A pressure sensor capable of multi-directional sensing and an electronic device

Abstract

The present application discloses a pressure sensor capable of multi-directional sensing and an electronic device. The structure of the pressure sensor includes a circuit board and a conductive foam wrapped outside the circuit board, and the circuit board adopts a flexible printed circuit board with a three-dimensional structure. The sensor is used in an electronic device, and a user can provide an input signal to the device by applying a force such as pinching or squeezing on the surface of the electronic device. The pressure sensor of the present invention can receive pressure signals from any direction, achieve multi-directional sensing, and improve the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of pressure detection, and particularly relates to a pressure sensor capable of multi-directional sensing and an electronic device including the same. Background Art

[0002] In TWS earphones, common pressure sensing technologies include strain gauge technology, MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) pressure sensor technology, pressure capacitance technology, etc. The strain gauge technology is a sensing element made according to the strain effect. The strain gauge is pasted onto the elastic body through an adhesive. When measuring strain, the adhesive layer formed by the adhesive plays a very important role. It must correctly transfer the strain of the elastic body to the sensitive grid. The strain gauge structure requires a large space and usually has a low sensitivity. MEMS pressure technology is an industrial technology that combines microelectronic circuit technology with micro-mechanical systems. Its operating range is within the micron scale. MEMS pressure technology usually needs to rely on an external object to support the back of the MEMS device. The purpose is that when the device deforms, the strain of the sensors inside the device is different, so as to obtain the pressure signal. However, the back of the MEMS sensor and the support are discrete components, which is difficult to meet the assembly consistency. The MEMS itself has a relatively fragile structure and a low anti-drop coefficient. The pressure capacitance technology is a pressure sensor that uses a capacitive sensing element to convert the measured pressure into an electric quantity output that has a certain relationship with it. This kind of sensor needs to detect the capacitance between surfaces, and the assembly is complex, and the requirements for assembly accuracy and structural space are high.

[0003] Patent CN212137906U discloses a wireless earphone structure with a pressure-sensitive button provided on the back, which includes an ear rod, a pressure-sensitive button, a Bluetooth antenna, a filling body and a circuit board. The circuit board is arranged inside the ear rod, the pressing button is arranged on the ear rod, and the pressing button contacts the pressure-sensitive button through the filling body to complete the transmission of the button pressure. On the one hand, the above structure needs to set a pressing button, which requires a large space. On the other hand, the transmission of pressure can only be carried out in a single direction, which is inconvenient to use.

[0004] In view of this, there is an urgent need in the art for a pressure sensor capable of multi-directional sensing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a 360° sensible sensor and an electronic device including the sensor. A user can provide an input signal to the device by applying a force in any direction, such as pinching or squeezing, to the surface of the electronic device.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A sensor, comprising: a circuit board and a conductive foam wrapped around the circuit board, and the conductive foam wraps around the circuit board 360°.

[0008] Further, the circuit board is a flexible circuit board, which can be a cylindrical or spherical circuit board, or a flexible circuit board in a three-dimensional shape such as a prism or polyhedron ball circuit board formed by connecting multiple planes; the flexible circuit board in a three-dimensional shape can receive pressure signals omnidirectionally, not limited to the force in a certain direction; the flexible circuit board is made of a conductive material, such as copper, silver, gold or other metal traces.

[0009] Further, the conductive foam includes a TPU foam material and a conductive fiber cloth attached to the surface of the TPU foam material; functional fillers are added to the TPU foam material, and the functional fillers are selected from silver, carbon black, graphite, etc.; the conductive foam will cause the material to deform with the application of an external force, thereby changing its own resistance.

[0010] Further, the conductive fiber cloth is obtained by depositing a copper layer and a nickel layer on a breathable mesh cloth.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, a support member can also be added to the sensor of the present invention to improve the rebound life of the conductive foam. The support member can be a radially placed rib. Preferably, the support member can be an elastomer, such as a spring, a superelastic material, etc.

[0012] The present invention also provides an electronic device including the above pressure sensor.

[0013] Further, the electronic device includes a deformable surface, which can be a part of the housing of the electronic device or can be inside the electronic device, and the deformable surface is an incompressible superelastic material; the sensor is placed close to the deformable surface of the electronic device, and the user can provide an input signal to the device by applying a force such as pinching or squeezing to the surface.

[0014] The present invention also provides a headset including the above pressure sensor.

[0015] Further, the headset structure includes:

[0016] A housing;

[0017] A speaker, and the speaker is disposed inside the housing;

[0018] A rod extending from the speaker to the housing;

[0019] A pressure sensor disposed in the rod and a controller coupled to the pressure sensor;

[0020] The rod has a deformable surface, and the pressure sensor is disposed closely against the deformable surface; the deformable surface is made of an incompressible hyperelastic material; the deformable surface transmits an external force to the pressure sensor and outputs a pressure signal; the controller determines the amount of force based on the signal provided by the pressure sensor.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] Compared with the existing solution, the present invention can achieve true omnidirectional pinch control. The present invention uses a flexible circuit board, and the circuit board is in a three-dimensional shape, which can receive pressure signals omnidirectionally without being limited to only receiving forces acting in a specific direction, improving the sensitivity of the pressure, and there will be a completely different feeling in the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The drawings constituting a part of this application are used to provide a further understanding of this application. The schematic embodiments of this application and their descriptions are used to explain this application and do not constitute an improper limitation to this application. In the drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 is a cross-section of the pressure sensor prepared without the support member according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 is a cross-section of the pressure sensor prepared with the support member according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional view of the pressure sensor with a cylindrical circuit board according to the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 is a three-dimensional view of the pressure sensor with a spherical circuit board according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the earphone according to the present invention.

