Touch module and touch response method therefor, and display panel

Abstract

The present application provides a touch module and a touch response method therefor, and a display panel, relating to the technical field of touch control. The touch module comprises at least one displacement sensor arranged between a touch-sensitive layer and a support structure, and a touch control surface of the touch-sensitive layer is located on the side of the touch-sensitive layer facing away from the support structure. The displacement sensor comprises a first sensing member and a corresponding second sensing member spaced apart therefrom, the first sensing member and the second sensing member being electrically connected. The first sensing member is arranged on the side of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the second sensing member is arranged on the side of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer. The at least one displacement sensor is configured to: when a touch operation is applied to the touch control surface, cause the touch-sensitive layer to deform; generate a displacement between the first sensing member and the second sensing member; on the basis of the displacement, generate an electrical signal, and then convert the electrical signal into a digital signal and output same, so as to determine a pressure detection result and / or identify a category of the touch operation. Thus, the reliability and consistency of devices comprising the touch module can be improved, and the complexity of device assembly can be reduced.

Description

Touch module and its touch response method, display panel

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510128807.1, filed on February 5, 2025, entitled "Touch Module and Touch Response Method Thereof, Display Panel", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of touch technology, and in particular to a touch module and its touch response method, and a display panel. Background Technology

[0003] With the development of touch technology, the application scenarios of touch modules are increasing. For example, touch modules can serve as a medium for interaction between users and display devices. Users can interact with the touch module using their fingers, styluses, etc., thereby achieving human-computer interaction. During human-computer interaction, pressure detection can be performed on the touch module to recognize user input. To achieve pressure detection, the traditional solution is to set a pressure sensor in the touch module. The touch module also has a membrane structure for receiving touch operations, with the pressure sensor located below this membrane structure. Typically, the pressure sensor and the membrane structure are rigidly connected; for example, the membrane structure is rigidly connected to the pressure sensor through a rigid structure; or, the membrane structure is rigidly connected to the pressure sensor using very hard adhesive or tape.

[0004] However, the aforementioned hard connections result in complex assembly and maintenance processes for devices containing touch modules (such as display devices), and poor consistency and reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a touch module and its touch response method, as well as a display panel, that can improve the reliability and consistency of the touch module.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a touch module, comprising: a touch-sensitive layer, at least one displacement sensor, and a support structure; wherein:

[0007] The displacement sensor is placed between the touch-sensitive layer and the support structure, with the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer located on the side of the touch-sensitive layer facing away from the support structure.

[0008] The displacement sensor includes a first sensing element and a second sensing element arranged at corresponding intervals. The first sensing element and the second sensing element are electrically connected. The first sensing element is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the second sensing element is fixed to the side surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer.

[0009] At least one displacement sensor is configured to: generate an electrical signal based on the displacement when a touch operation is applied to the touch surface to deform the touch-sensitive layer to produce displacement between a first sensor and a second sensor, convert the electrical signal into a digital signal and output it, the digital signal being used to determine the pressure detection result and / or identify the type of touch operation.

[0010] In some possible implementations, one of the first and second sensing elements is a magnet, and the other is a sensor body;

[0011] The magnet is fixed to the surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the sensor body is fixed to the surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer; or,

[0012] The sensor body is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the magnet is fixed to the side surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer.

[0013] In some possible implementations, one of the first and second sensing elements is a magnetic component, and the other is a coil;

[0014] The magnetic component is fixed to the surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the coil is fixed to the surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer; or,

[0015] The coil is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the magnetic component is fixed to the side surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the orthographic projection of the first sensor onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer lies within the orthographic projection of the second sensor onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer; or,

[0017] The orthographic projection of the second sensor onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer is located inside the orthographic projection of the first sensor onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the displacement generated between the first sensor and the second sensor includes at least one of a first displacement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch surface and a second displacement in any direction in the plane of the touch surface.

[0019] Determining the pressure detection result includes determining at least one of a first pressure detection value in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch surface and a second pressure detection value in any direction within the plane of the touch surface.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the first sensing element and the touch-sensitive layer are fixed by either a fixed connection or a detachable connection.

[0021] The second sensing element is fixed to the supporting structure using either a fixed connection or a detachable connection.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the plane containing the first sensor is parallel to the plane containing the second sensor.

[0023] In some possible implementations, the plane containing the first sensor intersects with the plane containing the second sensor.

[0024] Secondly, this application also provides a display panel, which includes a touch module and a light-emitting layer; the touch module is any of the touch modules in the first aspect;

[0025] Along the light emission direction of the display panel, the displacement sensor in the touch module is arranged on the side of the light emission layer facing the touch-sensitive layer. The touch-sensitive layer includes a light emission area and a non-light emission area.

[0026] At least one displacement sensor's orthographic projection onto the plane where the light-emitting layer is located is within the orthographic projection of the non-light-emitting area onto the plane where the light-emitting layer is located.

[0027] In some possible implementations, the display panel includes a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area, with the light-emitting area located within the display area;

[0028] At least one displacement sensor is located in the non-display area.

[0029] Thirdly, this application also provides a touch response method, which is applied to a touch device including any of the touch modules described in the first aspect, the method comprising:

[0030] The displacement sensed by at least one displacement sensor of the touch module is received; wherein, when the displacement sensor receives a touch operation applied to the touch surface, the touch operation is sensed to deform the touch-sensitive layer to generate a displacement between the first and second sensing elements of the displacement sensor.

[0031] The corresponding electrical signal is generated based on the displacement;

[0032] Based on electrical signals, corresponding digital signals are generated;

[0033] The system determines pressure detection results and / or identifies the category of touch operation based on digital signals in order to respond to touch operations.

[0034] In some possible implementations, the pressure detection result is determined and / or the category of touch operation is identified based on digital signals, including:

[0035] Digital signals are filtered to obtain corresponding low-frequency and high-frequency signals;

[0036] Pressure detection results are determined based on low-frequency signals, and the pressure detection results include pressure values; and / or,

[0037] The type of touch operation is determined based on high-frequency signals.

[0038] In some possible implementations, the type of touch operation is determined based on a high-frequency signal, including:

[0039] High-frequency signals are input into a pre-trained classification model to obtain the category of the output touch operation; the classification model is trained based on at least two of the following: displacement, touch position, touch area, pressure detection result, and touch operation category result of the sample touch operation.

[0040] In some possible implementations, prior to receiving the displacement sensed by at least one displacement sensor of the touch module, the method further includes:

[0041] Obtain the historical displacement detected by the displacement sensor within a preset time period;

[0042] If the historical detected displacement exceeds the preset range, and / or if the fluctuation range of the historical detected displacement exceeds the preset range, update the displacement detection baseline of the displacement sensor.

