Embodiments of the invention relate to a touch screen panel and a portable terminal including the same.
A touch screen type display module having a touch screen panel is preferred for its convenient use and refined design of conventional electronic appliances, such as ATM devices, or TVs, and for the input of a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone.
Such a touch screen type display module is able to process a specific function by figuring out a specific point of a character or a specific position touched by a user's finger or a touch pen, without auxiliary input means such as a keypad.
A capacitive touch screen may be categorized into a mutual capacitive touch screen and a self capacitive touch screen. In the mutual capacitive touch screen, capacitive change between a sensing electrode and a driving electrode is detected by touch to determine a touch point. Generally, the capacitive touch screen panel may have a structure configured of sensing electrodes arranged in a longitudinal direction and driving electrodes arranged in a horizontal direction which are sequentially multilayered in an up and down direction.
This “Background” section is provided for background information only. The statements in this “Background” are not an admission that the subject matter disclosed in this “Background” section constitutes prior art to the present disclosure, and no part of this “Background” section may be used as an admission that any part of this application, including this “Background” section, constitutes prior art to the present disclosure.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a touch screen panel including an electrode pattern layer that is able to enhance sensing accuracy.
In one embodiment, a backlight unit includes a touch screen panel; a plurality of separate sensing electrodes; and a plurality of separate driving electrodes, wherein each of the sensing electrodes comprises a main electrode and a plurality of expanded parts, and each of the expanded parts comprises (i) a sub-electrode expanding or extending from the main electrode and (ii) at least one expanded electrode expanding or extending from the sub-electrode, and each of the driving electrodes surrounds at least part of a corresponding one of the expanded parts.
The plurality of the sensing electrodes and the plurality of the driving electrodes may be in or on a single layer.
The sub-electrodes of the expanded parts may be expanding or extending from different portions of the main electrode, respectively.
The at least one expanded electrode may include a first expanded electrode expanding or extending from the sub-electrode in a first direction; and a second expanded electrode expanding or extending from the sub-electrode in a second direction.
The sub-electrode may be perpendicular to the main electrode, and the at least one expanded electrode may be parallel to the main electrode.
The first expanded electrode and the second expanded electrode may be vertically symmetrical with respect to the sub-electrode. An angle formed by the first expanded electrode and the second expanded electrode may be larger than 0° and smaller than 90°.
Side surfaces of the driving electrode surrounding the sub-electrode and the expanded electrode may be the same distance from a nearest side surface of the sub-electrode and the expanded electrode.
The touch screen panel may further include a board on the plurality of the sensing electrodes and the plurality of the driving electrodes. The touch screen panel may further include an insulation layer under the plurality of the sensing electrodes and the plurality of the driving electrodes.
The main electrode may have a linear shape. In some embodiments, the main electrode may have a line shape having a plurality of bent portions, and the sub-electrode may be expanded or extend from at least one of the bent portions.
An angle between the main electrode and the sub-electrode may be identical to an angle between the expanded electrode and the sub-electrode.
Each of the expanded parts may include an upper expanded electrode expanding or extending from a predetermined portion of the sub-electrode between the main electrode and the expanded electrode in a first direction; and a lower expanded electrode expanding or extending from the predetermined portion of the sub-electrode in a second direction. The upper expanded electrode and the lower expanded electrode may be vertically symmetrical with respect to the sub-electrode. The touch screen panel may further include first wiring lines connected to each of the plurality of sensing electrodes; and second wiring lines connected to each of the plurality of driving electrodes.
At least one of the expanded parts may further include an auxiliary expanded electrode expanding or extending from the at least one expanded electrode. The auxiliary expanded electrode may be in the expanded part in a location farthest from the first wiring lines. The lengths of the auxiliary expanded electrodes may increase as the distance(s) between the auxiliary expanded parts and the first wiring lines increases.