[0029] DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS:

[0030] 1 - deformable surface; 2 - conductive foam; 3 - circuit board; 4 - support member; 5 - controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly described below in conjunction with the description of the drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are not all the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] It is worth noting that the raw materials used in the present invention are all ordinary commercially available products, and their sources are not specifically limited.

[0033] Example 1

[0034] As shown Figure 1 , Figure 4 in the figure, the pressure sensor of this embodiment includes a spherical circuit board 3 and a conductive foam 2 wrapped around the spherical circuit board at 360°. The outer side of the pressure sensor is the deformable surface 1 of the electronic device. The deformable surface 1 is in close contact with the conductive foam 1. When an external force presses the outside of the deformable surface, the deformable surface deforms under the force, and the conductive foam arranged inside the deformable surface deforms synchronously under the force and transmits the pressure to the circuit board. The circuit board receives the deformation signal and responds to output a processed signal to control the operation of the electronic device.

[0035] The spherical circuit board 3 is set in a three-dimensional shape and can receive the force transmitted from the conductive foam from all directions. The user of the electronic device can apply signals from any direction, making it more convenient to use. The spherical circuit board can also be set in other three-dimensional shapes, such as cylindrical or a prism or polyhedron sphere formed by connecting multiple planes. Those skilled in the art can choose according to needs. The pressure sensor of the cylindrical circuit board is as shown Figure 3 in the figure.

[0036] The conductive foam is composed of a TPU foaming material and a conductive fiber cloth attached to the surface of the TPU foaming material; functional fillers are added to the TPU foaming material, and the functional fillers are selected from silver, carbon black, graphite, etc.; the conductive fiber cloth is obtained by depositing a metal copper layer and a metal nickel layer on a breathable mesh cloth; the conductive foam will cause the material to deform with the application of an external force, thereby changing its own resistance.

[0037] The pressure sensor can be used in electronic devices such as headphones and game controllers.

[0038] Taking headphones as an example, as shown Figure 5 in the figure, the pressure sensor is located in the rod extending from the headphone speaker housing. There is also a controller coupled to the pressure sensor in the rod. The rod has a deformable surface 1. When an external force presses the outside of the deformable surface 1, the deformable surface deforms under the force, and the conductive foam arranged inside the deformable surface deforms synchronously under the force and transmits the pressure to the circuit board. The circuit board receives the deformation signal and responds to output the pressure signal to the controller 5. The controller can control whether to output a signal according to the magnitude of the detected pressure value. For example, the controller does not output a signal when the detected pressure value is less than the first threshold; outputs the first signal when the detected pressure value is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold; outputs the second signal when the detected pressure value is greater than the second threshold, where the first threshold is less than the second threshold.

[0039] Further, the controller can also be set to output different signals according to the number of times and duration of the external force pressing on the pressure sensor. For example, when the detected pressure value is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold and the duration does not exceed the set value, the controller can output a first signal; when the detected pressure value is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold and the duration exceeds the set value, the controller can output a third signal; when the pressure values detected twice within the set time are greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold and the duration of each time does not exceed the set value, the controller can output a fourth signal.

[0040] The above are examples of control situations, and those skilled in the art can freely choose according to the specific functions of the electronic device.

[0041] Embodiment 2

[0042] As Figure 2 shown, a support member 4 is further provided for the pressure sensor of this embodiment relative to Embodiment 1, which is used to improve the rebound life of the conductive foam. The support member is a radially placed rib, and the material of the support member can be an elastomer, such as a spring, a superelastic material, etc.; the superelastic material can be superelastic silicone or rubber.

[0043] The specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but they are only examples, and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. For those skilled in the art, any equivalent modifications and substitutions to the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, equivalent transformations and modifications made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be covered within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor capable of multi-directional sensing and applied to headphones, characterized in that, it includes: a circuit board and a conductive foam wrapped on the circuit board, and the conductive foam wraps around the circuit board 360°; the circuit board is a flexible circuit board, and the circuit board is a cylindrical or spherical circuit board, or a prism or polyhedron spherical circuit board formed by connecting multiple planes; ribs are arranged radially in the sensor as support components to improve the rebound life of the conductive foam; the conductive foam includes a TPU foaming material and a conductive fiber cloth attached to the surface of the TPU foaming material; functional fillers are added to the TPU foaming material, and the functional fillers are selected from silver, carbon black, and graphite.

2. An electronic device, characterized in that, it includes a pressure sensor capable of multi-directional sensing as described in claim 1.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that, the electronic device includes a deformable surface, the deformable surface is a part of the housing of the electronic device or inside the electronic device, and the sensor is arranged closely against the deformable surface of the electronic device, and the user can provide an input signal to the device by applying a pinching or squeezing force to the surface.

4. A headphone, characterized in that, it includes: a housing; a speaker arranged inside the housing; a rod extending from the speaker to the housing; a pressure sensor arranged inside the rod, and the pressure sensor is a pressure sensor capable of multi-directional sensing as described in claim 1.

5. The headphone according to claim 4, characterized in that, the rod has a deformable surface, the pressure sensor is arranged closely against the deformable surface, and the deformable surface transmits the external force to the pressure sensor and outputs a pressure signal.

6. The headphone according to claim 5, characterized in that, a controller coupled to the pressure sensor is further arranged inside the rod, and the controller determines the amount of force through the signal provided by the pressure sensor.

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