Knob device applicable to touch panel

Abstract

The present invention discloses a knob device applicable to a touch panel, wherein the touch panel comprises a plurality of panel sensors, and the knob device comprises a knob cover, a sensing pad, a compensation sensor and a switch. The switch is used to selectively connect the sensing pad to the compensation sensor. When a movement event occurs in the knob device, the switch is turned on and the sensing pad is electrically connected to the compensation sensor through the switch, so that the sensing pad, the compensation sensor and the touch panel generate a feedback loop to change the charge amount of at least one panel sensor among the plurality of panel sensors. When a touch and rotation event occurs in the knob device, the position of the sensing pad controls a rotation sensing signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a user interface (UI) mechanism design, and more particularly to a knob device that can be applied to a touch panel and can sense the touch of a user's gloved finger. Background Art

[0002] Knob devices are often used in general electronic devices, such as volume adjustment knobs on audio players, frequency adjustment knobs on radios, and air conditioning / air volume adjustment knobs on car consoles, many of which are equipped with touch panels. Therefore, how to integrate the knob device with the touch panel to assist users in operation has become a topic. In some traditional methods, a touch pad is installed in the knob and then directly installed on the touch panel, and the function of the knob is realized through the touch effect of the touch pad on the touch panel. For example, when a user turns the knob, the finger and the touch pad form a loop, so that a unit of the touch panel contacted by the touch pad sends a touch signal. According to the touch signals of different units in the touch panel, the rotation angle of the knob can be captured.

[0003] However, the user may touch the knob while wearing gloves, and the touch panel may not sense any touch of the user. Since the user's gloves may cause sensing problems of the touch panel, the rotation angle of the knob cannot be successfully captured. Therefore, a novel method and related architecture are needed to improve the sensitivity of the touch panel of the gloved finger to solve the problem without side effects or with less possibility of side effects. Summary of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a knob device that can be applied to a touch panel and can sense the touch of a user's gloved finger, so as to solve the above-mentioned problem.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a knob device applicable to a touch panel, wherein the touch panel includes a plurality of panel sensors, and the knob device includes a knob cover, a sensing pad, a compensation sensor, and a switch. The sensing pad is disposed between the knob cover and the touch panel, and the switch is used to selectively connect the sensing pad to the compensation sensor. When a movement event occurs in the knob device, the switch is turned on and the sensing pad is electrically connected to the compensation sensor through the switch, so that the sensing pad, the compensation sensor, and the touch panel generate a feedback loop to change the charge amount of at least one panel sensor among the plurality of panel sensors. When a touch and rotation event occurs in the knob device, the position of the sensing pad controls a rotation sensing signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a user's finger touching a knob device without wearing a glove;

[0007] Figure 2 is Figure 1 Schematic diagram of equivalent circuit of a knob device operated under the condition of ;

[0008] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a user's finger touching a knob device while wearing a glove;

[0009] Figure 4 is Figure 3 Schematic diagram of equivalent circuit of a knob device operated under the condition of ;

[0010] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a finger of a user wearing a glove touching a knob device in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 6 is Figure 5 Schematic diagram of equivalent circuit of a knob device operated under the condition of ;

[0012] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a user's finger wearing a glove touching a knob device in a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a user's finger wearing a glove touching a knob device in a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a knob device having a protective layer in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Explanation of symbols

