U.S. patent application number 14/908706 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-30 for touch sensor panel, touch detection device and touch input device comprising same.
The applicant listed for this patent is HiDEEP INC.. Invention is credited to Bon Kee Kim, Sang Sic Yoon.
Application Number | 20160188039 14/908706 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51998107 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160188039 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoon; Sang Sic ; et
al. |
June 30, 2016 |
TOUCH SENSOR PANEL, TOUCH DETECTION DEVICE AND TOUCH INPUT DEVICE
COMPRISING SAME
Abstract
A touch sensor panel may be provided that includes: a plurality
of first electrodes which are formed on a first insulation layer
and extend in a first axial direction; a plurality of second
electrodes which are formed on a second insulation layer and extend
in a second axial direction crossing the first axial direction; and
a space layer located between the first electrode and the second
insulation layer. A distance between the first electrode and the
second electrode changes depending on a magnitude of a pressure of
a touch applied to at least any one of the first electrode and the
second electrode. A capacitance between the first electrode and the
second electrode changes depending on the distance.
Inventors: |
Yoon; Sang Sic;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Kim; Bon Kee; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HiDEEP INC. |
Seongnam-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
51998107 |
Appl. No.: |
14/908706 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
July 29, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2014/006907 |
371 Date: |
January 29, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/174 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0414 20130101;
G06F 3/0412 20130101; G06F 3/0445 20190501; G06F 3/044 20130101;
G06F 3/047 20130101; G06F 2203/04105 20130101; G06F 3/0416
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/044 20060101
G06F003/044; G06F 3/041 20060101 G06F003/041; G06F 3/047 20060101
G06F003/047 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 29, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0089516 |
Claims
1. A touch sensor panel comprising: a plurality of first electrodes
which are formed on a first insulation layer and extend in a first
axial direction; a plurality of second electrodes which are formed
on a second insulation layer and extend in a second axial direction
crossing the first axial direction; and a space layer located
between the first electrode and the second insulation layer,
wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second
electrode changes depending on a magnitude of a pressure of a touch
applied to at least any one of the first electrode and the second
electrode, and wherein a capacitance between the first electrode
and the second electrode changes depending on the distance.
2. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the spacer layer
comprises a plurality of dot spacers formed on the first
electrode.
3. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the spacer layer is
filled with a dielectric substance.
4. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the spacer layer is
made of an adhesive material which adheres the first electrode and
the second insulation layer to each other.
5. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of third electrodes which are located on the second
insulation layer, while being spaced from the second electrode, and
extend in the first axial direction, wherein a capacitance between
the second electrode and the third electrode changes depending on
the touch on a surface of the touch sensor panel, which is a
2-dimensional plane consisting of the first axis and the second
axis.
6. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of third electrodes which are formed on a third
insulation layer and extend in the first axial direction, wherein a
capacitance between the second electrode and the third electrode
changes depending on the touch on a surface of the touch sensor
panel, which is a 2-dimensional plane consisting of the first axis
and the second axis.
7. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising: a
plurality of third electrodes which are formed on a third
insulation layer and extend in one of the first and second axial
directions; and a plurality of fourth electrodes which are formed
on an additional insulation layer and extend in the other of the
first and second axial directions, wherein a capacitance between
the third electrode and the fourth electrode changes depending on
the touch on a surface of the touch sensor panel, which is a
2-dimensional plane consisting of the first axis and the second
axis.
8. A touch input device comprising: a touch sensor panel
comprising: a plurality of first electrodes which are formed on a
first insulation layer and extend in a first axial direction; a
plurality of second electrodes which are formed on a second
insulation layer and extend in a second axial direction crossing
the first axial direction; and a space layer located between the
first electrode and the second insulation layer; a drive unit which
applies a drive signal to one of the first and second electrodes;
and a sensing unit which receives, from the other of the first and
second electrodes, a sensing signal corresponding to a touch on a
surface of the touch sensor panel, which is a 2-dimensional plane
consisting of the first axis and the second axis, and then detects
a magnitude of a pressure of the touch, wherein a distance between
the first electrode and the second electrode changes depending on
the magnitude of the pressure of the touch, and wherein the sensing
signal comprises information on a capacitance which is formed
between the first electrode and the second electrode and changes
depending on the distance.
9. The touch input device of claim 8, wherein the spacer layer
comprises a plurality of dot spacers formed on the first
electrode.
10. The touch input device of claim 8, wherein the spacer layer is
filled with a dielectric substance.
11. The touch input device of claim 8, wherein the spacer layer is
made of an adhesive material which adheres the first electrode and
the second insulation layer to each other.
12. The touch input device of claim 8, wherein the sensing signal
comprises information on a capacitance which is formed between the
first electrode and the second electrode and changes depending on
the touch, and wherein the sensing unit receives the sensing
signal, and then detects a position of the touch.
13. The touch input device of claim 8, wherein the touch sensor
panel further comprises a plurality of third electrodes which are
located on the second insulation layer, while being spaced from the
second electrode, and extend in the first axial direction, wherein
the sensing unit receives, from the third electrode, an additional
sensing signal comprising information on a capacitance which is
formed between the second electrode and the third electrode and
changes depending on the touch, and then detects a position of the
touch.
14. The touch input device of claim 8, wherein the touch sensor
panel further comprises a plurality of third electrodes which are
formed on a third insulation layer and extend in the first axial
direction, and wherein the sensing unit receives, from the third
electrode, an additional sensing signal comprising information on a
capacitance which is formed between the second electrode and the
third electrode and changes depending on the touch, and then
detects a position of the touch.
15. The touch input device of claim 8, wherein the touch sensor
panel further comprises: a plurality of third electrodes which are
formed on a third insulation layer and extend in one of the first
and second axial directions; and a plurality of fourth electrodes
which are formed on an additional insulation layer and extend in
the other of the first and second axial directions, wherein the
drive unit applies an additional drive signal to one of the third
and fourth electrodes, and wherein the sensing unit receives, from
the other of the third and fourth electrodes, an additional sensing
signal comprising information on a capacitance which is formed
between the third electrode and the fourth electrode and changes
depending on the touch, and then detects a position of the
touch.
