Magnetic touch panel formed using hall array

Abstract

This invention relates to a magnetic touch panel formed using a Hall array, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of Hall resistors arranged in an array above the substrate; when a magnetic stylus touches a Hall resistor, the magnitude of the voltage difference generated between the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal indicates whether the stylus is close to the Hall resistor; a plurality of current lines passing through the Hall resistors in the same column of the Hall resistor array; an electrical regulator disposed on each current line for controlling the corresponding current line; the power supply being a current source or a voltage source; a control unit connected to each electrical regulator; each first row of voltage lines connected in parallel to the first voltage terminal of the Hall resistor in the same row; each second row of voltage lines connected in parallel to the second voltage terminal of the Hall resistor in the same row; a voltage sensor sensing the voltage difference between the first row of voltage lines and the second row of voltage lines to form a voltage vector; and a processing unit receiving the voltage vector and the timing signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to touch panels, and more particularly to a magnetic touch panel formed using a Hall array. Background Technology

[0002] Thanks to advancements in electronic technology, many document or graphic processing tasks now utilize touchpads. These touchpads receive sensor signals, which are then input into computers and other electronic devices for processing.

[0003] Traditionally, there are various touchpad designs, with the most common being the use of a capacitor matrix as the touch sensing structure. When a conductive material approaches the capacitor matrix, it causes a change in the voltage value of the corresponding capacitors, thus detecting the change in voltage reveals the location of the touch device.

[0004] This type of capacitive touchpad requires the stylus to be quite close, or even touching, the panel to register a signal. To overcome this drawback, an improved structure is developed: a magnetic array is fabricated on the touchpad, where each contact point emits a magnetic field. Additionally, an LC circuit is located at one end of the stylus. When this LC circuit senses a magnetic field, it generates magnetic field oscillations throughout the circuit. Due to the Lenz effect, this oscillating magnetic field induces a reverse magnetic field, which in turn generates a reverse induction on the touchpad, thus allowing the stylus's position to be detected. This structure utilizes numerous magnetic field radiation points on the touchpad, resulting in higher costs, and requires the stylus to be very close to the touchpad to obtain a clear sensing signal.

[0005] When a current encounters a forward-flowing magnetic field, the Hall effect generates a force in a direction perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the current, causing the current to deflect. This results in a voltage difference across the current source. This voltage difference can be used to detect whether a magnetic field is passing through the field and its strength.

[0006] like Figure 2 As shown, a Hall resistor 10 is displayed. The Hall resistor 10 includes a current input terminal 12, a current output terminal 14, a first voltage terminal 16, and a second voltage terminal 18. The current input terminal 12 and the current output terminal 14 form a current path. The first voltage terminal 16 and the second voltage terminal 18 are located on opposite sides of the path formed by the current input terminal 12 and the current output terminal 14.

[0007] When a magnetic field perpendicular to the Hall resistor 10 passes through it, a force perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the current is induced because the magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction of the current. This causes a deflection in the direction of the current flow, resulting in a voltage difference between the first voltage terminal 16 and the second voltage terminal 18 of the Hall resistor 10. Therefore, this voltage difference can be used to determine whether a magnetic field is induced perpendicular to the Hall resistor 10.

[0008] Therefore, this invention aims to propose a novel design for a touch panel and stylus by utilizing the Hall resistor to address the voltage difference generated by the induced magnetic field, thereby overcoming the aforementioned deficiencies in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to solve the problems in the prior art. This invention proposes a magnetic touch panel formed by using a Hall array, which uses Hall resistors to sense the magnetic field from the magnetic stylus. Thus, even when the magnetic stylus is not touching the Hall resistor touch panel, it can still sense the magnetic field and know the stroke of the magnetic stylus.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a magnetic touch panel formed using a Hall array, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of Hall resistors arranged in an array above the substrate to form a Hall resistor array having rows and columns; each Hall resistor includes a current input terminal, a current output terminal, a first voltage terminal, and a second voltage terminal; wherein the current input terminal and the current output terminal form a current path; the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal are located on opposite sides of the path formed by the current input terminal and the current output terminal; when a magnetic stylus touches a Hall resistor, the first voltage terminal is activated by the first voltage terminal. The magnitude of the voltage difference between the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal indicates whether the stylus is close to the Hall resistor; multiple current lines pass through Hall resistors in the same column of the Hall resistor array; each current line is connected to a power source, which draws power to the Hall resistors connected in series at the rear; each current line is equipped with an electrical regulator; each electrical regulator controls the current or voltage magnitude on its respective current line; the power source is a current source or a voltage source; a control unit is connected to each electrical regulator and uses a timing signal to control each electrical regulator, enabling the electrical regulator to... The system controls the magnitude of the current or voltage; it includes multiple first row voltage lines, each connected in parallel to the first voltage terminal of the Hall resistor in the same row; multiple second row voltage lines, each connected in parallel to the second voltage terminal of the Hall resistor in the same row; a voltage sensor is connected in series between the first row voltage lines and the second row voltage lines connecting the Hall resistors in the same row, for sensing the voltage difference between the first row voltage lines and the second row voltage lines; when any Hall resistor in the same row is induced by a magnetic field, the first voltage terminal of the induced Hall resistor and its second voltage terminal... A voltage difference will be generated between the two voltage terminals. At this time, the voltage sensor between the first row voltage line and the second row voltage line on both sides of the Hall resistor will sense this voltage difference and determine that one of the Hall resistors has generated electromagnetic induction. The Hall resistors in different rows have corresponding voltage sensors, and the voltages generated by these voltage sensors form a voltage vector. These voltage vectors are transmitted to the back end. A processing unit is connected to the control unit and the plurality of voltage sensors, and receives the voltage vectors from the plurality of voltage sensors and the timing signal from the control unit to determine which Hall resistor is touched by the stylus.

[0011] The Hall resistors are connected in series through the current input and current output terminals of the Hall resistors connected to the same current line, and the current line is connected to a current source.

[0012] The Hall resistors connected via the same current line are connected in parallel to the current input and current output terminals of each Hall resistor, and the current line is connected to a voltage source.

[0013] Within a single time period, only one current line carries current.

[0014] Within a single time period, multiple current lines carry current, and the values ​​of each current line are different. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the Hall resistor array of the present invention is shown; Figure 2 A structural diagram of the Hall resistor of the present invention is shown; Figure 3 A block diagram showing some of the elements of the present invention; Figure 4 Examples of application of the present invention are shown; Figure 5 A block diagram showing some of the elements of the present invention; Figure 6 This illustrates a first embodiment of the timing and actuation current encoding matrix of the present invention; Figure 7 A second embodiment of the timing and actuation current encoding matrix of the present invention is shown; Figure 8 A block diagram showing some of the elements of the present invention; Figure 9 This illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This illustrates the connection method of the current lines according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 10 Hall resistor 361 Encoder 12 Current Input Terminal 362 Control Signal Generator 14 Current output terminal 363 Timing and Actuation Current or Voltage Encoding Matrix 16 First voltage terminal 551 Voltage Vector 18 Second voltage terminal 20 substrate 30 Hall resistor array 34 Power Supply 35 Current Line 36 Control Unit 40 Current Series 50 First row of voltage lines 51 Processing Unit 52 Second row of voltage lines 54 Comparators 55 Voltage Sensor 56 AI Calculator 100 Magnetic Stylus 110 magnets 200 Hall effect resistive touch panel 351 Electrical Regulator 355 First Voltage Source 356 Second Voltage Source 357 Branch Line Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0019] Please refer to Figures 1 to 10 As shown, the magnetic touch panel formed by the application of a Hall array according to the present invention includes the following elements: A magnetic stylus 100 has a pen-shaped structure, and a magnet 110 that can generate magnetism is installed at the magnetic stylus 100. The magnet 110 can emit magnetic lines of force. Preferably, the magnet 110 is a permanent magnet.

[0020] like Figure 4 As shown, the Hall effect resistive touch panel 200 of the present invention includes the following components: A substrate 20 is a dielectric substrate and does not conduct electricity.

[0021] Multiple Hall resistors 10 are arranged in an array above the substrate 20 to form a Hall resistor array 30 with rows and columns.

[0022] like Figure 2 As shown, each Hall resistor 10 includes a current input terminal 12, a current output terminal 14, a first voltage terminal 16, and a second voltage terminal 18. The current input terminal 12 and the current output terminal 14 form a current path. The first voltage terminal 16 and the second voltage terminal 18 are located on opposite sides of the path formed by the current input terminal 12 and the current output terminal 14. When the magnetic stylus 100 contacts a Hall resistor 10, the magnitude of the voltage difference across the Hall resistor 10 indicates whether the magnetic stylus 100 is close to the Hall resistor 10.

[0023] Multiple current lines 35, each current line 35 passing through the Hall resistor 10 in the same column of the Hall resistor array 30, form a current series 40 including multiple Hall resistors.

[0024] Each current line 35 is connected to a power supply 34, which can be a current source or a voltage source. The power supply 34 is used to draw power to the Hall resistor 10 connected in series at the rear. Each current line 35 is equipped with an electrical regulator 351. Each electrical regulator 351 is used to control the current or voltage magnitude on its respective current line 35. Figure 1 The power supply 34 shown is a current source.

