a right-angle voltage gradient therein. The following figure shows that the resistance chain 245 (consisting of a conductive region, an insulating region, and a resistance region) includes discontinuous resistors 7C connected in series. The resistance value of the resistance chain 245 depends in part on the resistance value of the resistance layer 205 of a component forming the resistance chain 245. However, the resistance value of the resistance chain 245 can be changed according to design requirements. The four resistor chains 245 of the specific embodiment of FIG. 8 are more clearly shown as 250, 255, 260, and 265. The end of each resistance chain 250, 255, 260 or 265 is connected to or near the corner 27 of the resistance layer 205. Each corner 270 has individual electrical leads 275, 280, 285, 290. In this way, the touch screen 105 is connected to the controller electronics 110, provides a voltage to the resistance chain 245, and processes information from the touch screen 105. When the touch screen 105 is pressed down, the conductive coating 220 of the cover plate 210 makes direct electrical contact with the resistance layer 205 on the substrate 200. For a similar DC resistive touch screen, commonly referred to as a “resistive touch screen”, the overlay 210 can be used as a voltage-sensing detector that senses the voltage in the contact area, or as a source of current injection. As another option, the surface layer board 21 can be replaced with a thin dielectric 84971 -14- 200307221, which is directly applied to the resistance layer 205. In this case, the controller electronics 110 can support AC operation. More detailed information on the general configuration of the touch screen system 100 is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,163,313, which is incorporated herein by reference. Referring now to FIG. 9, a portion of the resistor chain 245 will be described further. The resistance chain 245 has a Z-shaped electrode 305, and each electrode has an outer portion 310 and an inner portion 315. An inner portion 315 of a first electrode 305 overlaps with an outer portion 310 of a second, adjacent electrode 305. Therefore, a resistance layer 205 (shown in Fig. 8) between these inner and outer portions forms a resistive connection 320. The inner portions 315 of the adjacent electrodes 305 are separated from each other by a junction 325. A plurality of insulating regions 330 are formed in the inclined thin plate 195 (shown in FIG. 8), for example, by removing the resistance layer 205 at a selected position. Thereafter, the area of the resistive paint 205 remains between the adjacent insulating areas 330, referred to herein as "gap" 335. Some gaps 335 are located between the inner portion 315 of the electrode 305 and the contact region 206 (referred to as "non-contact gaps"), and some gaps 335 are located between the contact surface 325 and the contact region 206 (referred to as " Junction gap "). The insulating region 330 and the gap 335 may also be formed by removing a row of the resistive layer 205 (insulated wire), and then applying a resistive material, such as ιτ〇, and coating the selected sheet along the insulated wire. In the illustrated embodiment, the marginal region 330 and the gap 335 are arranged in a row parallel to the inner portion of the electrode 305. Therefore, establishing a plurality of parallel current paths across the contact region 206 and the rural edge region 330 can be easily formed by the laser burn-in resistor layer 205. A small portion of the insulating region extending between the electrodes 305 may also be formed. These small part of the lightning 84971 -15- 200307221 radio adjustment can effectively trim the resistor between the electrodes 305. In order to achieve the true voltage division at the junction 325 between adjacent electrodes 305, the conductive region or "island" 34o is located within 3% of the junction gap. The conductive material may be, for example, a conductive frit. Therefore, the νN isopotential line in the contact area 206 can no longer "see" the electrode with voltage% through the junction gap 335, because the conductive island 340 simply provides the electronic node to the desired equivalent circuit, such as Figure 10 illustrates this. Analog and prototype touch screens have shown that the use of conductive islands 340 within the interface gap 335 not only avoids increasing ripple nonlinearity on the non-source side, but in fact, there is an electrical connection compared to each overlapping resistor electrode The existing commercial products have improved linearity on the non-source side. The reason for this improvement can be found in Figure 9, which shows the isoline of the contact area 206 as they approach the electrode frame. Since a conductive region is at a constant voltage, at most one equipotential line may terminate on a conductive electrode 305 or a conductive island 340. In contrast, many equipotential lines may terminate above an insulating region 33o. As seen from Matsushita, the conductive region "regressed" isoline through the gap 335 to the contact area. The wider the gap, the greater the distortion of the equipotential line, so the more the ripple is non-linear. Replacing the large gap with a conductive island surrounded by two smaller gaps can provide more non-source ripple nonlinearity. Therefore, minimizing the gap width can reduce the number of non-source ripple nonlinearities. However, it should be noted that wider gaps are better for reducing source ripple non-linearity. Therefore, it is best to avoid too much variation in the gap width. However, this requirement to avoid unnecessary changes in the gap width is mutually exclusive with another design requirement. As is well known in the prior art, the 84971 -16- 200307221 design of a linear touch screen requires a parabolic change in the connection resistance between the contact area and the series connection of the resistor chain. Likewise, generally preferred gap widths will change, at least in the prior art. Assuming this is the case, the resistor chain 245 preferably uses multiple gap designs. Specifically, the 'resistance chain 245 includes three different types of gap designs: an empty gap; a gap with a conductive island 340; and an electrode extension gap (e.g., a "τ") with overlapping resistor electrodes 305. These three types are illustrated in Figure lla-c. Even though the gaps are the same width, as illustrated in Figures Ua-C, three different gap designs provide different resistances between the resistor chain 245 and the contact region 206. The gap shown in FIG. 11a has a higher impedance, and the rT ″ -shaped electrode extension 345 shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the