16. A touch detection device which detects at least one of a
position and a pressure magnitude of a touch input to a touch
sensor panel comprising: a plurality of first electrodes which are
formed on a first insulation layer and extend in a first axial
direction; a plurality of second electrodes which are formed on a
second insulation layer and extend in a second axial direction
crossing the first axial direction; and a space layer located
between the first electrode and the second insulation layer, the
touch detection device comprising: a drive unit which applies a
drive signal to one of the first and second electrodes; and a
sensing unit which receives, from the other of the first and second
electrodes, a sensing signal corresponding to a touch on a surface
of the touch sensor panel, which is a 2-dimensional plane
consisting of the first axis and the second axis, and then detects
a magnitude of a pressure of the touch, wherein a distance between
the first electrode and the second electrode changes depending on
the magnitude of the pressure of the touch, and wherein the sensing
signal comprises information on a capacitance which is formed
between the first electrode and the second electrode and changes
depending on the distance.
17. The touch detection device of claim 16, wherein the spacer
layer comprises a plurality of dot spacers formed on the first
electrode.
18. The touch detection device of claim 16, wherein the spacer
layer is filled with a dielectric substance.
19. The touch detection device of claim 16, wherein the spacer
layer is made of an adhesive material which adheres the first
electrode and the second insulation layer to each other.
20. The touch detection device of claim 16, wherein the sensing
signal comprises information on a capacitance which is formed
between the first electrode and the second electrode and changes
depending on the touch, and wherein the sensing unit receives the
sensing signal, and then detects a position of the touch.
21. The touch detection device of claim 16, wherein the touch
sensor panel further comprises a plurality of third electrodes
which are located on the second insulation layer, while being
spaced from the second electrode, and extend in the first axial
direction, wherein the sensing unit receives, from the third
electrode, an additional sensing signal comprising information on a
capacitance which is formed between the second electrode and the
third electrode and changes depending on the touch, and then
detects a position of the touch.
22. The touch detection device of claim 16, wherein the touch
sensor panel further comprises a plurality of third electrodes
which are formed on a third insulation layer and extend in the
first axial direction, and wherein the sensing unit receives, from
the third electrode, an additional sensing signal comprising
information on a capacitance which is formed between the second
electrode and the third electrode and changes depending on the
touch, and then detects a position of the touch.
23. The touch detection device of claim 16, wherein the touch
sensor panel further comprises: a plurality of third electrodes
which are formed on a third insulation layer and extend in one of
the first and second axial directions; and a plurality of fourth
electrodes which are formed on an additional insulation layer and
extend in the other of the first and second axial directions,
wherein the drive unit applies an additional drive signal to one of
the third and fourth electrodes, and wherein the sensing unit
receives, from the other of the third and fourth electrodes, an
additional sensing signal comprising information on a capacitance
which is formed between the third electrode and the fourth
electrode and changes depending on the touch, and then detects a
position of the touch.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments may relate to a touch sensor panel, and more
particularly to a touch sensor panel capable of sensing not only a
touch on the touch sensor panel and a position of the touch but
also a magnitude of a pressure of the touch through capacitance
change, a touch detection device for the same, and a touch input
device including the both.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A variety of input devices are now being used for the
operation of a computing system. For example, the input device
includes a button, a key, a joystick and a touch screen. Thanks to
an easy and simple operation of the touch screen, the touch screen
is now increasingly used in the operation of the computing
system.
[0003] The touch screen may include a touch sensor panel which is a
transparent panel and has a touch-sensitive surface. The touch
sensor panel is attached to the entire surface of a display screen,
so that the touch-sensitive surface may cover the visible side of
the display screen. The touch screen allows a user to simply touch
the display screen with user's finger, etc., and to operate the
computing system. Generally, the touch screen can recognize the
touch on the display screen and a position of the touch, and then
the computing system analyzes the touch and performs operations
according to the analysis.
[0004] Here, there is a requirement for a touch sensor panel
capable of sensing not only the touch on the display screen and the
touch position but also a magnitude of a pressure from the touch by
sensing capacitance change caused by the touch on the display
screen.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a touch
sensor panel capable of sensing not only a touch on a surface of
the touch sensor panel and a position of the touch but also a
magnitude of a pressure of the touch, a touch detection device for
the same, and a touch input device including the both.
[0006] Also, another object of the present invention is to provide
a touch sensor panel capable of sensing not only a touch on the
touch sensor panel and a position of the touch but also a magnitude
of a pressure of the touch by sensing capacitance change, a touch
detection device for the same, and a touch input device including
the both.
Technical Solution
[0007] One embodiment is a touch sensor panel including: a
plurality of first electrodes which are formed on a first
insulation layer and extend in a first axial direction; a plurality
of second electrodes which are formed on a second insulation layer
and extend in a second axial direction crossing the first axial
direction; and a space layer located between the first electrode
and the second insulation layer. A distance between the first
electrode and the second electrode may change depending on a
magnitude of a pressure of a touch applied to at least any one of
the first electrode and the second electrode. A capacitance between
the first electrode and the second electrode may change depending
on the distance.
[0008] Another embodiment is a touch input device including: a
touch sensor panel including: a plurality of first electrodes which
are formed on a first insulation layer and extend in a first axial
direction; a plurality of second electrodes which are formed on a
second insulation layer and extend in a second axial direction
crossing the first axial direction; and a space layer located
between the first electrode and the second insulation layer; a
drive unit which applies a drive signal to one of the first and
second electrodes; and a sensing unit which receives, from the
other of the first and second electrodes, a sensing signal
corresponding to a touch on a surface of the touch sensor panel,
which is a 2-dimensional plane consisting of the first axis and the
second axis, and then detects a magnitude of a pressure of the
touch. A distance between the first electrode and the second
electrode may change depending on the magnitude of the pressure of
the touch. The sensing signal may include information on a
capacitance which is formed between the first electrode and the
second electrode and changes depending on the distance.
[0009] Also, further another embodiment is a touch detection device
which detects at least one of a position and a pressure magnitude
of a touch input to a touch sensor panel including: a plurality of
first electrodes which are formed on a first insulation layer and
extend in a first axial direction; a plurality of second electrodes
which are formed on a second insulation layer and extend in a
second axial direction crossing the first axial direction; and a
space layer located between the first electrode and the second
insulation layer, the touch detection device including: a drive
unit which applies a drive signal to one of the first and second
electrodes; and a sensing unit which receives, from the other of
the first and second electrodes, a sensing signal corresponding to
a touch on a surface of the touch sensor panel, which is a
2-dimensional plane consisting of the first axis and the second
axis, and then detects a magnitude of a pressure of the touch. A
distance between the first electrode and the second electrode may
change depending on the magnitude of the pressure of the touch. The
sensing signal may include information on a capacitance which is
formed between the first electrode and the second electrode and
changes depending on the distance.
