Touch panel and electronic device including the same
First Claim
1. A touch panel comprising:
- a first substrate;
a second substrate that is spaced apart from the first substrate by a gap, the second substrate comprising a contact surface;
a plurality of driving electrodes that are formed on each of the first substrate and the second substrate;
an electro-rheological fluid that fills the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; and
a controller configured to apply a driving voltage between at least two opposing driving electrodes of the plurality of driving electrodes such that, a button area is delimited due to a variation in viscosity of a portion of the electro-rheological fluid between the at least two opposing driving electrodes, and cut off the driving voltage when a thickness of the gap between the first and second substrates at the button area is reduced to a value equal to or less than a threshold due to a pressing force applied to the contact surface at the button area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch panel and an electronic device are provided. The touch panel includes a first substrate; a second substrate that is spaced apart from the first substrate by a gap and includes a contact surface; driving electrodes that are formed on each of the first substrate and the second substrate; and electro-rheological fluid that is disposed in the gap. When a driving voltage is applied between the driving electrodes, a button area is delimited due to a variation in viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid at the button area. When a thickness of the gap is reduced to a value equal to or less than a threshold due to a pressing force applied to the contact surface at the button area, the driving voltage is cut off.
96 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A touch panel comprising:
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a first substrate; a second substrate that is spaced apart from the first substrate by a gap, the second substrate comprising a contact surface; a plurality of driving electrodes that are formed on each of the first substrate and the second substrate; an electro-rheological fluid that fills the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a controller configured to apply a driving voltage between at least two opposing driving electrodes of the plurality of driving electrodes such that, a button area is delimited due to a variation in viscosity of a portion of the electro-rheological fluid between the at least two opposing driving electrodes, and cut off the driving voltage when a thickness of the gap between the first and second substrates at the button area is reduced to a value equal to or less than a threshold due to a pressing force applied to the contact surface at the button area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A touch panel comprising:
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a first substrate; a second substrate that is spaced apart from the first substrate by a gap, the second substrate comprising a contact surface; a plurality of driving electrodes including a first electrode formed on the first substrate and a second electrode formed on the second substrate and opposing the first electrode; electro-rheological fluid that fills in the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a controller configured to apply a driving voltage between the first and second driving electrodes to divide the contact surface into a first area in which a viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid is increased, and a second area in which a viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid does not vary, wherein the first area is delimited as a button area for inputting a signal on the user contact surface, and wherein the controller cuts off the driving voltage if the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode at the button area decreases to a value equal to or less than a threshold due to a pressure applied on the button area. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A touch panel comprising:
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a hard, transparent first substrate; a deformable, transparent second substrate that is spaced apart from the first substrate by a gap, wherein the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate is varied according to deformation of the second substrate; a plurality of driving electrodes including a first electrode formed on the first substrate and a second electrode formed on the second substrate opposing the first electrode; a plurality of spacers arranged in a dispersed manner in the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; and electro-rheological fluid fills the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a controller configured to apply a driving voltage between at least two opposing driving electrodes of the plurality of driving electrodes such that, a button area is delimited due to a variation in viscosity of a portion of the electro-rheological fluid between the at least two opposing driving electrodes, and cut off the driving voltage when a thickness of the gap between the first and the second substrates at the button area is reduced to a value equal to or less than a threshold due to a pressing force applied to a contact surface of the second substrate at the button area. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An electronic device comprising:
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a first substrate;
a deformable second substrate that is spaced apart from the first substrate, wherein adistance between the first substrate and the second substrate is varied according to deformation of the second substrate; a plurality of driving electrodes including a first electrode formed on the first substrate and a second electrode formed on the second substrate to which a driving voltage is selectively applied; and electro-rheological fluid interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a controller configured to apply a driving voltage between at least two opposing driving electrodes of the plurality of driving electrodes such that, a button area is delimited due to a variation in viscosity of a portion of the electro-rheological fluid between the at least two opposing driving electrodes, and cut off the driving voltage when the distance between the first and the second substrates at the button area is reduced to a value equal to or less than a threshold due to a pressing force applied on the button area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A touch panel comprising:
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a first substrate; a plurality of first electrodes formed on the first substrate; a second substrate separated from the first substrate by a gap and comprising a contact surface; a plurality of second electrodes formed on the second substrate; electro-rheological fluid that fills the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a controller configured to apply a driving voltage to the first and second driving electrodes, wherein the contact surface includes a plurality of button areas delimited by the first and second electrodes, and wherein the controller cuts off the driving voltage if the gap between one of the first electrodes and one of the second electrodes at a button area decreases to a value equal to or less than a threshold due to a pressure applied on the button area. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A touch panel comprising:
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a first substrate; a second substrate that is spaced apart from the first substrate by a gap, the second substrate comprising a contact surface; a plurality of driving electrodes formed on the first substrate and the second substrate; an electro-rheological fluid that is disposed in the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a driving circuit that is configured to apply a driving voltage between at least two opposing driving electrodes of the plurality of driving electrodes to thereby delimit a button area due to an change in viscosity of a portion of the electro-rheological fluid between the first and second substrates at the button area, and to cut off the driving voltage applied to the at least two opposing driving electrodes when a thickness of the gap between the first and second substrates at the button area is reduced to a value equal to or less than a threshold due to a pressing force applied to the contact surface at the button area. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification