WO2005057394A1 - Touch screen device - Google Patents

Touch screen device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005057394A1
WO2005057394A1 PCT/FR2004/003179 FR2004003179W WO2005057394A1 WO 2005057394 A1 WO2005057394 A1 WO 2005057394A1 FR 2004003179 W FR2004003179 W FR 2004003179W WO 2005057394 A1 WO2005057394 A1 WO 2005057394A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
detection means
plate
touch screen
frame
screen
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FR2004/003179
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jean-Baptiste Chaumette
Original Assignee
Jean-Baptiste Chaumette
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jean-Baptiste Chaumette filed Critical Jean-Baptiste Chaumette
Priority to EP04805681A priority Critical patent/EP1700195A1/en
Publication of WO2005057394A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005057394A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/0414—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means using force sensing means to determine a position
    • G06F3/04142—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means using force sensing means to determine a position the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a touch screen device capable in particular of detecting when pressure is exerted on its surface and of globally locating the area of its surface subjected to this pressure.
  • the invention relates more particularly to a touch screen device intended to be placed in front of a standard display device and allowing control of the display device by simple pressure on its surface.
  • This invention is intended more specifically to provide inexpensive touch screens capable of being used in the field of toys for young children or in the educational field for the same public. Touch screens have been used for many years in the field of computers or electronic data processing systems in general, in combination with the standard display devices traditionally used at this level.
  • These standard display devices may consist, for example, of a cathode-ray tube screen, an LCD screen, an LED screen, an electroluminescent screen or any other electro-optical display device.
  • These touch screens allow in particular a user to act directly on the display by simple pressure of the finger or by means of a specific tool, such as a stylus for example, on the surface of said touch screen.
  • a specific function is implemented by the computer or the electronic system used, which often induces, in return, a change in the projected image. to the user.
  • these touch screens In the specific field of computers, these touch screens generally consist of a transparent surface on which pressure sensitive detectors are arranged so that a specific signal is generated by said detectors when an area of the touch screen is in a hurry. This specific signal is then processed by the computer so as to precisely determine the XY coordinates of the area pressed on the touch screen. Depending on the calculated XY coordinates, a specific function or an option from a particular menu is chosen by the computer and implemented subsequently.
  • touch screens operating on this principle have already been protected by patent.
  • US Patent US 5,872,561 describes a touch screen device intended to be placed in front of the screen of a computer monitor, said device being formed by the juxtaposition of two flexible and transparent membranes on which means for insulation spacers are positioned.
  • the touch screen device described in this patent nevertheless has the drawback of being relatively expensive due to the use of a large number of electronic components and the complexity of its structure.
  • the use of complex and expensive technology proves to be unsuitable, however, since the applications envisaged at this level generally require only pressure. coarse on the part of the child and in relatively large areas of the screen, or even often in a single area.
  • it also does not meet the expectations of potential customers wishing to offer a toy to their child at an affordable price, and preferably at a price lower than that of a standard display screen.
  • touch screen devices used as display and control panels for photographic cameras in particular.
  • Such a device is in particular the subject of American patent application US 2002/0093492.
  • This patent application describes a display device on which the option menus offered to the user are projected on a substantially rectangular screen, the user being able to choose the desired option by simply pressing on said screen or on the surrounding frame. said screen.
  • This device is based on the use of electrical switches arranged in the corners of the surface of the screen or of the frame, said switches being actuated when the user causes the displacement of the screen by the pressure of his finger.
  • the touch screen device as described in this application, however has the drawback of defining a maximum of four main support zones, essentially corresponding to the four sides of the rectangular screen, any support on any area of the surface.
  • central screen generating either the actuation of a single switch positioned substantially in the middle of the screen, or 1 simultaneous actuation of several of the above-mentioned switches.
  • the areas intended to be pressed by the child, corresponding to answers or choices offered by the software may be located in any area of the central surface of the 'screen and will not be limited to only the lateral and longitudinal sides of said screen.
  • the touch screen device described in this earlier patent application is also characterized by a certain imprecision due to the positioning of the switches and their actuation principle. In this case, when a user presses an area of the screen located at an equal distance from two side switches, it will be difficult for the user to know if his action has been correctly interpreted by the computer. , since the two switches have almost the same probability of being actuated during this press.
  • the invention therefore aims to propose a touch screen device which does not have the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art.
  • the invention aims to provide a touch screen device based on a simple and inexpensive technology, said device being able to define several individual support zones inside the screen, said zones having limits. relatively precise and not overlapping between them, so that any point on the screen can be assigned from the start to a single individual support area.
  • a specific detection means By assigning to each individual support zone a specific detection means, said means being sensitive to the pressures exerted on the surface of the screen in the corresponding individual zone.
  • the touch screen device will make it possible to locate in a relatively safe and precise manner the zone of the plate pressed by the user, without risk of resulting, subsequently, in a misinterpretation on the part of the computer. or of the system using said device, and without implementing expensive and complex technology.
  • FIG. 1 is a exploded perspective view of a viewing installation implementing a touch screen device according to the invention
  • - Figure 2 is a front view of a touch screen device according to the invention
  • - Figure 3 is a sectional view along AA of the touch screen device of Figure 2.
  • a viewing installation usable in combination with an electronic data processing system, such as a computer by example.
