Touch sensing device, sensing device that recognizes user gestures, electronic device, and physiological signal detection device

Abstract

An embodiment of the present specification provides a touch sensing device including an air pressure sensor having a hole, the interior of which is connected to the outside via the hole, and a sealed structure connected to the air pressure sensor and forming a chamber together with the air pressure sensor, the chamber and the interior of the air pressure sensor being in communication via the hole, a portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber is deformed by a user's touch, the deformation causing a change in air pressure in the chamber, and the air pressure sensor receives the change in air pressure in the chamber through the hole and converts the change in air pressure into an electrical signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification relates to the field of touch sensing, and more particularly to touch sensing devices, sensing devices for recognizing user gestures, electronic devices, and physiological signal detection devices.

Background Art

[0002] Touch sensing is widely applied to various electronic products as an important human-computer interaction method. In touch sensing, a touch sensor needs to generate a change in an electrical signal under excitations such as tapping, long pressing, and swiping. Currently commercially available touch sensors mainly include capacitive, piezoresistive, accelerometer-based, etc. However, capacitive touch sensors are easily interfered by the capacitance of the human body, piezoresistive touch sensors have large errors when there is a temperature change, so it is necessary to set temperature compensation or use them under constant temperature conditions, and accelerometer-based touch sensors are interfered by the movement of the human body.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Therefore, there is a desire to provide a touch sensing device that meets the needs in terms of sensitivity and is less susceptible to interference from factors such as human movement, external capacitance, and temperature changes.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] A touch sensing device according to an embodiment of this specification includes a pressure sensor having a hole portion and communicating with the outside through the hole portion inside, and a sealing structure connected to the pressure sensor and forming a chamber together with the pressure sensor, wherein the chamber and the inside of the pressure sensor communicate with each other through the hole portion. A portion of the sealing structure surrounding the chamber is deformed by user contact, and the air pressure in the chamber changes due to the deformation. The pressure sensor receives the air pressure change in the chamber from the hole portion and converts the air pressure change into an electrical signal.

[0005] A sensing device for recognizing user gestures according to one embodiment of this specification includes a plurality of touch sensing devices distributed in an array, and a processor, each of the touch sensing devices including a pressure sensor having a hole and whose interior communicates with the outside through the hole, and a sealed structure connected to the pressure sensor and forming a chamber together with the pressure sensor, wherein the chamber and the interior of the pressure sensor communicate with each other through the hole, the portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber deforms upon contact by the user, the pressure in the chamber changes due to the deformation, the pressure sensor receives the pressure change in the chamber through the hole and converts the pressure change into an electrical signal, and the processor is configured to determine the swipe direction of the user's gesture based on the positional information of at least two touch sensing devices and the generation time of the electrical signal.

[0006] Furthermore, an electronic device according to one embodiment of this specification includes an electronic device carrier and at least one touch sensing device integrated within the electronic device carrier, the touch sensing device including a pressure sensor having a hole and whose interior communicates with the outside through the hole, and a sealed structure connected to the pressure sensor and forming a chamber together with the pressure sensor, wherein the chamber and the interior of the pressure sensor communicate with each other through the hole, the portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber deforms upon contact by a user, the pressure in the chamber changes due to the deformation, the pressure sensor receives the pressure change in the chamber through the hole and converts the pressure change into an electrical signal, and the portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber is a portion of the surface area of ​​the electronic device carrier.

[0007] Furthermore, a physiological signal detection device according to one embodiment of this specification includes a touch sensing device, the touch sensing device includes a pressure sensor having a hole and whose interior communicates with the outside through the hole, and a sealed structure connected to the pressure sensor and forming a chamber together with the pressure sensor, wherein the chamber and the interior of the pressure sensor communicate with each other through the hole, the portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber deforms due to the action of the user's heartbeat, pulse, or respiratory vibration, the pressure in the chamber changes due to the deformation, the pressure sensor receives the change in pressure in the chamber through the hole and converts the change in pressure into an electrical signal. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 2] This is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 3A] This is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 3B] This is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some other embodiments of this specification. [Figure 3C] This is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some other embodiments of this specification. [Figure 4] This is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 5A] This is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 5B] This is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some other embodiments of this specification. [Figure 6] This diagram shows electrical signals generated by touch sensing devices according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 7]This is a block diagram of a sensing device for recognizing user gestures, according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple touch sensing devices in a sensing device that recognizes user gestures, according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 9A] This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple touch sensing devices in a sensing device that recognizes user gestures, according to some other embodiments of this specification. [Figure 9B] This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple touch sensing devices in a sensing device that recognizes user gestures, according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 9C] This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple touch sensing devices in a sensing device that recognizes user gestures, according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram of an earphone according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone or tablet computer according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram of a smartwatch according to some embodiments of this specification. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram of a physiological signal detection device according to some embodiments of this specification. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] To more clearly illustrate the technical means of the embodiments of this application, the drawings necessary for describing the embodiments are briefly described below. Clearly, the drawings described below are only a few examples or embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can apply this application to other similar scenarios based on these drawings without requiring any creative effort. Unless otherwise evident from the language context or explicitly stated, the same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same structure or operation.

[0010] It should be understood that the terms “system,” “apparatus,” “unit,” and / or “module” as used herein are ways of distinguishing various assemblies, parts, components, sections, or assemblies of different levels. However, other terms may be used in place of the above terms if they can achieve the same purpose.

[0011] As shown in the present application and claims, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise, terms such as “one,” “one,” “one kind,” and / or “the” do not specifically mean singular and may include plural forms. Generally, the terms “includes” and “contains” merely indicate the inclusion of clearly identified steps and elements, and these steps and elements are not an exclusive list; the method or apparatus may include other steps or elements.

[0012] The embodiments described herein illustrate touch sensing devices. In some embodiments, the touch sensing device may include a pressure sensor and a sealed structure. The sealed structure is connected to the pressure sensor and together with the pressure sensor forms a chamber, the portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber deforms upon user contact, and the pressure in the chamber changes due to the deformation. In some embodiments, the pressure sensor includes a hole, the inside of the pressure sensor communicates with the chamber through the hole, and pressure changes in the chamber can be transmitted to the inside of the pressure sensor through the hole, and the pressure sensor realizes user contact sensing by generating an electrical signal in response to the pressure change. The touch sensing devices according to the embodiments described herein generate a touch signal (i.e., an electrical signal) based on pressure sensing in response to pressure changes in the chamber due to user contact, and have high sensitivity without interference from factors such as human body movement, external capacitance, and temperature changes.

[0013] Embodiments of this specification describe a sensing device for recognizing user gestures. In some embodiments, the sensing device for recognizing user gestures may include a plurality of touch sensing devices and a second processor. The second processor is configured to determine the swipe direction of the user's gesture based on the position information of the plurality of touch sensing devices and the time when the touch sensing device generates an electrical signal, so as to achieve the purpose of recognizing the user's gesture. In some embodiments, the plurality of touch sensing devices may be distributed in an array or along a curve such as an arc. When the user swipes on the gesture sensing device, at least two of the plurality of touch sensing devices are sequentially contacted, and the touch sensing device sequentially generates electrical signals according to the order of contact. The second processor can determine the user's gesture based on the position information of the contacted touch sensing device and the generation time of the electrical signal.

[0014] Embodiments of this specification describe an electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include an electronic device carrier and at least one of the above touch sensing devices. At least one touch sensing device is integrated within the electronic device carrier, and the portion surrounding the sealed structure chamber may be used as a part of the surface area of the electronic device carrier. When the user acts on a part of the surface of the touch sensing device in a manner such as tapping, long pressing, or swiping, the air pressure in the chamber of the at least one touch sensing device changes, and the touch sensing device generates an electrical signal in response to the air pressure change. In some embodiments, the processor of the electronic device determines the user's gesture (such as tapping, long pressing, and swipe direction, etc.) based on, for example, the duration of the electrical signal of the at least one touch device (which approximates the time when the user acts on the touch sensing device) and / or the interval time for generating the electrical signal, etc., and can respond to the corresponding control instruction, and the control instruction is used to control the electronic device to execute the corresponding function.

[0015] The embodiments of this specification further describe a physiological signal detection device. In some embodiments, the physiological signal detection device may include the touch sensing device described above. The chamber of the touch sensing device is deformed by the action of the user's heartbeat, pulse or respiratory vibration, and the deformation causes a change in the air pressure in the chamber. The air pressure sensor receives the change in air pressure in the chamber from the hole and converts the air pressure change into an electrical signal. The physiological signal detection device can generate a physiological signal based on the electrical signal. In some embodiments, the physiological signal includes a heart rate, a pulse or a respiratory rate.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in FIG. 1, the touch sensing device 100 may include an air pressure sensor 110 and a sealing structure 120.

