TWI838014B - Touch module and portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch module including a light guide plate, a plurality of light sources, a plurality of optical micro-structures, and a touch panel is provided. The light guide plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of light incident surfaces. Each of the light incident surfaces connects the first surface with the second surface. The light sources are disposed beside the light incident surfaces, respectively, so as to emit a plurality of illumination beams towards the light incident surfaces, respectively. The optical micro-structures are disposed on the second surface. Each of the optical micro-structures has a reflective surface and at least one light absorbing surface. The optical micro-structures are divided into a plurality of kinds of optical micro-structures. Reflective surfaces of each kind of optical micro-structures correspondingly reflects the illumination beam emitted by one of the light sources into a pattern beam emerging from the first surface. The touch panel is disposed on the first surface. A portable computer is also provided.

Description

Touch module and portable computer

The present invention relates to a sensing module and a computer, and in particular to a touch module and a portable computer.

A general notebook computer usually has a touchpad built into the base, so that when it is inconvenient for the user to use a mouse, the user can still use the touchpad to operate the cursor on the screen and control the computer.

As laptops become more and more popular, their touch panels have also developed luminous patterns to achieve better convenience and aesthetics. However, the luminous patterns of conventional laptop touch panels are fixed, which cannot meet the needs of various functions of laptops.

The present invention provides a touch module that can provide a variety of different luminous patterns.

The present invention provides a notebook computer, whose touch module can provide a variety of different luminous patterns.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a touch module, including a light guide plate, a plurality of light sources, a plurality of optical microstructures and a touch panel. The light guide plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a plurality of light incident surfaces, wherein each light incident surface is connected to the first surface and the second surface. The light sources are respectively arranged beside the light incident surfaces to emit a plurality of illumination beams toward the light incident surfaces. The optical microstructures are arranged on the second surface, and each optical microstructure has a reflection surface and at least one light absorption surface. The optical microstructures are divided into a plurality of optical microstructures, and the reflection surface of each optical microstructure correspondingly reflects the illumination beam emitted by one of the light sources into a pattern beam emitted from the first surface, and the patterns of the plurality of pattern beams reflected by the plurality of optical microstructures are different from each other. The touch panel is arranged on the first surface.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a portable computer, comprising a base and the above-mentioned touch module, wherein the touch module is configured on the base.

In the touch module and portable computer of the embodiment of the present invention, the multiple optical microstructures on the light guide plate are divided into multiple optical microstructures, and the reflective surface of each optical microstructure correspondingly reflects the illumination light beam emitted by one of the light sources into a pattern light beam emitted from the first surface, and the patterns of the multiple pattern light beams reflected by the multiple optical microstructures are different from each other. Therefore, the touch module and portable computer of the embodiment of the present invention can provide multiple different light patterns, thereby meeting the various usage requirements of users for portable computers.

100: Portable computer

110: Base

120: Screen

130: Processor

200, 200e: Touch screen module

210, 210e: Light guide plate

212: First surface

214: Second surface

216, 216a, 216b, 216c, 216d: light incident surface

220, 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d: light source

222, 222a, 222b: lighting beam

224, 224a, 224b: Patterned beams

226a, 226b: Luminous pattern

230, 230a, 230b, 230c, 230d: optical microstructures

232: Reflective surface

234: Light-absorbing surface

236: Light-absorbing layer

240: Touch panel

250: Covering layer

252: Non-luminous pattern

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are front views of the touch module in Figure 1 in three different states.

FIG3A is a front view schematic diagram of the internal structure of the touch module in FIG1.

FIG3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the touch module in FIG1 along the I-I line in FIG3A.

Figure 4 is a front view schematic diagram of the internal structure of the touch module of another embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 5A to 5D are schematic front views of four optical microstructures in the touch module of Figure 4.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable computer of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C are front views of the touch module in FIG. 1 in three different states, FIG. 3A is a front view of the internal structure of the touch module in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the touch module in FIG. 1 along the I-I line of FIG. 3A. Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the portable computer 100 of the present embodiment includes a base 110 and a touch module 200, wherein the touch module 200 is disposed on the base 110. In the present embodiment, the portable computer 100 is, for example, a notebook computer, which further includes a screen 120 connected to the base 110. However, in other embodiments, the portable computer 100 may also be a tablet computer, and the screen is integrated on the base 110.

