WO2011081281A1

WO2011081281A1 - Touch panel

Info

Publication number: WO2011081281A1
Application number: PCT/KR2010/006488
Authority: WO
Inventors: 최종필; 유영기; 변현희
Original assignee: 주식회사 디오시스템즈
Priority date: 2009-12-30
Filing date: 2010-09-20
Publication date: 2011-07-07

Abstract

Disclosed is a touch panel. The touch panel of the present invention includes a display module displaying an image, a transparent window spaced a predetermined distance from the display module and disposed above and parallel to the display module, and a touch detection unit disposed between the transparent window and the display module to detect a touch pressure applied to the display module when a touch operation is performed. The touch detection unit includes: a printed circuit board (PCB) at which an electrode, to which the touch pressure is electrically inputted, is disposed at one side thereof; an elastomer having a contact area partially adhering to the transparent window; and a spacer disposed between the elastomer and the PCB such that the elastomer and the electrode of the PCB are spaced apart from each other when the touch operation is not performed. According to the present invention, a touch pressure on the basis of force can be detected to prevent the occurrence of an input signal from an unintentional touch operation. Particularly, even though the display module is increased in size, the elastomer may be maintained at a compact size. Thus, various problems arising from the application of a large elastomer may be solved.

Description

Touch panel

The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly, it is possible to detect a touch pressure according to a force basis, thereby preventing generation of an input signal by an unintended touch operation, and in particular, the size of the display module Even if it is large, the size of the elastic body can be kept compact, and a touch panel that can solve various problems caused by applying a large size of the elastic body.

TOUCH PANEL, which is sometimes used as a TOUCH SCREEN, is widely used as a means for inputting a signal on the display surface of a display device without using a remote controller or a separate input device in order to efficiently use various electronic devices. have.

That is, the touch panel displays an electronic organizer, a flat panel display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescense (EL), and an image display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT). It is installed on the surface and used to allow the user to select desired information while viewing the image display device.

Touch panels of touch panels, which are known to date, are mainly composed of resistive overlay and capacitive overlay, but in addition to infrared beam and surface acoustic wave, etc. Is being used.

On the other hand, although the touch panels of the above-described methods have their advantages and disadvantages and are widely used as input means for signals, unintentional input errors are often generated. That is, since the touch panels of the above-described type have a principle and a structure of detecting only the touch position, an input error may occur due to an unintended momentary touch operation when the display module is handled.

Such an input error can be solved by a touch input only when a force greater than a predetermined strength (force) is applied. However, this input condition is based on the premise that it has a structure that can sense touch pressure. In the above-described touch panels that cannot sense pressure, this is a difficult problem to solve.

Accordingly, research on touch panels that can sense not only the touch position but also the touch pressure can reduce the occurrence of the input signal due to unintentional touch operation. Applicants have also filed a number of patent applications for so-called force-based touch panels in line with this trend.

The force-based touch panel previously filed or currently under study by the present applicant includes an elastic body as a means for restoring the touch surface, and the elastic body is considered to have a size comparable to that of the display module. .

However, due to this reason, the elastic body has a size comparable to the size of the display module, it is difficult to manage parts, and in the case of a large display module, the volume of the elastic body is correspondingly increased, causing a cost increase. Considering that various problems such as handling may not be performed as the size of the device increases, even if the size of the display module increases, the new and new type of touch panel deviates from the general concept that the size of the elastic body should increase together. There is a need for research.

On the other hand, compared to other methods, the capacitive touch panel uses a principle of sensing a touch position by measuring an amount of change in capacitance between electrodes whose distance is changed from each other by a pressure caused by a touch, and can be implemented with a simple structure. Since many researches and developments are being made, improved research is required.

An object of the present invention, it is possible to detect the touch pressure according to the force-based can prevent the input signal generated by the unintentional touch operation, in particular, even if the size of the display module increases, the size of the elastic body is kept compact It is possible to provide a touch panel that can solve various problems caused by applying a large-size elastic body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel capable of accurately detecting whether a touch is made, a touch position, and a touch pressure using capacitance.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel that can be applied to a display device and used as a touch screen.

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect the touch pressure according to the force base to prevent the generation of the input signal by the unintentional touch operation, in particular, even if the size of the display module increases, the size of the elastic body to be kept compact This can solve various problems caused by applying a large-size elastic body.

According to the present invention, since the manufacturing method can form a touch panel using a simple flat spring, and the touch position can be sensed using a capacitive method, the manufacturing method is simple, low cost and high accuracy touch. A panel can be provided.

In addition, according to the present invention, by forming a part of the touch panel into an empty space, the display screen of the display device disposed behind the panel may be transmitted, and thus may be applied as a touch screen.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the display module shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a side structural view of the assembled state of FIG.

4 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a side structural view of the assembled state of FIG. 5.

7 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a touch panel according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a diagram for analyzing the relationship between the force acting on the cantilever beam and the elastic deformation of the cantilever beam.

11 is a view showing an example of configuring a flat spring in the touch panel according to the present invention.

12 is a view showing another example of configuring a flat spring in the touch panel according to the present invention.

13 is a view showing another example of configuring a flat spring in the touch panel according to the present invention.

14 is a view showing another example of configuring a flat spring in the touch panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram in which respective parameters are set in order to analyze the relationship of displacement due to pressing in a flat spring having a structure as shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a process of detecting a position of a pressing by a displacement measured at each side in a square flat plate.

17 is a diagram for analyzing actual measurement results.

It is a figure for demonstrating the process of detecting the position of a press by the displacement measured in each side in a rectangular flat plate.

FIG. 19 is a view for explaining a process of detecting a position of a press by a displacement measured at each side in a rectangular flat plate of another equivalent spring model.

FIG. 20 is a view showing each configuration separately in the flat spring structure as shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the touch panel having the structure as shown in FIG. 20.

22 is a view for explaining a structure for detecting the capacitance between the flat plate spring and the PCB substrate.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating various examples of sizes and shapes of electrodes disposed on a PCB substrate.

24 is a diagram for describing a modified structure of the touch panel.

It is a figure for demonstrating the further another structure for fixing a flat plate spring.

FIG. 26 is a view illustrating a shape of a flat spring having cutouts and connections having various structures in the touch panel according to the present invention.

27 is a view for explaining the form of the transparent plate and the various forms of the electrode or the electrode pattern.

FIG. 28 is a diagram for describing various methods of coupling a flat plate spring and a PCB substrate.

The object of the invention is, according to the invention, a display module in which an image is formed; A transparent window disposed side by side with the display module at an upper portion of the display module at a distance from the display module; And a touch sensing unit disposed between the transparent window and the display module to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module during a touch operation on the transparent window, wherein the touch sensing unit electrically inputs the touch pressure. A printed circuit board on which one electrode is provided; An elastic body having a bonding region partially bonded to the transparent window; And a spacer disposed between the elastic body and the printed circuit board such that the electrodes of the elastic body and the printed circuit board are spaced apart from each other when there is no touch operation.

Here, the elastic body may be a leaf spring of a conductive metal material.

The leaf spring may be a pair of leaf springs disposed at both side regions of the transparent window.

The pair of leaf springs may be disposed in the long side region of the transparent window, respectively.

Each of the pair of leaf springs includes: a main body plate portion having a bonding area joined to the transparent window on one side; And a through slot having a long hole shape formed through the body plate.

A through part may be formed in an inner region of the printed circuit board to expose the display surface of the display module.

The transparent window may be a tempered glass transparent window or a functional transparent window to which any one selected from a resistive film type, a capacitive type, an infrared type, and a surface ultrasonic type is applied.

The transparent window to which the resistive film method is applied includes: a touch upper substrate; An upper electrode formed on a lower surface of the touch upper substrate; Touch lower substrate; And a lower electrode formed on an upper surface of the touch lower substrate.

The transparent window to which the capacitive method is applied may include a touch substrate; An ITO film attached to the lower surface of the touch substrate; And it may include an electrode printed on the lower surface of the ITO film.

