TWM613509U - Flexible touch device capable of pressure sensing - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure includes a surface layer and a flexible touch panel. The surface layer is an elastic structure; the flexible touch panel is disposed on the lower surface of the surface layer; The change in the dielectric constant caused by the deformation interferes with the capacitance value generated by the flexible touch panel. With the elastic surface layer and the soft touch panel, the present invention can be combined with a non-planar surface to provide a sensing function when it is installed on a device, and when the surface layer is in contact with an object and deforms, The flexible touch panel can sense changes in capacitance caused by changes in the dielectric constant of the surface layer for pressure sensing.

Description

Flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure

A touch device, especially a soft touch device capable of sensing pressure.

Skin is the main organ for humans to perceive the external environment through touch, temperature, pressure, etc., while prosthetic assistive devices and robotics technology are all simulating human limbs or human movements. Take the existing prosthetic assistive devices as an example, although prosthetic assistive devices can It is installed on the user as a substitute for the limbs or joints of the user to solve the dysfunction of the user’s limbs. However, the existing prosthetic assistive devices lack human skin’s perception of the environment and safety. For example, when When the prosthetic assistive device collides with an object, although the user can detect the collision between the prosthetic assistive device and the object through sound or vibration, the user cannot feel the temperature of the object through the prosthetic assistive device, or judge whether the object is sharp, and it is easy to use In order to improve the accuracy, coordination and safety of prosthetic assistive devices or robots in replacing or simulating human movements, the industry has begun to develop sensing technologies that simulate human skin's sense of touch, temperature and pressure.

，ε為介電常數，A為該複數觸控電極111及該壓力感測屏幕120上下重疊的面積，D為該複數觸控電極111及該壓力感測屏幕120的間隔距離，當間隔距離由D3變為D4時電容C便會產生變化，該觸控裝置100的運算單元便可根據間隔距離D造成的電容C變化來計算使用者的按壓力道，藉此達到模擬人類皮膚的觸覺及壓力感測目的。 In order to simulate the tactile and pressure sensing capabilities of human skin, manufacturers have added pressure sensing structures to touch devices, using pressure sensing technology and capacitive touch technology to sense the coordinates and pressure of a touch. . 4A and 4B, a touch device 100 combined with a pressure sensing structure as an example, the touch device 100 includes a touch panel 110 and a pressure sensing screen 120, the touch panel 110 A plurality of touch electrodes 111 are arranged on the surface. FIG. 4A only takes a single touch electrode 111 as an example. The pressure sensing screen 120 is arranged on the surface of the touch panel 110 and covers the plurality of touch electrodes 111. There is a gap 130 between the measuring screen 120 and the plurality of touch electrodes 111, and the pressure sensing screen 120 is a conductive soft elastic structure. 4A is a schematic diagram of the pressure sensing screen 120 when no pressure is applied, the distance between the plurality of touch electrodes 111 and the pressure sensing screen 120 is D3; FIG. 4B is the pressure sensing screen 120 being pressed In the schematic diagram, since the pressure sensing screen 120 is deformed under pressure, the pressure sensing screen 120 is recessed in the direction of the plurality of touch electrodes 111, so that the shortest separation distance between the plurality of touch electrodes 111 and the pressure sensing screen 120 Shortened to D4, where the plurality of touch electrodes 111 can sense the change in capacitance between the plurality of touch electrodes 111 and the user’s finger when the user touches and presses, and then the arithmetic unit calculates the touch coordinates. The control electrode 111 and the pressure sensing screen 120 can be further regarded as two conductors, and the capacitance formula is capacitance

, Ε is the dielectric constant, A is the area where the plurality of touch electrodes 111 and the pressure sensing screen 120 overlap up and down, D is the separation distance between the plurality of touch electrodes 111 and the pressure sensing screen 120, when the separation distance is When D3 becomes D4, the capacitance C will change. The computing unit of the touch device 100 can calculate the user's pressing force based on the change in capacitance C caused by the separation distance D, thereby simulating the touch and pressure of human skin. Sensing purpose.

