Touch panel with force sensing function

Abstract

The invention relates to a touchpad with a force sensing function, which is provided with a main support and a sensing substrate which are stacked, the main support is provided with a plurality of force sensing areas which respectively correspond to a plurality of force sensing units on the sensing substrate, each force sensing area is provided with a first lever, and the first lever is integrally provided with a fulcrum, a short arm and a long arm. The fulcrum is arranged between the short arm and the long arm, the force sensing unit is relatively arranged on the long arm of the first lever, and the force sensing unit is arranged on the long arm in cooperation with the arrangement of the first lever, so that a user presses the periphery of the arrangement position of the force sensing unit, and the distance between the force sensing unit and the main support is increased due to the action of the lever. And the induction variable quantity of the force induction quantity can be effectively increased.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a touchpad, in particular, a touchpad with force sensing function. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the increasing functions provided by the touchpad, in addition to the original touch sensing function, many touchpads also increase the force sensing function. The force sensing function can be achieved through different structures. One of the existing technologies is to set multiple force sensing units under the sensing substrate and distribute them at different positions. In order to support the sensing substrate, a main support is arranged under the sensing substrate. When the user presses down, the distance between the force sensing unit and the main support changes due to the force. The force sensing units at different positions will receive different amounts of capacitance changes. In this way, the user's pressing force at the corresponding position on the touchpad is calculated to operate the corresponding instructions.

[0003] In the prior art, in order to form a gap between the sensing substrate and the main support, a spacer is arranged between them. In order to evenly distribute the support force, the spacer is generally arranged at the corner to prevent the main support from warping at the edge. Generally speaking, in order to consider the sensing effect at the edge and evenly distribute the force sensing units, the force sensing units are usually arranged close to the corner. Therefore, the force close to the force sensing unit setting position is affected by the support of the spacer, resulting in a small deformation effect. Therefore, the deformation is smaller than the actual deformation that should be generated, and the actual pressing force cannot be reflected. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, the present application improves the touchpad of the prior art to improve the force sensing effect of the force sensing unit setting area.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned application purposes, the technical means adopted by the present application is to provide a touchpad with force sensing function, which comprises: a main support comprising a plurality of force sensing areas, each of the force sensing areas having a first lever, each of the first levers integrally formed with a fulcrum, a short arm and a long arm, the fulcrum being between the short arm and the long arm; a sensing substrate having a plurality of touch sensing electrodes and a plurality of force sensing units thereon, each of the force sensing units corresponding to one of the force sensing areas, and each of the force sensing units being located opposite to the long arm of the first lever of the corresponding force sensing area; and a cover plate arranged on the sensing substrate.

[0006] The present application has the advantage that by arranging the first lever in the force sensing area, and arranging the force sensing unit on the long arm and the spacer on the short arm, even if the user presses around the force sensing unit setting position, the force sensing unit will still increase the distance change between the force sensing unit and the main support due to the lever effect, thereby effectively improving the sensing change of the force sensing amount. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is an appearance diagram of a first embodiment of the touch panel of the present invention;

[0008] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the components of the first embodiment of the touch panel of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 3 FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a touch panel according to the present invention disposed in an electronic device;

[0010] Figure 4 A top view of some components of a first embodiment of a touch panel according to the present invention;

[0011] Figure 5 For the Figure 4 The cross-sectional view of the cutting line 4-4;

[0012] Figure 6 For the Figure 4 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the cutting line 6-6;

[0013] Figure 7 is a block diagram of some components of a first embodiment of a touch panel of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 8 FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a touch panel according to the present invention disposed in an electronic device;

[0015] Figure 9 is an exploded view of the components of a second embodiment of the touch panel of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 10 A top view of some components of a second embodiment of a touch panel according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 11 For the Figure 10 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the cutting plane line 11-11;

[0018] Figure 12 For the Figure 10 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the cutting line 12-12.

