U.S. patent application number 17/160303 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-20 for knob device applicable to touch panel.
The applicant listed for this patent is HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED. Invention is credited to Chun-Kai Chuang, Chun-Jen Su, Cheng-Hung Tsai, Wai-Pan Wu.
Application Number | 20220019295 17/160303 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220019295 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Su; Chun-Jen ; et
al. |
January 20, 2022 |
KNOB DEVICE APPLICABLE TO TOUCH PANEL
Abstract
A knob device is applicable to a touch panel. The knob device
includes a knob cover; and a rotation sensing element. The rotation
sensing element includes a base and a plurality of sensing pads
connected to the knob cover. The rotation sensing element is
arranged between the touch panel and the knob cover. The base is
connected to the knob cover. When a user touches the knob device,
the touch panel generates a rotation sensing signal in response to
a location of the plurality of sensing pads. An orthographic
projection of the knob cover on the touch panel is divided into a
plurality of parts, the plurality of parts are distributed radially
from a center of the orthographic projection of the knob cover,
each sensing pad is located in a part and connected to another
sensing pad located in another part adjacent to the part.
Inventors: |
Su; Chun-Jen; (Tainan City,
TW) ; Chuang; Chun-Kai; (Tainan City, TW) ;
Tsai; Cheng-Hung; (Tainan City, TW) ; Wu;
Wai-Pan; (Tainan City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED |
Tainan City |
|
TW |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/160303 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63051904 |
Jul 15, 2020 |
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International
Class: |
G06F 3/0362 20060101
G06F003/0362; G06F 3/041 20060101 G06F003/041 |
Claims
1. A knob device, applicable to a touch panel, the knob device
comprising: a knob cover; and a rotation sensing element,
comprising a base and a plurality of sensing pads arranged on at
least one of the knob cover and the base, wherein the rotation
sensing element is arranged between the touch panel and the knob
cover, the base is connected to the knob cover; wherein when a user
touches the knob device, the touch panel generates a rotation
sensing signal in response to a location of the plurality of
sensing pads; wherein an orthographic projection of the knob cover
on the touch panel is divided into a plurality of parts, the
plurality of parts are distributed radially from a center of the
orthographic projection of the knob cover, each sensing pad is
located in a part and connected to another sensing pad located in
another part adjacent to the part.
2. The knob device of claim 1, wherein each part of the
orthographic projection of the knob cover is a fan-shaped area.
3. The knob device of claim 2, wherein each sensing pad is a sector
full-filled one fan-shaped area of the plurality of parts.
4. The knob device of claim 1, wherein each sensing pad comprises a
first part and a second part connected with the first part, the
first part is located in one of the plurality of parts, the second
part is located outside of the orthographic projection of the knob
cover.
5. The knob device of claim 1, further comprising a pressing
sensing element arranged between the knob cover and the touch panel
and connected to at least one of the knob cover and the base,
wherein the pressing sensing element is located above the touch
panel, when the user touches and presses the knob device, the
pressing sensing element abuts against or gets close to the touch
panel, such that the touch panel generates a pressing sensing
signal in response to the pressing sensing element.
6. The knob device of claim 5, wherein an orthographic projection
of the pressing sensing element on the touch panel is greater than
an orthographic projection of one of the plurality of sensing pads
on the touch panel.
7. The knob device of claim 5, wherein the pressing sensing element
and the plurality of sensing pads are not overlapped with each
other.
8. A knob device, applicable to a touch panel, the knob device
comprising: a knob cover; and a rotation sensing element,
comprising a base and a plurality of sensing pads connected to at
least one of the knob cover and the base, wherein the rotation
sensing element is arranged between the touch panel and the knob
cover, the base is connected to the knob cover; wherein when a user
touches the knob device, the touch panel generates a rotation
sensing signal in response to a location of the plurality of
sensing pads; wherein an orthographic projection of the knob cover
on the touch panel is divided into a plurality of parts, the
plurality of parts are distributed radially from a center of the
orthographic projection of the knob cover, each sensing pad is
located in a part and not connected to another sensing pad, a gap
part of the plurality of parts of the orthographic projection of
the knob cover is located between two of the plurality of sensing
pads.
9. The knob device of claim 8, wherein each part of the
orthographic projection of the knob cover is a fan-shaped area.
10. The knob device of claim 9, wherein each sensing pad is a
sector full-filled one fan-shaped area of the plurality of
parts.
