Touch panels and touch panel-based human-computer interaction methods

Abstract

This application discloses a touch panel and a human-computer interaction method based on the touch panel. The touch panel includes a substrate, at least one pressure detector and at least one actuator disposed on the substrate, and a driving circuit. The at least one pressure detector is electrically connected to the driving circuit, and the driving circuit is electrically connected to the at least one actuator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the fields of touch technology and haptic feedback, and more particularly to a touch panel and a human-computer interaction method based on the touch panel. Background Technology

[0002] Touch panels are a popular choice for human-computer interaction, and their applications are expanding. However, touch operations using touch panels often result in errors. For example, a user might touch the panel when they don't want to (a mis-touch), or they might touch an incorrect location instead of the intended one (an accidental touch). These errors affect the accuracy and efficiency of user operations, thus reducing the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to one aspect of this application, a touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes: a substrate, at least one pressure detector and at least one actuator disposed on the substrate, and a driving circuit. The at least one pressure detector is electrically connected to the driving circuit, and the driving circuit is electrically connected to the at least one actuator.

[0004] In some embodiments, the ratio of the number of the at least one actuator to the number of the at least one pressure detector is in the range of 1:4 to 2:1.

[0005] In some embodiments, the at least one actuator includes a plurality of actuators, and the plurality of actuators are arranged in an array comprising at least two rows and at least two columns. Every four directly adjacent actuators form a parallelogram subarray, and the orthographic projections of the four actuators constituting the subarray onto the substrate define a subregion as vertices. The orthographic projection of each of the at least one pressure detector onto the substrate lies within the corresponding subregion.

[0006] In some embodiments, each sub-region corresponds to a pressure detector. The orthographic projection of the pressure detector onto the substrate is located at the geometric center of the corresponding sub-region.

[0007] In some embodiments, each sub-region corresponds to two pressure detectors. The arrangement direction of the orthographic projections of the two pressure detectors on the substrate is parallel to the row or column direction of the array of the plurality of actuators.

[0008] In some embodiments, the sub-region is divided into two regions by a centerline, and the orthographic projections of the two pressure detectors on the substrate are located at the geometric centers of the two regions, respectively.

[0009] In some embodiments, each sub-region corresponds to four pressure detectors. The four pressure detectors form a parallelogram as vertices. The extension directions of the two pairs of opposite sides of the parallelogram are parallel to the row and column directions of the array of the plurality of actuators, respectively.

[0010] In some embodiments, the at least one pressure detector and the at least one actuator are arranged in the same layer.

[0011] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of each of the at least one pressure detectors on the substrate at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the corresponding actuator of the at least one actuator on the substrate.

[0012] In some embodiments, the at least one pressure detector and the at least one actuator are arranged in different layers.

[0013] In some embodiments, each of the at least one pressure detector includes an input terminal and an output terminal, and the driving circuit includes at least one detection signal output terminal and at least one detection signal receiving terminal. The input terminal of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal output terminal of the driving circuit, and the output terminal of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal receiving terminal of the driving circuit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the input of each pressure detector corresponds to the same detection signal output.

[0015] In some embodiments, each pressure detector includes a capacitor comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulator between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode serves as the input terminal of each pressure detector, and the second electrode serves as the output terminal of each pressure detector.

[0016] In some embodiments, each pressure detector includes a piezoelectric device comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode serves as the input terminal of each pressure detector, and the second electrode serves as the output terminal of each pressure detector.

[0017] In some embodiments, each pressure detector includes a piezoresistive device comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoresistive material layer between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode serves as the input terminal of each pressure detector, and the second electrode serves as the output terminal of each pressure detector.

[0018] In some embodiments, each of the at least one actuator includes an input terminal and an output terminal, and the drive circuit includes at least one actuation signal output terminal and a ground terminal. The input terminal of each actuator is electrically connected to the corresponding actuation signal output terminal of the drive circuit, and the output terminal of each actuator is electrically connected to the ground terminal of the drive circuit.

[0019] In some embodiments, the actuator includes a piezoelectric device comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode serves as the input terminal of the actuator, and the second electrode serves as the output terminal of the actuator.

[0020] In some embodiments, the driving circuit includes at least one detection signal output terminal, at least one detection signal receiving terminal, at least one actuation signal output terminal, and a ground terminal. The at least one detection signal output terminal and the at least one detection signal receiving terminal are electrically connected to the at least one pressure detector, and the at least one actuation signal output terminal and the ground terminal are electrically connected to the at least one actuator. The at least one detection signal output terminal and the at least one detection signal receiving terminal are located at a first edge of the touch panel, and the at least one actuation signal output terminal and the ground terminal are located at a second edge of the touch panel, with the first edge opposite to the second edge.

[0021] In some embodiments, the touch panel is divided into a touch area and a border area surrounding the touch area. The at least one pressure detector and / or the at least one actuator is located in the border area.

[0022] In some embodiments, the touch panel further includes a touch layer. The touch layer is configured to determine the touch location.

[0023] In some embodiments, the at least one pressure detector is disposed in the touch layer.

[0024] According to another aspect of this application, a touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes at least one piezoelectric device and a driving circuit. Each of the at least one piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric material layer having a first end face and a second end face, a first electrode disposed on the first end face and a second electrode disposed on the second end face, the first electrode being electrically connected to a signal output terminal of the driving circuit, and the second electrode being electrically connected to a signal receiving terminal of the driving circuit. The driving circuit is configured to, in a first time period, determine the pressure applied to the piezoelectric device by detecting a first voltage difference between the signal output terminal and the signal receiving terminal, and, in a second time period, drive the piezoelectric device to provide tactile feedback by providing a second voltage difference between the signal output terminal and the signal receiving terminal.

[0025] In some embodiments, the signal output terminal of the driving circuit is located at the first edge of the touch panel, and the signal input terminal of the driving circuit is located at the second edge of the touch panel, with the first edge and the second edge being opposite to each other.

[0026] According to another aspect of this application, a human-computer interaction method based on a touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes a pressure detector, an actuator, and a driving circuit. The method includes: the pressure detector generating a detection signal based on the magnitude of the force applied by a user to the touch panel, and sending the detection signal to the driving circuit; the driving circuit determining, based on the detection signal, whether the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to a preset trigger threshold; in response to the detection signal indicating that the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to the trigger threshold, the driving circuit generating an actuation signal and outputting the actuation signal to the actuator, so that the actuator generates tactile feedback to the user.

[0027] In some embodiments, the touch panel further includes a touch sensor, and the method further includes: generating a position signal by the touch sensor based on the user's touch position, and sending the position signal to the signal controller. Furthermore, the step of generating an actuation signal by the driving circuit includes: generating the actuation signal by the driving circuit based on the position signal, such that the actuator provides tactile feedback to the user at the touch position. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings, the same or similar elements can be represented by the same or similar patterns or symbols. It should be understood that unless explicitly described, the patterns or symbols in the drawings are only used to distinguish elements, but not to limit the shape of the elements. In the drawings of this application: Figure 1 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 2 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 3 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 4 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 5 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 6 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 7A and 7B An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 8 A partial cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 9 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 10 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 11 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 12 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 13 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 14 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 15 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 16 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 17 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 18 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 19 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 20 schematically shown Figure 19 A magnified view of a portion of the image; Figure 21 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown; Figure 22 A flowchart illustrating a human-computer interaction method based on a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is shown schematically. Figure 23A flowchart illustrating a human-computer interaction method based on a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is shown schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments without creative effort are within the protection scope of this application.

[0030] Touchscreen human-computer interaction can be performed via physical buttons or touch panels. When using physical buttons as input, each button has a fixed position and a single function. To achieve more diverse interactions, the number of buttons needs to be increased. This will occupy more space, and the rational arrangement of button positions also presents challenges. Moreover, as the number of buttons increases, it becomes more difficult for users to quickly find the desired button, resulting in lower operation speed and accuracy.

[0031] In contrast, when using touch panels as an input method, the touch panel can be partitioned in real-time according to different scenarios. This means that touching the same part of the touch panel may produce different input effects in different scenarios. Therefore, if the goal is simply to achieve more diverse interactions, a large touch area is not required for the touch panel, thus greatly reducing the limitations on its size. With this versatility in input effects and the freedom to control its size, touch panels have a promising future.

[0032] It should be noted that, in the context of this application, the term "panel" should be understood as a structure in which, in three mutually perpendicular dimensions, the length of the structure extending in two of the dimensions is significantly greater than the length extending in the other dimension, making the structure as a whole appear as a flat plate. However, this does not preclude the possibility that the flat plate structure may contain multiple parallel layers. Based on this, "touch panel" can be understood as any panel-type human-computer interaction device that collects input information based on user touch operations for subsequent processing.