[0043] In the touch module and its touch response method and display panel provided in this application, the touch module is configured to include a touch-sensitive layer, at least one displacement sensor, and a support structure; wherein, the displacement sensor is disposed between the touch-sensitive layer and the support structure, and the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer is located on the side of the touch-sensitive layer facing away from the support structure; the displacement sensor includes a first sensing element and a correspondingly spaced second sensing element, the first sensing element and the second sensing element are electrically connected, the first sensing element is fixed to the surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the second sensing element is fixed to the surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer; at least one displacement sensor is configured to: when a touch operation is applied to the touch surface to deform the touch-sensitive layer, in order to... When displacement occurs between the first and second sensing elements, an electrical signal is generated based on the displacement, converted into a digital signal, and output. The digital signal is used to determine the pressure detection result and / or identify the type of touch operation. As can be seen, this application, by setting a displacement sensor including a first and a second sensing element, senses the displacement generated by the touch operation received by the touch surface of the touch module, so as to realize pressure detection and / or identification of the type of touch operation based on the sensed displacement. It eliminates the need to hard-connect a pressure sensor or vibration sensor on the side of the touch-sensitive layer away from the touch surface, thereby reducing the assembly complexity of the device including the touch module and improving the reliability and consistency of the related device. Attached Figure Description

[0044] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0045] Figure 1 is a top view of a touch module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the touch unit in Figure 1 provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 3 is another cross-sectional schematic diagram of the touch unit provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a touch unit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 5 is another cross-sectional schematic diagram of the touch unit provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0050] Figure 6 is another cross-sectional schematic diagram of the touch unit provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0051] Figure 7 is another cross-sectional schematic diagram of the touch unit provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0052] Figure 8 is a top view of a display panel provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0053] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of BB' in Figure 8 provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0054] Figure 10 is a flowchart of a touch response method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0055] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of digital signals in the touch response method provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0056] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a low-frequency signal obtained by low-pass filtering a digital signal according to an embodiment of this application;

[0057] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a high-frequency signal obtained by high-pass filtering a digital signal provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0058] To make the features and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0059] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Several embodiments of this application are illustrated in the drawings. However, this application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this application.

[0060] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly attached to the other component or there may be an intervening component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intervening component. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

[0061] In this document, spatial terms such as “upper” and “lower” are defined with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, it will be understood that “upper” and “lower” are used interchangeably. It will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “on” another layer, it may be formed directly on the other layer, or there may be intermediate layers. Therefore, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “directly” on another layer, no intermediate layer is inserted in between.

[0062] In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It is understood that when a layer or element is referred to as "on" another layer or substrate, the layer or element may be directly on said other layer or substrate, or there may be intermediate layers. Furthermore, it is understood that when a layer is referred to as "between" two layers, the layer may be the only layer between said two layers, or there may be one or more intermediate layers. Additionally, the same reference numerals always denote the same elements.

[0063] In the following text, although terms such as “first” and “second” may be used to describe various components, these components are not necessarily limited to the terms above. The terms above are used only to distinguish one component from another. It will also be understood that expressions used in the singular form include plural expressions unless the singular form has a distinct meaning in the context. Furthermore, in the embodiments below, it will also be understood that the terms “comprising” and / or “having” as used herein indicate the presence of the stated feature or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or components.

[0064] In the following embodiments, when a layer, region, or element is “connected,” it can be interpreted as the layer, region, or element being connected not only directly but also through other constituent elements placed therebetween. For example, when a layer, region, element, etc., is described as being connected or electrically connected, the layer, region, element, etc., can not only be directly connected or directly electrically connected, but can also be connected or electrically connected through another layer, region, element, etc., placed therebetween.

[0065] As used in the application documents, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. When a statement such as "at least one of..." follows a list of elements, it modifies the entire list of elements, not individual elements within that list.

[0066] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein in the specification of the application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0067] It should also be understood that the terms “including / comprise” or “have” specify the presence of the stated features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0068] Electronic or electrical devices and / or any other related devices or components (e.g., display devices including display panels, touch modules, and display panel drivers) according to embodiments of the concepts described herein can be implemented using any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits), software, or a combination of software, firmware, and hardware. For example, various components of these devices may be formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip or on a separate IC chip. Additionally, various components of these devices may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape-on-a-chip (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or formed on a substrate. Furthermore, various components of these devices may operate in one or more computing devices, running on one or more processors, thereby executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components to perform processes or threads of the various functions described herein. The computer program instructions are stored in memory, which may use standard storage devices such as random access memory (RAM) or other non-transitory computer-readable media, such as CD-ROMs or flash drives. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should recognize that the functions of various computing devices can be combined or integrated into a single computing device, or the functions of a particular computing device can be distributed across one or more other computing devices, without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0069] While exemplary embodiments of the touch module and the display panel including the touch module have been specifically described herein, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that other touch modules and display panels including touch modules may be implemented in accordance with the principles of this application, in addition to those specifically described herein. This application is also defined in the claims and their equivalents.

[0070] As described in the background section, with the development of touch technology, more and more products are equipped with touch modules to sense touch operations applied by users. When integrated into a product, the touch module can function as a physical or virtual button. In virtual button applications, in addition to pressure detection to provide pressure information, the touch module also has a strong need for vibration signal detection. Related technologies typically involve rigidly connecting the sensor to the outer surface (e.g., cover glass). The sensors used include strain gauges, piezoelectric ceramics, and MEMS vibration sensors. "MEMS" stands for MicroElectroMechanical System. Specifically, in related technologies, the sensor is rigidly connected via a rigid structure, such as an interference fit, or via a high-hardness adhesive or tape. In related technologies, pressure sensors can be attached below the touch-sensing layer; the touch-sensing layer here is not necessarily a film layer, for example, PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is usually used as the touch-sensing layer in laptops; the pressure sensor may also not be attached below the touch-sensing layer, but rather attached to the supporting structure; for example, the pressure sensor of the side camera button on a mobile phone is attached to the structure supporting the button.

[0071] The aforementioned methods of hard-connecting sensors to components of related products may have the following problems:

[0072] One issue is the complexity of assembly: if a cantilever beam structure is used to press the strain gauge, one end of the cantilever structure needs to support the outer finish, and the other end needs to be pressed onto the lower end of the strain gauge.

[0073] Secondly, there is poor consistency and reliability: mechanical structures will fatigue after long-term use, and pressure is transmitted through mechanical structures. As time goes by, the accuracy of pressure or vibration signals decreases.

[0074] Thirdly, maintenance is difficult: if glue is used to attach the vibration sensor to the lower part of the exterior surface, the glue with high hardness is usually very sticky and stable in performance, making it difficult to remove during maintenance and easy to leave residue, which may cause damage to the exterior surface and the sensor.

[0075] Furthermore, in related technologies, touch sensors that are rigidly connected to the product can detect the location of the touch operation applied by the user, but they cannot identify the type of touch object used by the user to apply the touch operation.

[0076] Based on this, referring to Figures 1 and 2, this application provides a touch module different from the aforementioned related technologies. The touch module 10 includes a touch-sensitive layer 111, at least one displacement sensor 12, and a support structure 112 arranged sequentially along a direction perpendicular to the touch surface of the touch module 10. The displacement sensor 12 includes a first sensing element 121 and a second sensing element 122, which are spaced apart and the distance between them is a first gap D. The first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 are electrically connected. Based on this structure, the touch module 10 can detect the displacement generated between the touch surface and the support structure 112 when the touch layer 111 is deformed by a touch operation applied to the touch surface. Furthermore, the pressure detection and / or category identification of the touch operation can be realized based on the electrical signal generated by the detected displacement.

[0077] For the touch module 10 provided in this application, one optional implementation includes: a touch-sensitive layer 111, at least one displacement sensor 12, and a support structure 112; wherein:

[0078] The displacement sensor 12 is disposed between the touch-sensitive layer 111 and the support structure 112, and the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located on the side of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing away from the support structure 112.

[0079] The displacement sensor 12 includes a first sensing element 121 and a second sensing element 122 arranged at corresponding intervals. The first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 are electrically connected. The first sensing element 121 is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the second sensing element 122 is fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111.