[0017] The touch sensing device 100 refers to a device that can convert the pressure exerted by a user on its specific area into an electrical signal. For example, the user's touch operation acts on the surface of the touch sensing device 100, and the touch sensing device 100 can generate an electrical signal based on the user's touch operation. In some embodiments, the touch operation may include, but is not limited to, a tap, a long press, a swipe, etc. In some embodiments, the touch sensing device 100 may include a chamber. When the user acts on a part of the area of the touch sensing device 100, the structure of the area is deformed and the air pressure inside the chamber changes. The transducer (for example, the air pressure sensor 110) of the touch sensing device 100 can convert the air pressure change into an electrical signal.

[0018] The pressure sensor 110 can generate an electrical signal based on the pressure change in the internal chamber of the touch sensing device 100. In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 110 may have a hole, and the inside of the pressure sensor 110 communicates with the chamber through the hole. A touch operation acts on the surface of the touch sensing device 100, changing the pressure in its internal chamber, and this pressure change in the internal chamber of the touch sensing device 100 is transmitted to the inside of the pressure sensor 110 through the hole, allowing the pressure sensor 110 to generate an electrical signal based on the pressure change inside.

[0019] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 110 may include a housing structure, a membrane structure, and a substrate. The housing structure has a cavity, the membrane structure and substrate are provided within the cavity, one end of the substrate is connected to the housing structure, and the other end of the substrate is connected to the membrane structure. The membrane structure and substrate divide the cavity into a front cavity and a rear cavity, the front cavity communicates with the outside of the pressure sensor 110 through a hole, the pressure in the front cavity changes in response to changes in the pressure outside the pressure sensor 110, and the membrane structure converts the pressure change in the front cavity into an electrical signal. For example, the membrane structure may include a vibrating membrane structure, which vibrates and deforms in response to changes in the pressure in the front cavity, thereby generating an electrical signal in the magnetic circuit structure of the pressure sensor 110. Alternatively, for example, the membrane structure may include a piezoelectric layer, which, when the membrane structure deforms, receives deformation stress and generates a potential difference (voltage), thereby realizing the conversion of a touch signal to an electrical signal. In this specification, “connection” is understood to mean the connection between different parts of the same structure, or the fixing and connection of different members or structures after they have been manufactured separately by methods such as welding, riveting, fastening, bolting, or adhesive bonding, or the deposition of a first member or structure onto a second member or structure by methods such as physical deposition (e.g., physical vapor deposition) or chemical deposition (e.g., chemical vapor deposition) during the manufacturing process. The barometric pressure sensor may be any other sensor capable of converting changes in barometric pressure into an electrical signal. In some embodiments, the type of barometric pressure sensor may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: air conduction microphones, piezoelectric barometric pressure sensors, capacitive barometric pressure sensors, resistive barometric pressure sensors, etc.

[0020] In some embodiments, the sealing structure 120 may be connected to a pressure sensor 110, and a chamber is formed between the sealing structure 120 and the pressure sensor 110, with the chamber and the front cavity of the pressure sensor 110 communicating through a hole. The portion of the sealing structure 120 surrounding the chamber deforms upon user touch operation, and this deformation changes the air pressure in the chamber. The front cavity of the pressure sensor 110 receives the change in air pressure in the chamber through the hole, and the membrane structure deforms in response to the change in air pressure, generating an electrical signal.

[0021] In ideal conditions, when a gas is in equilibrium, the following relationships exist between the pressure, volume, and temperature of the chamber:

[0022] pV=nRT (1)

[0023] In equation (1), p is the pressure (in Pa), V is the volume of the gas (in m³), ​​T is the temperature (in K), n is the amount of substance of the gas (in mol), and R is the gas constant (also called the ideal gas constant) (in J / (mol·K)).

[0024] When the amount of gas is constant, that is, when the amount of substance of the gas is a specific constant and the temperature is constant, the relationship between pressure and volume can be further expressed as follows.

[0025] p1V1=p2V2(2)

[0026] Equation (2) can express the relationship between the atmospheric pressure and the chamber volume before and after a change in atmospheric pressure in the chamber. That is, for a gas in a sealed chamber, a change in the chamber's volume can be measured by a change in atmospheric pressure inside the chamber. Therefore, the part of the sealed structure 120 surrounding the chamber deforms due to the user's touch operation, that is, the chamber's volume changes, and the atmospheric pressure inside the chamber changes.

[0027] In some embodiments, the sealing structure 120 may be a hollow structure having an open opening at one end, the one end of the sealing structure 120 being a sealed end, the sealing structure 120 may be fitted to the outside of the pressure sensor 110, the end of the sealing structure 120 away from the sealed end is connected to the housing structure of the pressure sensor 110, and the sealed end of the sealing structure 120 is spaced apart from the end of the pressure sensor 110 that is close to the sealed end, and the sealing structure 120, together with the end of the pressure sensor 110 that is close to the sealed end, forms a chamber. In some embodiments, the sealing structure 120 may be made of a flexible material so that the sealing structure 120 can be deformed by user contact, thereby changing the pressure inside the chamber. In some embodiments, the flexible material may include rubber, latex, silica gel, sponge, polyethylene, polyester, polyimide, polyethylene naphthalate, or any combination thereof.

[0028] In some embodiments, the sealing structure 120 may include a connector 121 and a membrane structure 122. In some embodiments, the connector 121 may be a cylindrical structure with both ends through and fitted onto the outside of the pressure sensor 110, and the membrane structure 122 may be connected to one end of the connector 121 and spaced apart from one end of the pressure sensor 110. In some embodiments, the connector 121 and the membrane structure 122 surround the end of the pressure sensor 110 having a hole to form a chamber, and the chamber and the front cavity of the pressure sensor 110 communicate through the hole. In some embodiments, the membrane structure 122 may be made of a flexible material, and the connector 121 may be made of a flexible or rigid material. Exemplary rigid materials may include metallic materials, styrene-butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, glass, ceramics, or any combination thereof. If the connecting portion 121 is made of a flexible material, the user can deform the sealing structure 120 by contacting the connecting portion 121 or the membrane structure 122. If the connecting portion 121 is made of a rigid material, the user can change the air pressure in the chamber by contacting the membrane structure 122 and deforming it. In some embodiments, one end of the connecting portion 121 of the sealing structure 120 may be connected to one end of the pressure sensor 110, and the other end of the connecting portion 121 may be connected to the membrane structure 122, and the ends of the membrane structure 122, the connecting portion 121 and the pressure sensor 110 form a chamber.

[0029] When a user's touch operation acts on a region of the sealed structure 120 or a membrane structure 122 corresponding to the chamber in the touch sensing device 100, the region of the sealed structure 120 or the membrane structure 122 corresponding to the chamber deforms, changing the volume of the chamber and further changing the air pressure inside the chamber. The change in air pressure inside the chamber affects the change in air pressure in the front cavity of the pressure sensor 110 through the holes, and the membrane structure deforms in response to the change in air pressure in the front cavity to generate an electrical signal, thereby realizing touch sensing for the user. Due to the flexibility of the sealed structure 120, a small pressure applied by the user causes a large volume deformation in the chamber, so the touch sensing device 100 has high sensitivity and can meet actual needs.

[0030] For a more detailed description of the touch sensing device, refer to other parts of this specification, such as Figures 2 to 5B and their related descriptions. Hereinafter, the touch sensing device will be described illustratively with reference to Figures 2 to 5B.

