TWI488087B - Input device - Google Patents

Description

Input device

The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device having migrating particles.

The early touch input device is a resistive touch, wherein the touch input device has a space between the fixed substrate and the flexible substrate. When the touch-type input device is touched by the user, the flexible substrate is deformed and electrically contacted with the fixed substrate, and the touch-type input device can generate a signal of the touched position. However, in order to electrically contact the flexible substrate with the fixed substrate, the user must apply a large pressure to the input device to cause a large amount of deformation of the flexible substrate. However, such a design is liable to cause cracking of the electrodes in the flexible substrate and shorten the service life of the touch type input device.

In recent years, the touch input device is a capacitive touch, wherein the conductive glass of the touch input device can provide a uniform electric field. When the touch-type input device is touched by the user, the position where the conductive glass is touched may cause a voltage drop due to a conductor such as a human body sucking away a part of the current. Therefore, the touch type input device can calculate and generate a signal of the touch position. Although the capacitive touch type input device has a longer service life than the resistive touch type input device, the user often only uses the capacitive touch type input device. Use the human body or a specific type of stylus. The capacitive touch panel does not work when the user wears insulated gloves.

In addition, there are also operators who develop optical detection type input devices. The input device has a backlight module and an optical sensing module. The light of the backlight module can pass through the optical sensing module. When the user touches the optical sensing module with the user or the object, the light of the backlight module passes through the optical sensing module, and then the user reflects the user or the object and returns to the optical sensing module to Let the optical sensing module detect the position being touched. However, this design is misjudged by the influence of external background light.

Therefore, it is an input device that has a long service life, can be applied to various occasions and tools, and has an accurate input signal, and is a subject faced by current practitioners.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an input device that detects an input situation by detecting a change in light reflection of a plurality of moving particles.

The invention discloses an input device comprising a backlight module, a panel and an optical sensing module. The backlight module is used to provide a light. The panel is disposed above the backlight module. The panel includes an electrode substrate, a flexible substrate, a first electrode, a fluid layer and a plurality of migrating particles. The flexible substrate is disposed on the electrode substrate and spaced apart from the electrode substrate by a distance. The first electrode is disposed between the electrode substrate and the flexible substrate and is configured to provide a first electric field. The fluid layer is placed on Between the electrode substrate and the flexible substrate. The migratory particles have an electrical property and are movably disposed in the fluid layer. The migrating particles have a reflective property to reflect light and an external light, and are used to be driven on the flexible substrate by the first electric field. The optical sensing module is disposed between the backlight module and the panel. The optical sensing module has a plurality of photosensitive units. When the first electrode provides the first electric field, the light is reflected by the moving particles to the photosensitive cells.

According to the input device of the present invention, when the first electrode provides the first electric field, the moving particles are driven by the first electric field and are laid on the flexible substrate, and the light provided by the backlight module is reflected by the moving particles to the photosensitive cells. When the user touches the flexible substrate, the flexible substrate is slightly deformed, and the arrangement of the moving particles laid on the flexible substrate is changed. When the arrangement of the moving particles changes, the angle at which the moving particles in different positions reflect the light will also change. The photosensitive unit of the optical sensing module can detect the position of the panel touched by an external force by changing the position of the reflection angle. The input device can thereby know the position touched by the user, and can enable the user to perform a touch operation. Since the input device can be touch-operated by external force touch, the user can use any input device to perform touch using any item or tool. Since the deformation range of the flexible substrate only needs to change the arrangement of the migration particles, the deformation amplitude can be smaller than that in the prior art in which the flexible substrate and the electrode substrate are electrically contacted. The input device can therefore have a long service life. When the moving particles are laid on the flexible substrate, the external light can be blocked, so that external light does not enter the input device. Therefore, the input device can solve the external light interference and cause the input signal to be misjudged. The problem.

The above description of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate and explain the spirit and principles of the invention.