However, the current touch device 100 only calculates the pressing force and the touch coordinates from the change in capacitance C caused by the largest change in the separation distance D, and can only sense the impact (pressing) force of an object, but cannot sense the shape of the object. For example, if a conventional touch device 100 combined with a pressure sensing structure is used to simulate human skin, the touch device 100 cannot assist the user in distinguishing the object through the impact (pressing) force of the object on the pressure sensing screen 120 The shape, size, or sharpness of the object, therefore, touch devices incorporating pressure sensing technology must be further improved.

In view of this, the present invention provides a flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure. By sensing the change in the dielectric constant in the deformed area on the touch device, the pressure caused by the object on the touch device and the shape of the object are calculated. In order to overcome the problem in the prior art that the touch device combined with the pressure sensing structure cannot assist the user to distinguish the shape, size or sharpness of the object through the impact (pressing) force of the object pair.

In order to achieve the foregoing objective, the soft touch device capable of sensing pressure of the present invention includes: A surface layer, the surface layer is an elastic structure; A flexible touch panel arranged on the lower surface of the surface layer; Wherein, the change in the dielectric constant caused by the deformation of the surface layer interferes with the capacitance value generated by the flexible touch panel.

In the flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure, the flexible surface layer and the flexible touch panel of the present invention can be combined with a non-planar surface to provide a sensing function when installed on a device. , And when the surface layer is in contact with an object and deforms, the flexible touch panel can sense the change in capacitance caused by the change in the dielectric constant of the surface layer, so that it can be used to identify the shape, size or object of the object. The sharpness process, for example, if the surface layer and the soft touch panel of the present invention are used to simulate human skin, it can assist the user to distinguish the shape, size, or sharpness of the object.

Please refer to FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure of the present invention includes a surface layer 10 and a flexible touch panel 20. The surface layer 10 is disposed on the flexible touch panel 20. The surface layer 10 is connected to the flexible touch panel 20 via a first optical adhesive layer 11, wherein the surface layer 10 can be a layered structure with elasticity, which can be made of elastic materials such as silicone The first optical adhesive layer 11 can be composed of a solid transparent optical adhesive (Optically Clear Adhesive, OCA) or a liquid transparent optical adhesive (Optical Clear Resin, OCR).

The flexible touch panel 20 includes a first thin film layer 21, a first electrode layer 22, a second thin film layer 23, and a second electrode layer 24. The first electrode layer 22 is disposed on the first thin film layer 21. The upper surface, and the first electrode layer 22 includes a plurality of first axial electrodes (for example, X-axis), the second film layer 23 is disposed on the upper surface of the first electrode layer 22, and the second electrode layer 24 is disposed It is on the upper surface of the second film layer 23 and is connected to the surface layer 10 through the first optical adhesive layer 11, and the second electrode layer 24 includes a plurality of second axis electrodes (for example, Y axis). The first thin film layer 21 and the second thin film layer 23 can be made of soft materials, and serve as flexible substrates for supporting the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24, and the plurality of first axial electrodes and the The plurality of second axial electrodes can use self-capacitance sensing technology to generate corresponding sensing signals according to the user's touch operation. Among them, the first electrode layer 22 and the second film layer 23 can also pass through a first electrode layer 22 and the second thin film layer 23. The two optical adhesive layers 25 are connected to each other, and the second optical adhesive layer 25 may be composed of a solid transparent optical adhesive (Optically Clear Adhesive, OCA) or a liquid transparent optical adhesive (Optical Clear Resin, OCR).

Since the surface layer 10 of the present invention is made of an elastic material, and the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 are respectively disposed on the first thin film layer 21 and the second thin film layer 23 made of soft material, when When the novel touch device is installed on a non-planar object or device, the soft touch device capable of sensing pressure can bend with the surface curve of the object, and then adhere to the surface of the object.

Please refer to FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the flexible touch panel 20 is electrically connected to a touch chip 30, and the touch chip 30 is electrically connected to an arithmetic controller 40; wherein, the touch chip 30 is electrically connected to the The plurality of first axis electrodes in the first electrode layer 22 and the plurality of second axis electrodes in the second electrode layer 24, the touch chip 30 receives the plurality of first axis electrodes and the plurality of second axis electrodes The capacitance sensed by the direction electrode changes, and generates a pressure signal according to the capacitance change sensed by the plurality of first axial electrodes and the plurality of second axial electrodes. The arithmetic controller 40 is electrically connected to the touch chip 30 to Receive the pressure signal of the touch chip 30, and perform a pressure sensing algorithm and a pressure position judgment algorithm calculation based on the pressure signal to calculate the pressure generated by the object on the surface layer 10 and the surface layer 10 The pressure position of the surface layer 10 can be used to know the area size of the surface layer 10 affected by pressure. Wherein, the touch chip 30 and the arithmetic controller 40 may be integrated circuit devices (IC), for example.