[0025] A control unit 36 ​​is connected to each electrical regulator 351 and uses a timing signal to control each electrical regulator 351, so that the electrical regulator 351 can control the current or voltage on its corresponding current line 35.

[0026] like Figure 3 As shown, the control unit 36 ​​includes an encoder 361, which encodes the current or voltage of each current line 35 at different time periods to form a timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix 363. The control unit 36 ​​also includes a control signal generator 362 connected to the encoder 361. The encoder 361 transmits the value of the timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix 363 to the control signal generator 362, so that the control signal generator 362 generates a timing control signal. This timing control signal can control each electrical regulator 351, so that the corresponding current line 35 generates a set current or voltage according to the timing control signal.

[0027] Multiple first row voltage lines 50, each first row voltage line 50 is connected in parallel to the first voltage terminal 16 of the Hall resistor 10 in the same row.

[0028] Multiple second row voltage lines 52, each second row voltage line 52 is connected in parallel to the second voltage terminal 18 of the Hall resistor 10 in the same row.

[0029] A voltage sensor 55 is connected in series between the first row voltage line 50 and the second row voltage line 52 of the Hall resistors 10 in the same row. The sensor is used to sense the voltage difference between the first row voltage line 50 and the second row voltage line 52. When any Hall resistor 10 in the same row is induced by a magnetic field, a voltage difference will be generated between the first voltage terminal 16 and the second voltage terminal 18 of the induced Hall resistor 10. At this time, the voltage sensor 55 between the first row voltage line 50 and the second row voltage line 52 on both sides of the Hall resistor 10 in the row will sense this voltage difference and determine that one of the Hall resistors 10 has generated electromagnetic induction.

[0030] Each Hall resistor 10 in a different row has a corresponding voltage sensor 55, and the voltages generated by these voltage sensors 55 form a voltage vector 551. These voltage vectors 551 are transmitted to the back end.

[0031] A processing unit 51 is connected to the control unit 36 ​​and the plurality of voltage sensors 55. The processing unit 51 receives voltage vectors 551 from the plurality of voltage sensors 55 and the timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix 363 of the encoder 361 in the control unit 36. The processing unit 51 includes a comparator 54, which determines, based on the voltage vectors 551 of the plurality of voltage sensors 55 and the timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix 363 of the encoder 361 in the control unit 36, which time period and above which Hall resistor 10 the magnetic stylus 100 is close to, and thus determines the position of the magnetic stylus 100 on the Hall resistor touch panel 200.

[0032] for example Figure 6 The timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix 363 shown represents the current distribution of each current line 35 in different time periods. In the figure, a value of 1 indicates that current flows through the current line 35, and a value of 0 indicates that current does not flow through the current line 35. The figure shows that in time period Ti, the Ij-th current line 35 is triggered and generates current. The other current lines 35 do not have current flowing through them. Therefore, if the k-th voltage sensor 55 generates a voltage difference at this time (the number of the voltage sensor 55 is the same as the row number), it means that the Hall resistor 10 in the j-th column and k-th row is triggered, that is, the position of the magnetic stylus 100 is above the Hall resistor 10 in the j-th column and k-th row, so the position of the magnetic stylus 100 can be sensed.

[0033] The timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix 363 of this invention can be configured in different ways, such as... Figure 7 In the configuration shown, multiple current lines 35 simultaneously carry current (represented by 1 and -1) at different time periods (Ti), with one current line 35 having a current direction opposite (represented by -1), while the other current lines (represented by 1) have the same current direction. This configuration may result in multiple voltage sensors 55 being triggered simultaneously. By applying the magnitude of the voltage difference between the different voltage sensors 55, the position of the magnetic stylus 100 can be determined more accurately.

[0034] like Figure 8As shown, an AI processor 56 can be connected to the comparator 54. Therefore, during the comparison process of the comparator 54, the position of the magnetic stylus 100 can be determined by AI. When the current lines 35 flow with different currents at different times, the voltage sensors 55 will show different voltage values. At this time, the position of the magnetic stylus 100 can be determined more accurately by using AI assistance, and the direction of the magnetic stylus 100 in subsequent periods can even be predicted.

[0035] Please refer to Figures 9 to 10 The second embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which different configurations of the current line 35 are displayed. In this embodiment, the same elements are represented by the same symbols, and their details will not be described again.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 10 The diagram shows the connection method of the current lines 35 of the Hall resistor 10 in a single column according to the present invention.