11. The knob device of claim 8, wherein each sensing pad comprises
a first part and a second part connected with the first part, the
first part is located in one of the plurality of parts, the second
part is located outside of the orthographic projection of the knob
cover.
12. The knob device of claim 8, further comprising a pressing
sensing element arranged between the knob cover and the touch panel
and connected to at least one of the knob cover and the base,
wherein the pressing sensing element is located above the touch
panel, when the user touches and presses the knob device, the
pressing sensing element abuts against or gets close to the touch
panel, such that the touch panel generates a pressing sensing
signal in response to the pressing sensing element.
13. The knob device of claim 12, wherein an orthographic projection
of the pressing sensing element on the touch panel is greater than
an orthographic projection of one of the plurality of sensing pads
on the touch panel.
14. The knob device of claim 12, wherein the pressing sensing
element and the plurality of sensing pads are not overlapped with
each other.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 63/051,904, filed on Jul. 15, 2020, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a user interface (UI)
mechanism design, and more particularly, to a knob device
applicable to a touch panel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0003] Knob devices are often used in general electronic apparatus,
such as the knob for volume adjustment on an audio player, the knob
for frequency adjustment on a radio and the knob for air
conditioning/air volume adjustment on a car console, where many of
these electronic apparatuses are equipped a touch panel. Therefore,
how to integrate the knob device and the touch panel to assist user
in control has become an issue. In some traditional methods, the
glass of the touch panel has holes on which the knobs are mounted.
However, digging holes in the glass has disadvantages such as
complicated steps, high cost and reduced glass strength. In some
other traditional methods, the touch pad is installed in the knob
and then directly mounted on the touch panel, and the function of
the knob is achieved by touch effect of the touch pad on the touch
panel. For example, when a user rotates the knob, a finger and the
touch pad form a loop with the touch panel, such that a cell of the
touch panel touched by the touch pad sends a touch signal.
According to touch signals of different cells of the touch panel,
the angle of rotation of the knob can be captured. However, certain
problems may occur. For example, the resolution of the touch panel
may be insufficient when the knob is small. For another example,
when the touch pad of the knob is located between two touch panel
cells, it is difficult to determine its position. Therefore, there
is a need for a novel method and associated architecture to improve
the resolution of rotation of the knob on the touch panel for
solving the problems without introducing any side effect or in a
way that is less likely to introduce a side effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a
knob device applicable to a touch panel, in order to solve the
above-mentioned problems.
[0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a knob
device is applicable to a touch panel. The knob device comprises a
knob cover; and a rotation sensing element. The rotation sensing
element comprises a base and a plurality of sensing pads arranged
on at least one of the knob cover and the base. The rotation
sensing element is arranged between the touch panel and the knob
cover. The base is connected to the knob cover. When a user touches
the knob device, the touch panel generates a rotation sensing
signal in response to a location of the plurality of sensing pads.
An orthographic projection of the knob cover on the touch panel is
divided into a plurality of parts, the plurality of parts are
distributed radially from a center of the orthographic projection
of the knob cover, each sensing pad is located in a part and
connected to another sensing pad located in another part adjacent
to the part.
[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
knob device is applicable to a touch panel. The knob device
comprises a knob cover and a rotation sensing element. The rotation
sensing element comprises a base and a plurality of sensing pads
arranged on at least one of the knob cover and the base. The
rotation sensing element is arranged between the touch panel and
the knob cover, the base is connected to the knob cover. When a
user touches the knob device, the touch panel generates a rotation
sensing signal in response to a location of the plurality of
sensing pads. An orthographic projection of the knob cover on the
touch panel is divided into a plurality of parts, the plurality of
parts are distributed radially from a center of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover. Each sensing pad is located in a part
and not connected to another sensing pad, a gap part of the
plurality of parts of the orthographic projection of the knob cover
is located between two of the plurality of sensing pads.