[0019] Wherein, the reference numerals:

[0020] 10, 10A: Main bracket; 100: Fixing hole;

[0021] 11, 11A: outer bracket; 111, 111A: outer frame;

[0022] 112, 112A: accommodating space; 113, 113A: through hole;

[0023] 12, 12A: inner bracket; 121A: center bracket;

[0024] 122A: outer edge frame; 123A: inclined support;

[0025] 13: cantilever; 20, 20A: inductive substrate;

[0026] 21: touch inductive electrode; 22, 22A: force sensing unit;

[0027] 30, 30A: spacer pad; 31, 31A, 32A: adhesive layer;

[0028] 40, 40A: cover plate; 50, 50A: electronic device;

[0029] 51, 51A: housing; 52: hole;

[0030] 60, 60A: force sensing area; 61, 61A: first lever;

[0031] 611, 611A: fulcrum; 612, 612A: short arm;

[0032] 613, 613A: long arm; 614, 614A: connecting portion;

[0033] 62, 62A: second lever; 621, 621A: fulcrum;

[0034] 622, 622A: short arm; 623, 623A: long arm;

[0035] 624, 624A: connecting portion; 70, 70A: vibration unit;

[0036] 71: control unit; 80A: auxiliary support;

[0037] 81A: through hole; 82A: connecting plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The technical means adopted by the present application to achieve the predetermined object of the application are further explained below in cooperation with the drawings and the embodiments of the present application, wherein the drawings are only simplified for the purpose of illustration and the structure or method invention of the present application is explained through the relationship between the elements and components of the present application, therefore, the elements shown in the drawings are not presented in actual quantity, actual shape, actual size and actual proportion, the size or size proportion has been enlarged or simplified, thereby providing better illustration, the actual quantity, actual shape or actual size proportion has been selectively designed and configured, and the detailed element layout can be more complex.

[0039] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the first embodiment of the touch panel of the present invention includes a main support 10 , a sensing substrate 20 , a plurality of spacers 30 , and a cover 40 .

[0040] See also Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the main support 10 is used to be fixed to a housing 51 of an electronic device 50. Specifically, the housing 51 of the electronic device 50 has a hole 52 whose width is much smaller than the overall width of the electronic device 50. The touchpad of the present invention is disposed in the hole 52. A plurality of fixing holes 100 are provided on the periphery of the main support 10 for fixing to the housing 51. The main support 10 includes a plurality of force sensing areas 60. Each force sensing area 60 has a first lever 61. Each first lever 61 is integrally formed with a fulcrum 611, a short arm 612, and a long arm 613. The fulcrum 611 is located between the short arm 612 and the long arm 613. The short arm 612 is shorter than the long arm 613. The short arm 612 is located between the long arm 613 and one of the corners 101 of the main support 10. In one embodiment, the main bracket 10 includes an outer bracket 11 and an inner bracket 12, the outer bracket 11 includes an outer frame 111 and a accommodating space 112 surrounded by the outer frame 111, and a plurality of through holes 113 are provided on the outer frame 111, each of the through holes 113 corresponds to one of the force sensing areas 60, and the first lever 61 located in each of the force sensing areas 60 is connected to the inner wall surface of the corresponding through hole 113 via a connecting portion 614, and the connecting portion 614 serves as the fulcrum 611 of the aforementioned first lever 61, and there is a gap between the short arm 612 and the long arm 613 and the inner wall surface of the corresponding through hole 113, and they are not in contact with each other. In one embodiment, the connecting portion 614 is connected to both sides of the corresponding first lever 61 and the inner wall surface of the through hole 113. Therefore, each first lever 61 is connected to the inner wall of the corresponding through hole 113 only via the connecting portion 614 serving as the fulcrum 611, allowing the long arm 613 and the short arm 612 to generate relative lever motion relative to the through hole 113. Furthermore, this embodiment includes four force sensing areas 60, two of which are located near two corners along one long side of the outer frame 111, and the other two force sensing areas 60 are located near the remaining two corners along the other opposite long side of the outer frame 111.

[0041] In one embodiment, each of the force sensing areas 60 comprises a second lever 62, which is identical to the first lever 61 and also has a fulcrum 621, a short arm 622 and a long arm 623. The fulcrum 621 is located between the short arm 622 and the long arm 623 and is connected to the inner wall of the through hole 113 as the fulcrum 621. The second lever 62 is coaxially arranged with the first lever 61 in the same through hole 113. The long arm 623 of the second lever 62 is adjacent to the long arm 613 of the first lever 61 but not in contact with it. The long arm 623 and the short arm 622 of the second lever 62 can also move relative to the through hole 113. In one embodiment, the second lever 62 is shorter than the first lever 61.