On the other hand, the above object, according to the present invention, the display module is formed image; And a touch sensing unit disposed under the display module to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module when the display module is touched. The touch sensing unit may include an electrode to which the touch pressure is electrically input. A printed circuit board (PCB) provided at one side; An elastic body having a bonding area partially bonded to the display module; And a spacer disposed between the elastic body and the printed circuit board so that the electrodes of the elastic body and the printed circuit board are spaced apart from each other when there is no touch operation.

The elastic body may be a leaf spring of a conductive metal material.

The leaf spring may be a pair of leaf springs disposed at both side regions of the display module.

The pair of leaf springs may be disposed in the long side region of the display module, respectively.

Each of the pair of leaf springs may include: a main body plate portion having a bonding area bonded to the display module at one side thereof; And a through slot having a long hole shape formed through the body plate.

The apparatus may further include a display protection window disposed on an upper surface of the display module.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, the plate is made of a conductive material, and the cut portion is partially cut so that the support portion corresponding to the circumferential portion of the plate, and the boundary between the support portion and the inner region of the support portion A plurality of cutouts, a plurality of connecting portions corresponding to portions not cut by the cutouts at the boundary line, and corresponding to the inner region of the support portion, and pressed according to the user's pressing and restored by elasticity of the connecting portion A flat spring having a portion; A PCB substrate having at least one electrode disposed at a position opposite to the pressing portion of the flat plate spring and arranged in parallel to the flat plate spring; A spacer disposed between the PCB substrate and the support portion such that the pressing portion of the flat plate spring and the at least one electrode of the PCB substrate maintain a constant distance from each other when there is no user press; And

A coordinate measuring unit configured to sense capacitance between the pressing unit and the at least one electrode, and determine at least one of pressing of the pressing unit, position of pressing, and intensity of pressing by the sensed capacitance It is also achieved by an included force-based capacitive touch panel.

The flat plate spring may further include a light transmitting part formed by removing the flat plate from a portion of the pressing part, and the transparent part is fixed to a part of the pressing part where the flat plate is not removed to cover the light transmitting part. A light transmitting plate of material may be formed.

The floodlight plate may be attached to the edge portion through a spacer having a predetermined thickness.

The floodlight plate may have a size larger than the outer shape of the pressing portion.

An electrode pattern may be formed on the floodlight panel so as to face each of the electrodes formed on the PCB substrate, and the coordinate measuring unit is pressed by the capacitance between the electrode of the PCB substrate and the electrode pattern of the floodlight plate. At least one of whether the negative is pressed, the position of the pressing, and the strength of the pressing may be determined.

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by explaining preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the display module shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side structural view of the assembled state of FIG. 1.

As shown in these figures, the touch panel of this embodiment discloses a so-called bottom mounted touch panel in which the touch sensing unit 230a is disposed under the display module 210. As such, when the touch sensing unit 230a is disposed below the display module 210, the display module 210 is disposed on the front surface, so that the display module 210 may have a lower brightness or transparency than the lower display module 210. There are advantages to getting better.

The touch panel includes a display module 210 in which an image is formed and a touch sensing unit disposed under the display module 210 to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module 210 during a touch operation of the display module 210. Unit 230.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the display module 210 includes a panel 211 on which an image is formed, and a backlight unit disposed behind the panel 211 to project predetermined light onto the panel 211. (213, Back Light Unit), the main mold frame (215, Mold Frame) for supporting the panel 211 and the backlight unit 213, and disposed between the main mold frame 215 and the panel 211 and the corresponding position The sub mold frame 217 for preventing light leakage to the panel 211 side is provided.

In the present embodiment, the LCD panel 211 is applied, but the panel 211 may be a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a field emission display (FED), or the like.

In detail with respect to the LCD panel 211 applied in the present embodiment, the LCD panel 211 includes an upper glass 211a partially disposed in a state where liquid crystal (Liquid Crystal, not shown) is injected therein, and It consists of a lower glass 211b. Although not shown, upper and lower polarizer films are adhered to the outer surfaces of the upper glass 211a and the lower glass 211b, respectively.

The area of the upper glass 211a (Color Filter Glass) for forming an image of a color is smaller than that of the lower glass 211b (TFT Panel). Therefore, a portion where the upper glass 211a does not overlap exists on the upper surface of the lower glass 211b, and the driver IC 211c is mounted on this portion. The driver IC 211c is connected to the printed circuit board 250 by a FPC (211d, Flexible Printed Circuit) (see FIG. 2A).

The backlight unit 213 is coupled to the main mold frame 215 together with the panel 211 and serves to project predetermined light onto the panel 211.

The backlight unit 213 includes a light guide plate 213a, a reflective sheet 213b disposed below the light guide plate 213a, a pair of

diffusion sheets

213c and 213d disposed above the light guide plate 213a, and , The light shielding tape 213e adhered between the panel 211 and the diffusion sheet 213d, and an FPC (211c, Flexible Printed Circuit) coupled to one side of the panel 211 is connected, and a driving LSI (large scale integration) FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuit Board, FPCB, including) and LED mounting FPCB (213f) equipped with a light emitting diode (LED) for generating light to the light guide plate (213a) It is provided.

In the figure, the light guide plate 213a is shown as a substantially rectangular plate-like body. However, the light guide plate 213a may be formed to be inclined so that the upper surface toward the

diffusion sheets

213c and 213d is flat and the lower surface thereof becomes narrower from one end to the other end.

The reflective sheet 213b is disposed substantially the same as the area of the light guide plate 213a to prevent light from leaking to the lower portion of the light guide plate 213a, and also reflects the leaked light back to the panel 211 through the light guide plate 213a. ) To the side.

The

diffusion sheets

213c and 213d serve to diffuse light generated from the light guide plate 213a. Although no pattern is shown on the surfaces of the

diffusion sheets

213c and 213d in the drawing of this embodiment, a plurality of fine dot patterns are continuously formed on the surfaces of the

diffusion sheets

213c and 213d to diffuse more light. Can be formed. In addition, although light is uniform due to light diffusion, a prism sheet (not shown) having a prism pattern that exerts a light focusing effect may be used to prevent a decrease in brightness caused by side effects. In the present embodiment, two

diffusion sheets

213c and 213d are used, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the number thereof.

The light shielding tape 213e serves to block light from leaking to a portion outside the image display area of the panel 211. In the light blocking tape 213e, one region of the upper surface is bonded to the lower surface of the panel 211 and the sub mold frame 217, and one region of the lower surface is bonded to the upper surface of the main mold frame 213 and the diffusion sheet 213d. The light leakage phenomenon is prevented from occurring at a position adjacent to the image display area of the panel 211 at that position.

The main mold frame 215 supports the panel 211 and the backlight unit 213. In addition, the main mold frame 217 is coupled to the main mold frame 215 in order to prevent generation of light leakage toward the panel 211.

Next, the touch sensing unit 230 is disposed under the display module 210 to detect the touch pressure applied to the display module 210 when the display module 210 is touched.

The touch sensing unit 230 may include a junction in which the electrode 251 to which the touch pressure is electrically input is partially bonded to the display module 210 and the printed circuit board 251 provided on one side. An elastic body 240 having an area 242a (hatched portion of FIG. 1) and an elastic body 240 so that the electrode 240 and the electrode 251 of the printed circuit board 250 are spaced apart from each other when there is no touch operation. The spacer 260 is disposed between the printed circuit board 250.

The printed circuit board 250 is disposed in parallel with the leaf spring 240 as the elastic body 240. One or more electrodes 251 are disposed on a portion of the printed circuit board 250 that faces the body plate portion 242 of the leaf spring 240. In this embodiment, a plurality of electrodes 251 are arranged.

