WO2021167127A1

WO2021167127A1 - Touch sensor module and electronic device using same

Info

Publication number: WO2021167127A1
Application number: PCT/KR2020/002387
Authority: WO
Inventors: 김태원; 윤성호; 김기현
Original assignee: 주식회사 파트론
Priority date: 2020-02-18
Filing date: 2020-02-19
Publication date: 2021-08-26
Also published as: KR20210105230A; KR102337904B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch sensor module. The touch sensor module comprises: at least one target sensor located below a target area; and a plurality of defense sensors located below a non-target area that is located adjacent to the target area. At least some of the plurality of defense sensors are electrically connected to each other by means of at least one of a series connection and a parallel connection.

Description

Touch sensor module and electronic device using the same

The present invention relates to a touch sensor module and an electronic device using the same.

In general, a touch panel for outputting various operating states and inputting commands such as commands by a touch operation is provided to portable electronic devices such as smart phones and MP3 devices or home appliances such as refrigerators. is attached.

Accordingly, the touch panel may include only a touch sensor module for recognizing a user's touch operation, or a display device module for visually outputting information as well as a touch sensor module may be combined together.

In this case, the display module used in the touch panel is typically an OLED (organic light emitting diode) display device, particularly an active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) or a liquid crystal display (liquid crystal display). do.

In addition, the touch sensor module uses a two-dimensional touch sensing method that detects a touch point using the coordinates of the X and Y axes, as well as a three-dimensional touch sensing method that additionally detects the intensity of the touch applied in the Z-axis direction, which is the pressing direction. is becoming

For such a three-dimensional touch sensing method, conventionally, although the intensity of the touch is sensed using a pressure sensing unit or an image sensing unit, there is a problem in that a change in the touch strength cannot be accurately detected.

Also, depending on the installation position of the sensor for detecting the touch, there is a problem in that it is not possible to accurately detect whether the touch has been made.

[Prior art literature]

[Patent Literature]

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1777733 (Registration date: September 06, 2017, title of invention: 3D touch device using an image sensor and an opaque member)

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to increase the accuracy of the touch determination operation of the touch sensor module.

An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems includes at least one target sensor located below the target area and a plurality of defense sensors located below the non-target area located adjacent to the target area and at least some of the plurality of defense sensors may be electrically connected to at least one of a series connection and a parallel connection.

When the touch sensor module is in a non-operational state, a magnitude of an impedance output from each target sensor may be the same as a magnitude of an impedance output from a plurality of defense sensors electrically connected to each other.

The impedance may be inductance, resistance, or capacitance.

The one target sensor and the plurality of defense sensors may be formed of a coil, a resistor, or a capacitor.

Mounting positions of the target sensor and the plurality of defense sensors may be located on different surfaces.

The target sensor may be located on a side portion of the electronic device, and at least one of the plurality of defense sensors may be located on the front portion.

A portion of the plurality of defense sensors may be positioned on a side surface, and the target sensor may be positioned between two defense sensors.

The number of sensors for the target may be plural, and each sensor for the target may be located between two adjacent sensors for defense.

The plurality of target sensors and the defense sensors positioned on both sides of each target sensor may be positioned on a side surface of the electronic device.

A touch sensor module according to another aspect of the present invention includes at least one target sensor positioned under a target area and a plurality of defense sensors positioned under a non-target area positioned adjacent to the target area, wherein the plurality of At least some of the defense sensors may be electrically connected to at least one of a series connection and a parallel connection.

The impedance may be inductance, resistance or capacitance.

According to this characteristic, a defense sensor unit is provided in addition to the target sensor unit. For this reason, a malfunction of the target sensor unit located in the target area is prevented by a touch operation of the non-target area where the defense sensor unit is located by using the operation state of the defense sensor unit.

Accordingly, the accuracy of the touch determination operation in the touch sensor module is greatly improved.

Accordingly, an accurate touch determination operation of the touch driving element mounted on the device including the touch sensor module is performed, and thus the reliability of the operation of the device is improved.

