Pressure sensing input equipment comprising pressuring sensing electrodes

• US 10,401,990 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2016
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chen, Feng, He, Jiayou, Ye, Kunxiong
• Primary Examiner(s): Shen, Yuzhen
• Application Number:
  US15/206,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20170010703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,150 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133345 Insulating layers G02F1/1335, G02F1/1337, G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133357 Planarisation layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133514 Colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134309 characterised by their geometrical arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13439 characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136286 Wiring, e.g. gate line, drain line
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1368 in which the switching element is a three-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• 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 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0296 Conductive pattern lay-out details not covered by sub groups H05K1/02 - H05K1/0295 H05K1/11 takes precedence; lay-out adapted to mounted component configuration H05K1/18

Abstract

A pressure sensing input equipment includes a substrate, a first surface and a second surface, an electrode layer, and a pressure sensing chip. The first surface and the second surface are disposed oppositely. The first surface includes a pressure sensing region and a non-pressure sensing region, in which the area of the non-pressure sensing region is complementary to the area of the pressure sensing region. The electrode layer includes a plurality of pressure sensing electrodes disposed in the pressure sensing region to detect pressure magnitude. The pressure sensing electrodes include a first end part and a second end part. The pressure sensing chip is electrically connected to the pressure sensing electrodes, and the pressure sensing chip determines pressure magnitude by detecting the resistance variation after the pressure sensing electrode was pressured. Such design can achieve double functions that detect touch position and pressure magnitude of the pressure sensing input equipment.

Claims

1. A pressure sensing input equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprising a first surface defining a pressure sensing region and a non-pressure sensing region;

a plurality of pressure sensing electrodes disposed only in the pressure sensing region and configured to detect pressure magnitude of a touch to the pressure sensing input equipment;

a plurality of touch sensing electrodes comprising a plurality of first touch sensing electrodes and a plurality of second touch sensing electrodes, wherein;

the plurality of touch sensing electrodes are disposed only in the non-pressure sensing region for detecting a touch location of the touch to the pressure sensing input equipment,

there is no overlap between the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes and the plurality of touch sensing electrodes,

the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes and the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes are interleaved but do not cross,

the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes are radially disposed in a radial interspace of the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes, and

the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes comprise a plurality of first touch sensing electrode projection parts and a plurality of first touch sensing electrode spheres; and

a pressure sensing chip electrically connected to the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes, wherein after the pressure sensing input equipment receives pressure, the pressure sensing chip detects an induced resistance variation of one or more of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes to achieve pressure magnitude detection.

2. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of first wires, wherein each of the plurality of first wires is connected to a first end part of a corresponding one of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes;

a plurality of second wires, wherein each of the plurality of second wires is connected to a second end part of a corresponding one of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes; and

a flexible printed circuit connected to the plurality of first wires and the plurality of second wires, wherein the pressure sensing chip is connected to the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes through the flexible printed circuit.

3. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes are arranged in radial shape or tortuous path in the pressure sensing region.

4. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, wherein an area of the pressure sensing region is smaller than an area of the non-pressure sensing region.

5. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, wherein:

the pressure sensing chip comprises a Wheatstone bridge circuit,

after the pressure sensing input equipment receives the pressure, the Wheatstone bridge circuit detects the induced resistance variation of one or more of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes.

6. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, wherein:

the substrate is a cover board, and

a second surface of the substrate, diametrically opposite the first surface, is an operation surface.

7. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover board, wherein;

the cover board comprises a first surface and an element installation surface opposite to the first surface,

the first surface is an operation surface, and

the element installation surface is present over the substrate.

8. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes, the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes, and the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes are electrically insulated from each other.

9. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 8, wherein:

a wire width of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes is 0.5 to 0.8 times a wire width of the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes and a wire width of the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes, and

the wire width of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes ranges from 5 μ

m to 300 μ

m.

10. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of first touch sensing electrode spheres are set as a center, and

the plurality of first touch sensing electrode projection parts are radially arranged and uniformly spaced from each other with respect to the center.

11. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of second sensing electrode recesses are defined by the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes,

the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes are arranged in a radial shape, and

the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes are disposed in an interspace of an interleaved structure formed by the plurality of first touch sensing electrode projection parts and the plurality of second sensing electrodes recesses.

12. A pressure sensing input equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein;

the first surface and the second surface are disposed oppositely,

the first surface comprises a pressure sensing region and a non-pressure sensing region, and

an area of the first surface is complementary to another area of the second surface;

an electrode layer comprising a plurality of pressure sensing electrodes disposed in the pressure sensing region and configured to detect pressure magnitude, wherein the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes comprise a first end part and a second end part opposite to the first end part; and

a pressure sensing chip electrically connected to the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes, wherein;

after the pressure sensing input equipment receives pressure, the pressure sensing chip detects an induced resistance variation of one or more of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes to achieve pressure magnitude detection,

a plurality of first touch sensing electrodes and a plurality of second touch sensing electrodes are disposed in the non-pressure sensing region for detecting multipoint touch positions,

the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes and the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes are interleaved but do not cross,

the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes are disposed in gaps between the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes and the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes,

the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes, the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes, and the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes are electrically insulated from each other,

a wire width of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes is 0.5 to 0.8 times a wire width of the plurality of first touch sensinq electrodes and a wire width of the plurality of second touch sensinq electrodes, and

the wire width of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes ranges from 5 μ

m to 300 μ

m.

13. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 12, wherein:

the pressure sensing chip comprises a Wheatstone bridge circuit,

after the pressure sensing input equipment receives the pressure, the Wheatstone bridge circuit detects the induced resistance variation of one or more of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes.

14. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 12, wherein:

there is no overlap between the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes and the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes, and

there is no overlap between the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes and the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes.

15. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of first wires, wherein each of the plurality of first wires is connected to a first end part of a corresponding one of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes;

a plurality of second wires, wherein each of the plurality of second wires is connected to a second end part of a corresponding one of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes; and

a flexible printed circuit connected to the plurality of first wires and the plurality of second wires, wherein the pressure sensing chip is connected to the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes through the flexible printed circuit.

16. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 12, wherein an area of the pressure sensing region is smaller than an area of the non-pressure sensing region.

17. A pressure sensing input equipment, comprising:

a substrate comprising a first surface defining a pressure sensing region and a non-pressure sensing region;

a plurality of pressure sensing electrodes disposed only in the pressure sensing region and configured to detect pressure magnitude of a touch to the pressure sensing input equipment; and

a plurality of touch sensing electrodes comprising a plurality of first touch sensing electrodes and a plurality of second touch sensing electrodes, wherein;

the plurality of touch sensing electrodes are disposed only in the non-pressure sensing region for detecting touch location of the touch to the pressure sensing input equipment,

there is no overlap between the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes and the plurality of touch sensing electrodes,

a first electrode of the plurality of first touch sensing electrodes has a longest dimension extending in a first direction,

a second electrode of the plurality of second touch sensing electrodes has a longest dimension extending in the first direction,

the first electrode comprises a plurality of first touch sensing electrode projection parts protruding from the first electrode in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

the second electrode comprises a plurality of second touch sensing electrode projection parts protruding from the second electrode in the second direction,

the plurality of first touch sensing electrode projection parts and the plurality of second touch sensing electrode projection parts each intersect a single line extending in the first direction, and

a first pressure sensing electrode of the plurality of pressure sensing electrodes is interleaved between the plurality of first touch sensing electrode projection parts and the plurality of second touch sensing electrode projection parts.

18. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 17, wherein the first pressure sensing electrode intersects the single line extending in the first direction.

19. The pressure sensing input equipment of claim 17, wherein:

the first pressure sensing electrode has a longest dimension extending in the first direction,

the first pressure sensing electrode comprises a first end part and a second end part disposed opposite the first end part in the first direction, and

a first wire is connected to the first end part and a second wire is connected to the second end part.