Touch sensing device and method of detecting touch coordinates thereof

Abstract

A method of detecting touch coordinates in a touch sensing device is disclosed. The method of detecting touch coordinates can include calculating touch coordinates of a touch point, determining whether correction of the touch coordinates is required, when the correction of the touch coordinates is required, extending a first distance between a reference coordinate and the touch coordinates to a second distance, and correcting the touch coordinates by using a value of the second distance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a touch sensing device and a method for detecting its touch coordinates, and more specifically, to a technique for accurately detecting touch coordinates in an edge region of a display. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, user interfaces enable users to easily control electronic devices. User interface technology continues to evolve towards greater user sensitivity and ease of operation. Recently, touch user interfaces have also been expanded and applied to wearable electronic products with circular displays.

[0003] However, touch sensing devices used in circular displays may experience a lack of sensitivity to touch input in the edge areas of the circular display. Therefore, the accuracy of touch coordinates detected by the touch sensing device may be reduced.

[0004] Therefore, a technology is needed that can accurately detect the touch coordinates of the edge area of ​​a circular display. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Various implementations relate to providing a touch sensing device capable of accurately detecting touch coordinates of an edge region of a display and a method for detecting such touch coordinates.

[0006] In an implementation, a method for detecting touch coordinates in a touch sensing device may include: calculating the touch coordinates of a touch point; determining whether the touch coordinates need to be corrected; when the touch coordinates need to be corrected, extending a first distance between the reference coordinates and the touch coordinates to a second distance; and correcting the touch coordinates by using the value of the second distance.

[0007] In an implementation, the touch sensing device may include: a readout circuit configured to read a charge from a touch sensing panel and output data corresponding to the read charge; and a controller configured to use the data to calculate touch coordinates, determine whether touch coordinates need to be corrected, and when touch coordinates need to be corrected, extend a first distance between a reference coordinate and the touch coordinates to a second distance, and correct the touch coordinates using the value of the second distance.

[0008] According to the implementation method, if the touch coordinates of the touch point correspond to the area that needs to be corrected, the touch coordinates of the edge area can be accurately detected by correcting the touch coordinates based on the extended distance between the reference coordinates and the touch coordinates. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the edge area of ​​a touch-sensitive circular display.

[0010] Figure 2This is a block diagram of a touch sensing device according to an implementation method.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting touch coordinates by a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the correction of touch coordinates according to an implementation method.

[0013] Figure 5 It is a graph depicting the extension of the distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates according to the implementation method. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The implementation may provide a touch sensing device capable of accurately detecting touch coordinates in the edge region of a display and a method for detecting those touch coordinates.

[0015] In this implementation, the reference coordinates can be set to the center coordinates of the circle. The reference distance can be set to the radius of the circle.

[0016] In the implementation, reference coordinates can be set for each area in the touch sensing panel that requires coordinate correction.

[0017] The embodiments illustrate their application to a circular display employing a touch-sensing panel. In this case, the reference coordinates can be set to the center coordinates of a circle corresponding to the planar shape of the circular display.

[0018] Furthermore, the implementation is not limited to circular displays. For example, the implementation can be applied to displays with edge regions formed by multiple curves. In this case, reference coordinates can be set for each of the multiple curves.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the edge area of ​​a touch-sensitive circular display.

[0020] exist Figure 1 In the diagram, ①, ②, and ③ indicate the touch points. Furthermore, the rectangular unit can be understood as a touch sensor. The touch sensor will be described in detail later.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, in a touch-sensing panel applied to a circular display, touch points in the edge area can be detected with insufficient sensitivity depending on the ratio of the sensing position to the sensing area. That is, a lack of sensitivity may occur.

[0022] exist Figure 1Example 1 illustrates a scenario where the edge of a touch point contacts the edge of a touch-sensing panel. In Example 1, the sensitivity of the touch point may be proportional to the sensing area. Accuracy of touch coordinates with the same performance as the center of a circle needs to be ensured; however, considering the characteristics of edge areas, a lack of sensitivity may occur due to the low ratio of the sensing area to the touch point.

[0023] Example 2 illustrates a case where the center of the touch point is located at the edge of the touch-sensing panel. In Example 2, due to insufficient sensitivity in the edge area of ​​the touch-sensing panel and an insufficient sensing area, the sensitivity of the touch point may be lower than that of the touch point in Example 1. Furthermore, the accuracy of the touch coordinates may be reduced due to the coordinate offset towards the center.