1 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a touch sensor module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which a touch sensor module according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a smartphone.

3 to 4B are diagrams illustrating various arrangement examples of a target sensor and a defense reference sensor disposed in a touch sensor module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that adding a detailed description of a technique or configuration already known in the relevant field may make the gist of the present invention unclear, some of these will be omitted from the detailed description. In addition, the terms used in this specification are terms used to properly express the embodiments of the present invention, which may vary according to a person or custom in the relevant field. Accordingly, definitions of these terms should be made based on the content throughout this specification.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of referring to specific embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms also include the plural forms unless the phrases clearly indicate the opposite. As used herein, the meaning of 'comprising' specifies a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element and/or component, and other specific characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, component, and/or group. It does not exclude the existence or addition of

Hereinafter, a touch sensor module and an electronic device using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present example, when a touch operation is performed according to an operation of a user, etc., in the touch sensor module, a distance change between the touch unit (ie, the touch surface) and the sensor layer generated by the pressure applied to the touched area occurs. Accordingly, the sensor provided in the sensor layer generates and outputs an impedance of the corresponding magnitude according to the generated distance change, and determines whether the corresponding area is touched by using the output change amount of the impedance.

In this case, the impedance output from the sensor layer may be inductance, resistance, or capacitance. For this purpose, the sensor provided in the sensor layer is a coil, a resistor, or a capacitor. ) can be

An example of such a touch sensor module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 .

The touch sensor module 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a lower film 110 located at the bottom, a sensor for a target (eg, a coil for a target) 1221 located on the lower film 110 and a sensor for defense (eg, for defense) The sensor layer 120 in which the coil) 1231 to 1234 are positioned, the cover 130 positioned on the sensor layer 120 , and the spacer 140 positioned between the sensor layer 120 and the cover 130 . can be provided

Hereinafter, the target sensor 1221 and the defensive sensor 1231-1234, as described above, are described as being a coil as an example. The device may be a device in which the state of an electrical signal outputted by a change in distance according to the .

In addition, although the number of sensors 1221 for the target in FIG. 1 is illustrated as one, it may be plural if necessary, and the number of sensors for defense 1231 to 1234 may also be one or five or more.

Each of the lower layer 110 and the cover 130 may be made of a material having high conductivity. In this case, the lower layer 110 and the cover 130 are formed in the form of a plate made of a metal such as aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu), and are positioned to correspond to each other on opposite sides with the sensor layer 120 interposed therebetween. .

However, the lower layer 110 and the cover 130 may be made of different materials. In this case, the lower layer 110 may be made of a material having a low conductivity and a high dielectric constant, and the cover 130 may be made of a material having a high conductivity.

In this case, the material having low conductivity and high dielectric constant may be a material used for shielding polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI).

When an alternating current is applied to the target sensor 1221 and the defensive sensor 1231-1234 located in the sensor layer 120 from the driving signal applying unit, a magnetic field is applied to the target sensor 1221 and the defensive sensor 1231-1234. An induced current that is an eddy current is generated in the lower film 110 and the cover 130 according to the generated magnetic field.

In this case, the intensity of the generated induced current may vary depending on the distance between the corresponding sensors 1221 and 1231-1234 and the corresponding lower layer 110 and the cover 130 . Accordingly, as the distance between the corresponding film such as the corresponding lower film 110 or the cover 130 and the corresponding sensor decreases according to a touch operation of the cover 130 , the corresponding lower film 110 and the cover 130 . ) may increase, and the magnitude of inductance generated in the corresponding sensor decreases due to the increase in the eddy current strength.

Therefore, one example of the touch sensor module 1 of this example uses the change in the intensity of the induced current, and uses the concept of operation of an inductive force sensor.

However, in the case where the sensor layer 20 includes a capacitor rather than a coil in the touch sensor module, a change in capacitance is used, and an operation concept of a capacitive force sensor is used.

The lower layer 110 may be positioned in contact with the sensor layer 120 through an adhesive or the like below the sensor layer 120 , or may be positioned under the sensor layer 120 through an adhesive layer formed by applying an adhesive.