[0016] 100,200,202,204,206: Knob device

[0017] 110,210: Knob cover

[0018] 130,230:Sensing pad

[0019] 150: Gloves

[0020] 220: Switch

[0021] 250: Compensation sensor

[0022] 260: Protective layer

[0023] 300: Touch panel

[0024] 310: Panel cover

[0025] 320:Through hole

[0026] 330: Display panel

[0027] 340: Blind hole

[0028] 350: Panel sensor

[0029] 351: First panel sensor

[0030] 352: Second panel sensor

[0031] 601:Loop

[0032] 602,603: Feedback loop

[0033] Cf: Finger capacitance

[0034] Ckf: Glove capacitance

[0035] Cp: ​​Display panel capacitance

[0036] Cp1: first display panel capacitance

[0037] Cp2: Second display panel capacitance

[0038] Cpk: First panel cover capacitance

[0039] Cpc: Second panel cover capacitance

[0040] Vc, Vk, VRX1, VRX2: Potential

[0041] Zkf,Zkg: Impedance DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Please refer to Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 , Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view showing a finger of a user touching a knob device 100 without wearing a glove. Figure 2 is Figure 1 The equivalent circuit diagram of the knob device 100 operated under the condition of Figure 1As shown, a knob device 100 is disposed on a touch panel 300, and includes a knob cover 110 and a sensing pad 130 disposed between the knob cover 110 and the touch panel 300. The touch panel 300 includes a panel cover (e.g., a glass cover) 310, a display panel 330, and a plurality of panel sensors 350. A display panel capacitor Cp is formed between one of the plurality of panel sensors 350 and a system ground (system ground) of the touch panel 300, and a panel cover capacitor Cpk is formed between the sensing pad 130 and the panel sensor 350 (e.g., one of the plurality of panel sensors 350 that contributes to the panel cover capacitor Cpk). A finger capacitor Cf is formed between the user's finger and the system ground of the touch panel 300. The sensing pad 130 has a potential Vk, and the panel sensor 350 has a potential VRX. As shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, when the user touches the knob cover 110, the finger capacitance Cf, the panel cover capacitance Cpk, the display panel capacitance Cp, the sensing pad 130, the panel sensor 350 and the system ground generate a loop. After the user touches, a charge Qn of the panel sensor 350 changes from Qn1 to Qn2, where Qn1 = Cp × VRX, and Qn2 = [Cp / / (Cpk+Cf)] × VRX. It is worth noting that the symbol " / / " indicates that the capacitors are connected in parallel, while the symbol "+" indicates that the capacitors are connected in series. The integrated circuit (IC) of the touch panel 300 can generate a touch signal according to the change in the charge Qn (ΔQn = Qn2-Qn1). Generally speaking, the finger capacitance Cf is much larger than the panel cover capacitance Cpk and the display panel capacitance Cp, so that ΔQn is approximately equal to Cpk × VRX. For simplicity, an impedance Zkf between the finger and the knob cover 110 is omitted in the circuit. Since the present invention is mainly aimed at the problem of touch sensing, for the sake of brevity, further description related to the control of the knob device 100 is omitted here.

[0043] However, some sensing problems may occur, for example, when the user wears gloves on his hands, the touch panel may not be able to sense the user's touch. Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 , Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view showing a finger of a user wearing a glove 150 touching a knob device 100 . Figure 4 is Figure 3 The equivalent circuit diagram of the knob device 100 operated under the condition of Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , when a finger of a user wearing a glove 150 touches the knob cover 110, a glove capacitor Ckf is formed between the finger of the user and the knob cover 110. Figure 4As shown, after the user wearing gloves 150 touches the knob device 100, the charge quantity Qn of the panel sensor 350 changes from Qn1 to Qn3, where Qn3 = [Cp / / (Cpk + Cf + Ckf)] × VRX, and Ckf << Cpk. In this way, the glove capacitance Ckf dominates the total capacitance value. The change in the charge quantity Qn (ΔQn = Qn3 – Qn1) is approximately equal to Ckf × VRX. Since the glove capacitance Ckf is relatively small, the IC of the touch panel 300 may not be able to detect the change in the charge quantity Qn, resulting in the touch panel 300 being insensitive to the touch of the user wearing gloves 150. For the sake of simplicity, an impedance Zkg between the finger and the knob cover 110 is omitted in the circuit. To solve the above problems, the present invention proposes a knob device with a compensation mechanism. Further details of the compensation mechanism are described as follows.