The first wiring lines may be connected to corresponding ends of the sensing electrodes, and the second wiring lines may be connected to corresponding driving electrodes and expanded to other ends of the sensing electrodes.
The line widths of the second wiring lines may increase as the length of the second wiring lines connected to the driving electrodes increases.
The touch screen panel according to embodiments of the invention may enhance sensing accuracy and reduce response time and current consumption.
Arrangements and embodiments of the invention may be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein:
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the annexed drawings. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer (film), a region, a pattern or a structure is referred to as being ‘on’ or ‘under’ another element, it can be directly on/under the element, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being ‘on’ or ‘under’, ‘under the element’ as well as ‘on the element’ can be included based on the element.
The sizes shown in the drawings are exaggerated, omitted or schematically illustrated for explanation convenience and accuracy. The size of each element may not fully reflect the actual size. Wherever possible, same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. A touch screen panel and a portable terminal including the same according to embodiments of the invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings as follows.
In reference to
The electrode pattern layer 110 includes sensing electrodes and driving electrodes, separate (e.g., spaced apart) from each other, which are arranged in regions where touch is detected in a predetermined pattern, respectively.
The board 120 is disposed on a surface, for example, a front surface of the electrode pattern layer 110 and it may comprise a dielectric film having a high transmissivity. For example, the board 120 may include at least one of glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyimide (PI) and poly(meth)acrylate. In this instance, the board 120 may be a touch screen cover.
The insulation layer 130 may be on the other surface, namely, a back surface of the electrode pattern layer 110, and it may comprise a transparent insulation layer such as PET. According to another embodiment, a closed layer (not shown) is disposed under the insulation layer 130, to remove electromagnetic inference (EMI) or noise that can be drawn to or affect the electrode pattern layer 110.
The touch screen panel driving part 140 may be electrically connected to the electrode pattern layer 130 by the wiring lines 150, and it may convert an electric signal into a coordinate signal. The touch screen panel driving part 140 includes a circuit board 142 and a panel controller 144 mounted on the circuit board 142. The circuit board 142 may comprise a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or chip on film (COF), and it may include a connector 146 as an electrical connection terminal. The panel controller 144 may detect a change in capacitive values of a specific point, when a specific point is touched on the touch screen 120, and it may generate a touch signal according to the coordinate(s) of the specific point computed based on the change in the capacitive values.
In reference to
In this instance, the sensing region (A1×A2) may mean a region where touch is sensed. A1 is a first direction (for example, along a y-axis) and A2 may mean a second direction (for example, an x-axis direction). Also, the region defined by dotted line 210 in the electrode pattern layer 110-1 shown in
The electrode pattern layer 110-1 may include a transmissive conductive material, for example, at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), tin oxide (TO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium tin zinc oxide (ITZO), indium aluminum zinc oxide (IAZO), indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), indium gallium tin oxide (IGTO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), gallium zinc oxide (GZO), carbon nano-tubes, conducting polymers, and silver or copper transparent ink.
An adhesive (403, see
The driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are >1, and m and n are natural numbers) are separate (e.g., spaced apart) from each other. The sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn) are also separate (e.g., spaced apart) from each other. Also, the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn, where n>1 and n is a natural number) are separate (e.g., spaced apart) from the driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers).
The sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn) may be arranged in the second direction (for example, the x-axis direction in
The main electrode 201 may have a linear shape (for example, formed longitudinally along the first [e.g., y-axis] direction). In other words, the length of the main electrode 201 along the first direction is larger than its width along the second direction (for example, the x-axis direction). For example, the main electrode 201 may have the shape of a line extended from a first end of the sensing region (A1×A2) to an opposite end thereof.
The main electrodes 201 of the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn) are separate (spaced apart) from each other in the second direction (for example, the x-axis direction), in parallel.
Each of the expanded parts 202 may include a sub-electrode 301 expanding or extending from a different (e.g., unique) region of the main electrode 201 in the second direction (for example, the x-axis direction in
The at least one expanded electrode 302 may be branched from the sub-electrode 301 in two different (e.g., opposite) directions. For example, the expanded electrode 302-2 and 302-2 may be symmetrical vertically with respect to the sub-electrode 301. For example, the at least one expanded electrode 302 may include a first expanded electrode 302-1 expanding or extending from the sub-electrode 301 in an upward direction (e.g., a first direction orthogonal to sub-electrode 301) and a second expanded electrode 302-2 expanding or extending from the sub-electrode 301 in a downward direction (e.g., a second direction orthogonal to sub-electrode 301 and opposite to the first orthogonal direction).
The sub-electrode 301 and the expanded electrode 302 may form one or more right angles. For example, the sub-electrode 301 may be perpendicular to the main electrode 201 and the expanded electrode 302 may be parallel to the main electrode 201. The expanded electrodes 302 of each expanded part 202 may be separate or spaced apart from each other, but part of the same unitary structure. For example, the expanded parts 202 may form a shape of an English letter “T”, and they may be vertically symmetrical with respect to the sub-electrode 301.
The driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) may be arranged on or in the sensing region (A1×A2) in a matrix having rows and columns, surrounding the main electrode 201 or between adjacent main electrodes 201.
The driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) may be near the main electrode 201 and the expanded part 202. Each of the driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) may be near and may surround at least three sides of a corresponding one of the expanded parts 202. For example, first driving electrodes (D11 to Dm1, where m>1, and m is a natural number) in a first column may surround a first sensing electrode (S1), and the first driving electrodes in a column of the array (D11 to Dm1, where m>1, and m is a natural number) surround corresponding expanded parts 202 of the first sensing electrode (S1), respectively, to form a vertical alignment. Each gap between a sensing electrode (for example, S1) and a neighboring driving electrode (for example, D11) may be uniform. Specifically, a side surface of the driving electrode (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) near the sub-electrode 301 and the expanded electrode 302 may be separate (e.g., spaced apart) a uniform distance from a nearest side surface of the sub-electrode 301 and a nearest side surface of the expanded electrode 302.
Each of the driving electrodes (D11 to Dm1, where m>1, and m is a natural number) may include a first electrode 303 and a second electrode 304. The first electrode 303 may have a “U” shape located near the “T”-shaped expanded part 202 of the sensing electrode (for example, S1). The second electrode 304 may be connected to an end of the first electrode 303, and it may be located between the main electrode 201 and the expanded part 202 of the sensing electrode (for example, S1).
For example, the second electrode 304 may include a first part 304-1 expanding or extending from a first end of the first electrode 303 toward an area between the main electrode 201 and the expanded part 202 of the sensing electrode (for example, S1), and a second part 304-2 expanding or extending from an opposite end of the first electrode 303 to an area between the main electrode 201 and the expanded part 202.
In reference to
The wiring lines 150 (
For example, each of the first wiring lines 10-1 to 10-n (where n>1, and n is a natural number) may be connected to an end of a corresponding one of the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn). In other words, one of the first wiring lines 10-1 to 10-n (where n>1 and n is a natural number) may be connected to an end of a corresponding one (for example, S1) of the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn). The wiring lines 10-1 to 10-n (where n>1, and n is a natural number) may be independent lines separate from each other.
Each of the second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) may be connected to a corresponding one of the driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers). In other words, one (for example, K11) of the second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) may be connected to a corresponding one (D11) of the driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers). The second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) may be independent lines separated from each other.
The group of first wiring lines 10-1 to 10-n (where n>1 and n is a natural number) and the group of second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) may be connected to the driving part 140. The driving part 140 may supply electric power to the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn, where n>1 and n is a natural number) and the driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn) via the first wiring lines 10-1 to 10-n (where n>1 and n is a natural number) and the second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers).