In addition, the cover 130 may be positioned to be spaced apart from the corresponding sensors 1221 and 1231-1234 of the sensor layer 120 positioned below by the thickness of the spacer 140 by the spacer 140 .

The spacer 140 may also be stably positioned in the corresponding portions of the sensor layer 120 and the cover 130 in contact with them through an adhesive applied to the lower surface and the upper surface thereof.

Accordingly, the separation distance between the lower film 110 and the corresponding sensors 1221 and 1231-1234, that is, the interval L11 is the cover 130 and the corresponding sensors 1221 and 1231- spaced apart by the spacer 140 . 1234) and the separation distance (L12) is much narrower.

In this example, the lower layer 110 may be formed of a single flat plate similar to the cover 130 .

The lower layer 110 may perform an electromagnetic shielding function with an electric circuit such as a battery located under the touch sensor module 110 .

Accordingly, by the lower film 110 , the touch sensor module 1 accurately controls each sensor 1221 , 1231-1234 according to the degree of touch of the upper film cover 130 without the influence of electromagnetic waves emitted from the electric circuit located on the lower portion. ), the amount of change in inductance is sensed.

The lower layer 110 may be omitted if necessary.

The cover 130 positioned on the sensor layer 120 may be made of not only a metal material but also a conductive material such as ITO, and has a plate shape covering the entire sensor layer 120 positioned below.

The cover 130 may be a touch unit exposed to the outside to directly perform a user's touch operation.

However, in an alternative example, a display module including a liquid crystal display device or an organic light emitting display device may be positioned on the cover 130 . In this case, since the portion where a direct touch operation is performed by the user is the upper film of the display module, the upper film of the display module may be the touch unit.

In this way, when a touch operation of the cover 130, which is the touch unit, is performed by the user, the cover 130 is bent in proportion to the physical force applied during the touch operation, and the cover 130 and the sensor layer 120 at the touch point. ), the inductance of the corresponding sensors 1221 and 1231-1234, which are coils corresponding to the touch point, is changed.

Accordingly, the touch sensor module 1 of this example detects the magnitude of the inductance that changes in proportion to the applied physical force and determines the degree of touch in the Z-axis direction (that is, the thickness direction of the touch sensor module 1).

The sensor layer 120 positioned between the lower layer 110 and the cover 130 includes the substrate 121 and at least one target sensor 1221 positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 121 and at least one. of the defense sensor (1231-1234) is provided.

In this case, the substrate 121 may be an insulating substrate made of a non-conductive material.

In FIG. 1, the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 121 on which the sensors 1221 and 1231-1234 are positioned are molded using epoxy, etc., so that the sensors 1221 and 1231-1234 are placed in the molding part. However, this molding process can be omitted.

The target sensor 1221 positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 121 may be positioned under the target region AR1 of the cover 130 to correspond to the target region AR1 .

In this example, the target area AR1 of the cover 130 is an area in which a normal touch operation is performed to drive the touch sensor module 1 such as a button or a switch operated by a touch operation. In this case, the target sensor 1221 may constitute a part of the touch sensor unit.

Accordingly, it is preferable for the user to touch the target area AR1 in order to normally operate the button or switch provided with the target sensor unit.

The target sensor 1221 may constitute a target sensor unit implemented as a power switch of a smart phone by mounting a smart phone on the side part SS1.

The defense sensors 1231-1234 may also be positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 121 to be positioned below the non-target area AR2 to correspond to the non-target area AR2 .

In this example, the non-target area AR2 of the cover 130 is an area excluding the target area AR1 in which a normal touch operation of the touch sensor module 1 is performed, and may be located adjacent to the target area AR1 . .

The defense sensors 1231-1234 may also form a part of the touch sensor unit.

The defense sensors 1231-1234 may serve to prevent a malfunction of the target sensor 1221 .

That is, even if a change in the distance between the part of the cover 130 positioned corresponding to the target area AR1 and the target sensor 1221 occurs by a touch operation of the non-target area AR2 rather than the target area AR1, The touch operation of the non-target area AR2 may be recognized by using the change in inductance of the defense sensors 1231-1234.