  • This installation essentially comprises a standard display device 1, advantageously of the computer monitor type, operating in particular from a cathode ray tube and a touch screen device 2 according to the invention.
  • the display device 1 and the touch screen device 2 will both be connected to the electronic data processing system by means of a serial link or UCB for example.
  • This system will in particular be capable of reading CD or DVD media and / or of storing and processing data on non-removable media, such as a hard disk for example.
  • non-removable media such as a hard disk for example.
  • the touch screen 2 will be placed in front of the display screen 1, substantially covering the whole of its surface.
  • these removable fixing means 3, 4 consist first of elements 3 made of velcro ® fixed to the upper horizontal edge of the display screen 1, on which are positioned tabs 4 projecting from the upper edge of the touch screen 2 r the faces of the tabs 4 intended to come into contact with the elements 3 being themselves equipped with velcro ® .
  • removable fixing means 3, 4- can be envisaged by the skilled person without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • removable fixing means male and female parts which can fit or slide together, said parts being arranged respectively on the display screen 1 and the touch screen 2.
  • FIG 2 a possible variant of a touch screen device according to the invention is shown.
  • the display screen 1 in front of which the touch screen 2 is positioned has been shown in dotted lines.
  • the touch screen 2 consists first of a frame 5, substantially rectangular, comprising a central window ⁇ of generally rectangular shape and of a transparent plate 7, also of rectangular shape, placed inside the frame 5, said plate 7 having dimensions substantially greater than those of the central window 6 and substantially smaller than those of the frame 5 so as to be visible only through the window 6 of the frame 5.
  • the transparent plate 7 will advantageously be made of flexible plastic material.
  • the frame 5 having been chosen from a transparent material, it can be seen in FIG. 2 that wedging tabs 8 projecting along the horizontal and vertical edges of the frame 5 make it possible to hold the transparent plate 7 inside the frame 5. These wedging tabs 8 will therefore be positioned inside the frame 5 so as to define a rectangular shape which is substantially identical, or even slightly larger, than that defined by the transparent plate 7.
  • these detection means 9 are formed of push buttons 9, which transmit an electrical signal to the system when they are subjected to a pressure.
  • these push buttons 9 can be produced from membrane keypads grouping several electrical contactors together. It is obvious that such push buttons 9 can be replaced by any other detection means capable of sending an electrical signal to the system in response to a mechanical pressure exerted against them.
  • Each of the push buttons 9 will be assigned specifically to an individual support zone 10 so that pressure exerted by the user inside one of the zones 10 causes the push button specifically assigned to said zone to be actuated. 10.
  • Each individual support zone 10 will be defined on the one hand by the specific characteristics of the plate 7, in particular from the point of view of its flexibility, and on the other hand, by the positioning of bending points of the plate 7 at the level of the frame 5 -
  • the plate 7, held at the level of two support pads 11, is curved so as to define the profile shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.
  • zone 12 certain zones of the touch screen 2 r in this case zone 12 , are not assigned to a specific push button 9 of the frame 5 because the deformation of the plate 7 in these zones 12 does not make it possible to actuate one of said push buttons 9.
  • these zones 12 will simply considered inactive for the system, pressure exerted at this level having no effect on the progress of the software.

Abstract

The invention relates to a touch screen device (2), particularly of application to children's educational toys, comprising a frame (5), enclosing the detection means (9), sensitive to pressure and a transparent screen (7), arranged within the frame such as to cover said detection means (9). The device is characterised in that, once pressed in a region (10, 12), the transparent screen (7) may flex inwards such as to activate a maximum of one of said detection means (9).

Description

DISPOSITIF D'ECRAN TACTILE TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE
La présente invention concerne un dispositif d'écran tactile capable notamment de détecter lorsqu'une pression est exercée sur sa surface et de repérer globalement la zone de sa surface soumise à cette pression. L'invention concerne plus particulièrement un dispositif d'écran tactile destiné à venir se placer devant un dispositif d'affichage standard et permettant le contrôle du dispositif d'affichage par simple pression sur sa surface. Cette invention est destiné plus spécifiquement à fournir des écrans tactiles bon marché susceptibles d'être utilisés dans le domaine des jouets pour enfants en bas âge ou dans le domaine éducatif pour le même public. Des écrans tactiles sont utilisés depuis de nombreuses années dans le domaine des ordinateurs ou des systèmes électroniques de traitement de données en général, en combinaison avec les dispositifs d'affichage standards traditionnellement mis en œuvre à ce niveau. Ces dispositifs d'affichage standards peuvent consister par exemple en un écran à tube cathodique, un écran LCD, un écran LED, un écran électroluminescent ou encore tout autre dispositif d'affichage électro-optique. Ces écrans tactiles permettent en particulier à un utilisateur d'agir directement sur l'affichage par simple pression du doigt ou au moyen d'un outil spécifique, tel qu'un stylet par exemple, sur la surface dudit écran tactile. Selon la zone ou le point de l'écran tactile pressé par l'utilisateur, une fonction spécifique est mise en œuvre par l'ordinateur ou le système électronique utilisé, laquelle induit souvent, en retour, un changement au niveau de l'image projetée à l'utilisateur. Dans le domaine spécifique des ordinateurs, ces écrans tactiles sont généralement constitués d'une surface transparente sur laquelle sont disposés des détecteurs sensibles à la pression de telle sorte qu'un signal spécifique est généré par lesdits détecteurs lorsqu'une zone de l'écran tactile est pressée. Ce signal spécifique est ensuite traité par l'ordinateur de façon à déterminer précisément les coordonnées