TWM642842U - Touch pad module and computer using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present utility model discloses a touchpad module including a substrate, a touch plate, a supporting structure and a pressure sensing unit. The touch plate is disposed above the substrate. The touch plate can move relative to the substrate. The supporting structure is disposed between the substrate and the touch plate. The pressure sensing unit is disposed on the touch plate, and the pressure sensing unit is located between the touch plate and the substrate. When the touch plate is pressed by an external force, the supporting structure is pressed by the touch plate to deform, so that the touch plate moves toward the substrate with a displacement. The pressure sensing unit senses the touch force exerted on the touch plate according to the displacement and then outputs a pressure sensing signal.

Description

Touch panel module and electronic computer with touch panel module

The invention relates to the field of an input device, in particular to an input device with a touch function.

With the rapid development of science and technology, the vigorous development of electronic equipment has brought a lot of convenience to human life, so how to make the operation of electronic equipment more humanized is an important issue. For example, common electronic devices in daily life are notebook computers, mobile phones, satellite navigation devices, etc. Due to the dramatic increase in storage capacity and processor computing performance of these electronic devices, their functions are becoming increasingly powerful and complex. . In order to efficiently operate these electronic devices, manufacturers of electronic devices use touch pads as input devices to control these electronic devices. For example, users can touch the touch pad with their fingers and slide on the touch pad to move The cursor on the screen can also make the electronic device perform specific functions by pressing the touchpad. Therefore, the touchpad can replace the function of the mouse, so that the user does not need to carry or install the mouse. inconvenient.

Moreover, more and more touchpads have pressure sensors to sense the touch pressure exerted by the user on the touchpad and output a pressure sensing signal when the user touches the touchpad, thereby making the touchpad The pressure plate controls the electronic device to perform corresponding functions according to the pressure sensing signal. The pressure sensors of today's touchpads are mostly configured on a deformable cantilever structure In other words, when the touchpad is pressed, the cantilever structure is pushed and deformed, and the pressure sensor senses the amount of touch force applied to the touchpad according to the amount of deformation.

However, the above-mentioned cantilever structure must firstly produce multiple cantilever structures on the metal base plate of the touch panel by stamping or other methods. Therefore, the structure of the conventional touch panel with pressure sensing function is relatively complicated, and the manufactured The high degree of difficulty leads to a substantial increase in production costs. Therefore, how to improve the above problems has become the focus of attention of relevant people in the field.

One of the purposes of this invention is to provide a touch panel module, which has a simple structural design and can effectively reduce production costs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic computer, the structure design of the touch panel module is simple, and the production cost is effectively reduced.

Other purposes and advantages of this creation can be further understood from the technical characteristics disclosed in this creation.

In order to achieve one or part or all of the above purposes or other purposes, this invention provides a touch panel module, which is applied to an electronic computer. The touch panel module is arranged in the frame of the electronic computer. The touch panel module includes a substrate , a touch panel, a support structure and a pressure sensing unit. The touch panel is disposed above the substrate. The touch plate can move relative to the substrate. The support structure is disposed between the substrate and the touch panel. The pressure sensing unit is configured on the touch plate, and the pressure sensing unit is located between the touch plate and the substrate. When the touch plate is pressed by an external force, the support structure is pressed by the touch plate to deform, so that the touch plate moves toward the substrate with a displacement. The pressure sensing unit senses the touch force exerted on the touch plate according to the displacement and then outputs a pressure sensing signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel includes a circuit board and an upper cover. The upper cover is arranged above the circuit board, the supporting structure is located between the circuit board and the substrate, and the pressure sensing unit is arranged on the circuit board and electrically connected to the circuit board.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned supporting structure is a rectangular boss. The rectangular boss includes a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, the first wall is relative to the second wall, the third wall is relative to the fourth wall, and the first wall The second wall is adjacent to the third wall and the fourth wall, and the first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall surround the pressure sensing unit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned support structure includes a first strip structure and a second strip structure, the first strip structure is opposite to the second strip structure, and the pressure sensing unit is located in the first strip structure between the second strip structure.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned support structure includes a first columnar structure and a second columnar structure, the first columnar structure is opposite to the second columnar structure, and the pressure sensing unit is located in the first columnar structure between the second columnar structure.

