CN101266527A - Trackpad with multiple inputs - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a touch panel with multiple inputs, the touch panel comprising: a plurality of touchable areas and at least one signal transmission device. The touchable areas comprise a first touchable area and a second touchable area; the signal transmission device is connected to the touchable areas, when the first touchable area is touched, the touch panel can output a first coordinate signal through the signal transmission device; when the second touchable area is touched, the touch panel can output a second coordinate signal through the signal transmission device, and by simultaneously touching the first touchable area and the second touchable area, the signal transmission device can simultaneously output the first coordinate signal and the second coordinate signal.

Description

Trackpad with multiple inputs

technical field

The present invention relates to a touch panel with multiple inputs, in particular to a touch panel capable of performing multiple inputs simultaneously. The touch panel is applied to various devices requiring input, such as mobile phones, televisions, game machines, GPS or tablet computer etc.

Background technique

1A and 1B respectively show a schematic top view and a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional four-wire touch panel. The four-wire touch panel 100 includes a conductive glass 10 and a conductive film 20 . A plurality of spacer balls 30 are arranged between the conductive glass 10 and the conductive film 20 to separate the conductive glass 10 from the conductive film 20 and keep the conductive glass 10 and the conductive film 20 insulated when they are not pressed. The conductive glass 10 has a conductive circuit 11 and a conductive circuit 12 arranged vertically oppositely, and the conductive film 20 has a conductive circuit 21 and a conductive circuit 22 arranged laterally oppositely. The above description is only used to illustrate the structure of a general touch panel, and its structure is not limited thereto.

A fixed voltage is applied to the conductive circuit 21 and the conductive circuit 22 to make a uniform electric field between the conductive circuit 21 and the conductive circuit 22 . When a finger or a stylus touches the conductive film 20, the conductive glass 10 and the conductive film 20 will contact at the pressed position to cause a short circuit. At this time, the conductive circuit 11 and the conductive circuit 12 can output a voltage signal, which can represent At the longitudinal contact position between the conductive circuit 21 and the conductive circuit 22, a fixed voltage is then applied to the conductive circuit 11 and the conductive circuit 12, and a short circuit is caused due to the contact between the conductive glass 10 and the conductive film 20 at the contact position, so The conductive circuit 21 and the conductive circuit 22 can output a voltage signal, and the voltage signal can represent the lateral touch position between the conductive circuit 11 and the conductive circuit 12 . The measured voltage signal is converted into a digital signal by a controller, and then the digital signal is sent to a control system, so that the control system can know the position of the touch pressure, and then perform preset actions.

Since the above-mentioned touchpad can only output one coordinate signal at a time, generally a mobile phone or an information device with a touchpad can only operate one function at a time during operation. It is the coordinate signal output through the touchpad. Click the menu menu to enter the hierarchical structure of the directory. At this time, you cannot operate other functions through the touchpad, such as adjusting the TV channel or playing games.

In view of the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art, it is necessary to propose a touch panel with multiple inputs, which is applied to a handheld information device, so as to improve the problem that the touch panel can only output one coordinate signal at a time, so that the operator can simultaneously pass The touchpad operates multiple functions.

Contents of the invention

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the problem that the general touch panel can only output one coordinate signal at a time, so that the operator can operate multiple functions through the touch panel at the same time.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention discloses a touch panel with multiple inputs. The touch panel includes: a plurality of touchable areas and at least one signal transmission device. The touchable area includes a first touchable area and a second touchable area; the signal transmission device is connected to these touchable areas, and when the first touchable area is touched, the touch panel A first coordinate signal can be output through the signal transmission device; when the second touchable area is touched, the touch panel can output a second coordinate signal through the signal transmission device.

The effect of the present invention is that the multi-input touch panel of the present invention is applied to a handheld information device, which can effectively improve the problem that the general touch panel can only output one coordinate signal at a time, so that the operator can simultaneously operate the touch panel It has multiple functions, and the multi-input touch panel of the present invention has the characteristics of small size, simple structure and low cost, and is suitable for various devices requiring input.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1A shows a schematic top view of a conventional four-wire touch panel.

FIG. 1B shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the touch panel in FIG. 1A .

FIG. 2A shows a schematic top view of a touchpad with multiple inputs according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows a schematic top view of a touchpad with multiple inputs according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C shows a schematic top view of a touchpad with multiple inputs according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2D shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the touch panel in FIG. 2A .

FIG. 2E shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the touch panel in FIG. 2A .

FIG. 2F is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the touch panel in FIG. 2A .

FIG. 2G shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the touch panel in FIG. 2A .

FIG. 3A shows a handheld device with multiple inputs according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B shows a handheld device with multiple inputs according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3C shows a handheld device with multiple inputs according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols in the figure

10 Conductive glass

11 conductive lines

12 conductive lines

20 Conductive film

21 conductive line

22 conductive lines

30 spacer balls

40 optical tape

50 plastic bottom plate

60 Silicone membrane

100 four-wire touchpad

200 Touchpad with multiple inputs

210 touchable area

211 The first touchable area

212 The second touchable area

213 The third touchable area

220 signal transmission device

221 The first flexible circuit board

222 Second flexible circuit board

223 The third flexible circuit board

224 flexible circuit board

230 interval area

231 insulation area

300 Handheld units with multiple inputs

310 touchpad

311 The first touchable area

312 The second touchable area

313 The third touchable area

320 button group

Detailed ways

Some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail as follows. However, in addition to the following descriptions, the present invention can also be widely implemented in other embodiments, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments, and the scope of the patents that follow shall prevail. Moreover, in order to provide a clearer description and a better understanding of the present invention, various parts in the drawings have not been drawn according to their relative sizes, and some dimensions have been exaggerated compared with other relevant dimensions; irrelevant details have not been fully drawn. out, in order to simplify the drawings.

FIG. 2A shows a schematic top view of a touchpad with multiple inputs according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel 200 includes a plurality of touchable areas 210 and at least one signal transmission device 220 , wherein the touchable area 210 includes a first touchable area 211 and a second touchable area 212 . When touching the first touchable area 211, the touch panel 200 can output a first coordinate signal through the signal transmission device 220; when touching the second touchable area 212, the touch panel 200 can output a first coordinate signal through the The signal transmission device 220 outputs a second coordinate signal.

The signal transmission device 220 may include at least one flexible circuit board for outputting the coordinate signals, for example may include a first flexible circuit board 221 and a second flexible circuit board 222 for outputting the first flexible circuit board 222 respectively. The coordinate signal and the second coordinate signal are not limited thereto, for example, the same function can be achieved by using a connector and a cable.

According to this embodiment, there is a spacer area 230 between the first touchable area 211 and the second touchable area 212, which is used to set the conductive circuit and the insulating area 231, and the insulating area 231 separates the first touchable area. 211 and the second touchable region 212 to avoid mutual interference between the first coordinate signal and the second coordinate signal. In this embodiment, the width of the insulating region 231 is about 0.5 mm, and the insulating region 231 is isolated by an etching process. The conductive material in the region 231 is removed to form the insulating region 231. The region for setting the conductive circuit is arranged on both sides of the spacer region 230 with a width of about 2 mm, and the width of the spacer region 230 is about 4.5 mm, but Not limited thereto, in this embodiment, the touch panel 200 is a resistive touch panel for illustration, but not limited thereto, the touch panel 200 may also be a capacitive touch panel, The design of the capacitive touch panel is well known to those skilled in the art, and will not be repeated here.

FIG. 2B shows a schematic top view of a touchpad with multiple inputs according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wherein the touchable area 210 includes a third touchable area 213, and the signal transmission device 220 includes a third flexible circuit board 223, when touching the third touchable area 213, the touch panel 200 can pass through The third flexible circuit board 223 outputs a third coordinate signal.

FIG. 2C shows a schematic top view of a touchpad with multiple inputs according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The signal transmission device 220 includes a flexible circuit board 224 for outputting these coordinate signals.