X-Y de la zone pressée sur l'écran tactile. En fonction des coordonnées X-Y calculées, une fonction spécifique ou une option d'un menu particulier est choisie par l'ordinateur et mise en œuvre par la suite. Dans l'art antérieur, des écrans tactiles fonctionnant sur ce principe ont déjà fait l'objet d'une protection par brevet. Ainsi, le brevet américain US 5 872 561 décrit un dispositif d'écran tactile destiné à être placé devant l'écran d'un moniteur d'ordinateur, ledit dispositif étant formé de la juxtaposition de deux membranes flexibles et transparentes sur lesquelles des moyens d'espacement isolants sont positionnées. Lors de la pression par l'utilisateur de la membrane externe, les contacts électriques de cette membrane viennent toucher les contacts électriques de l' autre membrane du fait de la déformation de la membrane externe. Le dispositif d'écran tactile décrit dans ce brevet présente malgré tout l'inconvénient d'être relativement onéreux du fait de l'utilisation en grand nombre de composants électroniques et de la complexité de sa structure. Dans le domaine du jouet éducatif pour enfant, visé plus particulièrement par l'invention, l'utilisation d'une technologie complexe et chère s'avère toutefois inadaptée, étant donné que les applications envisagées à ce niveau ne nécessitent en général qu'une pression grossière de la part de l'enfant et dans des zones relativement étendues de l'écran, voire souvent dans une zone unique. Par ailleurs, elle ne répond pas non plus aux attentes des clients potentiels désireux d'offrir un jouet à leur enfant à un prix abordable, et, de préférence, à un prix inférieur à celui d'un écran d'affichage standard. Par ailleurs, il existe également dans l'art antérieur des dispositifs d'écran tactile utilisés en tant que panneaux d'affichage et de contrôle pour des appareils photographiques notamment. Un tel dispositif fait notamment l'objet de la demande de brevet américaine US 2002/0093492. Cette demande de brevet décrit un dispositif d'affichage sur lequel les menus d'option proposés à l'utilisateur sont projetés sur un écran sensiblement rectangulaire, l'utilisateur pouvant choisir l'option désirée par simple pression sur ledit écran ou sur le cadre entourant ledit écran. Ce dispositif repose sur l'utilisation d'interrupteurs électriques disposés dans les coins de la surface de l'écran ou du cadre, lesdits interrupteurs étant actionnés lorsque l'utilisateur provoque le déplacement de l'écran par la pression de son doigt. Le dispositif d'écran tactile, tel que décrit dans cette demande, présente toutefois l'inconvénient de définir au maximum quatre zones principales d'appui, correspondant essentiellement aux quatre côtés de l'écran rectangulaire, tout appui sur une zone quelconque de la surface centrale de l'écran engendrant soit l' actionnement d'un interrupteur unique positionné sensiblement au milieu de l'écran, soit 1' actionnement simultané de plusieurs des interrupteurs précédemment cités. Bien que cette limitation ne porte pas à conséquence dans le cadre de l'application spécifique mentionnée dans cet art antérieur, l'écran tactile utilisé étant de petites tailles, elle s'avère par contre particulièrement gênante dans le cadre de l'application spécifique visée par l'invention. En effet, dans les logiciels éducatifs destinés aux enfants en bas âge, il est courant et préférable d'utiliser des affichages larges occupant de préférence l'ensemble de l'écran disponible. De ce fait, lors de l'utilisation de tels logiciels, les zones destinées à être pressées par l'enfant, correspondant à des réponses ou à des choix proposés par le logiciel, pourront se situer dans une zone quelconque de la surface centrale de l'écran et ne se limiteront pas aux seuls côtés latéraux et longitudinaux dudit écran. Par ailleurs, le dispositif d'écran tactile décrit dans cette demande de brevet antérieure se caractérise également par une certaine imprécision du fait du positionnement des interrupteurs et de leur principe d' actionnement . En l'occurrence, lors de l'appui par un utilisateur d'une zone de l'écran située à égale distance de deux interrupteurs latéraux, il sera difficile pour l'utilisateur de savoir si son action a été correctement interprétée par l'ordinateur, étant donné que les deux interrupteurs ont quasiment la même probabilité d'être actionnés lors de cet appui. L'invention vise donc à proposer un dispositif d'écran tactile ne présentant pas les inconvénients de l'art antérieur susmentionné. En particulier, l'invention vise à fournir un dispositif d'écran tactile basé sur une technologie simple et bon marché, ledit dispositif étant apte à définir plusieurs zones individuelles d'appui à l'intérieur de l'écran, lesdites zones possédant des limites relativement précises et ne se chevauchant pas entre elles, de telle sorte que tout point de l'écran pourra être affecté dès le départ à une zone individuelle d'appui unique. En affectant à chaque zone individuelle d'appui un moyen de détection spécifique, ledit moyen étant sensible aux pressions exercées sur la surface de l'écran dans la zone individuelle correspondante. A cet effet, et conformément à l'invention, il est proposé un dispositif d'écran tactile utilisable notamment dans le domaine du jouet éducatif pour enfant comportant un cadre dans lequel des moyens de détection sensibles à la pression sont intégrés et une plaque transparente disposée à l'intérieur du cadre de telle sorte à recouvrir lesdits moyens de détection ; ledit dispositif étant remarquable en ce que, lorsqu'elle est pressée dans une zone, la plaque transparente est apte à s'incurver par flexion de manière à agir au maximum sur un seul desdits moyens de détection. Ainsi configuré, le dispositif d'écran tactile permettra de repérer de manière relativement sûre et précise la zone de la plaque pressée par l'utilisateur, sans risque d'aboutir, par la suite, à une mauvaise interprétation de la part de l'ordinateur ou du système utilisant ledit dispositif, et sans mettre en œuvre une technologie chère et complexe. D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront mieux de la description qui va suivre d'un mode de construction possible du dispositif d'écran tactile selon l'invention, en référence aux dessins qui accompagnent cette description et dans lesquels : - la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une installation de visionnage mettant en œuvre un dispositif d'écran tactile selon l'invention, - la figure 2 est une vue de face d'un dispositif d'écran tactile selon l'invention, - la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon AA du dispositif d'écran tactile de la figure 2. En référence