Advantageous Effects
[0010] According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is
possible to provide a touch sensor panel capable of sensing not
only a touch on a surface of the touch sensor panel and a position
of the touch but also a magnitude of a pressure of the touch, a
touch detection device for the same, and a touch input device
including the both.
[0011] Also, according to the embodiment of the present invention,
it is possible to provide a touch sensor panel capable of sensing
not only a touch on the touch sensor panel and a position of the
touch but also a magnitude of a pressure of the touch by sensing
capacitance change, a touch detection device for the same, and a
touch input device including the both.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a capacitive touch input
device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a capacitive touch
sensor panel according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a state where pressure is applied to the touch
sensor panel according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 4a shows patterns of a first electrode and a second
electrode of the touch sensor panel according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4b shows separately the pattern of the first electrode
shown in FIG. 4a;
[0017] FIG. 4c shows separately the pattern of the second electrode
shown in FIG. 4a;
[0018] FIG. 4d is an enlarged view of a part "A" of FIG. 4a;
[0019] FIG. 5a shows patterns of a first electrode, a second
electrode and a third electrode of a touch sensor panel according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5b shows separately the patterns of the second and
third electrodes shown in FIG. 5a;
[0021] FIG. 5c shows patterns of a first electrode, a second
electrode and a third electrode of a touch sensor panel according
to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 5d is an enlarged view of a part "C" of FIG. 5c;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a capacitive touch sensor
panel according to the second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 7a shows patterns of a first electrode, a second
electrode and a third electrode of a touch sensor panel according
to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 7b shows separately the pattern of the second electrode
of FIG. 7a; and
[0026] FIG. 7c shows separately the pattern of the third electrode
of FIG. 7a.
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0027] The following detailed description of the present invention
shows a specified embodiment of the present invention and will be
provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. The
embodiment will be described in enough detail that those skilled in
the art are able to embody the present invention. It should be
understood that various embodiments of the present invention are
different from each other and need not be mutually exclusive. For
example, a specific shape, structure and properties, which are
described in this disclosure, may be implemented in other
embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention with respect to one embodiment. Also, it should
be noted that positions or placements of individual components
within each disclosed embodiment may be changed without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the
following detailed description is not intended to be limited. If
adequately described, the scope of the present invention is limited
only by the appended claims of the present invention as well as all
equivalents thereto. Similar reference numerals in the drawings
designate the same or similar functions in many aspects.
[0028] Hereinafter, a capacitive touch sensor panel, a touch
detection device and a touch input device including the both in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a capacitive touch input
device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the touch input device 1000 according to the
embodiment of the present invention may include a touch sensor
panel 100 including a plurality of drive electrodes TX1 to TXn and
a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm, and may include a
drive unit 200 which applies a drive signal to the plurality of
drive electrodes TX1 to TXn, and a sensing unit 300 which detects a
touch, a touch position and/or a magnitude of a pressure of the
touch by receiving a sensing signal including information on a
capacitance change amount changing according to the touch on a
touch surface of the touch sensor panel 100.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the touch sensor panel 100 may include
the plurality of drive electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of
receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm. While FIG. 1 shows that the
plurality of drive electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of
receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm of the touch sensor panel 100 form
an orthogonal array, the present invention is not limited to this.
The plurality of drive electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of
receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm has an array of arbitrary
dimension, for example, a diagonal array, a concentric array, a
3-dimensional random array, etc., and an array obtained by the
application of them. Here, "n" and "m" are positive integers and
may be the same as each other or may have different values. The
magnitude of the value may be changed depending on the
embodiment.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of drive electrodes TX1 to
TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be
arranged to cross each other. The drive electrode TX may include
the plurality of drive electrodes TX1 to TXn extending in a first
axial direction. The receiving electrode RX may include the
plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm extending in a second
axial direction crossing the first axial direction.
[0032] The plurality of drive electrodes TX1 to TXn and the
plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be made of a
transparent conductive material (for example, indium tin oxide
(ITO) or antimony tin oxide (ATO) which is made of tin oxide
(SnO.sub.2), and indium oxide (In.sub.2O.sub.3), etc.), or the
like. However, this is only an example. The drive electrode TX and
the receiving electrode RX may be also made of another transparent
conductive material or an opaque conductive material. For instance,
the drive electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may be formed
to include at least any one of silver ink, copper or carbon
nanotube (CNT). Also, the drive electrode TX and the receiving
electrode RX may be made of metal mesh or nano silver.
[0033] The drive unit 200 according to the embodiment of the
present invention may apply a driving signal to the drive
electrodes TX1 to TXn. In the touch input device 1000 according to
the embodiment of the present invention, one driving signal may be
sequentially applied at a time to the first drive electrode TX1 to
the n-th drive electrode TXn. The driving signal may be applied
again repeatedly. This is just an example. The driving signal may
be applied to the plurality of drive electrodes at the same time in
accordance with the embodiment.
[0034] Through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm, the sensing
unit 300 receives the sensing signal including information on a
capacitance (Cm) 101 generated between the receiving electrodes RX1
to RXm and the drive electrodes TX1 to TXn to which the driving
signal has been applied, thereby detecting whether or not the touch
has occurred, the touch position and/or the magnitude of the touch
pressure. For example, the sensing signal may be a signal coupled
by the capacitance (CM) 101 generated between the receiving
electrode RX and the drive electrode TX to which the driving signal
has been applied. As such, the process of sensing the driving
signal applied from the first drive electrode TX1 to the n-th drive
electrode TXn through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm can be
referred to as a process of scanning the touch sensor panel
100.
[0035] For example, the sensing unit 300 may include a receiver
(not shown) which is connected to each of the receiving electrodes
RX1 to RXm through a switch. The switch becomes the on-state in a
time interval during which the signal of the corresponding
receiving electrode RX is sensed, thereby allowing the receiver to
sense the sensing signal from the receiving electrode RX. The
receiver may include an amplifier (not shown) and a feedback
capacitor coupled between the negative (-) input terminal of the
amplifier and the output terminal of the amplifier, i.e., coupled
to a feedback path. Here, the positive (+) input terminal of the
amplifier may be connected to the ground. Also, the receiver may
further include a reset switch which is connected in parallel with
the feedback capacitor. The reset switch may reset the conversion
from current to voltage that is performed by the receiver. The
negative input terminal of the amplifier is connected to the
corresponding receiving electrode RX and receives and integrates a
current signal including information on the capacitance (CM) 101,
and then converts the integrated current signal into a voltage. The
sensing unit 300 may further include an analog to digital converter
(ADC) (not shown) which converts the integrated data by the
receiver into digital data. Later, the digital data may be input to
a processor (not shown) and processed to obtain information on the
touch on the touch sensor panel 100. The sensing unit 300 may
include the ADC and processor as well as the receiver.