The touch panel with multiple inputs of the present invention can have different structures according to different applications. FIG. 2D shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the touch panel in FIG. 2A . The touch panel structure includes a conductive glass 10 and a conductive film 20 . There are a plurality of spacer balls 30 between the conductive glass 10 and the conductive film 20 to separate the conductive glass 10 from the conductive film 20 and to insulate the conductive glass 10 from the conductive film 20 . The above-mentioned touch panel structure is a film/glass touch panel structure, that is, Film to Glass Touch Panel structure.

FIG. 2E shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the touch panel in FIG. 2A . The touch panel includes two conductive films 20 , optical tape 40 and a plastic base 50 . There are multiple spacer balls 30 between the two conductive films 20 , and the lower part of the conductive films 20 is attached to the plastic bottom plate 50 through the optical tape 40 . The above-mentioned touch panel structure is a film/film/plastic bottom plate type touch panel structure, that is, Film to Film on Plastic Touch Panel structure.

FIG. 2F is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the touch panel in FIG. 2A . The touch panel includes two conductive films 20 and a silicon film 60 (silicon film). A plurality of spacer balls 30 are provided between the two conductive films 20 , and the bottom of the conductive films 20 is attached to the silicone film 60 . The above-mentioned touch panel structure is a film/film/silicone film type touch panel structure, that is, Film to Film with Silicon Touch Panel structure.

FIG. 2G shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the touch panel in FIG. 2A . The touch panel includes two conductive films 20 , optical tape 40 and a glass base 70 . There are a plurality of spacer balls 30 between the two conductive films 20 , and the lower part of the conductive film 20 is attached to the glass bottom plate 70 through the optical tape 40 . The above-mentioned touch panel structure is a film/film/glass substrate type touch panel structure, that is, Film to Film on Glass Touch Panel structure.

The touch panel with multiple inputs of the present invention is applied to a handheld information device, which can effectively improve the problem that a common touch panel can only output one coordinate signal at a time, so that the operator can operate multiple functions through the touch panel at the same time, and The multi-input touch panel of the present invention has the characteristics of small size, simple structure and low cost, and is suitable for use in various devices that require input, such as mobile phones, game machines, global satellite positioning systems (GPS) or tablet computers, etc., but not limited thereto.

FIG. 3A shows a handheld device with multiple inputs according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The handheld device 300 with multiple inputs includes: an operating system (not shown in the figure) and a touch panel 310 . The touchpad 310 has a first touchable area 311 and a second touchable area 312. When the first touchable area 311 is touched, the touchpad 310 can output a first coordinate signal to the touchpad 310. Operating system, when touching the second touchable area 312, the touch panel 310 can output a second coordinate signal to the operating system, by simultaneously touching the first touchable area 311 and the second touchable area 311 In the area 312, the touch panel 310 can simultaneously output the first coordinate signal and the second coordinate signal to the operating system.

The above-mentioned handheld device with multiple inputs can include a display device (not shown in the figure), which is arranged under the touch panel to provide operation information, so that the operator can operate the handheld device with multiple inputs through the touch panel. For example, the display device can display images (icons), buttons, direction keys, scroll bars, etc., but is not limited thereto. In addition, the above-mentioned first touchable area can have a function switching area, and when the function switching area is touched, the operating system can change the functions of the touchable areas.

According to this embodiment, the operator can simultaneously adjust the TV channel through the first touchable area 311 and query phone information through the second touchable area 312; or through the first touchable area 311 and the second touchable area 311 Control area 312 to play games.

FIG. 3B shows a handheld device with multiple inputs according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The touchpad 310 of the handheld device includes a third touchable area 313 , and when the third touchable area 313 is touched, the touchpad 310 can output a third coordinate signal to the operating system. According to this embodiment, the operator can simultaneously perform various operations or play games requiring multiple inputs through the first touchable area 311 , the second touchable area 312 and the third touchable area 313 .