The electrode 251 provided on the printed circuit board 250 is further described. If only one electrode 251 is provided on the printed circuit board 250, it is sufficient to detect only whether the touch pressure is applied or how much the touch pressure is applied. However, if two or more touch positions in addition to the touch pressure are to be detected, the plurality of electrodes 251 are disposed on at least three different positions on the printed circuit board 250 due to mutual positional signal correlation. It can also detect the touch position. In the present embodiment, since the electrodes 251 are disposed one by one in the corner region of the printed circuit board 250, both the touch position and the touch pressure can be detected, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

The electrode 251 or the printed circuit board 250 is controlled by a control unit (not shown). At this time, the control unit may include any one side of the leaf spring 240 that may be made of a conductive metal and an electrode of the printed circuit board 250. 251 may be electrically connected to each. However, if the plate spring 240 is made of a non-conductor like plastic, the conductive electrode pattern (not shown) through which electricity is applied to one surface of the plate spring 240 facing the printed circuit board 250 is adhered or printed. The control unit, not shown, may be electrically connected to the conductive electrode pattern (not shown) of the leaf spring 240 and the electrode 251 of the printed circuit board 250, respectively. The control unit detects the magnitude or change in capacitance generated between the plate spring 240 and the electrode 251 of the printed circuit board 250 when a touch operation is input, and then the magnitude or change in the detected capacitance. On the basis of the control can be controlled so that the information on whether the touch operation is input, the touch position or the touch pressure is recognized.

On the other hand, the elastic member 240 is elastically deformed due to the touch pressure generated when the touch operation, that is, when pressing the surface of the display module 210 with a finger or a touch fan, the electrode 251 of the printed circuit board 250 It serves to change the magnitude of the capacitance between.

The elastic body 240 may be provided as various types, but in the present embodiment, the elastic body 240 is applied to the leaf spring 240 made of a conductive metal material. In the following description, the elastic body 240 will be described as a leaf spring 240 for convenience.

In this embodiment, the leaf springs 240 are provided in pairs and disposed on both side regions of the display module 210. In this case, a pair of leaf springs 240 may be disposed at both short side regions of the display module 210, but in consideration of efficiency, a pair of leaf springs 240 is disposed at both long side regions of the display module 210. It is preferable to become. Only then the efficiency of the elasticity relative to the installation area can be increased.

Each of the pair of leaf springs 240 includes a main body plate portion 242 and a main body plate portion 242 having a bonding area 220a (hatched portion shown in FIG. 1) bonded to the display module 210 at one side thereof. It is provided with a through slot 243 in the form of a long hole is formed.

The body plate portion 242 is a portion where substantial deformation is made while a touch is applied. The long side area of the display module 210 has a rectangular shape having a length smaller than or smaller than that. Of course, since the display module 210 has a rectangular shape, the body plate portion 242 also has a corresponding shape, but if the shape of the display module 210 is different from that shown, The shape may be changed. The body plate part 242 is deformed toward the printed circuit board 250 when the touch pressure is applied, but is restored to its original state when the applied touch pressure disappears. On the other hand, the bonding region 220a is a portion where the leaf spring 240 is bonded to the display module 210, and a double-sided tape, an adhesive, solder bonding, welding, rivet coupling, and bolt (screw) coupling scheme may be applied thereto. Can be.

The through slot 243 is provided to provide elastic force to the body plate portion 242. Of course, the through slots 243 are not necessarily formed, but when the through slots 243 are formed, the body plate portion 242 is helpful to the elastic deformation or elastic recovery.

As a result, the leaf spring 240 must be elastically deformed or restored based on the user's touch (press) operation of the touch panel of the present embodiment. At the time of manufacture, the leaf spring 240 should have elasticity against torsion or bending and at the same time firmly. Therefore, the leaf spring 240 should be made of a conductive metal material that satisfies these requirements, and the thickness and size of the body plate portion 242 and the size and position of the through slot 243 should be appropriately designed.

When a pair of leaf springs 240 having such a structure and a function are disposed and used in pairs on both long side regions of the display module 210, the leaf springs 240 may have a size corresponding to the size of the display module 210. There is no need to make it, which is enough to solve various problems such as difficult parts management, increased cost, and difficulty in handling the product as the size of the component increases.

The spacer 260 serves to allow the plate spring 240 to be spaced apart from the printed circuit board 250 at regular intervals when there is no touch pressure applied thereto. The spacer 260 is preferably disposed in the outer region of the through slot 243 in the body plate 242, so that the spacer 260 does not interfere with the elastic operation of the leaf spring 240.

The spacer 260 may be stably positioned in a position fixed between the printed circuit board 250 and the leaf spring 240. To this end, a method of coupling both sides of the spacer 260 to the printed circuit board 250 and the leaf spring 240 may be considered. Coupling method of the spacer 260 may be a double-sided tape, adhesive, solder bonding, welding, rivet coupling, bolt (screw) coupling and the like. Of course, since this is only an embodiment, the position and arrangement of the spacer 260 and the coupling structure of the printed circuit board 250 and the leaf spring 240 may be changed according to circumstances. In the present embodiment, the spacer 260 is divided into two pieces and disposed between the printed circuit board 250 and the leaf spring 240, but unlike the drawing, the spacer 260 may form one continuous closed loop. .

The operation of the touch panel of this embodiment having such a configuration will be briefly described.

The user inputs a touch operation by touching a point with a finger or the like while looking at an image of various patterns formed on the display module 210.

Then, the touch pressure is sensed and recognized by the touch sensing unit 230 and the control unit. That is, when a touch operation is input, the control unit approaches a pair of leaf springs 240 and the printed circuit board 250 as the pair of leaf springs 240 approaches the electrode 251 of the printed circuit board 250. After detecting the magnitude or the change amount of the capacitance generated between the electrodes 251, whether the touch operation is input, the touch position or the touch pressure is recognized based on the detected amount or the change amount of the capacitance. In this case, since the touch pressure based on the force is sensed, it is possible to prevent the input signal from being generated by an unintended touch operation.

According to the touch panel of the present embodiment having such a structure and operation, it is possible to detect the touch pressure according to the force base to prevent the generation of the input signal by the unintentional touch operation, in particular a pair of leaf spring Since the 240 has a structure disposed in both long-side regions of the display module 210, even if the size of the display module 210 increases, the size of the leaf spring 240 can be kept compact, so that a large-size elastic body ( It is possible to solve various problems of applying (not shown).

The present embodiment has a structure in which the display module 210 is disposed above, as in the first embodiment, wherein a separate display protection window 210a is provided on the upper surface of the display module 210.

The display protection window 210a may be made of sheet, tape, plastic, or the like to protect the surface of the display module 210.

5 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a side structural view of the assembled state of FIG. 5.

As shown in these figures, the touch panel of the present embodiment, the display module 210 in which the image is formed and the display module 210 at an upper portion of the display module 210 at a spaced interval from the display module 210. A transparent window 220 disposed in parallel with the transparent window 220 and disposed between the transparent window 220 and the display module 210 to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module 210 during a touch operation to the transparent window 220. It includes a touch sensing unit 230a.

Since the touch sensing unit 230a is disposed on the display module 210 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this type may be referred to as a so-called top mounted touch panel.

The display module 210 will be replaced with the above description with reference to FIG. 2.

The transparent window 220 is disposed at the top of the present touch panel to substantially apply a touch operation. In the present embodiment, the transparent window 220 is applied to the transparent window 220 as a simple tempered glass.

The touch sensing unit 230a is also the same as the touch sensing unit 230 described in the first embodiment, but since the touch sensing unit 230a of the present embodiment is located above the display module 210, the printed circuit board 250a is used. The structure of is slightly different from the first embodiment.

That is, in the touch panel of the present exemplary embodiment, a penetrating portion 252 is formed in the inner region of the printed circuit board 250a to expose the display surface (the upper surface of FIG. 1) of the display module 210. The reason why the through part 252a is formed in the inner region of the printed circuit board 250a is that the printed circuit board 250a is positioned above the display module 210 so that the screen that is the display surface of the display module 210 is not covered. Because it becomes. Therefore, when the printed circuit board 250 (see FIG. 1) is disposed below the display module 210 as in the first embodiment described above, the through part 252 does not need to be formed.

In the above-described third embodiment, the transparent window 220 disposed above the touch sensing unit 230a was a transparent window 220 for tempered glass, but in the present embodiment, the transparent window 220a is a resistive film type. It is applied to the transparent window 220a.