[0024] The implementation aims to provide a touch sensing device and a method for accurately detecting touch coordinates even though the touch point is positioned as in Examples 1 and 2.

[0025] In describing this disclosure, detailed descriptions of relevant known functions or configurations will be omitted if they are deemed unnecessary to obscure the subject matter of this disclosure. Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" described in the specification are not limited thereto and are used only to distinguish one element from another.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a block diagram of a touch sensing device 100 according to an embodiment.

[0027] Reference Figure 2 The touch sensing device 100 may include a readout circuit ROIC and a controller MCU. For example, the touch sensing device 100 may be applied to a circular display.

[0028] A touch-sensing panel (TSP) can be used on a circular display panel. The TSP can be implemented to sense touch input capacitively. For example, the TSP may include a drive line (not shown) and read lines Rx1 to Rxi intersecting the drive line. A touch sensor can be disposed in the area where the drive line and read lines Rx1 to Rxi intersect. The touch sensor can be understood as an element equivalently formed between the drive line and the read lines with a preset capacitance. Furthermore, the touch sensor can be understood as forming a unit area of ​​touch sensing region based on the intersection of the drive line and the read lines Rx1 to Rxi. In this case, the touch sensing region can be understood as corresponding to... Figure 1 The unit.

[0029] The readout circuit ROIC reads the charge from the touch sensor panel (TSP) and can provide the corresponding data to the controller MCU. For example, the readout circuit ROIC can select a read line in response to a drive signal from the controller MCU, through which the charge will be received based on the capacitance of the touch sensor.

[0030] The readout circuit ROIC can read the charge by reading the capacitance of the touch sensor selected in sync with the drive signal via the read line.

[0031] Furthermore, the ROIC (Readout Circuit) can sample the received charge, accumulate the sampled charge in the integrator's capacitor, and convert the capacitor voltage into digital data using an analog-to-digital converter. The ROIC can then provide data to the controller MCU.

[0032] The controller MCU can calculate the touch coordinates corresponding to the touch point based on the data received from the readout circuit ROIC.

[0033] The controller MCU can determine whether the touch coordinates are coordinates that need to be corrected. For example, if the controller MCU determines whether the touch coordinates are coordinates that need to be corrected, the controller MCU can calculate a first distance between the touch coordinates and the center of the circular display, and if the value of the first distance is within the reference range, it can be determined that the touch coordinates are coordinates that need to be corrected.

[0034] In this context, the reference range can be defined as the range within the touch-sensing panel where touch coordinates need to be calibrated. The reference range can be set from a value obtained by subtracting a given multiple of the touch sensor size from the radius of the circle to the radius of the circle itself. In this case, the touch sensor size can be understood as the touch-sensing area. For example, the reference range can be set from a value obtained by subtracting 1.5 times the touch sensor size from the radius of the circle to the radius of the circle itself.

[0035] Furthermore, if touch coordinate correction is required, the controller MCU can extend the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinate to a second distance. If the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinate is extended to the second distance, the controller MCU can determine the partition to which the value of the first distance belongs, and can calculate the value of the second distance by using an equation corresponding to the partition to which the value of the first distance belongs.

[0036] In this case, the partitioning can be defined by dividing a reference range, defined as the area within the touch-sensing panel where touch coordinates need to be corrected, into multiple parts. The equation set in each partition can be configured to expand from a first distance to a second distance with a greater slope as the corresponding part gets closer to the radius of the circle.

[0037] The controller MCU can correct the touch coordinates by using the value of a second distance extended from the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates. If the touch coordinates are corrected, the controller MCU can obtain the corrected touch coordinates by replacing the value of the touch coordinates to be corrected with the value of the second distance and a trigonometric function, and by replacing the trigonometric function with the value of the touch coordinates and the value of the first distance.

[0038] Furthermore, coordinate values ​​for the center of a circle can be set for each area in the touch-sensing panel that requires coordinate correction. For example, the coordinate values ​​of the center of the circle can be used to calculate the distance from the center to the touch coordinates and can be used to correct the touch coordinates. The coordinate values ​​of the center of the circle can be set differently in multiple edge areas with multiple curves.

[0039] Although the driving circuit is not shown, the touch sensing device 100 may also include a driving circuit.