When electric power is supplied to the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn, where n>1 and n is a natural number) and the driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers), an electric field may be formed between the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn, where n>1 and n is a natural number) and the driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers).
When the user's finger, stylus, or touch pen touches the board 120, an electric field between the sensing electrode and the driving electrode at the touch point is changed and a capacitance is changed accordingly. The change of the capacitance is sensed, and a position of the touch point may be calculated.
Generally, when the user's finger (or touch pen or stylus) is moved in a predetermined direction, an electrode pattern layer without rapid capacitance change is required to enhance sensing accuracy of the touch screen panel. In other words, if capacitance change is gentler as the structure of the electrode pattern layer becomes more symmetrical, the sensing accuracy of the touch screen panel can be improved.
According to one embodiment, when the user's finger, stylus or touch pen moves along the first direction (for example, the y-axis direction), the sensing accuracy may be enhanced by the sub-electrodes 301 of the sensing electrodes S1 to Sn. That is because the sub-electrodes 301 of the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn) may be symmetrical, an advantageous structure or arrangement when the user's finger is moved along the first direction.
Also, according to a further embodiment, when the user's finger, touch pen, or stylus is moved along a second direction (for example, the x-axis direction), the sensing accuracy may be enhanced by the expanded electrodes 302 of the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn). That is because the symmetrical expanded electrode 302 and main electrode 201 can reduce non-uniformity of the capacitance change when the user's finger is moved along the second direction (for example, the x-axis direction). Accordingly, embodiments of the invention may enhance the sensing accuracy of the touch screen panel by using the expanded electrodes 302.
In reference to
The sensing electrodes (SE1 to SEn, where n>1 and n is a natural number) are separate or spaced apart from each other. The driving electrodes (Dr11 to Drmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers) are separate or spaced apart from each other. Also, the sensing electrodes (SE1 to SEn, where n>1 and n is a natural number) are separate or spaced apart from the driving electrodes (Dr11 to Drmn, where m and n are each >1, and m and n are natural numbers). Each of the sensing electrodes (SE1 to SEn, where n>1 and n is a natural number) may include a main electrode 601 and a plurality of expanded parts 602.
At least one main electrode 601 of the sensing electrodes (SE1 to SEn, where n>1 and n is a natural number) may be along a first, longitudinal direction (for example, the y-axis), with a shape of a line having bent portions (for example, P1 to Ph, where h>1 and h is a natural number). For example, the at least one main electrode 601 may have a meander shape, a zigzag curved shape, or a saw-like shape, with the plurality of the bent portions (P1 to Ph, for example, where h=13).
The length of the main electrode 601 along the first direction (for example, the y-axis direction) is larger than the total width of the main electrode 601 along the second direction (e.g., the x-axis direction). For example, the main electrode 601 may have a shape of a line having the bent portions (for example, P1 to Ph, for example, where h>1 and h is a natural number) extending from one end of the sensing region (A1×A2) to the opposite end thereof.
Each of the expanded parts 602 may include a sub-electrode 501 expanding or extending from at least one of the bent portions (for example, P1 to P13) along a second direction (for example, the x-axis direction) and at least one expanded electrode 502 expanding or extending from the sub-electrode 501 along a third direction.
The at least one expanded electrode 502 may include a first expanded electrode 502-1 and a second expanded electrode 502-2 that branch or extend from the sub-electrode 501 in different directions. The first expanded electrode 502-1 and the second expanded electrode 502-2 may be vertically symmetrical with respect to the sub-electrode 501.
The at least one sub-electrode 501 and the expanded electrode 502 may form an acute angle (θ2) that is larger than 0° and smaller than 90° (e.g., from about 30° to about 60°, and in one example, about 45°). Also, the main electrode 601 and the sub-electrode 501 may form an acute angle (θ1) that may be the same as θ2, but along an opposite direction of the first expanded electrode 501.