[0033] The inventors of this application have discovered that in some scenarios, users may easily make mistakes when operating a touch panel, including the aforementioned accidental and incorrect touches. These mistakes are even unavoidable in some scenarios. Specifically, when operating a touch panel, in order for the user to accurately touch the corresponding position on the touch panel, the user usually needs to use their vision to observe the position of the touch panel and the position of the device (e.g., stylus) or body part (e.g., finger) used to contact the touch panel. However, in some scenarios, users may need to use their vision to observe other things. For example, when driving a vehicle, the driver needs to observe the surroundings and cannot (and should not) concentrate on the touch panel located on the center console. Moreover, even without considering the limitations of the scenario, such as the human eye being able to focus on assisting touch operation, a small portion of the touch panel will inevitably be obscured by the device or body part that contacts the touch panel, blocking the view between the user's eyes and the touch panel. When the touch panel has a high touch resolution, meaning that there are many areas on a unit area of ​​the touch panel that produce different touch results (i.e., the area of ​​each touch unit is small), this occlusion may lead to errors. Therefore, errors may be difficult to avoid when performing touch operations.

[0034] In view of this, the inventors of this application believe that some solutions can be proposed to ensure that errors do not affect touch operation, or to enable users to detect errors as early as possible so that they can correct them quickly. This would help solve the aforementioned error problems and improve the user's interactive experience.

[0035] According to one aspect of this application, a touch panel is provided. Figure 1 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is shown schematically. Figure 2 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 1As shown, in some embodiments, the touch panel 100 includes a substrate 101, at least one pressure detector 112 and at least one actuator 114 disposed on the substrate, and a driving circuit 115. The at least one pressure detector 112 is electrically connected to the driving circuit 115, and the driving circuit 115 is electrically connected to the at least one actuator 114. In the touch panel 100, the substrate 101 serves to support the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114, so that the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114 are fixedly mounted within the touch panel 100. However, this does not mean that the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114 are in direct contact with the substrate 101. For example, in some embodiments, other structures may exist between the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114 and the substrate 101. The driving circuit 115 may be disposed directly or indirectly on the substrate 101, or it may be disposed at other locations within the touch panel 100.

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown in this embodiment, the pressure detector 112 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 115 (e.g., via the detection circuit 122), so electrical signals can be transmitted between the pressure detector 112 and the drive circuit 115. Simultaneously, the drive circuit 115 is electrically connected to the actuator 114 (e.g., via the feedback circuit 124), so electrical signals can also be transmitted between the drive circuit 115 and the actuator 114. In this case, the drive circuit 115 can establish an association between the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114. For example, the actuator 114 can actuate the touch panel 100 based on the electrical signal generated by the pressure detector 112 to provide tactile feedback to the user. Since the actuation of the actuator 114 is based on the electrical signal generated by the pressure detector 112, when the user feels the tactile feedback, they can better understand the operation they are performing on the touch panel. If the user's actual operation is inconsistent with their intended operation, this tactile feedback allows the user to be aware of this inconsistency in a timely manner, so that the user can adjust their next operation as soon as possible.

[0037] The term "haptic feedback" can be understood as the information that a touch panel provides to a user when the user directly touches the touch panel with their body parts, or indirectly through some auxiliary device. For example, ... Figure 1As shown, the touch panel 100 may include a cover plate 105. When a user operates the touch panel 100, the user's finger can contact the cover plate 105. The actuator 114 can actuate the cover plate 105, causing the cover plate to vibrate mechanically. Because the user is in contact with the cover plate 105, they can feel this vibration through touch, thereby knowing the information that the touch panel 100 is trying to provide. In addition, in this application, since the vibration caused by the actuator 114 depends on the operation performed by the user detected by the pressure detector 112, the information provided by the touch panel 100 to the user through touch is a kind of feedback information to the user's operation. Therefore, this activity of the touch panel providing information can be called tactile feedback.

[0038] The term "actuation" can be understood as the actuator 114 causing deformation or displacement of the touch panel 100 or certain components within it (e.g., cover 105). In other words, the touch panel 100 is not stationary when providing haptic feedback to the user, but can be considered to be in motion.

[0039] The touch panel 100 and its components according to embodiments of this application will now be described in more detail.

[0040] First, the pressure detector 112 is described. In this embodiment, the pressure applied by the user to the touch device 100 can be transmitted to the pressure detector 112 within the touch device. Under the action of this pressure, the pressure detector 112 can change the electrical properties of its internal structure or materials according to a certain rule. This change in electrical properties can be represented by an electrical signal. This electrical signal can be referred to as a detection signal in this application. The detection signal changes with the force applied by the user to the touch device 100. By detecting and processing the detection signal, some properties of the pressure, such as the magnitude of the pressure, can be determined. In this application, the above process can be simply referred to as pressure detection.

[0041] In some embodiments, pressure detection can be achieved using a force-sensitive sensor. For example, the force-sensitive sensor may be a capacitive sensor including a capacitor, a piezoelectric sensor including a piezoelectric element, or a piezoresistive sensor including a piezoresistive element. These sensors are described below.

[0042] Capacitive sensors may include capacitors. The capacitors may include a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulator between the two electrodes. When a capacitive sensor is used for pressure detection, the pressure applied by the user to the touch panel causes a change in the distance between the two electrodes of the capacitive sensor, thus changing its capacitance. The change in capacitance can be output as an electrical signal. By measuring this electrical signal, the properties of the pressure applied by the user, such as the magnitude of the pressure, can be determined. Because the relationship between the capacitance of the capacitive sensor and the distance between the two electrodes is non-linear, in some embodiments, the pressure detector may also include a measurement circuit with compensation functionality to compensate for the non-linearity of the output electrical signal. Capacitive sensors have advantages such as good temperature stability, simple structure, good dynamic response, and high sensitivity.

[0043] Piezoelectric sensors can include piezoelectric devices. A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric material layer having a first end face and a second end face, and a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on said two end faces of the piezoelectric material layer (i.e., the piezoelectric material layer is located between the first electrode and the second electrode). The term "piezoelectric material layer" should be understood as meaning that the first electrode, the piezoelectric material layer, and the second electrode are stacked one layer on top of the other. However, this is not intended to limit the dimensions of the piezoelectric material layer in any dimension. When pressure detection is achieved using a piezoelectric sensor, based on the positive piezoelectric effect, the piezoelectric material layer generates opposite charges on its two end faces when pressure is applied. When the pressure is removed, the piezoelectric material layer returns to its uncharged state. Therefore, by outputting the voltage change between the two electrodes located on the two end faces as an electrical signal and detecting this electrical signal, the properties of the pressure can be determined. The piezoelectric material forming the piezoelectric material layer can be a single-crystal material, such as quartz, sodium potassium tartrate, etc. Piezoelectric materials can also be polycrystalline materials, such as piezoelectric ceramics, specifically barium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, and lead magnesium niobate. Furthermore, some novel polymer materials, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), can also be used as piezoelectric materials. Additionally, piezoelectric materials can include dielectric elastomers. In some embodiments, dielectric elastomers can include silicone rubber, acrylate elastomers, polyurethane elastomers, nitrile rubber, vinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene, and their composites. In some embodiments, to reduce the driving voltage of the dielectric elastomer, high-dielectric fillers, such as titanium oxide (TiO2) and barium titanate (BaTiO3), can be added to the dielectric elastomer. Generally, the amount of charge generated by a piezoelectric material under stress is proportional to the magnitude of the external force. Furthermore, piezoelectric materials themselves are non-conductive, therefore, they can potentially act as electrical insulators between other components in a touch panel.

[0044] A piezoresistive sensor may include a piezoresistive device. The piezoresistive device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoresistive material layer between the two electrodes. The term "piezoresistive material layer" should not be construed as limiting the dimensions of the piezoresistive material layer in any dimension. Based on the piezoresistive effect, the resistivity of the piezoresistive material (e.g., monocrystalline silicon) forming the piezoresistive material layer changes when subjected to force. An electrical signal output proportional to the change in force can be obtained through appropriate measurement circuitry. In some embodiments, to improve detection accuracy and sensitivity, the piezoresistive sensor may include multiple piezoresistive devices connected in the form of a Wheatstone bridge. Specific implementations will be detailed in the embodiments below.