[0040] The drive circuit can select a drive line in response to the controller's control signal and provide a drive signal to the selected drive line. The drive circuit can apply the drive signal to the touch sensor several times via the drive line, causing the charge on the touch sensor to accumulate in the integrator of the readout circuit. When the charge on the touch sensor accumulates in the integrator of the readout circuit, the sensing sensitivity can be improved because the charge change before and after the touch input may be larger.

[0041] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting touch coordinates by a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0042] Reference Figure 3 The touch sensing device 100 can calculate the touch coordinates of the touch point (S10).

[0043] Next, the touch sensing device 100 can determine whether the touch coordinates are coordinates that need to be corrected (S20). To determine whether the touch coordinates are coordinates that need to be corrected, the touch sensing device 100 can calculate a first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates, and when the value of the first distance is within the reference range for touch coordinates that need to be corrected, it can be determined that the touch coordinates are coordinates that need to be corrected.

[0044] If the touch coordinates are determined to be coordinates that need correction, the touch sensing device 100 can extend the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates to a second distance (S30). When the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates is extended to the second distance, the touch sensing device 100 can determine the partition to which the value of the first distance belongs in the preset partition, and can calculate the value of the first distance as the value of the second distance by using an equation corresponding to the partition to which the value of the first distance belongs.

[0045] The touch sensing device 100 can extend the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates to a second distance using an equation set for each partition. For example, the equation set for each partition can be configured to extend the first distance to the second distance with a larger slope when the corresponding part is closer to the radius of the circle. The maximum coordinates of the edge of the circular display can correspond to a location where the distance between the edge and the center of the circle is the radius. The distance between the current touch coordinates and the center of the circle can be calculated. If the calculated distance corresponds to the part where the touch coordinates need to be corrected, the distance between the edge and the center of the circle can be extended proportionally.

[0046] Next, the touch sensing device 100 can correct the touch coordinates by using the value of a second distance extended from the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates (S40). When correcting the touch coordinates using the value of the second distance, the touch sensing device 100 can replace the value of the touch coordinates to be corrected with the value of the second distance and a trigonometric function. In this case, the touch sensing device 100 can calculate the corrected touch coordinate value by replacing the trigonometric function with the value of the touch coordinates and the value of the first distance.

[0047] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the correction of touch coordinates according to an implementation method.

[0048] exist Figure 4 In the diagram, the coordinates of the center of the circle are represented as O(X0, Y0), the touch coordinates are represented as P(X1, Y1), and the corrected touch coordinates are represented as P(X'1, Y'1).

[0049] In an implementation, the touch coordinates P(X1, Y1) can be corrected using the value of a second distance extended from the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates, as well as a trigonometric function.

[0050]

[0051] In Equation 1, X1Y1_distance represents the straight-line distance between the center O(X0, Y0) and the touch coordinate P(X1, Y1). X'1Y'1_distance represents the extended distance.

[0052] As in Equation 1, the touch coordinates to be corrected can be replaced with trigonometric functions using the value of the second distance. The trigonometric functions can be replaced with the touch coordinates and the value of the first distance. As described above, the corrected touch coordinates can be calculated using trigonometric functions and the value of the second distance extended from the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates.

[0053] Figure 5 It is a graph depicting the extension of the distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates according to the implementation method.

[0054] Reference Figure 5 In this implementation, when the first distance between the center of the circle and the touch coordinates is extended to a second distance, the partition to which the value of the first distance belongs among the partitions Section 1 to Section 4 can be determined. The value of the first distance can be extended to the value of the second distance by using an equation corresponding to the partition to which the value of the first distance belongs.

[0055] For example, linear functions with different slopes a1 to a4 can be set in the partitioned sections 1 to 4 respectively. The values ​​of slopes a1 to a4 can be set to increase as the section gets closer to the radius of the circle.

[0056] As described above, since the touch coordinates of the touch point are corrected by using the extended distance between the reference coordinates and the touch coordinates if the touch coordinates correspond to the area that needs to be corrected, the implementation can accurately detect the touch coordinates of the edge area.

