Method and device for locating a point of contact, and electronic device

Abstract

Method for locating a point of contact on a contact area having a plurality of partitions, wherein the method comprises: Acquiring (S101) an instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition and determining a reference value of the parameter and a preset threshold value of the parameter; Determine (S102) a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold; and Scanning (S103) of the touched partition to locate at least one point of contact, where the multitude of partitions have different shapes and the parameter of each partition is a capacity, where determining a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold includes: Comparing (S1021) the instantaneous value of the parameter with the reference value of the parameter to obtain a change value of the parameter; and Comparing (S1022) the change value of the parameter with the preset threshold, determining a partition in which the change value of the parameter is greater than or equal to the preset threshold than the affected partition, and determining a partition in which the change value of the parameter is less than the preset threshold than an unaffected partition, where, after determining a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold: Ending (S303) sampling of the untouched partition.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of touchscreens, in particular a method and a device for locating a touch point, and an electronic device. Background of the invention

[0002] Touchscreens are currently the simplest, most practical and most common interface units between humans and computers, generally used in applications such as public information gathering, industrial control, military command and control, video games, song and food ordering, and multimedia teaching.

[0003] Touchscreens generally include resistive and capacitive touchscreens. In a capacitive touchscreen, a transparent conductive metal layer is applied to the surface of a glass layer, allowing the touchscreen to operate on the principle of electrical current flowing through the human body. When the touchscreen is touched with a finger, progressive line-by-line scanning is performed using sensing lines along an X-axis and a Y-axis to detect changes in capacitance. From this change in capacitance, the location of the touch point can be determined.

[0004] When localizing the touch point, continuous progressive line-by-line scanning is performed using the scanning lines across the entire touchscreen, which increases the time required for such localization due to a large scanning area and results in low efficiency in localizing the touch point.

[0005] US patent 2011 / 0 267 312 A1 discloses a scanning arrangement for a touchscreen, with two scanning units, each connected by a conductor. The first scanning unit acts as an exciter and the second as a sensor.

[0006] Furthermore, CN 103 164 087 A discloses a method for locating a touch point on a touchscreen using two orthogonally arranged groups of scanning lines. The touch position is determined based on the peak position of the capacitance distribution in both directions of the scanning lines. Brief summary of the invention

[0007] The present invention addresses the problem of the increased time required to locate the point of contact and the low efficiency of this localization. To solve the aforementioned technical problems, embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for locating a point of contact, as well as an electronic component.

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for locating a point of contact on a contact area with a plurality of partitions. The method comprises the features according to claim 1.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a device for locating a point of contact on a contact area with a number of partitions. The device has the features according to claim 3.

[0010] The present invention also provides an electronic device comprising a display unit and a device for locating a point of contact as described above.

[0011] The method and device for localizing a contact point and the electronic device provided by the present invention are characterized by: determining the touched partition and scanning the touched partition to localize the contact point, so that the scanned area is reduced and the scanning time is shortened and the efficiency of the localization of the contact point is improved.

[0012] The problem underlying the invention is therefore solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] To clarify the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention or of the prior art, the accompanying drawings used to describe these embodiments or of the prior art are briefly introduced below. The drawings in the following description represent only certain embodiments of the invention, and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without any inventive effort, based on the drawings provided. - Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for locating a point of contact according to a first embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining touched partitions according to instantaneous values ​​of at least one parameter, reference values ​​of the parameters and preset threshold values, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for scanning the touched partitions and localizing at least one point of contact according to the first embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for locating a point of contact according to a second embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic flowchart of a method for locating a point of contact according to a third embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing a device for locating a point of contact according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a device for locating a point of contact according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and - Fig. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a device for locating a point of contact according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0014] The following is a clear and thorough description of the technical solutions in embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are merely specific embodiments and do not represent all embodiments of the present invention. All embodiments that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of the present invention without any creative input shall fall within the scope of the claims. [First embodiment]

[0015] As in Fig. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, which discloses a method for locating a point of contact on a contact area with a number of partitions. The method comprises steps S101 to S103, which are described in detail below.