[0036] A controller 400 may perform a function of controlling the
operations of the drive unit 200 and the sensing unit 300. For
example, the controller 400 generates and transmits a drive control
signal to the drive unit 200, so that the driving signal can be
applied to a predetermined drive electrode TX1 at a predetermined
time. Also, the controller 400 generates and transmits the drive
control signal to the sensing unit 300, so that the sensing unit
300 may receive the sensing signal from the predetermined receiving
electrode RX at a predetermined time and perform a predetermined
function.
[0037] In FIG. 1, the drive unit 200 and the sensing unit 300 may
constitute a touch detection device (not shown) capable of
detecting whether or not the touch has occurred on the touch sensor
panel 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the
touch position and/or the touch pressure. The touch detection
device according to the embodiment of the present invention may
further include the controller 400. The touch detection device
according to the embodiment of the present invention may be
integrated and implemented on a touch sensing integrated circuit
(IC) in the touch input device 1000 including the touch sensor
panel 100. The drive electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX
included in the touch sensor panel 100 may be connected to the
drive unit 200 and the sensing unit 300 included in touch sensing
IC through, for example, a conductive trace and/or a conductive
pattern printed on a circuit board, or the like.
[0038] As described above, a capacitance (C) with a predetermined
value is generated at each crossing of the drive electrode TX and
the receiving electrode RX. When an object like a finger approaches
close to the touch sensor panel 100, the value of the capacitance
may be changed. In FIG. 1, the capacitance may represent a mutual
capacitance (Cm). The sensing unit 300 senses such electrical
characteristics, thereby sensing whether the touch has occurred on
the touch sensor panel 100 or not and where the touch has occurred.
For example, the sensing unit 110 is able to sense whether the
touch has occurred on the surface of the touch sensor panel 100
comprised of a 2-dimensional plane consisting of a first axis and a
second axis.
[0039] More specifically, when the touch occurs on the touch sensor
panel 100, the drive electrode TX to which the driving signal has
been applied is detected, so that the position of the second axial
direction of the touch can be detected. Likewise, when the touch
occurs on the touch sensor panel 100, the change of the capacitance
is detected from the reception signal received through the
receiving electrode RX, so that the position of the first axial
direction of the touch can be detected.
[0040] In the foregoing, it has been described that whether or not
the touch occurs on the touch sensor panel 100 according to the
embodiment of the present invention and/or the touch position are
detected. Additionally, as described above, through use of the
touch sensor panel 100 according to the embodiment of the present,
it is possible to detect the magnitude of the touch pressure
together with or separately from whether the touch has occurred or
not and/or the touch position. A principle of detecting the
magnitude of the pressure of the touch on the touch sensor panel
100 in the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of
the present invention will be described in detail with regard to
FIGS. 2 to 4.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a capacitive touch
sensor panel according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the capacitive touch sensor panel
according to the first embodiment of the present invention may
include a plurality of first electrodes 10 formed on a first
insulation layer 10a, a plurality of second electrodes 20 formed on
a second insulation layer 20a, and a spacer 30 which leaves a space
between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20. One of
the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 may be the drive
electrode TX which has been described with reference to FIG. 1, and
the other may be the receiving electrode RX.
[0042] The touch sensor panel according to the embodiment of the
present invention may convert the change of the capacitance between
the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 into an
appropriate electrical signal and output.
[0043] Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode 10 may be
arranged on the first insulation layer 10a, and the second
electrode 20 may be arranged on the second insulation layer 20a.
The first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 may be arranged
in the same direction relatively with respect to the first
insulation layer 10a and the second insulation layer 20a
respectively. The first insulation layer 10a and/or the second
insulation layer 20a may be composed of a thin transparent film
made of a plastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate
(PET).
[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the touch sensor panel according to the
embodiment of the present invention may further include a fourth
insulation layer 50 attached to the second electrode 20 by mean of
an adhesive layer 40. The fourth insulation layer 50 may function
as a touch surface of a user. This is just an example, and the
touch surface of the touch sensor panel 100 may be any other
surface capable of causing the change of the capacitance between
the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 when the touch
occurs. The touch surface may be, as described in FIG. 1, a
2-dimensional plane consisting of the first axis and the second
axis. For the purpose of a normal operation of the capacitive touch
sensor panel, it is preferable that the fourth insulation layer 50
should be made of a material having a uniform dielectric constant
and have a uniform thickness. For example, the fourth insulation
layer 50 may be made of a material like polyethylene terephthalate
(PET).
[0045] The adhesive layer 40 may be made of an optical clear
adhesive (OCA), resin, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or an
ultraviolet light cured adhesive, in such a manner as that the
second electrode 20 and the fourth insulation layer 50 are adhered
to each other.
[0046] In order that it is possible to detect the magnitude of the
touch pressure as well as whether the touch occurs on the touch
sensor panel or not and the touch position by detecting the change
of the capacitance between the first electrode 10 and the second
electrode 20, the touch sensor panel 100 according to the
embodiment of the present invention may include a spacer layer 30
which leaves a space between the first electrode 10 and the second
insulation layer 20a.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 2, in the embodiment of the present
invention, the spacer layer 30 may be formed by means of a double
adhesive tape (DAT) 31 of which one side is adhered to the first
electrode 10 and the other side is adhered to the second insulation
layer 20a. That is, the area of the first electrode 10 and the area
of the second insulation layer 20a are overlapped with each other.
Here, the first electrode 10 and the second insulation layer 20a
are adhered to each other by adhering the edge portions of the
first electrode 10 and the second insulation layer 20a through use
of the DAT 31. The rest portions of the first electrode 10 and the
second insulation layer 20a may be spaced apart from each other by
a predetermined distance.