[0042] As shown in Figure 2 , 4 and Figure 5 , the inner support 12 is located in the accommodation space 112 of the outer support 11 and is connected to the outer support 11. In one embodiment, the outer support 11 has a plurality of cantilever arms 13. The ends of the cantilever arms 13 are in contact with the surface of the inner support 12 to connect the inner support 12 and the outer support 11. The outer support 11 and the inner support 12 are located on different planes and have a height difference.

[0043] As shown in Figure 2 and Figures 5 to 7 , the sensing substrate 20 is arranged on the main support 10. In one embodiment, the sensing substrate 20 is in contact with the inner support 12. The sensing substrate 20 comprises a plurality of touch sensing electrodes 21 and a plurality of force sensing units 22. Each of the force sensing units 22 corresponds to one of the force sensing areas 60. Each of the force sensing units 22 is located on the long arm 613 of the first lever 61 of the corresponding force sensing area 60. In one embodiment, each of the force sensing units 22 is located on the long arm 613 of the first lever 61 and the long arm 623 of the second lever 62 of the corresponding force sensing area 60. In one embodiment, the touchpad of the present application has a vibration unit 70 and a control unit 71. The vibration unit 70 is arranged on one side of the sensing substrate 20 and adjacent to the main support 10. The vibration unit 70, the touch sensing electrodes 21 and the force sensing units 22 are electrically connected to the control unit 71. In one embodiment, the control unit 71 controls the vibration unit 70 to provide vibration feedback when a predetermined condition is met, such as when the user applies a force that reaches a threshold value (the size of the applied force calculated from the force sensing value received by the force sensing unit 22).

[0044] As shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the spacer pads 30 are arranged between the sensing substrate 20 and the main support 10, and each of the spacer pads 30 is located on the short arm 612 of the first lever 61 and the short arm 622 of the second lever 62 corresponding to the force sensing area 60. In an embodiment, the inner support 12 and the sensing substrate 20 are attached by an adhesive layer 31. The cover plate 40 covers the sensing substrate 20.

[0045] As shown in Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 , by arranging each of the force sensing areas 60 corresponding to the force sensing unit 22, and the force sensing unit 22 is arranged at a position relative to the long arm 613 of the first lever 61, when an object exerts force on the cover plate 40, the deformation caused by the force will cause the first lever 61 on which the long arm 613 is located to produce a lever effect, thereby increasing the distance change between the long arm 613 and the main support 10, making the end of the long arm 613 more easily approach the sensing substrate 20, thereby making the pressing around the force sensing unit 22 not affected by the spacer pads 30, and effectively reflecting the deformation degree it should present under the force. Further, the position of the force sensing unit 22 also corresponds to the position of the long arm 623 of the second lever 62, and the deformation caused by the object when exerting force will also produce a lever effect due to the second lever 62.

[0046] As shown in Figures 8 to 10As shown, the second embodiment of the touchpad of the present invention comprises a main support 10A, a sensing substrate 20A, an auxiliary support 80A, a plurality of spacers 30A, and a cover 40A. The overall width of the touchpad of the second embodiment is approximately the same as the width of the housing 51A of the electronic device 50A in which it is installed. Partial structural similarities between the second embodiment and the first embodiment are not further described. The main support 10A has a plurality of force sensing areas 60A, each of which has a first lever 61A. Each first lever 61A is integrally formed with a fulcrum 611A, a short arm 612A, and a long arm 613A. In one embodiment, the main frame 10A includes an outer frame 11A and an inner frame 12A. The outer frame 11A includes an outer frame 111A and a receiving space 112A surrounded by the outer frame 111A. The outer frame 111A is provided with a plurality of through-holes 113A. In this embodiment, there are two force sensing areas 60A, so two through-holes 113A are provided in the outer frame 111A, one adjacent to the long side. Each through-hole 113A communicates with the receiving space 112A and corresponds to one of the force sensing areas 60A. A first lever 61A in each force sensing area 60A is connected to the inner wall of the corresponding through-hole 113A via a connecting portion 614A, with the connecting portion 614A serving as a fulcrum 611A for the first lever 61A. A gap exists between the short arm 612A and the long arm 613A, and the inner wall of the corresponding through-hole 113A, preventing them from abutting against each other. Therefore, each first lever 61A is connected to the inner wall of the corresponding through-hole 113A only via the connecting portion 614A serving as the fulcrum 611A, allowing the long arm 613A and the short arm 612A to move relative to the through-hole 113A. In one embodiment, each force sensing region 60A includes a second lever 62A having the same structure as the first lever 61A. The second lever 62A and the first lever 61A are coaxially disposed within the same through-hole 113A, and the adjacent long arms 623A and 613A do not abut against each other. The first lever 61A and the second lever 62A have the same length.

