Patent Application
20200371659
The present invention relates to a portable terminal equipped with a pressure sensor and a touch sensor on a side surface thereof, and more particularly, to a portable terminal which is further equipped with a pressure sensor for detecting a touch pressure applied to a side surface of the portable terminal and a touch sensor for detecting a touch position with respect to the side surface of the portable terminal aside from a pressure sensor or a touch sensor provided to the front surface of the portable terminal.
Various types of input apparatuses are being used to operate computer systems. For example, input apparatuses, such as buttons, keys, joysticks, and touch screens are being used. Due to easy and simple operations of a touch screen, uses of touch screens are increasing during operations of computing systems.
The touch screen may constitute a touch surface of a touch input apparatus including a touch sensor panel which may be a transparent panel equipped with a touch-sensitive surface. Such a touch input apparatus may be attached to the front surface of a display screen and the touch-sensitive surface may cover a viewable surface of the display screen. A user may be enabled to operate a computer system by simply touching the touch screen with a finger or the like. In general, computing systems may each perform calculation by recognizing a touch and a touch position on a touch screen and analyzing the touch.
Recently, there have appeared touch input apparatuses each capable of detecting not only a touch position due to a touch on a touch screen but also the magnitude of touch pressure.
In particular, a sensor for detecting a touch position and a sensor for detecting a touch pressure are disposed facing the front surface of a portable terminal. However, the touch position sensor and the touch pressure sensor which are disposed on the front surface are suitable to detect the touch position and the touch pressure which are applied to the front surface of the portable terminal, and thus, there has appeared a demand to change the design of the portable terminal so that the position and pressure of the touch applied to a side surface of the portable terminal.
The present invention is derived from the above-mentioned demand, and the purpose of the present invention is to implement a side surface touch sensor and a side surface pressure sensor which are not a front surface touch sensor and not a front surface pressure sensor but separate sensors.
In addition, the purpose of the present invention is to improve the touch position detection sensitivity in such a way that when the frame of a portable terminal is implemented using a metallic material as a whole, the side surface touch sensor provided to a side surface of the portable terminal is configured to be disposed on a non-metallic material portion.
A portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a front surface cover; a pressure detecting unit disposed on a side surface part of the portable terminal and configured to detect a touch pressure applied to the side surface part; and a side surface touch detecting unit configured to detect a touch input on to the side surface part of the portable terminal, wherein
the side surface part includes a first region and a second region separate from the first region, the pressure defecting unit is disposed in the first region of the side surface part, and at least a portion of the side surface touch detecting unit is disposed between a lower portion of the front surface cover and the second region.
The first region may be composed of a conductive material and the second region may be composed of a non-conductive material.
The pressure detecting unit may be disposed parallel to the side surface part, and at least a portion of the side surface touch detecting unit may be disposed in a direction orthogonal to the side surface part.
A portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a display unit disposed under the front surface cover, wherein: a first driving electrode and a receiving electrode which detect a touch pressure against the front surface cover may be disposed on the display unit; at least a portion of the side surface touch detecting unit may be composed of a separate second driving electrode different from the first driving electrode; the remainder of the side surface touch detecting part may include the receiving electrode; and a touch input to the side surface part of the portable terminal may be detected by a change in mutual electrostatic capacitance between the second driving electrode and the receiving electrode.
The second driving electrode may be attached to a lower portion of the front surface cover.
The first driving electrode and the second driving electrode may be disposed on a same plane.
The first region of the side surface part may be a side surface part of a middle frame of the portable terminal, and the pressure detecting unit may be disposed in a mounting space of the side surface part of the middle frame or on an inner side surface of the side surface part of the middle frame.
The first region of the side surface part may be a side surface part of a rear surface cover of the portable terminal,
and the pressure detecting unit may be disposed in a mounting space of the side surface part of the rear surface cover or on an Inner side surface of the side surface part of the rear surface cover.
A first side surface, a second side surface facing the first side surface, or the inner side surface which is in the mounting space may be a reference potential layer, and the touch pressure may be detected by a change in electrostatic capacitance due to a change in a distance between the pressure detecting unit and the reference potential layer.
The portable terminal may further include a side surface cover covering the mounting space.
According to a portable terminal of an embodiment of the present invention, implemented are a separate side surface touch sensor and a separate side surface pressure sensor which are not a front surface touch sensor and a front surface pressure sensor, and thus, the touch position and the touch pressure which are applied to a side surface of the portable terminal may be detected.
In addition, when the frame of a portable terminal is implemented overall using a metallic material, the side surface touch sensor provided to a side surface of the portable terminal is configured to be disposed on a non-metallic material portion, and thus, the touch position detecting sensitivity With respect to the side surface may be improved.
The detailed description of the present invention to be described later refers to the accompanying drawings which exemplarily illustrates specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that various embodiments of the present invention are different from each other but do not need to be mutually exclusive. For example, a specific shape, structure and characteristics which are disclosed in the present invention provided herein may be implemented as other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention in relation to one embodiment. In addition, it is to be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual components in each disclosed embodiment may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In the drawings, similar reference symbols indicate the same or similar function in many aspects.
Hereinafter, a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. Portable terminals described in this specification may include a portable phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal device, a personal digital assistant. (PDA), a navigation, a slate PC, a tablet DC, an ultrabook, a wearable device, and the like.
Referring to
The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules that enable wireless communication between the portable terminal 100 and a wireless communication system, between the portable terminal 100 and another portable terminal, and between the portable terminal 100 and an external server. In addition, the wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules that connect the portable terminal 100 to one or more networks. The wireless communication unit 110 may include at least one among a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless internet module 113, a short-range communication module 114, or a positional information module 115.