[0048] In the embodiment of the present invention, the spacer layer
30 may be filled with a dielectric substance. When spacer layer 30
is filled with a dielectric substance, the optical characteristics
and sensitivity characteristics thereof can be improved. When an
electric field is applied to the dielectric substance, the
dielectric substance does not generate direct current while
generating an electric polarization. Therefore, when a voltage is
applied to the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20, a
capacitance may be formed between the first electrode 10 and the
second electrode 20. In the embodiment of the present invention,
the dielectric substance may include open cell foam, gel or lightly
linked polymer. In the embodiment of the present invention, for
example, the spacer layer 30 may be filled with air.
[0049] In the embodiment of the present invention, the spacer layer
30 may be filled with an adhesive material. Here, the spacer layer
30 filled with an adhesive material not only maintains the adhesion
between the first electrode 10 and the second insulation layer 20a,
but functions as a dielectric substance. In the embodiment of the
present invention, the adhesive material may include acrylic
copolymer or silicon deformable polymer. When the spacer layer 30
is filled with the adhesive material, the double adhesive tape
(DAT) 31 shown in FIG. 2 may be omitted.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of dot spacers 32 may be
included in the spacer layer 30. For instance, the plurality of dot
spacers 32 may be formed on the first electrode 10 and may be made
of a material such as nonconductive polyester. Also, the plurality
of dot spacers 32 may be formed on the first insulation layer 10a
without the first electrode 10 formed thereon.
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a state where pressure is applied to the touch
sensor panel 100 according to the embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 3 shows that a touch occurs on the touch sensor
panel 100 by a part of a body, etc. For brevity of description,
FIG. 3 shows only the first electrode 10, the second electrode 20,
the first insulation layer 10a, the second insulation layer 20a,
and the spacer layer 30. In FIG. 3, an external pressure by an
object touching the touch sensor panel 100 is indicated by 60.
[0052] While FIG. 3 shows that the external pressure 60 is applied
to the second electrode 20, the external pressure 60 may be applied
to the first electrode 10 in accordance with the embodiment.
Therefore, it is necessary that at least one pair of both the first
electrode 10 and the first insulation layer 10a and both the second
electrode 20 and the second insulation layer 20a should have
elasticity. Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention
will be described by assuming that the external pressure 60 is
applied to the second electrode 20.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, when the external pressure 60 is applied
to the touch sensor panel 100, the second electrode 20 and the
second insulation layer 20a are concavely bent toward the first
electrode 10 in response to the external pressure 60. Here, in
order to generate the capacitance between the second electrode 20
and the first electrode 10, it is necessary to prevent a
short-circuit from occurring between the second electrode 20 and
the first electrode 10. Here, in the embodiment of the present
invention, the second insulation layer 20a prevents the first
electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 from being
short-circuited. As shown in FIG. 3, the spacer layer 30 includes
the dot spacer 32, so that, when the external pressure 60 is
applied to the touch sensor panel 100, the pressed area of the
spacer layer 30 can be prevented from increasing, and when the
external pressure 60 is removed, a restoring force by which the
spacer layer 30 returns to its original shape can be improved. The
size and number of the dot spacers 32 included in the spacer layer
30 may be determined in order to achieve the same purpose.
[0054] Here, the capacitance between the first electrode 10 and the
second electrode 20 may change according to the change of a
distance between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode
20. In the embodiment of the present invention, the magnitude of
the external pressure 60 can be detected by the change of the
capacitance between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode
20. In other words, the greater the external pressure 60 is, the
smaller the distance between the first electrode 10 and the second
electrode 20 is. As a result, the capacitance change amount may
become larger. Likewise, the less the external pressure 60 is, the
less the amount by which the distance between the first electrode
10 and the second electrode 20 is reduced. Here, the magnitude of
the external pressure 60 may be indicated in a downward direction,
that is, in a direction perpendicular and orthogonal to a
horizontal plane.
[0055] FIG. 4a shows patterns of the first electrode and the second
electrode of the touch sensor panel according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. The touch sensor panel
according to the first embodiment of the present invention senses
the change of the capacitance between the first electrode 10 and
the second electrode 20, thereby detecting whether the touch occurs
on the touch sensor panel 100 or not, the touch position and/or the
magnitude of the touch pressure.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 4a, the first electrode 10 and the second
electrode 20 may be arranged to cross each other. The first
electrode 10 may include a plurality of first electrodes 11, 12,
13, and 14 which extend in the first axial direction. The second
electrode 20 may include a plurality of second electrodes 21, 22,
23, and 24 which extend in the second axial direction crossing the
first axial direction. Hereinafter, for convenience of description,
the plurality of first electrodes 11, 12, 13, and 14 may be
commonly designated as the first electrode 10. Similarly, the
plurality of second electrodes 21, 22, 23, and 24 may be commonly
designated as the second electrode 20.
[0057] Though FIG. 4a and the following figures show that the first
axis and the second axis are orthogonal to each other, this is just
an example. It is enough as long as the first axis and the second
axis cross each other, and the first axis and the second axis are
not necessarily orthogonal to each other. Hereinafter, for
convenience of description, FIG. 4a will be divided into the top,
bottom, right and left parts.
[0058] Here, a predetermined capacitance (indicated by a reference
number of 101 in FIG. 1), that is, a value of a capacitance, is
generated at each crossing of the first electrode 10 and the second
electrode 20. When a part of a body approaches the crossing, the
value of the capacitance may be changed.
[0059] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the first
electrode 10 may be a driving line to which the drive signal is
applied, and the second electrode 20 may be a receiving line which
receives a drive signal coupled by the capacitance 101 between the
first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20. The capacitance
between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 may
change by the touch of a part of a body, etc. The touch input
device 1000 senses such a change of the electrical characteristic,
thereby detecting whether the body touch occurs or not and/or the
position of the touch. In other words, in the 2-dimensional plane
consisting of the first axis and the second axis, it is possible to
detect whether or not the touch occurs on the touch sensor panel
100 and/or the position of the touch.
[0060] FIG. 4b shows separately the pattern of the first electrode
shown in FIG. 4a. As shown in FIG. 4b, the pattern of the first
electrode 10 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention may include the plurality of first electrodes 11, 12, 13,
and 14 which extend in the first axial direction. Although only
four first electrodes 11, 12, 13, and 14 are shown in the drawing,
it is apparent that another number of the first electrodes can be
included. Here, when the touch occurs on the touch sensor panel
100, a signal from the first electrodes 11, 12, 13, and 14 is
detected, and thus, the second axial direction position of the
touch can be detected.
