Touch panel capable of forming desired shape at desired position on detection screen, electronic device including same, and method for driiving same

• US 9,448,662 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sugita, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Park, Sanghyuk
• Application Number:
  US14/396,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

The present invention provides a touch panel module capable of forming a desired shape in a desired position on a detection screen.

An applied voltage controlling section causes deformation of the detection screen 11, by applying a voltage to at least a part of a region between a first electrode 12 and a second electrode 34 so as to deform a portion of a deformable member 20 which portion corresponds to the part of the region to which part the voltage is applied.

Claims

1. A method for driving a touch panel module for detecting a position of a detection target object,

the touch panel including:

a detection screen;

a first electrode provided on a back surface of the detection screen;

a second electrode provided so as to face the first electrode, the second electrode including a plurality of lower electrodes each being connected to a TFT as a switching element, the lower electrodes being arranged in a matrix form; and

a deformable member that deforms in response to application of a voltage, the deformable member being provided between the first electrode and the second electrode,

the position of the detection target object being detected relative to the detection screen, on a basis of an approach or a touch of the detection target object to the detection screen,

the method comprising;

in a pause period in which the position is not detected, deforming the detection screen, by applying the voltage to at least a portion of a region between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to deform a portion of the deformable member which portion corresponds to the portion of the region to which part the voltage is applied; and

in a detection period in which the position is detected, setting the TFT in a non-selected state, wherein

in the pause period, the voltage applied to the portion of the region is changed at a frequency in a range of 1 Hz to 500 Hz.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the voltage is applied to the portion of the region by subjecting the lower electrodes to active matrix drive.

3. A method for driving a touch panel module for detecting a position of a detection target object,

the touch panel including:

a detection screen;

a first electrode provided on a back surface of the detection screen;

a second electrode provided so as to face the first electrode, the second electrode including a plurality of lower electrodes each being connected to a TFT as a switching element, the lower electrodes being arranged in a matrix form; and

a deformable member that deforms in response to application of a voltage, the deformable member being provided between the first electrode and the second electrode,

the position of the detection target object being detected relative to the detection screen, on a basis of an approach or a touch of the detection target object to the detection screen,

the method comprising;

in a pause period in which the position is not detected, deforming the detection screen, by applying the voltage to a portion of a region between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to deform a portion of the deformable member which portion corresponds to the portion of the region to which part the voltage is applied; and

in a detection period in which the position is detected, setting the TFT in a non-selected state, wherein

in a case where the first electrode includes (i) a plurality of drive electrodes provided parallel to each other and (ii) a plurality of sensing electrodes that are provided parallel to each other and insulated from the drive electrodes via an insulator; and

the drive electrodes and the sensing electrodes are orthogonal to each other in a matrix form,

in the pause period, setting the first electrode to a constant potential; and

in the detection period, changing potentials of the drive electrodes to detect the position on a basis of a change in static capacitance between the drive electrodes and the sensing electrodes.

4. A method for driving a touch panel module for detecting a position of a detection target object,

the touch panel including:

a detection screen;

a first electrode provided on a back surface of the detection screen;

a second electrode provided so as to face the first electrode, the second electrode including a plurality of lower electrodes each being connected to a TFT as a switching element, the lower electrodes being arranged in a matrix form; and

a deformable member that deforms in response to application of a voltage, the deformable member being provided between the first electrode and the second electrode,

the position of the detection target object being detected relative to the detection screen, on a basis of an approach or a touch of the detection target object to the detection screen,

the method comprising;

in a pause period in which the position is not detected, deforming the detection screen, by applying the voltage to a portion of a region between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to deform a portion of the deformable member which portion corresponds to the portion of the region to which part the voltage is applied; and

in a detection period in which the position is detected, setting the TFT in a non-selected state, wherein;

the detection period and the pause period are alternately repeated; and

the detection period is repeated at a frequency of 60 Hz or higher.

5. A method for driving a touch panel module for detecting a position of a detection target object,

the touch panel including:

a detection screen;

a first electrode provided on a back surface of the detection screen;

a second electrode provided so as to face the first electrode, the second electrode including a plurality of lower electrodes each being connected to a TFT as a switching element, the lower electrodes being arranged in a matrix form; and

a deformable member that deforms in response to application of a voltage, the deformable member being provided between the first electrode and the second electrode,

the position of the detection target object being detected relative to the detection screen, on a basis of an approach or a touch of the detection target object to the detection screen,

the method comprising;

in a pause period in which the position is not detected, deforming the detection screen, by applying the voltage to a portion of a region between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to deform a portion of the deformable member which portion corresponds to the portion of the region to which part the voltage is applied; and

in a detection period in which the position is detected, setting the TFT in a non-selected state, wherein;

the detection period and the pause period are alternately repeated; and

the pause period is less than 16 msec.