[0080] At least one displacement sensor 12 is configured to: when a touch operation is applied to the touch surface causing deformation of the touch-sensitive layer 111 to generate displacement between the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122, generate an electrical signal based on the displacement, convert the electrical signal into a digital signal and output it, and use the digital signal to determine the pressure detection result and / or identify the type of touch operation. The displacement between the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122 can be understood as a relative displacement between the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122.

[0081] For example, the support structure 112 is, for instance, a backlight module, or a structure for fixing a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0082] For example, please refer to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a top view of the touch module 10. A touch module 10 may have multiple touch units 11, but it may also have only one touch unit 11. This application does not specifically limit this. When the touch module 10 includes multiple touch units 11, the multiple touch units 11 may be arranged in an array in the touch module 10. Of course, the arrangement of the touch units 11 may also be set according to the touch requirements. When the touch module 10 has multiple touch units 11, each touch unit 11 may be provided with a corresponding displacement sensor 12. The multiple displacement sensors 12 (touch units 11) may be arranged at intervals along the plane of the touch surface. Each displacement sensor 12 may be set as a (virtual) button. Where required, a single touch unit 11 may also be provided with multiple displacement sensors 12. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0083] As shown in Figure 2, any touch unit 11 of the touch module 10 provided in this application includes a touch-sensitive layer 111, a displacement sensor 12, and a support structure 112 stacked together. One or more displacement sensors 12 can be disposed between the touch-sensitive layer 111 and the support structure 112. This application does not specifically limit the number of displacement sensors 12 included in the touch module 10. The touch surface is the surface that receives touch operations applied by the user. Correspondingly, the touch-sensitive layer 111 is a film structure used to receive touch operations from the user. Typically, no other film structure is included between the touch-sensitive layer 111 and the user's touch surface. In Figure 2, the touch surface may refer to the side of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing away from the support structure 112.

[0084] It should be noted that Figure 2 is only the main part of the structure included in a touch unit 11 of the touch module 10 provided in the embodiment of this application, and does not limit a touch unit 11 to only include a touch-sensitive layer 111, a displacement sensor 12 and a support structure 112.

[0085] The displacement sensor 12 provided in this application can be optionally configured to include a first sensing element 121 and a second sensing element 122 disposed at corresponding intervals, and the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 are electrically connected; wherein, the first sensing element 121 is fixed to the inner surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111, that is, fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the second sensing element 122 is fixed to the inner surface of the support structure 112, that is, fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111. Taking the direction perpendicular to the plane where the touch surface of the touch module 10 is located as the first direction, this application configures that along the first direction, when no touch operation is applied to the touch module 10, the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 can be optionally configured to have a first distance D between them; that is, when no touch operation is applied to the touch module 10, the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 are not in contact.

[0086] This application does not specifically limit the size of the first gap D, and the size of the first gap D can be selected and set according to requirements. The size of the first gap D can be set as small as possible, which is beneficial to reducing the overall thickness of the touch module 10, thereby facilitating the thin design of the product in which the touch module 10 is assembled; however, it should be noted that the distance of the first gap D should not be too small to avoid insufficient spacing, so as to meet the compression distance requirements of the first gap D caused by the pressure generated by the touch operation. In some embodiments of this application, when there is pressure applied by the user on the touch surface of the touch module 10, there is also a first gap D between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122.

[0087] Regarding the displacement sensor 12 provided in this application, this application also provides an alternative implementation method in which, when the touch module 10 receives a touch operation applied by the user on the touch surface, the pressure carried by the touch operation will cause the touch-sensitive layer 111 to deform. The deformation direction can be away from the touch surface, that is, when the touch-sensitive layer 111 receives a touch operation, its position will move towards one side of the support structure 112. This will cause a displacement between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 disposed between the touch-sensitive layer 111 and the support structure 112, that is, a relative displacement is generated between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122, specifically shortening the first distance D between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122. The displacement can be detected by the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122, and then the detected displacement can be processed to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the displacement. Further, the electrical signal can be converted into a digital signal and output, so as to realize the pressure detection corresponding to the touch operation through the output digital signal, and / or realize the identification of the type of touch operation (touch body type) through the output digital signal.

[0088] The pressure detection mentioned above can be the detection of at least the pressure value applied during a touch operation; the touch operation category identification mentioned above can be the identification of the specific category of the touch object used in the touch operation (the touch object to which the touch operation is applied). Examples of touch objects used in touch operations include fingertips, nails, joints, elbow joints, ears, stylus tips, stylus tails, wooden sticks, erasers, etc.

[0089] It should also be added that when the touch-sensitive layer 111 of the touch module 10 receives a touch operation applied by the user on the touch surface, the change in the touch-sensitive layer can be deformation (e.g., only the part of the area receiving the touch operation sinks) or displacement (including translation and rotation). One embodiment provided here is that when the touch module 10 provided in this application is used in a display device, the touch-sensitive layer 111 can correspond to the cover glass of the display device. The cover glass has high rigidity, and the application of a touch operation usually causes deformation of the cantilever beam supporting the cover glass, causing displacement of the cover glass.

[0090] The touch module 10 provided in this application is specifically configured to include a touch-sensitive layer 111, at least one displacement sensor 12, and a support structure 112. The displacement sensor 12 is disposed between the touch-sensitive layer 111 and the support structure 112, with the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 located on the side of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing away from the support structure 112. The displacement sensor 12 includes a first sensing element 121 and correspondingly spaced second sensing elements 122. The first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 are electrically connected. The first sensing element 121 is fixed to the surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the second sensing element 122 is fixed to the surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111. At least one displacement sensor 12 is configured to become touch-sensitive when a touch operation is applied to the touch surface. Layer 111 deforms to generate an electrical signal based on the displacement between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122. The electrical signal is then converted into a digital signal and output. The digital signal is used to determine the pressure detection result and / or identify the type of touch operation. As can be seen, this application, by setting a displacement sensor 12 including the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122, senses the displacement generated by the touch operation received by the touch surface of the touch module 10, so as to realize pressure detection and / or identification of the type of touch operation based on the sensed displacement. It eliminates the need to hard-connect a pressure sensor or vibration sensor on the side of the touch-sensitive layer 111 away from the touch surface, thereby reducing the assembly complexity of the device including the touch module 10 and improving the reliability and consistency of the related device.

[0091] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figures 2 to 4, one of the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 is a magnet 13, and the other is a sensor body 14.

[0092] Magnet 13 is fixed to the side surface of touch-sensitive layer 111 facing support structure 112, and sensor body 14 is fixed to the side surface of support structure 112 facing touch-sensitive layer 111; or, sensor body 14 is fixed to the side surface of touch-sensitive layer 111 facing support structure 112, and magnet 13 is fixed to the side surface of support structure 112 facing touch-sensitive layer 111.

[0093] For example, the displacement sensor 12 can be a Hall sensor; when the displacement sensor 12 is a Hall sensor, it can be constructed by a magnet 13 and a sensor body 14 arranged opposite each other. When a user touches the touch surface of the touch module 10, the position of the magnetic field generated by the magnet 13 changes. By detecting the change in the magnetic field, the Hall sensor can detect the positional change between the magnet 13 and the sensor body 14, that is, detect the displacement between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122, thereby realizing pressure detection related to touch operation and / or identification of the type of touch operation. The magnet 13 and the sensor body 14 do not contact each other along the first direction, which can avoid a rigid connection between the displacement sensor 12 and the touch-sensitive layer 111, and improve the reliability and consistency of the product configured with the touch module 10.