In this embodiment, the touch module 200 includes a light guide plate 210, a plurality of light sources 220 (including light sources 220a and 220b in this embodiment), a plurality of optical microstructures 230 (including a plurality of optical microstructures 230a and a plurality of optical microstructures 230b in this embodiment), and a touch panel 240. The light guide plate 210 has a first surface 212, a second surface 214 opposite to the first surface 212, and a plurality of light incident surfaces 216 (including a light incident surface 216a and a light incident surface 216b in this embodiment), wherein each light incident surface 216 connects the first surface 212 and the second surface 214. The light sources 220 are respectively disposed beside the light incident surfaces 216 to emit a plurality of illumination light beams 222 toward the light incident surfaces 216. The optical microstructures 230 are disposed on the second surface 214. Each optical microstructure 230 has a reflective surface 232 and at least one light absorbing surface 234 (one light absorbing surface 234 is used as an example in this embodiment). The optical microstructures 230 are divided into multiple optical microstructures 230a and 230b. The reflective surface 232 of each optical microstructure 230a, 230b reflects the illumination light beam 222a, 222b emitted by one of the light sources 220a, 220b into a pattern light beam 224a, 224b emitted from the first surface 212. The patterns of the multiple pattern light beams 224 (including the pattern light beam 224a and the pattern light beam 224b) reflected by the multiple optical microstructures 230 are different from each other. The touch panel 240 is disposed on the first surface 212. The touch panel 240 is, for example, a capacitive touch panel, a resistive touch panel, or other types of touch panels. In this embodiment, a light absorbing layer 236 is provided on the light absorbing surface 234 of each optical microstructure 230. In addition, in this embodiment, each optical microstructure 230 is a triangular prism, and the reflective surface 232 and the light absorbing surface 234 are respectively located on two opposite inclined surfaces of the triangular prism. In this embodiment, the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230a is located on a side away from the incident light surface 216a, and the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230b is located on a side away from the incident light surface 216b.

Specifically, in this embodiment, each light source 220a, 220b may include at least one light emitting element, such as a light emitting diode, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp or other appropriate light emitting elements. After the illumination light beam 222a emitted by the light source 220a enters the light guide plate 210 through the light incident surface 216a, it is continuously totally reflected at the first surface 212 and the second surface 214, and is transmitted in the light guide plate 210. When the illumination light beam 222a is transmitted to the optical microstructure 230a, the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230a reflects the illumination light beam 222a into a pattern light beam 224a emitted from the first surface 212. When the illumination light beam 222a is transmitted to the optical microstructure 230b, the illumination light beam 222a is absorbed by the light absorption layer 236 on the light absorption surface 234 of the optical microstructure 230b, and will not be transmitted to the first surface 212.

On the other hand, after the illumination beam 222b emitted by the light source 220b enters the light guide plate 210 through the light incident surface 216b, it is continuously totally reflected on the first surface 212 and the second surface 214 and transmitted in the light guide plate 210. When the illumination beam 222b is transmitted to the optical microstructure 230b, the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230b reflects the illumination beam 222b into a pattern beam 224b emitted from the first surface 212. When the illumination beam 222b is transmitted to the optical microstructure 230a, the illumination beam 222b is absorbed by the light absorption layer 236 on the light absorption surface 234 of the optical microstructure 230a and will not be transmitted to the first surface 212.

In this embodiment, a plurality of optical microstructures 230a and 230b are respectively distributed on the second surface 214 into a plurality of different patterns. For example, in an application scenario, the light source 220 does not emit light, and the touch module 200 further includes a cover layer 250, which covers the touch panel 240, and the cover layer 250 may have a non-luminous pattern 252. The user can open the corresponding application by pressing one of the non-luminous patterns 252 with a finger. However, in other embodiments, the cover layer 250 may not have a non-luminous pattern.

In another application scenario, the light source 220a emits an illumination beam 222a, while the light source 220b does not emit light. At this time, one of the optical microstructures 230a will reflect a pattern beam 224a. The optical microstructure 230a in FIG3B is shown as a representative, and in fact, a plurality of optical microstructures 230a are provided on the second surface 214 and arranged in a pattern corresponding to the luminous pattern 226a in FIG2B, so that the pattern beams 224a emitted by these optical microstructures 230a will form a luminous pattern 226a when penetrating the cover layer 250. The cover layer 250 may have a color, such as black, white, beige or other colors, and when the pattern light beam 224a irradiates the cover layer 250, a portion of the pattern light beam 224a will penetrate the cover layer 250 to form a luminous pattern 226a.