The structures of the touch sensing unit 230a and the display module 210 shown in FIG. 7 are referred to as mentioned above, and only the transparent window 220a as a resistive film will be described herein. In particular, it is the same in the present embodiment that a pair of leaf springs 240 is divided, unlike the prior art is applied.

The transparent window 220a as a resistive film is disposed under the touch upper substrate 202, the window film 204 attached to the upper surface of the touch upper substrate 202, and the lower portion of the touch upper substrate 202. FPC bonded to the touch lower substrate 201, the insulating adhesive member 203 interposed between the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201, and the upper surface of the touch lower substrate 201. Circuit). In FIG. 7, illustrations of the upper and lower electrodes formed on the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201 and the patterns formed on the electrodes are omitted for convenience.

The touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201 may be formed of a flexible transparent film substrate or transparent glass. The transparent conductive films may be disposed on the lower surface of the touch upper substrate 202 and the upper surface of the touch lower substrate 201. (Not shown), electrode patterns (not shown) are formed.

The insulating adhesive member 203 is interposed between the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201 to bond the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201 and at the same time, the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate ( Prevent short circuits between 201). The insulating adhesive member 203 has an opening 203a formed at a position corresponding to an input region of the transparent window 220a, and four conducting holes 203b are formed at a position corresponding to an outer region of the transparent window 220a. do. In this case, the four conductive holes 203b are four AG dots disposed between the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201 to electrically connect the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201. Provide a portion through which (not shown) penetrates.

The FPC 205 is interposed between the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201 and bonded to one side of the touch lower substrate 201. At this time, the FPC 205 is bonded to the touch lower substrate 201 by compressing the anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) applied to the lower surface thereof at a high temperature / high pressure. The FPC 205 is responsible for electrically connecting an upper electrode (not shown) formed on the touch upper substrate 202 and a lower electrode (not shown) formed on the touch lower substrate 201 to a control unit (not shown). do. At this time, the control unit calculates the position of the point selected by the user in the input area of the transparent window 220a.

The window film 204 is a protective film for protecting the touch upper substrate 202, especially the touch surface thereof, and is typically made of a PET (Poly Ethylen Terephthalate) film. The window film 204 is attached to the upper surface of the touch upper substrate 202 by an adhesive 208 such as an optical clear adhesive (OCA).

An ink print layer 206 formed by printing ink is formed in an outer region of the lower surface of the window film 204, which is the display surface of the display module 210 on which the transparent window 220a is installed. By providing a frame surrounding the periphery, the appearance design of the transparent window 220a is improved, and the electrode patterns formed on the touch upper substrate 202 and the touch lower substrate 201 are not exposed to the outside.

When the transparent window 220a as the resistive film method is applied as in the present embodiment, the touch position or the touch pressure sensed by the touch sensing unit 230a may be detected, as well as the touch position by the transparent window 220a as the resistive film method. There is an advantage. Regarding the touch position determination, there may be various methods such as determining the final touch position by referring to the touch position detected by the touch sensing unit 230a at the touch position by the transparent window 220a.

In the above-described third embodiment, the transparent window 220 disposed above the touch sensing unit 230a was a transparent window 220 for tempered glass, and in the fourth embodiment, the upper portion of the touch sensing unit 230a. Although the transparent window 220a disposed in the transparent window 220a is a resistive film method, in the present embodiment, the transparent window 220b is applied to the transparent window 220b as a capacitive method.

The structure of the touch sensing unit 230a and the display module 210 shown in FIG. 8 will be referred to as mentioned above, and only the transparent window 220b as a capacitive method will be described herein. In particular, it is the same in the present embodiment that a pair of leaf springs 240 is divided, unlike the prior art is applied.

The transparent window 220b as a capacitive type includes a touch substrate 225a, an ITO film 225b attached to the lower surface of the touch substrate 225a, and an electrode 225c printed on the lower surface of the ITO film 225b. Include.

The touch substrate 225a is disposed on one surface of the display module 210 and provided to protect the display module 210 in which an image is formed. In this embodiment, the touch substrate 225a is made of tempered glass in a flat shape. Here, tempered glass refers to a glass in which molded glass is heated to 500 to 600 ° C. close to the softening temperature, quenched by compressed cooling air to compressively deform the glass surface, and then tensilely deformed and tempered. As such, when the touch substrate 225a is made of tempered glass, the touch substrate 225a may have excellent characteristics in impact resistance, heat resistance, and safety as compared with acrylic or general glass. In addition, unlike glass cutting only, since the shape of the tempered glass can be variously changed by an etching process, a hole is formed in the touch substrate 225a or the edge of the touch substrate 225a is curved. By being able to form a variety of designs of the product can be enabled.

The ITO film 225b refers to a film that conducts electricity and has transparent properties. ITO stands for Indium-Tin Oxide, which is a transparent and electrically conductive material. In general, ITO is a thin film coated on a transparent substrate by wet coating or dry coating to implement conductivity. In the past, ITO is coated on a glass plate and is widely used for LCD.

A specific type of ITO patterning layer (not shown) may be formed on the ITO film 225b, and an electrode 225c is printed on the bottom surface of the ITO film 225b. Here, the electrode 225c may be manufactured using silver.

Therefore, when the touch substrate 225a is touched using a finger or a touch pen, that is, when a touch operation is input, the isoelectric potential of the ITO film 225b is destroyed starting from the touched portion, and a current is generated. The amount of charged charge is sensed by a current sensor (not shown) connected to the silver electrode 225c printed on the edge of the ITO film 225b, and the conversion position is detected by an analog / digital converter (not shown). The touch position can be recognized. Since the transparent window 220b of the present embodiment is a capacitive type, in particular, the transparent window 220b may be implemented with only one sheet of ITO film 225b.

When the transparent window 220b as the capacitive method is applied as in the present embodiment, in addition to the touch position or the touch pressure sensing by the touch sensing unit 230a, the touch position by the transparent window 220b as the capacitive method can be detected. There is an advantage. Regarding the touch position determination, there may be various methods such as determining the final touch position by referring to the touch position sensed by the touch sensing unit 230a at the touch position by the transparent window 220b. In particular, in the case of the present embodiment, there is an advantage that the implementation of multi-touch is possible.

In the case of FIG. 7, the full-capacity transparent window 220b is used, and in the case of FIG. 8, the resistive transparent window 220a is used, but they may be replaced by an infrared method or a surface ultrasonic method.

According to this drawing, the touch panel 100 according to the present embodiment includes a flat spring 10, a spacer 20, a PCB substrate 30, and a coordinate measuring unit 40.

The flat plate spring 10 is formed of a flat plate-like structure, and forms a boundary line B between a support part 12 corresponding to a circumferential portion of the flat plate and an inner region of the support part 12 and the support part 12. A plurality of incisions 14 formed by partially cutting the plate so as to be supported, a plurality of connecting portions 16 supporting the inner region of the support part 12 corresponding to a portion of the plate not cut by the incision 14; And a pressing part 18 corresponding to an inner region of the support part 12 bounded by the boundary line B. In this case, the pressing unit 18 is pressed according to the user's pressing, and when the user's pressing is released, the pressing unit 18 is restored to a state before being pressed by the elasticity of the connecting unit 16.

In addition, the flat spring 10 is preferably made of a conductive material, in particular a metallic material.

The PCB board | substrate 30 is arrange | positioned so that it may face in parallel with the flat plate spring 10. FIG. In addition, at least one electrode 32 is disposed at a portion of the PCB substrate 30 opposite to the pressing portion 18 of the flat plate spring 10.

The spacer 20 is intended to maintain a constant distance between the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30 facing each other when the user does not press against the pressing portion 18. It is disposed between the support 12 of the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30.

At this time, the support portion 12 and the PCB substrate 30 of the flat plate spring 10 is preferably fixed to each other by being coupled to each other through the spacer 20, for this purpose, the spacer 20 of one side of the flat plate spring 10 Various attachment methods may be used for attaching the support 12 to the opposite side and for attaching the PCB substrate. The adhesive method may include a double-sided tape, an adhesive, solder bonding, welding, rivet bonding, bolt (screw) bonding, and the like (to be described later with reference to FIG. 28).

