U.S. patent application number 16/100217 was filed with the patent office on 2019-11-28 for touch sensing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Acer Incorporated. The applicant listed for this patent is Acer Incorporated. Invention is credited to Chueh-Pin Ko.
Application Number | 20190361552 16/100217 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68613697 |
Filed Date | 2019-11-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190361552 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ko; Chueh-Pin |
November 28, 2019 |
TOUCH SENSING APPARATUS
Abstract
A touch sensing apparatus configured to receive an input signal
of a stylus pen is provided. The touch sensing apparatus includes a
display panel, a touch panel and a control circuit. The touch panel
includes a substrate, a touch sensing element and a decorative
element. The touch sensing element has a plurality of nodes for
detecting the input signal. The control circuit is coupled to the
display panel and the touch panel to activate a plurality of
functions of the touch sensing apparatus through a plurality of
determination steps, e.g., whether a capacitive sensing value of
the node falls in a first threshold range, larger than a second
threshold or larger than a third threshold, and whether the stylus
pen touches the touch panel.
Inventors: |
Ko; Chueh-Pin; (New Taipei
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Acer Incorporated |
New Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Acer Incorporated
New Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
68613697 |
Appl. No.: |
16/100217 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0446 20190501;
G06F 3/044 20130101; G06F 3/0412 20130101; G06F 2203/04108
20130101; G06F 3/0416 20130101; G06F 3/03545 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041; G06F 3/044 20060101 G06F003/044; G06F 3/0354 20060101
G06F003/0354 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 23, 2018 |
TW |
107117586 |
Claims
1. A touch sensing apparatus, configured to receive an input signal
of a stylus pen, comprising: a display panel; a touch panel, bonded
to the display panel and comprising a substrate, a touch sensing
element and a decorative element, wherein the touch sensing element
is located on the substrate and comprises a plurality of nodes for
detecting the input signal of the stylus pen, the plurality of
nodes are disposed in an active area of the substrate and are not
disposed in a peripheral area of the substrate, and the decorative
element covers at least a portion of the peripheral area and
exposes at least a portion of the active area; and a control
circuit, coupled to the display panel and the touch panel, wherein
when the control circuit receives a tip-on signal representing that
the stylus pen touches the touch sensing apparatus, and a first
capacitive sensing value of a first node at an edge of the active
area falls in a first threshold range, the control circuit
determines that the input signal of the stylus pen is a peripheral
area input signal, and sets the display panel to display a first
graph corresponding to the peripheral area input signal; when the
control circuit receives the tip-on signal representing that the
stylus pen touches the touch sensing apparatus, and a second
capacitive sensing value of the first node at the edge of the
active area is larger than a second threshold that is larger than
or equal to a maximum value of the first threshold range, the
control circuit determines that the input signal of the stylus pen
is an active area input signal, and sets the display panel to
display a second graph corresponding to the active area input
signal; and when the control circuit does not receive the tip-on
signal representing that the stylus pen touches the touch sensing
apparatus, and a third capacitive sensing value of the first node
at the edge of the active area is larger than a third threshold,
the control circuit determines that the input signal of the stylus
pen is a hover input signal, and sets the display panel to display
a third graph corresponding to the hover input signal.
2. The touch sensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the
decorative element further comprises a non-conductive indicating
icon located in the peripheral area, and the non-conductive
indicating icon is adjacent to the first node at the edge of the
active area.
3. The touch sensing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the
non-conductive indicating icon is adjacent to a plurality of second
nodes disposed at the edge of the active area and representing a
line-shaped operation; and when the control circuit receives the
tip-on signal representing that the stylus pen touches the touch
sensing apparatus, a plurality of fourth capacitive sensing values
of the plurality of second nodes at the edge of the active area
fall in the first threshold range, and at least one of the fourth
capacitive sensing values changes, the control circuit sets the
display panel to display a fourth graph corresponding to the
line-shaped operation.
4. The touch sensing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the
indicating icon is adjacent to a plurality of third nodes disposed
at the edge of the active area and representing a dot-shaped
operation; and when the control circuit receives the tip-on signal
representing that the stylus pen touches the touch sensing
apparatus, a plurality of fifth capacitive sensing values of the
plurality of third nodes at the edge of the active area fall in the
first threshold range, and none of the fifth capacitive sensing
values changes, the control circuit sets the display panel to
display a fifth graph corresponding to the dot-shaped
operation.
5. The touch sensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the
control circuit receives a plurality of sixth capacitive sensing
values of all of the plurality of nodes in the touch sensing
element, and the control circuit selects a seventh capacitive
sensing value of the first node at the edge of the active area from
the sixth capacitive sensing values to determine whether the input
signal of the stylus pen is the peripheral area input signal, the
active area input signal, or the hover input signal.
6. The touch sensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the
control circuit receives an eighth capacitive sensing value of the
first node at the edge of the active area before or after receiving
a plurality of ninth capacitive sensing values of all of the
plurality of nodes in the touch sensing element to determine
whether the input signal of the stylus pen is the peripheral area
input signal, the active area input signal, or the hover input
signal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan
application serial no. 107117586, filed on May 23, 2018. The
entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby
incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this
specification.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to an electronic apparatus, and
particularly relates to a touch sensing apparatus.