[0045] The actuator 114 will now be described. In this embodiment, the actuator 114 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 115. The drive circuit 115 receives a detection signal from the pressure detector 112 and, based on this detection signal, sends an actuation signal to the actuator 114. Upon receiving the actuation signal, the actuator 114 actuates the touch panel 100 or certain components within it (e.g., the cover plate 105) to provide tactile feedback to the user. In this application, the above process may be simply referred to as tactile feedback.

[0046] In haptic feedback, actuator 114 converts the received electrical signal into mechanical deformation or displacement. This deformation or displacement of actuator 114 itself is transmitted to the user in contact with the touch panel 100 via other components within the touch panel 100. In this way, the user can feel this deformation or displacement through touch, thereby understanding the information that the touch panel 100 wants to convey to the user.

[0047] In some embodiments, actuator 114 may include a piezoelectric device. The piezoelectric device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer between the first and second electrodes. When an electrical signal is applied to both end faces of the piezoelectric material layer, the piezoelectric material expands or contracts, thereby converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. As mentioned earlier, piezoelectric materials may include crystalline piezoelectric materials and dielectric elastomer materials; specific material types will not be elaborated further.

[0048] The drive circuit 115 will now be described. In some embodiments, the drive circuit 115 may be arranged in the same layer as the pressure detector 112 or the actuator 114. For example, as Figure 1As shown, pressure detector 112 and actuator 114 are arranged in the same layer. Drive circuit 115 may be arranged in the same layer as pressure detector 112 and actuator 114, or in a different layer. Pressure detector 112 is electrically connected to drive circuit 115, and drive circuit 115 is electrically connected to actuator 114. The term "electrical connection" can be understood as the transmission of electrical signals between two or more devices described by that term. Such transmission of electrical signals can be achieved by means of physical elements such as wires, or wirelessly such as electromagnetic waves. There may or may not be other devices between the electrically connected devices. That is, electrical signals can be transmitted directly between the electrically connected devices or flow through other devices besides these devices.

[0049] In this embodiment, since the pressure detector 112 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 115, the detection signal generated by the pressure detector 112 can be transmitted to the drive circuit 115. Since the drive circuit 115 is electrically connected to the actuator 114, the actuation signal emitted by the drive circuit 115 can be transmitted to the actuator 114, causing the actuator 114 to actuate other components in the touch panel 100 to generate haptic feedback. In a specific embodiment, the drive circuit 115 is provided with various ports, and the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114 can be connected to these ports. The drive circuit can receive detection signals and output actuation signals through these ports.

[0050] In this embodiment, the driving circuit 115 can be configured to determine whether to generate and emit an actuation signal based on a detection signal, and when it is determined that an actuation signal will be generated, to further determine the specific content of the actuation signal based on the detection signal, so as to associate the tactile feedback generated by the touch panel with the operation performed by the user on the touch panel 100. In some embodiments, the driving circuit 115 can be a logic device with data processing capabilities and / or program execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a field-programmable logic array (FPGA), a microcontroller (MCU), a digital signal processing circuit (DSP), or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0051] Because the touch panel of this application embodiment has the aforementioned devices and these devices are electrically connected, the touch panel can achieve pressure detection and provide tactile feedback based on the pressure detection. Therefore, when using the touch panel of this application embodiment, the user can gain a more accurate understanding of the operation performed on the touch panel through touch. For example, since the tactile feedback is based on pressure detection, the intensity of the tactile feedback can reflect the force of the pressure applied by the user on the touch panel. For example, in some embodiments, the greater the pressure applied by the user, the stronger the tactile feedback provided to the user, such as the stronger the vibration of the touch panel. Thus, if the user feels a strong vibration of the touch panel, it may indicate that the user's operation force is too great, and the user can immediately change the operation mode to avoid damaging the touch panel. In terms of touch, humans can feel vibrations in the ultrasonic frequency band. When the vibration frequency is between 100Hz and 1000Hz, especially between 100Hz and 300Hz, humans can feel relatively obvious vibrations through touch. Furthermore, even if a user already accurately understands their actions on the touch panel using other senses (such as sight or hearing), the touch panel according to embodiments of this application can also enhance and enrich the user experience through touch. For example, when a user applies greater pressure, it may indicate that the user is engaged in intense activity (such as a game in a critical phase). In this case, stronger tactile feedback can be provided to the user, allowing them to receive stimulation through touch in addition to sight and hearing, thus enriching their sensory experience.

[0052] As mentioned earlier, user operations on the touch panel 100 can occur on the cover plate 105, and the actuator 114 can also provide haptic feedback by actuating the cover plate 105. The cover plate 105 is described below.

[0053] When a user performs a real-time touch operation on the touch panel, the user can apply a certain force to the cover plate 105 of the touch panel 100. This force can be transmitted to the pressure detector 112. The pressure detector 112 generates a detection signal in response to the force. The drive circuit 115 is electrically connected to the pressure detector 112 and receives the detection signal. Then, the drive circuit generates and outputs an actuation signal based on the detection signal.

[0054] User operations on the cover plate 105 typically apply force to the cover plate, with a component perpendicular to the cover plate 105. In some specific descriptions of this application, the force perpendicular to the cover plate is also referred to as pressure on the cover plate. In embodiments of this application, the cover plate 105 can transmit pressure to the pressure detector 112. Furthermore, the cover plate 105 is also actuated by the actuator 114 to provide tactile feedback to the user. To accommodate the aforementioned pressure detection and tactile feedback functions, the cover plate 105 needs to possess a certain degree of hardness and elasticity. In some embodiments, the cover plate 105 may be made of one or more plastics, such as polyimide (PI), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polystyrene, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyethersulfone (PES), polyetherimide (PEI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyacrylate, triacetyl cellulose (TAC), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), etc. In other embodiments, the cover plate 105 may be made of glass, such as clear glass or translucent glass (e.g., frosted glass). In other embodiments, to increase the performance of the cover plate, such as impact resistance, the cover plate may be a structure formed by stacking multiple layers, or even a structure formed by stacking layers of different materials.

[0055] In the touch panel 100, the positional relationship between the actuator 114 and the pressure detector 112 will affect the effectiveness of pressure detection and haptic feedback. The positional relationship between the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114 will be described below.

[0056] Figure 3 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. In some embodiments, the at least one actuator 114 includes a plurality of actuators, and the plurality of actuators are arranged in an array comprising at least two rows and at least two columns. In the array of actuators 114, every four directly adjacent actuators 114 form a parallelogram subarray, and the orthographic projection of the four actuators 114 constituting the subarray onto the substrate 101 defines a sub-region 301 as vertices. For clarity of the drawings, Figure 3Only one sub-region 301 is shown. However, it should be understood that any four directly adjacent actuators 114 will define a sub-region 301. The orthographic projection of each pressure detector 112 onto the substrate 101 lies within the corresponding sub-region 301. The term "directly adjacent" means that the row and column numbers of these actuators 112 differ by one in the array. For example, all four actuators that satisfy the following row and column numbering relationship are "directly adjacent" actuators: the first actuator is located in the m-th row and n-th column of the array, the second actuator is located in the m-th row and (n+1)-th column of the array, the third actuator is located in the (m+1)-th row and (n+1)-th column of the array, and the fourth actuator is located in the (m+1)-th row and (n+1)-th column of the array, where m and n are positive integers. It should be understood that regardless of the values ​​of m and n, the difference between m and m+1 is always 1, and the difference between n and n+1 is also always 1. The four actuators constituting the sub-array are adjacent in both the row and column directions. In embodiments of this application, the four actuators can be arranged as vertices of a parallelogram, or even as vertices of a rectangle, square, or trapezoid. The term "orthographic projection" should be understood as the projection of an element onto a surface along a direction perpendicular to that surface. The substrate can be understood as a planar structure with a length and width significantly greater than its thickness. Therefore, the orthographic projection of the actuators and pressure detectors onto the substrate can be understood as the perpendicular projection of the actuators and pressure detectors onto the surface defined by the length and width directions of the substrate.

[0057] The orthographic projection of each pressure detector 112 onto the substrate 101 lies within its corresponding sub-region 301, indicating that each pressure detector 112 is arranged among four actuators 114. That is, in the touch panel, the pressure detectors 112 are interspersed among the actuators 114, with the actuators arranged around the periphery of the pressure detectors. This interspersed arrangement facilitates the uniform distribution of the pressure detectors 112 and actuators 114 within the touch panel, enabling more accurate pressure detection and providing tactile feedback in a more ideal location.

[0058] like Figure 3 As shown, four directly adjacent actuators 1141, 1142, 1143, and 1144 form a parallelogram subarray, for example... Figure 3 The rectangular subarray is shown in the figure. The orthographic projections of actuators 1141, 1142, 1143, and 1144 onto the substrate 101 define subregion 301 as vertices.

[0059] In some embodiments, each sub-region corresponds to one pressure detector. That is, only one pressure detector is arranged between every four directly adjacent actuators. Figure 3As shown, in this embodiment, a row of pressure detectors 112 is arranged between every two adjacent rows of actuators 114. A column of pressure detectors 112 is arranged between every two adjacent columns of actuators 114. The number of rows and columns of pressure detectors 112 is one less than the number of rows and columns of actuators 114, respectively.

[0060] In a more specific embodiment, the orthographic projection of the pressure detector between every four directly adjacent actuators onto the substrate 101 is located at the geometric center of the corresponding sub-region. This makes the relative position of the pressure detector to the four actuators corresponding to the sub-region relatively symmetrical, and ensures that the spacing between each row and column of pressure detectors is equal. This results in more consistent pressure detection accuracy at all locations on the touch panel.

[0061] Figure 3 The wiring between pressure detector 112 and actuator 114 is also schematically shown. (For example...) Figure 3 As shown, each pressure detector 112 includes an input terminal 311 and an output terminal 312. The input terminal 311 of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal output terminal 313 of the drive circuit, and the output terminal 312 of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal receiving terminal 314 of the drive circuit. To reduce the number of wires and lower the wiring density, the input terminals of multiple pressure detectors can be electrically connected to the same detection signal output terminal of the drive circuit. For example, in Figure 3 In one embodiment, the input terminal 311 of each row of pressure detectors is electrically connected to the same detection signal output terminal 313 of the drive circuit.

[0062] like Figure 3 As shown, each actuator 114 includes an input terminal 321 and an output terminal 322. The input terminal 321 of each actuator 114 is electrically connected to the corresponding actuation signal output terminal 323 of the drive circuit, and the output terminal 322 of each actuator 114 is electrically connected to the ground terminal GND of the drive circuit. It should be noted that... Figure 3 The number of pressure detectors and actuators shown should not be construed as a limitation on the number of pressure detectors and actuators within the touch panel of this application embodiment.

[0063] In other embodiments, each sub-region corresponds to two pressure detectors. The alignment direction of the orthographic projections of the two pressure detectors onto the substrate is parallel to the row or column direction of the array of the plurality of actuators.

[0064] Figure 4 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 4As shown, each sub-region 301 corresponds to two pressure detectors 1121 and 1122. That is, two pressure detectors are arranged between every four directly adjacent actuators 114. Thus, there is one row of pressure detectors 112 between every two rows of adjacent actuators 114, and two columns of pressure detectors between every two columns of adjacent actuators 114. The number of rows of pressure detectors 112 is one less than the number of rows of actuators 114. The number of columns of actuators 114 is one more than half the number of columns of pressure detectors 112. Figure 3 Compared to the previous embodiment, Figure 4 In the embodiment, the number of rows of pressure detectors is doubled, which means the number of pressure detectors is doubled.

[0065] In a more specific embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, sub-region 301 is divided into two regions by its centerline. The orthographic projections of the two pressure detectors 1121 and 1122 onto the substrate 101 are located at the geometric centers of these two regions, respectively. Thus, with respect to the angle of sub-region 301, the two pressure detectors 1121 and 1122 corresponding to that sub-region are arranged symmetrically within that sub-region. Viewed from multiple sub-regions, the spacing between pressure detectors within adjacent sub-regions is also equal. For example, the spacing between two pressure detectors 1121 and 1122 within a single sub-region 301 is half the lateral width of that sub-region. The spacing between pressure detector 1121 and pressure detector 1123 in an adjacent sub-region is also half the lateral width of the sub-region. This ensures that the spacing between each pressure detector within each row is consistent. With this arrangement, even when the number of pressure detectors is doubled, the spacing between each row of pressure detectors remains equal.

[0066] Figure 4 The embodiment can also be understood as follows: Subregion 301 is divided into four regions by three quartic lines (including the first quartic line, the second quartic line, and the third quartic line) extending along the column direction. The second quartic line is located between the first and third quartic lines. Of the two pressure detectors corresponding to subregion 301, one pressure detector is located at the midpoint of the first quartic line, and the other pressure detector is located at the midpoint of the third quartic line. Figure 4 The wiring for the pressure detector and actuator is also shown. (For example...) Figure 4 As shown, the input terminal 311 of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal output terminal 313 of the drive circuit, and the output terminal 312 of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal receiving terminal 314 of the drive circuit. Furthermore, in Figure 4 In this embodiment, the input terminal 311 of each row of pressure detectors is electrically connected to the same detection signal output terminal 313 of the drive circuit. Furthermore, as... Figure 4As shown, the input terminal 321 of each actuator is electrically connected to the corresponding actuation signal output terminal of the drive circuit. The output terminal 322 of each actuator is electrically connected to the ground terminal GND of the drive circuit. Figure 3 similar, Figure 4 The number of pressure detectors and actuators shown should not be construed as a limitation on the number of pressure detectors and actuators within the touch panel of this application embodiment.

[0067] In some embodiments, each sub-region corresponds to four pressure detectors. The four pressure detectors form a parallelogram, such as a rectangle, with their vertices. The two pairs of opposite sides of the parallelogram formed by the four pressure detectors extend in directions parallel to the row and column directions of the array of the plurality of actuators, respectively. Figure 5 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 5 As shown, each sub-region 301 corresponds to four pressure detectors 1121, 1122, 1123, and 1124. Pressure detectors 1121, 1122, 1123, and 1124 form a parallelogram as vertices (e.g., Figure 5 (The rectangle shown in the image). Furthermore, one pair of opposite sides 501, 502 of this parallelogram are parallel to the column direction of the actuator 114 array. Another pair of opposite sides 503, 504 of the parallelogram are parallel to the row direction of the actuator 114 array. This arrangement ensures that the pressure detectors and actuators are aligned, facilitating a uniform distribution of both devices. Due to space limitations, Figure 5 The wiring for the pressure detector and actuator is not shown. However, those skilled in the art will understand. Figure 3 and Figure 4 Based on this, one can think of Figure 5 Wiring method for medium pressure detector and actuator.

[0068] In some embodiments, such as those described above Figures 3 to 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114 may be arranged in the same layer or in different layers. The term "arranged in the same layer" can be understood as the two elements at least partially overlapping in a direction perpendicular to the layer. For example, along a direction perpendicular to the layer, the bottom surface of one element is closer to the layer than the top surface of the other element.

[0069] To reduce the density of electrical components within the same layer, and thus reduce wiring density, pressure detectors and actuators can be arranged in different layers. The term "arranged in different layers" can be understood as two components not coinciding in a direction perpendicular to the layer; for example, along a direction perpendicular to the layer, the bottom surface of one component is further away from the layer than the top surface of another component.

[0070] Figure 6 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is shown schematically. Figure 7A and Figure 7B Internal circuit diagrams of touch panels according to embodiments of this application are shown schematically. Figure 6 As shown, pressure detector 112 is located in the first layer 601, and brake 114 is located in the second layer 602. Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown, the number of components and wiring within each layer is relatively small, effectively avoiding interference between electrical signals. In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the first layer 601, where the pressure detector 112 is located, is closer to the user's interaction interface with the touch panel 100, such as the cover plate 105, compared to the second layer 602 where the actuator 114 is located. This brings the pressure detector 112 closer to the user's touch position, resulting in more accurate detection of the force applied by the user. In contrast, although the actuator 114 is farther from the user's touch position, it can still provide the desired touch feedback by adjusting the actuation signal.

[0071] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments, an insulating layer 603 may also exist between the first layer 601 and the second layer 602 to better isolate the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114, as well as the wiring electrical isolation of the two components.

[0072] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of each of the at least one pressure detectors onto the substrate at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the corresponding actuator of the at least one actuator onto the substrate. Figure 9 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 9 As shown, the orthographic projection of each pressure detector 112 onto the substrate 101 at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the actuator 114 onto the substrate 101. In other words, the pressure detectors 112 and actuators 114 located at corresponding positions are stacked and arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate 101.

[0073] Depending on the terminal device where the touch panel is located, the size of the touch panel, and the specific application scenario, the number and ratio of pressure detectors and actuators can vary. For example, in some embodiments, the ratio of the at least one actuator to the at least one pressure detector is in the range of 1:4 to 2:1. By setting the ratio of the two components within this range, their numbers are relatively close and their distribution is relatively uniform, allowing for a better balance between pressure detection and haptic feedback. When the number of pressure detectors is relatively large, for example, when the ratio of pressure detectors to actuators is 2:1, the touch panel has higher sensitivity.

[0074] Next, the electrical connection between pressure detector 112, actuator 114, and drive circuit 115 will be described. In some embodiments, each of the at least one pressure detector includes an input terminal and an output terminal, and the drive circuit includes at least one detection signal output terminal and at least one detection signal receiving terminal. The input terminal of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal output terminal of the drive circuit, and the output terminal of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal receiving terminal of the drive circuit.

[0075] Figure 2 The electrical connection between the pressure detector and actuator and the drive circuit is shown. For example... Figure 2 As shown, for example, pressure detector 112 can be connected to the port of drive circuit 115 via detection circuit 122. Specifically, input terminal 152 of pressure detector 112 can be connected to detection signal output terminal IN of drive circuit 115. Output terminal 162 of pressure detector 112 can be connected to detection signal receiving terminal OUT of drive circuit 115. Detection signal output terminal IN provides an input signal to pressure detector 112, and the detection signal output by pressure detector 112 is received by drive circuit 115 via detection signal receiving terminal OUT.

[0076] As mentioned earlier, pressure detectors can be capacitive, piezoelectric, or piezoresistive sensors. The internal structure of these sensors and their electrical connections to the drive circuit will be described below.

[0077] When the pressure detector is a capacitive sensor, each pressure detector includes a capacitor. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulator between the first and second electrodes. In this case, the first electrode serves as the input terminal 152 of the pressure detector and is electrically connected to the detection signal output terminal IN. The second electrode serves as the output terminal 162 of the pressure detector and is electrically connected to the detection signal receiving terminal OUT.

[0078] When the pressure detector is a piezoelectric sensor, each pressure detector includes a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer between the first and second electrodes. In this case, the first electrode serves as the input terminal 152 of the pressure detector and is electrically connected to the detection signal output terminal IN. The second electrode serves as the output terminal 162 of the pressure detector and is electrically connected to the detection signal receiving terminal OUT.

[0079] When the pressure detector is a piezoresistive sensor, each pressure detector includes a piezoresistive device. The piezoresistive device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoresistive material layer between the first and second electrodes. In this case, the first electrode serves as the input terminal 152 of each pressure detector and is electrically connected to the detection signal output terminal IN. The second electrode serves as the output terminal 162 of each pressure detector and is electrically connected to the detection signal receiving terminal OUT.

[0080] As mentioned earlier, to improve detection accuracy and sensitivity, each pressure detector may include multiple piezoresistive devices, and these piezoresistors may be connected in the form of a Wheatstone bridge. This will be described in more detail below. Figure 10 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Specifically, Figure 10 The internal circuitry of a piezoresistive sensor 1000, which can be used in embodiments of this application, is shown.

[0081] like Figure 10 As shown, the piezoresistive sensor 1000 may include two positive piezoresists 1005 and 1006 and two negative piezoresists 1010 and 1011. The resistance of a positive piezoresistor increases when pressure is applied, while the resistance of a negative piezoresistor decreases when pressure is applied. Positive piezoresistor 1005 and negative piezoresistor 1010 are connected in series, and negative piezoresistor 1011 and positive piezoresistor 1006 are connected in series. The series circuit consisting of positive piezoresistor 1005 and negative piezoresistor 1010 and the series circuit consisting of negative piezoresistor 1011 and positive piezoresistor 1006 are connected in parallel. The drive circuit 115 provides an input signal to the piezoresistive sensor 1000 through the detection signal output terminal IN. This input signal reaches both the positive piezoresistor 1005 and negative piezoresistor 1011. It should be noted that although... Figure 14Two detection signal output terminals IN are shown, but in other embodiments, the same detection signal output terminal IN can be used to provide input signals for the positive piezoresistive 1005 and the negative piezoresistive 1011. The piezoresistive sensor 1000 includes two output ports, which are respectively connected to the two detection signal receiving terminals OUT1 and OUT2 of the drive circuit 115. The potential of port OUT1 corresponds to the potential between the positive piezoresistive 1005 and the negative piezoresistive 1010, and the potential of port OUT2 corresponds to the potential between the negative piezoresistive 1011 and the positive piezoresistive 1006. After the pressure applied by the user to the touch panel is transmitted to the piezoresistive sensor 1000, the resistance values ​​of the positive and negative piezoresistive resistors change in opposite directions. As the pressure increases, the potential between the positive piezoresistive 1005 and the negative piezoresistive 1010 decreases, resulting in a decrease in the voltage received by port OUT1; the potential between the negative piezoresistive 1011 and the positive piezoresistive 1006 increases, resulting in an increase in the voltage received by port OUT2. The specific voltage values ​​of the two ports can be determined by the following formulas (1) and (2): V out1 = V in ×R 1010 / (R 1005 +R 1010 (1) V out2 = V in ×R 1006 / (R 1011 +R 1006 (2) Among them, V out1 This indicates the voltage value detected at port OUT1, V. out2 This indicates the voltage value detected at port OUT2, V. in R represents the voltage of the input signal provided by port IN. 1005 R 1006 R 1010 R 1011 These represent the resistance values ​​of positive piezoresistor 1005, positive piezoresistor 1006, negative piezoresistor 1010, and negative piezoresistor 1011, respectively. Thus, in response to an increase in pressure, the voltage V received at port OUT2... out2 and the voltage V received by port OUT1 out1 The difference (V) out2 -V out1 The pressure is increased, and the increase is greater than the change in voltage difference across a single piezoresistive resistor. By arranging the piezoresistive sensors 1000 in the manner described above as a Wheatstone bridge, the changes in pressure produced by each piezoresistive resistor after being compressed are accumulated and amplified, thereby improving the sensitivity and accuracy of pressure detection.

[0082] The electrical connection between actuator 114 and drive circuit 115 is described below. In some embodiments, each actuator includes an input terminal and an output terminal, and the drive circuit includes at least one actuation signal output terminal and a ground terminal. The input terminal of each actuator is electrically connected to the corresponding actuation signal output terminal of the drive circuit, and the output terminal of each actuator is electrically connected to the ground terminal of the drive circuit.

[0083] Figure 2 The electrical connection between actuator 114 and drive circuit 115 is also shown. For example... Figure 2 As shown, for example, actuator 114 can be connected to a port of drive circuit 115 via feedback circuit 124. For example, input terminal 154 of actuator 114 is electrically connected to one of the corresponding actuation signal output terminals A, B, C, and D of drive circuit 115. Output terminal 164 of actuator 114 is electrically connected to ground terminal GND of drive circuit 115. Actuation signal output terminals A, B, C, and D provide actuation signals to actuator 114, causing actuator 114 to deform or displace. Ground terminal GND is a common port electrically connected to each actuator 114; it can be a port within drive circuit 115 or another port within touch panel 100 capable of providing a ground potential. Detection circuit 122 and feedback circuit 124 can be formed using conductive materials, such as metal. In this embodiment, within the same row actuator 114, the actuator closer to the drive circuit 115 has its actuation signal output terminal connected to it that is closer to the centerline of the row actuator than the actuator farther from the drive circuit 115. For example, signal output terminal B is closer to the centerline of the row actuator than signal output terminal A. Figure 2 The centerline of the first row actuator. The centerline of the row direction refers to the centerline parallel to the extension direction of the row actuator.

[0084] In some embodiments, the actuator includes a piezoelectric device. The piezoelectric device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode serves as the input terminal of the actuator and is electrically connected to one of the actuation signal output terminals A, B, C, and D. The second electrode serves as the output terminal of the actuator and is electrically connected to the ground port GND.

[0085] Figure 11 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 11 As shown, with Figure 2 Compared to the embodiment shown, the number of pressure detectors 112 is doubled, which increases the pressure detection sensitivity and makes the pressure detection capability and haptic feedback capability of the touch panel more balanced. Figure 11The arrangement of the connection circuit between pressure detector 112 and actuator 114 and drive circuit 115 is shown. The number of ports for pressure detection in drive circuit 115 is also doubled, including detection signal output terminals IN1 and IN2, and detection signal receiving terminals OUT1 and OUT2. Pressure detector 112 closer to drive circuit 115 is connected to detection signal output terminal IN1 and detection signal receiving terminal OUT1, while pressure detector 112 farther from drive circuit 115 is connected to detection signal output terminal IN2 and detection signal receiving terminal OUT2. Detection signal output terminals IN1 and OUT1 are closer to the row direction centerline of this row of pressure detectors 112 than detection signal output terminals IN2 and detection signal receiving terminals OUT2. The row direction centerline refers to the centerline parallel to the extension direction of this row of pressure detectors 112.