[0094] This application provides an alternative embodiment in which, during the process of applying a touch operation to the touch surface, when the distance between the magnet 13 and the sensor body 14 is less than a preset distance, a Hall effect is generated, and the displacement sensor 12 can generate a digital signal based on the Hall effect. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a touch module 10 provided in an embodiment of this application. Referring to Figure 4, a magnet 13 is disposed on the inner surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111, the N pole of the magnet 13 is in direct contact with the inner surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111, and the S pole of the magnet 13 is disposed on the side of the N pole facing away from the touch-sensitive layer 111; the magnetic field of the magnet 13 is sensed by the sensor body 14 located on the support structure 112, and the sensor body 14 uses the Hall effect to convert the change in the external magnetic field into a change in voltage. When the distance between magnet 13 and sensor body 14 changes, the voltage generated based on Hall effect changes. The touch component uses the voltage as input to a preset algorithm to calculate the distance (displacement between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122). This distance is variable and can refer to the distance the inner surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 moves relative to the upper surface of the sensor body 14, i.e., the distance in the z direction.

[0095] It should be added that the Hall sensor can be selected to detect displacement in a single direction, i.e., only in the z-direction; or it can be selected to detect displacement in three directions, such as x, y, and z. In this way, in addition to detecting the pressure of positive pressing along the z-axis, it can also detect more information such as sliding in the x and y directions, thereby detecting tangential forces, etc. Tangential forces correspond to sliding operations, such as volume control. That is, in addition to detecting displacement distance in the z-direction, the Hall sensor can also use a preset algorithm to calculate the distance in other directions, such as the distance in the x and y directions (not shown). The plane formed by the x and y directions can be a plane perpendicular to the z-direction, which is the first direction mentioned above (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch surface). When a touch operation occurs, it is equivalent to applying positive pressure to the touch module 10. The touch module 10 uses the Hall sensor to detect not only the positive pressure but also lateral forces, such as friction. Subsequently, the touch operation can be classified by combining the distance in the x and y directions, high-frequency signals, and touch signals, i.e., identifying the type of touch object.

[0096] It should be noted that although the N pole of magnet 13 in Figure 4 is in direct contact with the inner surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111, and the S pole of magnet 13 is located on the side of the N pole facing away from the touch-sensitive layer 111, the embodiments of this application do not limit the arrangement of the N and S poles of magnet 13. In other feasible implementations, the polarization direction of magnet 13 can be adjusted from multiple angles.

[0097] This application does not specifically limit the specific placement of the magnet 13 and the sensor body 14 in the touch module 10. For example, the magnet 13 may be fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the sensor body 14 may be fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111. Alternatively, the sensor body 14 may be fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the magnet 13 may be fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111.

[0098] The magnet 13 can be made of a magnetized permanent magnet or an electromagnet that is energized.

[0099] It should also be noted that the width of the magnet 13 in the AA' section shown in Figures 2 and 3 of this application is smaller than the width of the sensor body 14 in the AA' section. This is only an optional implementation provided by this application and is also to distinguish between the magnet 13 and the sensor body 14, but this application is not limited thereto.

[0100] Referring to Figures 2, 5, and 6, in an exemplary embodiment, one of the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 is a magnetic component 15, and the other is a coil 16.

[0101] The magnetic component 15 is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the coil 16 is fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111; or, the coil 16 is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the magnetic component 15 is fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111.

[0102] For example, the displacement sensor 12 can be a magnetic induction coil displacement sensor, including a magnetic component 15 and a coil 16 disposed opposite to each other. The magnetic component 15 can be a magnet, a magnetic film, an electromagnetic coil, etc.; wherein, the electromagnetic coil can generate a magnetic field by being energized. During the touch operation applied to the touch surface, the relative displacement between the magnetic component 15 and the coil 16 in the first direction causes a change in the magnetic induction intensity of the coil 16. The position of the magnetic component 15 relative to the coil 16 can be determined by the induced voltage measured by the induction coil 16 output by the displacement sensor 12, that is, the displacement generated between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 is detected. By detecting the displacement, the pressure generated by the touch operation can be detected and / or the type of touch operation can be identified. The magnetic component 15 and the coil 16 do not contact each other along the first direction, which can avoid the rigid connection between the displacement sensor 12 and the touch-sensitive layer 111, and can improve the reliability and consistency of the product configured with the touch module 10.

[0103] This application does not specifically limit the specific placement of the magnetic component 15 and the coil 16 in the touch module 10. For example, the magnetic component 15 may be fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the coil 16 may be fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111. Alternatively, the coil 16 may be fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the magnetic component 15 may be fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111.

[0104] Referring to Figures 2 to 6, in an exemplary embodiment, the orthographic projection of the first sensor 121 onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located inside the orthographic projection of the second sensor 122 onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111; or, the orthographic projection of the second sensor 122 onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located inside the orthographic projection of the first sensor 121 onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111.

[0105] In an exemplary embodiment, the orthographic projection of one of the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 onto the plane where the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located is inside the orthographic projection of the other onto the plane where the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located. This arrangement allows the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 included in the displacement sensor 12 disposed in the first direction to have as much overlapping area as possible in their orthographic projections. This makes the displacement sensor 12 more effective and accurate in sensing the displacement caused by the touch operation when the touch surface is subjected to a touch operation.

[0106] It should be added that this application does not specifically limit the shape of the orthographic projection of the first sensing element 121 onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111, or the shape of the orthographic projection of the second sensing element 122 onto the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111; it is possible to set the orthographic projection shapes of the two sensing elements to be the same, such as both being rectangles or circles, but it is also possible to set the orthographic projection shapes of the two sensing elements to be different.

[0107] If the orthographic projection shapes of the two sensors differ, or their placement orientations differ, it may be impossible to guarantee that the orthographic projection of one of the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122 on the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located inside the orthographic projection of the other on the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111. In this case, it is advisable to set the overlap area between the orthographic projection of one of the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122 on the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111 and the orthographic projection of the other on the plane of the touch-sensitive layer 111 as large as possible, so as to ensure the displacement sensor 12's sensing effect on the displacement caused by the touch operation when the touch surface is subjected to touch operation.

[0108] In an exemplary embodiment, the displacement generated between the first sensor and the second sensor includes at least one of a first displacement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch surface and a second displacement in any direction in the plane of the touch surface, wherein the second displacement is parallel to the plane of the touch surface; determining the pressure detection result includes determining at least one of a first pressure detection value in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch surface and a second pressure detection value in any direction in the plane of the touch surface.

[0109] For example, when a user applies a pressing operation (touch operation) to the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer, the resulting "force" includes a positive pressing pressure along the z-axis (perpendicular to the plane of the touch surface, i.e., the first direction mentioned above), and a tangential force (lateral force or frictional force) along the x-direction or y-direction (any direction in the plane of the touch surface, i.e., any direction parallel to the plane of the touch surface). Here, the x-direction and y-direction are any two directions in the plane of the touch surface; they can be perpendicular or intersecting, and this application does not specifically limit this. That is, when a user applies a pressing operation to the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer, it may cause the first and second sensors to undergo a first displacement along the first direction, or it may cause the first and second sensors to undergo a second displacement along any direction in the plane of the touch surface. Both the first and second displacements refer to the relative displacement between the first and second sensors. Therefore, the displacement sensor can obtain a first pressure detection value for the touch operation along a first direction based on a first displacement, and a second pressure detection value along any direction in the plane containing the touch surface based on a second displacement. The displacement sensor can detect pressure from touch operations in multiple directions, thereby improving the accuracy of sensing the touch force.

[0110] Please continue to refer to Figures 2 to 6. In an exemplary embodiment, the first sensing element 121 is fixed to the touch-sensitive layer 111 by either a fixed connection or a detachable connection; the second sensing element 122 is fixed to the support structure 112 by either a fixed connection or a detachable connection.