[0016] In step S101, an instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition is captured, and a reference value of the parameter and a preset threshold value of the parameter are obtained.

[0017] In step S101, a scanning area is divided into a multitude of partitions. The partitions can each have different areas or the same area, and different or the same shape. For example, an area with frequent touch events (i.e., a frequently touched area) can be divided into partitions, each with a small area, thereby increasing the number of partitions and improving the accuracy of touch point localization. Conversely, an area with infrequent touch events can be divided into partitions, each with a large area, thereby reducing the number of partitions and thus the power consumption required to localize the touch point.

[0018] If a touchscreen is a capacitive touchscreen, the parameter of each partition is a capacity of the partition, the instantaneous value of the parameter of each partition is the instantaneous capacity of the partition (the partition may or may not be touched at that time), the reference value of the parameter of each partition is a capacity of the partition that has not been touched and when touchscreens are in a normal operating state.If a touchscreen is a resistive touchscreen, the parameter of each partition is a resistance value of the partition, the instantaneous value of the parameter of each partition is the instantaneous resistance value of the partition (the partition may or may not be touched at the moment), the reference value of the parameter of each partition is a resistance value of the partition that has not been touched when touchscreens are in a normal operating state.

[0019] The preset threshold is a determining threshold to determine whether the partition has been touched.

[0020] The reference value of each parameter and the preset threshold can be set and saved in advance.

[0021] In step S102, a touched partition is determined according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter, and the preset threshold.

[0022] As in Fig. As shown in 2, step 102 in a first embodiment of the present invention comprises in detail the following steps S1021 and S1022.

[0023] In step S1021, the current value of the parameter is compared with the parameter's reference value to obtain a change value. It should be noted that the difference between the parameter's current value and its reference value is considered the parameter's change value.

[0024] In step S1022, the parameter change value is compared with the preset threshold, and a partition where the parameter change value is greater than or equal to the preset threshold is determined as a touched partition, while a partition where the parameter change value is less than the preset threshold is determined as an untouched partition.

[0025] In step S103, the touched partition is scanned to locate at least one point of contact.

[0026] Many methods for scanning to determine a point of contact exist in the prior art, one method according to an embodiment of the present invention being as follows.

[0027] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, step 103 in an embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps S1031 and S1033.

[0028] In step S1031, an instantaneous value of the parameter in an X-axis direction and a coordinate of a peak value position in the X-axis direction are determined in the touched partition, and the determined instantaneous value of the parameter is compared with a reference value of the parameter in the X-axis direction to obtain a change value of the parameter in the X-axis direction.

[0029] In step S1032, an instantaneous value of the parameter in a Y-axis direction and a coordinate of a peak value position in the Y-axis direction are determined in the touched partition, and the determined instantaneous value of the parameter is compared with a reference value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction to obtain a change value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction.

[0030] In step S1033, if both the change value of the parameter in the X-axis direction and the change value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction are greater than the respective preset thresholds, orthogonal coordinates are determined by the coordinate of the peak value position in the X-axis direction and the coordinate of the peak value position in the Y-axis direction, which are determined as the coordinates of the point of contact.

[0031] Regarding the detailed description of the method for locating a contact point using the peak value position, reference is made to Chinese patent application No. 201110415900.0, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

[0032] When applying the method for locating a contact point disclosed in the first embodiment of the present invention, the touched partition and the untouched partition are determined, and the scanning lines are controlled to scan the touched partition in order to locate the contact point, thus reducing the area scanned by the scanning lines, shortening the scanning time, and improving the efficiency of the contact point localization. [Second embodiment]

[0033] As in Fig. Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which discloses a method for locating a point of contact, and the method comprises steps S201 to S203 described in detail below.

[0034] In step S201, an instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition is captured, and a reference value of the parameter and a preset threshold value of the parameter are obtained.

[0035] In step S202, a touched partition is determined according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter, and the preset threshold.