[0007] These and other objectives of the present invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a knob device arranged on a touch
panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the knob device
arranged on the touch panel according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the knob
device arranged on the touch panel according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating the knob device arranged
on the touch panel according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a single sensing pad
arranged according to a single fan-shaped area of an orthographic
projection of the knob cover according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 a diagram illustrating two sensing pads arranged
according to two adjacent fan-shaped areas of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of sensing pads
separately arranged according to the fan-shaped areas of the
orthographic projection of the knob cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating two sensing pads separately
arranged according to two fan-shaped areas of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a knob device
arranged on the touch panel according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating the knob device arranged
on the touch panel according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating two sensing pads arranged
according to two adjacent fan-shaped areas of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover according to the second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating two sensing pads arranged
according to two adjacent fan-shaped areas of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating two sets of sensing pads
arranged according to a plurality of fan-shaped areas of the
orthographic projection of the knob cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating two sets of sensing pads
separately arranged according to a plurality of fan-shaped areas of
the orthographic projection of the knob cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Please refer to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is
a diagram of a knob device 100 arranged on a touch panel 300
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an
exploded view illustrating the knob device 100 arranged on the
touch panel 300 according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the knob device 100 comprises a knob
cover 110 arranged on the touch panel 300. When a user operates the
knob device 100 by contacting the knob cover 110, the knob cover
110 and a sensing pad are electrically connected to each other to
form a conductive path. This path allows the user's finger touching
the knob device 100 to be connected to the touch panel 300 through
the conductive path, which is equivalent to allowing the user to
indirectly control the touch panel 300. In other words, when the
user touches the knob cover 110 of the knob device 100, the touch
panel 300 generates a sensing signal in response to a loop formed
by the touch panel 300, the knob device 100 and the user.
Furthermore, when the user rotates or presses the knob cover 110 of
the knob device 100, the touch panel 300 generates different
sensing signals in response to the movement and location of the
knob device 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the knob device 100 comprises
a rotation sensing element 130 and a pressing sensing element 150
both arranged between the touch panel 300 and the knob cover 110.
The rotation sensing element 130 comprises a plurality of sensing
pads 134 and a base 132. In the present embodiment, the rotation
sensing element 130 has two adjacent sensing pads 134, but the
present invention is not limited thereto. The base 132 is connected
to the knob cover 110. The plurality of sensing pads 134 may be
arranged on the base 132 and/or the knob cover 110. In the first
embodiment, the plurality of sensing pads 134 are shown arranged on
the base 132 for better understanding of technical features of the
present invention. In addition, the touch panel 300 has multiple
touch panel cells 301 arranged in a matrix format. When the user
touches the knob cover 110, the touch panel cell(s) 301 under the
plurality of sensing pads 134 generate sensing signal(s) in
response to a location of the plurality of sensing pads 134. For
example, based on the sensing signal(s) output from the touch panel
cell(s) 301, the touch panel 300 generates a rotation sensing
signal in response to the user touching and rotating knob cover 110
of the knob device 100.
[0023] Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view
illustrating the knob device 100 arranged on the touch panel 300
according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of sensing pads 134 are arranged
above the touch panel 300, and abut against or get close to the
touch panel 300. In the present embodiment, the plurality of
sensing pads 134 abut against the touch panel 300, but the present
invention is not limited thereto. The pressing sensing element 150
may be connected to the knob cover 110 and/or the base 300. In the
present embodiment, the pressing sensing element 150 is shown
connected to the knob cover 110 for better understanding of
technical features of the present invention. When the user touches
and presses the knob cover 110 of the knob device 100, the pressing
sensing element 150 abuts against or gets close to the touch panel
300, such that the touch panel cell(s) 301 under the pressing
sensing element 150 generate pressing sensing signal(s) in response
to the pressing sensing element 150. For example, based on the
pressing sensing signal(s) output from the touch panel cell(s) 301,
the touch panel 300 generates a pressing sensing signal in response
to the user touching and pressing the knob cover 110 of the knob
device 100.
[0024] Furthermore, when the user touches and rotates the knob
cover 110 of the knob device 100, the touch panel cell(s) 301 under
the plurality of sensing pads 134 generate sensing signal(s) in
response to a location of the plurality of sensing pads 134. It is
noticed that, the knob cover 110 has a mechanism (e.g., a spring)
that allows the knob cover 110 to be pressed down and rebound up
when not being pressed. This mechanism is known to those skilled in
the art, so the mechanism is not shown in figures, and further
description is omitted here for simplicity.