The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcasting signals and/or broadcasting related information from an external broadcasting managing server through a broadcasting channel. Here, the broadcasting channel includes a satellite channel, and a ground wave channel, and two or more broadcast receiving modules may be included in the portable terminal 100 for simultaneous broadcasting reception or broadcasting channel switching.
The mobile communication module 112 tranceives wireless signals with at least one among base stations, external terminals, and servers which are built according to technical standards or communication methods for mobile communication. The wireless internet module 113 refers to a module for wireless internet connection, and may be embedded in or externally mounted on the portable terminal 100.
The wireless internet module 113 is configured to tranceive wireless signals in a communication network according to wireless internet techniques such as wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) and the like.
The short-range communication module 114 is for supporting short-range communication using techniques such as Bluetooth™, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ZigBee, near field communication (NFC), or the like.
The positional information module 115 is a module for acquiring the position (or current position) of a device, and representative examples thereof include a global positioning system (GPS) or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) module, but are not limited to a module for directly calculating or acquiring the position of a device.
The input unit 120 may include a camera 121 or an image input unit for inputting image signals, a microphone 122 or an audio input unit for inputting audio signals, a user input unit 123 (for example, a touch key, a mechanical key etc.) for receiving information from a user. The sound data or image data collected from the input unit 120 may be analyzed and processed as user's control command.
The camera 121 processes image frames, such as static images or moving images acquired by an image sensor in a video telephony mode or an imaging mode. The processed image frames may be displayed on the display unit 151 or stored in memories 170.
The microphone 122 processes external audio signals into electrical sound data. The processed sound data may be variously used according to a function (or application program in execution) being executed in the portable terminal 100.
The user input unit 123 is for receiving information from a user, and when information is input through the user input unit 123, the control unit 180 may control the operation of the portable terminal so as to correspond to the input information. Such the user input unit 123 may include a mechanical input means (or, a mechanical key, for example, buttons, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, etc. which are positioned on the front/rear surfaces or the side surface of the portable terminal 100) and a touch-type input means. For example, a touch-type input means may be composed of a virtual key, a soft key or a visual key displayed on a touch screen by software processing, or composed of a touch key disposed on a portion other than the touch screen. Here, the touch key may be formed in at least one region of the side surface of the portable terminal 100, such as a power key region, a volume key region, or the like, formed in at least one region among the side surface regions equally divided into two or more regions, or formed in the entire regions of the side surface of the terminal. In addition, the user input unit 123 may include side surface user input units 123a′to 123d′.
The sensing unit 140 may include one or more sensors for sensing at least one among intra-device information, peripheral environmental information surrounding the device, and user information. For example, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141, an illumination sensor 142, a touch sensor, a touch pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, a G-sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a motion sensor, and the like.
The output unit 150 is for generating an output related to visual, auditory, tactile senses or the like and may at least one among a display unit 151, a sound output unit 152, a haptic module 153, and an optical output unit 154.
The display unit 151 may be composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, a three-dimensional (3D) display, an electronic ink (e-ink) display, or the like. The display unit 151 may implement a touch screen by forming a mutual layer structure with a touch sensor or being formed in an integrated type. Such a touch screen may function as the user input unit 123 for providing an input interface between the portable terminal 100 and a user, and simultaneously provide an output interface between the portable terminal 100 and the user.
The display unit 151 may include a touch sensor for detecting a touch with respect to the display unit 151 so as to be capable of receiving a control command by a touch method. When a touch is performed onto the display unit 151 using this, the touch sensor detects the touch and the control unit 180 may be configured to generate a control command corresponding to the touch on the basis of this. The contents input by the touch method may be characters or numerals, or instructions or selectable menu items in various modes. Meanwhile, the touch sensor may be formed in a film shape provided with a touch pattern and disposed between the window and the display on the rear surface of the window, or may be a metal wire directly patterned on the rear surface of the window. According to embodiments, the display unit 151 may be provided with a controller for detecting whether a touch is present or a touch position from a signal detected by the touch sensor. In this case, the controller transmits the detected touch position to the control unit 180. Alternatively, the display unit 151 transmits, to the control unit 180, a signal detected by the touch sensor or data converted into digital data, and may be configured so that the control unit 180 determines the touch presence and a touch position.
The sound output unit 152 is for outputting audio signals such as music or sound and may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, or the like. The haptic module 153 generates various tactile effects sensible by a user. Representative examples of tactile effects generated by the haptic module 153 may be vibrations. The amplitude, pattern, and the like of the vibration generated by the haptic module 153 may be controlled by the selection of a user or setting of the control unit. For example, the haptic module 153 may combine and output mutually different vibrations or sequentially output the vibrations. The haptic module 153 may generate, aside from vibration, various tactile effects such as effects due to stimuli such as pin arrangement vertically moving relative to a contact skin surface, air injection or suction force through an injection port or a suction port, a touch onto a skin surface, a contact with an electrode, or electrostatic force, or effects due to reproduction of cool and hot senses using an element capable of heat absorption or heat generation. The haptic module 153 may also be configured so that not only a tactile effect may be transmitted through a direct contact, but also a user may feel a tactile effect through a muscular sense of a finger, an arm, etc. Two or more haptic modules 153 may be provided according to arrangement mode of the portable terminal 100. The optical output unit 154 outputs a signal for informing occurrence of an event using the light of a light source of the portable terminal 100. Examples of occurred events at the portable terminal 100 may be message reception, call signal reception, absent call, alarm, schedule alarm, email reception, information reception through an application.