[0047] See also Figures 9 to 11 As shown, the inner bracket 12A is relatively located on the accommodating space 112A of the outer bracket 11A, and a gap is left between the outer bracket 11A and the inner bracket 12A, and the two are located on different planes.

[0048] See also Figures 9 to 12As shown, the sensing substrate 20A is arranged on the main support 10A, and in an embodiment, the sensing substrate 20A is attached to the inner support 12A. In the second embodiment, each of the force sensing units 22A of the sensing substrate 20A is arranged on the long arm 613A of the first lever 61A of the corresponding force sensing area 60A, and in an embodiment, each of the force sensing units 22A is arranged on the long arm 613A of the first lever 61A and the long arm 623A of the second lever 62A of the corresponding force sensing area 60A. In an embodiment, the touchpad of the present application has a vibration unit 70A arranged on one side of the main support 10A, and the inner support 12A is arranged between the vibration unit 70A and the sensing substrate 20A. In an embodiment, the inner support 12A has a central support 121A and an outer frame 122A, and the central support 121A and the outer frame 122A are connected by four inclined supports 123A, wherein the four corners of the central support 121A are connected to the four corners of the outer frame 122A by the four inclined supports 123A, and the vibration unit 70A is arranged on the bottom side of the central support 121A and is electrically connected to the sensing substrate 20A.

[0049] As shown in Figure 11 As shown, the spacer 30A is arranged between the sensing substrate 20A and the main support 10A, and each of the spacers 30A is arranged on the short arm 612A of the first lever 61A and the short arm 622A of the second lever 62A of the corresponding force sensing area 60A.

[0050] As shown in Figure 9 and Figure 11 As shown, the auxiliary support 80A is arranged on the main support 10A, and the auxiliary support 80A has a through hole 81A for the sensing substrate 20A to pass through, and the auxiliary support 80A partially covers and is connected to the outer support 11A, and the inner support 12A is also arranged relative to the through hole 81A, and in an embodiment, the auxiliary support 80A and the outer support 11A are connected by a plurality of connecting plates 82A, and the connecting plates 82A are arranged on the same plane as the inner support 12A. The cover plate 40A covers the sensing substrate 20A and the auxiliary support 80A, and in an embodiment, the sensing substrate 20A and the cover plate 40A are attached by an adhesive layer 31A, and the auxiliary support 80A and the cover plate 40A are attached by a plurality of adhesive layers 32A.

[0051] As shown in Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 12As shown, by the arrangement of the force sensing unit 22A corresponding to each force sensing area 60A, and the position of the force sensing unit 22A arranged relative to the long arm 613A of the first lever 61A, when an object exerts force on the cover plate 40A, the deformation caused by the force will increase the distance change between the main support 10A due to the lever effect of the first lever 61A, and thus the pressing around the force sensing unit 22A will not be affected by the support of the spacer 30A, effectively reflecting the degree of change in the force sensing amount caused by the force. Further, the position of the force sensing unit 22A is also arranged corresponding to the position of the long arm 623A of the second lever 62A, so that the deformation caused by the force of the object will also cause the lever effect of the second lever 62A.

[0052] Further, the positions and number of the force sensing areas 60, 60A can be determined according to the needs of the touchpad, but the arrangement position needs to be at the symmetrical position of the main support 10, 10A. In one embodiment (as shown in Figure 4 , the touchpad has four force sensing areas 60 symmetrically located near the four corners of the main support 10; in another embodiment (as shown in Figure 10 , the touchpad has two force sensing areas 60A symmetrically located on the upper and lower sides of the main support 10A shown in the figure.