[0031] Figure 2 is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, in some embodiments, the touch sensing device 200 includes a sealing structure 220 and a barometric pressure sensor 210. The sealing structure 220 is a cylindrical structure with an open opening, and the end of the sealing structure 220 away from the opening is a sealed end 221. In some embodiments, the sealing structure 220 may be a regularly shaped structure such as a cuboid, sphere, polygon, or truncated pyramid, or any irregularly shaped structure. In some embodiments, the side walls corresponding to the hollow region inside the sealing structure 220 may be connected to the outer periphery of the housing structure 211, where the hollow region inside the sealing structure 220 conforms to the shape and size of the housing structure 211 so that the barometric pressure sensor 210 can seal the opening. In some embodiments, the sealing structure 220 is fitted over the barometric pressure sensor 210 by providing at least a portion of the barometric pressure sensor 210 inside the sealing structure 220 through the opening, thereby sealing the opening of the sealing structure 220. For example, some parts of the structure of the pressure sensor 210 are located inside the sealing structure 220 through an opening, while other parts of the structure of the pressure sensor 210 protrude outside the sealing structure 220 relative to the opening. Alternatively, for example, the entire pressure sensor 210 may be located inside the sealing structure 220. In some embodiments, the end of the pressure sensor 210 facing the location of the sealing end 221 of the sealing structure 220 has a hole 215, and the end of the pressure sensor 210 where the hole 215 is located is spaced apart from the sealing end 221 of the sealing structure 220, so that the sealing structure 220 and the end where the hole 215 is located form a chamber 230. In some embodiments, the sealing end 221 may be made of a flexible material. Exemplary examples of flexible materials include rubber, latex, silica gel, sponge, polyethylene, polyester, polyimide, parylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene naphthalate, or any combination thereof. The sensitivity of the touch sensing device 200 is related to the deformability of the sealing structure 220, particularly its sealing end 221, and the deformability of the sealing structure 220 and its sealing end 221 is related to factors such as the Young's modulus and thickness of the material. In some embodiments, to ensure the sensitivity of the touch sensing device 200 by having a high deformability of the sealing structure 220, the Young's modulus of the flexible material may be less than 50 GPa.For example, if the flexible material is silica gel, its Young's modulus may be about 1.2 GPa. Also, for example, if the flexible material is parylene, its Young's modulus is about 3.2 GPa.

[0033] In some embodiments, a hard material is used for the housing structure 211 of the pressure sensor 210 to prevent changes in the volume of the front cavity 216 from being affected by changes in atmospheric pressure inside the chamber 230 and deforming the housing structure 211. Exemplarily, the hard material may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: metals (e.g., copper, platinum, steel, aluminum), non-metallic materials (e.g., diamond, ceramics, silica, etc.), alloys, etc. In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the housing structure 211 is approximately 60 GPa to 1200 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the housing structure 211 is approximately 100 GPa to 800 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the housing structure 211 is approximately 200 GPa to 600 GPa. In some embodiments, the materials of the housing structure 211 and the sealing end 221 may be limited using other parameters to prevent changes in the volume of the front cavity 216, and in some embodiments, the ratio of the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the sealing end 221 to the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the housing structure 211 may be 0.002 to 0.01. Preferably, the ratio of the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the sealing end 221 to the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the housing structure 211 may be 0.005 to 0.01. Even more preferably, the ratio of the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the sealing end 221 to the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the housing structure 211 may be 0.008 to 0.01.

[0034] In some embodiments, the barometric pressure sensor 210 may include a housing structure 211, a membrane structure 213, and a base 212. The housing structure 211 is a hollow structure, the hollow region of the housing structure 211 is the cavity of the housing structure 211, and the membrane structure 213 and the base 212 are provided within the cavity. In some embodiments, the shape of the housing structure 211 of the barometric pressure sensor 210 may include, but is not limited to, regular shapes such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a sphere, a polygon, a truncated pyramid, or any irregular shape. In some embodiments, the base 212 may be a structure having an open opening at one end, the membrane structure 213 is located at and covers the opening, and the other end of the base 212 is connected to the housing structure 211, dividing the cavity into a front cavity 216 and a rear cavity 217. In some embodiments, the base body 212 may be a cylindrical structure with both ends passing through, and both ends of the base body 212 have openings, one end of the base body 212 is connected to the housing structure 211 and the other end is connected to the membrane structure 213, and the membrane structure 213 seals the opening at the end of the base body 212 in which it is located. In some embodiments, the shape of the opening of the base body 212 may include, but is not limited to, regular shapes such as circular, rectangular, elliptical, semicircular, polygonal, or any irregular shape. The shape of the membrane structure 213 may include, but is not limited to, regular shapes such as circular, rectangular, elliptical, semicircular, polygonal, or any irregular shape. In some embodiments, the size of the membrane structure 213 may be larger than the size of the opening of the base body 212 in which it is located, so that the membrane structure 213 seals the opening at the end of the base body 212 in which it is located. In some embodiments, the membrane structure 213 may be connected via its outer periphery to a side wall corresponding to an opening in the substrate 212, where the membrane structure 213 conforms to the shape and size of the opening in the substrate 212.

[0035] Chamber 230 communicates with the front cavity 216 via a hole 215, and the air pressure in chamber 230 can affect the air pressure in the front cavity 216 via the hole 215; that is, when the air pressure in chamber 230 changes, the air pressure in the front cavity 216 changes accordingly. The membrane structure 213 can deform in response to the change in air pressure in the front cavity 216. The sensitivity of the touch sensing device 200 is related to the volume of the chamber 230 and the front cavity 216 of the pressure sensor 210, and in some embodiments, the volume of chamber 230 may be less than or equal to the volume of the front cavity 216 of the pressure sensor 210 in order to improve the sensitivity of the touch sensing device 200. Preferably, to further improve the sensitivity of the touch sensing device 200, the volume ratio of chamber 230 to front cavity 216 is 0.2 to 0.8. More preferably, the volume ratio of the chamber 230 to the front cavity 216 is 0.3 to 0.7. More preferably, the volume ratio of the chamber 230 to the front cavity 216 is 0.5 to 0.6. In some embodiments, the sensitivity of the touch sensing device 200 may be adjusted by adjusting the size of the chamber 230 (e.g., height, length, width, or radius), the size of the front cavity 216, and the size of the internal components of the pressure sensor 210 (e.g., substrate 212, membrane structure 213). For example, if both the sealing structure 220 and the housing structure 211 of the pressure sensor 210 are columnar structures (e.g., cylinder, cuboid), the thickness of the side walls of the housing structure 211 is small, so the bottom areas of the chamber 230 and the front cavity 216 can be considered to be approximately equal. In this case, the height of the chamber 230 (size in the direction perpendicular to the sealing end 221) may be less than or equal to the height of the front cavity 216 inside the pressure sensor 210. Furthermore, for example, the height of the chamber 230 may be approximately equal to the height of the barometric pressure sensor 210, and one of the other dimensions of the chamber 230 (e.g., length, width, or radius) may be less than or equal to one-fifth of the other dimensions of the front cavity 216 in the barometric pressure sensor 210.The above description is illustrative of the condition that the volume of the chamber 230 is less than or equal to the volume of the front cavity 216. Any other method by which a person skilled in the art can adjust the volume of the chamber 230 to be less than or equal to the volume of the front cavity 216 is also covered by this specification.

[0036] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor may be an air conduction microphone. Distinguishing based on the principle of air conduction microphones, in some embodiments, the air conduction microphone may include one or more of the following: a moving coil microphone, a ribbon microphone, a condenser microphone, an electret microphone, a piezoelectric microphone, etc. Using a moving coil microphone as an example of a pressure sensor, the membrane structure 213 may be a vibrating membrane structure, and the air conduction microphone may further include a magnetic circuit structure, the vibrating membrane structure and the magnetic circuit structure being connected via a voice coil. The vibrating membrane structure vibrates and deforms in response to changes in the pressure of the front cavity 216, and the voice coil moves regularly in conjunction with the vibration of the vibrating membrane structure, and the movement of the voice coil can generate an electrical signal in the magnetic circuit structure, thereby realizing the conversion of a touch signal to an electrical signal. In some embodiments, the vibrating membrane structure may be a plastic film such as a PVC film or a polyethylene film. A piezoelectric microphone is described as another example of a pressure sensor. In some embodiments, the film structure 213 may include a piezoelectric layer. When the film structure 213 is deformed, the piezoelectric layer receives deformation stress and generates a potential difference (voltage), thereby enabling the conversion of a touch signal to an electrical signal. In some embodiments, the film structure 213 may include a piezoelectric layer and an electrode layer, the electrode layer may be located on the upper and / or lower surface of the piezoelectric layer. When the film structure 213 is deformed, the piezoelectric layer can generate a potential difference under the action of deformation stress based on the piezoelectric effect, and the electrode layer can collect this potential difference and generate an electrical signal. In some embodiments, the material of the piezoelectric layer may include a piezoelectric crystalline material and a piezoelectric ceramic material. A piezoelectric crystalline material refers to a piezoelectric single crystal. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric crystalline material may include quartz, sphalerite, borax, tourmaline, zincite, GaAs, barium titanate and its derivative crystal structures, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium potassium tartrate, or any combination thereof. Piezoelectric ceramic materials refer to piezoelectric polycrystalline materials formed by the random aggregation of fine crystal grains obtained through solid-phase reactions and sintering between different material particles.In some embodiments, the piezoelectric ceramic material may include barium titanate (BT), lead zirconate titanate (PZT), lead barium lithium niobate (PBLN), modified lead titanate (PT), aluminum nitride (AIN), zinc oxide (ZnO), or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric layer material may be a piezoelectric polymer material, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In some embodiments, the electrode layer material may be a conductive material. Exemplary conductive materials include metals, alloy materials, metal oxide materials, graphene, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the metal and alloy materials may include nickel, iron, lead, platinum, titanium, copper, molybdenum, zinc, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the alloy material may include copper-zinc alloys, copper-tin alloys, copper-nickel-silicon alloys, copper-chromium alloys, copper-silver alloys, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the metal oxide material may include ruthenium dioxide, manganese dioxide, lead dioxide, nickel oxide, or any combination thereof.