For example, the sub-electrode 501 may be expanded or extended from every odd-numbered (or even-numbered) bent portion (for example, P1, P3, P5, . . . P13) out of the bent portions (for example, P1 to Ph, for example, where h=13).
The angle (θ1) formed by the main electrode 601 and the sub-electrode 501 may be identical to the angle (θ2) formed by the sub-electrode 501 and the expanded electrode 502. θ1=θ2 may enhance the symmetry between the main electrode 601 and the expanded part 602. Such symmetry enhancement may enable the embodiment(s) of
The expanded part 602 adjacent to an edge of the sensing region (A1×A2) may include a sub-electrode 611 and an expanded electrode 612. The expanded electrode 612 may have a single branched electrode expanded in a single direction, to form an acute angle together with the sub-electrode 611. The first portion may face the edge of the sub-electrode 611. Also, an expanded electrode (for example, 622), adjacent to a different edge in the sensing region (A1×A2) may be perpendicular to the main electrode 621.
The main electrode (SE5) adjacent to another edge of the sensing region (A1×A2) may have a line shape that is longitudinal from the first portion (e.g., the adjacent edge) and that extends or expands toward an opposite edge of the sensing region (A1×A2).
In reference to
The third expanded electrode 710 may expand or extend from a predetermined portion of the sub-electrode 501 between the main electrode 601 and the expanded electrode 502. For example, the third expanded electrode 710 may include a first (e.g., upper) expanded electrode 712 upwardly expanding or extending from a center of the sub-electrode 501 and a second (e.g., lower) expanded electrode 714 downwardly expanding or extending from the center of the sub-electrode 501. For example, the upper direction and the lower direction may be opposite to each other. The first expanded electrode 712 and the second expanded electrode 714 may be vertically symmetrical with respect to the sub-electrode 501. The first expanded electrode 712 and the second expanded electrode 714 may be perpendicular to the sub-electrode 501.
In reference to
For example, the expanded parts 202-1 in a first row farthest in a first direction from the group of first wiring lines (10-1 to 10-n, for example, where n=4) may further include an auxiliary expanded electrode 903 expanding or extending from an end of the expanded electrode 302 in a fourth direction. For example, the auxiliary expanded electrode 903 may include a first auxiliary expanded electrode 901 expanding or extending from an end of the expanded electrode 302, and a second auxiliary expanded electrode 902 expanding or extending from the other end of the expanded electrode 302. The first auxiliary expanded electrode 901 and the second auxiliary expanded electrode 902 may be vertically symmetrical with respect to the sub-electrode 301.
The expanded parts 202 and 202-1 of the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn, for example, where n=4) may have a resistance difference based on the distance from the first wiring lines (10-1 to 10-n, for example, where n=4). Accordingly, there may be a size difference of measurement signals received by the panel control part 144 of the touch screen panel 100.
According to the embodiment 110-4, the structure of the expanded part 202-1 farthest from the group of first wiring lines (10-1 to 10-n, for example, where n=4) is differentiated from the structure of the expanded part 202, such that a capacitance value between the driving electrode (D11 to Din, for example, where n=4) farthest from the group of first wiring lines and the expanded part 202-1 may be controlled.
The capacitance values between the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes can be adjusted based on their relative positions. The capacitance value adjusted based on the relative position may reduce the deviation of the measured signal size that may be generated by different resistance values according to the relative positions.
Accordingly, software computation can be decreased, and a response time of the touch screen panel 100 can be increased. Also, current consumption can be reduced. The response time may refer to the length of time from the instant of touch to the time taken to complete the computation of the coordinate of the touch point.
In reference to
The lengths of the auxiliary expanded electrodes 903 may be different from each other based on the distance between the first wiring lines 10-1 to 10-n (for example, where n=4) and the lengths of the expanded parts having the auxiliary expanded electrodes 903 may also be different from each other. For example, as the distances between the first wiring lines (10-1 to 10-n, for example, where n=4) increases, the lengths of the auxiliary expanded electrodes 903 provided in the expanded parts may also increase.