[0061] The width of each of the first electrodes 10 may be greater
than that of the second electrode 20. This intends to block the
capacitance change caused by a voltage used to drive a display like
a liquid crystal display (LCD) which is generally provided on one
side of the first electrode 10 opposite to the second electrode 20.
For example, the first electrode 10 may function as a shielding
layer.
[0062] FIG. 4c shows separately the pattern of the second electrode
shown in FIG. 4a. As shown in FIG. 4c, the pattern of the second
electrode 20 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention may include the plurality of second electrodes 21, 22,
23, and 24 which extend in the second axial direction. Although
only four second electrodes 21, 22, 23, and 24 are shown in the
drawing, it is apparent that another number of the second
electrodes can be included. Here, when the touch occurs on the
touch sensor panel, a signal from the second electrodes 21, 22, 23,
and 24 is detected, and thus, the first axial direction position of
the touch can be detected.
[0063] In the foregoing, it has been described that whether or not
the touch occurs on the touch sensor panel according to the first
embodiment of the present invention and/or the touch position are
detected. Additionally, as described above, the touch sensor panel
according to the first embodiment of the present invention is able
to detect the magnitude of the touch pressure together with or
separately from whether the touch has occurred or not and/or the
touch position. Hereinafter, a principle of detecting the magnitude
of the pressure of the touch on the touch sensor panel according to
the first embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0064] FIG. 4d is an enlarged view of a part "A" of FIG. 4a. The
part "A" of FIG. 4a means one of overlapping areas of the first
electrode 10 and the second electrode 20. In FIG. 4d, the width of
the part "A" is represented by "W", and the length width of the
part "A" is represented by "L". A length by which the first
electrode 10 is spaced apart from the second electrode 20 is
represented by a height "d" for convenience. Here, in the part "A",
a mutual capacitance C between the first electrode 10 and the
second electrode 20 may be calculated as C=.di-elect
cons..sub.o.di-elect cons..sub.r WL/d. Here, ".di-elect
cons..sub.o" represents a vacuum permittivity, and ".di-elect
cons.r" represents a relative permittivity of a material filled
between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20.
[0065] When it is assumed that "W" and "L" are 4 mm and "d" is 0.15
mm and ".di-elect cons..sub.r" is 4, the mutual capacitance between
the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 is calculated as
about 3.73 pF. Here, when "d" is decreased by 0.1 mm due to the
application of the pressure to the touch sensor panel, the mutual
capacitance between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode
20 is increased by 5.6 pF.
[0066] Therefore, the change amount of the capacitance between the
first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 is measured at the
time of touching the touch sensor panel according to the first
embodiment of the present invention, so that the magnitude of the
touch pressure can be detected through the change of the distance
between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20.
[0067] Here, a base mutual capacitance between the first electrode
10 and the second electrode 20 and/or a change rate of the mutual
capacitance between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode
20 can be controlled by changing the thickness of the spacer layer
30, a medium filling the spacer layer 30, the degree of elasticity
of the medium, and the patterns of the first electrode 10 and/or
the second electrode 20. The base mutual capacitance corresponds to
a mutual capacitance between the first electrode 10 and the second
electrode 20 when no touch occurs on the touch sensor panel.
[0068] FIG. 5a shows patterns of a first electrode, a second
electrode and a third electrode of a touch sensor panel according
to a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the second
electrode 20 and a third electrode 70 may be on the same plane in
the second insulation layer 20a. In the touch sensor panel
according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the
first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 are configured to
sense the magnitude of the touch on the touch sensor panel, and the
second electrode 20 and the third electrode 70 are configured to
detect the position of the touch on the touch sensor panel. The
second embodiment of the present invention is remarkably similar to
the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter,
therefore, the following description will focus on the differences
between the two embodiments.
[0069] The pattern shown in FIG. 4b may be applied to the first
electrode 10. However, only in relation to the second electrode 20,
the first electrode 10 of the second embodiment of the present
invention may be configured to be used to detect the magnitude of
the touch pressure by detecting the change of the capacitance
between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20. In the
second embodiment, during the period of time when the second
electrode 20 and the third electrode 70 detect whether the touch
occurs on the touch sensor panel or not and/or the touch position,
a ground voltage is applied to the first electrode 10. As a result,
the first electrode 10 is still able to function as a shielding
layer.
[0070] In FIG. 5a, the first electrode 10 may still function as a
drive electrode in the detection of the magnitude of the pressure,
and the second electrode 20 may function as a receiving electrode
in the detection of the magnitude of the pressure. In the detection
of the touch position, the third electrode 70 may function as a
drive electrode, and the second electrode 20 may still function as
a receiving electrode. In this case, the touch detection device
performs time-sharing, and then applies a drive signal to the first
electrode 10 and receives a receiving signal from the second
electrode 20 in a first time interval. Thus, the touch detection
device can detect the magnitude of the touch pressure. The touch
detection device applies a drive signal to the third electrode 70
and receives a receiving signal from the second electrode 20 in a
second time interval different from the first time interval, and
thus, can detect the touch position. A ground voltage may be
applied to the first electrode 10 in the second time interval.
[0071] Also, in FIG. 5a, the second electrode 20 can function as
the drive electrode TX in both the detection of the magnitude of
the touch pressure and the detection of the touch position. The
first electrode 10 can function as a receiving electrode for
detecting the magnitude of the touch pressure, and the third
electrode 70 can function as a receiving electrode for detecting
the touch position, respectively. Here, the touch detection device
applies a drive signal to the second electrode 20 and
simultaneously receives a first receiving signal from the first
electrode 10, and then, detects the magnitude of the touch
pressure. The touch detection device receives a second receiving
signal from the third electrode 70, and then, detects the touch
position. Even in such a case, the touch detection device performs
time-sharing, and then receives the first sensing signal from the
first electrode 10 in the first time interval, thereby detecting
the magnitude of the touch pressure, and receives the second
sensing signal from the third electrode 70 in the second time
interval different from the first time interval, thereby detecting
the touch position.
[0072] FIG. 5b shows separately the patterns of the second and
third electrodes shown in FIG. 5a. As shown in FIG. 5b, a touch
detection area including a plurality of sensing areas "B" arranged
in a matrix consisting of M number of columns extending in the
second axial direction and N number of rows extending in the first
axial direction (M.times.N, M and N are natural numbers) may be
included. While FIGS. 5a and 5b show that only four columns and
four rows are included, this is just an example. Any number of rows
and columns may be included.