The coordinate measuring unit 40 is electrically connected to a part of the flat plate spring 10 made of a conductive material and the electrode 32 of the PCB substrate 30, respectively, and the electrode 32 and the electrode of the PCB substrate 30. The magnitude and amount of change in capacitance generated between a part of the pressing portions 18 of the flat plate springs opposite to each other are measured.

Then, by using the measured electrostatic capacity, whether the pressing occurs in the pressing portion 18 of the flat plate spring, the position of the pressing (coordinate), the strength of the pressing and the like is measured.

On the other hand, when the flat spring 10 is made of an insulating material, the electrode (electrode pattern) 34 is formed by a conductive material on at least a portion of the PCB substrate 30 facing the electrode 32, and the coordinate measuring unit In the 40, the capacitance may be sensed between the electrode 32 of the PCB substrate 30 and the electrode pattern 34 formed on the flat plate spring 10. It is possible to detect the intensity of the pressing on the pressing portion 18 using the amount or magnitude of change in capacitance.

One electrode 32 may be arranged to detect only the user's pressing and the intensity thereof, but the pressing portion (2) may be used to detect the pressing position in two-dimensional coordinates using the pressing unit 18 as a coordinate plane. At least three spots in 18) should be placed.

On the other hand, in order to move and restore the pressing portion 18 according to the user's pressing in this way, in particular, it is preferable that the connecting portion 16 and the support portion 12 has elasticity against torsion or bending. However, it is preferable that the pressing portion 18 in which the pressing of the user is made to have a firmness so as not to be twisted or bent by the pressure by the pressing.

Usually, since the flat spring 10 is made of a single material such as metal, it is preferable that the flat spring 10 is selected from a material that can satisfy elasticity and robustness at the same time.

In addition to the material of the flat spring 10, the width of the support portion 12, the width and length of the cutout portion 14, the width and length of the connecting portion 16, the pressing portion 18 and the support portion 12 and the connecting portion The thickness of the flat plate, the shape of the cutout portion 14 and the connecting portion 16, the size and shape of the spacer 20, the arrangement position, etc. at each of the portions 16 and the like can be appropriately set and applied.

The method of detecting the coordinates of the pressing acting on the pressing unit 18 by using the capacitance will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 19.

10 is a diagram for analyzing the relationship between the force acting on the cantilever beam and the elastic deformation of the cantilever beam. FIG. 10 (a) is a conceptual diagram for analyzing the elastic deformation of the cantilever beam, and FIG. 10 (b) shows an equivalent spring model for the cantilever beam of FIG. 10 (a).

First, as shown in (a) of FIG. 10, when the force P is applied vertically to the free end of the horizontal cantilever beam having a length L, the cantilever beam sags by the displacement δ. If you organize this into a formula,

Becomes Here, E is the elastic modulus and I is the moment of inertia.

This cantilever analysis is equivalently modeled with a single spring arranged vertically as in FIG. 10 (b). Here is how to organize each parameter

Because of,

It becomes

In other words, the force acting on the cantilever beam can be modeled by a simple spring structure. Therefore, the cantilever can be used as a spring in the elastic region where a certain amount of deformation occurs. By using this property, in the present invention, a spring is formed at a predetermined position with respect to a flat plate to which the user's pressing is applied to give a reaction force, and the deformation and the force of the spring are measured to detect the strength and position of the force applied to the flat plate. Use the principle of

11 to 14 show various types of flat springs in the touch panel according to the present invention.

On the other hand, in the touch panel 100 of FIGS. 11 to 14, at least a portion (particularly, a central portion) of the pressing portion 18 of the flat plate spring 10 is removed to form the light transmitting portion 18A. The transmissive plate 18B is arranged in the transmissive portion 18A. The light transmitting plate 18B is fixed to the part of the press part 18 in which the flat plate was not removed (parts other than the part removed to form the light transmitting part, that is, the edge part of the press part) by adhesion or the like.

The floodlight plate 18B may be attached through a separate spacer 20 having a predetermined thickness.

In addition, it is preferable that the light transmitting plate 18B is made of a material such as glass that is not twisted or bent by the pressure of the user's pressing.

In addition, in the structure including the light transmitting plate 18B, the electrode 32 formed on the PCB substrate 30 in order to sense the capacitance, the position facing the edge portion where the flat plate is not removed from the pressing portion 18 It is preferably arranged in.

Alternatively, the electrode pattern 34 is formed on the light-transmitting plate 18B attached to the pressing part 18 with a transparent electrode, and the electrode 32 is placed on the PCB substrate 30 at a position opposite to the electrode pattern 34. In addition, the coordinate measuring unit 40 may be configured to detect the press by the capacitance between the electrode pattern 34 and the electrode 32. Such a structure may be applied when the edge portion of the pressing portion 18 is formed to be very narrow, or when the flat spring 10 is formed of an insulating material.

In the case where the light transmitting portion 18A is formed in this manner, it is preferable that the PCB substrate 30 also has an opening (not shown) in a form corresponding to the light transmitting portion 18A so as to form a light transmitting structure as a whole.

According to the flat spring 10 having such a structure, since the display from the display device on the rear side can be transmitted through the pressing portion 18 and the light transmitting portion 18A formed on the PCB substrate 30, the display apparatus can be seen. Overlaid on the surface of the to be able to function as a touch screen that can receive a user's touch.

First, FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of configuring a flat spring in the touch panel according to the present invention. FIG. 11A illustrates a shape in which the cutout 14 and the connecting portion 16 are formed by cutting while forming the support 12 with a predetermined width from one side of the rectangular flat spring 10 as shown in FIG. 9. Shows.

FIG. 11B is a side cross-sectional view of the touch panel of FIG. 11A. From above, it is possible to see a structure in which the floodlight plate 18B, the flat plate spring 10, the spacer 20, and the PCB substrate 30 are sequentially stacked.

FIG. 11C is a plan view of the touch panel of FIG. 11A. In this figure, the shape of the cutout 14, the shape of the spacer 20 (shown as the spacer is shown above) and the shape of the transparent plate 18B can be seen.

Figure 11 (d) shows the equivalent model by the pressing portion and the spring in this type of flat spring structure. According to the flat plate spring 10 as shown in FIG. 11 (a), the reaction force by a spring acts on each edge (part in which a connection part is located) of the square corresponding to the shape of the press part 18 (elastic action position). It can be interpreted as

12 (a) is a rectangle formed by a boundary line B between a support part 12 having a predetermined width on each side and an inner region of a rectangular flat plate spring 10, and connecting each corner of the rectangle. (16) and shows a form in which the incision 14 is formed on each side except this.

FIG. 12B is a side cross-sectional view of the touch panel of FIG. 12A. From above, it is possible to see a structure in which the floodlight plate 18B, the flat plate spring 10, the spacer 20, and the PCB substrate 30 are sequentially stacked.

FIG. 12C is a plan view of the touch panel of FIG. 12A. It can be seen that the spacer 20 is disposed at the central portion of each side of the support 12. The equivalent model for this flat spring structure is the same as that shown in Fig. 11 (d), because the connecting portions 16 which act on the pressing portions (light transmitting plate) 18 are located at each corner.

13 is a view showing another example of configuring a flat spring in the touch panel according to the present invention. FIG. 13 (a) shows a form in which the connection portion 16 is formed at the center portion of each side of the inner region and the cutout portion 14 is formed to include each corner.

FIG. 13B is a plan view of the touch panel of FIG. 13A. The spacer 20 is disposed at each corner portion of the flat spring 10.

Fig. 13C shows an equivalent model of the pressing portion and the spring in the flat spring structure of this type. That is, it can be interpreted that the reaction force by the spring acts on the center portion (part where the connection portion is located) of each side of the rectangle corresponding to the shape of the pressing portion 18.