[0086] Figure 12 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 12 As shown, with Figure 11 Compared to the illustrated embodiment, the number of pressure detectors 112 is doubled. The number of detection signal receiving terminals in the drive circuit 115 for receiving detection signals is correspondingly increased to four, including ports OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, and OUT4. The drive circuit 115 judges and processes the detection signal (e.g., voltage signal) received by each detection signal receiving terminal separately, thus more accurately determining the pressure attributes received by each pressure detector 112, thereby improving the sensitivity of pressure detection.

[0087] In some embodiments, to reduce the number of wires, the input terminal of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the same detection signal output terminal IN of the drive circuit. When the touch panel includes multiple pressure detectors, these pressure detectors can share the same detection signal output terminal IN to receive input signals and are respectively connected to different detection signal receiving terminals OUT. For example, in Figure 12 In this circuit, the drive circuit 115 provides input signals to each pressure detector 112 through only one detection signal output terminal IN, which is connected to the input terminal of each pressure detector 112.

[0088] In some embodiments, all ports of the drive circuit 115 are arranged on one side of the touch panel. For example, as Figure 2 , 11As shown in Figure 12, the detection signal output terminal IN, the detection signal receiving terminal OUT, the actuation signal output terminals A, B, C, and D, and the ground terminal GND of the drive circuit 115 are all arranged on the left side of the touch panel. That is, the detection circuit and the feedback circuit extend to one side of the touch panel, starting from the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114, respectively. This arrangement can be simply referred to as the "same-side" arrangement of the detection circuit and the feedback circuit.

[0089] In another embodiment, the detection circuit and the feedback circuit extend from the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114, respectively, to opposite sides of the touch panel. This arrangement can be simply referred to as a "different-side" arrangement of the detection circuit and the haptic feedback circuit. In this "different-side" arrangement, the ports of the drive circuit 115 electrically connected to the pressure detector and the ports electrically connected to the actuator are located on opposite sides of the touch panel. For example, the drive circuit includes at least one detection signal output terminal, at least one detection signal receiving terminal, at least one actuation signal output terminal, and a ground terminal. The at least one detection signal output terminal and the at least one detection signal receiving terminal are electrically connected to the at least one pressure detector. The at least one actuation signal output terminal and the ground terminal are electrically connected to the at least one actuator. The at least one detection signal output terminal and the at least one detection signal receiving terminal are located at a first edge of the touch panel. The at least one actuation signal output terminal and the ground terminal are located at a second edge of the touch panel. The first edge is opposite to the second edge.

[0090] Figure 13 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 13 As shown, the driving circuit may include two sub-parts, namely, a first sub-part 1151 and a second sub-part 1152. The first sub-part 1151 and the second sub-part 1152 are located on opposite sides of the touch panel. Actuation signal output terminals A, B, C, D, and ground terminal GND, which are electrically connected to the actuator 114, are arranged in the first sub-part 1151. Detection signal output terminals IN1 and IN2, and detection signal receiving terminals OUT1 and OUT2, which are electrically connected to the pressure detector 112, are arranged in the second sub-part 1152. This avoids the situation where the ports of the driving circuit and the wiring of the actuator and pressure detector are too concentrated on one side of the touch panel, thereby reducing the port density and wiring density on one side of the touch panel and promoting overall wiring balance of the touch panel.

[0091] In some embodiments, the touch panel may include a touch area. The touch area is the region on the touch panel that the user contacts when performing a touch operation. In other words, when a user uses the touch panel to perform a touch operation, the user is actually operating within the touch area of ​​the touch panel. Figure 14 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 14 As shown, in some embodiments, the touch panel includes a touch area 120. For example, the touch area 120 may be a region defined on the cover plate 105. When using the touch panel 100, the user primarily operates within the touch area 120. The force applied by the user to the touch panel is primarily applied directly within the touch area 120.

[0092] In some embodiments, the pressure detector 112 and actuator 114 are positioned corresponding to the touch area 120. For example, the orthographic projections of the pressure detector 112 and actuator 114 onto the cover plate 105 lie within the touch area 120. This can also be understood as the pressure detector 112 and actuator 114 being arranged "under the screen" in these embodiments. This allows the pressure detector 112 and actuator 114 to be closer to the user's touch position, resulting in more accurate measurement of the force applied by the user and a tactile feedback that is closer to the tactile feedback expected to be provided to the user.

[0093] In addition to arranging both the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114 at positions corresponding to the touch area, in some other embodiments, the pressure detector 112 and / or the actuator 114 may also be located outside the touch area. For example, in some embodiments, the touch panel is divided into a touch area and a border area surrounding the touch area. The at least one pressure detector and / or the at least one actuator is located in the border area. For example, the pressure detector 112 is arranged outside the touch area of ​​the touch panel, or the actuator 114 is arranged outside the touch area of ​​the touch panel, or both the pressure detector 112 and the actuator 114 are arranged outside the touch area of ​​the touch panel. This is particularly suitable for touch panels with display functions, as it avoids the aforementioned two devices affecting the light transmission effect of the touch panel.

[0094] When higher pressure detection accuracy is required, the pressure detector 112 can be arranged in the touch area of ​​the cover plate, while the actuator 114 can be arranged outside the touch area of ​​the cover plate. Figure 15 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 15As shown, in some embodiments, the touch panel includes a touch area 120 and a border area 130 surrounding the touch area 120. The touch area and the border area can be two parts of a cover plate. The orthographic projection of the pressure detector 112 onto the cover plate 105 is located in the touch area 120, and the orthographic projection of the actuator 114 onto the cover plate 105 is located in the border area 130. This arrangement ensures that the pressure detector can be closer to the user's touch position to improve detection accuracy, and also allows the actuator 114 to actuate the cover plate without affecting the display function within the touch area 120.

[0095] In some embodiments, the touch panel may also have a touch position detection function. For example, the touch position detection function can be used to determine the user's touch position on the touch panel. Furthermore, haptic feedback can be combined with the touch position detection function. For example, haptic feedback can occur at the touch position, or the specific content of the haptic feedback can be related to the touch position, such as informing the user which specific location they have touched.

[0096] Figure 16 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 16 As shown, the touch panel also includes a touch layer 150. The touch layer includes a touch sensor 151, which is electrically connected to the driving circuit 115. The touch layer 150 is configured to detect a touch position 155 and send a position signal indicating the touch position 155 to the driving circuit 115.

[0097] The touch sensor 151 can be any detector capable of converting position information into an electrical signal. The touch layer 150 can be a layer structure within the touch panel. In some embodiments, the touch layer 150 is disposed between the layer of the cover plate 105 and the layer containing the pressure detector 112. When a user operates the touch panel, the electrical properties of the touch sensor 151 corresponding to the user's contact position with the touch panel (i.e., the touch position) may change and be output in the form of an electrical signal. When this electrical signal is detected, the position of the touch sensor can be considered as the user's touch position. After determining the touch position, the driving circuit can generate an actuation signal based on the touch position. In this way, the haptic feedback provided by the touch panel can be related to the user's touch position. For example, when generating the actuation signal, the generated actuation signal can be made to actuate the actuator 114 closest to the touch position. This can reduce the energy loss in the process of vibration being transmitted from the actuator 114 to the touch position. Alternatively, in some embodiments, when generating the actuation signal, the generated actuation signal can drive multiple actuators, and the actuations of the multiple actuators can be superimposed to place the haptic feedback at the touch location. For example, the actuation signal generated by the drive circuit can control the vibration amplitude and frequency of each actuator. When the vibrations of each actuator are transmitted to the cover plate, the vibrations provided by each actuator on the cover plate can be superimposed, allowing the vibrations to cancel each other out or enhance each other. As a result, the vibration can be amplified at the touch location and weakened at other locations. In this way, the haptic feedback will only occur at the touch location.

[0098] In some embodiments, to reduce the thickness of the touch panel, the layer containing the pressure detector 112 and / or the layer containing the actuator 114 can be integrated with other layer structures. For example, in some embodiments, the pressure detector 112 can be arranged in the touch layer 150. That is, the touch sensor 151 and the at least one pressure detector are arranged in the same layer. Figure 17 As shown, the touch sensor 151 and the pressure detector 112 are arranged flat in the same layer, and their positions do not overlap. The actuator 114 may be located in a different layer.

[0099] The touch panel of this application may also have a display function. In some embodiments, tactile feedback operation may be combined with the display function. For example, in some embodiments, the touch panel further includes a display substrate. The display substrate is driven by a display signal for displaying an image. The display substrate is electrically connected to a driving circuit. Thus, the driving circuit can determine the actuation signal based on the display signal. This allows the tactile feedback function to be combined with the display function, making the tactile feedback relevant to the content displayed on the display.