Claims

1. A method of detecting touch coordinates in a touch sensing device, the method comprising: calculating touch coordinates of a touch point; determining that the touch coordinates are coordinates requiring correction when a value of a first distance between a reference coordinate and the touch coordinates is within a reference range; extending the first distance to a second distance when the touch coordinates require correction; and correcting the touch coordinates by using a value of the second distance, wherein the touch coordinates are located on a circular display, wherein the extending the first distance to the second distance comprises: extending the first distance to the second distance by calculating the value of the first distance as the value of the second distance according to an equation corresponding to the value of the first distance, wherein the first distance is between the touch coordinates and a center of the circular display, wherein the equation is set to extend the first distance to the second distance with a greater slope as the first distance is closer to a radius of the circle. the determining that the touch coordinates are coordinates requiring correction comprises:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, calculating the first distance between the reference coordinate and the touch coordinates; and determining that the touch coordinates are coordinates requiring correction when the value of the first distance is within the reference range. the reference range is set to a range from a reference distance representing a distance preset based on the reference coordinate to a value obtained by subtracting a given multiple of a touch sensor size from the reference distance.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: the reference coordinate is set to a center coordinate of the circle, and the reference distance is set to the radius of the circle. the extending the first distance to the second distance comprises:

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, determining a partition portion to which the value of the first distance belongs among a plurality of partition portions of the reference range; and calculating the value of the first distance as the value of the second distance by using the equation corresponding to the partition portion to which the value of the first distance belongs. the partition portions are set by dividing the reference range representing a range requiring correction in a touch sensing panel into a plurality of portions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, the equation set for each of the partition portions is set to extend the first distance to the second distance with a greater slope as the partition portion is closer to a reference distance representing a distance preset based on the reference coordinate.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, the correcting the touch coordinates comprises obtaining corrected touch coordinates by replacing a value of the touch coordinates to be corrected with the value of the second distance and a trigonometric function, and replacing the trigonometric function with a value of the touch coordinates and a value of the first distance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, the reference coordinate is set for each area requiring coordinate correction in the touch sensing panel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, 10. A touch sensing device comprising: a readout circuit configured to read charges from a touch sensing panel and output data corresponding to the read charges; and a controller configured to: calculate touch coordinates by using the data, determine that the touch coordinates are coordinates requiring correction when a value of a first distance between a reference coordinate and the touch coordinates is within a reference range, ​ when the touch coordinates need to be corrected, the first distance is extended to a second distance, and the touch coordinates are corrected by using a value of the second distance, wherein the touch coordinates are located on a circular display, wherein the controller is configured to extend the first distance to the second distance by calculating a value of the first distance as a value of the second distance according to an equation corresponding to the value of the first distance, wherein the first distance is between the touch coordinates and a center of the circular display, wherein the equation is set to extend the first distance to the second distance with a greater slope as the first distance is closer to a radius of the circle.

11. The touch-sensing device of claim 10, wherein, When it is determined that the touch coordinates are coordinates that need to be corrected, the controller calculates the first distance between the touch coordinates and the center of the circular display, and determines that the touch coordinates are coordinates that need to be corrected when a value of the first distance is within a reference range.

12. The touch-sensing device of claim 11, wherein, The reference range is set to a range from a reference distance representing a distance preset based on the reference coordinates to a value obtained by subtracting a given multiple of a touch sensor size from the reference distance.

13. The touch sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: the reference coordinates are set to a center coordinate of the circle, and the reference distance is set to the radius of the circle.

14. The touch-sensing device of claim 10, wherein, If the first distance between the reference coordinates and the touch coordinates is extended to the second distance, the controller determines a partition part to which a value of the first distance belongs among a plurality of partition parts of the reference range, and calculates the value of the first distance as a value of the second distance by using an equation corresponding to the partition part to which the value of the first distance belongs.

15. The touch-sensing device of claim 14, wherein, The partition parts are set by dividing the reference range representing a range that needs to be corrected in a touch sensing panel into a plurality of parts.

16. The touch-sensing device of claim 14, wherein, The equation set for each of the partition parts is set to extend the first distance to the second distance with a greater slope as the partition part is closer to a reference distance representing a distance preset based on the reference coordinates.

17. The touch-sensing device of claim 10, wherein, If the touch coordinates are corrected, the controller obtains corrected touch coordinates by replacing a value of the touch coordinates to be corrected with a value of the second distance and a trigonometric function, and replacing the trigonometric function with a value of the touch coordinates and a value of the first distance.

18. The touch-sensing device of claim 10, wherein, The reference coordinates are set for each area in which coordinate correction is needed in the touch sensing panel.

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