An in-cell optical input control device

Abstract

The utility model provides an embedded optical input control device, including the upper substrate layer of the light transmission, the point touch press sensitive elastic membrane of adhering in the upper substrate layer, the circuit layer of setting in the lower side of upper substrate layer, the circuit layer includes circuit board, LED light emission module, central PD light receiving module and at least two peripheral direction PD light receiving module, LED light emission module, central PD light receiving module and peripheral direction PD light receiving module all are located between circuit board and upper substrate layer, and with circuit board communication connection, each peripheral direction PD light receiving module is equiangularly distributed in the peripheral direction of central PD light receiving module, and one LED light emission module is equipped between each peripheral direction PD light receiving module and central PD light receiving module, the elastic membrane is sponge structure, the embedded optical input control device of the utility model is accurate in response, and the occupied space is small.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of control equipment, specifically to an embedded optical input control device. Background Technology

[0002] Compared to larger electronic devices, smaller electronic devices such as smartwatches, MP3 players, fitness trackers, health monitoring devices, and audio devices (headphones, etc.) have smaller screen sizes, which may present challenges in controlling input signals. For example, some devices with touchscreen interfaces require users to select items from a list by touching items on the touchscreen. However, for small-screen devices such as smartwatches, MP3 players, health monitoring devices, and audio devices, it is difficult for users to accurately tap the icons of the items they need to select on the touchscreen. Furthermore, designing touch input functionality on small screens may occupy a significant portion of the display area, obscuring a large portion of the displayed content, thus increasing the difficulty for users to accurately input information and potentially leading to more inaccurate or unnecessary input and responses, hindering the achievement of accurate system control. Therefore, for small-screen devices, providing input that allows users to provide input from outside the display can improve the control efficiency and ease of use of intelligent systems. Existing external input control devices used in small screens, such as digital crown systems, are mechanical types that utilize the friction of a rotating shaft. These rely on electrical methods that use changes in inductance / capacitance caused by the shaft's rotation. For example, the digital crown in US16399868 is a mechanical system based on the friction of a rotating shaft. This type of device suffers from problems such as large overall system size, complex implementation principles, difficulty in precise user operation, and slow response. Existing optical reflection-based digital crown devices respond to changes in the position of the sliding shaft using reflected light. This type of system requires a reflective cavity, occupies a large space in the electronic device, hinders the integration of small-screen devices, and has low control efficiency. Therefore, a more accurate and space-efficient embedded optical input control device is needed. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the above-mentioned traditional technologies and provide an embedded optical input control device with accurate response and small footprint. It includes a light-transmitting upper substrate layer, a touch-sensitive elastic film adhered to the upper substrate layer, and a circuit layer disposed below the upper substrate layer. The circuit layer includes a circuit board, an LED light emitting module, a central PD light receiving module, and at least two circumferential PD light receiving modules. The LED light emitting module, the central PD light receiving module, and the circumferential PD light receiving modules are all located between the circuit board and the upper substrate layer and are communicatively connected to the circuit board. Each circumferential PD light receiving module is equidistant from the central PD light receiving module, and an LED light emitting module is provided between each circumferential PD light receiving module and the central PD light receiving module. The elastic film has a sponge-like structure.

[0004] Preferably, the upper substrate is made of sapphire.

[0005] Preferably, the circuit board has a communication connection interface or wireless connection module for connecting to external devices.

[0006] Preferably, the elastic membrane is made of PDMS material.

[0007] Preferably, there are two circumferential PD optical receiving modules.

[0008] Preferably, the elastic membrane is marked at each circumferential PD light receiving module and at the central PD light receiving module.

[0009] Compared with the existing embedded optical input control device structure, it has the following advantages:

[0010] The embedded optical input control device receives the changes in reflected light caused by deformation at the interface between the elastic film and the upper substrate through the central PD light receiving module and the circumferential PD light receiving module, and the response is accurate. There is no need to set up a reflection cavity, avoiding space waste. The central PD light receiving module, the circumferential PD light receiving module and the LED light emitting module are integrated on the circuit board, which is compact and small in size. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the embedded optical input control device in the specific embodiment when it is not pressed.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the embedded optical input control device during pressing in a specific embodiment.

[0013] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Top view.

[0014] Among them: 10, upper substrate layer; 20, LED light emitting module; 30, circumferential PD light receiving module; 40, central PD light receiving module; 50, circuit board; 60, elastic film. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The specific embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0016] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "transverse," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0017] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0018] In this utility model, the LED light emitting module 20, the central PD light receiving module 40 and the circumferential PD light receiving module 30 are existing technologies, and their structures and power supply methods are common knowledge and will not be described in detail here.