[0037] Multiple current lines 35 are connected in parallel with Hall resistors 10 in the same column in this invention. The first end of each current line 35 is connected to a first voltage source 355, and the second end is connected to a second voltage source 356. The middle section of the current line 35 is divided into multiple branches 357 to connect the multiple Hall resistors 10 in the same column in parallel.

[0038] The voltage difference between the first voltage source 355 and the second voltage source 356 forms a current that enters each Hall resistor 10 in the same column, so that the Hall resistor 10 in the same column is turned on.

[0039] The advantage of this invention is that it uses Hall resistors to sense the magnetic field from the magnetic stylus. Therefore, even when the magnetic stylus is not touching the Hall resistor touch panel, it can still sense the magnetic field and thus know the stroke of the magnetic stylus.

[0040] Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic touch panel formed using a Hall array, characterized in that, include: One substrate; Multiple Hall resistors are arranged in an array above the substrate to form a Hall resistor array with rows and columns; Each Hall resistor includes a current input terminal, a current output terminal, a first voltage terminal, and a second voltage terminal; The current input terminal and the current output terminal form a current path; The first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal are located on opposite sides of the channel formed by the current input terminal and the current output terminal; When a magnetic stylus comes into contact with a Hall resistor, the magnitude of the voltage difference between the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal indicates whether the stylus is close to the Hall resistor. Multiple current lines, each current line passing through a Hall resistor in the same column of the Hall resistor array; Each current line is connected to a power source, which is used to draw power to the Hall resistor connected in series at the back end; each current line is equipped with an electrical regulator. Each electrical regulator is used to control the magnitude of the current or voltage on its respective current line; The power source can be a current source or a voltage source; A control unit is connected to each electrical regulator and uses a timing signal to control each electrical regulator, so that the electrical regulator can control the magnitude of the current or voltage it belongs to. Multiple first row voltage lines, each first row voltage line is connected in parallel to the first voltage terminal of the Hall resistor in the same row; Multiple second row voltage lines, each second row voltage line is connected in parallel to the second voltage terminal of the Hall resistor in the same row; A voltage sensor is connected in series between the first row voltage line and the second row voltage line of the Hall resistor connected in the same row, which is used to sense the voltage difference between the first row voltage line and the second row voltage line. When any Hall resistor in the same row is induced by a magnetic field, a voltage difference will be generated between the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal of the induced Hall resistor. At this time, the voltage sensor between the first row voltage line and the second row voltage line on both sides of the Hall resistor in this row will sense this voltage difference and determine that one of the Hall resistors has generated electromagnetic induction. The Hall resistors in different rows each have a corresponding voltage sensor, and the voltages generated by these voltage sensors form a voltage vector; These voltage vectors are transmitted to the back end; A processing unit is connected to the control unit and the plurality of voltage sensors, and receives the voltage vector from the plurality of voltage sensors and the timing signal from the control unit to determine which Hall resistor is touched by the stylus.

2. The magnetic touch panel formed by applying a Hall array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Hall resistors are connected in series via the current input and current output terminals of the Hall resistors on the same current line, and the current line is connected to a current source.

3. The magnetic touch panel formed by applying a Hall array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Hall resistors are connected in parallel via the same current line, with their current input and current output terminals connected to a voltage source.

4. The magnetic touch panel formed by applying a Hall array according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The control unit includes an encoder for encoding the current of each current line at different time periods to form a timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix, based on the timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix. The control unit also includes a control signal generator connected to the encoder; The encoder transmits the value of the timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix to the control signal generator, so that the control signal generator generates the timing signal. The timing signal is used to control each electrical regulator, so that the corresponding current line generates current on / off and corresponding current amount according to the timing signal.

5. The magnetic touch panel formed by applying a Hall array according to claim 4, characterized in that, The processing unit includes a comparator that determines the position of the stylus on the Hall resistor touch panel by determining, based on the voltage vectors of multiple voltage sensors and the timing and actuation current or voltage encoding matrix of the encoder in the control unit, which time period and above which Hall resistor the stylus is close to.

6. The magnetic touch panel formed by applying a Hall array according to claim 1, characterized in that, During a single time period, only one current flows through that current line.

7. The magnetic touch panel formed by applying a Hall array according to claim 1, characterized in that, During a single time period, multiple current lines carry current, and the values ​​of each current line are different.

8. The magnetic touch panel formed by applying a Hall array according to claim 5, characterized in that, The comparator is also connected to an AI processor, so during the comparison process, AI is used to determine the position of the stylus.

9. The magnetic touch panel formed by applying a Hall array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The magnetic stylus has a pen-like structure and a magnet that generates magnetic field lines is installed at the stylus.

Images