Touch control structure, display panel and touch control method

• US 10,275,072 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Han, Yanling, Wang, Xuefei, Zhang, Chunfang, Zou, Xiangxiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Simpson, Lixi C
• Application Number:
  US15/228,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20170277334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a touch control structure, a display panel and a touch control method. The touch control structure comprises a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a plurality of insulative supporting points, and a detection module. The second conductive layer comprises a plurality of electrodes which are independent from each other. The plurality of insulative supporting points is arranged on the first conductive layer and under the second conductive layer. The detection module is connected to the plurality of electrodes, and configured to detect an electrode in the second conductive layer contacted with the first conductive layer when the first conductive layer is pressed, and to determine a level of pressure pressed on the first conductive layer.

Claims

1. A touch control structure, comprising:

a first conductive layer;

a second conductive layer comprising a plurality of electrodes which are independent from each other;

a plurality of insulative supporting points arranged on the second conductive layer and under the first conductive layer; and

a detection module connected to the plurality of electrodes, and configured to detect an electrode in the second conductive layer contacted with the first conductive layer when the first conductive layer is pressed, and to determine a level of pressure pressed on the first conductive layer based on the detected electrode,

wherein the detection module is further configured to count an amount of the electrode in the second conductive layer contacted with the first conductive layer, to compute a first difference between a last counted amount and a first counted amount in response to the counted amount becoming steady, and to determine the level of pressure based on the first difference, the first counted amount being obtained at the beginning of the pressing, the last counted amount being obtained when the counted amount becomes steady, or

wherein the detection module is further configured to measure a total current flowing through the electrode in the second conductive layer contacted with the first conductive layer, to compute a second difference between a last total current and a first total current in response to the total current becoming steady, and to determine the level of pressure based on the second difference, the first total current being measured at the beginning of the pressing, the last total current being measured when the total current becomes steady.

2. The touch control structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of insulative supporting points is uniformly arranged between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

3. The touch control structure according to claim 1, wherein the insulative supporting point is an elastic supporting point.

4. The touch control structure according to claim 1, wherein the first conductive layer has a continuous surface.

5. The touch control structure according to claim 1, wherein the detection module is further configured to determine an amount of the electrode in the second conductive layer contacted with the first conductive layer, and to determine the level of pressure based on the amount.

6. The touch control structure according to claim 1, wherein the detection module is further configured to supply a first voltage to the plurality of electrodes in the second conductive layer;

and

wherein the first conductive layer is connected to a common voltage end or is grounded.

7. The touch control structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is square, and wherein a side length of the square is equal to or less than 1 mm.

8. The touch control structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a protection layer layered on the first conductive layer; and

a glass substrate on which the second conductive layer is arranged.

9. The touch control structure according to claim 1, wherein the detection module is a detection integrated circuit.

10. A display panel comprising the touch control structure according to claim 1.

11. A touch control method for the touch control structure according to claim 1, comprising:

detecting, when the first conductive layer is pressed, the electrode in the second conductive layer contacted with the first conductive layer; and

determining, based on the detected electrode, a level of pressure pressed on the first conductive layer.

12. The touch control method according to claim 11, wherein determining, based on the detected electrode, the level of pressure pressed on the first conductive layer comprises:

determining an amount of the electrode in the second conductive layer contacted with the first conductive layer; and

determining the level of pressure based on the amount.

13. The touch control method according to claim 11, wherein determining, based on the detected electrode, the level of pressure pressed on the first conductive layer comprises:

counting an amount of the electrode in the second conductive a contacted with the first conductive layer;

computing a difference between a last counted amount and a first counted amount in response to the counted amount becoming steady; and

determining the level of pressure based on the difference.

14. The touch control method according to claim 11, wherein determining, based on the detected electrode, the level of the pressure pressed on the first conductive layer comprises:

measuring a total current flowing through the electrode in the second conductive layer contacted with the first conductive layer;

computing a difference between a last to current and a first total current in response to the total current becoming steady; and

determining the level of pressure based on the difference.