The memory 170 stores data for supporting various functions of the portable terminal 100. The memory 170 may store a plurality of application programs or applications driven by the portable terminal 100 and data and commands for operating the portable terminal 100. At least a portion among such application programs may be downloaded from an external server through wireless communication. In addition, at least a portion of such application programs may be present on the portable terminal 100 from the shipment time for the basic functions (for example, call reception, a transmitting function, message reception, and a transmission function). Meanwhile, the application program may be stored in the memory 170, installed on the portable terminal 100, and drive the operation (or function) of the device.
The control unit 180 normally controls, aside from operations related to the applications, overall operations of the portable terminal 100. The control unit 180 may provide or process appropriate information to a user by processing signals, data, information or the like which are input or output through components described above or driving the application programs stored in the memory 170. In addition, the control unit 180 may control at least a portion among the components in order to drive the application programs stored in the memory 170. Furthermore, in order to drive the application programs, the control unit 180 may combine and operate at least two or more among the components included in the portable terminal 100.
The power supply unit 190 receives internal and external power under the control of the control unit 180 and supplies power to the components included in the portable terminal 100. Such the power supply unit 190 may include a battery, and the battery may serve as an embedded battery or a replaceable-type battery.
At least some of the aforementioned respective components may operate in cooperation with each other in order to implement the operation, control or control method for the apparatuses according to various embodiments to be described below. In addition, the operation, control, and control method for the apparatuses may be implemented on the portable terminal by driving at least one application program stored in the memory 170.
The portable terminal 100 may distinguish the types of touch commands on the basis of inputs. For example, the portable terminal 100 may recognize a touch input having a magnitude smaller than a preset magnitude as a selection command onto a touched region. In addition, the portable terminal 100 may recognize a pressure touch having at least a preset magnitude as an additional command.
Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to drawings. In the description below, the “pressure touch” means a touch having a larger pressure than a critical pressure. Here, the critical pressure may appropriately be set according to applied apparatuses and application fields. For example, the critical pressure may be set to a fixed magnitude pressure, and the magnitude may be appropriately determined according to hardware characteristics, software characteristics, etc. In addition, it is also possible to configure the critical pressure to be settable by a user.
Referring to
The portable terminal includes a case (for example, a frame, a housing, a cover, etc.) that forms the external appearance thereof. As illustrated, the portable terminal may include a front surface cover 1010 and a rear case 1020. Various electronic components are disposed in the internal space formed by the coupling between the front, surface cover 1010 and the rear case 1020. At least one middle case may further be disposed between the front surface cover 1010 and the rear case 1020, and the rear case 1020 includes a side surface cover. Hereinafter, the rear case 1020 is used as a concept including the side surface cover.
A display unit 1510 is disposed on the front surface of the terminal body and may output information. As illustrated, a window 1510a of the display unit 1510 is attached to the front surface cover 1010 and may form the front surface of the terminal body together with the front surface cover 1010.
According to cases, electronic components may be attached to the rear case 1020. The components attachable to the rear case 1020 may include an attachable/detachable battery, an identification module, a memory card, etc. In this case, a rear surface cover 1030 for covering the attached electronic component may be detachably coupled to the rear case 1020. Accordingly, when the rear surface cover 1030 is detached from the rear case 1020, the electronic components attached to the rear case 1020 is exposed to the outside.
As described above, when the rear surface cover 1030 is coupled to the rear case 1020, a portion of the rear case 1020 may be exposed. According to cases, during the coupling, the rear case 1020 may also be completely covered by the rear surface cover 1030. Meanwhile, the rear surface cover 1030 may be provided with an opening for exposing a camera 1210b or a sound output unit 1520b.
These cases 1010, 1020 and 1030 may be formed by injecting a synthetic resin or also be formed of, for example, stainless steel (STS), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), etc.
The portable terminal may also be configured so that a single case proves the internal space unlike the above example in which a plurality of cases are provided with internal spaces for accommodating various electronic components. In this case, a unibody portable terminal may be implemented in which a synthetic resin or metal is connected from a side surface to the rear surface.
Meanwhile, the portable terminal may be provided with a waterproof unit (not shown) which prevents water from permeating into the terminal body. For example, the waterproof unit may include a waterproof member which is provided between the window 1510a and the front surface cover 1010, between the front surface cover 1010 and the rear case 1020, or between the rear case 1020 and the rear surface cover 1030, and shields the internal space during coupling thereof.
The portable terminal may be provided with: a display unit 1510, first and second sound output units 1520a and 1520b, a proximity sensor 1410, an illuminance sensor 1420, an optical output unit 1540, first and second cameras 1210a and 1210b, first to fourth manipulating units 123a to 123d, a microphone 1220, an interface unit 1600, etc. However, these configurations are not limited to these arrangements. These configurations may be excluded or replaced, or be disposed on another surface. For example, the side surfaces of the terminal body may not be provided with a second manipulating unit 123b.
The first to fourth manipulating units 123a to 123d may be referred to as manipulating keys as an example of the user input unit 1230 that is manipulated to receive commands for controlling the operations of the portable terminal. The first to fourth manipulating units 123a to 123d are switched at a connection part formed inside the rear case 1020 in such a way that physical buttons are pressed by pressurization, and transmit, to the control unit 1800, the presence of manipulations in the manipulating units. The first to fourth manipulating units 123a to 123d each have a structure in which a dome key is formed under a physical key and when the physical key is pressed, the dome key is pressed and electrically connected. For example, one among the first to fourth manipulating units 123a to 123d are used as a power key for performing a function of turning on or off the power of the terminal, one is used as a mode switching key of the terminal that switches the operation mode of the terminal between a vibration mode and a normal mode, and the remaining two may be used as volume adjustment, keys for adjusting a volume to be loud or calm. Besides, the number and the assigned functions of the manipulating units formed on the side surface may be variously changed.
