ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20080284745A1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp (HTC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kao, Yih-Feng, Wang, John C., Shih, Chin-Chung, Hou, Chun-Yao, Hsu, Chih-Feng
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An electronic device that has a sensing function with no-hindrance touching is provided. The electronic device includes a casing, a touch display and a processor. The casing has an opening, and the touch display is disposed inside the opening for receiving an operation of an input tool. The touch display has a sensing surface which allows the input tool to slide smoothly over the sensing surface and the casing. The processor is electrically coupled to the touch display, and the user interface displayed by the touch display is determined by the processor. As a result, the convenience of operating the electronic device is increased.

Claims

1. An electronic device with a sensing function with no-hindrance touching, comprising:

a casing having an opening;

a touch display disposed in the opening for receiving an operation of an input tool, wherein the touch display has a sensing surface, and the input tool can slide across the joint of the sensing surface and the casing without hindrance; and

a processor electrically coupled to the touch display, wherein the processor determines a user interface displayed on the touch display.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the method by which the processor determines the user interface displayed on the touch display comprises the processor identifying the type of the input tool and switching to the corresponding user interface according to the type of the input tool.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the input tool comprises a stylus or a finger of a user.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the difference of height between the sensing surface and the casing at an edge of the opening is limited to a predetermined range.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the predetermined range is between 1 millimeter and 0 millimeter.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensing surface and the casing at an edge of the opening are substantially coplanar.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch display further comprises:

a display disposed in the casing; and

a touch sensing means disposed over the display and in the opening, and the touch sensing means has the sensing surface, wherein the display and the touch sensing means are electrically coupled to the processor.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the touch sensing means comprises:

a transparent substrate;

a first conductor film disposed on the transparent substrate;

at least one spacer;

a second conductor film, wherein the spacer is disposed between the first conductor film and the second conductor film; and

a protective layer disposed on the second conductor film, wherein the protective layer has a light-blocking portion and the sensing surface.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the touch sensing means further comprises:

a plurality of electrodes penetrating the transparent substrate and respectively electrically connected to the first conductor film or the second conductor film; and

a flexible circuit board disposed on a lower surface of the transparent substrate and electrically connected to the electrodes and the processor.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a pad disposed between the flexible circuit board under the electrodes and the casing.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the casing further has a metal plate and a plurality of grounding contacts, the metal plate is disposed over the periphery of the display, the grounding contacts are disposed between the metal plate and the display and are electrically connected between the metal plate and the display.

12. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the touch sensing means comprises a resistive sensing device or a capacitive sensing device.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch display comprises a temperature sensor or an image sensing device for obtaining an image including the input tool.

14. An electronic device with a sensing function with no-hindrance touching, comprising:

a casing having an opening;

a touch display disposed in the opening for receiving an operation of an input tool, wherein the touch display has a sensing surface, and the input tool can slide across the joint of the sensing surface and the casing without hindrance; and

a processor electrically coupled to the touch display and configured for identifying a type of the input tool.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor further comprises determining a user interface display on the touch display according to the type of the input tool.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the difference of height between the sensing surface and the casing at an edge of the opening is limited to a predetermined range, wherein the predetermined range is between 1 millimeter and 0 millimeter.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the sensing surface and the casing at an edge of the opening are substantially coplanar.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the touch display further comprises:

a display disposed in the casing; and

a touch sensing means disposed over the display and in the opening, and the touch sensing means comprising the sensing surface, wherein the display and the touch sensing means are electrically coupled to the processor.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the touch sensing means comprises:

a transparent substrate;

a first conductor film disposed on the transparent substrate;

at least one spacer;

a second conductor film, wherein the spacer is disposed between the first conductor film and the second conductor film; and

a protective layer disposed on the second conductor film, wherein the protective layer has a light-blocking portion and the sensing surface.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the touch sensing means further comprises:

a plurality of electrodes penetrating the transparent substrate and respectively electrically connected to the first conductor film or the second conductor film; and

a flexible circuit board disposed on a lower surface of the transparent substrate and electrically connected to the electrodes and the processor.

21. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the input tool comprises a stylus or a finger of a user.