Description of Related Art
[0003] With the advancement of the touch sensing technology, touch
screens are used in more and more electronic apparatuses as input
and output interfaces. The touch panels may receive input signals
from fingers as well as stylus pens. The stylus pens nowadays only
interactive with the active area or the viewable area of the touch
panel, and thus more innovative interactions are desired.
SUMMARY
[0004] The disclosure provides a touch sensing apparatus that
further provides the stylus pen with a touch sensing function in
the peripheral area.
[0005] A touch sensing apparatus in this disclosure is configured
to receive an input signal of a stylus pen. The touch sensing
apparatus includes a display panel, a touch panel and a control
circuit. The touch panel is bonded to the display panel, and the
touch panel includes a substrate, a touch sensing element and a
decorative element. The touch sensing element is located on the
substrate and includes a plurality of nodes for detecting the input
signal of the stylus pen. The plurality of nodes are disposed in an
active area of the substrate and are not disposed in a peripheral
area of the substrate. The decorative element covers at least a
portion of the peripheral area and exposes at least a portion of
the active area. The control circuit is coupled to the display
panel and the touch panel. When the control circuit receives a
tip-on signal representing that the stylus pen touches the touch
sensing apparatus, and a first capacitive sensing value of a first
node at an edge of the active area falls in a first threshold
range, the control circuit determines that the input signal of the
stylus pen is a peripheral area input signal, and sets the display
panel to display a first graph corresponding to the peripheral area
input signal. When the control circuit receives the tip-on signal
representing that the stylus pen touches the touch sensing
apparatus, and a second capacitive sensing value of the first node
at the edge of the active area is larger than a second threshold
that is larger than or equal to a maximum value of the first
threshold range, the control circuit determines that the input
signal of the stylus pen is an active area input signal, and sets
the display panel to display a second graph corresponding to the
active area input signal. When the control circuit does not receive
the tip-on signal representing that the stylus pen touches the
touch sensing apparatus, and a third capacitive sensing value of
the node at the edge of the active area is larger than a third
threshold, the control circuit determines that the input signal of
the stylus pen is a hover input signal, and sets the display panel
to display a third graph corresponding to the hover input
signal.
[0006] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the decorative element
further includes a non-conductive indicating icon located in the
peripheral area, and the non-conductive indicating icon is adjacent
to the first node at the edge of the active area.
[0007] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the non-conductive
indicating icon is adjacent to a plurality of second nodes disposed
at the edge of the active area and representing a line-shaped
operation. When the control circuit receives the tip-on signal
representing that the stylus pen touches the touch sensing
apparatus, a plurality of fourth capacitive sensing values of the
plurality of second nodes at the edge of the active area fall in
the first threshold range, and at least one of the fourth
capacitive sensing values changes, the control circuit sets the
display panel to display a fourth graph corresponding to the
line-shaped operation.
[0008] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the indicating icon is
adjacent to a plurality of third nodes disposed at the edge of the
active area and representing a dot-shaped operation. When the
control circuit receives the tip-on signal representing that the
stylus pen touches the touch sensing apparatus, a plurality of
fifth capacitive sensing values of the plurality of third nodes at
the edge of the active area fall in the first threshold range, and
none of the fifth capacitive sensing values changes, the control
circuit sets the display panel to display a fifth graph
corresponding to the dot-shaped operation.
[0009] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the control circuit
receives a plurality of sixth capacitive sensing values of all of
the plurality of nodes in the touch sensing element, and the
control circuit selects a seventh capacitive sensing value of the
first node at the edge of the active area from the sixth capacitive
sensing values to determine whether the input signal of the stylus
pen is the peripheral area input signal, the active area input
signal, or the hover input signal.
[0010] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the control circuit
receives an eighth capacitive sensing value of the first node at
the edge of the active area before or after receiving a plurality
of ninth capacitive sensing values of all of the plurality of nodes
in the touch sensing element to determine whether the input signal
of the stylus pen is the peripheral area input signal, the active
area input signal, or the hover input signal.
[0011] Based on the foregoing, in the touch sensing apparatus of
the embodiments of this disclosure, the at least one node disposed
at the edge of the active area is further used for touch sensing in
the peripheral area in addition to the touch sensing function in
the active area. Therefore, the touch sensing apparatus of the
embodiments of the disclosure may provide the stylus pen with the
touch sensing function in the active area as well as in the
peripheral area.
[0012] To make the aforementioned and other features and advantages
of the disclosure more comprehensible, several embodiments
accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the
description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are respectively a schematic top view and
a schematic cross-sectional view of a touch sensing apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are schematic top views respectively
showing two other embodiments of the touch sensing element of the
touch sensing apparatus in this disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a determination flowchart of the touch sensing
apparatus according to the first embodiment of the disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are respectively a schematic top view and
a determination flowchart of a touch sensing apparatus according to
a second embodiment of the disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are respectively a schematic top view and
a schematic cross-sectional view of a touch sensing apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. With reference
to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a touch sensing apparatus 100 in the first
embodiment of the disclosure includes a touch panel 110, a stylus
pen 120 and a control circuit 130.