Referring to
According to an embodiment of the present invention, side surface user input units 123a′ to 123d′ corresponding to the first to fourth manipulating units 123a to 123d, which are the side surface manipulating keys of a portable terminal according to the present invention, are formed inside the terminal body, and thus, the side surface user input units 123a′ to 123d′ may be physically formed on the outer side of the side surface cover of the terminal so as not to be exposed. The region depicted by a dotted line means a region to which the inside of the terminal body is projected.
In addition, one or more indicators id1 to id4 which indicate the positions of the side surface user input units 123a′ to 123d′ may further be displayed on the outside of the side surface part of the portable terminal according to the present invention. At this point, one or more indicators id1 to id4 may be displayed by displaying characters or graphics or displaying a specific pattern by intaglio and relief. In addition, one or more indicators id1 to id4 may be formed as LEDs inside the side surface part. At this point, the side surface part may be one among the front surface cover, a middle frame, a portion extending from the rear surface cover to the side surface of the terminal, or a side surface cover.
Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail in which the side surface user input units 123a′ to 123d′ are formed inside the terminal body using a cross-sectional view obtained by cutting the portable terminal 100 according to the present invention in the arrow direction with respect to line A-A′ serving as a reference line.
Hereinafter, the middle frame is used as the same meaning as the above-described rear case 102. The portable terminal may further be provided with a side surface cover 104 that surrounds the side surface of the terminal aside from the middle frame.
Referring to (a) of
Referring to (b) of
In the portable terminal of the present invention, electrical signals may be transmitted to a control unit by pressing the side surface manipulating keys 123a and 123b exposed to the outside and bringing the keys into contact with conductor (for example, printed circuit board, FPCB, etc.) formed on the middle frame 102. The control unit may control each of the components of the terminal so as to perform functions respectively corresponding to the manipulating keys 123a and 123b when the side surface manipulating keys 123a and 123b are determined to be pressed. For example, the operation modes of the terminal may be switched between a vibration mode and a normal mode by physically forming a power key 123a, a terminal mode adjustment key 123b and the like on side surfaces of the terminal, and then pressing the power key 123a to turn the power of the terminal on or off or pressing a terminal mode adjustment key 123b. Here, the normal mode indicates one among a sound mode, a vibration mode or a soundless mode according to the operation mode of the terminal directly set by a user.
Hereinafter, with reference to
A pressure detecting unit 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention detects a touch pressure applied to a side surface part of the portable terminal. The side surface part of the portable terminal may include a side surface part of a middle frame 102 as in
A side surface touch detecting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention detects a touch input to the side surface part of the portable terminal. The side surface touch detecting unit includes at least a portion 200 disposed on the side surface part of the portable terminal and the remainders disposed on a display unit 151. According to an embodiment, at least a portion 200 in the side surface touch detecting unit is composed of a driving electrode and the remainders disposed on the display unit 151 may be configured as a receiving electrode.
According to an embodiment, the remainders disposed on the display unit 151 may be disposed on the display unit 151 and also disposed inside the display unit 151.
Specifically, referring to
The first driving electrode 210 and the receiving electrode 220 for detecting touch inputs onto the front surface cover 101 will be described in detail in
Meanwhile, the side surface touch detecting unit for detecting touch inputs onto the side surface part of the portable terminal may include second driving electrodes which are at least a portion 200 disposed on the side surface part and receiving electrodes 220 disposed on the display unit 151. In addition, the touch inputs onto the side surface part of the portable terminal may be detected by measuring a change in the mutual electrostatic capacitance between the second driving electrode and the receiving electrode 220. At this point, a change in the mutual electrostatic capacitance may be measured by using the entirety/a portion of the receiving electrode 220. In addition, the second driving electrodes which are at least a portion 200 disposed on the side surface part may be configured by separate electrodes from the first driving electrodes 210. According to an embodiment, the second driving electrodes may be disposed on the same plane as the first driving electrodes 210, and according to another embodiment, the second driving electrodes may also be disposed on a different plane than the first driving electrodes 210.
In the present invention, a case is assumed in which at least the portion 200 disposed on the side surface part is a driving electrode, but when at least the portion 200 disposed on the side surface part according to another embodiment is configured as a receiving electrode, the touch inputs onto the side surface part of the portable terminal may also be detected by measuring a change in the mutual electrostatic capacitance between the receiving electrode and the first driving electrodes 210 disposed on the display unit 151. At this point, a change in the mutual electrostatic capacitance may also be measured by using the entirety/a portion of the first driving electrode 210. In addition, when at least the portion 200 disposed on the side surface part is configured as a receiving electrode, the receiving electrode may be configured as a different electrode than the receiving electrode 220.