Generally speaking, the capacitance value is directly related to the dielectric constant (ε). When a conductive or non-conductive object contacts the surface layer 10 and causes the surface layer 10 to be compressed or pushed and deformed, the surface layer 10 deforms. The dielectric constant (ε) will change, so that the capacitance C sensed by the plurality of first axis electrodes and the plurality of second axis electrodes will change, and the touch chip 30 will change according to the plurality of first axis electrodes. And the change in capacitance C sensed by the plurality of second axial electrodes to generate a pressure signal, and the arithmetic controller 40 calculates the pressure generated by the object contacting the surface layer 10 and the pressure of the surface layer 10 according to the pressure signal. The position and the area of the surface layer 10 affected by pressure. The surface layer 10 itself is a dielectric material and has a dielectric constant. When the surface layer 10 is disposed on the flexible touch panel 20, it means the When the surface layer 10 covers the sensing regions of the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24, the surface layer 10 will also cause capacitance changes to the plurality of first axis electrodes and the plurality of second axis electrodes. Therefore, when the touch chip 30 generates the pressure signal, an environment correction algorithm can be executed. When the touch chip 30 receives the capacitance changes sensed by the plurality of first axis electrodes and the plurality of second axis electrodes, The environmental correction algorithm removes the capacitance change caused by the surface layer 10 to the plurality of first axis electrodes and the plurality of second axis electrodes. In other words, the touch chip 30 uses the environment correction algorithm to The capacitance change sensed by the plurality of first axial electrodes and the plurality of second axial electrodes is corrected to 0, so that the pressure signal contains only conductor or non-conductor objects that deform the surface layer 10. News.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a schematic diagram of an object 50 contacting the surface layer 10, causing the surface layer 10 to deform. In this embodiment, the object 50 is a pencil with a non-conductor as an example, but the object 50 may be Conductor or non-conductor is not limited to this embodiment. When the object 50 contacts the surface layer 10, the dielectric constant in the deformation region of the surface layer 10 changes. If the dielectric constant of the surface layer 10 is a, the dielectric constant of the object 50 is b, and The dielectric constant of air is c, and the dielectric constant in the deformation region of the surface layer 10 changes from the original a without contact of the object 50 to the combination of b and c, so that the plurality of first axial electrodes and the plurality of second axial electrodes The capacitance value sensed by the axial electrodes changes, and when the touch chip 30 generates a pressure signal according to the capacitance changes sensed by the plurality of first axial electrodes and the plurality of second axial electrodes, the computing controller 40. According to the pressure signal, the pressure sensing algorithm is first performed to calculate the pressure of the object 50 on the surface layer 10 in the deformation area, and then the pressure position judgment algorithm is performed to calculate the pressure position on the surface layer 10. The coordinates of the pressure position are calculated, and the area of the surface layer 10 affected by the pressure is calculated.

Except for the main pressure point of the object 50 on the surface layer 10, that is, the contact position of the object 50 and the surface layer 10 in FIG. 3, the pressure of the object 50 on the surface layer 10 will cause pressure around the pressure point. The surface layer 10 is deformed, that is, the area with a dielectric constant of c in FIG. 3. The plurality of first axial electrodes and the plurality of second axial electrodes of the present invention sense changes in the dielectric constant of the surface layer 10 According to the pressure signal, the calculation controller 40 calculates the size of the pressure, the coordinates of each pressure position and the area affected by the pressure in the deformation area on the surface layer 10 according to the pressure signal, and the calculation controller 40 can The calculation result is output to the back-end electronic device for the back-end electronic device to perform further operations according to the pressure-sensing calculation result. Compared with the prior art technique, only the capacitance change at the point where the distance between the conductors changes the most to calculate the size of the pressure channel and the pressure coordinates. According to the present invention, the pressure on the surface layer 10 in the deformation area is calculated. The size, the coordinates of each pressure position and the size of the area affected by the pressure can assist in determining the shape of the object 50 and the size and force distribution of the pressure effect of the object 50 on the surface layer 10.