[0037] The type of pressure sensor is not limited to the air conduction microphone exemplified above, but may be other sensors capable of converting pressure changes into electrical signals. For example, the pressure sensor may also be a capacitive pressure sensor, a resistive pressure sensor, or the like.

[0038] In some embodiments, the barometric pressure sensor 210 may further include a first processor 214 located in the cavity of the housing structure 211. The first processor 214 may be communicably connected to the membrane structure 213 by wire or wireless means, and the first processor 214 can process the electrical signals generated by the barometric pressure sensor 210 based on the deformation of the membrane structure 213. For example, the first processor 214 may perform amplification processing, noise reduction processing, etc., on the electrical signals.

[0039] The above description of the touch sensing device 200 and its components is for illustrative and illustrative purposes only and does not limit the scope of application of this specification. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes to the touch sensing device 200 under the guidance of this specification. In some embodiments, the hole 215 may be located on other side walls of the pressure sensor 210, and is not limited to the side wall facing the sealed end 221 of the pressure sensor 210. For example, the sealing structure 220 may be cylindrical, the pressure sensor 210 may be frustoconical, and the hole 215 may be located on the side wall of the frustoconical structure. Alternatively, for example, the sealing structure 220 may be truncated pyramidal, the pressure sensor 210 may be rectangular parallelepiped, and the hole 215 may be located on the side wall facing the pyramidal side of the truncated pyramidal structure of the rectangular parallelepiped. These modifications and changes are within the scope of this specification. These modifications and changes may also be applied to the touch sensing device 300 shown in Figures 3A to 3B, the touch sensing device 400 shown in Figure 4, and the touch sensing device 500 shown in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0040] Figure 3A is an exemplary structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 3B is an exemplary structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some other embodiments of this specification. Figure 3C is an exemplary structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to yet another embodiment of this specification.

[0041] The barometric pressure sensor 310 and its housing structure 311, substrate 312, membrane structure 313, and first processor 314 in the touch sensing device 300 shown in Figures 3A to 3C are similar in structure to the barometric pressure sensor 210 and its housing structure 211, substrate 212, membrane structure 213, and first processor 214 shown in Figure 2, so their explanation is omitted here. The touch sensing device 300 and the touch sensing device 200 differ in that they have different sealing structures.

[0042] As shown in Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C, the sealing structure 320 may include a connecting portion 321 and a membrane structure 322. In some embodiments, the connecting portion 321 is a cylindrical structure with both ends passing through, having a first end 3211 and a second end 3212, i.e., both the first end 3211 and the second end 3212 of the connecting portion 321 have open openings. In some embodiments, the connecting portion 321 may be a structure of a regular shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a sphere, a polygon, a truncated pyramid, or any irregular shape. In some embodiments, the side wall corresponding to the hollow region inside the connecting portion 321 may be connected to the outer periphery of the housing structure 311, where the hollow region inside the connecting portion 321 conforms to the shape and size of the housing structure 311 so that the pressure sensor 310 can seal the opening. At least a portion of the pressure sensor 310 is provided inside the connector 321 through the opening of the second end 3212, so that the connector 321 is fitted onto the outside of the pressure sensor 310 and the opening of the connector 321 corresponding to the second end 3212 is sealed. For example, part of the structure of the pressure sensor 310 is provided inside the connector 321 through the opening of the second end 3212, and the structure of the other part of the pressure sensor 310 protrudes outside the connector 321 relative to the opening of the second end 3212. Alternatively, for example, the entire pressure sensor 310 is provided inside the connector 321. The membrane structure 322 is located at the opening of the first end 3211 and covers the opening. The membrane structure 322 and the end of the pressure sensor 310 where the hole 315 is located are spaced apart so that the connector 321, the membrane structure 322, and the end of the pressure sensor where the hole 315 is located form a chamber 330.

[0043] As shown in Figure 3A, in some embodiments, the membrane structure 322 may cover and seal the opening of the first end 3211 so as to form a chamber 330 together with the connector 321 and the housing structure 311. Here, the size of the membrane structure 322 is larger than the size of the opening of the connector 321 so that the membrane structure 322 seals the opening of the first end 3211. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 3B, the membrane structure 322 may be connected via its outer circumference to a side wall corresponding to the opening of the connector 321, where the membrane structure 313 conforms to the shape and size of the opening of the substrate 312.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3C, in some embodiments, the sealing structure 320 may further include a support portion 323, which is a plate-like structure having a hole, and is spaced apart from the end of the pressure sensor 310 where the hole 315 is located. In some embodiments, the outer circumference of the support portion 323 is connected to a side wall corresponding to the opening of the connector 321, and the support portion 323 conforms to the shape and size of the opening of the connector 321. In some examples, a membrane structure 322 may cover and seal the hole of the support portion 323, and the connector 321 and the membrane structure 322, together with the end of the pressure sensor 310 having the hole 315, form a chamber 330. The support portion 323 can support the membrane structure 322 to improve its stability. In some embodiments, the side of the membrane structure 322 closest to the pressure sensor 310 may be connected to the side of the support portion 323 furthest from the pressure sensor 310, and the support portion 323 provides a larger connection area to the membrane structure 322, thereby improving the stability of the membrane structure 322. In some embodiments, the side of the membrane structure 322 furthest from the pressure sensor 310 may be connected to the side of the support portion 323 closest to the pressure sensor 310. In some embodiments, when the membrane structure 322 is connected to the support portion 323, the outer periphery of the membrane structure 322 may also be connected to the side wall corresponding to the opening of the connection portion 321 to further improve the stability of the membrane structure 322.

[0045] In some embodiments, the membrane structure 322 may be made of a flexible material, and the connecting portion 321 may also be made of a flexible material, and the user can change the air pressure in the chamber 330 by touching any position on the portion of the membrane structure 322 or the connecting portion 321 that surrounds the chamber 330, thereby deforming the portion of the sealing structure 320 that surrounds the chamber 330. In some embodiments, the membrane structure 322 may be made of a flexible material, and the connecting portion 321 may also be made of a rigid material, and the user can change the air pressure in the chamber 330 by touching any position on the portion of the membrane structure 322 that surrounds the chamber 330, thereby deforming the chamber 330 of the membrane structure 322. Furthermore, the chamber 330 communicates with the front cavity via the hole 315, and the air pressure in the chamber 330 can affect the air pressure in the front cavity via the hole 315, that is, when the air pressure in the chamber 330 changes, the air pressure in the front cavity changes accordingly.

[0046] In some embodiments, the film-like structure 322 may be made of a flexible material. Exemplary examples of flexible materials include rubber, latex, silica gel, sponge, polyethylene, polyester, polyimide, parylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene naphthalate, or any combination thereof. The sensitivity of the touch sensing device 300 is related to the deformability of the film-like structure 322, which is related to factors such as the Young's modulus and thickness of its material. To ensure the sensitivity of the touch sensing device 300 by having a high deformability of the film-like structure 322, in some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the flexible material may be less than 50 GPa. For example, if the flexible material is silica gel, its Young's modulus may be about 1.2 GPa. Alternatively, for example, if the flexible material is parylene, its Young's modulus is about 3.2 GPa. In some embodiments, the thickness of the film-like structure 322 is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. Preferably, the thickness of the film-like structure 322 is in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm.

