Out-cell floating touch apparatus and floating touch apparatus

Abstract

To provide an out-cell floating touch apparatus and a floating touch apparatus.SOLUTION: An out-cell floating touch apparatus includes a floating touch display module, a trigger module, and a connecting structure. The floating touch display module includes a floating touch unit, a display unit, and a receiver. The display unit is configured to generate an image. The floating touch unit is used for generating a floating touch sensing area corresponding to the image. A touch signal is generated in the floating touch sensing area. The receiver is used for receiving the touch signal from the floating touch sensing area. The trigger module is electrically connected to the floating touch display module. The trigger module includes a movable mechanism. The touch signal starts the movable mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating touch device, and particularly to an out-cell type floating touch device.

Background Art

[0002] Since physical buttons or touch screens are contact operations, wear is inevitably caused by long-term use. Furthermore, when physical buttons or touch screens are used in public facilities, many people touch them, so hygiene concerns are easily caused and regular cleaning is required. To reduce or avoid these drawbacks, the use of floating touch devices has been proposed. The floating touch device is attached to the original equipment, and the user can perform a floating operation to obtain the effect of pressing the original button or touching the touch screen. However, the floating touch device needs to be designed according to each equipment, there are problems related to customization, and furthermore, it covers the screen of the original equipment and impairs the aesthetics, so there is room for improvement.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides an out-cell type floating touch device applicable to various equipment or devices, reduces the cost related to customization, maintains the user interface and display screen of the original equipment or device, and does not affect the function of displaying data and the effect of creating visual beauty.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The out-cell type floating touch device provided by the present invention includes a floating touch display module, a trigger module, and a connection structure. The floating touch display module includes a floating touch unit, a display unit, and a receiver. The display unit generates an image, and the floating touch unit is used to generate a floating touch detection area corresponding to the image. A touch signal is generated in the floating touch detection area, and the receiver is used to receive the touch signal from the floating touch detection area. The trigger module is electrically connected to the floating touch display module. The trigger module includes a movable mechanism, and the touch signal activates the movable mechanism. The connection structure is used to connect the out-cell type floating touch device to an object.

[0005] The present invention further provides a floating touch device, which includes a display device and the out-cell type floating touch device. The display device includes a display screen and a case, and the display screen is installed in the case. The out-cell type floating touch device is located on at least one side of the display device, and the connection structure connects the out-cell type floating touch device and the display device, and the movable mechanism corresponds to the display screen.

[0006] Since the connection structure for connecting the out-cell type floating touch device to an object is adopted in the present invention, it is possible to reduce the interference of the out-cell type floating touch device with the display function and visual beauty of the object.

[0007] In order to more clearly understand the above-mentioned or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, the following examples will be given and described in detail as follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Regarding the above-described and other technical contents, features, and effects of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail and clarified below with reference to the drawings. The directional terms (for example, up, down, left, right, front, or rear, etc.) mentioned in the following embodiments are merely directions for referring to the attached drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for explaining the present application and not for limiting the present application.

[0010] The present invention provides an out-cell type floating touch device that allows a user to perform operations by non-contact means. The out-cell type floating touch device of the present invention is further applicable to touch equipment and display devices. The touch equipment and display devices are, for example, self-service devices such as number ticket dispensers and automated teller machines (ATMs). The self-service devices are provided with a user interface including text, icons, layouts, designs, etc., and are usually operated by contact means. When these equipment / devices are combined with the out-cell type floating touch device of the present invention, the user can obtain the same results as before, for example, by touching a finger.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an out-cell type floating touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front schematic view of the out-cell type floating touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the out-cell type floating touch device 10 includes a floating touch display module 100, a trigger module 200, and a connection structure 300. The floating touch display module 100 includes a floating touch unit 110 and a receiver 130. The floating touch unit 110 is used to generate a floating touch detection area 110A, and a touch signal T is generated in the floating touch detection area 110A. The floating touch detection area 110A is preferably located in a virtual space in front of the out-cell type floating touch device 10. Here, the "front" usually refers to the side where the out-cell type floating touch device 10 faces the user. The touch signal T is generated, for example, when the user participates in the floating touch detection area 110A, and the receiver 130 receives the touch signal T from the floating touch detection area 110A.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the equipment / device itself incorporated in the out-cell type floating touch device 10 has a display screen 910. The user can operate the out-cell type floating touch device 10 in a non-contact manner based on the content displayed on the plurality of display screens 910. The out-cell type floating touch device 10 does not affect the display of the original equipment / device. That is, it is preferable that the out-cell type floating touch device 10 is not located in front of the plurality of display screens 910. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the floating touch display module 100 of the out-cell type floating touch device 10 further includes a display unit 120 for generating an image G. The image G displayed on the out-cell type floating touch device 10 is related to the content on the display screen 910 of the original equipment / device, and it is preferable that the user can be induced to operate in the floating touch detection area 110A.