The operation of these defense sensors 1231-1234 will be described in more detail next.

These target sensors 1221 and defense sensors 1231-1234 are arranged in polygonal shapes of various shapes such as a square, circular shapes such as spirals or ovals, and receive an alternating current from the outside.

Each target sensor 1221 and defense sensor 1231-1234 may include a plurality of winding portions wound in a polygonal shape, a circular shape, or an oval shape.

At this time, each of the sensors 1221 and 1231-1234 has an input terminal and an output terminal, and one long line made of a conductive material such as metal is wound in a desired shape, and both ends of the long wire receive a signal input. It may be possible as an input terminal and an output terminal for outputting a signal, respectively.

In addition, the defense sensors 1231-1234 are electrically connected to each other, and may be connected to at least one of a series connection and a parallel connection to output one inductance.

At this time, when the touch sensor module 1 is in a non-operational state, that is, in a non-touch state in which no physical pressure is applied to the target area AR1 and the non-target area AR2, the output from the target sensor 1221 is The magnitude of the inductance and the magnitude of the impedance (eg, inductance) output from the at least one defense sensor 1231-1234 electrically connected to each other may be the same. When such impedance matching is performed, a signal processing unit (not shown) that determines whether the target area AR1 is touched using signals output from the target sensor 1221 and the at least one defense sensor 1231-1234, respectively. The judgment operation can be performed more easily.

Next, various examples of a sensor for a target and a sensor for defense provided in the touch sensor module shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4B .

2, a touch sensor module 1 having a sensor for a target (eg, a coil for a target) (TC11) and a sensor for a defense (eg, a coil for a defense) (DC11-DC14) according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided A smartphone 100 is shown as an example of an electronic device that is doing this.

The smartphone 100 shown in FIG. 2 may have a display module mounted on the front part FS1.

The touch sensor module mounted on the smart phone 100 includes two defense sensors (eg, first and second defense sensors) located on the side portion SS1 of the smart phone 100 (DC11, DC12), a smart phone ( 100) of the front part FS1, that is, two defense sensors (eg, third and fourth defense sensors) (DC113, DC14) located on the front part FS1 of the display module, and the side part of the smartphone 100 ( A single target sensor TC11 located in SS1) may be provided.

At this time, the plurality of defense sensors (eg, first to fourth defense sensors) DC11-DC14 positioned on the front part FS1 and the side part SS1 of the smartphone 100 are targets positioned on the side part SS1. It may be positioned in a form surrounding the sensor TC11 for use.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the first and second defense sensors DC11 and DC12 may be located on both sides of the target sensor TC11 located on the side surface SS1, respectively, and the remaining third and The fourth defense sensors DC13 and DC14 may be located in the area of the front portion FS1 corresponding to the area of the side portion SS1 positioned on both sides of the target sensor TC11 as a reference.

At this time, the third defense sensor DC13 positioned on the front part FS1 is the front part FS1 corresponding to the area between the first defense sensor DC11 positioned on the side part SS1 and the target sensor TC11. The fourth defense sensor DC14 positioned on the front part FS1 and located on the front part FS1 corresponds to the region between the target sensor TC11 and the second defense sensor DC12 positioned on the side part SS1. It may be located in the area of the front part FS1.

The touch sensor module shown in FIG. 2 may have a planar shape as shown in (a) of FIG. 3 .

As shown in (a) of FIG. 3 , one target sensor TC11 and a plurality of defensive sensors DC11-DC14 are spaced apart from each other on the same substrate 121 , and a plurality of defensive sensors DC11-DC14 ) may be electrically connected to constitute one defensive sensor unit DC10.

Referring to (a) of FIG. 3 , each of the sensors DC11-DC14 and TC11 has a plurality of winding parts WP11-WP15 wound in a rectangular planar shape, but unlike each sensor DC11- At least one of DC14 and TC11) may include only one winding portion.