contact areas 206 have the same impedance, the empty gap will be wider, and the rT ″ -shaped electrode extension 345 will become narrower. Use this design freedom to provide a part of the required parabolic resistance variation, which can effectively reduce the required variation of the gap width to a certain degree, thereby improving the linearity. This flexibility also helps to avoid tolerance issues affecting screen printing of very small conductive islands 340 and gaps 335. As illustrated in FIG. 12, in addition to using the conductive island 340 within the junction gap 335, the resistance chain 245 also uses different types of gap designs within the non-junction gap 335 as shown in FIG. Iia-c. Provides necessary parabolic resistance changes. Although it is often desirable to use conductive islands 340 within the junction gap 335 to improve the ripple linearity along the non-source side, as previously discussed, sometimes it is desirable to use an empty gap design (Figure 11a) as the junction Gap 335. For example, it is helpful to use an empty gap design combined with a rather narrow gap where the chirp impedance is desired, such as the gap 335 adjacent to the corners. In this way, the contact area The pure voltage problem of 206 "seeing" the electrode 305 pair through the junction gap 335 is rare. It should be noted that in some applications, it may be desirable to fully optimize the linearity of one coordinate, but sacrificing the ripple non-linearity of the border added by another coordinate, such as' When there is an application that requires x and Y linearity When not the same. For example, consider FIG. 13 ′ This figure illustrates that when viewing the display of the touch screen system 100, the software may see an exemplary display of the standalone 355. For example, the width of the contact button 5 is larger than the height ^. For the user who needs to activate the contact button correctly, the touch screen system 100 must correctly determine the γ coordinate with a small error 2. , But only determine the χ coordinates roughly. As discussed earlier, when measuring the γ coordinate, the left and right sides of the electrode frame are non-originating 'and the upper τ sides are providing sources. This kind of library uses ^ electrode frames on the left and right sides of the gap with conductive islands 34 o / and then use more than two gaps on each of the upper and lower sides of the electrodes, which is helpful & class design This results in an increase in ripple nonlinearity along the upper and lower sides when measuring the χ-coordinate, but this is a secondary matter for the application, as explained in 13. Although the above discussion has been published in the content of the resistive touch screen system: it general-purpose settings for more touch sensing systems. This includes its ::::: touch sensors (for example, ‘opaque contact pads or touch sensing machines / 豉). One can imagine a variety of sensors with sensitive surfaces. It ’s true that: The labor curtain system 100 is really just a specific type of contact sensing. The curtain is attached to the post II. Tilt 195 and the overlay board are trained in touch. Therefore, in this discussion, in its largest scope, «4Q71 200307221 should be considered as applying more general settings. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that the above discussion is not intended to limit the invention to these specific examples. Experts in the industry will understand that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the scope of the patent application. [Brief description of the drawings] The accompanying drawings illustrate the design and utilization of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and similar elements are referred to with general reference numerals. In order to better understand the advantages and goals of this month, reference should be made to this—the appended claims of the preferred embodiment limit its scope. According to the use of v-, / thinking matters that are not meticulous, the present invention will be described and explained with specificity and details outside the scope of FIG. 2 through FIG. 2, where: FIG. 1 is a prior art touch screen Mu's equal sign, ⑽〇❹'s thousand-face map 'can be used to provide X-stimulus source mode, two M are in source mode, and the upper and lower sides are in the plan view of the non-commercial non-feather technology touch screen, No., dedicated to Shishi yk is used to provide the Y excitation fi source mode; the original original type, the upper and lower sides are in place. Figure 3 is a series resistor chain with two gaps (one connected to φ% / overlapping resistor electrodes have a V phantom interface and one (Non-connected surface); Figure 4 疋 Figure 3 The same circuit of the resistor chain; Figure 5 is a simplified diagram of the part of the series Thunderbolt in Figure 3, especially when the isoline is a non-wire when used in 200307221 non-source branch ^ The nature of the resistor chain ends in the resistor chain; Figure 6 疋 Figure 3 The actual phase of the resistor chain 7 e, Π The private circuit shows the current and potential in particular; Figure 7 疋 According to the present invention, a better and more complex, α Functional diagram; Fig. 8 of the contact system constructed by Beta Example is used for the contact system of Fig. 7 Exploded view of the screen. Figure 9 is a simplified diagram of a series resistor chain for the touch screen of Figure 7; Figure 10 is the same circuit of the resistor chain of Figure 9; Figure 1 ... Different types of gaps for the series resistor key of Figure 9 The configuration of Jane 2 is a plan view of the upper right corner of the tilted sheet used in the touch screen of Fig. 7. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the display. ^ U 口 口 Do not continue in the x and γ directions when i has asymmetric position accuracy requirements Software contact button. It is necessary to have [Illustration of the representative symbols of the diagram] 100 resistive touch screen system 105 touch screen 110 control circuit 115 main control computer 120 display 195 gradient sheet 2 touch screen substrate 200 substrate 205 resistance layer 206 contact area 215 elastic film Conductive paint insulation bonding frame electrode wire island or point resistor chain resistor chain resistor chain resistor chain resistor chain corner electric wire electric wire wire wire first electrode outer part inner part resistance connection interface insulation zone gap conductive island contact button Contact area resistance chain resistance chain electrode internal part internal part contact surface insulation region gap electrode pattern periphery