[0111] For example, the fixed connection can be achieved by adhesive or welding (not shown), and the detachable connection can be achieved by mechanical snap-fit ​​or screw fastening (not shown).

[0112] The adhesives used may include pressure-sensitive adhesives, UV adhesives (Ultraviolet Rays), epoxy adhesives (such as one-component adhesives), acrylic adhesives (such as two-component adhesives), etc. Soldering may include soldering (solder paste soldering). For example, if the displacement sensor 12 is a Hall sensor, the sensor body 14 of the displacement sensor 12 can be soldered to the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) using solder paste via surface mount technology (SMT).

[0113] In addition, for example, the first sensor 121 and the touch-sensitive layer 111 can be detached by mechanical snap-fit; the second sensor 122 and the support structure 112 can be detached by screw fastening.

[0114] It should be noted that, since the displacement sensor 12 provided in this application does not sense the transmitted force signal, but rather the displacement signal between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 in the displacement sensor 12, the installation of the displacement sensor 12 in the touch module 10 does not require a hard connection with the pressing layer (touch-sensitive layer 111) and / or the reference surface (support structure 112).

[0115] That is, in the touch module 10 provided in this application, the first sensing element 121 and the touch-sensitive layer 111 in the displacement sensor 12, as well as the second sensing element 122 and the support structure 112, can be fixedly connected by a soft connection. Specifically, the displacement sensor 12 can be fixed in the touch module 10 using adhesive, tape, or foam adhesive with low hardness, or it can be fixed in the touch module 10 by mechanical clips or screws. This application only provides a few selectable fixed connection and detachable connection methods, but it is not limited to these.

[0116] The displacement sensor 12 is fixed in the touch module 10 using a low-hardness adhesive, which facilitates disassembly of the displacement sensor 12 in case of future maintenance needs. Compared with a high-hardness adhesive, this reduces the damage caused by disassembling the displacement sensor 12 and makes it easier to remove residual adhesive. In addition, the low-hardness adhesive can also reduce the absorption of high-frequency or subtle vibrations caused by touch operations, which helps to improve the sensing accuracy of the displacement sensor 12 in sensing touch operation-related information.

[0117] As shown in Figures 2 to 6, in an exemplary embodiment, the plane containing the first sensing element 121 is parallel to the plane containing the second sensing element 122.

[0118] For example, one of the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 is fixed to the surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the other is fixed to the surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111. Based on this, a selectable configuration of the touch module 10 is provided, wherein the extending direction of the plane where the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located is parallel to the extending direction of the plane where the support structure 112 is located, so that the plane where the first sensing element 121 is located is parallel to the plane where the second sensing element 122 is located. In the touch module 10 configured in this way, the size of the first distance D between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 of the displacement sensor 12 is substantially equal everywhere, which can improve the displacement detection accuracy of the displacement sensor 12 and reduce the computational difficulty in detecting position changes.

[0119] As shown in FIG7, in an exemplary embodiment, the plane where the first sensor 121 is located intersects the plane where the second sensor 122 is located.

[0120] For example, one of the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the support structure 112, and the other is fixed to the side surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111. Based on this, a selectable configuration of the touch module 10 is provided in which the extension direction of the plane where the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located is not parallel to the extension direction of the plane where the support structure 112 is located, that is, the extension direction of the plane where the touch-sensitive layer 111 is located intersects with the extension direction of the plane where the support structure 112 is located.

[0121] That is, the touch-sensitive layer 111 where the touch surface (press surface) receives the touch operation applied by the user and the film layer of the corresponding support structure 112 can be located on different planes. It is only necessary to generate a position change when pressing. This position change can be caused by the displacement of the pressing surface itself or by the position change generated through the conduction structure.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the plane containing the first sensor 121 is not parallel to the plane containing the second sensor 122. In this type of touch module 10, the first distance D between the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122 of the displacement sensor 12 is not always equal. When detecting displacement, an average value can be taken, or the displacement along the first direction at a fixed position can be used as the standard to achieve displacement detection.

[0123] Furthermore, when conditions permit, the first sensor 121 can be embedded in the touch-sensitive layer 111. For example, the surface of the first sensor 121 facing the second sensor 122 is coplanar with the surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 facing the second sensor 122. Similarly, when conditions permit, the second sensor 122 can be embedded in the support structure 112. For example, the surface of the second sensor 122 facing the first sensor 121 is coplanar with the surface of the support structure 112 facing the first sensor 121. This arrangement can reduce the thickness of the touch module 10, which is beneficial for the thinner design requirements of related products.

[0124] The touch module 10 provided in this application can be applied to any product that requires human-computer interaction through touch operation. For example, it can be used to form the keys (physical keys or virtual keys) of a keyboard, the touchpad of a laptop, virtual buttons in the display area of ​​other display devices, keys in the non-display area of ​​other display devices, virtual buttons on smart door locks, virtual buttons on smart home appliances such as smart switches, door lock buttons, trunk buttons, and center console buttons in vehicles, and buttons on robot vacuum cleaners (for example, you can start or pause cleaning by tapping a button with your knuckles), etc.

[0125] When the touch module 10 provided in this application is applied to a non-display area, the touch surface of the touch module 10 can be made of a non-transparent material, such as non-transparent plastic, to prevent the displacement sensor 12 and other components in the touch module 10 from being seen by the user, which helps to improve the aesthetics of the device containing the touch module 10.

[0126] Referring to Figures 8 and 9 in conjunction with Figures 1 to 7, and based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides a display panel 20, in which the aforementioned touch module 10 is mounted. In addition, the display panel 20 is also equipped with a light-emitting layer 27. Along the light-emitting direction of the display panel 20, the displacement sensor 12 in the touch module 10 is arranged on the side of the light-emitting layer 27 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111. The touch-sensitive layer 111 includes a light-emitting area 271 and a non-light-emitting area 272. The orthographic projection of at least one displacement sensor 12 onto the plane of the light-emitting layer 27 is located inside the orthographic projection of the non-light-emitting area 272 onto the plane of the light-emitting layer 27.

[0127] For example, the display panel 20 provided in this application can be an active light-emitting display panel 20, such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or a non-active light-emitting display panel 20, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). That is, this application does not specifically limit the light emission mode of the light-emitting layer 27 in the display panel 20, and the light emission type of the display panel 20 can be selected and set according to the needs.

[0128] In the first direction, if the displacement sensor 12 is located on the side of the light-emitting layer 27 facing away from the touch surface, the displacement sensor 12 will not affect the light emission effect of the light-emitting layer 27. In this case, if the displacement sensor 12 is located within the display area 25 of the display panel 20, there is no need to restrict the positional relationship between the displacement sensor 12 and the light-emitting area 271 and / or the non-light-emitting area 272 in the display area 25. If the displacement sensor 12 is located within the non-display area 26 of the display panel 20, there is even less need to restrict its specific location. As long as the location of the displacement sensor 12 does not affect the normal operation of other structural components in the display panel 20, it is acceptable.

[0129] For the display panel 20 including the touch module 10 and the light-emitting layer 27, this application also provides an optional implementation in which the display panel 20 adopts an OLED display panel. The light-emitting layer 27 of the OLED display panel includes multiple light-emitting units and a pixel definition layer (PDL) surrounding each light-emitting unit. The setting area corresponding to the light-emitting unit is the light-emitting area 271, and the setting area corresponding to the PDL is the non-light-emitting area 272. In this case, the displacement sensor 12 can be optionally set inside the area corresponding to the PDL, that is, the displacement sensor 12 is set inside the non-light-emitting area 272. In this way, the setting of the displacement sensor 12 can avoid the influence of the light-emitting effect of the light-emitting unit, thereby ensuring that the display panel 20 has a good touch effect and also has a good display effect.