[0019] The touch panel 110 includes a substrate 111, a touch
sensing element 112 and a decorative element 113. The substrate 111
is adapted to carry the touch sensing element 112. For example, the
substrate 111 may be implemented using a hard sheet or a flexible
thin film. The material of the substrate 111 may be glass or
plastic, but is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the
substrate 111 may be a composite substrate. The composite substrate
may be formed by stacking a plurality of layers of glass, by
stacking a plurality of layers of plastic, or by stacking at least
one layer of glass and at least one layer of plastic.
[0020] In this embodiment, the substrate 111, besides serving as a
carrying plate for the touch sensing element 112, also serves as a
cover plate for protecting the touch sensing element 112. The touch
sensing element 112 is located on an inner surface SI of the
substrate 111, and an outer surface SO of the cover plate serves as
a touch operation surface. In other words, a user's finger or the
stylus pen 120 performs a two-dimensional (X-Y coordinate system)
touch operation or a hover touch operation on the outer surface SO
of the cover plate. The substrate 111 may be a full flat cover
plate (as shown in FIG. 2), a partial flat cover plate that is flat
in the middle and curved at the edges (also known as 2.5D cover
plate), or a curved cover plate (also known as a 3D cover plate).
In one embodiment, the substrate 111 may simply serve as a carrying
plate for the touch sensing element 112, and the touch panel 110
may further include a cover plate disposed on the touch sensing
element 112 to protect the touch sensing element 112 and to serve
as a touch operation surface.
[0021] The touch sensing element 112 includes a plurality of nodes
for detecting a touch input signal (such as nodes N11, N12, N13,
N14, N21, N22, N23, N24, N31, N32, N33, N34, N41, N42, N43, N44,
N51, N52, N53 and N54 as shown in FIG. 1). The plurality of nodes
are disposed in an active area A1 of the substrate 111 and are not
disposed in a peripheral area A2 of the substrate 111.
[0022] In detail, the touch sensing element 112 includes a
plurality of electrodes (such as a plurality of electrodes E1 and a
plurality of electrodes E2 as shown in FIG. 1). The plurality of
electrodes define locations of the plurality of nodes, and the
nodes are disposed in the active area A1 (such as the area inside
the frame illustrated by thin dashed lines in FIG. 1, wherein the
frame is for illustrative purposes only and is not a real structure
or component) but are not disposed in the peripheral area A2 (such
as the area outside the frame in FIG. 1).
[0023] The plurality of electrodes may adopt a double-layer touch
sensing structure or a single-layer touch sensing structure. FIG. 1
and FIG. 2 schematically show one of the embodiments of the
double-layer touch sensing structure. However, the touch sensing
element in this disclosure may adopt any form of touch sensing
structure without being limited to the disclosure of the
drawings.
[0024] In the double-layer touch sensing structure, the plurality
of electrodes E1 and the plurality of electrodes E2 are arranged in
an interlacing manner to define the locations of the plurality of
nodes. Specifically, the plurality of nodes are respectively
located at intersections between the plurality of electrodes E1 and
the plurality of electrodes E2. Besides, the touch panel 110
further includes an insulating layer IN disposed between the
plurality of electrodes E1 and the plurality of electrodes E2 (not
shown in FIG. 1; please refer to FIG. 2), so that the plurality of
electrodes E1 and the plurality of electrodes E2 are electrically
insulated from one another.
[0025] In this embodiment, the plurality of electrodes E1 and the
plurality of electrodes E2 are each a stripe electrode. The
plurality of electrodes E1 are disposed on the inner surface SI of
the substrate 111 and each extend in a first direction D1. The
insulating layer IN is disposed on the plurality of electrodes E1
and on the inner surface SI exposed by the plurality of electrodes
E1. The plurality of electrodes E2 are disposed on the insulating
layer IN and respectively extend in a second direction D2. Besides,
the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 are
perpendicular to each other. However, the number, pattern and
extending direction of each component, the relative configuration
relationship between the plurality of components and the sequence
thereof in the touch panel 110 may be adjusted as required, and are
not limited to the disclosure of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. For example,
the locations of the plurality of electrodes E1 and the locations
of the plurality of electrodes E2 in FIG. 2 may be reversed.
Besides, the included angle between the first direction D1 and the
second direction D2 may be greater than 0 degrees and less than 90
degrees.
[0026] In addition, in the configuration where the touch panel 110
further includes a cover plate, the plurality of electrodes E2 (or
the plurality of electrodes E1), the insulating layer IN and the
plurality of electrodes E1 (or the plurality of electrodes E2) may
be sequentially formed on the substrate 111 first. Then, the cover
plate is attached onto the plurality of electrodes E1 (or the
plurality of electrodes E2) through an adhesive layer. In one
embodiment, the plurality of electrodes E1 and the plurality of
electrodes E2 may be respectively disposed on two opposite surfaces
of the substrate 111 to omit the configuration of the insulating
layer IN, and the cover plate may then be attached onto the
plurality of electrodes E1 (or the plurality of electrodes E2)
through an adhesive layer. In another embodiment, the plurality of
electrodes E1 and the plurality of electrodes E2 may be
respectively disposed on the substrate 111 and the cover plate, and
the plurality of electrodes E1 and the plurality of electrodes E2
are then attached to one another through a non-conductive adhesive
layer. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of electrodes E1
and the plurality of electrodes E2 may be respectively disposed on
the substrate 111 and another substrate (such as a hard sheet or a
flexible thin film), and the plurality of electrodes E1 and the
plurality of electrodes E2 are then attached to one another through
an adhesive layer, and the substrate 111 (or another substrate) is
attached to the cover plate.