[0073] Hereinafter, a case where the third electrode 70 is a drive
electrode and the second electrode 20 is a receiving electrode will
be taken as an example in the detection of the touch position.
[0074] Here, each of the plurality of sensing areas "B" includes a
second electrode 21a and the third electrode 71 which are mutually
exclusive. The third electrode 71 may be located on one side in the
second axial direction relatively with respect to the second
electrode 21a within the sensing area "B". The second electrode 21a
may be located on the other side in the second axial direction.
FIG. 5b shows that the second electrode 21a is located on the right
side of the sensing area "B" and the third electrode 71 is located
on the left side of the sensing area "B".
[0075] FIG. 5b shows that the shapes of all of the patterns in the
sensing area "B" are the same as each other. The third electrode 70
extends in the form of a bar in the same row in the first axial
direction. Therefore, when the touch occurs on the touch sensor
panel, the touch position in the second axial direction can be
detected by processing the signal from the third electrode 70.
[0076] It can be seen that the second electrode 20 has a divided
quadrangular pattern for each sensing area "B". However, each
divided second electrode 21a included in the sensing area "B" is
connected to a conductive trace 211. Here, as shown in FIG. 5b, it
can be understood that the divided second electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c,
and 21d included in the same column are electrically connected to
each other through the conductive trace. It can be found that the
divided second electrodes 21a, 22a, 23a, and 24a included in the
different columns are electrically insulated from each other.
Therefore, when the touch occurs on the touch sensor panel, the
touch position in the first axial direction can be detected by
processing the signal from the second electrode 20.
[0077] FIG. 5c shows patterns of a first electrode, a second
electrode and a third electrode of a touch sensor panel according
to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third
embodiment of the present invention is remarkably similar to the
second embodiment of the present invention. Only the patterns of
the second and third electrodes show difference. Hereinafter,
therefore, the following description will focus on the differences
between the third embodiment and the second embodiment.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 5c, a touch detection area including a
plurality of sensing areas "C", "D", and "E" arranged in a matrix
consisting of M number of columns extending in the second axial
direction and N number of rows extending in the first axial
direction (M.times.N, M and N are natural numbers) may be
included.
[0079] In the third embodiment of the present invention, each of
the plurality of sensing areas "C", "D", and "E" includes the third
electrodes 72 and 73 and the second electrodes 22b, 22c, and 23b
which are mutually exclusive. In at least one sensing area "C"
among the plurality of the sensing areas, the third electrode 72
may be located on one side in the first axial direction relatively
with respect to the second electrode 22b, and the second electrode
may be located on the other side. In at least another one sensing
area "E" located in the same row as that of the at least one
sensing area "C" among the plurality of the sensing areas, the
third electrode 72 may be located on the other side in the first
axial direction relatively with respect to the second electrode
23b, and the second electrode 23b may be located on the one side.
In the above description, the one side may represent the left side
of FIG. 5c, and the other side may represent the right side of FIG.
5c.
[0080] In the third embodiment of the present invention, the
adjacent sensing area "E" located in the same row (the second row)
as that of any one sensing area "C" among the plurality of sensing
areas "C", "D", and "E" has a shape inverted with respect to the
one sensing area "C" on the basis of a second axial direction
center line Cl of the one sensing area "C". Here, the center line
Cl is a straight line which extends from the second axial direction
center inside the sensing area "C" in the first axial direction.
The relationships between the shapes of the sensing areas "C", "D",
and "E" can be applied to all of the two adjacent sensing areas in
the same row.
[0081] One end of the third electrode 72 of the one sensing area
"C" may extend to one end of the third electrode 72 of the adjacent
sensing area "E". Consequently, as shown in FIG. 5c, in the touch
sensor panel according to the third embodiment of the present
invention, it is discovered that that the third electrode 72
extends in zigzags from the top to the bottom in the same row. That
is, the first electrodes of the plurality of sensing areas included
in the first row extend in zigzags and connected to each other.
This is applied in the same manner to the second to fourth rows.
The third electrodes included in each row are connected to each
other. The third electrodes included in mutually different rows are
not electrically connected to each other.
[0082] As a result, when the touch occurs on the touch sensor
panel, the second axial direction position of the touch can be
detected by detecting the signal from the third electrode.
[0083] In the third embodiment of the present invention, the
sensing areas "C" and "D" included in two adjacent rows among the N
number of rows may have a symmetrical shape with respect to the
first axial direction center line between the two rows (the second
row and the third row). For example, the sensing area "C" and the
sensing area "D" are located in the second row and the third row
respectively. The positions and shapes of the third electrode 73
and the second electrode 22c in the sensing area "D" are
symmetrical to the positions and shapes of the third electrode 72
and the second electrode 22b in the sensing area "D" with respect
to the center line between the sensing area "C" and the sensing
area "D". Here, the first axial direction center line between the
two rows is a straight line which extends between the second row
and the third row in the first axial direction. The relationships
between the shapes of the sensing areas can be applied to all of
the two adjacent sensing areas in the adjacent row.
[0084] As shown in FIGS. 5c and 5d, the second electrodes 22b, 22c,
and 23b are connected to the conductive traces 211C, 211D, and 211E
in the sensing areas "C", "D", and "E" respectively. Here, as shown
in FIG. 5c, it can be understood that the divided second electrodes
22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d included in the same column are electrically
connected to each other through the conductive trace. It can be
found that the divided second electrodes 21a, 22a, 23a, and 24a
included in the different columns are electrically insulated from
each other. Therefore, when the touch occurs on the touch sensor
panel, the touch position in the first axial direction can be
detected by processing the signal from the second electrode 20.
[0085] FIGS. 5a to 5d show the electrode pattern for the embodiment
in which the touch sensor panel 100 further includes the third
electrode 70 located in the same layer as the layer in which the
second electrode 20 is located. However, this is just an example.
Together with the pattern shown in FIGS. 5a to 5d, so long as the
third electrode 70 and the second electrode 20 are located in the
same layer, and then the position of the touch on the touch sensor
panel 100 can be detected and the magnitude of the touch pressure
can be detected by the first and second electrodes 10 and 20, any
pattern may be used.
[0086] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a capacitive touch sensor
panel according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The capacitive touch sensor panel according to the second
embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the touch sensor panel
according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that the
capacitive touch sensor panel according to the second embodiment
further includes a third insulation layer 70a and the third
electrode 70 is formed on the third insulation layer 70a. Here, the
third insulation layer 70a may be adhered to the second electrode
20 by means of an additional adhesive layer 80.
[0087] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the
magnitude of the pressure of the touch on the touch sensor panel
can be detected by detecting the change of the capacitance change
between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20. Also,
it is possible to detect the position of the touch on the plane
consisting of the first axis and the second axis of the touch
sensor panel by detecting the change of the capacitance change
between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20.
[0088] The third electrode 70 of the touch sensor panel according
to the second embodiment of the present invention performs the same
function as that of the third electrode 70 of the foregoing second
and third embodiments described in FIGS. 5a to 5d of the present
invention. However, in the second embodiment of the present
invention, the third electrode 70 and the second electrode 20 are
formed in different layers. Hereinafter, repetitive descriptions
thereof will be omitted.
[0089] FIG. 7a shows the patterns of the first electrode, the
second electrode and the third electrode of the touch sensor panel
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In
FIG. 7a, the first electrode 10, the second electrode 20, and the
third electrode 70 may be implemented in different layers.
[0090] FIG. 7b shows separately the pattern of the second electrode
of FIG. 7a. The second electrode 20 may include, as shown in FIG.
4b, the plurality of second electrodes 21, 22, 23, and 24 which
extend in the second axial direction. In FIGS. 7a and 7b, each of
the plurality of second electrodes 21, 22, 23, and 24 has a rhombus
shape, and the plurality of rhombus shapes are connected to each
other in the second axial direction. This is just an example. It is
apparent that the second electrode 20 shown in FIG. 4b can be
applied. Here, the plurality of rhombus shapes should be insulated
from each other in the first axial direction.
[0091] FIG. 7c shows separately the pattern of the third electrode
of FIG. 7a. The third electrode 70 may include the plurality of
third electrodes 71, 72, 73, and 74 which extend in the first axial
direction. In FIGS. 7a and 7c, each of the plurality of third
electrodes 71, 72, 73, and 74 has a rhombus shape, and the
plurality of rhombus shapes are connected to each other in the
first axial direction. This is just an example. The pattern of the
first electrode 10 shown in FIG. 4c can be applied. Here, the
plurality of rhombus shapes should be insulated from each other in
the second axial direction.
[0092] The forms of the patterns of the first, second, and third
electrodes described above are just examples. Therefore, it is
apparent that various forms of the patterns of the first, second,
and third electrodes can be applied within the scope of the present
invention.
[0093] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4d, the foregoing has described
the embodiment in which the first electrode 10 and the second
electrode 20 are formed in different layers and are used to detect
the position of the touch on the touch sensor panel and/or the
magnitude of the touch pressure.
[0094] With reference to FIGS. 5a to 5d, the foregoing has
described the embodiment in which the first electrode 10 and the
second electrode 20 are formed in different layers and are
configured to detect the magnitude of the touch pressure, and the
third electrode 70 located in the same layer as the layer in which
the second electrode 20 is located detects the position of the
touch on the touch sensor panel.
[0095] Also, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 7c, the foregoing has
described the embodiment in which the first electrode 10 and the
second electrode 20 are formed in different layers and are
configured to detect the magnitude of the touch pressure, and the
third electrode 70 formed in a layer different from the layer in
which the second electrode 20 is formed detects the position of the
touch on the touch sensor panel.
[0096] That is, the present specification has described the
embodiment in which at least one electrode 10 or 20 is commonly
used to detect the position of the touch and the magnitude of the
touch pressure.
[0097] Though not shown in the drawings, a touch sensor panel
according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention may
include the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 which
are, as shown in FIG. 2, formed in different layers and detect the
magnitude of the touch pressure; and the third electrode 70 and a
fourth electrode (not shown) which detect the position of the
touch. In other words, in the touch sensor panel according to the
fifth embodiment of the present invention, the two electrodes
(first electrode and second electrode) which detect the magnitude
of the touch pressure and the two electrode (third electrode and
fourth electrode) which detect the position of the touch may be
formed separately from each other.
[0098] In the touch sensor panel according to the fifth embodiment
of the present invention, all of the first electrode 10 to the
fourth electrode (not shown) may be formed in different layers. For
example, in FIG. 6, the fourth electrode (not shown) formed on an
additional insulation layer (not shown) may be further included
between the third 70 and the adhesive layer 40.
[0099] In the touch sensor panel according to the fifth embodiment
of the present invention, it is also possible that the first
electrode 10 to the third electrode 70 are formed in different
layers, and the third electrode 70 and the fourth electrode are
formed in the same layer.
[0100] In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, since the
third electrode 70 and the fourth electrode which detect the
position of the touch perform their functions independently of the
first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20, the third electrode
70 and the fourth electrode (not shown) may be configured
independently of the first electrode 10 and the second electrode
20. For example, even when the first electrode 10 and the second
electrode 20 cross each other in the first axial direction and the
second axial direction, the third electrode 70 and the fourth
electrode do not necessarily cross each other in the first axial
direction and the second axial direction. If the third electrode 70
and the fourth electrode are on the same plane consisting of the
first axis and the second axis, they may extend in any axial
direction in which they cross each other. According to the
embodiment, the third electrode 70 may extend in one of the first
and second axial directions, and the fourth electrode may extend in
the other of the first and second axial directions.
[0101] The features, structures and effects and the like described
in the embodiments are included in one embodiment of the present
invention and are not necessarily limited to one embodiment.
Furthermore, the features, structures, effects and the like
provided in each embodiment can be combined or modified in other
embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments
belong. Therefore, contents related to the combination and
modification should be construed to be included in the scope of the
present invention.
[0102] Although embodiments of the present invention were described
above, these are just examples and do not limit the present
invention. Further, the present invention may be changed and
modified in various ways, without departing from the essential
features of the present invention, by those skilled in the art. For
example, the components described in detail in the embodiments of
the present invention may be modified. Further, differences due to
the modification and application should be construed as being
included in the scope and spirit of the present invention, which is
described in the accompanying claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0103] According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is
possible to provide a touch sensor panel capable of sensing not
only a touch on a surface of the touch sensor panel and a position
of the touch but also a magnitude of a pressure of the touch, a
touch detection device for the same, and a touch input device
including the both.
[0104] Also, according to the embodiment of the present invention,
it is possible to provide a touch sensor panel capable of sensing
not only a touch on the touch sensor panel and a position of the
touch but also a magnitude of a pressure of the touch by sensing
capacitance change, a touch detection device for the same, and a
touch input device including the both.
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