In another application scenario, the light source 220b emits an illumination beam 222b, while the light source 220a does not emit light. At this time, another optical microstructure 230b will reflect a pattern beam 224b. The optical microstructure 230b in FIG3B is shown as a representative, and in fact, a plurality of optical microstructures 230b are arranged on the second surface 214 in a pattern corresponding to the luminous pattern 226b in FIG2C, so that the pattern beams 224b emitted by these optical microstructures 230b will form a luminous pattern 226b when penetrating the cover layer 250. In this embodiment, when the pattern beam 224b is irradiated on the cover layer 250, a portion of the pattern beam 224b will penetrate the cover layer 250 to form a luminous pattern 226b.

In this embodiment, the portable computer 100 further includes a processor 130 electrically connected to the touch module 200, wherein the processor 130 is used to command a light source 220a or 220b corresponding to an optical microstructure 230a or 230b corresponding to the function of the application to emit light according to the application being run. For example, when the application is a video conferencing software, the processor 130 can command the light source 220a to emit light, while the light source 220b does not emit light. At this time, a light pattern 226a as shown in FIG. 2B is formed on the touch module 200. These light patterns 226a correspond to various functions of the video conferencing software, and when the user presses one of the light patterns 226a, the portable computer 100 can generate a corresponding operation. When the application is computer software, the processor 130 can instruct the light source 220b to emit light, while the light source 220a does not emit light. At this time, a light pattern 226b as shown in FIG. 2C is formed on the touch module 200. These light patterns 226b correspond to multiple different numeric or decimal point keys of the computer software, and when the user presses one of the light patterns 226b, the user can input the corresponding number to the portable computer 100. The application is not limited to the above-mentioned video conferencing software and computer software. In other embodiments, it can also be other types of applications.

In the touch module 200 and portable computer 100 of the present embodiment, the multiple optical microstructures 230 on the light guide plate 210 are divided into multiple optical microstructures 230a and 230b. The reflective surface 232 of each optical microstructure 230a and 230b reflects the illumination light beam 222 emitted by one of the light sources 220 into a pattern light beam 224a and 224b emitted from the first surface 212, and the patterns of the multiple pattern light beams 224a and 224b reflected by the multiple optical microstructures 230a and 230b are different from each other. Therefore, the touch module 200 and portable computer 100 of the present embodiment can provide multiple different luminous patterns 226a and 226b, thereby meeting the various usage requirements of users for portable computers.

FIG. 4 is a front view schematic diagram of the internal structure of a touch module of another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are front view schematic diagrams of four optical microstructures in the touch module of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D, the touch module 200e of this embodiment is similar to the touch module 200 of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, and the difference between the two is as follows. In the touch module 200e of this embodiment, each optical microstructure 230 is a tetrahedron, and each tetrahedron has three light absorbing surfaces 234 and a reflective surface 232, and the reflective surface 232 and the three light absorbing surfaces 234 are respectively located on the four inclined surfaces of the tetrahedron. The touch module 200 has four light sources 220a, 220b, 220c and 220d, and the light guide plate 210e has four light incident surfaces 216a, 216b, 216c and 216d, which face the four light sources 220a, 220b, 220c and 220d respectively. The optical microstructure 230 can be divided into four types of optical microstructures 230a, 230b, 230c and 230d. The reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230a is located at a side away from the incident light surface 216a, the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230b is located at a side away from the incident light surface 216b, the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230c is located at a side away from the incident light surface 216c, and the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230d is located at a side away from the incident light surface 216d. After the illumination beam emitted by the light source 220a enters the light guide plate 210e from the light incident surface 216a, it is reflected by the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230a to form a first pattern beam. After the illumination beam emitted by the light source 220b enters the light guide plate 210e from the light incident surface 216b, it is reflected by the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230b to form a second pattern beam. After the illumination beam emitted by the light source 220c enters the light guide plate 210e from the light incident surface 216c, it is reflected by the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230c to form a third pattern beam. After the illumination beam emitted by the light source 220d enters the light guide plate 210e from the light incident surface 216d, it is reflected by the reflective surface 232 of the optical microstructure 230d to form a fourth pattern beam.