14 is a view showing another example of configuring a flat spring in the touch panel according to the present invention. FIG. 14A illustrates a form in which the cutouts 14 are formed so that the connection portions 16 may be formed at each corner and the center of the boundary line with respect to the inner region of the support 12.

Figure 14 (b) is an equivalent model for the flat spring formed with the incision and the connecting portion as shown in Figure 14 (a), the reaction force by the spring in the center of each corner and each side of the square corresponding to the pressing portion (inner region) Can be interpreted as functioning.

In addition to the shape of the various flat springs described above with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, various structures may be applied.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for setting each parameter in order to analyze the relationship of the displacement at each point of the pressing part by the force acting by the pressing in the flat spring having the structure as shown in FIG.

Fig. 15A shows the shape of the flat plate spring 10 and the parameters set in each part. Here, when the center of the pressing part 18 is made into the center of the coordinate axis, the point where the pressing of which the magnitude | size of the force acts is represented by the position (x, y). And longitudinal length of the pressing portion 18 from the center coordinate is defined in 2ℓ _1, the horizontal direction length is defined as a 2ℓ _2. ₁ is the longitudinal distance from the center of the connecting portion 16 to which the elasticity, which is a reaction force against the pressing, is applied, to the coordinate center, and ₂ is the horizontal distance from the center of the connecting portion 16 to the coordinate center. n is a normal to the same plane as the pressing part 18, and this normal can be represented by n = a i + b j + c k .

15 (b) shows each parameter set for the pressing unit as described above in a plan view.

FIG. 15C is a diagram illustrating a case where a press occurs at the position F and a displacement occurs at the press portion. FIG. It can be seen from Fig. 15 (c) that the plane normal n is inclined with respect to the Z axis. Here, R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , and R ₄ are vectors representing the reaction force of the spring occurring at the elastic action position, and f ₁ , f ₂ , f ₃ , and f ₄ are each side of the pressing part 18. Represents a straight line equation.

Using this figure, the interpretation of the pressing F acting on the position (x, y) is derived as follows.

First, the planar equation for the plate constituting the pressing part 18 may be expressed as ax + by + cz + d = 0 (here, n = a i + b j + c k ). At this time, the linear equation for each side of the plate,

f ₁ : Z = -By -AL2 -D

f ₂ : Z = -Ax -BL1 -D

f ₃ : Z = -By + AL2 -D

f ₄ : Z = -Ax + BL1 -D

, Where A = a / c, B = b / c, and D = d / c.

If the displacement (a deflection amount) at each elastic action position is Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ₃ , Z ₄ , the equation for each

Z_One =-(Bℓ_One) -AL₂ -D = -Bℓ_One-AL₂ -D

Z₂ = -Aℓ₂-BL_One -D

Z₃ = -Bℓ_One+ AL₂ -D

Z₄ = -Aℓ₂+ BL_One -D

Therefore, the relationship between the reaction forces R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ and the deflection amount Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ₃ , Z ₄ is

R_One = KZ_One

R₂ = KZ₂

R₃ = KZ₃

R₄ = KZ₄

It is summarized as having.

At this time, since the force (moment) in the Z-axis direction is 0,

This equation is summarized as follows.

ΣF = -F -4KD = 0

D = -F / 4K --①

In the same way, if the sum of the moments in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is 0, the following relationship can be derived.

ΣM _x = -Fy + R ₁ (-ℓ ₁ ) + R ₂ (L ₁ ) + R ₃ (ℓ ₁ ) + R ₄ (-L ₁ ) = 0

_{Fy = K (2A (ℓ 1} L 2 -L 1 ℓ 2) -2B (ℓ 1 2 + L 1 2)) --②

ΣM _y = -Fx + R ₁ (L ₂ ) + R ₂ (ℓ ₂ ) + R ₃ (-L ₂ ) + R ₄ (-ℓ ₂ ) = 0

Fx = K (-2A (L ₂ ² + ℓ ₂ ² ) + 2B (ℓ ₁ L ₂ -L ₁ ℓ ₂ )) --③

Using

equations

①, ②, ③, a, b, c, d or A, B of the plane normal vector, the magnitude of the force F, the position of the force (x, y), and the magnitude of the plate L ₁ , L ₂ , summarized by the variables of the reaction positions ℓ ₁ , ℓ ₂ are as follows.

Using these results, the following practical application can be obtained.

(1) for square plates

FIG. 16 illustrates a process of detecting a position (x, y) of a press by a displacement measured at each side when a press of a force of F acts on a square plate having a 60 mm side. Drawing.

According to Fig. 16, in the case where the spring (reaction force position) of the equivalent model is located at a position 5 mm away from each corner of the plate, the position (reaction force measurement point) for measuring the displacement of the plate is variously set. Shows. That is, in the case of ①, the reaction force measurement point is the same as the spring position, in the case of ②, the reaction force measurement point is the center of each side of the plate, and in the case of ③, the reaction force measurement point is each corner of the plate. The case shows that the reaction force measurement point is 10 mm away from the center of each side of the plate.

Here, the spring coefficient is set to K = 1.

Pressing also acts at the position (10,5) from the coordinate origin, and the force F is set to one. Based on these numbers, A = -1/305, B = -1/610, and D = -0.25.

First, in the case of ①, the following measurement results can be obtained.

Table 1

That is, since the deflection amount Z _i of each measuring point is in a relationship of R _i = KZ _i , and K = 1, it is in a relationship of R _i = Z _i . In the table above,

It can be seen that the equation is the same as the relationship of ΣR _i = F = 1, indicating that the equation is correct. The position of the force F is inversely calculated from the reaction force of these four points.

Therefore, by substituting x = 10 and y = 5, the reaction force R _i is obtained from the deflection amount Z _i at the reaction force measuring point, and the position of the force F from the coordinates (x _i , y _i ) of R _i and R _i (x, y). It can be seen that can be found correctly.

In the same way, the calculation results were examined while changing the position of the deflection measurement.

The results measured at the points of ② are shown in the following [Table 2].

TABLE 2

The results measured at points ③ are shown in the following [Table 3].

TABLE 3

The results measured at points ④ are shown in the following [Table 4].

Table 4

The results shown in [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], and [Table 4] are as follows.

17 is a diagram for analyzing measurement results as shown in the above table. If the distance from the coordinate origin of the plate on which the reaction force is measured to each reaction force measurement point is defined as S1, S2, S3, S4, respectively,

S1 = 39.05

S2 = 30

S3 = 42.4264

S4 = 31.622

Measured in terms of x _i and y _i ,

The relationship is obtained, whereby the position (x, y) to which the force F is applied can be obtained regardless of the reaction force measurement position.

Therefore, in the case of a square, if the reaction force measurement position has the positional relationship described above, it is possible to calculate the position for the pressing F.

(2) In the case of rectangular flat plate, the reaction force is at each corner

FIG. 18 illustrates a process of detecting a position (x, y) of a press by a displacement measured at each side when a press of a force of F acts on a rectangular flat plate having 80 mm and 60 mm sides. Drawing.

According to FIG. 18, when the spring (reaction action position) of the equivalent model is located in each corner of a flat plate, it shows that the position (reaction force measuring point) which measures the displacement of a flat plate is variously set. That is, in the case of ①, the reaction force measurement point is the same as the spring position, in the case of ②, the reaction force measurement point is the center of each side of the plate, and in the case of ③, the reaction force measurement point is 10mm away from the edge and the edge of the plate. In the case of ④, the reaction force measurement point is 10 mm away from the center of each side of the plate.

In this case, each parameter is determined as follows.

That is, L ₁ = 30, L ₂ = 40, L ₁ = 30, L ₂ = 40, F = 1, x = 10, y = 5, and A = -1/640, B = -1/270, D = -0.25.

In this case, the measurement results for each case are shown in the following table.

[Table 5] is the measurement result in case of ①, [Table 6] is the measurement result in case of ②, [Table 7] is the measurement result in case of ③, and [Table 8] is the measurement result in case of ④ to be.

