TWI403934B - Integrated touch module and method for integrating touch signals thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An integrated touch module and method for integrating touch signals thereof used fora notebook are disclosed. The integrated touch module comprises a casing, a fixed touch module, a sliding touch module, and a touch signal management module. The casing has an opening. The fixed touch module comprises a fixed touch pad and a first signal generating module. The fixed touch pad is connected to the casing. When the fixed touch pad is touched, the first signal generating module produces a first touch signal. The sliding touch module comprises a sliding touch pad and a second signal generating module. The sliding touch pad has a receiving state and a using state. Under the receiving state, the sliding touch pad is contained in the casing. Under the using state, the sliding touch pad is moved to the exterior of the casing via the opening. The sliding touch pad is connected to the fixed touch pad by means of sliding, and when the sliding touch pad is touched, the second signal generating module produces a second touch signal. The touch signal management module is used for managing the first touch signal and the second touch signal to form an integrated signal for controlling the notebook.

Description

Combined touch panel module and touch signal integration method thereof

The invention relates to a combined touch panel module and a touch signal integration method thereof, in particular to a combined touch panel module with a sliding touch panel module and a touch signal integration method thereof.

Generally speaking, the current touchpad of the notebook computer is located in the middle and lower plane of the base plane, and the upper part is the keyboard, and the left lower and lower right are the palm placement positions, so the size of the touchpad can only be limited to the middle and lower. Square area. Since the current notebook computer is focused on a small portable model, the area of the keyboard and the touchpad is relatively small. For those who use the touchpad to operate the cursor, each time the touchpad is made up and down. When you slide, you can only move the cursor a very short distance. For example, when browsing a file, the user has to slide the trackpad several times to move the axis of the document to the next page, which is quite inconvenient.

In the prior art, one of the methods for improving the size of the built-in touchpad of the notebook computer is to build a slot in the base, and the right side of the base can pull out the touchpad accommodated in the slot. However, this method makes it necessary for the user's palm to be placed outside the base, which is not in accordance with the user's habits.

In order to make the maximum distance of the sliding on the touchpad longer, it is necessary to extend the operable range of the touchpad of the notebook. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a combined touch panel module and a touch signal integration method thereof to solve the problems caused by the prior art.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a combined touch panel module for use in a notebook computer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch signal integration method for a combined touch panel module.

To achieve the above objective, the combined touch panel module of the present invention comprises a housing, a fixed touch panel module, a sliding touch panel module and a touch signal processing module. Wherein the housing has an opening. The fixed touch panel module comprises a fixed touch panel and a first signal generating module, wherein the fixed touch panel is fixed to the housing, and when the fixed touch panel is touched, the first signal generating module is generated. The first touch signal. The sliding touch panel module comprises a sliding touch panel and a second signal generating module, wherein the sliding touch panel has a storage state and a use state: in the storage state, the sliding touch panel is disposed in the housing; In the use state, the sliding touch panel is moved outside the casing through the opening, the sliding touch panel is slidably connected to the fixed touch panel, and the sliding touch panel is touched in the use state, the second signal The generating module generates a second touch signal. The touch signal processing module is configured to process the first touch signal and the second touch signal to form an integrated signal, and the integrated signal can control the notebook computer.

To achieve the above other object, the touch signal integration method of the present invention includes the following steps: obtaining a first coordinate track signal from a first signal generating module of the fixed touch panel module; and a sliding touch panel module The second signal generating module obtains the second coordinate track signal, wherein the second coordinate track signal is generated later than the first coordinate track signal; and the starting coordinate corresponding to the second coordinate track signal is substantially The end coordinate corresponding to the first track signal; if the above determination is yes, the integrated coordinate track signal is generated according to the first coordinate track signal and the second coordinate track signal; and the integrated coordinate track signal is output.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more <

Please refer to Figure 1 to Figure 5 together. 1 is a structural view of a combined touch panel module, FIG. 2 is a top view of the sliding touch panel in a stored state, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sliding touch panel in a stored state, and FIG. 4 is a sliding type The upper view of the touchpad in the use state, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the slide touchpad in use.

The notebook computer 90 of the present invention has a combined touch panel module 1 whose purpose is to increase the use area of the original touch panel. The integrated touch panel module 1 mainly includes a housing 10, a fixed touch panel module 20, a sliding touch panel module 30 and a touch signal processing module 50.