In an embodiment of the present creation, the above-mentioned support structure includes a first columnar structure, a second columnar structure, a third columnar structure and a fourth columnar structure, the substrate is rectangular, the first columnar structure, the second columnar structure The second columnar structure, the third columnar structure and the fourth columnar structure are respectively adjacent to the four corners of the substrate, and the pressure sensing unit is located in the first columnar structure, the second columnar structure, and the third columnar structure and the fourth columnar structure.

In an embodiment of the present invention, before the above touch plate is pressed, there is a first distance between the touch plate and the substrate, after the touch plate is pressed, there is a second distance between the touch plate and the substrate, the first The distance is greater than the second distance, and the displacement is equal to the difference between the first distance and the second distance.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned pressure sensing unit is a micro-electro-mechanical accelerometer (MEMS Accelerometer).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the material of the above-mentioned supporting structure is a soft collapsible material.

To achieve one or part or all of the above purposes or other purposes, the invention also provides an electronic computer, including a casing, a processor and a touch panel module. The housing has an inwardly recessed frame. The processor is configured in the casing. The touch panel module is arranged in the frame and electrically connected with the processor. The touch panel module includes a substrate, a touch panel, a supporting structure and a pressure sensing unit. The touch panel is disposed above the substrate. The touch plate can move relative to the substrate. The support structure is disposed between the substrate and the touch panel. The pressure sensing unit is configured on the touch plate, and the pressure sensing unit is located between the touch plate and the substrate. When the touch plate is pressed by an external force, the support structure is pressed by the touch plate to deform, so that the touch plate moves toward the substrate with a displacement. The pressure sensing unit senses the touch force exerted on the touch plate according to the displacement and then outputs a pressure sensing signal.

In the touch panel module of the present invention, the pressure sensing unit is directly constructed on the touch panel, so as to sense the touch force applied to the touch panel according to the displacement generated by the movement of the touch panel relative to the substrate. With such a structural design, there is no need to additionally form multiple cantilever structures on the substrate. Therefore, the structure design of the touch panel module of the present invention is simple and easy to assemble, which effectively reduces the manufacturing cost and the overall weight.

In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, preferred embodiments are specifically cited below, together with the attached drawings, and described in detail as follows.

1: Computer

11: Shell

12: screen

13: Cursor

14: frame

15: Processor

2, 2a, 2b, 2c: touch panel module

21: Substrate

22: Touch plate

23: Support structure

24: Pressure sensing unit

25: Control unit

221: circuit board

222: Upper cover

231: first wall

232: second wall

233: third wall

234: The fourth wall

D1: the first distance

D2: second spacing

231a: The first strip structure

232a: Second strip structure

231b: The first columnar structure

232b: Second columnar structure

231c: The first columnar structure

232c: Second columnar structure

233c: The third columnar structure

234c: The fourth columnar structure

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an appearance structure of an electronic computer and its touch panel module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the touch panel module shown in FIG. 1 before being pressed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the touch panel module shown in FIG. 1 after being pressed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the touch panel module shown in FIG. 1 omitting the touch panel.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the touch panel module shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a touch panel module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a touch panel module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a touch panel module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of an appearance structure of an electronic computer and its touch panel module described in an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic computer 1 is, for example, a notebook computer, but not limited thereto, and includes a casing 11, a screen 12, a processor 15 and a touch panel module 2, and the processor 15 is arranged in the casing 11 and is used to process the electronic computer 1 electronic signals, and the housing 11 has a frame 14 recessed inward; wherein, the touch panel module 2 can be configured in the frame 14 and electrically connected to the processor 15, and at least part of the touch panel module 2 is exposed The electronic computer 1 is operated outside for the user to touch, for example, the user can move the cursor 13 on the screen 12 by touching the touch panel module 2 with a finger and sliding on the touch panel module 2, It is also possible to make the electronic computer 1 execute specific functions by pressing the touch panel module 2 .

Further description will be given below for other detailed structures of the touch panel module 2 of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 . FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the touch panel module shown in FIG. 1 before being pressed. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the touch panel module shown in FIG. 1 after being pressed. Figure 4 It is a schematic top view of the touch panel module shown in FIG. 1 omitting the touch panel. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the touch panel module shown in FIG. 1 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the touch panel module 2 of this embodiment includes a substrate 21 , a touch panel 22 , a supporting structure 23 and a pressure sensing unit 24 . The touch plate 22 is disposed above the base plate 21 , and the touch plate 22 can move relative to the base plate 21 in response to the touch pressure of an external force. The support structure 23 is disposed between the substrate 21 and the touch panel 22 . The pressure sensing unit 24 is disposed on the touch pad 22 , and the pressure sensing unit 24 is located between the touch pad 22 and the substrate 21 .

In this embodiment, when the pressure plate 22 is pressed by an external force, the support structure 23 is pressed by the pressure plate 22 to deform, so that the pressure plate 22 moves toward the substrate 21 with a displacement. The pressure sensing unit 24 senses the touch force applied on the touch plate 22 according to the displacement of the touch plate 22 relative to the substrate 21 and then outputs a pressure sensing signal. In this embodiment, the pressure sensing unit is, for example, a micro-electro-mechanical systems accelerometer (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Accelerometer), but the invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the supporting structure 23 is, for example, a soft collapsible material, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the material of the substrate 21 is, for example, metal, but the invention is not limited thereto.

It can be seen from the above that the touch panel module 2 of this embodiment directly builds the pressure sensing unit 24 on the touch panel 22, and after the touch panel 22 is stressed, the support structure 23 converts the force of the downward pressure into the pressure of the touch panel 22. For the amount of displacement, the pressure sensing unit 24 located on the touch plate 22 senses the movement characteristics of the touch plate 22 , and then calculates the magnitude of the touch force applied to the touch plate 22 . With such a structural design, there is no need to additionally form multiple cantilever structures on the substrate 21 . Therefore, the structural design of the touch panel module 2 of this embodiment is simple and easy to assemble, effectively reducing the manufacturing cost and overall weight.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the touch panel 22 of this embodiment includes a circuit board 221 and an upper cover 222 . The upper cover 222 is disposed above the circuit board 221 . The supporting structure 23 is located between the circuit board 221 and the substrate 21 , specifically, the upper and lower end surfaces of the supporting structure 23 are respectively in contact with the circuit board 221 and the substrate 21 . The pressure sensing unit 24 is disposed on the circuit board 221 , and the pressure sensing unit 24 and the circuit board 221 are electrically connected to each other. In this embodiment, the material of the upper cover 222 is, for example, glass, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the material of the upper cover 222 can be replaced with a desired material according to actual requirements. In this embodiment, the circuit board 221 is bonded to the upper cover 222 by, for example, pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), but the invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the supporting structure 23 of this embodiment is a rectangular boss, but the invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the rectangular boss includes a first wall 231 , a second wall 232 , a third wall 233 and a fourth wall 234 . The first wall 231 and the second wall 232 of the rectangular boss are opposite to each other, the third wall 233 and the fourth wall 234 are opposite to each other, and the first wall 231 and the second wall 232 are adjacent to the third wall 233 Between the fourth wall 234 , that is, the first wall 231 , the second wall 232 , the third wall 233 and the fourth wall 234 are connected to each other to form a square-shaped appearance structure. In addition, the first wall 231 , the second wall 232 , the third wall 233 , and the fourth wall 234 of the rectangular boss surround the pressure sensing unit 24 .