[0036] In step S203, the touched partition is scanned to locate at least one touch point, and at the same time at least one partition adjacent to the touched partition is scanned to locate a touch point.

[0037] When using the method for locating a contact point disclosed in the second embodiment of the present invention, the scanned area is increased because at least one partition adjacent to the touched partition is scanned, thereby improving the accuracy in locating the contact point. [Third embodiment]

[0038] In the prior art, when locating a contact point, the control lines and scanning lines are always in the same operating state and thus interfere with each other, resulting in noise. Based on the first embodiment, a third embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for locating a contact point, as described in Fig. 5 shown, and the procedure comprises the steps S301 to S304 described in detail below.

[0039] In step S301, an instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition is captured, and a reference value of the parameter and a preset threshold value of the parameter are obtained.

[0040] In step S302, a touched partition is determined according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter, and the preset threshold.

[0041] Step S303 terminates the scanning of an untouched partition.

[0042] In step S304, the touched partition is scanned to locate at least one point of contact.

[0043] When applying the method for locating a contact point disclosed in the third embodiment of the present invention, control lines and scanning lines in the untouched partition are deactivated to suspend the scanning of the untouched partition, thereby reducing the mutual interference of control lines and scanning lines and improving the accuracy of the contact point localization, while simultaneously reducing the background noise. [Fourth embodiment]

[0044] Based on the method for locating a point of contact as disclosed in the first embodiment of the present invention, a fourth embodiment of the present invention discloses a method as described in Fig. Figure 6 shows a device for locating a point of contact on a contact area comprising a number of partitions. The device has a detection and identification module 61, a module 62 for determining a touched partition, and a scanning and localization module 63.

[0045] It should be noted that in an application, the sensing and detection module 61 and the sampling and localization module 63 correspond to control lines and sampling lines, respectively; and the module 62 for determining a touched partition corresponds to an integrated circuit chip. The control lines supply current to the sampling lines to sample the respective partitions using the sampling lines in order to acquire an instantaneous value of each parameter in each of the partitions; in addition, the sampling lines can be used to sample the touched partition to obtain the instantaneous value of the parameter and the coordinate of a peak value in the X-axis direction, as well as the instantaneous value of the parameter and the coordinate of a peak value in the Y-axis direction. When the control lines no longer supply current to the sampling lines, sampling using the sampling lines is terminated.The integrated circuit chip is designed to store a reference value for each parameter and a preset threshold value, and to process various data acquired from the scanning lines in order to determine the touched partition and locate the point of contact. The foregoing corresponding relationship is, of course, only illustrative and is not intended to limit the embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] The acquisition and determination module 61 is designed to acquire the instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition and to obtain the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold.

[0047] Module 62 for determining a touched partition is designed to determine the touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold.

[0048] The scanning and localization module 63 is designed to scan the touched partition in order to locate at least one point of contact.

[0049] Module 62 for determining a touched partition comprises a first comparator module 621 and a second comparator module 622.

[0050] The first comparison module 621 is designed to compare the instantaneous value of each parameter with the reference value of the parameter in order to obtain a change value of the parameter.

[0051] The second comparison module 622 is designed to compare the change value of each parameter with the preset threshold and to determine a partition in which the change value of the parameter is greater than the preset threshold as a touched partition, while a partition in which the change value of the parameter is less than the preset threshold is determined as an untouched partition.

[0052] The sampling and localization module 63 includes an X-axis change value determination module 631, a Y-axis change value determination module 632, and a touch point coordinate localization module 633.

[0053] The X-axis change value determination module 631 is designed to determine an instantaneous value of the parameter in the X-axis direction and the coordinate of a peak value location in the X-axis direction in the touched partition, and to compare the determined instantaneous value of the parameter with a reference value of the parameter in the X-axis direction in order to obtain a change value of the parameter in the X-axis direction.

[0054] The Y-axis change value determination module 632 is designed to determine an instantaneous value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction and the coordinate of a peak value location in the Y-axis direction in the touched partition, and to compare the determined instantaneous value of the parameter with a reference value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction in order to obtain a change value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction.

[0055] The tangent point coordinate localization module 633 is designed to determine orthogonal coordinates, defined by the peak value coordinate in the X-axis direction and the peak value coordinate in the Y-axis direction, as the tangent point coordinates when both the change value of the parameter in the X-axis direction and the change value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction are greater than the respective preset threshold values.

[0056] When using the device for locating a contact point, which is disclosed in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the touched partition and the untouched partition are determined, and the scanning lines are controlled to scan the touched partition in order to locate the contact point, so that the area scanned by means of the scanning lines is reduced, the scanning time is shortened and the efficiency of the localization of the contact point is improved. [Fifth embodiment]

[0057] Based on the method for locating a point of contact in the second embodiment of the present invention, a fifth embodiment of the present invention discloses a method as described in Fig. Figure 7 shows a device for locating a point of contact. The device comprises a detection and identification module 71, a module 72 for determining a touched partition, a scanning and localization module 73, and a scanning and localization module 74 for adjacent partitions.

[0058] The acquisition and determination module 71 is designed to acquire an instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition and to obtain a reference value of the parameter and a preset threshold value of the parameter.

[0059] Module 72 for determining a touched partition is designed to determine a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold.

[0060] The scanning and localization module 73 is designed to scan the touched partition in order to locate at least one point of contact.

[0061] The adjacent partition sampling and localization module 74 is designed to sample at least one partition adjacent to the touched partition being sampled by the sampling and localization module 73.

[0062] When using the device for locating a contact point disclosed in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the scanned area is increased because at least one partition adjacent to the touched partition is scanned, thereby improving the accuracy in locating the contact point. [Sixth embodiment]

[0063] Based on the method for locating a point of contact disclosed in the third embodiment of the present invention, a sixth embodiment of the present invention discloses a method as described in Fig.Figure 8 shows a device for locating a point of contact on a contact area containing a number of partitions. The device comprises a detection and identification module 81, a module 82 for determining a touched partition, a scanning termination module 83, and a scanning and localization module 84.

[0064] The acquisition and determination module 81 is designed to acquire an instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition and to obtain a reference value of the parameter and a preset threshold value of the parameter.

[0065] Module 82 for determining a touched partition is designed to determine a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold.

[0066] The sampling termination module 83 is designed to abort the sampling of an untouched partition when the touched partition has been determined according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold.

[0067] The sampling and localization module 84 is designed to sample the touched partition in order to locate at least one point of contact.

[0068] When applying the method for locating a contact point disclosed in the sixth embodiment of the present invention, control lines and scanning lines in the untouched partition are deactivated to terminate the scanning of the untouched partition, thereby reducing the mutual interference of the control lines and scanning lines and improving the accuracy in locating the contact point, while simultaneously reducing noise. [Seventh embodiment]

[0069] A seventh embodiment of the present invention discloses an electronic device comprising a display unit and a device for locating a point of contact on a contact area, as described in one of the embodiments above.

[0070] It should be noted that the display unit can be a touchscreen. The electronic device can be a mobile device running an operating system such as Android (an operating system platform developed by Google Inc. for portable mobile smart devices), iOS (an operating system platform developed by Apple Inc. for portable mobile smart devices), or Windows Phone (an operating system platform developed by Microsoft for portable mobile smart devices). The mobile device can be a mobile phone, a palmtop computer, a tablet computer, and the like. A display unit can be a stationary data station for human-computer interaction, such as an ATM or an information kiosk.Of course, the above exemplary devices are only illustrative in nature and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention.

[0071] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the various modules and steps of the present invention can be implemented by a general-purpose data processing unit, which may be integrated in a single data processing unit or distributed in a network consisting of several such data processing units. Alternatively, the various modules and steps can be implemented by computer-executable code, which may be stored in a memory device and executed by the data processing unit; the various modules and steps may be embodied by different integrated circuit modules, or some of the modules or steps may be embodied by a single integrated circuit module. Consequently, the present invention is not limited to any particular hardware, software, or any combination thereof.