FIG. 3C shows a handheld device with multiple inputs according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The handheld device includes a button group 320 , and the operator can simultaneously perform various operations or play games requiring multiple inputs through the first touchable area 311 , the second touchable area 312 and the button group 320 . The above-mentioned handheld device with multiple inputs may be a mobile phone, a game console, a global satellite positioning system (GPS) or a tablet computer, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The hand-held device with multiple inputs of the present invention can effectively improve the shortcoming that general hand-held devices can only operate one function at a time, so that the operator can operate multiple functions at the same time, and the hand-held device with multiple inputs of the present invention is more It has the characteristics of small size, simple structure and low cost, and is suitable for use in various devices requiring input.

The above-mentioned embodiments are only to illustrate the technical ideas and characteristics of the present invention, and its purpose is to enable those who are familiar with this art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. All equivalent changes or modifications deviated from the spirit disclosed in the present invention fall within the scope disclosed in the present invention and should be included in the scope of the patent application.

Claims (20)

1. Trackpad with multiple input comprises:

But a plurality of touch areas, but but but wherein should comprise one first touch area and one second touch area in the touch area; And

At least one device for signalling, but this device for signalling is connected to these touch areas, but when this first touch area of contact, this Trackpad can be exported one first coordinate signal by this device for signalling; But when this second touch area of contact, this Trackpad can be exported one second coordinate signal by this device for signalling, but but by contacting this first touch area and this second touch area simultaneously, this device for signalling can be exported this first coordinate signal and this second coordinate signal simultaneously.

2. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, but but wherein should more comprise one the 3rd touch area in the touch area, but when contact the 3rd touch area, this Trackpad can be exported a three-dimensional signal by this device for signalling.

3. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, wherein this device for signalling comprises one first flexible circuit board and one second flexible circuit board, in order to export this first coordinate signal and this second coordinate signal respectively.

4. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, wherein this device for signalling comprises a flexible circuit board, in order to export this first coordinate signal and this second coordinate signal.

5. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, but but wherein have an interval region between this first touch area and this second touch area.

6. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 5, wherein the width of this interval region is 4.5 millimeters.

7. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, wherein this Trackpad is a resistor type touch control plate.

8. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, wherein this Trackpad is a capacitive touch control plate.

9. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, wherein this Trackpad has film/glass mould touch pad structure, i.e. Film to Glass Touch Panel structure.

10. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, wherein this Trackpad has film/film/plastic bottom template touch pad structure, i.e. Film to Film on Plastic TouchPanel structure.

11. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, wherein this Trackpad has film/film/silica gel membrane type touch pad structure, i.e. Film to Film with Silicon TouchPanel structure.

12. the Trackpad with multiple input as claimed in claim 1, wherein this Trackpad has film/film/glass film plates type touch pad structure, i.e. Film to Film on Glass TouchPanel structure.

13. the handheld apparatus with multiple input comprises:

One operating system; And

One Trackpad, but but this Trackpad has one first touch area and one second touch area, but when contact first touch area, exportable one first coordinate signal of this Trackpad is to this operating system, but when this second touch area of contact, exportable one second coordinate signal of this Trackpad is to this operating system, but but by contacting this first touch area and this second touch area simultaneously, this Trackpad can be exported this first coordinate signal and this second coordinate signal simultaneously to this operating system.

14. the handheld apparatus with multiple input as claimed in claim 13, but wherein this Trackpad more comprises one the 3rd touch area, but when contact the 3rd touch area, the exportable three-dimensional signal of this Trackpad is to this operating system.

15. the handheld apparatus with multiple input as claimed in claim 13 more comprises a display device, this display device is arranged at this Trackpad below.

16. the handheld apparatus with multiple input as claimed in claim 13, but wherein to have a function Zone switched in this first touch area, when this function of contact is Zone switched, but the variable function that should touch area of this operating system.

17. the handheld apparatus with multiple input as claimed in claim 13, wherein this handheld apparatus is a mobile phone.

18. the handheld apparatus with multiple input as claimed in claim 13, wherein this handheld apparatus is a game machine.

19. the handheld apparatus with multiple input as claimed in claim 13, wherein this handheld apparatus is a GPS Global Positioning System (GPS).

20. the handheld apparatus with multiple input as claimed in claim 13, wherein this handheld apparatus is a flat computer.

Images