[0130] For the display panel 20 including the touch module 10 and the light-emitting layer 27, this application also provides an optional implementation in which the display panel 20 adopts an LCD display panel. The backlight module involved in the LCD display panel is usually disposed on the side opposite to the light-emitting surface of the display panel 20. The LCD display panel includes multiple filters disposed on the same layer and a black matrix (BM) surrounding each filter (CF, Color filter). The area corresponding to the filter is the light-emitting area 271, and the area corresponding to the black matrix is ​​the non-light-emitting area 272. In this case, the displacement sensor 12 can be optionally disposed inside the area corresponding to the BM, that is, the displacement sensor 12 is disposed inside the non-light-emitting area 272. In this way, the placement of the displacement sensor 12 can avoid the influence of the light-emitting unit on the light emission effect, thereby ensuring that the display panel 20 has a good touch effect and also has a good display effect.

[0131] When the touch module 10 provided in this application is applied to the display panel 20, the touch surface of the touch module 10 can actually be the cover glass of the display panel 20. The touch module 10 is disposed on the side of the cover glass that faces away from the light-emitting surface of the display panel 20, which can reduce the possibility of damage to the touch module 10 during the use of related products.

[0132] Please refer to Figures 1 to 7 and Figures 8 to 9. In an exemplary embodiment, the display panel 20 includes a display area 25 and a non-display area 26 surrounding the display area 25, with a light-emitting area 271 located within the display area 25; at least one displacement sensor 12 is located in the non-display area 26.

[0133] For example, the display panel 20 typically includes a display area 25 and a non-display area 26. Along the direction of the plane where the display panel 20 is located, the non-display area 26 surrounds the entire display area 25, or at least partially surrounds the display area 25. Taking the non-display area 26 surrounding the entire display area 25 as an example, if required, one or more displacement sensors 12 can also be provided in the non-display area 26 of the display panel 20. Since there is no light emission requirement in the non-display area 26, this application does not specifically limit the setting position of the displacement sensor 12 in the non-display area 26, and the setting position of the displacement sensor 12 in the non-display area 26 can be selected according to the requirements.

[0134] In addition, this application also provides an alternative implementation method in which, in most cases, the touch surface of the display panel 20 is the light-emitting surface of the display panel 20. However, if required, the side of the display panel 20, that is, the side perpendicular to the light-emitting surface of the display panel 20, can also be selected as the touch surface. In this case, the arrangement direction of the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 in the displacement sensor 12 is perpendicular to the light-emitting surface of the display panel 20. If required, the surface of the display panel 20 facing away from the light-emitting surface can also be selected as the touch surface of the displacement sensor 12.

[0135] The displacement sensor 12 is placed in the non-display area 26 of the display panel 20, which facilitates wiring and assembly, simplifies the manufacturing process of the display panel 20, reduces the manufacturing difficulty, and also saves space below the display area 25.

[0136] Based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides a display device (not shown), which includes the display panel 20 in the above embodiments. It is understood that the display device in the embodiments of this application can be any product or component with display function, such as an OLED display device, LCD display device, interactive flat panel, smart blackboard, electronic paper, mobile phone, tablet computer, television, monitor, laptop computer, digital photo frame, navigator, wearable device, IoT device, or in-vehicle device; the embodiments disclosed in this application do not limit this.

[0137] When the touch module 10 provided in this application is applied to a display device, the support structure 112 in the touch module 10 can actually be the backlight module in the display device, such as the PDL or BM of the backlight module; in addition, the support structure 112 in the touch module 10 can also be the structure of the printed circuit board (PCB) in the display device.

[0138] Referring to Figures 1 to 9 and then to Figure 10, based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides a touch response method. This touch response method is applied to a touch device including any of the aforementioned touch modules 10. The touch device may or may not have a display function. This application does not specifically limit whether the touch device has a display function.

[0139] The touch response method provided in this application embodiment may include steps 101 to 104, wherein:

[0140] Step 101: Receive displacement sensed by at least one displacement sensor 12 of the touch module 10; wherein, when the displacement sensor 12 receives a touch operation applied to the touch surface, the touch-sensitive layer 111 is deformed by the touch operation to generate displacement between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122 of the displacement sensor 12.

[0141] Step 102: Generate the corresponding electrical signal based on the displacement;

[0142] Step 103: Generate the corresponding digital signal based on the electrical signal;

[0143] Step 104: Determine the pressure detection result and / or identify the category of touch operation based on the digital signal to enable a response to the touch operation.

[0144] For example, when the touch device receives displacement sensed by one or more displacement sensors 12 in the touch module 10, the detected displacement can be converted into a corresponding electrical signal, and then the electrical signal can be converted into a digital signal. Based on the processing of the digital signal, the pressure value corresponding to the relevant touch operation is obtained, and the specific category of the touch body used to apply the touch operation is identified. That is, the pressure detection result and / or the category of the touch operation are determined by the digital signal. The displacement sensed by the displacement sensor 12 refers to the relative displacement between the first sensing element 121 and the second sensing element 122, which is generated by the touch operation.

[0145] When acquiring signals through the displacement sensor 12, a feasible approach is to output the displacement signal at a frequency of 10kHz. This signal can be acquired using a built-in ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter), a standalone ADC, or the ADC of the MCU (Microcontroller Unit) on the control board. The signal output to the signal processing unit can be achieved via USB, SPI, I2C, etc. Typically, the signal processing unit includes the MCU built into the sensor, the MCU on the control board, and the main control SoC (System-on-Chip). Here, USB stands for Universal Serial Bus; SPI stands for Serial Peripheral Interface; and I2C stands for Inter-Integrated Circuit.

[0146] In an exemplary embodiment, the step 104 described above, which involves determining the pressure detection result and / or identifying the type of touch operation based on the digital signal, can be specifically implemented by executing steps 141 to 143, wherein:

[0147] Step 141: Filter the digital signal to obtain the corresponding low-frequency and high-frequency signals;

[0148] Step 142, determine the pressure detection result based on the low-frequency signal, the pressure detection result including the pressure value; and / or,

[0149] Step 143: Determine the category of touch operation based on the high-frequency signal.

[0150] For example, to achieve pressure detection and touch operation category identification for the digital signal corresponding to the displacement detected by the displacement sensor 12, this application provides an optional implementation method: first, the digital signal is filtered to obtain a low-frequency signal and a high-frequency signal corresponding to the digital signal. For example, the digital signal can be connected to a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter respectively. The cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter can be 20Hz to 50Hz, such as 30Hz or 40Hz, and the cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter can be 300Hz to 600Hz, such as 400Hz or 500Hz. The digital signal is divided into two categories for output by the low-pass filter and the high-pass filter. The low-frequency signal output by the low-pass filter is the electrical signal corresponding to the displacement formed by the quasi-static force applied to the touch surface by the pressing operation (touch operation). The high-frequency signal output by the high-pass filter is the collision signal generated by the touch body and the pressing surface (touch surface) when the pressing operation (touch operation) touches the touch surface. Therefore, the pressure value of the pressing operation can be determined by the low-frequency signal corresponding to the digital signal, and the category of the touch body corresponding to the pressing operation can be determined by the high-frequency signal corresponding to the digital signal.