[0027] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are schematic top views respectively
showing two other embodiments of the touch sensing element of the
touch sensing apparatus in this disclosure. FIG. 3 schematically
shows another embodiment of the double-layer touch sensing
structure, and FIG. 4 schematically shows one of the embodiments of
the single-layer touch sensing structure.
[0028] With reference to a touch sensing element 112A in FIG. 3,
each electrode E1 includes a plurality of pad portions E11 and a
plurality of connecting portions E12. Each connecting portion E12
connects two adjacent pad portions E11 in the first direction D1.
Besides, each electrode E2 includes a plurality of pad portions E21
and a plurality of connecting portions E22. Each connecting portion
E22 connects two adjacent pad portions E21 in the second direction
D2. The plurality of connecting portions E12 of each electrode E1
and the plurality of connecting portions E22 of each electrode E2
are arranged in an interlacing manner to define the locations of
the plurality of nodes (FIG. 3 only schematically shows the node
N11). Specifically, the plurality of nodes are respectively located
at intersections between the plurality of connecting portions E12
and the plurality of connecting portions E22. The
configuration/forming method of the double-layer touch sensing
structure in FIG. 3 may be any known configuration/forming method,
and detailed description thereof is not repeated hereinafter.
[0029] With reference to a touch sensing element 112B in FIG. 4, in
the single-layer touch sensing structure, a plurality of electrodes
E may be arranged in an array, and the locations of the plurality
of electrodes E are the locations of the plurality of nodes. In the
configuration of the single-layer touch sensing structure, the
insulating layer IN of FIG. 2 may be omitted. Other known
implementation forms of the single-layer touch sensing structure
also fall within the scope of this disclosure.
[0030] Whether configured as the double-layer touch sensing
structure or as the single-layer touch sensing structure, the touch
sensing element 120 may further include a plurality of conductive
wires W, and each electrode may be electrically connected to at
least one conductive wire W for signal transmission.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 again, the decorative
element 113 covers at least a portion of the peripheral area A2 and
exposes at least a portion of the active area A1. In this
embodiment, to allow the user to recognize an operating area of the
peripheral area A2 more easily, the decorative element 113 further
includes at least one indicating icon 1131 correspondingly disposed
in the operating area of the peripheral area A2. FIG. 1
schematically shows only one indicating icon 1131. However, the
number of the indicating icon 1131 is not limited thereto. In
another embodiment, the entire peripheral area A2 may also be set
as the operating area without any indicating icon additionally
provided in the peripheral area A2.
[0032] The indicating icon 1131 is located in the peripheral area
A2. Besides, the indicating icon 1131 is non-conductive.
Specifically, the indicating icon 1131 only serves to indicate the
operating area of the peripheral area A2. Therefore, the indicating
icon 1131 is non-conductive so as to avoid affecting a capacitive
sensing value. For example, the material of the indicating icon
1131 may include resin, a plastic molecular compound, a
non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM) coating or ink, but is
not limited thereto.
[0033] Besides, the indicating icon 1131 is adjacent to at least
one node (such as the node N11) disposed at the edge of the active
area A1 so that the touch sensing state of the peripheral area A2
is determined by determining the capacitive sensing value of the at
least one node. In this way, by means of the at least one node, the
stylus pen may be provided with a touch sensing function in the
peripheral area A2, and it is not necessary to additionally provide
any nodes for touch sensing below the indicating icon 1131.
[0034] An orthographic projection of the indicating icon 1131 on
the substrate 111 (i.e., where the indicating icon 1131 is located
in FIG. 1) is separated from the active area A1 by a distance DT1.
The greater the distance DT1, the greater the difference between
the capacitive sensing value when the stylus pen 120 operates in
the active area A1 and the capacitive sensing value when the stylus
pen 120 operates in the peripheral area A2, and the easier it is to
distinguish whether the input of the stylus pen 120 is made in the
active area A1 or in the peripheral area A2 based on the capacitive
sensing value. However, if the distance DT1 is too large, the
capacitive sensing value corresponding to the input located in the
peripheral area A2 is then too low to be discernible. In this
embodiment, the distance DT1 is in a range of 2 mm to 10 mm.
However, the distance DT1 may be changed according to actual design
requirements (conditions such as the size of the electrode, the
capacitive sensing value and so on).