In this way, the optical microstructures 230a, 230b, 230c and 230d can generate four different light patterns, and the processor of the portable computer can command the light source 220a, 220b, 220c or 220d corresponding to the function of the optical microstructure 230a, 230b, 230c or 230d corresponding to the application to emit light according to the application it is running, so as to generate one of the light patterns.

In summary, in the touch module and portable computer of the embodiment of the present invention, the multiple optical microstructures on the light guide plate are divided into multiple optical microstructures, and the reflection surface of each optical microstructure correspondingly reflects the illumination light beam emitted by one of the light sources into a pattern light beam emitted from the first surface, and the patterns of the multiple pattern light beams reflected by the multiple optical microstructures are different from each other. Therefore, the touch module and portable computer of the embodiment of the present invention can provide multiple different light patterns, thereby meeting the various usage requirements of users for the portable computer.

200: Touch module

210: Light guide plate

212: First surface

214: Second surface

216, 216a, 216b: light incident surface

220, 220a, 220b: light source

222, 222a, 222b: lighting beam

224, 224a, 224b: Patterned beams

230, 230a, 230b: Optical microstructure

232: Reflective surface

234: Light-absorbing surface

236: Light-absorbing layer

240: Touch panel

250: Covering layer

Claims (13)

A touch module comprises: a light guide plate having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a plurality of light incident surfaces, wherein each light incident surface is connected to the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of light sources are respectively arranged beside the light incident surfaces to emit a plurality of illumination beams toward the light incident surfaces; a plurality of optical microstructures are arranged on the second surface, each optical microstructure having a reflection surface and at least one light absorption surface, the optical microstructures are divided into a plurality of optical microstructures, the reflection surface of each optical microstructure correspondingly reflects the illumination beam emitted by one of the light sources into a pattern beam emitted from the first surface, and the patterns of the plurality of pattern beams reflected by the plurality of optical microstructures are different from each other; and a touch panel is arranged on the first surface. A touch module as described in claim 1, wherein the multiple optical microstructures are distributed on the second surface in multiple different patterns. In the touch module as described in claim 1, each optical microstructure is a triangular prism, the at least one light absorbing surface is a light absorbing surface, and the reflecting surface and the light absorbing surface are respectively located on two opposite inclined surfaces of the triangular prism. The touch module as described in claim 1, wherein each optical micro-junction is a tetrahedron, the at least one light absorbing surface is three light absorbing surfaces, and the reflecting surface and the three light absorbing surfaces are respectively located on four inclined surfaces of the tetrahedron. In the touch module as described in claim 1, a light absorbing layer is disposed on the at least one light absorbing surface of each optical microstructure. The touch module as described in claim 1 further includes a covering layer covering the touch panel. A portable computer comprises: a base; and a touch module disposed on the base, the touch module comprising: a light guide plate having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a plurality of light incident surfaces, wherein each light incident surface connects the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of light sources disposed beside the light incident surfaces respectively to emit a plurality of illumination beams toward the light incident surfaces respectively; a plurality of optical microstructures disposed on the second surface, each optical microstructure having a reflection surface and at least one light absorption surface, the optical microstructures being divided into a plurality of optical microstructures, the reflection surface of each optical microstructure correspondingly reflecting the illumination beam emitted by one of the light sources into a pattern beam emitted from the first surface, the patterns of the plurality of pattern beams reflected by the plurality of optical microstructures being different from each other; and a touch panel disposed on the first surface. A portable computer as described in claim 7, wherein the multiple optical microstructures are distributed on the second surface in multiple different patterns. A portable computer as described in claim 7, wherein each optical microstructure is a triangular prism, the at least one light absorbing surface is a light absorbing surface, and the reflecting surface and the light absorbing surface are respectively located on two opposite inclined surfaces of the triangular prism. A portable computer as described in claim 7, wherein each optical micro-junction is a tetrahedron, the at least one light absorbing surface is three light absorbing surfaces, and the reflecting surface and the three light absorbing surfaces are respectively located on four inclined surfaces of the tetrahedron. The portable computer as described in claim 7, wherein a light absorbing layer is disposed on the at least one light absorbing surface of each optical microstructure. The portable computer as described in claim 7, wherein the touch module further includes a covering layer covering the touch panel. The portable computer as described in claim 7 further includes a processor electrically connected to the touch module, wherein the processor is used to command a light source corresponding to an optical microstructure corresponding to the function of the application to emit light according to the application it is running.

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