[0047] In some embodiments, a hard material is used for the housing structure 311 of the pressure sensor 310 to prevent changes in the volume of the front cavity 316 caused by changes in atmospheric pressure inside the chamber 330 acting on and deforming the housing structure 311 of the pressure sensor 310. Exemplarily, the hard material may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: metals (e.g., copper, platinum, steel, aluminum), non-metallic materials (e.g., diamond, ceramics, silica, etc.), alloys, etc. In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the housing structure 311 is about 60 GPa to 1200 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the housing structure 311 is about 100 GPa to 800 GPa. In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the housing structure 311 is about 200 GPa to 600 GPa. In some embodiments, the materials of the housing structure 311 and the membrane structure 322 may be limited using other parameters to prevent changes in the volume of the front cavity 316, and in some embodiments, the ratio of the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the membrane structure 322 to the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the housing structure 311 may be 0.002 to 0.01. Preferably, the ratio of the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the membrane structure 322 to the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the housing structure 311 may be 0.005 to 0.01. More preferably, the ratio of the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the membrane structure 322 to the Young's modulus of the material corresponding to the housing structure 311 may be 0.008 to 0.01.

[0048] Exemplary flexible materials may include rubber, latex, silica gel, sponge, or any combination thereof. Exemplary rigid materials may include metallic materials, styrene-butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, glass, ceramics, or any combination thereof.

[0049] Figure 4 is an illustrative structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0050] The barometric pressure sensor 410 and its housing structure 411, substrate 412, membrane structure 413, first processor 414, membrane-like structure 422, and connection part 421 shown in Figure 4 are similar in structure to the barometric pressure sensor 310 and its housing structure 311, substrate 312, membrane structure 313, first processor 314, membrane-like structure 322, and connection part 321 shown in Figure 3A, so their explanation is omitted here. The touch sensing device 400 and the touch sensing device 300 differ mainly in the connection position between the connection part 421 and the housing structure 411. The side wall corresponding to the hollow region inside the connection part 421 is connected to the outer circumference of the housing structure 411, part of the structure of the barometric pressure sensor 410 is provided inside the connection part 421 through an opening, and part of the structure of the barometric pressure sensor 410 protrudes outside the connection part 421 relative to the opening. In some embodiments, a portion of the end face of the connecting portion 421 that is separated from the membrane structure 422 may be connected to the end face of the housing structure 411 having the hole 415.

[0051] Figure 5A is an exemplary structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 5B is an exemplary structural diagram of a touch sensing device according to some other embodiments of this specification.

[0052] The barometric pressure sensor 510 and its housing structure 511, base 512, membrane structure 513, first processor 514, and the membrane-like structure 522 and connection part 521 of the sealing structure 520 in the touch sensing device 500 shown in Figures 5A and 5B are similar in structure to the barometric pressure sensor 310 and its housing structure 311, base 312, membrane structure 313, first processor 314, and membrane-like structure 322 and connection part 321 shown in Figure 3A, so their explanation is omitted here. The touch sensing device 500 and the touch sensing device 300 differ mainly in the connection position between the connection part 521 and the housing structure 511. The end face of the connection part 521 that is away from the membrane-like structure 522 is connected to the end face of the housing structure 511 that has a hole 515, thereby reducing the spatial size of the touch sensing device 500.

[0053] In some embodiments, the outer periphery of the connecting portion 521 may be flush with the outer periphery of the housing structure 511 in order to make the overall structure of the touch sensing device 500 flat. In some embodiments, the outer periphery of the connecting portion 521 may be provided to protrude from the outer periphery of the housing structure 511, or to be provided to be recessed into the outer periphery of the housing structure 511.

[0054] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 5A, the surface of the membrane structure 522 adjacent to the pressure sensor 510 is connected to the surface of the connector 521 adjacent to the membrane structure 522, where the size of the membrane structure 522 is larger than the size of the opening of the connector 521 so that the membrane structure 522 seals the opening at the end of the connector 521 in which it is located. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 5B, the membrane structure 522 may be connected via its outer circumference to the side wall corresponding to the opening of the connector 521, where the membrane structure 513 conforms to the shape and size of the opening of the substrate 512.

[0055] In some embodiments, the membrane structure of the pressure sensor may be a membrane structure made of a breathable material. For example, the membrane structure may be made of polyvinylidene fluoride, polyurethane, or PDMS organosilicon. In some embodiments, the membrane structure of the pressure sensor may further be provided with at least one ventilation hole. By using a membrane structure made of a breathable material or a membrane structure with ventilation holes, the membrane structure can communicate the front cavity and rear cavity of the pressure sensor. In this case, when a user taps or long-presses the sealed structure or membrane structure corresponding to the chamber in the touch sensing device, the impact on the membrane structure due to the change in pressure in the chamber is temporary, causing the membrane structure to deform and generate electrical signals as spikes. In actual application scenarios of the touch sensor according to this embodiment (for example, in devices such as earphones, mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablet computers), when a user taps or long-presses a portion of the touch sensing device corresponding to a chamber (e.g., a sealed structure, a membrane structure) multiple times, the pressure sensor reduces the influence of the membrane structure on continuous touches by generating a spike signal corresponding to the number of user operations in response to the user's tap or long-press operation, thereby facilitating the calculation of the number of times the user taps or long-presses the touch sensing device, and further enabling precise control of the application body of the touch sensing device based on the number of times the user interacts with the touch sensing device. For example, if the application body of the touch sensing device is an earphone, and the user interacts with the touch sensing device once, the audio volume output from the earphone can be adjusted. Alternatively, for example, if the user interacts with the touch sensing device at least twice, the progress of the audio output from the earphone (pause, start, fast forward, or rewind) can be adjusted, or the audio output from the earphone can be changed. In some embodiments, the membrane structure of the pressure sensor may be a membrane structure made of a non-permeable material.In this case, the membrane structure can isolate the front and rear cavities of the pressure sensor, and when the user taps or long-presses the sealed structure of the touch sensing device, the pressure change generated in the chamber affects the membrane structure, causing it to deform and generate an electrical signal. When the user taps the sealed structure or membrane structure corresponding to the chamber in the touch sensing device, the impact on the membrane structure due to the pressure change in the chamber is temporary, causing the membrane structure to deform and generate an electrical signal as a spike. When the user long-presses the sealed structure or membrane structure corresponding to the chamber in the touch sensing device, the pressure change in the chamber can be maintained for a certain period of time accordingly, and the impact on the membrane structure is also sustained, causing the membrane structure to deform and generate an electrical signal as a plateau peak. In actual application scenarios of the touch sensor according to this embodiment (for example, in devices such as earphones, mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablet computers), when a user taps or long-presses a portion of the touch sensing device corresponding to a chamber (e.g., a sealed structure, a membrane structure) multiple times, the pressure sensor generates a spike signal or plateau peak corresponding to the number of user operations in response to the user's tap or long-press operation. Furthermore, the user can interact with the touch sensing device to achieve precise control over the application subject of the touch sensing device. For example, if the application subject of the touch sensing device is an earphone, the user can adjust the volume of audio output from the earphone when tapping the touch sensing device. Alternatively, for example, when a user long-presses the touch sensing device, they can adjust the progress of the audio output from the earphone (pause, start, fast forward, or rewind) or change the audio output from the earphone. For specific applications of the touch sensing device, refer to other parts of this specification, for example, Figures 10 to 12 and their related descriptions.

[0056] Figure 6 is a diagram of electrical signals generated by touch sensing devices according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 6, when the membrane structure of the pressure sensor is made of a breathable material, when a user taps or long-presses the sealed structure or membrane structure corresponding to the chamber in the touch sensing device, the membrane structure deforms and generates an electrical signal as a spike 61. When the membrane structure of the pressure sensor is made of a non-breathable material, when a user taps the sealed structure or membrane structure corresponding to the chamber in the touch sensing device, the membrane structure deforms and generates an electrical signal as a spike 61, and when a user long-presses the sealed structure or membrane structure corresponding to the chamber in the touch sensing device, the membrane structure deforms and generates an electrical signal as a plateau peak 62.

[0057] Furthermore, the solution using a membrane structure made of a breathable or non-breathable material can be applied to other embodiments of this specification, for example, to the touch sensing device 200 shown in Figure 2, the touch sensing device 300 shown in Figures 3A to 3B, the touch sensing device 400 shown in Figure 4, and the touch sensing device 500 shown in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0058] The embodiments of this specification further provide a user gesture-recognizing sensing device that can recognize swipe gestures performed by a user on an application device (e.g., earphones, mobile phones, tablet computers, smartwatches, etc.). The user gesture-recognizing sensing device will be described below with reference to Figure 7.

[0059] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a sensing device for recognizing user gestures according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 7, the sensing device 700 for recognizing user gestures may include a touch sensing assembly 710 and a second processor 720. In some embodiments, the touch sensing assembly 710 may include a first touch sensing device 711, a second touch sensing device 712, ... nth touch sensing device 71n, where n is an integer greater than 1. For a description of any one of the touch sensing devices among the first touch sensing device 711, the second touch sensing device 712, ... nth touch sensing device 71n, refer to the description of any one of the touch sensing devices in Figures 1 to 6. The description is omitted here. The user's swipe operation (continuous contact) passes sequentially through at least two touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710, and the at least two touch sensing devices generate electrical signals accordingly. The second processor 720 determines the swipe direction of the user's gesture based on the positional information of the at least two touch sensing devices and the timing of the electrical signal generation.