For example, as shown in
In reference to
In reference to
In reference to
For example, each of the first wiring lines (10-1 to 10-n, for example, where n=4) may be connected to an end of a main electrode 201 in a corresponding one of the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn, for example, where n=4), and may expand or extend toward the opposite end of the main electrode 201. In other words, the first wiring lines (10-1 to 10-n, for example, where n=4) and the second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn, for example, where m=6 and n=4) may expand or extend in different directions with respect to the sensing region (A1×A2). In other words, the first wiring lines (10-1 to 10-n, for example, where n=4) and the second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn, for example, where m=6 and n=4) have different directions with respect to a particular location or structure in, or border of, the sensing region (A1×A2), to reduce a path length difference of each signal. In this instance, a signal path may refer to a path passing the second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn, for example, where m=6 and n=4), the driving electrodes (D11 to Dmn, for example, where m=6 and n=4), the sensing electrodes (S1 to Sn, for example, where n=4), and the first wiring lines (10-1 to 10-n, for example, where n=4).
In reference to
Signal paths (690-1 to 690-m and 680-1 to 680-m) in
The lengths of the signal paths 690-1 to 690-m (
According to embodiments 110-4 to 110-7, the capacitance value may be adjusted by changing the structure of the expanded part, to make the size of the measured signal more uniform. However, the impedance changes according to the frequency of the measured signal, and the frequency range in which the signal size can be fitted (adjusted) may also be limited. However, according to the embodiment shown in
As shown in
Based on the distance between driving electrodes 70-11 to 70-mn connected to the second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn) and the first wiring lines 10-1 to 10-n, the lengths and/or the line widths of the second wiring lines (K11 to Kmn) may be different from each other. For example, as the distance of the second wiring lines from the first wiring lines 10-1 to 10-n increases, the line widths of the second wiring lines may increase. For example, the line width of the second wiring line (K11) connected to the driving electrode (for example, 70-11) in the first row and the first column of the array may be larger than the line width of the second wiring line (Km1) connected to the driving electrode (for example, 70-m1) located in the mth row and the first column. As a result, in the embodiment shown in
Bonding region 920 as shown in
Bonding region 920 is a region in which the wires from the display area are bonded to wires 936-945 in the control area 910. Individual bond pads 921-927, the bonding portion of the wires from the display area, and the bonding material securing the bond pads 921-927 and the bonding portion of the wires from the display area together are each a thin film material (see the discussion of
Via region 930 comprises a region in which the bond pads 921-925 in each group of bonding pads are electrically connected to traces 936-940 by vias 931-935. Vias 931-935 may be conventionally formed. Alternatively, in one embodiment, a hole is formed at the intersection between a trace 936, 937, 938, 939 or 940 and a conductive extension from a bond pad 921, 922, 923, 924 or 925 on an opposite side of a flexible substrate, and a conductive material is deposited or otherwise formed in the hole using a conventional deposition method. Each of the traces 936-940 respectively receive control signals TX0-TX4 from touch screen controller 950. Thus, each of the control signals TX0-TX4 from touch screen controller 950 is transmitted to a wire coupled to a particular cell (e.g., the nth cell, where n is an integer of from 1 to 5 in the example of
The control circuitry 950 comprises a touch screen controller chip having 5 outputs TX0-TX4, each configured to transmit one or more control signals (e.g., a select signal, a reset signal, etc.) to a corresponding row of cells in the touch screen display, and 5 inputs RX0-RX4, each configured to receive one or more signals (e.g., a voltage or current) from a corresponding column of cells in the touch screen display (e.g., through bond pad 926). The signal(s) RX0-RX4 received by the touch screen controller chip 950 indicates the column in the display where the window above the display has been touched, and the signal(s) TX0-TX4 transmitted by the touch screen controller chip 950 may select the row in the display for determining whether the window above the row in the display has been touched.