[0100] In the foregoing embodiments, pressure detection and tactile feedback are achieved by a pressure detector and an actuator, respectively. In other embodiments, both pressure detection and tactile feedback can be achieved using only one device. For example, piezoelectric materials exhibit both direct and inverse piezoelectric effects. The direct piezoelectric effect refers to the phenomenon where, when a piezoelectric material is subjected to pressure, opposite charges are generated on its two end faces, and the voltage between the electrodes on these two end faces reflects the pressure. The inverse piezoelectric effect refers to the phenomenon where, when an electrical signal is applied to the two end faces of the piezoelectric material, the material expands or contracts, causing deformation or displacement. Therefore, by having the piezoelectric material perform different operations at different times, a piezoelectric device containing the material can achieve both pressure detection and tactile feedback functions.

[0101] Figure 18 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 19 A perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is shown schematically. Figure 20 It shows Figure 19 A magnified view of a portion of the image. For example... Figure 18 and 19 As shown, in some embodiments, the touch panel includes at least one piezoelectric device 110 and a driving circuit 115. For example... Figure 20 As shown, the piezoelectric device 110 includes a piezoelectric material body 1105 having a first end face and a second end face, a first electrode 1110 disposed on the first end face, and a second electrode 1115 disposed on the second end face. The first electrode 1110 is electrically connected to the signal output terminal A of the driving circuit, and the second electrode 1115 is electrically connected to the signal receiving terminal OUT of the driving circuit. The driving circuit 115 is configured to determine the pressure on the piezoelectric device 110 by detecting a first voltage difference between the signal output terminal and the signal receiving terminal during a first time period, and to drive the piezoelectric device 110 to provide tactile feedback by providing a second voltage difference between the signal output terminal and the signal receiving terminal during a second time period.

[0102] Specifically, in the first time period, the first electrode 1110 of the piezoelectric device 110 receives the input signal provided by the corresponding signal output terminal A, B, C, or D, and outputs the detection signal to the corresponding signal receiving terminal OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, or OUT4 through the second electrode 1115. The driving circuit 115, by detecting the detection signals at the signal receiving terminals OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, and OUT4, can determine the properties of the force applied by the user to the touch panel, such as the magnitude of the force, and decide whether to output a feedback signal. When the force applied to the touch panel meets the conditions for outputting a feedback signal, in the second time period, the first electrode 1110 of the piezoelectric device 110 receives the feedback signal provided by the corresponding signal output terminal A, B, C, or D, and the second electrode 1115 is grounded through the corresponding signal receiving terminal OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, or OUT4. At this time, the voltage difference between the first electrode 1110 and the second electrode 1115 can drive the piezoelectric material body 1105 to deform or displace, thereby actuating the touch panel to provide tactile feedback. It should be understood that the first time period and the second time period are two different time periods. Pressure detection and tactile feedback are achieved at different times, which can be referred to as "time-division multiplexing" of the piezoelectric device 110.

[0103] Similar to the embodiments described above, in some embodiments, the signal output terminal of the driving circuit is located at the first edge of the touch panel, and the signal input terminal of the driving circuit is located at the second edge of the touch panel, with the first edge and the second edge opposite to each other. Figure 21 An internal circuit diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is schematically shown. Figure 21 As shown, the signal output terminals OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, and OUT4, electrically connected to the first electrode, are located in the second sub-section 1152 of the driving circuit. The signal receiving terminals A, B, C, and D, electrically connected to the second electrode, are located in the first sub-section 1151 of the driving circuit. The first sub-section 1151 and the second sub-section 1152 are located on opposite sides of the touch panel. This avoids the situation where the ports of the driving circuit and the wiring of the piezoelectric device 110 are too concentrated on one side of the touch panel, thereby reducing the port density and wiring density on one side of the touch panel and promoting overall wiring balance of the touch panel.

[0104] In the touch panel according to embodiments of this application, various tactile feedback effects can be achieved by configuring the driving circuit. For example, as mentioned above, the touch panel can be configured to provide stronger tactile feedback to the user when the user applies greater pressure. In addition, the driving circuit can be configured in other ways to achieve other effects.

[0105] For example, in some embodiments, the drive circuit is configured to output an actuation signal only in response to a detection signal indicating that the force applied to the touch panel is greater than or equal to a preset trigger threshold. That is, when the force applied to the touch panel is less than the trigger threshold, no feedback signal is output, and the touch panel does not provide haptic feedback. For example, the user can preset the trigger threshold. If, after processing the detection signal, the processor finds that the force applied to the touch panel by the user, as reflected in the detection signal, is greater than or equal to the trigger threshold, it indicates that the user actually intends to operate on the touch panel, rather than accidentally touching it. By configuring the drive circuit in this way, the drive circuit only outputs an actuation signal to actuate the cover and provide haptic feedback to the user when it is determined that the user actually intends to use the touch panel. This firstly avoids the impact of accidental touches on the touch panel and also reduces the number of haptic feedback cycles of the actuator, extending its lifespan. In some embodiments, the trigger threshold can be set in the range of 1 Newton (N) to 1.5 Newtons. On the other hand, this setup allows users to understand if they operate the touch panel without feeling haptic feedback, potentially indicating incorrect operation, such as applying too little force. Thus, when users don't feel haptic feedback, they can learn that their previous operation may have been incorrect and take a different action.

[0106] In some embodiments, the drive circuit can also be configured to alarm the user in response to a detection signal indicating that the force applied to the touch panel exceeds a protection threshold. The protection threshold can be set according to the range of the pressure detector. For example, when the force applied to the touch panel exceeds the protection threshold, the force exceeds the range, causing the pressure detector to potentially fail to accurately reflect the properties of the force applied by the user. Alternatively, the protection threshold can be set according to the pressure the touch panel can withstand. For example, when the force applied to the touch panel exceeds the protection threshold, it may damage the touch panel. This configuration can alert the user to excessive force, prompting them to change their operating method, thereby improving measurement accuracy or protecting the touch panel. The alarm provided to the user can be implemented through haptic feedback, such as vibrating the cover at a high frequency or amplitude, or through other means such as sound or light.

[0107] The touch panel according to the embodiments of this application can be used in various devices with human-computer interaction functions, including devices with display functions such as computers, tablets, mobile phones, and in-vehicle multimedia interaction systems, as well as non-display devices such as touchpads. This application does not limit this application.

[0108] According to another aspect of this application, a human-computer interaction method based on a touch panel is provided. The touch panel can be a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application. The touch panel includes a pressure detector, an actuator, and a driving circuit. Figure 22 A flowchart illustrating a human-computer interaction method based on a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is shown schematically. Figure 22 As shown, the method includes the following steps.

[0109] In step S2205, the pressure detector generates a detection signal based on the magnitude of the force applied by the user to the touch panel and sends the detection signal to the drive circuit.

[0110] In step S2210, the driving circuit determines, based on the detection signal, whether the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to a preset trigger threshold.

[0111] In step S2215, in response to the detection signal indicating that the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to the trigger threshold, the driving circuit generates an actuation signal and outputs the actuation signal to the actuator so that the actuator generates tactile feedback to the user.

[0112] The human-computer interaction method is described in more detail below. First, when a user operates on the touch panel, the user applies pressure to the touch panel. This pressure can be detected by a pressure detector and output to the drive circuit in the form of a detection signal. Therefore, the detection signal reflects the attributes of the pressure applied by the user to the touch panel, such as the magnitude of the pressure. By receiving and analyzing the detection signal, the attributes of the pressure can be determined. For example, the drive circuit can use the detection signal to determine the value of the pressure applied by the user to the touch panel, or to determine whether the pressure applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than a preset trigger threshold. Then, based on the results of the above analysis, it can be determined whether to generate an actuation signal and what kind of actuation signal to generate. When it is determined that the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to the trigger threshold, it is considered that an actuation signal can be generated. In this case, the drive circuit can generate an actuation signal according to the attributes of the pressure applied by the user to the touch panel and output the actuation signal to the actuator, causing the actuator to actuate the cover plate, so that the cover plate provides tactile feedback to the user.

[0113] Since the actuation signal is determined based on the detection signal, that is, based on the properties of the pressure applied by the user to the touch panel, the tactile feedback generated by the touch panel can be related to the pressure applied by the user. After the actuation signal is output to the actuator, the actuator's actuation of the touch panel can be based on the properties of the pressure applied by the user. Through the above human-computer interaction method, users can have a more accurate understanding of the operations they perform on the touch panel, and the user's interactive experience is enhanced and enriched.