[0060] In some embodiments, the position information of multiple touch sensing devices may be pre-stored in the second processor 720 to facilitate the second processor 720 directly acquiring the position information of the touch sensing devices that generate electrical signals. The second processor 720 receives electrical signals, i.e., acquires the position information of the corresponding touch sensing devices, and determines the swipe direction of the user's gesture in the order in which the electrical signals were received. For example, the positions of the first touch sensing device, the second touch sensing device, and the third touch sensing device are points A, B, and C, respectively, and the second processor can sequentially receive electrical signals from the second touch sensing device, the first touch sensing device, and the third touch sensing device and determine that the swipe direction of the user's gesture is from point B to point A and then to point C. In some embodiments, the sensing device 700 that recognizes the user's gesture may further include a memory (not shown) that can store the position information of multiple touch sensing devices. When the second processor 720 receives an electrical signal, it can acquire the position information of the corresponding touch sensing device from the memory.

[0061] In some embodiments, the sensing device 700 that recognizes user gestures may further include a timer (not shown) that marks real-time time, and the second processor 720 can read the real-time time from the timer. The second processor 720 reads the real-time time from the timer immediately after receiving an electrical signal and, in combination with the position information of the touch sensing device corresponding to the electrical signal, determines the swipe direction of the user gesture. For example, the positions of the first touch sensing device, the second touch sensing device, and the third touch sensing device are points A, B, and C, respectively, and the times for which the first touch sensing device, the second touch sensing device, and the third touch sensing device generate electrical signals are times a, b, and c, respectively, with c>a>b, and the second processor can determine that the swipe direction of the user gesture is from point B to points A and C.

[0062] The multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 can be arranged in various ways. The arrangement of the multiple touch sensing devices is shown below in Figures 8 to 9C.

[0063] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple touch sensing devices in a user gesture recognition sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 8, the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 are arranged in a row, and the user can swipe at least two of the touch sensing devices along the X direction.

[0064] In some embodiments, the user can swipe along at least two touch sensing devices in a direction opposite to the X direction. In some embodiments, the user can repeatedly swipe along at least two touch sensing devices in a row of touch sensing devices.

[0065] Figure 9A is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple touch sensing devices in a user gesture recognition sensing device according to some other embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 9A, the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 are arranged in a rectangular array, which helps to increase the diversity of swipe gestures. The number of touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 and their arrangement are not limited to the nine and rectangular array arrangement shown in Figure 9A. For example, the number of touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 may be two, three, four, five or more, and the arrangement of the touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 may include, but are not limited to, other irregular shapes such as rectangular, triangular, or wavy arrangements.

[0066] Figure 9B is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple touch sensing devices in a user gesture recognition sensing device according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 9B, the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 are arranged in an inclined row. In some embodiments, the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 may be arranged in shapes such as X-shape, V-shape, or W-shape.

[0067] Figure 9C is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple touch sensing devices in a sensing device that recognizes user gestures according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 9C, the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 are distributed in a circular pattern. In some embodiments, the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 may be arranged in shapes such as ellipse, rhombus, or triangle, or in combination with the arrangement patterns shown in Figures 9A and 9B, or in any combination thereof.

[0068] The embodiments of this specification further provide electronic devices in which, in some embodiments, the electronic device may include an electronic device carrier and at least one touch sensing device (e.g., touch sensing device 200 shown in Figure 2, touch sensing device 300 shown in Figures 3A-3B, touch sensing device 400 shown in Figure 4, and touch sensing device 500 shown in Figures 5A-5B). In some embodiments, the electronic device may further include a user gesture sensing device (e.g., user gesture sensing device 700 shown in Figure 7). In some embodiments, the touch sensing device or user gesture sensing device may be integrated within the electronic device carrier. In some embodiments, the electronic device carrier includes, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablet computers, smartwatches, and earphones. Applications of applying touch sensing devices or user gesture sensing devices to electronic devices will be described below with reference to Figures 10-12.

[0069] The touch sensing assembly 710 shown in Figure 7 may similarly be applied to electronic devices. In this case, the electronic device includes an electronic device carrier and a touch sensing assembly having multiple touch sensing devices. The installation method of the multiple touch sensing devices on the electronic device carrier is similar to the installation method shown in Figures 10 to 12, in which the touch sensing devices are integrated within the electronic device carrier.

[0070] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of an earphone according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 10, the earphone 1000 may include an earphone handle 1020 and an earphone body 1030, the earphone handle 1020 being connected to the earphone body 1030. A touch sensing device or a sensing device that recognizes user gestures may be integrated inside the earphone, and the portion surrounding the sealed chamber is a portion of the surface area of ​​the earphone 1000, which for convenience of explanation is defined as the touch area. For illustrative purposes only, the touch area 1010 of the earphone 1000 may be located on the earphone handle 1020. The user can achieve the effect of controlling the earphone 1000 by acting on the touch area 1010 in a manner such as tapping, pressing and holding, or swiping. In some embodiments, the touch area 1010 may be seamlessly connected to other areas of the surface of the earphone 1000. In some embodiments, the touch area 1010 may be provided so as to protrude slightly from other areas of the surface of the earphone 1000. In some embodiments, the touch area 1010 may be integrated with other areas of the surface of the earphone 1000.

[0071] In some embodiments, the user can adjust the output volume of the earphones 1000 by acting on the touch area 1010 in a manner such as tapping or pressing. For example, the touch area 1010 may be provided with a first touch sensing device and a second touch sensing device (for example, the touch sensing device 200 shown in Figure 2, the touch sensing device 300 shown in Figures 3A to 3B, the touch sensing device 400 shown in Figure 4, and the touch sensing device 500 shown in Figures 5A and 5B), and the user can increase the volume of the earphones by acting on the first touch sensing device in a manner such as tapping or pressing, and decrease the volume of the earphones by acting on the second touch sensing device in a manner such as tapping or pressing. Alternatively, for example, the touch area 1010 may be provided with a sensing device 700 that recognizes the user's gesture as shown in Figure 7, and the user can control the volume by controlling the swipe direction of the gesture. For example, a user may increase the volume of the earphone 1000 by swiping along a specific direction (e.g., the length of the earphone handle 1020), or decrease the volume of the earphone 1000 by swiping in the opposite direction. Alternatively, a user may long-press the touch area 1010 to switch the earphone 1000 on or off. Furthermore, a user may use different swipe directions to switch audio or adjust the playback progress of the earphone 1000.

[0072] In some embodiments, the touch area 1010 may be located on the side of the earphone body 1030 that is in close proximity to the person's ear when the earphone is worn, and is used to detect whether or not the earphone 1000 has been properly worn. When the earphone 1000 is worn on a person's ear, the wear area comes into contact with the touch area 1010, causing the touch area 1010 to deform and the touch sensing device to generate an electrical signal. For example, the touch sensing device may generate an electrical signal having a plateau peak or a spike. When the touch sensing device generates an electrical signal, it indicates that the earphone 1000 has been properly worn, and the device can respond to other processing steps of the earphone 1000, such as answering a phone call or automatically playing music. When the earphone 1000 is released, the touch area 1010 does not deform, and therefore the touch sensing device does not generate an electrical signal. When no electrical signal is generated, it indicates that the earphone 1000 has been released, and the device can respond to other processing steps of the earphone 1000, such as ending a phone call, pausing music, or adjusting the volume.

[0073] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone or tablet computer according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 11, the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100 may include a display 1120 and a body 1130, the display 1120 being embedded in the body 1130. The method of mounting a touch sensing device or a user gesture-recognizing sensing device in the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100 is similar to the method of mounting a touch sensing device in the earphone 1000. In some embodiments, the touch area 1110 is located on the same plane side as the body 1130 and the display 1120. In some embodiments, the touch area 1110 may be located on adjacent or opposing sides of the plane in which the body 1130 and the display 1120 are located. In some embodiments, the touch area 1110 may be integrated into the display 1120. The user can achieve the objective of controlling the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100 by acting on the touch area 1110 in a manner such as tapping, long-pressing, or swiping.