[0151] When the aforementioned pressing operation (touch operation) is applied to the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer, the resulting "force" includes positive pressing pressure along the z-axis and tangential forces (lateral forces or frictional forces) along the x and y directions. Tangential forces correspond to operations such as sliding, for example, operations used to change the volume. The z-axis direction is the first direction, and the x and y directions are any two directions in the plane where the touch surface is located. The x and y directions can be two perpendicular directions or two intersecting directions other than perpendicular. This application does not specifically limit them.

[0152] Specifically, when the pressure value determined based on the low-frequency signal is greater than or equal to the preset pressure value, it indicates that the user has pressed the button; when the pressure value determined based on the low-frequency signal is less than the preset pressure value, it indicates that the user has not pressed the button; when the pressure value is greater than or equal to the preset pressure value and lasts for a preset duration, it indicates that the user has pressed the button for a long time; when the pressure value is greater than or equal to the preset pressure value twice within a short period of time, and there is a situation where the pressure value is 0 between the two times, it indicates that the user has pressed the button twice consecutively; where "short period of time" means within a preset duration such as 1 second, this embodiment of the application is not limited.

[0153] The types of objects to be touched can be parts of the human body, such as fingertips, knuckles, nails, elbows, ears, etc., or styluses (including different parts of the stylus, such as the tip and the end), or other tools, such as rulers, compasses, erasers, etc.

[0154] In an exemplary embodiment, the step 143 above, which determines the category of a touch operation based on a high-frequency signal, can be optionally performed as follows: inputting the high-frequency signal into a pre-trained classification model to obtain the output category of the touch operation; the classification model is trained based on at least two of the displacement, touch position, touch area, pressure detection result, and category result of the sample touch operation.

[0155] For example, regarding how to identify the category of touch operation (touch object category) based on the high-frequency signal corresponding to the digital signal, this application provides an alternative implementation method: pre-training a classification model, which can identify the category of the touch object that performs the touch operation based at least on the high-frequency signal, or based on one or more features extracted from the high-frequency signal; therefore, when the classification model is pre-trained, the high-frequency signal and other information that can be used to identify the category of the touch object can be input into the pre-trained classification model to obtain the category identification result of the touch object output by the classification model.

[0156] Regarding the aforementioned method of inputting high-frequency signals into a pre-trained classification model to obtain the category of the output touch operation, this application provides several alternative implementation methods; among which:

[0157] One feasible implementation involves inputting one or more high-frequency signals into a pre-trained classification model to obtain the category of the output touch operation.

[0158] Another feasible implementation is to take one or more high-frequency signals, perform operations such as cropping, filtering, transformation (such as Fourier transform) and / or fusion (such as weighted averaging) to become processed high-frequency signals, and then input them into a pre-trained classification model to obtain the category of the output touch operation.

[0159] Another feasible implementation involves extracting features from one or more high-frequency signals, then inputting the extracted features into a pre-trained classification model to obtain the category of the output touch operation. The feature extraction can be manually extracted temporal or spectral features, or features extracted by the model.

[0160] Another feasible implementation is to use high-frequency signals, processed high-frequency signals and / or features extracted from high-frequency signals as part of the model input; information provided by the touch-sensitive layer or low-frequency signals, including at least one quantity such as displacement of the touch operation, pressure detection results (including normal pressure and tangential force), touch position, and touch area, as another part of the model input, and input these two parts of data together into the pre-trained classification model to obtain the output category of the touch operation.

[0161] After filtering the digital signal to obtain the corresponding low-frequency and high-frequency signals, information extraction can be performed. A specific embodiment is provided, referring to Figures 1 to 10 and then to Figure 11. Figure 11 illustrates the signal changes during a single touch, press, and release of the stylus. At the moment of touch, there is a high-frequency displacement signal, which contains the characteristic information of the colliding object. Then, the stylus begins to press the touch-sensitive layer, at which point the displacement gradually increases. Finally, when the stylus is released, the displacement of the touch-sensitive layer rebounds to its original position.

[0162] Figure 12 shows a schematic diagram of the low-frequency signal obtained by low-pass filtering the digital signal provided in the embodiment of this application. Please refer to Figure 12 in conjunction with Figures 1 to 11. The low-frequency signal generated during the touch process contains pressure information. One processing method is to linearly or non-linearly map the value of the low-frequency signal to the pressure value. For example, the pressing surface (touch-sensitive layer) and its supporting structure can be regarded as a cantilever. Then, a non-linear method is F = k(δS)^3, where δS is the displacement of the pressing surface relative to the baseline, k is a constant, and F is the pressure value. The baseline can be the cross-sectional line formed by the surface of the supporting structure facing the touch-sensitive layer along the direction of AA'. It should be added that if there are multiple sensors, the actual pressure value can be characterized by a more complex mechanical model. In addition, touch data, such as the position and touch area reported by the infrared touch module and the capacitive touch module, can be further combined with one or more low-frequency signals, and the corresponding pressure value can be output through machine learning, template matching, and other methods.

[0163] Figure 13 shows a schematic diagram of the high-frequency signal obtained by high-pass filtering the digital signal provided in this application embodiment. Please refer to Figures 1 to 11 and then to Figure 13. The high-frequency signal generated during the touch process contains information about the touched object. After high-pass filtering the original displacement signal, the high-frequency signal can be used alone or in combination with other information to classify the touch event. Classification can be used to identify the type of touch object corresponding to the touch event. When the touch object and the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer come into contact, a collision signal is generated. The collision signal is related to factors such as the material, shape, force, and angle of the collision. For example, multiple high-frequency signals can be Fourier transformed to obtain the frequency domain signal of the high-frequency signal. The multiple frequency domain signals can be weighted and averaged into one signal, or multiple frequency domain signals can be used directly. The signals are input into a pre-trained classification model, which is used to output the category of the collision event, such as a direct tap of the pen tip or a slanted tap of the pen tail. In addition, the position and area of ​​the touch, and / or the pressure value extracted from the low-frequency signal can be incorporated to correct the model results and obtain the touch state.

[0164] In an exemplary embodiment, before receiving the displacement sensed by at least one displacement sensor of the touch module in step 101 above, steps 105 and 106 may be included, wherein:

[0165] Step 105: Obtain the historical displacement detected by the displacement sensor within a preset time period;

[0166] Step 106: If the historical detected displacement exceeds the preset range, and / or if the fluctuation range of the historical detected displacement exceeds the preset range, update the displacement detection baseline of the displacement sensor.

[0167] For example, in order to ensure the accuracy of the displacement detection, as well as the pressure detection results and / or touch body recognition results obtained based on the detected displacement, the displacement detection baseline of the displacement sensor may be calibrated before displacement detection is performed by the displacement sensor.

[0168] This application provides a method for calibrating the displacement detection baseline of a displacement sensor, specifically implemented through steps 105 and 106 described above. In other words, when the displacement sensor needs to start working, the displacement detection baseline of the displacement sensor is first updated. One method for updating the baseline (displacement detection baseline) is to observe whether the values ​​sampled by the displacement sensor (historical detected displacement) are within a reasonable baseline range and / or within a reasonable fluctuation range at a certain time interval. For example, check whether the historical detected displacement (value) is within the preset range of [S1, S2], where S1 and S2 can respectively represent the displacement range from the reference surface to the measuring surface under assembly tolerance and without force. And / or, check whether the variance of the displacement is less than S_var within this time interval, where S_var represents the variance of the interference fluctuation of the circuit and environment (such as temperature, magnetic field, electromagnetic environment) on the sensor.