Meanwhile, when the entire side surface part of a portable terminal is composed of a conductive material such as metal, and at least a portion 200 in a side surface touch detecting unit is disposed on the side surface part formed of a conductive material, the measurement of touch input may become difficult. Of course, there is a method for improving the driving voltage of the driving electrode, but in order to accurately measure the touch input, at least the portion 200 in the side surface touch detecting unit may more favorably be disposed on the side surface part formed of non-conductive material such as plastic. Accordingly, in case of the present invention, the side surface part of the portable terminal includes a first region and a second region, and as illustrated in
At this point, as illustrated in
Schematically describing a cross-sectional surface of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, the portable terminal is formed in a structure in which sequentially stacked are a rear surface cover 103, a component space 106, a middle frame 102, an upper frame 105, a display unit 151, and a front surface cover 101, and a mounting space for the pressure detecting unit 400 may be formed in the side surface part of the middle frame 102 or the rear surface cover 103 or in one region in the middle frame 102 or the rear surface cover 103. At this point, the mounting space may be formed inside a portion extending to a side surface of the middle frame 102 or the rear surface cover 103, or one side surface of the side surface part may foe formed as an open space, formed as a divided space on the cover side surface and a partition wall B, or formed as an arbitrary space in the cover side surface. At this point, the arbitrary space in the cover side surface defines a space which may be occupied when the pressure detecting unit is attached to the cover side surface. In the present invention, the middle frame 102 and/or the rear surface cover 103 may be implemented by using a conductive material such as metal. In addition, the upper frame 105 may be implemented by using a non-conductive material such as plastic. In the component space 106, a circuit board and/or a battery for operating the terminal may be positioned. In the present invention, the components for detecting pressure are totally referred to as the pressure detecting unit 400. For example, in an embodiment, the pressure detecting unit 400 may include pressure sensors 450 and 460.
Referring to (a) of
At least one internal mounting space R of the middle frame 102 may be formed in at least one region in the side surface part, may be formed in the entire region of one side surface, or may be formed on the entire region of both side surfaces. In addition, the pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed in the internal mounting space R and thus is not exposed to the outside of the terminal.
The pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed parallel to the side surface of the terminal and may thus be attached to a first side surface 1021 or a second side surface 1021′ facing the first side surface 1021 of the mounting space R of the middle frame 102.
Referring to (b) of
At least one side surface mounting space R of the middle frame 102 may be formed in at least one region in the side surface of the middle frame 102, may be formed in the entire region of one side surface, or may be formed in the entire regions of both side surfaces. In addition, when the pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed inside the mounting space R and then the side surface cover 104 is coupled thereto, the pressure detecting unit is not exposed to the outside of the terminal.
The pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed parallel to the side surface of the terminal and may thus be attached on the inner side surface 1041′ of the side surface cover 104 or the second side surface 1021′ of the mounting surface R.
Referring to (c) of
Referring to (d) of
The partition wall B may be composed of a conductive material such as metal.
The pressure detecting unit 400 may be attached on the inner side surface of the side surface part or on the partition wall B, and is not exposed to the outside of the side surface part.
Referring to (e) of
In an embodiment of the present invention, when at least one pressure detecting unit formed in a mounting space R of a side surface part detects a touch pressure using electrostatic capacitance, a first side surface 1021, a second side surface 1021′, the inner side surface 1041′ of a side surface cover 104, the outer side surface 1041 of the side surface cover 104, the inner side surface (not shown) of a middle frame 102, or one surface 1021″ of a partition wall B may be a reference potential layer. In addition, a separate reference potential layer may further be formed inside the pressure detecting unit.
Referring to (a) of
At least one internal mounting space R of the real surface cover 103 may be formed in at least one region in the side surface part of the rear surface cover 103, may be formed in the entire region of one side surface, or may be formed in the entire regions of both side surfaces. In addition, the pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed in the internal mounting space R of the rear surface cover 103 and thus is not exposed to the outside of the terminal. The internal mounting space R of the side surface part may be formed through various methods as described above according to the position and structure of the mounting space.
The pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed parallel to the side surface of the terminal and may thus be attached on a first side surface 1031 of the mounting surface R of the rear surface cover 103 or on a second side, surface 1031′ facing the first side surface 1031.
Referring to (b) of
At least one side surface mounting space R of the real surface cover 103 may be formed in at least one separate region in a portion extending to a side surface of the terminal, may be formed in the entire region of one side surface, or may be formed on the entire regions of both side surfaces. In addition, when the pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed in the mounting space R and the side surface cover 104 is coupled thereto, the pressure detecting unit is not exposed to the outside of the terminal.
The pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed parallel to a side surface of the terminal and may thus be attached on to an inner side surface 1041′ of the side surface cover 104 or a second side surface 1031′ of the mounting space R.
Referring to (c) of
Referring to (d) of
In addition, in the mounting region R, regions other than a portion, in which the pressure detecting unit 400 is disposed, may be configured as a free space, or also be configured to include an elastic material.
The partition wall B may be composed of a conductive material such as metal.
Here, the partition wall B may be integrally formed with a middle frame 102.
In the rear surface cover, the pressure detecting unit 400 may be attached to the inner side surface (surface facing the partition wall B) of the side surface part of the rear surface cover 103, may be attached to one surface 1021″ of the partition wall B in a direction parallel to a side surface, and is not be exposed to the outside of the side surface part.
Referring to (e) of
In (f) to (j) of
When at least one pressure detecting unit 400, which is formed in the mounting space R of a pressure sensor side surface part, detects a touch pressure using electrostatic capacitance, a first side surface 1031 and a second side surface 1031′ in an internal mounting space R of a side surface part, the inner side surface 1041′ of a side surface cover 104, the outer side surface 1041 of the side surface cover 104, the inner side surface (not shown) of a rear surface cover 103, or one surface 1021″ of a partition wall B may be a reference potential layer. In addition, a separate reference potential layer may further be formed inside the pressure detecting unit 400.