The housing 10 has an opening 12 for accessing the sliding touch panel 31 of the sliding track panel module 30. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the opening 12 is slightly rectangular and its length is matched to the size of the sliding touch panel 31.

The fixed touch panel module 20 includes a fixed touch panel 21 and a first signal generating module 22 . The fixed touch panel 21 is fixed to the casing 10 and is a touch panel in an unmovable position. When the fixed touch panel 21 is touched, the first signal generating module 22 generates a first touch signal 221 . For example, the first touch signal 221 includes a cursor displacement signal and the like.

The sliding touch panel module 30 includes a sliding touch panel 31 and a second signal generating module 32. The sliding touch panel 31 moves its position for visual use, and the sliding touch panel 31 has a storage state and a use state.

In the accommodating state (as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 ), the sliding touch panel 31 is housed in the housing 10 , and at this time, the user can only use the fixed touch of the fixed touch panel module 20 . The control panel 21 performs manipulation of the cursor.

In the state of use (as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 ), the sliding touch panel 31 is moved outside the casing 10 via the opening 12 , and the sliding touch panel 31 is slidably connected to the fixed touch panel 21 so as to be fixed. The touch panel 21 and the sliding touch panel 31 substantially form a continuous plane, thereby increasing the operating area of the touch panel. The second signal generating module 32 generates a second touch signal 321 when the sliding touch panel 31 is touched in the use state. For example, the second touch signal 321 includes a cursor displacement signal and the like.

At this time, the connection position of the fixed touch panel 21 and the slide type touch panel 31 is on the long side or the short side of the fixed touch panel 21. In this embodiment, the sliding touch panel 31 is coupled to the long side of the fixed touch panel 21, that is, the sliding touch panel 31 is connected to the upper surface of the fixed touch panel 21. Since the touchpad increases the length in the vertical direction, the user can increase the manipulation of the vertical direction (for example, controlling the scroll in the vertical direction, etc.).

In order to facilitate the removal of the sliding touch panel 31, the combined touch panel module 1 further includes a take-up member 34. In the present embodiment, the take-up member 34 is a handle of the end of the slide type touch panel 31. When in the accommodated state, the take-up member 34 is located in the opening 12. The user's finger can apply upward force to the removal member 34 (as shown in FIG. 2), and the sliding touch panel 31 can be pulled out in a sliding manner. It is to be noted that the structure of the take-up member 34 is not limited to the above. Any structure that facilitates the removal of the sliding touch panel 31 should be within the scope of the removal member 34. For example, the take-up member 34 can also be a push switch or the like.

In order to increase the stability of the sliding touch panel 31 in use, in the embodiment, the combined touch panel module 1 further includes at least one positioning member 40 (as shown in FIG. 3, which is provided with two positioning members). 40) is disposed between the sliding touch panel 31 and the casing 10. When the sliding touch panel 31 is in use, the sliding touch panel 31 is positioned on the housing 10 by the positioning member 40.

In this embodiment, the positioning member 40 includes at least one convex portion 42 and at least one concave portion 44 which are matched in shape, number and position. At least one convex portion 42 is located on the outer side of the casing 10, and at least one concave portion 44 is located in the sliding type. At least one convex portion 42 is positioned on the inner side of the touch panel 31 by at least one convex portion 42 in a concave-convex manner.

In the present embodiment, three recesses 44 located on the sliding touch panel 31 are used to abut the three convex portions 42 of the housing 10 for positioning purposes, and one of the convex portions 42 is located in the notebook type. The keyboard area 94 of the computer 90, and the top surface of the keyboard area 94 is slightly recessed in the housing 10 (as shown in FIG. 5), so as to facilitate the use of the fixed touch panel 21 and the sliding touch when in use. The control board 31 forms a coplanar plane.

It should be noted that the number and structure of the positioning members 40 are not limited to the above. For example, the positioning member 40 can also be a positioning structure achieved by means of a fastening (such as a snap), a clamping, or the like, or the positioning member 40 can also be a push switch, by applying a force to the pressing switch, The sliding touch panel 31 is fixed to the casing 10, and pressing the pressing switch once again releases the sliding touch panel 31 from the casing 10.

In order to prevent the sliding touch panel 31 from being completely separated from the casing 10, the combined touch panel module 1 further includes a stopper 60 (shown in FIG. 2) for limiting the sliding touch panel 31. The maximum amount of removal. In this embodiment, the stopper 60 includes a first stop portion 62 and a second stop portion 64 in a rib shape, wherein the first stop portion 62 is located on the sliding touch panel 31, the first stop The blocking portion 62 and the sliding touch panel 31 together form an inverted T shape (as shown in FIG. 2), and the second stopping portion 64 is located inside the housing 10. As shown in FIG. 4, when the sliding touch panel 31 is in the use state, the second stopping portion 64 can stop the first stopping portion 62 to prevent the sliding touch panel 31 from continuing to slide out. It should be noted that the structure of the stopper 60 is not limited to the above.

In order to smoothly and stably slide the sliding touch panel 31 from the inside of the casing 10, the integrated touch panel module 1 further includes a guiding member 70. The guide member 70 is for guiding the slide type touch panel 31 when moving from the storage state to the use state. In the embodiment, the guiding member 70 is a guiding slot located at the corresponding two sides of the sliding touch panel 31 in the stored state to form a track for guiding the sliding touch panel 31. It should be noted that the structure of the guide member 70 is not limited to the above.

The touch signal processing module 50 is configured to process the first touch signal 221 and the second touch signal 321 to form an integrated signal 501, and the integrated signal 501 can be transmitted to the motherboard 96 to control the cursor movement of the notebook computer 90. , left and right button actuation and other related operations.

For example, when the first touch signal 221 and the second touch signal 321 are displacement signals, since the coordinate axes corresponding to the two are not identical, the touch signal processing module 50 can be used to use the first touch. The signal 221 and the second touch signal 321 are integrated into the same coordinate axis.

It should be noted that the signals processed by the touch signal processing module 50 are not limited to the above. For example, it can also integrate the left button press signal or the right button press signal.

Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 6 together. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of steps of a method for integrating a touch signal according to the present invention. The touch signal integration method of the present invention is described by taking the above-described combined touch panel module 1 as an example. However, the touch signal integration method of the present invention is not applied to the above-described combined touch panel module 1 limit.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the touch signal integration method of the present invention first performs step 601 : the first coordinate track signal 222 is obtained by the first signal generating module 22 of the fixed touch panel module 20 .

When the user's finger slides on the fixed touch panel module 20, the first signal generating module 22 generates a first coordinate track signal 222, and the first coordinate track signal 222 is transmitted to the touch signal processing module 50.

Next, step 602 is performed: determining whether the sliding touch panel 31 is connected to the fixed touch panel 21.

The purpose of this step is to supply the power of the sliding touch panel 31 when it is in use, so as to achieve power saving. When the determination in step 602 is "YES", then step 603 is performed; when the determination in step 602 is "NO", the process returns to step 601.

If the determination in step 602 is "NO", it indicates that only the fixed touch panel module 20 is currently in operation, and the first coordinate track signal generated by the first signal generating module 22 of the fixed touch panel module 20 is The 222 is still passed to the touch signal processing module 50 and then passed to the motherboard 96. At this time, in order to monitor whether the slide type touch panel 31 is connected to the fixed touch panel 21 thereafter, steps 601 and 602 are alternately performed.

For example, a method of determining whether the sliding touch panel 31 has been connected to the fixed touch panel 21 can be disposed between the sliding touch panel 31 and the fixed touch panel 21 by using a sensor. It is used to sense whether the sliding touch panel 31 is in a use state (ie, the sliding touch panel 31 is connected to the fixed touch panel 21), or a contact surface between the sliding touch panel 31 and the housing 10 is respectively added When the sliding touch panel 31 is in the use state, the sliding touch panel 31 is turned on. Since the foregoing various methods are conventional techniques, the detailed structure thereof will not be described. It should be noted that step 602 may be omitted if there is no need to consider power saving issues.

Then, step 603 is performed: the second coordinate track signal 322 is obtained by the second signal generating module 32 of the sliding track panel module 30.

In this embodiment, the user slides on the fixed touch panel 21 and then slides into the sliding touch panel 31. Therefore, the second coordinate track signal 322 is generated later than the first coordinate track signal 222. The time is generated and the second coordinate track signal 322 is substantially contiguous with the first coordinate track signal 222.

It should be noted that if the sliding touch panel 31 is connected to the fixed touch panel 21, but the second coordinate track signal 322 is not generated (for example, when the sliding touch panel 31 has not been touched), then Step 603 is required, but the first coordinate track signal 222 generated by the first signal generating module 22 of the fixed touch panel module 20 is still transmitted to the touch signal processing module 50, and then transmitted to the motherboard 96. .

Next, step 604 is performed to determine whether the starting coordinate corresponding to the second coordinate track signal 322 is substantially the end coordinate corresponding to the first coordinate track signal 222, or whether the end coordinate corresponding to the second coordinate track signal 322 is substantially the first The starting point coordinates of a track signal 222.

The second coordinate track signal 322 and the first coordinate track signal 222 can respectively correspond to a series of coordinate points, wherein the starting coordinate corresponding to the second coordinate track signal 322 and the first coordinate corresponding to the first coordinate track signal 222 are the same or When approaching, it means that the connection point of the user's finger from the fixed touch panel 21 to the sliding touch panel 31 is substantially the same point.

In another case, when the end coordinate corresponding to the second coordinate track signal 322 is the same as or close to the starting coordinate corresponding to the first coordinate track signal 222, the user's finger is slid to the fixed position by the sliding touch panel 31. The touch panel 21 has the same point of convergence.

If the determination in the step 604 is YES, the process proceeds to step 605. If the determination in the step 604 is "NO", the first coordinate track signal 222 corresponds to a series of coordinate points corresponding to the second coordinate track signal 322. The series of coordinate points are not continuous, so return to step 601.

Next, step 605 is performed to generate an integrated coordinate track signal 522 according to the first coordinate track signal 222 and the second coordinate track signal 322.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention sets the starting coordinate of the sliding touch panel 31 to the end coordinate of the fixed touch panel 21, and calculates the difference between the end coordinate signal and the starting coordinate signal. Obtaining a difference coordinate signal; then adding the second coordinate track signal 322 plus the difference coordinate signal to the third coordinate track signal, and adding the first coordinate track signal 222 to the third target track signal to form an integrated coordinate track signal 522 .

By way of example, when the user touches the fixed touch panel 21 first, the coordinates (5, 0) of the fixed touch panel 21 start to move up to (5, 10), and then the sliding touch is entered. The coordinates of the control board 31 are (5, 0) (this position is the junction between the fixed touch panel 21 and the sliding touch panel 31), and finally moved to the (5, 15) of the sliding touch panel 31. Since the (5, 10) of the fixed touch panel 21 and the (5, 0) of the sliding touch panel 31 are connected, they should be regarded as the same position, so the touch signal processing module 50 will be touched according to the fixed touch. The coordinate axis of the control board 21 is correct, and the starting point coordinates (5, 0) are set to correspond to the end coordinates (5, 10), and then the coordinate difference between the fixed touch panel 21 and the sliding touch panel 31 (ie, (5) , 10) - (5, 0) = (0, 10)), accumulating to all the coordinates of all the sliding touch panels 31, so the sliding touch panel 31 is finally moved to the coordinates of (5, 15) plus (0,10) is adjusted to (5,25).

Finally, step 606 is performed: outputting the integrated coordinate track signal 522.

For example, the integrated coordinate track signal 522 can be output to the motherboard 96 of the notebook computer 90 to control the operation of the cursor movement of the notebook computer 90.

To sum up, the present invention, regardless of its purpose, means and efficacy, shows its distinctive features of the prior art. You are requested to review the examination and express the patent as soon as possible. It should be noted that the various embodiments described above are merely illustrative for ease of explanation, and the scope of the invention is intended to be limited by the scope of the claims.

1. . . Combined touch panel module

10. . . case

12. . . Opening

20. . . Fixed touch panel module

twenty one. . . Fixed touchpad

twenty two. . . First signal generation module

221. . . First touch signal

222. . . First track signal

30. . . Sliding touch panel module

31. . . Sliding trackpad

32. . . Second signal generation module

321. . . Second touch signal

322. . . Second coordinate track signal

34. . . Take out

40. . . Positioning member

42. . . Convex

44. . . Concave

50. . . Touch signal processing module

501. . . Integrated signal

522. . . Integrated coordinate track signal

60. . . Stop

62. . . First stop

64. . . Second stop

70. . . Guide

90. . . Notebook computer

94. . . Keyboard area

96. . . motherboard

1 is a structural diagram of a combined touch panel module of the present invention.

2 is a top view of the notebook computer of the present invention in a state in which the slide type touch panel is in a stored state.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the notebook computer of the present invention in a state in which the slide type touch panel is in a stored state.

4 is a top view of the notebook computer of the present invention in a state in which the slide type touch panel is in use.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the notebook computer of the present invention in a state in which the slide type touch panel is in use.

6 is a flow chart showing the steps of the touch signal integration method of the present invention.

1. . . Combined touch panel module

twenty one. . . Fixed touchpad

31. . . Sliding trackpad

34. . . Take out

44. . . Concave

62. . . First stop

64. . . Second stop

90. . . Notebook computer

Claims (10)

A combined touch panel module is used for a notebook computer. The combined touch panel module comprises: a housing having an opening; and a fixed touch panel module including a fixed type The touch panel and the first signal generating module are fixed to the housing. When the fixed touch panel is touched, the first signal generating module generates a first touch. A sliding touch panel module includes a sliding touch panel and a second signal generating module, the sliding touch panel having a storage state and a use state: in the storage state, the The sliding touch panel is disposed in the housing; in the use state, the sliding touch panel is moved outside the housing through the opening, and the sliding touch panel is slidably connected to the fixed touch panel And the second signal generating module generates a second touch signal when the sliding touch panel is touched in the use state; and a touch signal processing module is configured to process the first The touch signal and the second touch signal form an integrated signal, and the integrated signal The notebook can be manipulated. The combined touch panel module of claim 1, further comprising: a positioning member disposed between the sliding touch panel and the housing, such that the sliding touch panel is In the use state, the sliding touch panel is positioned on the housing by the positioning component. The combined touch panel module of claim 2, further comprising: a stop member for limiting the maximum amount of removal of the sliding touch panel. The combined touch panel module of claim 2, further comprising: a guiding member for guiding the sliding touch when moving from the receiving state to the using state Control board. The combined touch panel module of claim 2, wherein the sliding touch panel module further comprises a take-up member, the take-up member being located on the sliding touch panel, in the storage state The take-up piece is located in the opening. The combined touch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the fixed touch panel and the sliding touch panel substantially form a continuous body when the sliding touch panel is in the use state. flat. A notebook computer having a combined touch panel module as described in claim 1 of the patent application. A touch signal integration method is used for a combined touch panel module, the combined touch panel module has a fixed touch panel module and a sliding touch panel module, wherein the fixed type The touch panel module includes a fixed touch panel and a first signal generating module. The sliding touch panel module includes a sliding touch panel and a second signal generating module. The sliding touch panel The touch signal integration method includes: obtaining, by the first signal generating module of the fixed touch panel module, a first coordinate track signal; and the sliding touch The second signal generating module of the control panel module obtains a second coordinate track signal, wherein the second coordinate track signal is generated later than the first coordinate track signal generation time; and the second coordinate track signal is determined. Whether the corresponding start coordinate is one of the end coordinates corresponding to the first coordinate track signal, or whether one of the end coordinates corresponding to the second coordinate track signal is a starting coordinate corresponding to the first coordinate track signal; on It is determined that the trajectory based on the first coordinate and the second coordinate signal to generate an integrated signal trajectory coordinate trajectory signal; and outputting the integrated signal coordinate trajectory. The touch signal integration method as described in claim 8 includes: causing the starting coordinate to correspond to the end coordinate, and calculating a difference between the end coordinate signal and the starting coordinate signal to obtain a difference coordinate signal; And adding the second coordinate track signal to the difference coordinate signal to form a third coordinate track signal, and adding the first coordinate track signal to the third target track signal to form the integrated coordinate track signal. The touch signal integration method of claim 8, further comprising: determining whether the sliding touch panel is connected to the fixed touch panel; If the determination is yes, the second signal generating module generates the second touch signal when touched.