[0019] like Figure 1-3 As shown, this specific embodiment provides an embedded optical input control device. The embedded optical input control device includes a light-transmitting upper substrate layer 10, a touch-sensitive elastic film 60 adhered to the upper substrate layer 10, and a circuit layer disposed below the upper substrate layer 10. The circuit layer includes a circuit board 50, an LED light emitting module 20, a central PD light receiving module 40, and at least two peripheral PD light receiving modules 30. The LED light emitting module 20, the central PD light receiving module 40, and the peripheral PD light receiving modules 30 are all located between the circuit board 50 and the upper substrate layer 10 and are communicatively connected to the circuit board 50. Each peripheral PD light receiving module 30 is angularly distributed around the central PD light receiving module 40, and an LED light emitting module 20 is provided between each peripheral PD light receiving module 30 and the central PD light receiving module 40. The elastic film 60 has a sponge-like structure. The upper substrate layer 10 is made of sapphire. There are two peripheral PD light receiving modules 30.

[0020] Working principle: When the embedded optical input control device is in operation, pressing the surface of the elastic film 60 causes deformation of the pores inside the corresponding position of the elastic film 60. The LED light emitting module 20 emits light, which is reflected by the elastic film 60 on the surface of the sapphire substrate 10 and returns to the central PD light receiving module 40 (corresponding to the confirmation function) and the circumferential PD light receiving module 30 (corresponding to the up and down selection function). At this time, the light emitted from the LED light emitting module 20 undergoes a full rotation at the surface of the upper substrate 10 in contact with the elastic film 60. As the incident angle of the reflection changes, the intensity of the reflected light received by the central PD light receiving module 40 or the circumferential PD light receiving module 30 at the pressed area changes. Unlike the unpressed area, the central PD light receiving module 40 or the circumferential PD light receiving module 30 at the pressed area converts the received light signal into an electrical signal, which is then output to the external device system via the circuit board 50. This enables the control and selection of options in electronic devices, allowing for easy selection and confirmation functions on small screen devices, such as smartwatches, bracelets, health monitoring devices, and audio devices.

[0021] With the control program coding of the external device, specific shortcut key functions can be set by double-clicking / double-clicking or simultaneously touching multiple button modules; long-pressing the confirmation button module controls the power on / off status of the external device; and sliding up and down on the surface of the embedded optical input control device provided in this utility model controls the selection of the corresponding screen page, etc.

[0022] There can be four circumferential PD optical receiver modules 30, corresponding to the four directions of up, down, left, and right.

[0023] To facilitate the connection and use of the embedded optical input control device with external devices, the circuit board 50 has a communication connection interface or wireless connection module for connecting to external devices.

[0024] The elastic film 60 is made of PDMS material. PDMS has good flexibility and tensile strength, strong corrosion resistance, high dielectric strength, and is easy to combine with electronic materials, making it easy to adhere to the sapphire substrate layer 10.

[0025] Preparation method of sponge-like PDMS elastic film 60: Weigh 10g of PDMS and 1g of curing agent using a digital balance, and put the weighed reagents into a pre-prepared plastic petri dish and stir thoroughly; after the curing agent and PDMS are thoroughly and evenly mixed, weigh 20g of edible salt granules and slowly add the salt granules to the PDMS mixture, continuing to stir continuously to ensure the salt is evenly mixed; after stirring evenly, place the petri dish on a heating platform and heat at 80°C for 2 hours until the PDMS mixture solidifies; remove the solidified PDMS block and immerse it in a beaker containing water, place the beaker on a heating platform at 100°C for 5 hours to dissolve the salt granules mixed in the PDMS block and form pores in the PDMS; after all the salt granules have dissolved, a sponge-like PDMS block is obtained, and the PDMS block is cut with a laboratory blade to obtain a 12mm*2mm*1mm sponge film.

[0026] The elastic membrane 60 is marked at each circumferential PD light receiving module 30 and at the central PD light receiving module 40.

[0027] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0028] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An embedded optical input control device, comprising a light-transmitting upper substrate layer, a touch-sensitive elastic film adhered to the upper substrate layer, and a circuit layer disposed below the upper substrate layer, characterized in that, The circuit layer includes a circuit board, an LED light emitting module, a central PD light receiving module, and at least two circumferential PD light receiving modules; the LED light emitting module, the central PD light receiving module, and the circumferential PD light receiving modules are all located between the circuit board and the upper substrate layer, and are communicatively connected to the circuit board; each of the circumferential PD light receiving modules is angularly distributed around the central PD light receiving module, and an LED light emitting module is provided between each of the circumferential PD light receiving modules and the central PD light receiving module; the elastic film has a sponge-like structure.

2. The embedded optical input control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper substrate is made of sapphire.

3. The embedded optical input control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The circuit board has a communication connection interface or wireless connection module for connecting to external devices.

4. The embedded optical input control device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The elastic membrane is made of PDMS material.

5. The embedded optical input control device according to claim 4, characterized in that, There are two circumferential PD optical receiving modules.

6. The embedded optical input control device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The elastic membrane is marked at each of the circumferential PD light receiving modules and at the central PD light receiving module.

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