The following will further describe the operation mode of the touch panel module 2 of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 , when the pressure plate 22 is pressed by an external force, the support structure 23 is pressed by the pressure plate 22 and deformed, so that the pressure plate 22 moves toward the substrate 21 with a displacement. The pressure sensing unit 24 senses the touch force applied to the touch plate 22 according to the displacement of the touch plate 22 relative to the base plate 21 and then outputs a pressure sensing signal, and the pressure sensing signal is transmitted to the structure through the circuit board 221 Control on circuit board 221 unit 25 , at this time, the control unit 25 inputs a control signal to the processor 15 of the electronic computer 1 according to the pressure sensing signal, so as to make the electronic computer 1 execute corresponding functions.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 , before the touch pad 22 is pressed, there is a first distance D1 between the touch pad 22 and the substrate 21 . As shown in FIG. 3 , when the pressure plate 22 is pressed by an external force, the support structure 23 is pressed by the pressure plate 22 and deformed, so that the pressure plate 22 moves toward the direction close to the substrate 21 and has a second distance from the substrate 21 D2. In this embodiment, the first distance D1 between the touch plate 22 and the substrate 21 is greater than the second distance D2, that is, the displacement of the touch plate 22 in response to the contact pressure of an external force is equal to the first distance D1 and the second distance D1. The difference between the two distances D2, the pressure sensing unit 24 senses the touch force applied to the touch plate 22 according to the difference between the first distance D1 and the second distance D2 between the touch plate 22 and the substrate 21 and then outputs pressure sensing signal.

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which is a schematic top view of a touch panel module according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 6, the touch panel module 2a of this embodiment is similar to the touch panel module 2 shown in Figures 2 to 5, the difference lies in the support structure of the touch panel module 2a of this embodiment 23a includes a first strip structure 231a and a second strip structure 232a. The first strip structure 231a and the second strip structure 232a of the support structure 23a are disposed opposite to each other, and the pressure sensing unit 24 is located between the first strip structure 231a and the second strip structure 232a.

Please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a schematic top view of a touch panel module according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 7, the touch panel module 2b of this embodiment is similar to the touch panel module 2 shown in Figures 2 to 5, the difference lies in the support structure of the touch panel module 2b of this embodiment 23b includes a first columnar structure 231b and a second columnar structure 232b. The first columnar structure 231b and the second columnar structure 232b of the supporting structure 23b are disposed opposite to each other, and the pressure sensing unit 24 is located between the first columnar structure 231b and the second columnar structure 232b.

Please refer to FIG. 8 , which is a schematic top view of a touch panel module according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 8, the touch panel module 2c of this embodiment is similar to the touch panel module 2 shown in Figures 2 to 5, the difference lies in the support structure of the touch panel module 2c of this embodiment 23c includes a first columnar structure 231c, a second columnar structure 232c, a third columnar structure 233c and a fourth columnar structure 234c. In this embodiment, the substrate 21 is, for example, rectangular, but the invention is not limited thereto. The first columnar structure 231c, the second columnar structure 232c, the third columnar structure 233c, and the fourth columnar structure 234c are respectively Adjacent to the four corners of the substrate 21 , the pressure sensing unit 24 is located between the first columnar structure 231c, the second columnar structure 232c, the third columnar structure 233c and the fourth columnar structure 234c.

The supporting structures of different structural forms shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 can all provide a stable supporting force between the touch plate 22 and the substrate 21, so that the touch plate 22 can be stabilized after being pressed by an external force. Move toward the direction close to the substrate 21, and the pressure plate 22 will not be excessively tilted. It is worth mentioning that if the position of the touch plate 22 close to the corner is pressed and the touch plate 22 is slightly inclined during the process of moving close to the substrate 21, the pressure sensing element 24 can also be used to sense the pressure. After the inclination angle of the pressure plate 22 is measured, the position of the depression is calculated and the compensation for the calculation of the depression is performed.

To sum up, in the touch panel module of the present invention, the pressure sensing unit is directly constructed on the touch panel, so as to sense the pressure applied to the touch panel according to the displacement generated by the movement of the touch panel relative to the substrate. With such a structural design, there is no need to additionally form multiple cantilever structures on the substrate. Therefore, the structure design of the touch panel module in this creative embodiment is simple and easy to assemble, which effectively reduces the production cost and the overall cost. weight.