The wires, traces and bond pads in region 910 may be on a flexible printed circuit board, in which the bond pads 921-927 and extensions thereof up to the vias 931-935, as well as the traces 941-945 from the columns of the display to the input terminals RX0-RX4 in the touch screen controller 950 are in or made from a lower layer of conductive material on a first side of a flexible substrate (such as an organic polymer), and the traces 936-940 are in or made from an upper layer of conductive material on a second side of the flexible substrate opposite to the first side. In this way, the substrate in the control region 910 can be thin and flexible.
In reference to
The body 850 shown in
The wireless communication unit 710 may include at least one module that is able to enable wireless communication between the terminal 200 and a wireless communication system or between the terminal 200 and a network where the terminal 200 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 710 may include a broadcasting receiving module 711, a mobile communication module 712, a wireless internet module 713, a short distance communication module 714 and a location information module 715.
The A/V (Audio/Video) input unit 720 is configured to input an audio signal and/or a video signal, and it may include a camera 721 and a microphone 722.
The sensing unit 740 detects a current state of the terminal 200, such as an open or closed state of the terminal 200, a location of the terminal 200, a user contact state, an azimuth of the terminal 200, acceleration/deceleration of the terminal 200, and it generates a sensing signal to control the operation of the terminal 200. For example, when the terminal 200 is a slide phone, the sensing unit 740 may sense an opening or closing of the slide phone. In addition, the sensing unit 740 may perform a sensing function related to a power supply of the power supply unit 790 and an external device connected to the interface unit 770.
The input/output unit 750 may generate input or output related to sight, hearing, or touch. The input/output unit 750 may generate input data for controlling the operation of the terminal 200. Also, it may display information processed in the terminal 200.
The input/output unit 750 may include a key pad 730, a touch screen panel 100, a display module 751 and a sound output port or audio output module 752. The key pad 730 may generate input data by keypad input. The touch screen panel 100 may convert a change in capacitance generated by the user's touch at a specific point of a touch screen into an electrical input signal. The touch screen panel 100 may be one of the embodiments described above.
The display module 751 may include a plurality of pixels having a color changing capability based on an electrical signal. For example, the display module 751 may include at least one of a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display and a 3D display.
The audio output module 752 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 710 in a call signal receiving mode, a speaking mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, or a broadcasting receiving mode. Furthermore it may output audio data stored in the memory unit 760.
The memory unit 760 may store a program for processing and controlling of the control unit 780 therein, and/or it may temporarily store input/output data (for example, a telephone directory, a message, an audio, a still image, and/or a video) therein.
The interface unit 770 may be employed as a passage connected to an external device and to terminal 200. The interface unit 770 is supplied data by an external device or an electric power to transmit to each of the components in the terminal 200, and/or it can transmit internal data of the terminal 200 to the external device. For example, the interface unit 770 may include a wire/wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wire/wireless data port, a memory card port, a port connecting a device including an identification module, an audio input/output (I/O) port, a video I/O port and/or an earphone port.
The controller 780 may control an overall operation of the terminal 200. For example, the controller 780 may perform control and process functions related to voice communication, data communication and video phone calls. The controller 780 may include a panel controller 144 for the touch screen panel driving part 140 and/or it may perform the function of the panel controller 144.
The controller 780 may include a multimedia module 781 for playing multimedia. The multimedia module 781 may be located in or external to the controller 780. The controller 780 may also perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing a written input or a picture or drawing input performed on or provided to the touch screen as letters and/or images.
The power supply unit 790 may receive an external power or internal power applied thereto by control of the controller 780 to supply a power required by the operation of each of the components.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2012-0051775 | May 2012 | KR | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/655,308, filed Oct. 18, 2012, pending, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Application No. 10-2012-0051775, filed in Korea on 16 May 2012, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13655308 | Oct 2012 | US |
Child | 13841372 | US |