Table 5

Table 6

TABLE 7

Table 8

As a result of the measurement, in the case of measuring the position (x, y) for pressing by measuring the displacement of various positions while the spring is located at each corner of the rectangular plate, the position (x, y) in the case of ① and ② ), But in the case of ③ and ④, it was determined that a certain relation could not be obtained and thus the position of the push could not be obtained.

(3) In the case of rectangular flat plate, the reaction force is far from each corner

Fig. 19 shows the detection of the position (x, y) of a press by the displacement measured at each side when a press of the force of F acts on a rectangular flat plate of another equivalent model with each side having 80 mm and 60 mm. It is a figure for demonstrating a process.

According to FIG. 19, the position (reaction measuring point) which measures the displacement of a plate when the spring (reaction action position) of the equivalent model is located in the position which is a fixed distance (for example, 25 mm) from the center of each side of a plate. ) Shows various settings. That is, in the case of ①, the reaction force measurement point is the same as the spring position, in the case of ②, the reaction force measurement point is the center of each side of the plate, and in the case of ③, the reaction force measurement point is each corner of the plate. The case shows that the reaction force measurement point is 10 mm away from the center of each side of the plate.

In this case, each parameter is determined as follows.

That is, L ₁ = 30, L ₂ = 40, L ₁ = 25, L ₂ = 25, F = 1, x = 10, y = 5, and A = -66/26645, B = -109/53290, D = -0.25.

[Table 9] is the measurement result in case of ①, [Table 10] is the measurement result in case of ②, [Table 11] is the measurement result in case of ③, and [Table 12] is the measurement result in case of ④ to be.

Table 9

Table 10

Table 11

Table 12

Looking at the measurement results, it can be seen that the calculation of the position (x, y) of the pressing can only be calculated in the case of ① where the reaction force measurement point is the same as the reaction force position.

Using the measurement results as described above, the shape of the flat plate, the position of the equivalent spring, and the reaction force measurement position can be set appropriately and applied to detecting the position of the pressing.

In addition, since ΣR _i = F, the intensity F of the press can be measured using the sum of the respective reaction forces.

Next, referring to FIGS. 20 to 15, an arrangement of electrodes for sensing capacitance in a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 20 is an incision while forming the support portion 12 with a predetermined width from one side of the rectangular flat spring 10 as shown in FIG. 11 (a) to form the incision 14 and the connecting portion 16. FIG. In the structure, it is a figure which shows each structure separately.

Referring to FIG. 20, the touch panel 100 includes a transparent plate 18B, a flat plate spring 10, a spacer 20, and a PCB substrate 30 positioned from the top, and a display device 70 at the bottom thereof. Is arranged. In this case, it may be confirmed that the light transmitting part 18A is formed at the center of the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30 of the touch panel 100 so as to transmit the display screen of the display device 70.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the touch panel having the structure as shown in FIG. 20. Referring to the drawings, the respective components are bonded to each other up and down, in particular, the PCB substrate 30 is conductive to a portion opposite to the pressing portion (particularly, the portion corresponding to the transparent plate) 18 of the flat plate spring 10. It can be seen that the electrode 32 forming the capacitance with the flat plate spring 10 made of material is disposed.

FIG. 22 is a view for explaining a structure for detecting a capacitance between the flat spring of the conductive material itself and the electrode of the PCB substrate. That is, the plate spring 10 and the electrode 32 are separated by the distance d by the spacer 20, and one side of the plate spring 10 and the electrode 32 are grounded and coordinate measuring units 40, respectively. Connected with The coordinate measuring unit 40 measures and analyzes the capacitance at the electrode 32 in the MPU having the capacitance measuring function, thereby detecting whether the pressing, the position, the intensity, etc. occurred on the transparent plate 18B. do.

That is, depending on the distance and area between the two electrodes

Where C is the capacitance, ε is the dielectric constant, A is the area of the electrode, and d is the distance between the electrodes. In this case, the coordinate measuring unit 40 measures the magnitude of the capacitance C through an MPU having a capacitance measurement function, and calculates the distance d between the electrodes based on the measured capacitance C. The deflection amount Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ₃ , Z ₄ can be detected by the calculated distance d.

The area A of the electrode may be applied in various shapes and sizes, as shown in FIGS. 23A to 23C. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating various examples of sizes and shapes of electrodes disposed on a PCB substrate.

FIG. 23 (a) shows a PCB substrate 30 having a size substantially the same as (or larger than) the appearance of the flat plate 10, wherein the portion indicated by the dotted line corresponds to the support 12 of the flat plate spring 10. This is the position where the spacer 20 will be arranged later. In the central portion of the PCB substrate 30 is formed an empty space for light transmission. The electrode 32 is disposed between the empty space and the boundary for the support 12, and has a rectangular electrode as shown in FIGS. 23 (a) and 23 (b) or a circular electrode as shown in FIG. 23 (c). And may be arranged in various shapes and sizes.

FIG. 24 is a view for explaining a structure in which the transparent panel can be designed to have the same size as that of the flat spring in the touch panel according to the present invention. In FIG. 24A, the transparent plate 18B has the same size (or may be made larger) as the outer shape of the flat plate 10, and the transparent plate 18B has a spacer ( It is fixed using 22). 24B is a cross-sectional view of the touch panel having such a structure. With reference to this figure, the state in which the spacer 22 is arrange | positioned between the transparent plate 18B and the flat plate spring 10 can be confirmed more clearly.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 24B, when the distance between the transparent plate 18B and the flat plate spring 10 is d ₁ , and the distance between the flat plate 10 and the PCB board 30 is d ₂ . , by designing the relationship d ₁ <d _2, the transparent plate 18B first contacts the flat plate spring 10 before the flat plate spring 10 directly contacts the electrode 32, thereby being excessively pressed. You can give it a stopper function. Therefore, the flat spring 10 directly contacts the electrode 32, thereby preventing an error that may occur electrically.

It is a figure for demonstrating the further another structure for fixing a flat plate spring. Referring to Figure 25 (a), it can be seen that the base 60 having a protruding portion of a constant height is added. Base 60 may be applied to PCB substrate 30 in the structures described above.

The flat plate spring 10 is attached to and fixed to the protruding portion of the base 60. At this time, the flat plate spring 10 is not fixed to the support 12 in the structures described above, but to the inner portion of the incision 14 from the support 12. The transparent plate 18B is fixed on the support part 12. Therefore, deflection (displacement) occurs in the outer part (the part corresponding to the previous support part) with respect to the pressing against the transparent plate 18B.

26 (a) to 26 (d) have been described above. Fig. 26 (e) shows the connection part 16 formed in the center part of each side of the press part 18, and the incision part 14 is formed from this connection part 16 to both sides of the flat spring 10. It shows the structure.

Meanwhile, in the touch panel 100 according to the present invention, the support part 12 may be formed in a form that is firmly fixed to the PCB substrate 30 by the spacer 20, or the support part 12 may be curved or freely moved. It is also possible to configure so that.

27 is a view for explaining the form of the transparent plate and the various forms of the electrode or the electrode pattern. FIG. 27A shows a cross section of a shape in which the transparent plate 18B is formed so as to correspond to the size of the pressing portion 18 of the flat spring 10. In this manner, the electrode 32 is disposed at the position corresponding to the size of the transparent plate 18B on the PCB substrate 30. The capacitance is measured between the flat spring 10 and the electrode 32.

FIG. 27B is a cross section when the base is provided as shown in FIG. 25. In this manner, since the transparent plate 18B can be formed to be larger than or equal to the outline of the flat spring 10, the electrode pattern 34 can be formed on the transparent plate 18B. The electrode 32 corresponding to the electrode pattern 34 formed on the transparent plate 18B may be formed on one side of the base 60, and the capacitance is measured between the electrode pattern 34 and the electrode 32.

FIG. 27C is a cross section in the case where the transparent plate is fixed to the flat plate spring via a spacer as in FIG. 24. The electrode 32 is disposed at a portion of the PCB substrate 30 corresponding to the position of the pressing portion 18 of the flat plate spring 10, and the capacitance of the flat plate spring 10 and the electrode of the PCB board 30 ( Is measured between 32). In addition, when the transparent plate 18B is set equal to or larger than the outer shape of the flat plate spring 10, the transparent plate 18B may function as a stopper for limiting the pressing depth when the flat plate spring 10 is pressed too much.