[0044] Please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a user's finger wearing gloves 150 touching a knob device 200 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 5As shown, the knob device 200 of the present invention is disposed on a touch panel 300, and includes a knob cover 210, a switch 220, a compensation sensor 250 and a sensing pad 230, wherein the sensing pad 230 is disposed between the knob cover 210 and the touch panel 300. When the user turns the knob cover 210, the sensing pad 230 can move from one position to another. The touch panel 300 includes a panel cover (e.g., a glass cover) 310, a display panel 330 and a plurality of panel sensors 350. In this embodiment, the plurality of panel sensors 350 may include a first panel sensor 351 and a second panel sensor 352. A first display panel capacitor Cp1 is formed between the first panel sensor 351 and the system ground of the touch panel 300, and a first panel cover capacitor Cpk is formed between the sensing pad 230 and the first panel sensor 351. A second display panel capacitor Cp2 is formed between the second panel sensor 352 and the system ground of the touch panel 300, and a second panel cover capacitor Cpc is formed between the compensation sensor 250 and the second panel sensor 352. A finger capacitor Cf is formed between the user's finger and the system ground of the touch panel 300. When the finger of the user wearing the glove 150 touches the knob cover 210, a glove capacitor Ckf is formed between the finger and the knob cover 210. The sensing pad 230 has a potential Vk, and the compensation sensor 250 has a potential Vc. The first panel sensor 351 has a potential VRX1, and the second panel sensor 352 has a potential VRX2. When the finger wearing the glove 150 touches the knob cover 210, a loop 601 is generated by the glove capacitor Ckf, the finger capacitor Cf, the sensing pad 230, the first panel cover capacitor Cpk, the first panel sensor 351, and the first display panel capacitor Cp1.

[0045] The switch 220 is disposed in the knob cover 210. In the present embodiment, the switch 220 is a push / pull switch. When the knob cover 210 is slightly pressed, the switch 220 is turned on to electrically connect the sensing pad 230 to the compensation sensor 250. In addition, the switch 220 has a mechanism (such as a spring) that allows the knob cover 110 to be bounced up when not pressed to turn off the switch, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The mechanism can be implemented by any elastic element known to those skilled in the art, so the mechanism is not shown in the drawings, and for the sake of simplicity, it will not be described in detail here. Furthermore, when a user touches the knob cover 210 lightly, the switch 220 is turned on and the sensing pad 230 is electrically connected to the compensation sensor 250 through the switch 220, so that the sensing pad 230, the compensation sensor 250, the first panel cover capacitor Cpk, the first panel sensor 351, the first display panel capacitor Cp1, the second panel cover capacitor Cpc, the second panel sensor 352 and the second display panel capacitor Cp2 generate a feedback loop (such as a compensation loop) 602 to change the charge amount of the first panel sensor 351. In addition, for the sake of simplicity, an impedance Zkg between the user's finger and the knob cover 210 is omitted in the circuit. In the present embodiment, the switch 220 is turned on by gently pressing the knob cover 210, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the switch can be turned on by slightly moving the knob cover laterally.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 is Figure 5 The equivalent circuit diagram of the knob device 200 operated under the condition of Figure 6 As shown, when the finger of the user wearing the glove 150 contacts the knob cover 210, a loop 601 is generated. The loop 601 is similar to Figure 4In the equivalent circuit in, since the glove capacitance Ckf is small, the change in the charge Qn of the first panel sensor 351 in the loop 601 is small. When the finger of the user wearing the glove 150 touches and slightly presses the knob cover 210, the loop 601 and the feedback loop 602 are generated simultaneously. The charge Qn of the first panel sensor 351 changes from Qn1 to Qn2 after the user touches and presses it, where Qn1 = Cp1 × VRX1, Qn2 = [Cp1 / / (Cpk+{(Cf+Ckf) / / (Cpc+Cp2)}] × VRX. It is worth noting that the symbol " / / " indicates that the capacitors are connected in parallel, while the symbol "+" indicates that the capacitors are connected in series. An integrated circuit (Integrated Circuit, IC) can generate a touch signal according to the change of charge amount Qn (ΔQn=Qn2-Qn1), and generate a rotation sensing signal according to the touch signal. In other words, when the user touches and rotates the knob device 200, the panel sensor (such as the first panel sensor 351) under the sensing pad 230 obtains the change of charge amount, so that the position of the sensing pad 230 can control the rotation sensing signal of the touch panel 300. It is worth noting that the feedback loop 602 changes the charge amount Qn2 from [Cp1 / / (Cpk+Cf+Ckf)]×VRX to [Cp1 / / (Cpk+{(Cf+Ckf) / / (Cpc+Cp2)}]×VRX, so that the smaller glove capacitor Ckf only dominates the series capacitor (Cpk+{(Cf+Ckf). The change (ΔQn) of the charge amount Qn can be increased by connecting a group of series capacitors (Cpc+Cp2) in parallel.

[0047] In some embodiments, the knob cover 210 (partially or entirely) may be made of a metal having excellent conductivity to increase the capacitance value of the glove capacitor Ckf by enhancing the coupling capability of the knob cover 210. However, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent a limitation of the present invention.

