Touch Input Device

• US 20180095578A1
• Filed: 12/09/2016
• Published: 04/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Sah, Sung Jin, Oh, Kwang Myung, Park, Sung Min
• Granted Patent: US 10,599,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/965 Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a touch input device. The touch input device includes a first touch sensing member which is provided with a first touch surface. A second touch sensing member is disposed across the first touch sensing member, and is provided with a second touch surface that is located on the opposite side of the first touch sensing member. A suspension is provided to be deformable in response to a touch direction when a touch is applied to one of the first touch sensing member and the second touch sensing member. A force sensor is provided in the suspension.

Claims

1. A touch input device comprising:

a first touch sensing member having a first touch surface;

a second touch sensing member disposed across the first touch sensing member, the second touch sensing member having a second touch surface that is located at a side of the second touching surface opposite the first touch sensing member;

a suspension configured to be deformable in response to a touch direction when a touch is applied to the first touch sensing member or the second touch sensing member; and

a force sensor disposed in the suspension.

2. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the suspension is configured to be bent toward the second touch sensing member when the first touch sensing member is touched, and wherein the suspension is configured to be bent toward the first touch sensing member when the second touch sensing member is touched.

3. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the suspension comprises a plate spring.

4. The touch input device of claim 3, wherein the plate spring a long length in comparison with a thickness.

5. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the suspension is supported by the first and second touch sensing members, and the other side of the suspension is fixed to a frame.

6. The touch input device of claim 1, further comprising a frame supporting the suspension.

7. The touch input device of claim 6, wherein a first end of the suspension is supported by the first and second touch sensing members and a second and of the suspension is supported by the frame.

8. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor is configured to output a signal individually according to a bending direction of the suspension.

9. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the suspension includes a moving portion that moves by a selective touch for the first touch sensing member and the second touch sensing member, a fixing portion that is spaced apart from the moving portion at regular distance, and a deformation portion disposed between the moving portion and the fixing portion.

10. The touch input device of claim 9, wherein the force sensor is provided in the deformation portion of the suspension.

11. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor comprises a strain gauge.

12. A method of operating a touch input device that includes a first touch sensing member, a second touch sensing member, a suspension between the first touch sensing member and the second touch sensing member, and a force sensor disposed in the suspension, the method comprising:

sensing a force due do a touching of a touch surface of the first touch sensing member, the force causing the suspension to be bent toward the second touch sensing member;

outputting an indication that the touch surface of the first touch sensing member has been touched;

sensing a force due do a touching of a touch surface of the second touch sensing member, the force causing the suspension to be bent toward the first touch sensing member; and

outputting an indication that the touch surface of the second touch sensing member has been touched.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein outputting the indication that the touch surface of the first touch sensing member has been touched comprises outputting a signal from the force sensor.