As already described, in (a) of FIG. 3 , the target sensor TC11 and the first and second defense sensors DC11 and DC12 are located on the side portion SS1 of the electronic device 100 , and the third and fourth defense sensors The sensors DC13 and DC14 are located on the front part FS1 of the electronic device 100 .

At this time, the channel of the signal output from the target sensor TC11 may be set as the first channel CH1 as the main channel, and a plurality of electrically connected defensive sensors DC11-DC14, that is, the defensive sensor unit DC10. The channel of the output signal may be determined as the second channel CH2.

Therefore, in order to minimize the interference between the plurality of defense sensors DC11-DC14 constituting one channel CH2 and to match the impedance with the first channel CH1, which is the main channel, the plurality of defense sensors DC11-DC14 are electrically connected to each other as previously described.

For this reason, as described above, when the electronic device 100 is in a non-operational state in which no touch operation is performed on the target area AR1 and the non-target area AR2 where the corresponding sensor is located, the target sensor TC11 ), the magnitude of the signal output from the first channel CH1 (that is, the magnitude of the inductance) and the magnitude of the signal output from the second channel CH2, the output of the defense sensor unit DC10, may be the same have.

As an example of the electrical connection of the defensive sensor unit DC10, the first and second defensive sensors DC11 and DC12 located on the side portion SS1 may be connected in series, and the third and The fourth defense sensors DC13 and DC14 may be connected in series. In addition, the corresponding defense sensor groups (DC11 and DC12, DC13 and DC14) connected in series with each other may be connected in parallel again.

An equivalent circuit diagram for the target sensor TC11 and the defensive sensor DC11-DC14 may be the same as that of FIG. 3B .

As shown in (b) of FIG. 3 , the target sensor TC11 and the defensive sensor DC11-DC14 receive a driving signal required for operation from the connected driving signal applying unit 200 and output signal of the corresponding state. , that is, a signal output through the respective channels CH1 and CH2 is applied to a signal processing unit (not shown). For this reason, the signal processing unit determines whether a touch operation has occurred in the target area AR1 in which the target sensor TC11 is located by using the state of the signal input to each channel CH1 and CH2.

In this case, when the target area AR1 is correctly touched by the user and the touched portion of the target area AR1 is pressed in the direction in which the pressure is applied, the target sensor TC11 corresponds to the target area AR1. The generated inductance is greatly reduced by the pressure applied to the target area AR1.

However, by the touch operation of the target area AR1, the non-target area AR2 of the side portion SS1 adjacent to the target sensor TC11 is heard in the opposite direction of the pressure applied opposite to the target area AR1. The inductance of at least one of the first and second defense sensors DC11 and DC12 may increase due to the lifting phenomenon of the non-target area AR2 of the side portion SS1. However, the amount of change in inductance of the first and second defense sensors DC11 and DC12 is much smaller than the amount of change in inductance of the target sensor TC11.

At this time, since there is almost no pressure change due to a user's touch operation in the non-target area AR2 that is the front part FS1 , the change in inductance according to the third and fourth defense sensors DC13 and DC14 connected in series with each other is almost non-existent. won't happen

As such, when a touch operation occurs on the front part FS1 or the side part SS1, the state change of the front part FS1 and the side part SS1 can be made opposite to each other, so the defensive sensor located on the side part SS1 ( The states (ie, increase or decrease) of data output from DC11 and DC12 and the defense sensors DC13 and DC14 located on the front part FS1 may be opposite to each other.

Accordingly, inductance changes of the first and second defense sensors DC11 and DC12 positioned to correspond to the non-target area AR2 of the side part SS1 are generated by the touch operation of the target area AR1, but the amount of change Since it does not affect the touch determination of the target sensor, the touch occurrence determination of the target area (AR1) is normally performed.

However, when the non-target area AR2 of the front part FS1 or the side part SS1 is touched by external pressure regardless of the user's malfunction or the user's will, the inductance output from the target sensor is Compared to the size, the size of the inductance output from the defense sensors (DC11-DC14) connected in series and parallel with each other increases. Accordingly, it is determined that the touch operation does not occur in the target area AR1 even if the touch operation occurs in the portion of the non-target area AR2 adjacent to the target area AR1 .

Unlike Fig. 2, all of the plurality of defense sensors DC11 - (DC14) may be mounted on a surface different from the surface on which the target sensor TC11 is mounted. For example, the electronic device may be In the case of the same smartphone 100 , the target sensor TC11 may be located on the side portion SS1 of the smartphone, and all of the defense sensors DC11-DC14 may be located on the front portion FS1 of the smartphone.

In this case, the defense sensors DC11 - DC14 positioned on the front part FS1 may be spaced apart from each other at different positions of the front part FS1 . Even in this case, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 ( a ), the number of sensors for the target TC11 may be one, and the number of sensors for defense DC11-DC14 may be four.

In this way, when the plurality of defense sensors DC11-DC14 are all located on the front part FS1 that is different from the surface SS1 where the target sensor TC11 is located, the electricity of the plurality of defense sensors DC11-DC14 An example of a formal connection may be as follows (refer to (c) of FIG. 3).

That is, the first and third defense sensors DC11 and DC13 positioned on the front part FS1 may be connected in series, and the second and fourth defense sensors DC12 and DC14 positioned on the front part FS1 are connected in series. can be connected In addition, the corresponding defense sensor groups (DC11 and DC13, DC12 and DC14) connected in series with each other may be connected in parallel again.

In this case, when a touch occurs on the side portion SS1 of the electronic device 100, which is the target area AR1, as already described, the inductance of the target sensor TC11 significantly changes, that is, decreases, while Since the inductance change of the defensive sensor unit DC10 located on the front part FS1 is connected in series and parallel to each other, a very small change in inductance occurs compared to the target sensor TC11 . Accordingly, the touch state of the target area AR1 can be accurately detected using the change in inductance of the target sensor TC11.

However, when a touch operation is performed by applying pressure to any part of the front part FS1 other than the target area AR1, the inductance change of the target sensor TC11 located under the target area AR1 is non-target. Since the change in inductance of the defensive sensor unit DC10 located below the area AR2 is much smaller than the change in the inductance, it is determined that the touch operation occurs in the non-target area AR2 instead of the target area AR1 .

In this way, a plurality of defense sensors DC11-DC14 are positioned to surround the target sensor TC11 positioned to correspond to the target region AR1, and the inductance output from the defense sensor DC11-DC14 is used to surround the non-target region. Whether or not (AR2) is touched is accurately determined.

Accordingly, even when a touch operation occurs in the non-target area AR2 , an erroneous operation that is erroneously determined as a touch state in the target area AR1 is greatly reduced.

4A and 4B show another example of a sensor for a target and a sensor for defense.

As shown in FIG. 4A , in this example, a plurality of target sensors may include two first and second target sensors TC111 and TC112 . At this time, when the electronic device is a smart phone as shown in FIG. 2 , the first target sensor TC111 is used for a volume up switch and the second target sensor TC112 is used as a volume down switch. switch) can be used.

In this case, the first and second target sensors TC111 and TC112 may be located on the same surface, for example, on the side surface SS1 of the smartphone.

In addition, the plurality of defense sensors may include a total of five first to fifth defense sensors DC111-DC115.

The three defense sensors DC111-DC113 located on both sides of the first and second target sensors TC111 and TC112, respectively, may be located on the side part SS1, and the other two sensors for defense DC114, DC115 ) may be located on the front portion FS1, which is a surface other than the side portion SS1.

Due to this, the sensors for each target (TC111, TC112) may be located between two adjacently located defensive sensors (between DC111 and DC112, between DC112 and DC113), and a plurality of sensors for targets (TC111, TC112) and each target The sensors for defense (DC111-DC113) positioned on both sides of the sensors for use (TC111, TC112) may be positioned on the same side (eg, side part) of the electronic device.

However, at least one of the defense sensors DC111-DC113 positioned on the side part SS1 may be positioned on the front part FS1 that is different from the side part SS1 on which the target sensors TC111 and TC112 are positioned.