[0035] In this embodiment, the decorative element 113 further
includes a decorative pattern 1132. The decorative pattern 1132
covers at least a portion of the peripheral area A2 and exposes at
least a portion of the active area A1. In detail, the decorative
pattern 1132 may be used to hide traces or other components that
are not intended to be seen in the touch sensing element 120, e.g.,
the plurality of conductive wires W in the touch sensing element
120. Besides, an inner edge 11321 of the decorative pattern 1132
may be located in the active area A1, such that a covering area A3
of the decorative pattern 1132 covers a portion of each electrode
adjacent to the active area A1. For example, a distance DT2 between
the inner edge 11321 of the decorative pattern 1132 and the edge of
the active area A1 may fall in a range of 1 mm to 2 mm, but is not
limited thereto. In one embodiment, the inner edge 11321 of the
decorative pattern 1132 may be aligned with the edge of the active
area A1, such as aligned with the frame illustrated by thin dashed
lines in FIG. 1.
[0036] To effectively achieve the indicating effect, the indicating
icon 1131 is made to be visually distinguishable from the
decorative pattern 1132. For example, the indicating icon 1131 and
the decorative pattern 1132 may have different colors or be made of
different materials. The indicating icon 1131 and the decorative
pattern 1132 may be formed on the cover plate (the substrate 111)
by means of printing or attaching. In FIG. 2, the decorative
pattern 1132 is formed on the inner surface S1 of the cover plate
after the indicating icon 1131 is formed, and the decorative
pattern 1132 covers the indicating icon 1131. However, the relative
configuration relationship of the indicating icon 1131, the
decorative pattern 1132 and the cover plate is not limited to the
disclosure of FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the indicating icon 1131
and the decorative pattern 1132 may be respectively formed on the
outer surface SO and the inner surface SI of the cover plate. In
another embodiment, the decorative pattern 1132 and the indicating
icon 1131 may be sequentially formed on the outer surface SO of the
cover plate. In yet another embodiment, the indicating icon 1131
may be an opening formed in the decorative pattern 1132.
Alternatively, an opening may be formed at the location where the
indicating icon 1131 is to be formed in the decorative pattern 1132
first, and the indicating icon 1131 is then formed in the opening,
and herein the size of the opening may be the same or slightly
larger than the size of the indicating icon 1131.
[0037] The touch sensing apparatus 100 may further include other
components according to different requirements. For example, the
touch sensing apparatus 100 may further include a display panel 140
to provide a display function. In other words, the touch sensing
apparatus 100 may be an electronic apparatus (e.g., a mobile phone,
a tablet computer or a laptop computer, but the disclosure is not
limited thereto) having both the touch sensing function and the
display function.
[0038] The display panel 140 may be any known display panel, e.g.,
a liquid crystal display panel or an organic electro-luminescence
display panel, but is not limited thereto. The display panel 140 is
configured to be overlapped with the touch sensing element 112, and
the decorative pattern 1132 exposes a viewable area A4 (an area for
displaying the image) of the display panel 140. For example, the
touch sensing element 112 may be located on a display surface S140D
of the display panel 140. In this configuration, for the purpose of
preventing the plurality of electrodes (such as the plurality of
electrodes E1 and the plurality of electrodes E2) from shielding
light beams (not shown) from the display panel 140, the plurality
of electrodes may be light-transmissive electrodes. The
light-transmissive electrodes include electrodes made of a
light-transmissive material or grid-like metal electrodes. In one
embodiment, the touch sensing element 112 may also be located on a
back surface S140B of the display panel 140. In this way, the
plurality of electrodes need not be light-transmissive electrodes.
In another embodiment, the display panel 140 and the touch panel
110 may also be integrated into a touch sensing display panel.
[0039] Besides, the touch sensing apparatus 100 may further include
an adhesive layer 150 to bond the touch panel 110 and the display
panel 140. In the configuration where the touch sensing element 112
is located on the display surface S140D of the display panel 140,
the adhesive layer 150 is also configured to be light-transmissive.
For example, the adhesive layer 150 may be formed by curing an
optically clear adhesive (OCA), but the material of the adhesive
layer 150 and the foaming method thereof are not limited
thereto.
[0040] The stylus pen 120 may be an active or a passive stylus pen
to generate a corresponding touch input signal on the touch panel
110. The control circuit 130 is coupled to the touch panel 110, the
stylus pen 120 and the display panel 140 to transceive signals with
the touch panel 110, the stylus pen 120 and the display panel 140
or to set the operation states thereof For example, the control
circuit 130 may include components such as a central processing
unit (CPU) and a communication circuit, but is not limited
thereto.
[0041] FIG. 5 is a determination flowchart of the touch sensing
apparatus according to the first embodiment of the disclosure,
showing the steps executed by the control circuit (such as the
control circuit 130 of FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the steps
executed by the control circuit as shown in FIG. 5 are explicated
in light of the configuration where the touch sensing apparatus
includes only one indicating icon, and the only one indicating icon
is adjacent to one node (as shown in FIG. 1). In other embodiments,
the touch sensing apparatus may also not include any indicating
icon, and the control circuit may determine the input signal of the
touch sensing apparatus by use of more nodes.