[0114] Figure 23A flowchart illustrating a human-computer interaction method based on a touch panel according to an embodiment of this application is shown schematically. Figure 23 As shown, when a user operates the touch panel, the pressure detector generates a detection signal, initiating a pressure detection and touch feedback process. First, the detection signal is sent by the pressure detector to the drive circuit. Then, the drive circuit analyzes the detection signal to determine if the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to a preset trigger threshold. If the force is greater than or equal to the trigger threshold, it indicates that the user is indeed performing a touch operation. At this point, the drive circuit can generate an actuation signal. The actuation signal is then output to the actuator, causing the actuator to actuate the touch device to produce haptic feedback. After this, the current round of pressure detection and touch feedback ends, and a new round of pressure detection begins. In the new round of pressure detection, the pressure detector continues to detect the force applied by the user to the touch panel and outputs a new detection signal.

[0115] If the analysis of the detection signal by the driving circuit indicates that the force applied to the touch panel is less than the trigger threshold, it means that the user does not intend to perform a touch operation. In this case, no actuation signal is generated, the current round of pressure detection ends, and a new round of pressure detection begins.

[0116] In some embodiments, the touch panel further includes a touch sensor. The method also includes generating a position signal by the touch sensor based on the user's touch position and sending the position signal to the signal controller. It is understood that the position signal can indicate the location of the force applied by the user on the touch panel, i.e., the touch position. In this case, if the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to a preset trigger threshold, an actuation signal can be generated based on the touch position, causing the tactile feedback provided by the actuator to occur at the touch position. That is, step S2215 specifically includes: the driving circuit generating the actuation signal based on the position signal, causing the actuator to provide tactile feedback to the user at the touch position. In this embodiment, in the touch panel, in addition to a pressure detector detecting the properties of the force applied by the user to the touch panel, there is also a touch sensor to detect the user's touch position. This allows the actuation signal to be formed based on these two factors. For example, an actuation signal can cause the actuator closest to the touch position to actuate the touch panel, or to superimpose the actuations of multiple actuators to make haptic feedback occur at the touch position.

[0117] In summary, this application provides a touch panel and a human-computer interaction method based on the touch panel. The touch panel, utilizing a pressure detector and actuator, can provide tactile feedback to the user based on the user's actions on the touch panel. This ensures that user errors do not affect touch operation, or that errors are detected early and corrected by the user as quickly as possible, thereby enhancing the human-computer interaction experience.

[0118] As those skilled in the art will understand, although the steps of the methods in the embodiments of this disclosure are described in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this does not require or imply that the steps must be performed in that specific order unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Additional or alternatively, multiple steps may be combined into a single step, and / or a single step may be broken down into multiple steps. Furthermore, other method steps may be inserted between steps. Inserted steps may represent improvements to the method as described herein, or may be unrelated to the method. Moreover, a given step may not be fully completed before the next step begins.

[0119] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right" etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application, and does not require these embodiments to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0120] In the description of this application, terms such as "some embodiments" and "other embodiments" refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment being included in at least one embodiment of this application. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments or examples. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine different embodiments or examples described in this application, as well as features of these embodiments or examples, without contradiction. It should also be noted that in this application, the terms "first," "second," or similar terms are used for descriptive or naming purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or specifying the number of technical features modified.

[0121] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising: Substrate At least one pressure detector and at least one actuator are disposed on the substrate, and drive circuit, Wherein, the at least one pressure detector is electrically connected to the drive circuit, and the drive circuit is electrically connected to the at least one actuator; The at least one actuator includes a plurality of actuators, and the plurality of actuators are arranged in an array comprising at least two rows and at least two columns. In this configuration, every four directly adjacent actuators form a parallelogram subarray, and the orthographic projections of the four actuators forming the subarray onto the substrate define a sub-region as vertices. Wherein, the orthogonal projection of each of the at least one pressure detectors on the substrate is located within a corresponding sub-region; Each of the at least one pressure detector includes an input terminal and two output terminals, and the driving circuit includes at least one detection signal output terminal, at least two detection signal receiving terminals, and a ground terminal. The input terminal of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the corresponding detection signal output terminal of the drive circuit, and the two output terminals of each pressure detector are respectively electrically connected to the two corresponding detection signal receiving terminals of the drive circuit. Each of the at least one pressure detectors includes a first positive piezoresistive element, a second positive piezoresistive element, a first negative piezoresistive element, and a second negative piezoresistive element, wherein the resistance value of the positive piezoresistive element increases when subjected to pressure, and the resistance value of the negative piezoresistive element decreases when subjected to pressure. The first electrode of the first positive piezoresistor is electrically connected to the input terminal of the pressure detector. The second electrode of the first positive piezoresistor is electrically connected to the first electrode of the first negative piezoresistor and the first output terminal of the two output terminals. The first electrode of the second negative piezoresistor is also electrically connected to the input terminal of the pressure detector. The second electrode of the second negative piezoresistor is electrically connected to the first electrode of the second positive piezoresistor and the second output terminal of the two output terminals. The second electrodes of the first negative piezoresistor and the second electrode of the second positive piezoresistor are both electrically connected to the ground terminal.

2. The touch panel as described in claim 1, wherein, The ratio of the number of the at least one actuator to the number of the at least one pressure detector is in the range of 1:4 to 2:

1.

3. The touch panel as described in claim 1, wherein, Each sub-region corresponds to one pressure detector. The orthographic projection of the pressure detector onto the substrate is located at the geometric center of the corresponding sub-region.

4. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Each sub-region corresponds to two pressure detectors. The arrangement direction of the orthographic projection of the two pressure detectors on the substrate is parallel to the row or column direction of the array of the plurality of actuators.

5. The touch panel as described in claim 4, wherein, The sub-region is divided into two regions by its centerline, and the orthographic projections of the two pressure detectors on the substrate are located at the geometric centers of the two regions, respectively.

6. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Each sub-region corresponds to four pressure detectors. The four pressure detectors form a parallelogram as vertices. The two pairs of opposite sides of the parallelogram extend in the direction parallel to the row and column directions of the array of the plurality of actuators, respectively.

7. The touch panel as described in any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The at least one pressure detector and the at least one actuator are arranged in the same layer.

8. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The orthographic projection of each of the at least one pressure detectors on the substrate at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the corresponding actuator in the at least one actuator on the substrate.

9. The touch panel according to any one of claims 1-6 and 8, wherein, The at least one pressure detector and the at least one actuator are arranged in different layers.

10. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The input of each pressure detector is electrically connected to the same detection signal output of the drive circuit.

11. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Each of the at least one actuator includes an input terminal and an output terminal, and the drive circuit includes at least one actuation signal output terminal and a ground terminal. The input terminal of each actuator is electrically connected to the corresponding actuation signal output terminal of the drive circuit, and the output terminal of each actuator is electrically connected to the ground terminal of the drive circuit.

12. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The drive circuit also includes at least one actuation signal output terminal. Specifically, the at least one detection signal output terminal and the at least two detection signal receiving terminals are electrically connected to the at least one pressure detector, and the at least one actuation signal output terminal and the ground terminal are electrically connected to the at least one actuator. The at least one detection signal output terminal and the at least two detection signal receiving terminals are located at the first edge of the touch panel, and the at least one actuation signal output terminal and the ground terminal are located at the second edge of the touch panel, with the first edge and the second edge being opposite to each other.

13. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The touch panel is divided into a touch area and a border area surrounding the touch area. The at least one pressure detector and / or the at least one actuator are located in the border area.

14. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a touch layer, wherein the touch layer is configured to determine a touch position.

15. The touch panel as claimed in claim 14, wherein, The at least one pressure detector is arranged in the touch layer.

16. A human-computer interaction method based on a touch panel according to claim 1, the human-computer interaction method comprising: The pressure detector generates a detection signal based on the magnitude of the force applied by the user to the touch panel, and sends the detection signal to the driving circuit. The driving circuit determines, based on the detection signal, whether the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to a preset trigger threshold. In response to the detection signal indicating that the force applied by the user to the touch panel is greater than or equal to the trigger threshold, the driving circuit generates an actuation signal and outputs the actuation signal to the actuator so that the actuator generates tactile feedback to the user.

17. The human-computer interaction method as described in claim 16, wherein, The touch panel further includes a touch sensor, and the human-computer interaction method further includes: The touch sensor generates a position signal based on the user's touch position and sends the position signal to the signal controller. The step of generating the actuation signal by the drive circuit includes: The driving circuit generates the actuation signal based on the position signal, so that the actuator provides tactile feedback to the user at the touch position.

Images