[0013] The floating touch detection area 110A preferably corresponds to the image G. For example, the position of the image G is preferably substantially the same as the position of the floating touch detection area 110A, which helps in the identification and operation by the user. In some embodiments, the display unit 120 can generate a plurality of images G, while the floating touch unit 110 generates a plurality of floating touch detection areas 110A, each corresponding to a plurality of images G. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the plurality of images G are respectively positioned on the left and right, and the plurality of floating touch detection areas 110A are also respectively positioned on the left and right to match. In this embodiment, the left and right images G each include three icons.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the display unit 120 includes a floating display, and the image G generated by the floating display is a floating image. The present invention does not limit the principle and structure of the floating display, and includes any display that can generate a floating image. In some embodiments, the floating display is composed of a collimated optical assembly, a light source assembly, an imaging device, and a microlens array, but is not limited thereto.

[0015] The display unit 120 is further used to generate an image display area 120A, and the image G is located in the image display area 120A. The image display area 120A is a physical area or a virtual area. For example, the image display area 120A is a virtual area generated by the floating display. In other embodiments, the display unit 120 includes, for example, a display panel, and the image display area 120A is a physical area on the display panel. As shown in FIG. 3, the image display area 120A preferably fits within the floating touch detection area 110A. After the user recognizes the image G in the image display area 120A, the user can operate on the image G. Since the image G is preferably located in the floating touch detection area 110A, the user's operation can trigger a touch signal T in the floating touch detection area 110A.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the display unit 120 can generate image display areas 120A located on the left and right, and the image display areas 120A are respectively arranged to fit into a plurality of floating touch detection areas 110A located on the left and right. A user can operate on the image G in different directions, for example, in different directions with respect to the display screen 910, to cause various touch signals T. However, since the floating touch detection areas 110A are not different only in terms of direction such as left and right, attention is required. For example, even if the user operates only on the left side of the display screen 910, different touch signals T can be caused.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the floating touch display module 100 further includes a sensor 140. The sensor 140 is used to transmit a sensor signal S and causes a touch signal T in the floating touch detection area 110A. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensor 140 transmits the sensor signal S to the floating touch detection area 110A, and when a person or an object touches in the floating touch detection area 110A, a touch signal T can be caused via the sensor signal S. In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensor 140 is a sensor such as an optical sensor or a laser sensor, and the sensor signal S is a light beam of a specific wavelength such as infrared light. For example, the sensor 140 is an infrared sensor. A person or an object that touches in the floating touch detection area 110A can block the light beam and generate, for example, reflected light, and the reflected light at this time functions as the touch signal T. The receiver 130 is a receiver such as an optical receiver or a laser receiver, receives the reflected light, and reflects the touch signal T to a downstream member. For example, the receiver 130 is an infrared receiver.

[0018] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the trigger module 200 is electrically connected to the floating touch display module 100 and includes a movable mechanism 210. The touch signal T activates the movable mechanism 210. Also, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the touch signal T is further converted into an electrical signal E and used to drive the movable mechanism 210. The movable mechanism 210 acts on the said equipment / apparatus, preferably on the display screen 910. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the movable mechanism 210 is positioned to face the back of the display unit 120.

[0019] The out-cell type floating touch device 10 in the embodiment of the present invention further includes a controller 220. The controller 220 is electrically connected to the receiver 130 of the floating touch display module 100, converts the touch signal T into an electrical signal E, and drives the movable mechanism 210. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the movable mechanism 210 preferably includes a telescopic rod, and the electrical signal E drives to activate a switch (for example, a microswitch) of the movable mechanism 210 to expand and contract the rod. For example, the rod usually maintains a retracted state as shown in FIG. 3, and when the switch is activated, the rod extends backward as shown in FIG. 4 and touches the display screen 910, thereby obtaining the same result as a touch by a finger, for example.

[0020] The connection structure 300 of the out-cell type floating touch device 10 is applied to connect an external object (for example, the touch equipment, display device, etc.) and the out-cell type floating touch device 10. Furthermore, the out-cell type floating touch device 10 is preferably installed at a position other than the front of the display screen 910 of the object through the connection structure 300, thereby not affecting the display of the original equipment / apparatus. The user can operate by non-contact means based on the content displayed on the plurality of display screens 910, the image displayed on the out-cell type floating touch device 10, or a combination thereof.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, the out-cell type floating touch device 10 is installed on the side of the case of the object and the plurality of display screens 910 via the connection structure 300, and since the movable mechanism 210 of the trigger module 200 can be brought closer to the display screen 910, the rod can touch the display screen 910 when it extends. The connection structure 300 includes, for example, a stent kit and is installed on the case of the object, and the out-cell type floating touch device 10 can be fixed to the object.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a rear view of an out-cell type floating touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the out-cell type floating touch device 10 includes a plurality of display units 120 and a plurality of floating touch units 110, and the display unit 120 and the floating touch unit 110 on the left side correspond to each other. That is, the floating touch detection area 110A generated by the floating touch unit 110 on the left side is included in the image display area 120A generated by the display unit 120 on the left side. The display unit 120 on the right side also corresponds to the floating touch unit 110 on the right side. The trigger module 200 has a plurality of movable mechanisms 210 corresponding to the floating touch display modules 100 on the left and right sides, respectively, and operates according to the touch signal T. The connection structure 300 includes a fixed bar 310. The floating touch display module 100 is disposed on the fixed bar 310, and the fixed bar 310 is installed on the case 920 from the back of the object. In this embodiment, the floating touch display modules 100 are disposed at both opposite ends of the fixed bar 310, and the display unit 120 (floating touch unit 110) is exposed on the left and right sides of the object. Preferably, the length of the fixed bar 310 is adjustable, and the floating touch display modules 100 at both ends are adjusted to be close to or adjacent to the display screen 910 according to the horizontal length of different objects, and the movable mechanism 210 can be brought closer to the display screen 910 and reach the display screen 910. In this embodiment, the movable mechanism 210 is preferably disposed inside the floating touch display modules 100 at both ends. That is, since the movable mechanism 210 is sufficiently close to the display screen 910 without blocking the display screen 910 of the object, by touching the display screen 910 from behind, the same result as the touch by a finger can be obtained.

[0023] The present invention further provides a floating touch device, which includes a display device 90 and the out-cell type floating touch device 10.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 90 includes a display screen 910 and a case 920, and the display screen 910 is installed within the case 920. The out-cell type floating touch device 10 is connected to the display device 90 via a connection structure 300 and is located on one side of the display device 90. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the out-cell type floating touch device 10 is installed on the upper part of the case 920 and on the side of the display screen 910 via the connection structure 300, and the movable mechanism 210 corresponds to the display screen 910.

[0025] The display device 90 has a first side S1 and a second side S2 facing the first side S1. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first side S1 and the second side S2 are the left and right sides of the display device 90. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, in some embodiments of the present invention, the display unit 120 of the out-cell type floating touch device 10 includes a plurality of floating displays, and the out-cell type floating touch device 10 is installed on the case 920 from the back of the display device 90, and the floating displays of the display unit 120 are exposed on the first side S1 and the second side S2 and are close to or adjacent to the display screen 910. In other embodiments, the floating touch display module 100 or the display unit 120 can also be located only on the first side S1 or the second side S2.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the connection structure 300 further includes a plurality of fixtures 320 adapted to the fixed bar 310, and a plurality of floating displays of the display unit 120, for example, two floating displays, are located at opposite ends of the fixed bar 310. Also, on the back of the case 920 of the display device 90, there are a plurality of fixing portions 930 adapted to the plurality of fixtures 320. The plurality of fixtures 320 are such as screws, and the fixing portions 930 have screw holes and the like. The plurality of fixtures 320 and the plurality of fixing portions 930 are combined, and the fixed bar 310 is installed on the case 920.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image display area 120A of the display unit 120 is located on the side of the display device 90. In this embodiment, since the display unit 120 includes two floating displays, there are a first image display area 121A and a second image display area 122A, which are respectively located on the first side S1 and the second side S2. The floating touch unit 110 can also generate a plurality of floating touch detection areas 110A, each of which includes the first image display area 121A and the second image display area 122A.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in an embodiment of the present invention, the display screen 910 of the display device 90 can include a first area A1 and a second area A2 surrounding the first area A1. The out-cell type floating touch device 10 does not block at least the first area A1 of the display screen 910 without blocking the display screen 910. The rod of the movable mechanism 210 corresponds to the second area A2, reaches the display screen 910, touches it, and can cause a sufficient touch effect. The width of the second area A2 is preferably not more than 2 centimeters.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 90 may be used, for example, as a number ticket issuing machine in a medical facility, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The display screen 910 of the display device 90 has a touch area for the user to perform touch operations. The user can touch the corresponding area on the display screen 910 for the content displayed on the display screen 910, such as medical examination reception, medical expense settlement, hospitalization, etc. As a result of the touch, for example, the display device 90 can print the numbers of items such as medical examination reception, medical expense settlement, hospitalization, etc. When the display device 90 is provided with the out-cell type floating touch device 10, the out-cell type floating touch device 10 provides a non-contact operation interface, and the user can receive the numbers without touching the display screen 910. Also, the user can similarly obtain and operate on complete information such as the number of people waiting for each item from the content displayed on the display screen 910. Further, the out-cell type floating touch device 10 displays the image G, and the image G displayed on the out-cell type floating touch device 10 is related to the content on the display screen 910 and includes, for example, icons corresponding to the content, so that it is easier for the user to operate in the floating touch detection area 110A.