However, the above is only a preferred embodiment of this creation, and should not limit the scope of implementation of this creation, that is, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the patent scope of this new model application and the new description content, All still belong to the scope that this new patent covers. In addition, any embodiment or patent scope of this creation does not need to achieve all the purposes or advantages or characteristics disclosed in this creation. In addition, the abstract and the title are only used to assist in the search of patent documents, and are not used to limit the patent scope of this model. In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" mentioned in this specification or the scope of the patent application are only used to name elements (elements) or to distinguish different embodiments or ranges, and are not used to limit the number of elements. upper or lower limit.

2: Touchpad module

21: Substrate

22: Touch plate

23: Support structure

24: Pressure sensing unit

221: circuit board

222: Upper cover

231: first wall

232: second wall

D1: the first distance

Claims (10)

A touch panel module, applied to an electronic computer, the touch panel module is arranged in a frame of the electronic computer, the touch panel module includes: a substrate; a touch plate, arranged above the substrate , the touch plate can move relative to the substrate; a support structure is arranged between the substrate and the touch plate; and a pressure sensing unit is arranged on the touch plate, and the pressure sensing unit is located between the touch plate and the touch plate Between the substrates; wherein, when the touch plate is pressed by an external force, the support structure is pressed by the touch plate and deformed, so that the touch plate moves toward the direction close to the substrate and has a displacement, the pressure sense The measuring unit senses the touch force exerted on the touch plate according to the displacement and then outputs a pressure sensing signal. The touch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel includes a circuit board and an upper cover, the upper cover is disposed above the circuit board, and the at least one supporting structure is located between the circuit board and the Between the substrates, the pressure sensing unit is configured on the circuit board and electrically connected to the circuit board. The touch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is a rectangular boss, and the rectangular boss includes a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth Wall body, the first wall body is opposite to the second wall body, the third wall body is opposite to the fourth wall body, the first wall body and the second wall body are adjacent to the third wall body and the first wall body Between the four walls, the first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall surround the pressure sensing unit. The touch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the support structure includes a first strip structure and a second strip structure, the first strip structure is opposite to the second strip structure, and the pressure The sensing unit is located between the first strip structure and the second strip structure. The touch panel module according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure includes a first columnar structure and a second columnar structure, the first columnar structure is opposite to the second columnar structure, and the pressure The sensing unit is located between the first columnar structure and the second columnar structure. The touch panel module as described in claim 1, wherein the supporting structure includes a first columnar structure, a second columnar structure, a third columnar structure and a fourth columnar structure, and the substrate is A rectangle, the first columnar structure, the second columnar structure, the third columnar structure and the fourth columnar structure are respectively adjacent to the four corners of the substrate, and the pressure sensing unit is located on the Between the first columnar structure, the second columnar structure, the third columnar structure and the fourth columnar structure. The touch panel module according to claim 1, wherein before the touch panel is pressed, there is a first distance between the touch panel and the substrate, after the touch panel is pressed, the touch panel and the There is a second distance between the substrates, the first distance is greater than the second distance, and the displacement is equal to the difference between the first distance and the second distance. The touch panel module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing unit is a MEMS Accelerometer. The touch panel module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of the supporting structure is a soft crushable material. An electronic computer, comprising: a housing with a frame recessed inward; a processor disposed in the housing; and A touch panel module, configured in the frame and electrically connected to the processor, the touch panel module includes: a substrate; a touch panel, arranged above the substrate, the touch panel can be opposite to the substrate moving; a supporting structure configured between the substrate and the touch plate; and a pressure sensing unit configured on the touch plate, and the pressure sensing unit is located between the touch plate and the substrate; wherein, when the When the touch plate is pressed by an external force, the support structure is pressed by the touch plate to deform, so that the touch plate moves toward the direction close to the substrate with a displacement, and the pressure sensing unit senses the displacement according to the displacement. The pressure exerted on the touch plate is measured and then a pressure sensing signal is output.

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