à la figure 1, il est représenté une installation de visionnage utilisable en combinaison avec un système électronique de traitement de données, tel qu'un ordinateur par exemple. Cette installation comporte essentiellement un dispositif d'affichage 1 standard, avantageusement du type moniteur d'ordinateur, fonctionnant notamment à partir d'un tube à rayons cathodiques et un dispositif d'écran tactile 2 conforme à l'invention. Le dispositif d'affichage 1 et le dispositif d'écran tactile 2 seront tous deux connectés au système électronique de traitement de données au moyen d'une liaison série ou UCB par exemple. Ce système sera en particulier capable de lire des supports CD ou DVD et/ou de stocker et traiter des données sur des supports non amovibles, tels qu'un disque dur par exemple. Dans l'application spécifique des jouets éducatifs, il est en général envisageable d'utiliser un ordinateur familial du type PC. Toutefois, d'autres systèmes pourront également convenir, en particulier des consoles de jeu, des lecteurs de CD et/ou de DVD ou encore des instruments de musique électroniques connectables à des téléviseurs standards notamment. Selon la variante représentée sur la figure 1, l'écran tactile 2 viendra se placer devant l'écran d'affichage 1, en recouvrant sensiblement l'ensemble de sa surface. De manière à positionner précisément l'écran tactile 2 sur l'écran d'affichage 1, précision nécessaire à assurer l'exacte correspondance entre des zones individuelles d'appui de l'écran tactile 2 et des zones particulières de l'image visionnée sur l'écran d'affichage 1, lesdites zones étant interprétées par le système comme une option ou une choix à faire dans le cadre du logiciel de jeu utilisé, et de manière à fixer de manière amovible ledit écran tactile 2 sur ledit écran d'affichage 1, il est prévu d'équiper les deux écrans 1 et 2 de moyens de fixation amovibles 3 et 4. Dans la variante représentée, ces moyens de fixation amovibles 3, 4 consistent d'abord en des éléments 3 en velcro® fixés sur le rebord horizontal supérieur de l'écran d'affichage 1, sur lesquels viennent se positionner des languettes 4 dépassant du bord supérieur de l'écran tactile 2 r les faces des languettes 4 destinées à venir en contact avec les éléments 3 étant elles-même équipées d'un velcro®. Bien évidemment, d'autres moyens de fixation amovibles 3, 4- pourront être envisagés par l'Homme du Métier sans sortir du cadre de l'invention. En particulier, on pourra également utiliser comme moyens de fixation amovibles des pièces mâles et femelles pouvant s'emboîter ou coulisser ensemble, lesdites pièces étant disposées respectivement sur l'écran d'affichage 1 et l'écran tactile 2. En référence à la figure 2, il est représenté une variante possible d'un dispositif d'écran tactile selon l'invention. Pour une meilleure compréhension du dispositif, l'écran d'affichage 1 devant lequel vient se positionner l'écran tactile 2 a été représenté en traits pointillés. L'écran tactile 2 est constitué d'abord d'un cadre 5, sensiblement rectangulaire, comportant une fenêtre centrale β de forme globalement rectangulaire et d'une plaque transparente 7, de forme également rectangulaire, disposée à l'intérieur du cadre 5, ladite plaque 7 possédant des dimensions sensiblement supérieures à celles de la fenêtre centrale 6 et sensiblement inférieurres à celles du cadre 5 de manière à n'être visible qu'à travers la fenêtre 6 du cadre 5. En outre, la plaque transparente 7 sera avantageusement constituée d'un matériau plastique flexible. Le cadre 5 ayant été choisi dans un matériau transparent, on observe sur la figure 2 que des pattes de calage 8 disposées en saillie le long des bords horizontaux et verticaux du cadre 5 permettent de maintenir en position la plaque transparente 7 à l'intérieur du cadre 5. Ces pattes de calage 8 seront positionnées de ce fait à l'intérieur du cadre 5 de manière à définir une forme rectangulaire sensiblement identique, voire légèrement plus grande, que celle définie par la plaque transparente 7. Par ailleurs, il est également disposé le long de chaque côté du cadre 5 des moyens de détection 9 sensibles à la pression, lesdits moyens 9 étant positionnés de manière à être complètement recouverts par la plaque transparente 7. Dans la variante représentée, ces moyens de détection 9 sont formés de boutons poussoirs 9, lesquels transmettent un signal électrique au système lorsqu'ils sont soumis à une pression. De manière avantageuse, ces boutons poussoirs 9 pourront être réalisés à partir de claviers à membranes regroupant plusieurs contacteurs électriques ensemble. Il est évident que de tels boutons poussoirs 9 pourront être remplacés par tout autre moyen de détection apte à envoyer un signal électrique au système en réponse à une pression mécanique exercé à leur encontre. Chacun des boutons poussoirs 9 sera affecté spécifiquement à une zone individuelle d'appui 10 de telle sorte qu'une pression exercée par l'utilisateur à l'intérieur d'une des zones 10 provoque l' actionnement du bouton poussoir spécifiquement affecté à ladite zone 10. Chaque zone individuelle d'appui 10 sera définie d'une part par les caractéristiques propres de la plaque 7, notamment du point de vue de sa flexibilité, et d'autre part, par le positionnement de points de flexion de la plaque 7 au niveau du cadre 5 - En particulier, tel que représenté sur les figures 2 et 3, il est prévu de disposer à l'intérieur du cadre 5, entre chaque bouton poussoir 9, des plots d'appui fixes 11 sur lesquels la plaque 7 est en appui. Lorsque le doigt d'un utilisateur vient presser une des zones 10, la plaque 7, maintenue au niveau de deux plots d'appui 11, s'incurve de telle sorte à définir le profil représenté en pointillé sur la figure 2. La flexion de la plaque 7, tel que représenté sur la figure 3, vient appuyer sur le bouton poussoir 9 disposé entre les deux plots 11, entraînant la fermeture d'un circuit électrique intégré au cadre et l'envoi concomitant d'un signal électrique au système électronique de traitement de données connecté à l'écran tactile. Ce signal électrique pourra dès lors être interprété par le système de manière à déterminer la zone 10 réellement appuyée par l'utilisateur, ladite zone 10 correspondant à un choix fait par l'utilisateur au cours du déroulement du logiciel de jeu mis en œuvre par le système. En fonction du choix fait, un programme ou une fonction particulière sera exécuté par le logiciel de jeu, ledit programme ou ladite fonction aboutissant en général à la modification de l'image projetée sur l'écran d'affichage 1. Ainsi, il est possible d'obtenir une interactivité quasi-directe entre l'utilisateur et l'écran