[0030] In summary, the present invention is applicable to different facilities and devices, saves the cost for customizing different facilities / devices, maintains the display screen 910 and / or user interface of the original facilities and devices, and provides an out-cell type floating touch device that does not affect the display information and / or visual beauty of the display screen 910 and the user interface.

[0031] The present invention has been disclosed using the embodiments above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can make some modifications without departing from the spirit scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be limited by the appended claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0032] 10: Out-cell type floating touch device 100: Floating Touch Display Module 110: Floating Touch Unit 110A: Floating Touch Detection Area 120: Display Unit 120A: Image Display Area 130: Receiver 140: Sensor 200: Trigger Module 210: Movable Mechanism 220: Controller 300: Connection Structure 310: Fixed Bar 320: Fixture 90: Display Device 910: Display Screen 920: Case 930: Fixed Part S1: First Side S2: Second Side A1: First Area A2: Second Area G: Image T: Touch Signal S: Sensor Signal E: Electrical Signal

Claims

1. A floating touch display module, comprising: a floating touch unit for generating a floating touch sensing area corresponding to an image; a display unit for generating the image; and a receiver, wherein the floating touch sensing area generates a touch signal, and the receiver is used to receive the touch signal from the floating touch sensing area; a trigger module electrically connected to the floating touch display module, the trigger module including a movable mechanism, the touch signal triggering the movable mechanism; and a connection structure for connecting the out-cell type floating touch device to an object.

2. The out-cell type floating touch device according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit comprises a floating display for generating the image, which is a floating image.

3. 2. The out-cell type floating touch device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is further used to generate an image display area, the image is located in the image display area, and the floating touch sensing area includes the image display area.

4. The out-cell type floating touch device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the floating touch display module further comprises a sensor for transmitting a sensor signal to cause the touch signal in the floating touch sensing area.

5. 2. The out-cell type floating touch device according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller electrically connected to the receiver of the floating touch display module, the controller being used to convert the touch signal into an electrical signal for driving the movable mechanism.

6. The out-cell type floating touch device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the receiver is an optical receiver and the sensor is an optical sensor.

7. 6. The out-cell type floating touch device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the movable mechanism comprises an extendable rod, and the electrical signal drives the extension and retraction of the rod.

8. A floating touch device comprising a display device and an out-cell type floating touch device, The display device includes a display screen and a case, the display screen is disposed within the case, The out-cell type floating touch device includes a floating touch display module, the floating touch display module including a floating touch unit for generating a floating touch sensing area for generating a touch signal, and a receiver for receiving the touch signal from the floating touch sensing area; a trigger module electrically connected to the floating touch display module, the trigger module including a movable mechanism, the touch signal triggering the movable mechanism; and a connection structure for connecting the out-cell type floating touch device and the display device. The floating touch device is characterized in that the out-cell type floating touch device is located on at least one side of the display device, and the movable mechanism corresponds to the display screen.

9. 9. The floating touch device of claim 8, wherein the display device has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the out-cell type floating touch device is located on the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof, the display screen of the display device further comprises a first area and a second area surrounding the first area, and the movable mechanism comprises an extendable rod corresponding to the second area of ​​the display screen.

10. The floating touch device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the floating touch display module further comprises a display unit for generating an image, and the floating touch sensing area corresponds to the image.

11. The floating touch device of claim 10 , wherein the display unit comprises a floating display for generating the image, the image being a floating image.

12. 11. The floating touch device of claim 10, wherein the display unit is further used to generate an image display area located on the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof of the display device, the image being located in the image display area, and the floating touch sensing area includes the image display area.

13. 11. The floating touch device of claim 10, wherein the display unit comprises at least two floating displays each having a first image display area and a second image display area, the first image display area and the second image display area are located on the first side and the second side of the display device, respectively, the connecting structure includes a fixing bar, and the at least two floating displays are located on opposite ends of the fixing bar.

14. The floating touch device of claim 8 , wherein the floating touch display module further comprises a sensor for transmitting a sensor signal that causes the touch signal in the floating touch sensing area.

15. 9. The floating touch device of claim 8, further comprising: a controller electrically connected to the receiver of the floating touch display module, the controller being used to convert the touch signal into an electrical signal for driving the movable mechanism.

16. 9. The floating touch device according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting structure comprises a fixed bar and a plurality of fixed fixtures, the plurality of fixed fixtures are fitted to the fixed bar, the case of the display device has a plurality of fixed parts on the opposite side to the display screen that are fitted to the plurality of fixed fixtures, and the plurality of fixed fixtures are combined with the plurality of fixed parts to install the fixed bar on the case.

Images