As illustrated in
Referring to
The mounting space R may be configured as a single pressure detecting unit 400 so as to form a predetermined space S ((a) of
At this point, as illustrated in
Referring to
Hereinafter, a case in which a touch pressure is detected using an amount of change in electrostatic capacitance and a case in which first and second pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed as electrodes will be exemplarily described. In
Referring to
Referring to
In addition, the first pressure sensor 450 and the second pressure sensor 460 may be configured in a plurality of diamond-shaped patterns and be formed on the same layer. At this point, the plurality of first pressure sensors 450 may have a form of being mutually connected in a first axis direction, the plurality of second pressure sensors 450 may have a form of being mutually connected in a second axis direction, and at least one among the first pressure sensors 450 and the second pressure sensors 460 may have a form in which a plurality of diamond-shaped electrodes are each connected through a bridge and the first pressure sensors 450 and the second pressure sensors 460 are insulated from each other. So far, although it has been illustrated that a touch pressure is detected from a change in the mutual electrostatic capacitance between the first pressure sensors 450 and the second pressure sensors 460, any one pressure sensor among the first pressure sensors 450 and the second pressure sensors 460 may be configured to be provided only. In this case, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected by detecting a change in the electrostatic capacitance between the one pressure sensor (electrode) and a ground layer, that is, a change in a self electrostatic capacitance. At this point, a driving signal and a receiving signal may be applied to a single electrode and be received.
Referring to
When a pressure is applied to an outer side surface of the terminal through an object, the side surface frame of the terminal may be bent or pressed, and thus, the distance d between the first pressure detecting unit 400-1 and the second pressure detecting unit 400-2 may decrease. According to the decrease .in the distance d, the increasing amount of the mutual electrostatic capacitance between the first pressure detecting unit 400-1 and the second pressure detecting unit 400-2 may be detected, and the magnitude of a touch pressure may be calculated using this.
So far, a pressure magnitude detecting method has been described in the case in which the pressure detecting units 400 are disposed on the first side surfaces 1021 and 1031 in a mounting space and in the case in which the first pressure detecting part 400-1 and the second pressure detecting unit 400-2 are respectively formed on the first side surfaces 1021 and 1031 and the second side surfaces 1021′ and 1031′ in the mounting space, but even when the pressure detecting units 400 are disposed only on the second side surfaces 1021′ and 1031′, the pressure magnitude detecting method may be applied in the same manner.
In addition, even when the pressure detecting part 400 is formed on the side surface part of the front surface cover, touch keys may be formed in the same structure in a mounting space of the side surface part of the front surface cover.
In
Hereinafter,
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In
At this point, in order to attach the pressure detecting unit 400 to the second side surfaces 1021′ and 1031′, a second adhesive layer 432 having a predetermined thickness may be formed on the outer periphery of the elastic form 440. According to embodiments, the second adhesive layer 432 may be a double-sided adhesive tape. In addition, the first adhesive layer 431 may function to attach the elastic from 440 to the second insulating layer 471. At this point, the first and second adhesive layers 431 and 432 are disposed to the outer periphery of the elastic form 440, so that the thickness of the pressure detecting unit 400 may effectively be reduced. The elastic form 440 may perform an operation corresponding to a predetermined space S. For example, when pressed from over the pressure detecting unit 400, the elastic form 440 is pressed, and the distance between the first and second pressure sensors 450 and 460 and the reference potential layer (for example, second side surface) decreases. Thus, the mutual electrostatic capacitance between the first pressure sensor 450 and the second pressure sensor 460 may be reduced. The magnitude of touch pressure may fee detected through such a change in electrostatic capacitance.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
At this point, when the pressure detecting unit 400 is pressed, the elastic form 440 is pressed, and accordingly, the mutual electrostatic capacitance between the first group electrodes 450 and 451 and the second group electrodes 460 and 461 may increase. A touch pressure may be detected through such a change in electrostatic capacitance. In addition, according to embodiments, while any one among the first group electrodes 450 and 451 and the second group electrodes 460 and 461 serves as a ground, self electrostatic capacitance may be detected through the remaining one electrode.
In the case of
The pressure detecting unit 400 using the amount of a change in electrostatic capacitance in the present invention has a driving electrode and a receiving electrode which are divided, may detect pressure using the amount of change in mutual electrostatic capacitance that varies as the driving electrode and the receiving electrode approach the reference potential layer, and may also detect touch pressure on the basis of the amount of a change in the self electrostatic capacitance via a change in the distance from the reference potential layer while tranceiving driving and receiving signals at a single electrode. Specifically, when a pressure is applied by a touch, the reference potential layer or a pressure sensor (driving electrode or receiving electrode) move and the distance between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensor decreases, and the self electrostatic capacitance value increases. Touch pressure is detected by determining the magnitude of the touch pressure on the basis of the increased self electrostatic capacitance value. Even under the presence of user's touch, when a touch pressure is not applied, the distance between a pressure electrode and the reference potential layer does not change, and thus, the self electrostatic capacitance value does not vary. At this point, only the touch position will be detected by a touch detecting unit. However, when even a touch pressure is applied, the mutual/self electrostatic capacitance value varies in the above manner, and the pressure detecting unit 400 may detect the touch pressure on the basis of the amount of change in the self electrostatic capacitance.
In addition, even when the pressure detecting part 400 is formed on a side surface part of a front surface cover, touch keys may be formed in the same structure in a mounting space of the side surface part of the front surface cover, and a method for detecting a touch pressure may be applied in the same manner.