[0072] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but these are not intended to limit the invention. Based on the present invention, various modifications and alterations can be made by a person skilled in the art. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it should therefore be clear that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalent solutions that fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

[1] Method for locating a point of contact on a contact area having a plurality of partitions, the method comprising: Acquiring (S101) an instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition and determining a reference value of the parameter and a preset threshold value of the parameter; Determine (S102) a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold; and Scanning (S103) of the touched partition to locate at least one point of contact, where the multitude of partitions have different shapes and the parameter of each partition is a capacity, where determining a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold includes: Comparing (S1021) the instantaneous value of the parameter with the reference value of the parameter to obtain a change value of the parameter; and Comparing (S1022) the change value of the parameter with the preset threshold, determining a partition in which the change value of the parameter is greater than or equal to the preset threshold than the affected partition, and determining a partition in which the change value of the parameter is less than the preset threshold than an unaffected partition, where, after determining a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold: Ending (S303) sampling of the untouched partition. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein scanning the touched partition to locate at least one point of contact comprises: Determine (S1031) the instantaneous value of the parameter in an X-axis direction and a coordinate of a peak value location in the X-axis direction in the touched partition, and compare the instantaneous value of the parameter with the reference value of the parameter in the X-axis direction to obtain a change value of the parameter in the X-axis direction; Determine (S1032) the instantaneous value of the parameter in a Y-axis direction and a coordinate of a peak value location in the Y-axis direction, and compare the instantaneous value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction with the reference value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction to obtain a rate of change of the parameter in the Y-axis direction; and Determine (S1033) orthogonal coordinates defined by the peak position coordinate in the X-axis direction and the peak position coordinate in the Y-axis direction as the coordinates of the point of tangency when both the change value of the parameter in the X-axis direction and the change value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction are greater than the respective preset thresholds. [3] Device for localizing a contact point on a contact area which contains a plurality of partitions, wherein the device comprises: a data acquisition and determination module (61, 71, 81) designed to acquire an instantaneous value of a parameter of each partition and to obtain a reference value of the parameter and a preset threshold value of the parameter; a module (62, 72, 82) for determining a touched partition, designed to determine a touched partition according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter and the preset threshold; and a scanning and localization module (63, 73) designed to scan the touched partition to localize at least one point of contact; where the multitude of partitions have different shapes and the parameter of each partition is a capacity, the module for determining a touched partition includes: a first comparison module (621) designed to compare the instantaneous value of the parameter with the reference value of the parameter in order to obtain a change value of the parameter; a second comparison module (622) designed to compare the change value of the parameter with the preset threshold, to determine a partition in which the change value of the parameter is greater than or equal to the preset threshold as the touched partition, and to determine a partition in which the change value of the parameter is less than the preset threshold as the untouched partition; a sampling termination module designed to terminate sampling of the untouched partition when the touched partition has been determined according to the instantaneous value of the parameter, the reference value of the parameter, and the preset threshold. [4] Device according to claim 4, wherein the scanning and localization module comprises: an X-axis change value determination module (631) designed to determine the instantaneous value of the parameter in an X-axis direction and a coordinate of a peak value location in the X-axis direction in the touched partition and to compare the instantaneous value of the parameter with the reference value of the parameter in the X-axis direction to obtain a change value of the parameter in the X-axis direction; a Y-axis change value determination module (632) designed to determine the instantaneous value of the parameter in a Y-axis direction and a coordinate of a peak value location in the Y-axis direction, and to compare the instantaneous value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction with the reference value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction to obtain a change value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction; and a touchpoint coordinate localization module (633) designed to determine orthogonal coordinates defined by the peak position coordinate in the X-axis direction and the peak position coordinate in the Y-axis direction as the touchpoint coordinates when both the change value of the parameter in the X-axis direction and the change value of the parameter in the Y-axis direction are greater than the respective preset thresholds. [5] Electronic device comprising a display unit and a device for locating a point of contact according to claim 3 or 4.

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