[0053] The above description is only an embodiment of the present application and does not limit the present application in any form. Although the present application has been disclosed as above, it is not intended to limit the present application. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes or modifications to the above disclosed technical content without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present application, and any simple modification, equivalent change and modification of the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present application are still within the scope of the technical solution of the present application.

Claims

1. A touchpad with force sensing function, characterized in that, The application relates to a touch panel, comprising: a main support, comprising a plurality of force sensing areas, each of the force sensing areas having a first lever, each of the first levers integrally formed with a fulcrum, a short arm and a long arm, the fulcrum between the short arm and the long arm; a sensing substrate, disposed on the main support, the sensing substrate having a plurality of touch sensing electrodes and a plurality of force sensing units, each of the force sensing units corresponding to one of the force sensing areas, and each of the force sensing units located opposite to the long arm of the first lever of the corresponding force sensing area; and a cover plate, disposed on the sensing substrate.

2. The force sensing touchpad of claim 1, wherein, The main support has a plurality of through holes, each of the through holes corresponding to one of the force sensing areas, the first lever of each of the force sensing areas connected to the inner wall of the corresponding through hole via a connecting portion, and the connecting portion serving as the fulcrum of the first lever, and each of the first levers having a gap between the long arm and the short arm and the inner wall of the corresponding through hole. 3.The force sensing touchpad of claim 1, wherein, Each of the force sensing areas of the main support has a second lever, each of the second levers coaxially arranged with the first lever of the same force sensing area, each of the second levers integrally formed with a fulcrum, a short arm and a long arm, the fulcrum between the short arm and the long arm, and each of the force sensing units located opposite to the long arm of the first lever and the second lever of the corresponding force sensing area.

4. The force sensing touchpad of claim 3, wherein, The main support has a plurality of through holes, each of the through holes corresponding to one of the force sensing areas, the first lever of each of the force sensing areas connected to the inner wall of the corresponding through hole via a first connecting portion, and the first connecting portion serving as the fulcrum of the first lever, the second lever of each of the force sensing areas connected to the inner wall of the corresponding through hole via a second connecting portion, and the second connecting portion serving as the fulcrum of the second lever, and the long arms of the first levers and the second levers having gaps between the short arms and the inner walls of the through holes.

5. The force sensing touchpad of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The main support comprises an inner support and an outer support, the force sensing areas are disposed on the outer support, the sensing substrate is attached to the inner support, the outer support has an outer frame and a containing space surrounded by the outer frame, and the inner support is located opposite to the containing space of the outer support. 6.The force sensing touchpad of claim 5, wherein, The outer support has a plurality of cantilevers, the ends of each of the cantilevers attached to the surface of the inner support, so that the inner support and the outer support are connected to each other, and the outer support and the inner support are located on different planes. 7.The force sensing touchpad of claim 5, wherein, The application further comprises an auxiliary support, the auxiliary support disposed on the main support, the auxiliary support having a through hole for the sensing substrate to pass through, the auxiliary support partially covering the outer support and connected to the outer support, the inner support also located opposite to the through hole, and the cover plate covering the sensing substrate and the auxiliary support. 8.The force sensing touchpad of claim 7, wherein, The auxiliary support and the outer support are connected by a plurality of connecting plates, the connecting plates and the inner support located on the same plane, and the outer support and the inner support located on different planes.

9. The force sensing touchpad of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, Further comprising a vibration unit and a control unit, the vibration unit is disposed on one side of the sensing substrate and adjacent to the main support, the vibration unit, the touch sensing electrode and the force sensing unit are electrically connected with the control unit. 10.The force sensing touchpad of claim 5, wherein, Further comprising a vibration unit and a control unit, the vibration unit is disposed on one side of the sensing substrate and adjacent to the main support, the vibration unit, the touch sensing electrode and the force sensing unit are electrically connected with the control unit, the inner support has a center support and an outer frame, four inclined supports are connected between the center support and the outer frame, and the vibration unit is located on one side of the center support.

11. The force sensing touchpad of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The short arm is located between the long arm and the corner of the main support.

12. The force sensing touchpad of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, Further comprising a plurality of spacer pads disposed between the sensing substrate and the main support, each of the spacer pads is located on the short arm of the first lever corresponding to the force sensing area.

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