[0042] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, in step 511, the
capacitive sensing value of the node N11 adjacent to the indicating
icon 1131 is detected. For example, capacitive sensing values of
all the nodes in FIG. 1 may be simultaneously detected so as to
determine the touch sensing states of the active area A1 and the
peripheral area A2 at the same time. In this way, the control
circuit 130 receives the capacitive sensing values of all the nodes
in the touch sensing element 112, and then selects a capacitive
sensing value of the node N11 at the edge of the active area A1
from the received capacitive sensing values to perform subsequent
determination. Alternatively, the capacitive sensing value of the
node N11 adjacent to the indicating icon 1131 may be separately
detected after or before the capacitive sensing values of all the
nodes are detected. That is, the touch sensing states of the active
area A1 and the peripheral area A2 may be determined at separate
times. In this way, the control circuit 130 receives the capacitive
sensing value of the node N11 at the edge of the active area A1
before or after receiving the capacitive sensing values of all the
nodes in the touch sensing element 112, and performs the subsequent
determination according to the capacitive sensing value of the node
N11 at the edge of the active area A1.
[0043] In step 512, it is determined whether the capacitive sensing
value of the node N11 exceeds a preset threshold value. If the
capacitive sensing value of the node N11 exceeds the threshold
value, it means either that the stylus pen 120 touches the touch
sensing apparatus 100, or that the stylus pen 120 is close to but
does not touch the touch sensing apparatus 100. If the capacitive
sensing value of the node N11 does not exceed the threshold value,
it means that the stylus pen 120 is not in the touch operation
range of the touch sensing apparatus 100, so the determination
process returns to the step of detecting the capacitive sensing
value of the node N11 (i.e., returning to step 511).
[0044] When the control circuit 130 determines that the capacitive
sensing value of the node N11 exceeds the threshold value, it
proceeds to determine whether the stylus pen 120 touches the touch
sensing apparatus 100 (step 513). For example, the tip of the
stylus pen 120 may be provided with a pressure sensing circuit.
When the tip of the stylus pen 120 touches the touch sensing
apparatus 100, the stylus pen 120 transmits a tip-on signal to the
control circuit 130, so that the control circuit 130 may determine
that the stylus pen 120 touches the touch sensing apparatus
100.
[0045] When the stylus pen 120 touches the touch sensing apparatus
100, the stylus pen 120 may touch the active area A1, or may touch
the indicating icon 1131 of the peripheral area A2. Therefore, if
the control circuit 130 determines that the stylus pen 120 touches
the touch sensing apparatus 100, it proceeds to determine whether
the capacitive sensing value of the node N11 falls in a first
threshold range (step 514), and the minimum value of the first
threshold range is set to be larger than the threshold value. If
the capacitive sensing value of the node N11 falls in the first
threshold range, it means that the stylus pen 120 touches the
indicating icon 1131 of the peripheral area A2. Therefore, if it is
determined that the capacitive sensing value of the node N11 falls
in the first threshold range, the control circuit 130 determines
that the input signal of the stylus pen 120 is an input signal
corresponding to the peripheral area A2 (i.e., a peripheral area
input signal). The control circuit 130 sets the display panel 140
to display a first graph corresponding to the peripheral area input
signal (i.e., corresponding to the indicating icon operation) (step
516). For example, the display panel 140 is set to display a menu,
a color palette or the like in the corresponding display area. On
the other hand, when the capacitive sensing value of the node N11
is larger than a second threshold, and the second threshold is
larger than or equal to the maximum value of the first threshold
range, it means that the stylus pen 120 touches the active area A1.
Therefore, the control circuit 130 determines that the input signal
of the stylus pen 120 is an input signal corresponding to the
active area A1 (i.e., an active area input signal). The control
circuit 130 performs a touch output operation corresponding to the
active area A1 and sets the display panel 140 to display a second
graph corresponding to the active area input signal (step 517). For
example, the display panel 140 is set to display an effect of
performing a click operation in the corresponding display area or
perform an ink output operation in a drawing program. When the ink
output operation is performed, the color of the location in the
viewable area A4 (see FIG. 2) corresponding to the stylus pen 120
is changed accordingly.
[0046] When the control circuit 130 does not receive the tip-on
signal, it means that the stylus pen 120 does not touch the touch
sensing apparatus 100, and the stylus pen 120 may be in a hover
touch range of the touch sensing apparatus 100 or may be outside
the hover touch range of the touch sensing apparatus 100.
Therefore, in step 515, the control circuit 130 determines whether
the capacitive sensing value of the node N11 is larger than a third
threshold. If the capacitive sensing value of the node N11 is
larger than the third threshold, it means that the stylus pen 120
is in the hover touch range of the touch sensing apparatus 100.
Therefore, if it is determined that the capacitive sensing value of
the node N11 is larger than the third threshold, the control
circuit 130 determines that the input signal of the stylus pen 120
is a hover input signal, and the control circuit 130 performs a
hover touch function to set the display panel 140 to display a
third graph corresponding to the hover input signal (step 518). For
example, the display panel 140 is set to display an effect of
moving a cursor in the corresponding display area. On the contrary,
if the capacitive sensing value of the node N11 is not larger than
the third threshold, it means that the stylus pen 120 is outside
the hover touch range of the touch sensing apparatus 100.
Therefore, if it is determined that the capacitive sensing value of
the node N11 is not larger than the third threshold, the
determination process then returns to the step of detecting the
capacitive sensing value of the node N11 (i.e., returning to step
511).