Referring to
Referring to
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Referring to
Here, a partition wall B may be integrally formed with a middle frame or a rear surface cover, and may be formed in a separate partition wall B. When the pressure detecting unit 400 is attached to the partition wall B, the pressure detecting unit may be attached to the partition wall facing the side surface part.
Referring to
Similarly, referring to
In this embodiment, the partition wall B may be formed integrally with the rear surface cover 103 or individually formed to be separated from the rear surface cover 103, and in this case, the reference potential layer may foe one surface 1021″ of the partition wall B of the rear surface cover.
When the pressure is a strain gauge 450, a touch pressure may be detected on the basis of a change in the resistance value of the strain gauge due to the touch pressure. The strain gauge is a device in which electrical resistance varies proportional to the amount of strain, and in general, a metal-coupled strain gauge may be used.
Materials usable for the strain gauge may include transparent materials such as polyethyleneioxythiophene (PEDOT), indium tin oxide (ITO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, gallium zinc oxide, indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), tin oxide (SnO2), indium oxide (In2O3), zinc oxide (ZnO), gallium oxide (Ga2O3), cadmium oxide (CdO), or other doped metal oxides, and silver nanowire, platinum nanowire, nickel nanowire, and other metallic nanowires may be used for piezoresistive semiconductor materials, piezoresistive metal material, and silver nanowires. Materials usable for opaque materials may include silver ink, copper, nano silver, carbon nanotubes (CNT), constantan alloy, karma alloys, doped polycrystalline silicon, doped amorphous silicon, doped single crystal silicon, doped semiconductor material, etc.
As illustrated in
Here, ΔR is a change amount of strain gauge resistance, R is the resistance of a undeformed strain gauge, and GF is the gauge factor.
The strain gauge 450 illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
An increase in temperature may expand the frame even without applied pressure, and consequently, the strain gauge 450 may be stretched, and thus, a change in temperature may exert an adverse influence on the strain gauge 450. When the temperature rises, the resistance of the strain gauge 450 increases and may be incorrectly interpreted as a pressure applied to the strain gauge 430. In order to compensate a change in temperature, two gauges may be used to minimize the influence of the change in temperature. For example, when a horizontal deformation occurs, traces 451 of the strain gauge 450 may be arranged in a horizontal direction parallel to the deformation direction, and traces 461 of a dummy strain gauge 460 may be arranged perpendicular to the deformation direction and arranged in the vertical direction. At this point, the deformation affects the strain gauge 450 and do not almost affect the dummy strain gauge 460, but since temperatures exert the same influence on both the strain gauge 450 and the dummy strain gauge 460, the change, due to temperatures may be removed and only the value due to pressure change may be detected.
A portable terminal according to the present invention may be provided with a pressure sensor configured having a single channel by forming a single strain gauge 450. In addition, a portable terminal according to the present invention may be provided with a pressure sensor configured having a plurality of channels by forming a plurality of strain gauges 450. Such the pressure sensor configured having a plurality of channels may be used to simultaneously sense the magnitudes of the plurality of pressures with respect to a plurality of touches.
Besides, at least one pressure sensor may be composed of a piezoelectric element. When mechanical stress (specifically, mechanical force or pressure) is applied to a specific solid material and a deformation occurs, electric charges are accumulated while polarization is generated inside the specific solid. The collected electric charges appear as a form of an electrical signal, that is, a voltage, between both electrodes of the material. This phenomenon is referred to as a piezoelectric effect, the solid material is referred to as a piezoelectric material, and the collected charges are referred to as piezoelectricity. At least one pressure sensor may detect electrical energy (force or pressure) applied to the piezoelectric element and electrical energy (voltage which is a type of electrical signal) generated by deformation due to the applied energy, and a control unit may calculate the applied mechanical force or pressure on the basis of the detected voltage.
In addition, at least one pressure sensor may be implemented as a MEMS pressure sensor. The MEMS pressure sensor is manufactured by rear surface penetration etching of a semiconductor substrate (frame of side surface part) according to a used pressure range and be used as an absolute pressure or a differential pressure sensor. MEMS pressure sensors may be classified into a pressure resistance type and a capacitive type according to pressure detecting methods and classified into a bulk type and a surface type according to manufacturing methods. The pressure resistance type pressure sensor may measure a pressure magnitude by forming a thin film through a semiconductor process, forming a pressure resistive body on the boundary between the thin film and a substrate, and detecting that when a thin film is deformed due to pressure, the resistance of pressure resistive body varies, and the capacitive type ME MS pressure sensor may measure a pressure magnitude by detecting a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between electrodes due to a change in the distance between electrode plates facing each other, the change being caused by external force (stress). The bulk-type MEMS pressure sensor may be manufactured by a method in which a detecting circuit is formed on the front surface of a silicon substrate, and the substrate is processed by penetrating the substrate from the rear surface of the substrate to use the upper portion of the substrate as a detecting thin film, and the surface-type MEMS pressure sensor may be manufactured by a method in which a substrate is not directly processed and a detecting thin film and a pressure cavity are formed on the surface of the substrate through a semiconductor process.
As such, at least one pressure sensor is diversified, and embodiments of the present invention are not limited to a specific pressure detecting element, and any method may be applied as long as the pressure at a touch position may be acquired directly or indirectly.