[0074] In some embodiments, the user may act on the touch area 1110 to wake up or put the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100 into standby mode. In some embodiments, the user may long-press the touch area 1110 to switch the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100 on or off. In some embodiments, the user may act on the touch area 1110 to adjust the volume of the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100. In some embodiments, the user may act on the touch area 1110 to initiate a voice call or video call on the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100. In some embodiments, the user may act on the touch area 1110 to adjust the progress of video or audio. For example, the touch area 1110 may be provided with a first touch sensing device and a second touch sensing device (for example, the touch sensing device 200 shown in Figure 2, the touch sensing device 300 shown in Figures 3A to 3B, the touch sensing device 400 shown in Figure 4, and the touch sensing device 500 shown in Figures 5A and 5B), and the user can fast-forward the video or audio by tapping or pressing on the first touch sensing device, and rewind the video or audio by tapping or pressing on the second touch sensing device.

[0075] In some embodiments, the touch area 1110 may be provided with a sensing device 700 that recognizes user gestures as shown in Figure 7, and the touch portions of the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 are concentrated within the touch area 1110 of the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100 as shown in Figure 11. In some embodiments, the multiple touch sensing devices may be distributed in any one of the shapes shown in Figures 8 to 9C, or in a rectangular, triangular, or any combination thereof, and the user swipes at least two touch sensing devices within the touch area 1110 to control different functions of the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100. In some embodiments, the user may control the progress of video or audio by controlling the direction of the gesture swipe. In some embodiments, the user may unlock the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100 by swiping a corresponding pattern within the touch area 1110 and comparing it with a predetermined pattern. In some embodiments, the user may swipe down within the touch area 1110 to scroll to the next page of the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100, or swipe up within the touch area 1110 to scroll to the previous page of the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100. In some embodiments, the user may swipe in a "Z" shape within the touch area 1110 to take a screenshot of the mobile phone or tablet computer 1100.

[0076] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a smartwatch according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 12, the smartwatch 1200 may include a display 1220 and a watch face 1230, the display 1220 being embedded in the watch face 1230. The method of mounting a touch sensing device or a user gesture-recognizing sensing device in the smartwatch 1200 is similar to the method of mounting a touch sensing device or a user gesture-recognizing sensing device in a mobile phone or tablet computer 1100. In some embodiments, the touch area 1210 of the smartwatch 1200 may be integrated within the display 1220 or on a side adjacent to the display 1220. The user can achieve the objective of controlling the smartwatch 1200 by acting on the touch area 1210 in a manner such as tapping, long-pressing, or swiping.

[0077] In some embodiments, the user may tap the touch area 1210 to wake up the smartwatch 1200 or put the smartwatch into standby mode. In some embodiments, the user may long-press the touch area 1210 to switch the smartwatch 1200 on / off or to exit a function process of the smartwatch 1200 (e.g., music switching, app switching, audio adjustment).

[0078] In some embodiments, the touch area 1210 may be located on the side of the watch face 1230 away from the display 1220 and is used to detect whether the smartwatch 1200 has been put on, and the smartwatch 1200 wearing detection method is similar to that of the earphones 1000. When the smartwatch 1200 has been put on, the touch sensing device in the touch area 1210 can respond accordingly to other processing processes of the smartwatch 1200, such as monitoring heart rate. When the smartwatch 1200 is removed, it can respond accordingly to other processing processes of the smartwatch 1200, such as terminating unnecessary processes.

[0079] In some embodiments, the touch portions of multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 are concentrated within the touch area 1210 of the smartwatch 1200 shown in Figure 12. In some embodiments, the multiple touch sensing devices may be distributed in any one of the configurations shown in Figures 8 to 9C, or in a rectangular, triangular, or any combination thereof, and the user swipes over at least two touch sensing devices within the touch area 1210 to control different functions of the smartwatch 1200. In some embodiments, the user may unlock the smartwatch 1200 by swiping over corresponding patterns within the touch area 1210 and comparing them to a predetermined pattern. In some embodiments, the user may swipe down within the touch area 1210 to scroll to the next page of the smartwatch 1200, or swipe up within the touch area 1210 to scroll to the previous page of the smartwatch 1200. In some embodiments, the user may swipe in an "O" shape within the touch area 1210 to end a call on the smartwatch 1200.

[0080] In some embodiments, the electronic device carrier may further include a keyboard or game handle. The keyboard or game handle includes keys. A touch sensing device or a user gesture-recognizing sensing device may be integrated inside the keyboard or game handle. In some embodiments, the touch area of ​​the touch sensing device may be located below or on the surface of the keys. In some embodiments, the user may achieve sustained control of a corresponding physical quantity in a game, such as sustained forward or backward movement, by pressing and holding a key to continuously generate an electrical signal to the touch sensing device. In some embodiments, the user may achieve control of a corresponding physical quantity in a game, such as accelerator pedal pressure or steering wheel rotation speed, by pressing the touch area of ​​the touch sensing device with different forces to generate electrical signals of different intensities to the touch sensing device. The chamber of the touch sensing device deforms to different degrees under the action of forces of different magnitudes, and the greater the pressing force, the greater the degree of deformation of the chamber, which in turn increases the range of pressure changes within the chamber, further increasing the degree of deformation of the membrane structure, and accordingly, the stronger the electrical signal generated by the touch sensing device. For example, a user may increase the force applied to the accelerator in a game by pressing the touch area of ​​the touch sensing device with greater force. Alternatively, a user may increase the speed of the steering wheel rotation angle in a game by pressing the touch area of ​​the touch sensing device with greater force.

[0081] In some embodiments, the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 may be distributed on the keyboard or game handle in any one of the configurations shown in Figures 8 to 9C, or in a cross shape, a triangle, or any combination thereof, and the user can control different aspects of the game by swiping at least two touch sensing devices within the touch area. In some embodiments, the touch portions of the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 may be concentrated within the touch area of ​​a key. In some embodiments, the user can swipe a key forward, backward, left, or right to change the direction of a character in the game. In some embodiments, the touch portions of the multiple touch sensing devices in the touch sensing assembly 710 may be distributed within the touch areas of multiple keys. In some embodiments, the user can rotate and swipe multiple keys clockwise and counterclockwise to adjust the power of an arrow or the rotation angle of a handle in the game.

[0082] Furthermore, the electronic device is not limited to the earphones 1000, tablet computer or mobile phone 1100, smartwatch 1200, game handle, keyboard, etc., but may be other electronic devices. For example, the electronic device may be a home appliance (e.g., television, refrigerator, air conditioner, control switch, smart door lock, etc.) or a wearable device (e.g., virtual reality device, augmented reality device, helmet, glasses, etc.).

[0083] The touch sensing device may further be applied to a physiological signal detection device. The physiological signal detection device detects the user's physiological signals. In some embodiments, the physiological signals may include, but are not limited to, pulse rate, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a physiological signal detection device according to some embodiments of this specification. As shown in Figure 13, the physiological signal detection device 1300 may include a main body structure 1320. The main body structure 1320 may be attached to a target area of ​​the user to facilitate the detection of physiological signals. For example, the main body structure 1320 may be a wristwatch. Alternatively, for example, the main body structure 1320 may be an object attached to the user's body surface (e.g., clothing, suction cup of an electrocardiogram monitor, etc.). The touch sensing device is integrated into the main body structure 1320. In some embodiments, the touch area 1310 may be seamlessly connected to other areas of the surface of the main body structure 1320. In some embodiments, the touch area 1310 may be provided so as to slightly protrude from other areas of the surface of the main body structure 1320. In some embodiments, the touch area 1310 may be integrated with other areas of the surface of the main body structure 1320. When using the physiological signal detection device 1300, when the touch area 1310 of the main body structure 1320 is brought into contact with the human body, the air pressure inside the touch sensing device changes due to the user's heartbeat, pulse, or respiration, generating an electrical signal in the touch sensing device. The intermittent time of electrical signal generation reflects the user's heart rate, pulse, and respiratory rate, enabling detection of the user's heart rate, pulse, or respiratory rate.

[0084] In some embodiments, the physiological signal detection device 1300 may further include a band 1330, and the main body structure 1320 can detect the user's physiological signals by fixing the main body structure 1320 to the user's target area with the band 1330. In some embodiments, the main body structure 1320 can detect the user's physiological signals by fixing the main body structure 1320 to the user's target area using methods such as adhesive tape or negative pressure adsorption.

[0085] Figures 1 to 13 are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the present application. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications based on the description of this application. The beneficial effects that can be achieved will differ depending on the embodiment, but in different embodiments, the beneficial effects that can be achieved may be one or more of the above, or any other beneficial effects that can be achieved.