[0048] According to the above arrangement, when the user's finger wearing gloves cannot generate enough charge change, the feedback loop generated by the switch opening is connected in parallel with a set of series capacitors (Cpc+Cp2) to generate a larger charge difference. In addition, the larger the capacitance value of the second panel cover capacitor Cpc and the second display panel capacitor Cp2, the greater the difference in charge, and the better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from the knob device 200 to the panel sensor 300, and the knob device 200 can more easily identify the finger of the user wearing gloves.

[0049] In some embodiments, the second panel sensor 352 can be controlled by an integrated circuit channel of the touch panel 300 to provide a different potential level than other panel sensors 350 to increase the capacitance of the second panel cover capacitor Cpc and the second display panel capacitor Cp2. However, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent a limitation of the present invention.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 7 , Figure 7 2 is a cross-sectional view of a user's finger wearing a glove 150 touching a knob device 202 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 As shown, the difference between the second embodiment of the present invention and the first embodiment is that a through hole 320 is formed on the touch panel 300, and the compensation sensor 250 is disposed in the through hole 320 and electrically connected to a system ground of the touch panel 300. When the user's finger wearing the glove 150 touches and slightly presses the knob device 202, the switch 220 is turned on and a feedback loop 603 is generated by the sensing pad 230, the compensation sensor 250, the first panel sensor 351, the first panel sensor 351, the first panel cover capacitor Cpk, the first display panel capacitor Cp1 and the system ground. In this embodiment, one end of the compensation sensor 250 is directly connected to the system ground, so that the potential Vc of the compensation sensor 250 is approximately zero, which is equivalent to setting Figure 6 The second panel cover capacitor Cpc and the second display panel capacitor Cp2 in the embodiment are assigned an infinite capacitance value. Therefore, compared with the first embodiment, the second embodiment can increase the change (ΔQn) of the charge amount Qn of the first panel sensor 351, and can make the first panel sensor 351 of the knob device 202 have a better SNR. In this embodiment, the switch 220 is turned on by slightly pressing the knob cover 210, but the present invention is not limited to this. In some embodiments, the switch can be turned on by slightly moving the knob cover laterally.

[0051] Please refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a user's finger wearing a glove 150 touching a knob device 204 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8As shown, the third embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that a blind hole 340 is formed on the panel cover 310. The compensation sensor 250 is disposed in the blind hole 340 and is electrically connected to the second panel sensor 352. When the user's finger wearing the glove 150 contacts and slightly presses the knob device 204, the switch 220 is turned on and a feedback loop 604 is generated by the sensing pad 230, the compensation sensor 250, the first panel sensor 351, the second panel sensor 352, the first panel cover capacitor Cpk, the first display panel capacitor Cp1, the second display panel capacitor Cp2 and the system ground. In this embodiment, one end of the compensation sensor 250 is directly connected to the second panel sensor 352. The second panel sensor 352 can be controlled by the integrated circuit channel of the touch panel 300 to provide a different potential from the other panel sensors 350 to increase the capacitance of the second panel cover capacitor Cpc and the second display panel capacitor Cp2. For example, the second panel sensor 352 is driven to a ground potential (0V) by a driving signal, so that the potential Vc of the compensation sensor 250 is zero, which is equivalent to Figure 6 The second panel cover capacitor Cpc in is assigned an infinite capacitance value. In other words, by connecting the compensation sensor 250 to the second panel sensor 352, the potential level of the second panel sensor 352 can be changed by the integrated circuit channel of the touch panel 300 to increase the change (ΔQn) of the charge amount Qn of the first panel sensor 351. In this embodiment, the switch 220 is turned on by slightly pressing the knob cover 210, but the present invention is not limited to this. In some embodiments, the switch can be turned on by slightly moving the knob cover laterally.