Referring to
Specifically, the touch detecting unit processor 14 and a pressure detecting unit processor 15 may respectively be formed as separate ICs, or may simultaneously perform respective functions on a single IC. That is, in the portable terminal including the touch detecting unit processor 14 and the pressure detecting unit processor 15, detection of touch presence and touch position may be performed by the touch detecting unit processor 14, and determination of pressure magnitude calculation and pressure touch may be performed by the pressure detecting unit processor 15. In addition, although the touch detecting unit processor 14 and the pressure detecting unit processor 15 are provided, the touch detecting unit processor 14 and the pressure detecting unit processor 15 only transmit, to the control unit 180, a detected signal (for example, self electrostatic capacitance, mutual electrostatic capacitance, strain gauge change amount etc.), and the control unit 180 may process touch presence, touch position detection, pressure magnitude calculation and pressure touch determination, functions corresponding thereto, etc.
Referring to
The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be arranged so as to cross each ether. The driving electrodes TX may include a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn extending in the first axis direction and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm extending in the second axis direction crossing the first axis direction. At this point, when the driving electrodes TX are formed in the row direction, the receiving electrodes RX are formed in the column direction crossing the driving electrodes TX. In addition, when the driving electrodes TX are formed in the column direction, the receiving electrodes RX are formed in the row direction crossing the driving electrodes TX.
The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be arranged on mutually different layers. For example, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on each of both surfaces of a single insulating film (not shown), or the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn may be formed on one surface of a first insulating film (not shown), and the plurality of receiving electrodes; RX1 to RXm may be formed on one surface of a second insulating film (not shown) different from the first insulating film.
The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be composed of a transparent conductive material (for example, indium tin oxide (ITO) composed of tin oxide (SnO2), indium oxide (In2O3) or the like, antimony tin oxide (ATO), or the like). However, this is merely an example, and the driving electrodes TX and the receiving electrodes RX may also be composed of different transparent conductive material or an opaque conductive material. For example, the driving electrodes TX and the receiving electrodes RX may be formed by including at least any one among silver ink, copper, or carbon nanotubes (CNT). In addition, the driving electrodes TX and the receiving electrodes RX may be implemented as metal meshes or composed of a nano silver material.
The driving unit 12 may apply driving signals to the driving electrodes TX1 to TXn, and the driving signals may be sequentially applied once to a single driving electrode from the first driving electrode TX1 to the nth driving electrode TXn. The application of these driving signals may repeatedly be performed. This is merely an example, and according to embodiments, driving signals may simultaneously be applied to the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn.
The detecting unit 11 receives detection signals including information about electrostatic capacitance Cnm 14 generated between the driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm to which driving signals are applied through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm. For example, the detection signals applied to the driving electrodes TX may be signals coupled by the electrostatic capacitance Cnm 14 generated between the driving electrodes TX and the receiving electrodes RX. As such, the process for detecting the driving signals applied to the first, driving electrode TX1 to the nth driving electrode TXn through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be said to scan the front surface touch detecting unit.
For example, the detecting unit 11 may be configured to include receivers (not shown) connected to the respective receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm through a switch. The switch is turned on in a time interval for detecting a signal of the corresponding receiving electrode RX and causes the signal from the receiving electrode RX to be detected by the receiver. The receiver may be configured to include an amplifier (not shown) and a feedback capacitor coupled between the negative (−) input terminal and the output terminal of the amplifier. At this point, the positive (+) input terminal of the amplifier may be connected to a ground. In addition, the receiver may further include a rest switch connected in parallel to the feedback capacitor. The reset switch may reset the conversion from current into voltage performed by the receiver. The negative input terminal of the amplifier may be connected to the corresponding receiving electrode RX and covert, to a voltage, a current signal including information about the electrostatic capacitance Cnm 101 by receiving and integrating the current signal. The detecting unit 10 may further include an analog to digital converter (ADC) that converts the data integrated through the receiver. Subsequently, the digital data may be input to the control processing unit 13 and processed so that touch information about the front surface touch detecting unit is acquired. The detecting unit 11 may be integrally formed with the receiver by including the ADC and the control processing unit 13.
The control processing unit 13 may perform a function for controlling the operation of the driving unit 12 and the detecting unit 11. For example, the control processing unit 13 generates a drive control signal, transmits the signal to the driving unit 12, and then may allow the driving signal to be applied to the preset driving electrode TX at a predetermined time. In addition, the control processing unit 13 generates a detection control signal, transmits the signal to the detecting unit 11, and may allow the detection signal from the preset receiving electrode RX to be received and allow a preset function to be performed.
Referring to
When the side surface touch detecting unit includes a single driving electrode TXn+1 (corresponding to 200 of
In
As described so far, electrostatic capacitance of a predetermined value is generated for each of the intersection points between the driving electrodes TX and the receiving electrodes, and when an object such as a finger, palm, or stylus approaches the side surface part of the portable terminal, the value of the electrostatic capacitance may vary The electrostatic capacitance may exhibit mutual electrostatic capacitance Cnm. The detecting unit 11 detects such electrical characteristics and may detect the touch presence and/or touch position with respect to the side surface detecting unit.
According to a portable terminal of an embodiment, implemented are not a front surface touch sensor and a front surface pressure sensor, but a separate side surface touch sensor and a separate side surface pressure sensor, and thus, the touch position and the touch pressure which are applied to a side surface of the portable terminal may be detected.
In addition, when the frame of a portable terminal is implemented overall using a metallic material, a side surface touch sensor provided to a side surface of the portable terminal is configured to be disposed on a non-metallic material portion, and thus, the touch position detecting sensitivity with respect to the side surface may be improved.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2018-0018766 | Feb 2018 | KR | national |
| 10-2018-0033674 | Mar 2018 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2019/001816 | 2/14/2019 | WO | 00 |