[0169] Furthermore, this application also provides an alternative implementation method in which the signal triggered by the touch operation is processed to obtain the pressure of the touch operation and the material information used to apply the touch operation. This information can be used to generate different feedback. One alternative implementation method is that the feedback can be generated by vibration, sound, or light; for example, different vibration waveforms can be generated by a linear motor, voice coil motor, or piezoelectric ceramic (not shown); different vibration waveforms, including amplitude, frequency, and duration, can be provided for different touch objects; different key sounds can also be generated, such as using a speaker or buzzer to produce different sound effects; different brightness can also be generated by LED beads, etc.

[0170] In summary, the touch response method for the touch module provided in this application may include at least four stages: a baseline update stage, a signal acquisition stage, a signal processing stage, and an output result stage. The baseline update stage is implemented by executing steps 105 and 106 above; the signal acquisition stage is implemented by executing steps 101 to 103 above; the signal processing stage is implemented by executing steps 141 to 143 above; and the output result stage, based on the pressure detection result obtained in the signal processing stage and the determined touch operation category, outputs relevant interaction data to the product component corresponding to the touch module's interaction, thereby enabling user interaction with the product containing the touch module.

[0171] Regarding the touch response method of the touch module provided in this application, taking the application of the touch module provided in this application in an interactive flat panel as an example, the touch response method may include: when a touch operation occurs on the touch-sensitive layer 111 of the interactive flat panel, the distance between the inner surface of the touch-sensitive layer 111 and the reference surface of the displacement sensor 12 (the inner surface of the support structure 112 facing the touch-sensitive layer 111) changes, that is, the touch-sensitive layer 111 is displaced. The displacement sensor 12 is controlled to sense the displacement, collect relevant analog signals, that is, electrical signals, and then convert the electrical signals into digital signals and output them. When the number of displacement sensors 12 is at least two, the electrical signals of multiple displacement sensors 12 can be weighted and averaged to fuse them into an analog signal, and then a digital signal is generated based on the fused analog signal. Alternatively, each displacement sensor 12 can be controlled to generate a digital signal based on its own analog signal to obtain multiple digital signals. Most of the digital signals are processed to obtain one digital signal, which is used to determine the pressure detection result and / or touch operation classification, etc. Further, the interactive flat panel responds to the touch operation based on one digital signal. For example, the interactive flat panel uses digital signals to determine pressure detection results, thus identifying whether the user pressed the touch-sensitive layer 111, slid, the pressure applied, and the number of presses. Additionally, the interactive flat panel can perform vibration detection based on digital signals to classify touch operations, such as fingernail touches, fingertip touches, knuckle touches, and stylus touches. Then, the interactive flat panel responds to touch operations based on the pressure detection results and the category of the touch operation.

[0172] It should be understood that although the steps in the flowcharts of the accompanying drawings are shown sequentially as indicated by the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some of the steps in the accompanying drawings may include multiple steps or stages, which are not necessarily completed at the same time, but may be executed at different times, and the execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but may be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the steps or stages of other steps.

[0173] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0174] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A touch module, comprising: A touch-sensitive layer, at least one displacement sensor, and a support structure; wherein: The displacement sensor is disposed between the touch-sensitive layer and the support structure, and the touch surface of the touch-sensitive layer is located on the side of the touch-sensitive layer facing away from the support structure. The displacement sensor includes a first sensing element and a second sensing element arranged at corresponding intervals. The first sensing element and the second sensing element are electrically connected. The first sensing element is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the second sensing element is fixed to the side surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer. At least one of the displacement sensors is configured to: when a touch operation is applied to the touch surface to deform the touch-sensitive layer to generate displacement between the first sensor and the second sensor, generate an electrical signal based on the displacement, convert the electrical signal into a digital signal and output it, the digital signal being used to determine the pressure detection result and / or identify the category of the touch operation.

2. The touch module according to claim 1, wherein, One of the first sensing element and the second sensing element is a magnet, and the other is a sensor body; The magnet is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the sensor body is fixed to the side surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer; or, the sensor body is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the magnet is fixed to the side surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer.

3. The touch module according to claim 1, wherein, One of the first sensing element and the second sensing element is a magnetic component, and the other is a coil; The magnetic component is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the coil is fixed to the side surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer; or, the coil is fixed to the side surface of the touch-sensitive layer facing the support structure, and the magnetic component is fixed to the side surface of the support structure facing the touch-sensitive layer.

4. The touch module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The orthographic projection of the first sensing element onto the plane where the touch-sensitive layer is located is inside the orthographic projection of the second sensing element onto the plane where the touch-sensitive layer is located. Alternatively, the orthographic projection of the second sensor onto the plane where the touch-sensitive layer is located is inside the orthographic projection of the first sensor onto the plane where the touch-sensitive layer is located.

5. The touch module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The displacement generated between the first sensor and the second sensor includes at least one of a first displacement along a direction perpendicular to the plane where the touch surface is located, and a second displacement along any direction in the plane where the touch surface is located; The determination of the pressure detection result includes determining at least one of a first pressure detection value along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch surface and a second pressure detection value along any direction in the plane of the touch surface.

6. The touch module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The first sensing element and the touch-sensitive layer are fixed by either a fixed connection or a detachable connection. The second sensing element is fixed to the support structure by either a fixed connection or a detachable connection.

7. The touch module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The plane containing the first sensing element is parallel to the plane containing the second sensing element.

8. The touch module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The plane containing the first sensor intersects with the plane containing the second sensor.

9. A display panel, wherein, The device includes a touch module as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and a light-emitting layer; along the light-emitting direction of the display panel, a displacement sensor in the touch module is disposed on the side of the light-emitting layer facing the touch-sensitive layer, and the touch-sensitive layer includes a light-emitting area and a non-light-emitting area; at least one of the displacement sensors is located within the orthographic projection of the non-light-emitting area onto the plane of the light-emitting layer.

10. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein, The display panel includes a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area, with the light-emitting area located within the display area; at least one of the displacement sensors is located in the non-display area.

11. A touch response method, wherein, The method, applied to a touch device including a touch module as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, comprises: The system receives displacement sensed by at least one displacement sensor of the touch module; wherein, upon receiving a touch operation applied to the touch surface, the displacement sensor senses that the touch operation causes the touch-sensitive layer to deform, thereby generating the displacement between the first and second sensing elements of the displacement sensor. A corresponding electrical signal is generated based on the displacement; A corresponding digital signal is generated based on the electrical signal; Based on the digital signal, the pressure detection result is determined and / or the category of the touch operation is identified in order to respond to the touch operation.

12. The touch response method according to claim 11, wherein, The determination of pressure detection results and / or identification of the category of touch operation based on the digital signal includes: The digital signal is filtered to obtain the corresponding low-frequency signal and high-frequency signal; The pressure detection result is determined based on the low-frequency signal, and the pressure detection result includes a pressure value. And / or, determine the category of the touch operation based on the high-frequency signal.

13. The touch response method according to claim 12, wherein, Determining the category of the touch operation based on the high-frequency signal includes: The high-frequency signal is input into a pre-trained classification model to obtain the category of the touch operation; the classification model is trained based on at least two of the displacement, touch position, touch area, pressure detection result, and category result of the touch operation.

14. The touch response method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, Before receiving the displacement sensed by at least one displacement sensor of the touch module, the method further includes: Obtain the historical detected displacement of the displacement sensor within a preset time period; If the historical detected displacement exceeds a preset range, and / or if the fluctuation range of the historical detected displacement exceeds a preset range, the displacement detection baseline of the displacement sensor is updated.

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