d'affichage 1. Tel que représenté sur la figure 2, il est également envisagées que certaines zones de l'écran tactile 2 r en l'occurrence la zone 12, ne soient pas affectées à un bouton poussoir 9 spécifiques du cadre 5 du fait que la déformation de la plaque 7 dans ces zones 12 ne permet pas d'actionner l'un desdits boutons poussoirs 9. Dans ce cas, ces zones 12 seront simplement considérées comme inactives pour le système, une pression exercée à ce niveau n'ayant aucune incidence sur le déroulement du logiciel. Toutefois, dans une variante non représentée de l'invention, il est possible de prévoir des boutons poussoirs 9 additionnels spécifiquement affectés à chacune des zones 12. Ces boutons poussoirs 9 seront dès lors fixées sur la plaque 7 elle- même, au droit des zones 12 susmentionnées. Enfin, il va de soi que les exemples de réalisation présentés ci-dessous ne sont nullement limitatifs et d'autres modifications ou ajouts pourront être envisagés sans sortir du cadre de l'invention. The present invention relates to a touch screen device capable in particular of detecting when pressure is exerted on its surface and of globally locating the area of its surface subjected to this pressure. The invention relates more particularly to a touch screen device intended to be placed in front of a standard display device and allowing control of the display device by simple pressure on its surface. This invention is intended more specifically to provide inexpensive touch screens capable of being used in the field of toys for young children or in the educational field for the same public. Touch screens have been used for many years in the field of computers or electronic data processing systems in general, in combination with the standard display devices traditionally used at this level. These standard display devices may consist, for example, of a cathode-ray tube screen, an LCD screen, an LED screen, an electroluminescent screen or any other electro-optical display device. These touch screens allow in particular a user to act directly on the display by simple pressure of the finger or by means of a specific tool, such as a stylus for example, on the surface of said touch screen. Depending on the area or point of the touch screen pressed by the user, a specific function is implemented by the computer or the electronic system used, which often induces, in return, a change in the projected image. to the user. In the specific field of computers, these touch screens generally consist of a transparent surface on which pressure sensitive detectors are arranged so that a specific signal is generated by said detectors when an area of the touch screen is in a hurry. This specific signal is then processed by the computer so as to precisely determine the XY coordinates of the area pressed on the touch screen. Depending on the calculated XY coordinates, a specific function or an option from a particular menu is chosen by the computer and implemented subsequently. In the prior art, touch screens operating on this principle have already been protected by patent. Thus, US Patent US 5,872,561 describes a touch screen device intended to be placed in front of the screen of a computer monitor, said device being formed by the juxtaposition of two flexible and transparent membranes on which means for insulation spacers are positioned. When the user presses the outer membrane, the electrical contacts of this membrane come into contact with the electrical contacts of the other membrane due to the deformation of the outer membrane. The touch screen device described in this patent nevertheless has the drawback of being relatively expensive due to the use of a large number of electronic components and the complexity of its structure. In the field of educational toy for children, targeted more particularly by the invention, the use of complex and expensive technology proves to be unsuitable, however, since the applications envisaged at this level generally require only pressure. coarse on the part of the child and in relatively large areas of the screen, or even often in a single area. Furthermore, it also does not meet the expectations of potential customers wishing to offer a toy to their child at an affordable price, and preferably at a price lower than that of a standard display screen. Furthermore, there are also in the prior art touch screen devices used as display and control panels for photographic cameras in particular. Such a device is in particular the subject of American patent application US 2002/0093492. This patent application describes a display device on which the option menus offered to the user are projected on a substantially rectangular screen, the user being able to choose the desired option by simply pressing on said screen or on the surrounding frame. said screen. This device is based on the use of electrical switches arranged in the corners of the surface of the screen or of the frame, said switches being actuated when the user causes the displacement of the screen by the pressure of his finger. The touch screen device, as described in this application, however has the drawback of defining a maximum of four main support zones, essentially corresponding to the four sides of the rectangular screen, any support on any area of the surface. central screen generating either the actuation of a single switch positioned substantially in the middle of the screen, or 1 simultaneous actuation of several of the above-mentioned switches. Although this limitation is not of consequence in the context of the specific application mentioned in this prior art, the touch screen used being small in size, it turns out to be particularly troublesome in the context of the specific application targeted. by the invention. Indeed, in educational software intended for young children, it is common and preferable to use wide displays preferably occupying the entire available screen. Therefore, when using such software, the areas intended to be pressed by the child, corresponding to answers or choices offered by the software, may be located in any area of the central surface of the 'screen and will not be limited to only the lateral and longitudinal sides of said screen. Furthermore, the touch screen device described in this earlier patent application is also characterized by a certain imprecision due to the positioning of the switches and their actuation principle. In this case, when a user presses an area of the screen located at an equal distance from two side switches, it will be difficult for the user to know if his action has been correctly interpreted by the computer. , since the two switches have almost