[0047] In one embodiment, the indicating icon 1131 is in the shape
of a dot having a diameter of about 5 mm. Besides, the minimum
value of the first threshold range is set to be larger than the
threshold value, and the third threshold is set to be larger than
the threshold value and may be smaller or larger than the minimum
value of the first threshold range. In one embodiment, the
operations corresponding to the indicating icon 1131 may include
opening/closing the window, the previous step, the next step,
advanced function setting or the like. Different operations may be
output as the stylus pen 120 is pressed for a different period of
time (such as a short press or a long press) or for a different
number of times (such as a single-click or a double-click). The
stylus pen 120 itself may also have a variety of input elements
such as a pen-pressing element, a tilt element, or a button
element. By means of predefinition, different input elements may
have different functions under different touch sensing conditions.
It should be noted that the shape, size and functions of the
indicating icon 1131, the number of nodes corresponding to the
indicating icon 1131 and the locations of the nodes, and the value
or range of each threshold may be changed according to design
requirements, and are not limited to the foregoing description. For
example, the indicating icon 1131 may also be in the shape of a
line or in the shape of a combination of a dot and a line. Besides,
as the location or size of the indicating icon 1131 is changed, the
number of nodes corresponding to the indicating icon 1131 may be
greater than one.
[0048] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are respectively a schematic top view and
a determination flowchart of a touch sensing apparatus according to
a second embodiment of the disclosure. With reference to FIG. 6 and
FIG. 7, a touch sensing apparatus 200 is similar to the touch
sensing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, wherein the same or similar
components are assigned with the same or similar reference
numerals, and detailed description thereof is not repeated
hereinafter.
[0049] A primary difference between the touch sensing apparatus 200
and the touch sensing apparatus 100 is as follows. In the touch
sensing apparatus 200, an indicating icon 1131A of a decorative
element 113A is in the shape of a line. Besides, the indicating
icon 1131A is adjacent to nodes N12, N13 and N14 disposed at the
edge of the active area A1. In addition, the touch sensing element
112 of FIG. 7 may be replaced by the touch sensing element 112A as
shown in FIG. 3 or the touch sensing element 112B as shown in FIG.
4.
[0050] A control circuit 230 of the touch sensing apparatus 200
executes the steps as shown in FIG. 7. With reference to FIG. 6 and
FIG. 7, in step 711, capacitive sensing values of the nodes N12,
N13 and N14 adjacent to the indicating icon 1131A are detected. For
example, capacitive sensing values of all the nodes in FIG. 6 may
be simultaneously detected so as to determine the touch sensing
states of the active area A1 and the peripheral area A2 at the same
time. Alternatively, the capacitive sensing values of the nodes
N11, N12 and N14 adjacent to the indicating icon 1131A may be
separately detected after or before the capacitive sensing values
of all the nodes are detected. That is, the touch sensing states of
the active area A1 and the peripheral area A2 may be determined at
separate times.
[0051] In step 712, it is determined whether the capacitive sensing
value of any one of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 exceeds a preset
threshold value. If the capacitive sensing value of any one of the
nodes N12, N13 and N14 exceeds the threshold value, it means either
that a stylus pen 120 touches the touch sensing apparatus 200, or
that the stylus pen 120 is close to but does not touch the touch
sensing apparatus 200. If it is determined that the capacitive
sensing value of at least one of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 exceeds
the threshold value, it proceeds to determine whether the stylus
pen 120 touches the touch sensing apparatus 200 (step 713). If none
of the capacitive sensing values of the nodes N12, N13 and N14
exceeds the threshold value, it means that the stylus pen 120 is
not in the touch operation range of the touch sensing apparatus
200, so the determination process returns to step 711.
[0052] When the control circuit 230 determines that the capacitive
sensing value of at least one of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 exceeds
the threshold value, it proceeds to determine whether the stylus
pen 120 touches the touch sensing apparatus 200 (step 713). For
example, the tip of the stylus pen 120 may be provided with a
pressure sensing circuit. When the tip of the stylus pen 120
touches the touch sensing apparatus 200, the stylus pen 120
transmits a tip-on signal to the control circuit 230, so that the
control circuit 230 may determine that the stylus pen 120 touches
the touch sensing apparatus 200.
[0053] When the stylus pen 120 touches the touch sensing apparatus
200, the stylus pen 120 may touch the active area A1, or may touch
the indicating icon 1131A of the peripheral area A2. Therefore, if
the control circuit 230 determines that the stylus pen 120 touches
the touch sensing apparatus 200, it proceeds to determine whether
the capacitive sensing value of any one of the nodes N12, N13 and
N14 falls in the first threshold range (step 714), and the minimum
value of the first threshold range is set to be larger than the
threshold value. If the capacitive sensing value of any one of the
nodes N12, N13 and N14 falls in the first threshold range, it means
that the stylus pen 120 touches the indicating icon 1131A of the
peripheral area A2. Therefore, if it is determined that the
capacitive sensing value of at least one of the nodes N12, N13 and
N14 falls in the first threshold range, the control circuit 230
determines that the input signal of the stylus pen 120 is an input
signal corresponding to the peripheral area A2 (i.e., a peripheral
area input signal), and the control circuit 230 sets the display
panel 140 (see FIG. 2) to display a graph corresponding to the
indicating icon operation of the indicating icon 1131A. In this
embodiment, the indicating icon operation of the indicating icon
1131A includes a line-shaped operation and a dot-shaped operation.