[0025] For example, please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a top view
illustrating the knob device 100 arranged on the touch panel 300
according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Assume
that when the user touches and presses the knob cover 110 of the
knob device 100, two touch panel cells 301a and 301b are under the
pressing sensing element 150. As shown in FIG. 4, two touch panel
cells 301a and 301b generate two sensing signals due to the
pressing sensing element 150 directly above the touch panel cells
301a and 301b. The touch panel 300 (particularly, a controller of
the touch panel 300) can be pre-programed for generating the
pressing sensing signal when receiving two sensing signals
generated from two touch panel cells (e.g., touch panel cells 301a
and 301b in this embodiment). Similarly, when the user touches the
knob cover 110 of the knob device 100, a touch panel cell 301c is
under the plurality of sensing pads 134, such that the touch panel
cell 301c generates a sensing signal which represents that the knob
device 100 is touched. If the user rotates the knob cover 110 of
the knob device 100 clockwise, the plurality of sensing pads 134 is
moved to a position above a touch panel cell 301d, such that the
touch panel cell 301d is under the plurality of sensing pads 134
and generates a sensing signal. The touch panel 300 (particularly,
a controller of the touch panel 300) can be pre-programed for
generating a rotation sensing signal which represents that the knob
device 100 is rotated when firstly receiving a sensing signal
generated from one touch panel cell (e.g., touch panel cell 301c in
this embodiment) and then receiving a sensing signal generated from
another touch panel cell (e.g., touch panel cell 301d in this
embodiment). It is noticed that if the plurality of sensing pads
134 cover more touch panel cells 301, different touch panel cells
301 can be touched even if the rotation angle of the knob device
100 is small, such that the small rotation angle can be obtained
successfully. In other words, when the plurality of sensing pads
134 cover more touch panel cells 301, the resolution of the
rotation angle of the knob device 100 can be higher.
[0026] Please refer to FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG. 6. FIG. 5 is
a diagram illustrating a single sensing pad 134 arranged according
to a single fan-shaped area of an orthographic projection of the
knob cover 110 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating two sensing pads 134
arranged according to two adjacent fan-shaped areas of the
orthographic projection of the knob cover 110 according to the
first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, an
orthographic projection of the knob cover 110 on the touch panel
300 is divided into a plurality of parts 111 that are distributed
radially from a center of the orthographic projection of the knob
cover 110. The number of the plurality of parts 111 depends on the
resolution of the rotation angle of the knob device 100. Each
sensing pad 134 is a sector full-filled one fan-shaped area of the
plurality of parts 111. For example, in the present embodiment, the
orthographic projection of the knob cover 110 on the touch panel
300 is equally divided into 28 parts 111 each being a fan-shaped
area, and one of the plurality of sensing pads 134 is fan-shaped
and formed according one part 111. However, this is for
illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to be a limitation of
the present invention. Alternatively, the orthographic projection
of the knob cover 110 on the touch panel 300 may be divided
unequally, depending upon the design considerations.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the rotation
sensing element 130 comprises more than one sensing pad (e.g., two
sensing pads 134), and each sensing pad 134 is located in a part
111 and connected to another sensing pad 134 located in another
part 111 adjacent to the part 111. When two sensing pads 134 are
arranged on two adjacent parts 111, more touch panel cells 301 are
covered by a sensing pad design having more sensing pads 134, such
that resolution of the rotation angle of the knob device 100 is
improved. For example, if the knob device 100 is rotated a little
bit, the touching panel cells 301 covered by the single sensing pad
134 in FIG. 5 may still be the same, and the sensing pad 134 has
not been rotated to a position above other touching panel cells
301. In contrast to the sensing pad design having only a single
sensing pad 134, a sensing pad design having multiple sensing pads
134 in FIG. 6 covers more touching panel cells 301. Therefore, as
the knob device 100 is rotated a little bit, the plurality of
sensing pads 134 can cover other touching panel cells 301, such
that the touch panel 300 can obtain a rotation sensing signal of a
slight rotation.
[0028] The sensing padding design using multiple sensing pad 134
may have some variations to meet different requirements. In some
embodiments, a gap part 112 of the orthographic projection of the
knob cover 110 may be formed between two sensing pads 134 to ensure
that one sensing pad 134 is separated from another sensing pad 134.
Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a
plurality of sensing pads 134 separately arranged according to the
fan-shaped areas of the orthographic projection of the knob cover
110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 7, each sensing pad 134 is located in a part 111 and not
connected to another sensing pad 134, a gap part 112 of the
plurality of parts 111 of the orthographic projection of the knob
cover 110 is located between two of the plurality of sensing pads
134. In other words, a rotation sensing element in FIG. 7 has four
sensing pads 134 located separately. Three gap parts 112 are
located between the four sensing pads 134 to separate the sensing
pads 134. The separated sensing pads 134 may cover more touching
panel cells 301, such that resolution of the rotation angle of the
knob device is improved. Please further refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is
a diagram illustrating two sensing pads 134 separately arranged
according to two fan-shaped areas of the orthographic projection of
the knob cover 110 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 8, in some embodiments, a gap part 112
is connected to another gap part 112. For example, a rotation
sensing element in FIG. 8 has two sensing pads 134 located
separately. Three gap parts 112 are connected and located between
the two sensing pads 134 to separate the two sensing pads 134. The
separated sensing pads 134 may cover more touching panel cells 301,
such that the touch panel 300 can obtain a rotation sensing signal
of a slight rotation.