the same probability of being actuated during this press. The invention therefore aims to propose a touch screen device which does not have the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art. In particular, the invention aims to provide a touch screen device based on a simple and inexpensive technology, said device being able to define several individual support zones inside the screen, said zones having limits. relatively precise and not overlapping between them, so that any point on the screen can be assigned from the start to a single individual support area. By assigning to each individual support zone a specific detection means, said means being sensitive to the pressures exerted on the surface of the screen in the corresponding individual zone. To this end, and in accordance with the invention, there is provided a touch screen device which can be used in particular. in the field of educational toy for children comprising a frame in which pressure-sensitive detection means are integrated and a transparent plate arranged inside the frame so as to cover said detection means; said device being remarkable in that, when pressed in an area, the transparent plate is capable of bending by bending so as to act as much as possible on only one of said detection means. Thus configured, the touch screen device will make it possible to locate in a relatively safe and precise manner the zone of the plate pressed by the user, without risk of resulting, subsequently, in a misinterpretation on the part of the computer. or of the system using said device, and without implementing expensive and complex technology. Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of a possible construction method of the touch screen device according to the invention, with reference to the drawings which accompany this description and in which: - Figure 1 is a exploded perspective view of a viewing installation implementing a touch screen device according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a front view of a touch screen device according to the invention, - Figure 3 is a sectional view along AA of the touch screen device of Figure 2. With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a viewing installation usable in combination with an electronic data processing system, such as a computer by example. This installation essentially comprises a standard display device 1, advantageously of the computer monitor type, operating in particular from a cathode ray tube and a touch screen device 2 according to the invention. The display device 1 and the touch screen device 2 will both be connected to the electronic data processing system by means of a serial link or UCB for example. This system will in particular be capable of reading CD or DVD media and / or of storing and processing data on non-removable media, such as a hard disk for example. In the specific application of educational toys, it is generally possible to use a family computer of the PC type. However, other systems may also be suitable, in particular game consoles, CD and / or DVD players or even electronic musical instruments connectable to standard televisions in particular. According to the variant shown in Figure 1, the touch screen 2 will be placed in front of the display screen 1, substantially covering the whole of its surface. In order to precisely position the touch screen 2 on the display screen 1, precision necessary to ensure the exact correspondence between individual support zones of the touch screen 2 and particular zones of the image viewed on the display screen 1, said zones being interpreted by the system as an option or a choice to be made within the framework of the game software used, and so as to removably fix said touch screen 2 on said display screen 1, provision is made to equip the two screens 1 and 2 with removable fixing means 3 and 4. In the variant shown, these removable fixing means 3, 4 consist first of elements 3 made of velcro ® fixed to the upper horizontal edge of the display screen 1, on which are positioned tabs 4 projecting from the upper edge of the touch screen 2 r the faces of the tabs 4 intended to come into contact with the elements 3 being themselves equipped with velcro ® . Obviously, other removable fixing means 3, 4- can be envisaged by the skilled person without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, it will also be possible to use, as removable fixing means, male and female parts which can fit or slide together, said parts being arranged respectively on the display screen 1 and the touch screen 2. With reference to the figure 2, a possible variant of a touch screen device according to the invention is shown. For a better understanding of the device, the display screen 1 in front of which the touch screen 2 is positioned has been shown in dotted lines. The touch screen 2 consists first of a frame 5, substantially rectangular, comprising a central window β of generally rectangular shape and of a transparent plate 7, also of rectangular shape, placed inside the frame 5, said plate 7 having dimensions substantially greater than those of the central window 6 and substantially smaller than those of the frame 5 so as to be visible only through the window 6 of the frame 5. In addition, the transparent plate 7 will advantageously be made of flexible plastic material. The frame 5 having been chosen from a transparent material, it can be seen in FIG. 2 that wedging tabs 8 projecting along the horizontal and vertical edges of the frame 5 make it possible to hold the transparent plate 7 inside the frame 5. These wedging tabs 8 will therefore be positioned inside the frame 5 so as to define a rectangular shape which is substantially identical, or even slightly larger, than that defined by the transparent plate 7. Furthermore, it is also disposed along each side of the frame 5 of the detection means 9 sensitive to the pressure, said means 9 being positioned so as to be completely covered by the transparent plate 7. In the variant shown, these detection means 9 are formed of push buttons 9, which transmit an electrical signal to the system when they are subjected to a pressure. Advantageously, these push buttons 9 can be produced from membrane keypads grouping several electrical contactors together. It is obvious that such push buttons 9 can be replaced by any other detection means capable of sending an electrical signal to the system in response to a mechanical pressure exerted against them. Each of the push buttons 9 will be assigned specifically to an individual support zone 10 so that pressure exerted by the user inside one of the zones 10 causes the push button specifically assigned to said zone to be actuated. 