Therefore, to confirm whether to perform the line-shaped operation
or the dot-shaped operation, it is determined whether the
capacitive sensing value of at least one of the nodes N12, N13 and
N14 changes (step 716). If the capacitive sensing value of at least
one of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 changes, it means that the stylus
pen 120 changes its location instead of staying in the same place.
Therefore, if the capacitive sensing value of at least one of the
nodes N12, N13 and N14 changes, the control circuit 230 sets the
display panel 140 (see FIG. 2) to display a fourth graph
corresponding to the line-shaped operation (step 717). If none of
the capacitive sensing values of the nodes N12, N13 and N14
changes, it means that the stylus pen 120 stays in the same
location. Therefore, if it is determined that none of the
capacitive sensing values of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 changes,
the control circuit 230 sets the display panel 140 (see FIG. 2) to
display a fifth graph corresponding to the dot-shaped operation
(step 718). The dot-shaped operation is as described in the
previous paragraphs, and detailed description thereof is not
repeated hereinafter. The line-shaped operation may be slide
selection, such as selecting a pen type by sliding, selecting a
font size by sliding, or selecting a font color by sliding, but is
not limited thereto.
[0054] On the other hand, when none of the capacitive sensing
values of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 falls in the first threshold
range (e.g., each of the capacitive sensing values of the nodes
N12, N13 and N14 is larger than a second threshold, and the second
threshold is larger than or equal to the maximum value of the first
threshold range), it means that the stylus pen 120 touches the
active area A1. Therefore, the control circuit 230 determines that
the input signal of the stylus pen 120 is an input signal
corresponding to the active area A1 (i.e., an active area input
signal). The control circuit 230 performs a touch output operation
corresponding to the active area A1 and sets the display panel 140
(see FIG. 2) to display a second graph corresponding to the active
area input signal (step 719). For example, the display panel 140 is
set to display an effect of performing a click operation in the
corresponding display area or perform an ink output operation in a
drawing program. When the ink output operation is performed, the
color of the location in a viewable area A4 (see FIG. 2)
corresponding to the stylus pen 120 is changed accordingly.
[0055] When the control circuit 230 does not receive the tip-on
signal, it means that the stylus pen 120 does not touch the touch
sensing apparatus 200, and the stylus pen 120 may be in a hover
touch range of the touch sensing apparatus 200 or may be outside
the hover touch range of the touch sensing apparatus 200.
Therefore, in step 715, the control circuit 230 determines whether
the capacitive sensing value of any one of the nodes N12, N13 and
N14 is larger than a third threshold. If the capacitive sensing
value of at least one of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 is larger than
the third threshold, it means that the stylus pen 120 is in the
hover touch range of the touch sensing apparatus 200. Therefore, if
it is determined that the capacitive sensing value of at least one
of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 exceeds the third threshold, and the
control circuit 230 determines that the input signal of the stylus
pen 120 is a hover input signal, the control circuit 230 performs a
hover touch function to set the display panel 140 to display a
third graph corresponding to the hover input signal (step 720). For
example, the display panel 140 is set to display an effect of
moving a cursor in the corresponding display area. On the contrary,
if none of the capacitive sensing values of the nodes N12, N13 and
N14 is larger than the third threshold, it means that the stylus
pen 120 is outside the hover touch range of the touch sensing
apparatus 200. Therefore, if it is determined that none of the
capacitive sensing values of the nodes N12, N13 and N14 is larger
than the third threshold, the determination process then returns to
step 711.
[0056] While the number of the indicating icon is one in both the
first embodiment and the second embodiment, the disclosure is not
limited thereto. In another embodiment, the number of the
indicating icon may be more than one. For example, the touch
sensing apparatus may have a plurality of dot-shaped indicating
icons, a plurality of line-shaped indicating icons, or a
combination of at least one dot-shaped indicating icon and at least
one line-shaped indicating icon. Besides, when the touch sensing
apparatus has a plurality of indicating icons, the plurality of
indicating icons may be located on the same side, two adjacent
sides, two opposite sides, three sides or four sides of the touch
sensing element. In another embodiment, the touch sensing apparatus
may not be provided with any indicating icon.
[0057] In summary, in the touch sensing apparatus of the
embodiments of this disclosure, the at least one node disposed at
the edge of the active area is further used for touch sensing in
the peripheral area in addition to the touch sensing in the active
area. Therefore, the touch sensing apparatus of the embodiments of
the disclosure may provide the stylus pen with the touch sensing
function in the active area as well as in the peripheral area, and
it is not necessary to additionally provide any electrodes for
touch sensing in the peripheral area.
[0058] Although the embodiments are already disclosed as above,
these embodiments should not be construed as limitations on the
scope of the disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various modifications and variations can be made to
the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or
spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended
that the disclosure covers modifications and variations provided
that they fall within the scope of the following claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *