Pressure Detection Module, and Touch Panel with Pressure Detection Module

• US 20100097347A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Tzu-Chih
• Application Number:
  US12/573,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097347A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04142 the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate

Abstract

A touch panel is installed in an electronic device. The touch panel comprises a display module and a plurality of pressure detection modules. The display module is electrically located in the electronic device. The plurality of pressure detection modules are electrically coupled to the electronic device, and each of them contacts the bottom of the display module. Each pressure detection module can transmit corresponding different signals to the electronic device according to different pressures, so as to calculate a pressed position of the display module according to the corresponding different pressures sensed by the pressure detection modules.

Claims

1. A touch panel installed in an electronic device, the touch panel comprising:

a display module electrically located in the electronic device; and

a plurality of pressure detection modules disposed in and electrically coupled to the electronic device, and each of the pressure detection modules contacting the bottom surface of the display module;

each pressure detection module can transmit corresponding different electrical signals to the electronic device according to different pressures, so as to calculate a pressed position of the display module according to the corresponding different pressures sensed by the pressure detection modules.

2. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pressure detection module comprises:

a casing, wherein its outside bottom surface is fixed to the electronic device, and its outside top surface is close to the bottom surface of the display module and has a hole;

an action element comprising a slab with a side removably in the casing, and a protrusion which is located on the top surface of the slab, passes through the hole to be against the bottom surface of the display module;

an elastic electric member comprising a fringe rod connected to the slab, and a rebounding portion which is formed by bending the end of the fringe rod and is against the inside bottom surface of the casing;

a resistance member disposed within a side of the casing and touching the fringe rod of the elastic electric member;

when the protrusion is pressed to make the slab descend, which produces a position of the resistance member being touched by the fringe rod, so as to make the resistance member perform a corresponding resistance value in association with the movement of the slab; and

a conductive member disposed within a side of the casing different from the side on which the resistance member is located and touching the fringe rod of the elastic electric member.

3. The touch panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the action element has a shaft on a side;

the casing has shaft holders formed on its two sides opposite to each other;

the two ends of the shaft pivot the shaft holders respectively.

4. The touch panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resistance member comprises a metal board located on the inside surface of the casing at an angle, and a conductive leg which is formed by bending the end of the metal board and which passes through the casing.

5. The touch panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the conductive member comprises a metal board located on the inside surface of the casing perpendicularly, and a conductive leg which is formed by bending the end of the metal board and which passes through the casing.

6. The touch panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein a joint groove is formed on three lateral surfaces of the action element, and the fringe rod of the elastic electric member is a U-shaped metal rod that infixes the joint groove.

7. The touch panel as claimed in claim 2, the display module comprising a frame contacting the protrusion.

8. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amount of the plurality of pressure detection modules is four, and they are respectively located in the corners of the display module.

9. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pressure detection module comprises a piezoresistance.

10. A pressure detection module, applied to a display module of a touch panel of an electronic device, the pressure detection module comprising:

a casing, wherein its outside bottom surface is fixed to the electronic device, and its outside top surface is close to the bottom surface of the display module and has a hole;

an action element comprising a slab with a side removably in the casing, and a protrusion which is located on the top surface of the slab, passes through the hole to be against the bottom surface of the display module;

an elastic electric member comprising a fringe rod connected to the slab, and a rebounding portion which is formed by bending the end of the fringe rod and is against the inside bottom surface of the casing;

a resistance member disposed within a side of the casing and touching the fringe rod of the elastic electric member;

when the protrusion is pressed to make the slab descend, which produces a position of the resistance member being touched by the fringe rod, so as to make the resistance member perform a corresponding resistance value in association with the movement of the slab; and

a conductive member disposed within a side of the casing different from the side where the resistance member is located and touching the fringe rod of the elastic electric member.

11. The pressure detection module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the action element has a shaft on a side;

the casing has shaft holders formed on its two sides opposite to each other;

the two ends of the shaft pivot the shaft holders respectively.

12. The pressure detection module as claimed in claim 10, wherein a joint groove is formed on three lateral surfaces of the action element, and the fringe rod of the elastic electric member is a U-shaped metal rod that infixes the joint groove.

13. The pressure detection module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display module comprises a frame contacting the protrusion.

14. The pressure detection module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the resistance member comprises a metal board located on the inside surface of the casing at an angle and a conductive leg which is formed by bending the end of the metal board and which passes through the casing.

15. The pressure detection module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the conductive member comprises a metal board located on the inside surface of the casing perpendicularly and a conductive leg which is formed by bending the end of the metal board and which passes through the casing.