10. Each individual support zone 10 will be defined on the one hand by the specific characteristics of the plate 7, in particular from the point of view of its flexibility, and on the other hand, by the positioning of bending points of the plate 7 at the level of the frame 5 - In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, provision is made to have inside the frame 5, between each push button 9, fixed support pads 11 on which the plate 7 is in support. When the finger of a user comes to press one of the zones 10, the plate 7, held at the level of two support pads 11, is curved so as to define the profile shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The bending of the plate 7, as shown in Figure 3, comes to press the push button 9 disposed between the two studs 11, causing the closure of an electrical circuit integrated in the frame and the concomitant sending of an electrical signal to the electronic system data processing connected to the touch screen. This electrical signal can therefore be interpreted by the system so as to determine the zone 10 actually supported by the user, said zone 10 corresponding to a choice made by the user during the course of the game software implemented by the system. . Depending on the choice made, a particular program or function will be executed by the game software, said program or said function generally resulting in the modification of the image projected on the display screen 1. Thus, it is possible to obtain an almost direct interactivity between the user and the display screen 1. As shown in FIG. 2, it is also envisaged that certain zones of the touch screen 2 r in this case zone 12 , are not assigned to a specific push button 9 of the frame 5 because the deformation of the plate 7 in these zones 12 does not make it possible to actuate one of said push buttons 9. In this case, these zones 12 will simply considered inactive for the system, pressure exerted at this level having no effect on the progress of the software. However, in a variant not shown of the invention, it is possible to provide additional push buttons 9 specifically assigned to each of the zones 12. These push buttons 9 will therefore be fixed on the plate 7 itself, in line with the zones 12 above. Finally, it goes without saying that the exemplary embodiments presented below are in no way limiting and other modifications or additions may be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS 1 - Dispositif d'écran tactile (2) utilisable notamment dans le domaine du jouet éducatif pour enfant comportant un cadre (5) dans lequel des moyens de détection (9) sensibles à la pression sont intégrés et une plaque transparente (7) disposée à l'intérieur du cadre (5) de telle sorte à recouvrir lesdits moyens de détection (9) caractérisé en ce que, lorsqu'elle est pressée dans une zone (10, 12), la plaque transparente (7) est apte à s'incurver par flexion de manière à agir au maximum sur un seul desdits moyens de détection (9) . 2 - Dispositif selon la revendication 1 caractérisé en ce que la plaque transparente (7) est en appui sur des plots fixes (11) disposés dans le cadre (5) entre les moyens de détection (9) et constituant des points de flexion pour la plaque (7) . 3 - Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce que chacun des moyens de détection (9) est affecté à une zone d'appui (10) unique de la plaque (7) . 4 - Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce que la plaque (7) comporte certaines zones (12) inaptes à agir sur l'un des moyens de détection (9) . 5 - Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce qu' il comporte des moyens de détection (9) additionnels fixés à la plaque (7) elle-même et affectés spécifiquement à certaines zones d'appui (12) de la plaque (7). 6 - Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce que les moyens de détection (9) sont des boutons poussoirs aptes à générer un signal électrique lorsqu'ils sont soumis à une pression. 7 - Dispositif selon la revendication précédente caractérisé en ce que les boutons poussoirs (9) sont réalisés à partir de claviers à membranes regroupant plusieurs contacteurs électriques ensemble. 8 - Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce qu' il est connectable à un système électronique de traitement de données, tel qu'un ordinateur par exemple. 9 - Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens de fixation (4) amovibles permettant sa fixation amovible à un dispositif d'affichage standard. 10 - Dispositif selon la revendication précédente caractérisé en ce que les moyens de fixation amovibles (4) consistent en des languettes dont au moins une face est munie de velcro®. CLAIMS 1 - Touch screen device (2) usable in particular in the field of educational toy for children comprising a frame (5) in which detection means (9) sensitive to pressure are integrated and a transparent plate (7) disposed inside the frame (5) so as to cover said detection means (9) characterized in that, when pressed in a zone (10, 12), the transparent plate (7) is able to s 'bend by bending so as to act as much as possible on only one of said detection means (9). 2 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the transparent plate (7) is supported on fixed studs (11) arranged in the frame (5) between the detection means (9) and constituting bending points for the plate (7). 3 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the detection means (9) is assigned to a single support zone (10) of the plate (7). 4 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (7) comprises certain zones (12) incapable of acting on one of the detection means (9). 5 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises additional detection means (9) fixed to the plate (7) itself and specifically assigned to certain support zones (12) of the plate (7). 6 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection means (9) are push buttons capable of generating an electrical signal when they are subjected to a pressure. 7 - Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the push buttons (9) are made from membrane keyboards grouping several electrical contactors together. 8 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is connectable to an electronic data processing system, such as a computer for example. 9 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes removable fixing means (4) allowing its removable fixing to a standard display device. 10 - Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the removable fixing means (4) consist of tabs of which at least one side is provided with velcro ® .