The arrangement of the electrode 32 and / or the electrode pattern 34 may be applied to all the flat spring structures described above.

FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining various methods of coupling a flat plate spring and a PCB substrate. The flat plate spring 10 is mainly made of a conductive material to generate capacitance with the electrode 32 disposed on the PCB substrate 30. Therefore, it is preferable to be electrically connected to one side (mainly, ground) of the PCB substrate 30. For this reason, there is a need for a method that enables electrical connection in the coupling of the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30.

FIG. 28A illustrates a spacer 20 disposed between the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30 with a conductive material, and includes one surface of the flat plate spring 10 and the spacer 20 and a spacer ( The other side of 20) and the PCB substrate 30 are shown bonded together with a conductive adhesive. By this structure, an electrical connection may be made between the PCB substrate 30 and the flat plate spring 10.

FIG. 28 (b) shows an electrical connection by disposing a spacer 20 between the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30, forming communication holes therebetween, and injecting a conductive adhesive into the communication holes. Represents a structure. In this case, the spacer 20 may be a conductive material or an insulating material.

FIG. 28 (c) shows a structure in which the electrical connection is made by performing screw coupling using a bolt of a conductive material to the communication hole in the structure of FIG. 28 (b).

28 (d) attaches the flat plate spring 10, the spacer 20, and the PCB board 30 to each other by double-sided tape or the like, and electrical connection between the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB board 30 is performed on a separate conductor. Show the form being done by

28 (e) does not form a separate spacer, and the flat plate spring 10 is connected to the solder joint in a state in which a part of the flat plate spring 10 is bent to have a constant height to perform the function of the spacer 20. It shows the form that is combined by According to such a structure, since a spacer does not need to be comprised separately, there exists a manufacturing advantage.

FIG. 28 (f) shows that a plurality of bent portions as shown in FIG. 28 (e) can be formed. On the other hand, the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30 shows that it can be coupled by a bolt or the like.

FIG. 28 (g) shows a structure in which a spacer 20 disposed between the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30 is formed by soldering.

Fig. 28 (h) shows a configuration in which the thick portion having a certain height is formed in the flat plate spring 10 so as to function as a spacer. At this time, the coupling between the flat plate spring 10 and the PCB substrate 30 may be applied to the various methods described above.

Such a coupling structure may be appropriately selected and applied as necessary.

According to the touch panel according to various embodiments of the present invention as described above, in the measurement of whether the pressing, the position of the pressing occurs, the intensity of the pressing using the capacitance, it is possible to use a spring in the form of a plate do. Therefore, the touch panel can be formed using a flat plate spring with a simple manufacturing method, and the touch position can be accurately detected using the capacitive method, thereby providing a touch panel that is simple to manufacture, low cost, and high accuracy. You can do it.

In addition, by forming a portion of the touch panel into an empty space, the display screen of the display device disposed behind the display panel may be transmitted to be applied as a touch screen.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, such modifications or variations will have to be belong to the claims of the present invention.

The present invention can be used for a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a PAD, a smartphone, a digital camera, an MP3 player, a monitor of a television or a computer, and a screen or liquid crystal such as an ATM.

Claims

A display module in which an image is formed;

A transparent window disposed side by side with the display module at an upper portion of the display module at a distance from the display module; And

A touch sensing unit disposed between the transparent window and the display module to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module during a touch operation to the transparent window,

The touch sensing unit,

A printed circuit board (PCB) having an electrode on which one of the touch pressures is electrically input;

An elastic body having a bonding region partially bonded to the transparent window; And

And a spacer disposed between the elastic body and the printed circuit board so that the electrodes of the elastic body and the printed circuit board are spaced apart from each other when there is no touch operation.
The method of claim 1,

The elastic body is a touch panel, characterized in that the plate spring of a conductive metal material.
The method of claim 2,

And the leaf springs are a pair of leaf springs disposed at both side regions of the transparent window.
The method of claim 3,

The pair of leaf springs are disposed in the long side area of the transparent window, respectively.
The method of claim 4, wherein

Each of the pair of leaf springs,

A main plate portion having a bonding area bonded to the transparent window on one side; And

And a through slot having a long hole shape formed to penetrate the body plate.
The method of claim 1,

And a through part formed at an inner region of the printed circuit board to expose the display surface of the display module.
The method of claim 1,

The transparent window may be a tempered glass transparent window or a functional transparent window to which any one selected from a resistive method, a capacitance method, an infrared method, and a surface ultrasonic method is applied.
The method of claim 7, wherein

The transparent window to which the resistive film method is applied,

Touch upper substrate;

An upper electrode formed on a lower surface of the touch upper substrate;

Touch lower substrate; And

And a lower electrode formed on an upper surface of the touch lower substrate.
The method of claim 7, wherein

The transparent window to which the capacitive method is applied,

Touch substrates;

An ITO film attached to the lower surface of the touch substrate; And

And an electrode printed on the bottom surface of the ITO film.
A display module in which an image is formed; And

A touch sensing unit disposed under the display module to sense a touch pressure applied to the display module during a touch operation of the display module;

The touch sensing unit,

A printed circuit board (PCB) having an electrode on which one of the touch pressures is electrically input;

An elastic body having a bonding area partially bonded to the display module; And

And a spacer disposed between the elastic body and the printed circuit board so that the electrodes of the elastic body and the printed circuit board are spaced apart from each other when there is no touch operation.
The method of claim 10,

The elastic body is a touch panel, characterized in that the plate spring of a conductive metal material.
The method of claim 11,

And the leaf springs are a pair of leaf springs disposed at both side regions of the display module.
The method of claim 12,

The pair of leaf springs are disposed in the long side area of the display module, respectively.
The method of claim 13,

Each of the pair of leaf springs,

A main plate part having a bonding area bonded to the display module at one side thereof; And

And a through slot having a long hole shape formed to penetrate the body plate.
The method of claim 10,

The touch panel further comprises a display protection window disposed on the upper surface of the display module.
A support portion corresponding to a circumferential portion of the plate, a plurality of incisions partially cut into the plate so as to form a boundary line between the support portion and an inner region of the support portion, and the incision at the boundary line A flat spring having a plurality of connecting portions corresponding to portions not cut by the portions, and pressing portions corresponding to the inner region of the support portion and pressed by the user's pressing and restored by the elasticity of the connecting portions;

A PCB substrate having at least one electrode disposed at a position opposite to the pressing portion of the flat plate spring and arranged in parallel to the flat plate spring;

A spacer disposed between the PCB substrate and the support portion such that the pressing portion of the flat plate spring and the at least one electrode of the PCB substrate maintain a constant distance from each other when there is no user press; And

A coordinate measuring unit configured to sense capacitance between the pressing unit and the at least one electrode, and determine at least one of pressing of the pressing unit, position of pressing, and intensity of pressing by the sensed capacitance Force-based capacitive touch panel, including.
The method of claim 16,

The flat plate spring further includes a light transmitting portion formed by removing the flat plate from a portion of the pressing portion,

The transmissive part is a force-based capacitive touch panel, characterized in that the transparent portion is formed in the transparent portion of the pressing portion of the flat plate is removed to cover the transmissive portion.
The method of claim 17,

The floodlight panel is a force-based capacitive touch panel, characterized in that attached to the edge portion via a spacer having a predetermined thickness.
The method of claim 18,

The floodlight panel is a force-based capacitive touch panel, characterized in that having a size larger than the outer shape of the pressing portion.
The method of claim 16,

An electrode pattern is formed on the floodlight plate so as to face each of the electrodes formed on the PCB substrate.

The coordinate measuring unit is configured to determine at least one of the pressing of the pressing portion, the position of the pressing and the intensity of the pressing by the capacitance between the electrode of the PCB substrate and the electrode pattern of the floodlight plate. Capacitive touch panel.