[0029] According to the above arrangements, each sensing pad is
formed according to one of the fan-shaped areas of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover, in order to cover more touching panel
cells as possible. Furthermore, the adjacent sensing pad and/or the
separated sensing pad may also be arranged to increase the number
of the touching panel cells under the plurality of sensing pads.
When a small angle of rotation can make the plurality of sensing
pads cover different touching panel cells, the resolution of the
rotation angle of the knob device 100 is improved.
[0030] Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view
illustrating a knob device 200 arranged on the touch panel 300
according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Like the
knob device 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention,
the knob device 200 of the second embodiment of the present
invention comprises a knob cover 210, a rotation sensing element
230 and a pressing sensing element 250 both arranged between the
touch panel 300 and the knob cover 210, as shown in FIG. 9. The
rotation sensing element 230 comprises a plurality of sensing pads
234 and a base 232. The difference between the second embodiment
and the first embodiment is that the plurality of sensing pads 234
are arranged on the knob cover 210 and the pressing sensing element
250 is connected to the base 232. When the knob device 200 is
rotated by a user, the plurality of sensing pads 234 and the
pressing sensing element 250 are simultaneously rotated with the
knob device 200. Similarly, when the user touches and presses the
knob cover 210 of the knob device 200 of the second embodiment, the
pressing sensing element 250 abuts against or gets close to the
touch panel 300, such that the touch panel cell(s) 301 under the
pressing sensing element 250 generate pressing sensing signal(s) in
response to the pressing sensing element 250. For example, based on
the sensing signal(s) output from the touch panel cell(s) 301, the
touch panel 300 generates a pressing sensing signal in response to
the user touching and pressing the knob cover 210 of the knob
device 200. Furthermore, when the user touches and rotates the knob
cover 210 of the knob device 200 of the second embodiment, the
touch panel cell(s) 301 under the plurality of sensing pads 234
generates sensing signal(s) in response to a location of the
plurality of sensing pads 234. For example, based on the sensing
signal(s) output from the touch panel cell(s) 301, the touch panel
300 generates a rotation sensing signal in response to the user
touching and rotating the knob cover 210 of the knob device
200.
[0031] Please refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating
the knob device 200 arranged on the touch panel 300 according to
the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
10, the plurality of sensing pads 234 are arranged on the knob
cover 210 and lack an area around a center of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover 210. Assume that when the user touches
and presses the knob cover 210 of the knob device 200, three touch
panel cells 301e, 301f and 301g are under the pressing sensing
element 250, such that the three touch panel cells 301e, 301f and
301g generate three sensing signals. The touch panel 300
(particularly, a controller of the touch panel 300) can be
pre-programed for generating the pressing sensing signal when
receiving three sensing signals generated from three adjacent touch
panel cells. Similarly, when the user touches the knob cover 210 of
the knob device 200, a touch panel cell 301h is under the plurality
of sensing pads 234, such that the touch panel cell 301h generates
a sensing signal which represents that the knob device 200 is
touched. If the user rotates the knob cover 210 of the knob device
200 clockwise, the plurality of sensing pads 234 is moved to a
position above a touch panel cell 301i, such that the touch panel
cell 301i is under the plurality of sensing pads 234 and generates
a sensing signal. The touch panel 300 (particularly, a controller
of the touch panel 300) can be pre-programed for generating a
rotation sensing signal which represents that the knob device 200
is rotated when firstly receiving a sensing signal generated from
one touch panel cell (e.g., touch panel cell 301h in this
embodiment) and then receiving a sensing signal generated from
another touch panel cell (e.g., touch panel cell 301i in this
embodiment). It is noticed that the three touch panel cells 301e,
301f and 301g are probably covered by the plurality of sensing pads
234. Therefore, the difference between the area of the pressing
sensing element 250 and the area of the plurality of sensing pads
234 is greater, such that the misjudgments between pressing and
turning are fewer. Furthermore, when the user rotates the knob
cover 210 of the knob device 200 clockwise, a part of the sensing
pad 234 that is farthest from the center of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover 210 first covers the touch panel cell
301i. Therefore, the area of the sensing pad 234 far from the
center of the orthographic projection of the knob cover 210 can
effectively increase the resolution of the rotation angle of the
knob device 200.
[0032] In the present embodiment, the plurality of sensing pads 234
are arranged on the knob cover 110. The sensing pad design using
multiple sensing pads 234 may have some variations to meet
different requirements. Please refer to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a
diagram illustrating two sensing pads 234 arranged according to two
adjacent fan-shaped areas of the orthographic projection of the
knob cover 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Similarly, an orthographic projection of the knob cover 210 on the
touch panel 300 is divided into a plurality of parts 211 that are
distributed radially from the center of the orthographic projection
of the knob cover 210. The number of the plurality of parts 211
depends on the resolution of the rotation angle of the knob device
200. For the plurality of sensing pads 234 being arranged on the
knob cover 210, the part of the sensing pads 234 far from the
center may be increased. In some embodiments, the plurality of
sensing pads 234 may extend out from the knob cover 210. As shown
in FIG. 11, a set of sensing pads 234 in FIG. 11 is formed by two
sensing pads 234 located on an area far from the center in one
fan-shaped area of an orthographic projection of the knob cover
210, and is further extended out of the orthographic projection of
the knob cover 210, in order to cover more touch panel cells 301.
In other words, the plurality of sensing pads 234 have a first part
and a second part connected with the first part, where The first
part is located in one of the plurality of parts, and the second
part is located outside of the orthographic projection of the knob
cover 211. It is noticed that the part of the sensing pads 234
extended from the knob cover 210 may be seen by the user and may
block a part of the screen.
[0033] In some embodiments, each sensing pad 234 is formed on an
area far from the center of a plurality of fan-shaped area of an
orthographic projection of the knob cover 210. Please refer to FIG.
12. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating two sensing pads 234 arranged
according to two adjacent fan-shaped areas of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover 210 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a set of
sensing pads 234 in FIG. 12 is a sector formed according three
parts 211 located on an area far from the center in the three parts
211, the area of the set of sensing pads 234 far from the center is
enlarged, and the area of the set of sensing pads 234 close to the
center is reduced. Further another set of sensing pads 234 is
located in another three parts 111 and connected to the set of
sensing pad located in the three parts 211 adjacent to the another
three parts 211. In this way, the area of sensing pads 234 far from
the center is increased to cover more touch panel cells 301, and
the area of sensing pads 234 around the center is reduced to make
the rotation sensing element 230 and the pressing sensing element
250 have an enough difference, to prevent the misjudgment between
rotating detected by the rotation sensing element 230 and pressing
detected by the pressing sensing element 250.
[0034] In some embodiments, a gap part 212 of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover 210 is formed between two sets of
sensing pads 234 to make one set of sensing pads 234 separated from
another set of sensing pads 234. Please refer to FIG. 13. FIG. 13
is a diagram illustrating two sets of sensing pads 234 arranged
according to a plurality of fan-shaped areas of the orthographic
projection of the knob cover 210 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, a set of sensing pads 234
in FIG. 13 is formed by two sensing pads 234 located on an area far
from the center in one fan-shaped area of an orthographic
projection of the knob cover 210, a gap part 112 of the plurality
of parts 111 of the orthographic projection of the knob cover 110
is located between two sets of sensing pads 234. In other words,
one gap part 212 is located between the two sets of sensing pads
234 to separate the plurality of sensing pads 134. The separated
sensing pads 234 may cover more touching panel cells 301, such that
resolution of the rotation angle of the knob device is improved.
Please further refer to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating
two sets of sensing pads 234 separately arranged according to a
plurality of fan-shaped areas of the orthographic projection of the
knob cover 211 according to the second embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 14, in some embodiments, a gap part 212
is connected to another gap part 212. For example, a set of sensing
pads 234 in FIG. 14 is a sector formed according three parts 211
located on an area far from the center in the three parts 211, the
area of the set of sensing pads 234 far from the center is
enlarged, and the area of the set of sensing pads 234 close to the
center is reduced. Two gap parts 212 are connected and located
between two sets sensing pads 134 to separate the plurality of
sensing pads 234. The separated sensing pads 234 may cover more
touching panel cells 301, such that the touch panel 300 can obtain
a rotation sensing signal of a slight rotation.
[0035] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
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