10, 20, 30‧‧‧ input devices

110‧‧‧Backlight module

120, 220, 320‧‧‧ panels

121, 221, 321‧‧‧ electrode substrate

122, 222, 322‧‧‧Flexible substrate

1231, 2132, 3231‧‧‧ first electrode

124, 224, 324‧‧‧ fluid layers

125, 225, 325 ‧ ‧ swimming particles

130‧‧‧Optical sensing module

131‧‧‧Photosensitive unit

2232, 3232‧‧‧ second electrode

2233, 3233‧‧‧ third electrode

2234, 3234‧‧‧ fourth electrode

3231a‧‧‧First subelectrode

3232a‧‧‧Second subelectrode

3233a‧‧‧ third subelectrode

3234a‧‧‧fourth subelectrode

326‧‧‧ partition wall

327‧‧‧Black matrix

F‧‧‧External force

L‧‧‧Light

R‧‧‧ sub-pixel area

S‧‧‧ items

Figure 1A is a side elevational view of an input device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1B is a side view showing the input device of Fig. 1A subjected to an external force.

2A is a side elevational view of an input device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2B is a side view showing the input device of Fig. 2A subjected to an external force.

Figure 2C is a side elevational view of the moving particles of the input device of Figure 2A driven by a second electric field.

Figure 3A is a side elevational view of an input device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3B is a side view showing the input device of Fig. 3A subjected to an external force.

FIG. 3C is a side view showing that the moving particles of the input device of FIG. 3A are driven by the second electric field.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the Detailed Description of the Detailed Description of the <RTIgt; The objects and advantages of the present invention can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The following examples are intended to describe the present invention in further detail, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The proportions in the drawings are not intended to limit the invention.

Referring to Figure 1A, a side view of an input device 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the embodiment, the input device 10 includes a backlight module 110, a panel 120, and an optical sensing module 130.

The backlight module 110 is configured to provide a light L. The panel 120 is disposed above the backlight module 110. The optical sensing module 130 has a plurality of photosensitive cells 131 and is disposed between the backlight module 110 and the panel 120 .

The panel 120 includes an electrode substrate 121, a flexible substrate 122, a first electrode 1231, a fluid layer 124, and a plurality of migrating particles 125. The flexible substrate 122 is disposed on the electrode substrate 121 and spaced apart from the electrode substrate 121 by a distance.

The first electrode 1231 is disposed on the electrode substrate 121 and located between the electrode substrate 121 and the flexible substrate 122. The first electrode 1231 is configured to provide a first electric field.

The fluid layer 124 is provided between the electrode substrate 121 and the flexible substrate 122. The fluid layer 124 is transparent and can pass light L. The migrating particles 125 have an electrical property and are movably disposed in the fluid layer 124. The swimming particles 125 have a reflective property to reflect the light L and an external light. The migrating particles 125 have a reflection characteristic, and indicate that the migrating particles 125 are particles capable of reflecting light. The ratio of light reflected on the moving particles 125 to incident is greater than zero. When the first electric field is supplied to the first electrode 1231, the first electrode 1231 repels the migrating particles 125. The migrating particles 125 are laid on the flexible substrate 122 by the first electric field. The light L provided by the backlight module 110 can be reflected by the moving particles 125 to the photosensitive unit 131 of the optical sensing module 130.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a side view of the input device 10 of FIG. 1A subjected to an external force F is shown. When the user performs a touch operation on the input device 10 with a finger, a stylus, or other items, an external force F is applied to the input device. The flexible substrate 122 is deformed by an external force, and the arrangement of the moving particles 125 laid on the flexible substrate 122 is changed. As the arrangement of the migrating particles 125 changes, the angle at which the migrating particles at different locations reflect the light will also change. The photosensitive unit 131 of the optical sensing module 130 can detect the position of the external force F applied to the panel 120 by changing the position of the reflection angle. The input device 10 can thereby know the position of the user's touch, and can enable the user to perform a touch operation.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a side view of the input device 20 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The input device 20 is similar to the input device 10 of FIG. 1A and includes a backlight module 110, a panel 220, and an optical sensing module 130. The fluid layer 224 of the panel 220 is disposed between the electrode substrate 221 and the flexible substrate 222, and can pass the light L. The migrating particles 225 of the panel 220 are movably disposed in the fluid layer 224.

However, in the embodiment, the panel 220 includes a first electrode 2231, a second electrode 2232, a third electrode 2233, and a fourth electrode 2234.

The first electrode 2231 is disposed on the electrode substrate 221 and located at Between the electrode substrate 221 and the flexible substrate 222. The fourth electrode 2234 is disposed on the flexible substrate 222 and located between the electrode substrate 221 and the flexible substrate 222 and corresponds to the first electrode 2231. The first electrode 2231 and the fourth electrode 2234 are used to jointly provide a first electric field.

The second electrode 2232 is disposed on the electrode substrate 221 and located between the electrode substrate 221 and the flexible substrate 222 and located on the outer side of the first electrode 2231. The third electrode 2233 is disposed on the flexible substrate 222 and located between the electrode substrate 221 and the flexible substrate 222 and corresponding to the second electrode 2232. The second electrode 2232 and the third electrode 2233 are used to jointly provide a second electric field. In this embodiment, the first electrode 2231 and the fourth electrode 2234 can collectively provide a first electric field, and the second electrode 2232 and the third electrode 2233 can collectively provide a second electric field, but are not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the third electrode 2233 and the fourth electrode 2234 can also be omitted.

When the first electric field is provided by the first electrode 2231 and the fourth electrode 2234, the first electrode 2231 repels the migrating particles 225, and the fourth electrode 2234 attracts the migrating particles 225. The migrating particles 225 are laid on the flexible substrate 222 by the first electric field. The light L provided by the backlight module 110 can be reflected by the moving particles 225 to the photosensitive unit 131 of the optical sensing module 130.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a side view of the input device 20 of FIG. 2A subjected to an external force F is shown. When the user performs a touch operation on the input device 20 with a finger, a stylus pen or other items, an external force F is applied to the input device. The flexible substrate 222 is deformed by an external force, and is attached to the flexible substrate 222 in association with the change. The arrangement of the swimming particles 225. As the arrangement of the migrating particles 225 changes, the angle at which the migrating particles at different locations reflect the light will also change. The photosensitive unit 131 of the optical sensing module 130 can detect the position of the external force F applied to the panel 220 by changing the position of the reflection angle. The input device 20 can thereby know the position of the user's touch, and can enable the user to perform a touch operation.

Referring to FIG. 2C, a side view of the moving particles 225 of the input device 20 of FIG. 2A driven by the second electric field is illustrated. When the second electric field is supplied to the second electrode 2232 and the third electrode 2233, the second electrode 2232 and the third electrode 2233 attract the migrating particles 225. The swimming particles 225 are moved to the outside of the first electrode 2231 by the driving of the second electric field. At this time, the light ray L can penetrate through the panel 220. The user can place the item S to be scanned on the flexible substrate 222, and the light L can be reflected by the object S to the photosensitive unit 131 of the optical sensing module 130, and can detect the image of the item S. Thereby, the user can use the scanning function of the input device 20.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a side view of an input device 30 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The input device 30 is similar to the input device 20 of FIG. 2A and includes a backlight module 110, a panel 320, and an optical sensing module 130. The fluid layer 324 of the panel 320 is disposed between the electrode substrate 321 and the flexible substrate 322, and can pass the light L. The migrating particles 325 of the panel 320 are movably disposed in the fluid layer 324.

However, in the embodiment, the panel 320 further includes a plurality of partition walls 326 and a black matrix 327. The partition wall 326 is disposed on the electrode substrate 321 and scratched Between the substrates 322, the panel 320 is divided into a plurality of sub-pixel regions R. The black matrix 327 is disposed between the sub-pixel regions R and corresponds to the partition walls 326. In the embodiment, one sub-pixel area R corresponds to the two photosensitive units 131, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, each sub-pixel area R can correspond to one or more photosensitive units 131. In other embodiments, each sub-pixel area R can not correspond to the photosensitive unit 131.

The first electrode 3231 includes a plurality of first sub-electrodes 3231a. The first sub-electrodes 3231a are located in the sub-pixel regions R, respectively. The fourth electrode 3234 includes a plurality of fourth sub-electrodes 3234a. Each of the fourth sub-electrodes 3234a located in each of the sub-pixel regions R corresponds to each of the first sub-electrodes 3231a. The first sub-electrodes 3231a and the fourth sub-electrodes 3234a together provide a first electric field.

The second electrode 3232 includes a plurality of second sub-electrodes 3232a, and the partition walls 326 are disposed corresponding to the second sub-electrodes 3232a. The second sub-electrodes 3232a located in the respective sub-pixel regions R are located on the outer side of each of the first sub-electrodes 3231a. The third electrode 3233 includes a plurality of third sub-electrodes 3233a, and the partition walls 326 are disposed corresponding to the third sub-electrodes 3233a. Each of the third sub-electrodes 3233a located in each of the sub-pixel regions R is located on the outer side of each of the fourth sub-electrodes 3234a. The second sub-electrodes 3232a and the third sub-electrodes 3233a together provide a second electric field. In this embodiment, the first electrode 2231 and the fourth electrode 2234 can provide a first electric field, and the second electrode 2232 and the third electrode 2233 can provide a second electric field, but are not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the third sub-electrode 3233a and the fourth sub-electrode 3234a can also be omitted.

When the first sub-electrode 3231a and the fourth sub-electrode 3234a provide the first electric field, the first sub-electrode 3231a repels the migrating particles 325, and the fourth sub-electrode 3234a attracts the migrating particles 325. The migrating particles 325 are laid on the flexible substrate 322 by the first electric field. The light L provided by the backlight module 110 can be reflected by the moving particles 325 to the photosensitive unit 131 of the optical sensing module 130.

Referring to FIG. 3B, a side view of the input device 30 of FIG. 3A subjected to an external force F is shown. When the user performs a touch operation on the input device 30 with a finger, a stylus pen or other items, an external force F is applied to the input device. The flexible substrate 322 is deformed by an external force to deform the partition wall 326 and change the arrangement of the migrating particles 325 laid on the flexible substrate 322. As the arrangement of the migrating particles 325 changes, the angle at which the migrating particles at different locations reflect the light will also change. The photosensitive unit 131 of the optical sensing module 130 can detect the position of the external force F applied to the panel 320 by changing the position of the reflection angle. The input device 30 can thereby know the position of the user's touch, and can enable the user to perform a touch operation.

Referring to FIG. 3C, a side view of the moving particles 325 of the input device 30 of FIG. 3A driven by the second electric field is illustrated. When the second electric field is supplied to the second sub-electrode 3232a and the third sub-electrode 3233a, the second sub-electrode 3232a and the third sub-electrode 3233a attract the migrating particles 325. The migrating particles 325 are moved to the outer side of the first sub-electrode 3231a by the driving of the second electric field, and are shielded by the black matrix 327. At this time, the light ray L can penetrate through the panel 320. The user can place the item S to be scanned on the flexible substrate 322, and the light L can be used by the item S. It is reflected to the photosensitive unit 131 of the optical sensing module 130, and can detect the image of the item S. Thereby, the user can use the scanning function of the input device 30.

In summary, in the input device of the present invention, when the first electrode and the fourth electrode provide the first electric field, the moving particles are driven by the first electric field and are laid on the flexible substrate, and the light provided by the backlight module is used. The moving particles are reflected to the photosensitive cells. When the user touches the flexible substrate, the flexible substrate is slightly deformed, and the arrangement of the moving particles laid on the flexible substrate is changed. When the arrangement of the moving particles changes, the angle at which the moving particles in different positions reflect the light will also change. The photosensitive unit of the optical sensing module can detect the position of the panel touched by an external force by changing the position of the reflection angle. The input device can thereby know the position touched by the user, and can enable the user to perform a touch operation. Since the input device can be touch-operated by external force touch, the user can use any input device to perform touch using any item or tool. In addition, the partition wall setting provides the strength of the panel. Since the deformation range of the flexible substrate only needs to change the arrangement of the migration particles, the deformation amplitude can be smaller than that in the prior art in which the flexible substrate and the electrode substrate are electrically contacted. The input device can therefore have a long service life. When the moving particles are laid on the flexible substrate, the external light can be blocked, so that external light does not enter the input device. Therefore, the input device can solve the problem that the input signal is misjudged due to external light interference.