[0052] Please refer to Fig. 9 , Fig. 9 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a knob device 206 having a protective layer 260 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 As shown, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is different from the third embodiment in that a protective layer 260 is disposed between the compensation sensor 250 and the second panel sensor 352, so that the compensation sensor 250 is not directly connected to the second panel sensor 352, that is, the compensation sensor 250 is coupled to the second panel sensor 352 through the protective layer 260. A protective layer capacitor ( Fig. 9The compensation sensor 250 is formed between the compensation sensor 250 and the second panel sensor 352. When the user's finger wearing the glove 150 touches and slightly presses the knob device 206, the switch 220 is turned on and a feedback loop 606 is generated by the sensing pad 230, the compensation sensor 250, the first panel sensor 351, the second panel sensor 352, the first panel cover capacitance Cpk, the first display panel capacitance Cp1, the second display panel capacitance Cp2, the protection layer capacitance and the system ground. Since the protection layer 260 is thinner than the panel cover 310, the protection layer capacitance is similar to Figure 6 The second panel cover capacitor Cpc in the embodiment of the present invention is different from the second panel cover capacitor Cpc, but has a larger capacitance value. Therefore, the protective layer capacitor can produce a larger charge difference than the second panel cover capacitor Cpc. In the present embodiment, the switch 220 is turned on by slightly pressing the knob cover 210, but the present invention is not limited to this. In some embodiments, the switch can be turned on by slightly moving the knob cover laterally. In addition, the second panel sensor 352 can also be controlled by the integrated circuit channel of the touch panel 300 to provide a different potential level from the other panel sensors 350, so as to increase the capacitance value of the protective layer capacitor and the second display panel capacitor Cp2, and further improve the SNR of the knob device to the touch panel.

[0053] The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims of the present invention should fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A knob device applicable to a touch panel, the touch panel comprising a plurality of panel sensors, the knob device comprising: Knob cover; A sensing pad is disposed between the knob cover and the touch panel; Compensating sensors; and a switch for selectively connecting the sensing pad to the compensation sensor; When the knob device moves, the switch is turned on and the sensing pad is electrically connected to the compensation sensor through the switch, so that the sensing pad, the compensation sensor and the touch panel generate a feedback loop to change the charge amount of at least one panel sensor among the plurality of panel sensors; When the knob device is touched and rotated, the position of the sensing pad controls the rotation sensing signal of the knob device.

2. The knob device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch panel further includes a panel cover and a display panel, the plurality of panel sensors are arranged between the panel cover and the display panel, a panel cover capacitor is formed between the sensing pad and one panel sensor of the plurality of panel sensors, another panel cover capacitor is formed between the compensation sensor and another panel sensor of the plurality of panel sensors, a display panel capacitor is formed between the panel sensor and a system ground of the touch panel, another display panel capacitor is formed between the another panel sensor and the system ground, and when the movement event occurs in the knob device, the switch is turned on and the feedback loop is generated by the sensing pad, the compensation sensor, the panel sensor, the another panel sensor, the panel cover capacitor, the another panel cover capacitor, the display panel capacitor, the another display panel capacitor and the system ground.

3. The knob device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the other panel sensor located below the compensation sensor is controlled by an integrated circuit (IC) channel of the touch panel to provide a potential level different from that of other panel sensors.

4. The knob device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a through hole is formed in the touch panel, the compensation sensor is arranged in the through hole and electrically connected to the system ground of the touch panel, a panel cover capacitor is formed between the sensing pad and a panel sensor of the plurality of panel sensors, a display panel capacitor is formed between the panel sensor and the system ground, and when the movement event occurs in the knob device, the switch is turned on and the feedback loop is generated by the sensing pad, the compensation sensor, the panel sensor, the panel cover capacitor, the display panel capacitor and the system ground.

5. The knob device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a blind hole is formed in the touch panel, the compensation sensor is arranged in the blind hole and electrically connected to a panel sensor of the plurality of panel sensors, a panel cover capacitor is formed between the sensing pad and another panel sensor of the plurality of panel sensors, a display panel capacitor is formed between the panel sensor and a system ground of the touch panel, another display panel capacitor is formed between the another panel sensor and the system ground, and when the movement event occurs in the knob device, the switch is turned on and the feedback loop is generated by the sensing pad, the compensation sensor, the panel sensor, the another panel sensor, the panel cover capacitor, the display panel capacitor, the another display panel capacitor and the system ground. 6 . The knob device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the panel sensor electrically connected to the compensation sensor is controlled by an integrated circuit (IC) channel of the touch panel to provide a potential level different from that of other panel sensors.

7. The knob device according to claim 6, further comprising: The protection layer is arranged between the compensation sensor and the panel sensor. The knob device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the knob cover is made of metal.

9. The knob device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the knob cover is made of metal.

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