[0086] Having explained the basic concepts above, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the above detailed disclosures are merely examples and do not limit the present application. Although not explicitly stated herein, those skilled in the art can make various changes, improvements, and modifications to the present application. These changes, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested by the present application and remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0087] Furthermore, certain terms are used in this Application to describe the embodiments thereof. For example, “one embodiment,” “one embodiment,” and / or “several embodiments” mean certain features, structures, or characteristics relating to at least one embodiment of this Application. Therefore, it should be emphasized and understood that two or more references to “one embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “one alternative embodiment” in various parts of this Specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Also, certain features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments of this Application can be appropriately combined.

[0088] Furthermore, unless explicitly stated in the claims, the enumerated order, use of alphanumeric characters, or use of other names of the processing elements or sequences described herein does not limit the order of the procedures and methods of this application. While the above disclosure illustrates various examples that are currently considered useful embodiments of the invention, such details are for illustrative purposes only, and it should be understood that the attached claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rather are intended to cover all modifications and equivalent combinations that fall within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of this application. For example, the system assembly described above may be implemented by hardware devices, but may also be implemented by software-only solutions, for example, by installing the described system on an existing server or mobile device.

[0089] Similarly, in the foregoing description of embodiments of the present application, various features may be grouped into a single embodiment, drawing, or description thereof for the purpose of simplifying the description of the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of embodiments of one or more inventions. However, such disclosure methods should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the subject matter of the present application requires more features than are enumerated in each claim. In fact, the features of an embodiment may be fewer than all the features of a single embodiment disclosed above.

[0090] In some embodiments, numbers are used to describe components and attributes, and it should be understood that in some examples, these numbers are modified by the modifiers “approximately,” “nearly,” or “substantial.” Unless otherwise specified, “approximately,” “nearly,” or “substantial” indicates that the numbers are allowed to vary by up to ±20%. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters used in the specification and claims are all approximations that may vary depending on the characteristics required for a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be rounded using standard rounding techniques, taking into account the specified number of significant figures. In some embodiments of this application, the numerical ranges and parameters used to determine the range are approximations, but in specific embodiments, such numbers are set as precisely as possible.

[0091] All patents, patent applications, published patent gazettes, and other materials such as articles, books, specifications, publications, and documents referenced herein are incorporated in their entirety by reference, with the exception of any prosecution history documents that are inconsistent with or contradict the content of this Application, and any documents that may have a limited effect on the broadest scope of the claims of this Application (currently or later relating to this Application). In the event of any inconsistency or contradiction between any description, definition, and / or use of terminology in the appendices to this Application and the content of this Application, the description, definition, and / or use of terminology in this Application shall prevail.

[0092] Finally, it should be understood that the embodiments in this application are merely for illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Other modifications may also be within the scope of this application. Therefore, alternative configurations of the embodiments in this application may be considered, not as limiting but as illustrative, to be consistent with the teachings of this application. Accordingly, the embodiments in this application are not limited to those explicitly introduced and described herein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 100 Touch Sensing Devices 110 barometric pressure sensor 120 Sealed structure 121 Connection part 122 Membrane-like structure 200 Touch Sensing Devices 210 barometric pressure sensor 211 Housing structure 212 Base 213 Membrane structure 214 First Processor 215 Hole 216 Front Cavity 217 Rear Cavity 220 Sealed structure 221 Sealed end 230 Chambers 300 Touch Sensing Devices 310 Barometric pressure sensor 311 Housing structure 312 Base 313 Membrane structure 314 First Processor 315 Hole 316 Front Cavity 320 sealed structure 321 Connection part 322 Membrane-like structure 3211 First end 3212 Second end 323 Support part 330 Chambers 400 Touch Sensing Devices 410 Barometric pressure sensor 411 Housing structure 412 Base 413 Membrane structure 414 First Processor 415 Hole 421 Connection part 422 Membrane-like structure 500 Touch Sensing Devices 510 Barometric pressure sensor 511 Housing structure 512 Base 513 Membrane structure 514 First Processor 515 Hole 520 Sealed structure 521 Connection part 522 Membrane-like structure 700 Sensing Device 710 Touch Sensing Assembly 711 First Touch Sensing Device 712 Second Touch Sensing Device 71n nth touch sensing device 720 Second Processor 1000 earphones 1010 Touch Area 1020 Earphone Handle 1030 Earphones 1100 Mobile phone or tablet computer 1110 Touch area 1120 displays 1130 aircraft 1200 Smartwatches 1210 Touch area 1220 displays 1230 dial 1300 Physiological Signal Detection Device 1310 Touch area 1320 Main body structure 1330 band

Claims

1. A pressure sensor having a hole, the interior of which communicates with the outside through the hole, A sealed structure connected to the pressure sensor and forming a chamber together with the pressure sensor, the sealed structure comprising the chamber and the interior of the pressure sensor communicating through the hole, The portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber deforms upon contact by the user, and this deformation causes a change in air pressure within the chamber. The pressure sensor receives this change in air pressure through the opening and converts the change in air pressure into an electrical signal. The aforementioned pressure sensor is A housing structure with a cavity, A membrane structure and a substrate, One end of the substrate is connected to the inner wall of the housing structure, and the other end of the substrate is connected to the membrane structure. The membrane structure and the substrate divide the cavity into a front cavity and a rear cavity, and the front cavity is connected to the chamber through the hole. The air pressure in the front cavity changes in response to the air pressure change in the chamber, and the membrane structure converts the air pressure change in the front cavity into an electrical signal. A touch sensing device in which the volume of the chamber is less than or equal to the volume of the front cavity of the pressure sensor.

2. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure is fitted to the outside of the pressure sensor, one end of the sealing structure is a sealed end, the sealed end of the sealing structure and the end of the pressure sensor adjacent to the sealed end of the sealing structure are spaced apart to form the chamber, the material of the sealing structure and the sealed end is a flexible material, and the sealed end is made of a flexible material containing one or more of the following: rubber, latex, silica gel, sponge, polyethylene, polyester, polyimide, parylene, polydimethylsiloxane, and polyethylene naphthalate.

3. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure includes a connecting portion and a membrane structure, the connecting portion is fitted onto the outside of the pressure sensor, and the membrane structure is connected to the end of the connecting portion and is provided at a distance from the end of the pressure sensor adjacent to the membrane structure.

4. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure includes a connecting portion and a membrane structure, one end of the connecting portion is connected to the end of the pressure sensor, the other end of the connecting portion is connected to the membrane structure, the membrane structure, the connecting portion and the end of the pressure sensor form the chamber, and the thickness of the membrane structure is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm or 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm.

5. The touch sensing device according to claim 3, wherein the material of the film-like structure may include one or more of the following: rubber, latex, silica gel, sponge, polyethylene, polyester, parylene, polyimide, and polydimethylsiloxane.

6. The membrane structure is made of a breathable material that connects the front cavity and the rear cavity, or The membrane structure is provided with ventilation holes that connect the front cavity and the rear cavity, or The membrane structure is made of a non-permeable material that separates the front cavity and the rear cavity. The touch sensing device according to claim 1.

7. A plurality of touch sensing devices according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which are distributed in an array and generate electrical signals in response to user gestures, A sensing device for recognizing a user's gesture, comprising: a processor configured to determine the swipe direction of the user's gesture based on the positional information of at least two touch sensing devices and the generation time of the electrical signals.

8. The sensing device according to claim 7, wherein the arrangement of the plurality of touch sensing devices is one or more of the following: linear, rectangular, triangular, rhombus, circular, elliptical, wavy, X-shaped, V-shaped, and W-shaped.

9. Electronic equipment carriers, An electronic device comprising at least one touch sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is integrated within the electronic device carrier, wherein the portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber is a portion of the surface area of ​​the electronic device carrier.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the electrical signal generated when the user touches at least one of the touch sensing devices controls the electronic device.

11. The electronic device according to claim 9, comprising one or more of the following: earphones, mobile phones, tablet computers, game handles, keyboards, smartwatches, virtual reality devices, augmented reality devices, helmets, and glasses.

12. A physiological signal detection device comprising a touch sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the portion of the sealed structure surrounding the chamber deforms due to the action of the user's heart rate, pulse rate, or respiratory vibration, the air pressure in the chamber changes due to the deformation, the pressure sensor receives the change in air pressure in the chamber through the hole, and converts the change in air pressure into an electrical signal.

13. A main body structure configured to be attached to the user's target area, on which the touch sensing device is positioned, The physiological signal detection device according to claim 12, further comprising a band configured to fix the main body structure to the user's target area.

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