PCT/FR2004/003179 2003-12-09 2004-12-09 Touch screen device WO2005057394A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04805681A EP1700195A1 (en) 2003-12-09 2004-12-09 Touch screen device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0314499A FR2863375B1 (en) 2003-12-09 2003-12-09 TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE
FR0314499 2003-12-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005057394A1 true WO2005057394A1 (en) 2005-06-23

Family

ID=34586418

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FR2004/003179 WO2005057394A1 (en) 2003-12-09 2004-12-09 Touch screen device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1700195A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2863375B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2005057394A1 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0181196A2 (en) * 1984-11-06 1986-05-14 Arie J. Kurtzig Removable touchscreen
US5872561A (en) * 1997-03-31 1999-02-16 Allen-Bradley Company, Llc Fast scanning switch matrix
US6132367A (en) * 1996-07-12 2000-10-17 Adair; Edwin L. Sterile encapsulated endoscopic video monitor
US20020093492A1 (en) * 2001-01-18 2002-07-18 Baron John M. System for a navigable display
US6437774B1 (en) * 1996-03-26 2002-08-20 Idec Izumi Corporation Display and input device and display and input system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0181196A2 (en) * 1984-11-06 1986-05-14 Arie J. Kurtzig Removable touchscreen
US6437774B1 (en) * 1996-03-26 2002-08-20 Idec Izumi Corporation Display and input device and display and input system
US6132367A (en) * 1996-07-12 2000-10-17 Adair; Edwin L. Sterile encapsulated endoscopic video monitor
US5872561A (en) * 1997-03-31 1999-02-16 Allen-Bradley Company, Llc Fast scanning switch matrix
US20020093492A1 (en) * 2001-01-18 2002-07-18 Baron John M. System for a navigable display

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2863375B1 (en) 2006-03-03
EP1700195A1 (en) 2006-09-13
FR2863375A1 (en) 2005-06-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1986083B1 (en) Method for detecting the pressure applied on a flexible screen, and device comprising a screen for the implementation of the method
FR2907563A1 (en) Touch screen for e.g. computer, has non-tactile display subjected to substantial local deformation, when local pressure is applied, and transducers arranged with respect to display, so that deformation stimulates one transducer
LU82055A1 (en) SWITCHING DEVICE
EP1071106A1 (en) Switch with dual pressure
JP2011123823A (en) Tactile sense presentation device
EP2989510B1 (en) Method for handling an electronic device
EP3596586B1 (en) Physical interface with pressure button for a touch sensitive surface, protection comprising the same, and corresponding process, programme and terminal
WO2005057394A1 (en) Touch screen device
JPH0535403A (en) Touch panel display
FR2860643A1 (en) ANTI-INTRUSION DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR AN ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TERMINAL
FR2806492A1 (en) Touch contact display screen has keyboard formed by elements in transparent foil that deflect when finger contact is applied
EP3510477B1 (en) Reconfigurable tangible tactile interface
EP3631608A1 (en) Method for controlling a mobile device
FR2910160A1 (en) Telecommunication system for mutual transmission of emotions, has communication interface provided with access unit accessing trajectory traced by user, and with restitution unit restituting trajectory of user to another user
EP2977853A1 (en) Tactile portable object having simplified tactile key suppression
CA2998625A1 (en) Secure keyboard for data entry electronic device
EP2989511B1 (en) Method for managing operations on an electronic device
EP3317868B1 (en) Virtual remote control
EP0382622B1 (en) Confidential keyboard using a tactile touch, and use of the keyboard
EP3740850B1 (en) Peripheral having at least one transparent key comprising a flexible membrane
FR2704080A1 (en) Computer joysticks and mice equipped with sensitive devices
FR2806176A3 (en) Keyboard with bottom plate and console for data input has input key section with basic keys protruding from console and two rotary wheels embedded in a directional key section serving to move cursor up/down and right/left
WO2011121189A1 (en) Entertainment device intended in particular for visually impaired and/or blind persons
EP4334809A1 (en) Detection kit for interactive terminal
FR2879885A1 (en) Asymmetric acoustic waves transmitting and receiving piezoelectric plate for e.g. silverer, has sensors stuck oppositely and on both sides of plate with their electric polarization vectors oriented asymmetrically/symmetrically wrt plane

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ NA SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DPEN Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2004805681

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2004805681

Country of ref document: EP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 2004805681

Country of ref document: EP