In summary, in the soft touch device capable of sensing pressure of the present invention, the surface layer 10, the first film layer 21, and the second film layer 23 are all made of elastic or soft materials, so that the The new type can be combined on a non-planar surface to provide a sensing function when it is installed on an instrument device, and the new type of flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure is based on the touch chip 30 according to the plurality of first axial electrodes and the The capacitance change sensed by the plurality of second axial electrodes generates a pressure signal, and the calculation controller 40 calculates the pressure generated by the object contacting the surface layer 10, the pressure position of the surface layer 10, and the pressure signal according to the pressure signal. The size of the area of the surface layer 10 affected by pressure. When the new type of soft touch device capable of sensing pressure is combined with prosthetic aids, robots and other equipment devices, the new type can simulate the perception of human skin and contact the device through objects. The pressure generated by the surface layer 10, the pressure position of the surface layer 10 and the area of the surface layer 10 affected by the pressure, assist the device to determine the size and shape of the object, and the range of pressure that the object exerts on the surface layer 10 The size and force distribution increase the coordination of the device in simulating human limbs, and further know whether the object poses a safety threat to the user of the prosthetic assistive device or the robot device, etc., so as to increase the available sensing pressure The ability of the soft touch device to simulate the perception function of human skin.

10: Surface layer 11: The first optical adhesive layer 20: Flexible touch panel 21: The first film layer 22: The first electrode layer 23: second film layer 24: second electrode layer 25: The second optical adhesive layer 30: Touch chip 40: Operation controller 50: Object 100: Touch device 110: Touch panel 111: Electrode 120: Pressure sensing screen 130: gap

Figure 1: A schematic diagram of the structure of the new flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure. Figure 2: The block diagram of the new flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure. Figure 3: A schematic side view of an object to the new type of soft touch device capable of sensing pressure. Fig. 4A: A schematic cross-sectional side view of the pressure sensing screen and electrodes of the conventional touch display device. Fig. 4B: A schematic cross-sectional side view of the pressure sensing screen of the conventional touch display device being pressed.

10: Surface layer

11: The first optical adhesive layer

20: Touch panel

21: The first film layer

22: The first electrode layer

23: second film layer

24: second electrode layer

25: The second optical adhesive layer

Claims (7)

A soft touch device capable of sensing pressure, including: A surface layer, the surface layer is an elastic structure; A flexible touch panel arranged on the lower surface of the surface layer; Wherein, the change in the dielectric constant caused by the deformation of the surface layer interferes with the capacitance value generated by the flexible touch panel. The flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible touch panel is electrically connected to a touch chip, and the touch chip is electrically connected to a computing controller; When an object deforms the surface layer, the touch chip generates a pressure signal to the computing controller according to the capacitance change sensed by the flexible touch panel. According to claim 1, the flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure, the flexible touch panel includes: A first film layer; A first electrode layer disposed on the upper surface of the first thin film layer, and the first electrode layer includes a plurality of first axial electrodes; A second thin film layer disposed on the upper surface of the first electrode layer; A second electrode layer disposed between the upper surface of the second film layer and the lower surface of the surface layer, and the second electrode layer includes a plurality of second axial electrodes; Wherein, the touch chip is electrically connected to the plurality of first axis electrodes and the plurality of second axis electrodes, and the touch chip senses capacitance changes according to the plurality of first axis electrodes and the plurality of second axis electrodes Generate the pressure signal. In the flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure as described in claim 1, the surface layer is connected to the flexible touch panel via a first optical adhesive layer. According to the flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure according to claim 4, the first optical adhesive layer is composed of a solid transparent optical adhesive (Optically Clear Adhesive, OCA) or a liquid transparent optical adhesive (Optical Clear Resin, OCR). In the flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure according to claim 3, the first electrode layer is connected to the second film layer through a second optical adhesive layer. In the flexible touch device capable of sensing pressure according to claim 6, the second optical adhesive layer is composed of a solid transparent optical adhesive (Optically Clear Adhesive, OCA) or a liquid transparent optical adhesive (Optical Clear Resin, OCR).

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