On the other hand, when the second electric field is supplied to the second electrode and the third electrode, the moving particles are moved to the outside of the first electrode by the second electric field. At this point, light can penetrate the panel. The user can place the item to be scanned on the flexible substrate. The light provided by the backlight module can be reflected by the object to the optical sensing module, and can detect the image of the object. Thereby, the input device can also have a scanning function.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. It is within the scope of the invention to be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

10‧‧‧Input device

110‧‧‧Backlight module

120‧‧‧ panel

121‧‧‧Electrode substrate

122‧‧‧Flexible substrate

1231‧‧‧First electrode

124‧‧‧ fluid layer

125‧‧‧ swimming particles

130‧‧‧Optical sensing module

131‧‧‧Photosensitive unit

L‧‧‧Light

Claims (10)

An input device includes: a backlight module for providing a light; a panel disposed above the backlight module, the panel comprising: an electrode substrate; a flexible substrate disposed on the electrode substrate, and The electrode substrate is spaced apart by a distance; a first electrode is disposed between the electrode substrate and the flexible substrate to provide a first electric field; a fluid layer is disposed between the electrode substrate and the flexible substrate And a plurality of migrating particles having an electrical property and movably disposed in the fluid layer, the migrating particles having a reflective property to reflect the light and an external light, and being driven by the first electric field And the optical sensing module is disposed between the backlight module and the panel, the optical sensing module has a plurality of photosensitive units, when the first electrode provides the first electric field The light is reflected by the swimming particles to the photosensitive cells. The input device of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a second electrode disposed on the electrode substrate and located outside the first electrode, the second electrode for providing a second electric field, the moving particles The light is moved to the outer side of the first electrode by the driving of the second electric field, and the light penetrates the panel when the second electrode provides the second electric field. The input device of claim 2, wherein the panel further comprises a third electrode disposed on the flexible substrate and corresponding to the second electrode, the third electrode and the second electrode jointly providing the second electric field. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is disposed on the electrode substrate, the panel further includes a fourth electrode disposed on the flexible substrate corresponding to the first electrode and located at the flexible The fourth electrode and the first electrode together provide the first electric field between the substrate and the electrode substrate. The input device of claim 1, wherein the fluid layer is transparent. The input device of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a plurality of partition walls disposed between the electrode substrate and the flexible substrate, the panel is divided into a plurality of sub-pixel regions, and the first electrode includes a plurality of And a first sub-electrode, wherein the first sub-electrodes are respectively located in the sub-pixel regions. The input device of claim 6, wherein the panel further comprises a second electrode disposed on the electrode substrate and located between the flexible substrate and the electrode substrate, the second electrode comprising a plurality of second sub-electrodes, And the second sub-electrodes are located on the outer side of each of the first sub-electrodes, and the second sub-electrodes are used to provide a first a second electric field, wherein the moving particles are driven by the second electric field to move to the outer side of each of the first sub-electrodes, and when each of the second sub-electrodes provides each of the second electric fields, the light passes through each of the sub-electrodes The pixel area. The input device of claim 7, wherein the first electrode is disposed on the electrode substrate, the panel further includes a third electrode disposed on the flexible substrate and located between the flexible substrate and the electrode substrate, The third electrode includes a plurality of third sub-electrodes, and the partition walls are disposed corresponding to the third sub-electrodes, and each of the third sub-electrodes located in each of the sub-pixel regions is located outside the first sub-electrodes The third sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes together provide the second electric fields. The input device of claim 6, wherein the first electrode is disposed on the electrode substrate, the panel further includes a fourth electrode disposed on the flexible substrate and located between the flexible substrate and the electrode substrate The fourth electrode includes a plurality of fourth sub-electrodes, each of the fourth sub-electrodes located in each of the sub-pixel regions corresponding to each of the first sub-electrodes, and the fourth sub-electrodes and the first sub-electrodes together provide the first electric field. The input device of claim 6, wherein the panel further comprises a black matrix disposed between the sub-pixel regions and corresponding to the partition walls.