One of the remaining two defense sensors DC114 and DC115 may be positioned to correspond to the first target sensor TC111, and the other one of the other two defense sensors DC114 and DC115 is the second target sensor TC112. ) may be positioned to surround the corresponding target sensors TC111 and TC112, respectively.

Due to this, the first target sensor (TC111) can be surrounded by three defensive sensors (DC111, DC112, DC114), the second target sensor (TC112) is three defensive sensors (DC111, DC112, DC115) can be surrounded by

An example of the electrical connection of the plurality of defense sensors DC111-DC115 is shown in FIG. 4B .

That is, the first defense sensor DC111 and the fourth defense sensor DC114 may be connected in series with each other, and the third defense sensor DC113 and the fifth defense sensor DC115 may be connected in series with each other. At this time, the two defense sensor groups (DC111 and DC114, DC113 and DC115) connected in series may be connected in parallel with each other.

In this case, the third defense sensor DC113 may not be electrically connected to the other defense sensors DC111, DC112, DC114, and DC115.

Accordingly, in the case of FIG. 4B , the first channel CH11 connected to the first target sensor TC111, the second channel CH12 connected to the second target sensor TC112, and the second defense sensor DC112 The inductance of the corresponding size is measured through the third channel (CH13) connected to each other and the fourth channel (CH14) connected to the first, third, fourth and fifth defensive sensor groups (DC111, DC113, DC115) electrically connected to each other. It may output to a signal processing unit (not shown). Even in this case, the impedance (eg, inductance) output from each channel CH11 to CH14 may have the same magnitude as each other when the electronic device is in a non-operational state by the impedance matching operation.

Accordingly, as described above, the signal processing unit uses a change in a signal output to each channel CH11-CH14 to first and second target regions in which the first and second target sensors TC111 and TC112 are located. It is possible to determine whether a touch operation is performed and whether a non-touch operation is performed.

Above, embodiments of the touch sensor module of the present invention have been described. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and variations will be possible from the point of view of those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be defined not only by the claims of the present specification, but also by those claims and their equivalents.

Claims

at least one target sensor positioned below the target area; and

A plurality of defense sensors positioned below the non-target area adjacent to the target area

including,

At least some of the plurality of defense sensors are electrically connected to at least one of a series connection and a parallel connection.

Electronics.
In claim 1,

When the touch sensor module is in a non-operational state, the magnitude of the impedance output from each target sensor and the magnitude of the impedance output from the plurality of defense sensors electrically connected to each other are the same.
In claim 2,

The impedance is an inductance (inductance), resistance (resistance) or capacitance (capacitance) of the electronic device.
In claim 1,

The one target sensor and the plurality of defense sensors are electronic devices comprising a coil, a resistor, or a capacitor.
In claim 1,

An electronic device in which the target sensor and the plurality of defense sensors are mounted on different surfaces.
In claim 5,

The target sensor is located on a side portion of the electronic device, and at least one of the plurality of defense sensors is located on the front portion of the electronic device.
In claim 5,

An electronic device in which a portion of the plurality of defense sensors is positioned on a side surface, and the target sensor is positioned between two defense sensors.
In claim 1,

The number of sensors for the target is a plurality,

Each target sensor is an electronic device positioned between two adjacent defensive sensors.
In claim 8,

The plurality of sensors for the target and the sensors for defense located on both sides of the sensors for each target are located on a side surface of the electronic device.
at least one target sensor positioned below the target area; and

A plurality of defense sensors positioned below the non-target area adjacent to the target area

including,

At least some of the plurality of defense sensors are electrically connected to at least one of a series connection and a parallel connection.

touch sensor module.
11. In claim 10,

When the touch sensor module is in a non-operational state, the magnitude of the impedance output from each target sensor and the magnitude of the impedance output from the plurality of defense sensors electrically connected to each other are the same.
In claim 11,

The impedance is an inductance, resistance or capacitance touch sensor module.
In claim 11,

The one target sensor and the plurality of defense sensors are a touch sensor module composed of a coil, a resistor, or a capacitor.