CN101551713A - Pointer input device with dual input mode - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pointer input device with double input modes, which comprises a control operation module, a coordinate sensing module, a first analog multiplexing module, a first signal processing module, a second analog multiplexing module and a second signal processing module. The coordinate induction module is internally provided with a touch induction loop unit and an electromagnetic induction loop unit. The control operation module has at least one microprocessor. The control operation module enables the electromagnetic induction loop unit to carry out scanning and signal processing through the first analog multiplex module and the first signal processing module, and enables the touch induction loop unit to carry out scanning and signal processing through the second analog multiplex module and the second signal processing module; therefore, the user can freely control various instructions of an operating system, drawing software and the like in an electromagnetic pen input mode or a touch mode in the single pointer input device.

Description

Pointer input device with dual input modes

technical field

The present invention relates to the technical field of a pointer input device, in particular to a single pointer input device capable of two input modes of electromagnetic pen and touch.

Background technique

In recent years, the technology of the touch sensor panel has been continuously improved, which reduces the manufacturing cost, and thus is widely used in various electronic products. For example, information navigation systems in public places, bank ATM screens, thin notebook computers, tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic dictionaries, mobile phones, MP3 players, and satellite navigation screens (GPS).

Currently, there are two main ways to use touch panel technology, one is resistive and the other is capacitive. The resistive principle is mainly based on the pressure when a foreign object touches the touch panel, so that the contact between the upper conductive film and the lower conductive film produces a pressure drop, and the position of the touch point is calculated after the pressure touches, thus obtaining the Y-axis and X-axis Axis is currently the most widely used method. The advantages are simple structure, few components, and high production efficiency, but the disadvantages are scratch resistance and low light transmittance. The capacitive touch panel is divided into surface capacitive sensing and projected capacitive sensing. The main principle of the surface capacitive sensing is to establish a uniform electric field on the glass surface. Whenever a finger touches the glass, it will contact with the outer conductive layer. The electric field produces capacitive coupling, and absorbs a small current, and then calculates the current loss ratio to determine the coordinates of the finger by the controller. The advantages are waterproof, scratch-resistant, high light transmittance and wide applicable temperature range. The disadvantages are that there are many steps in the process, the driver IC and circuit are complicated, the manufacturing cost is high, and it must be operated with hands or other conductive media. The projected capacitance (Projected Capacitance) sensor, commonly known as matrix capacitive or digital capacitive, is based on the principle of using the change of the electrostatic electric field on the sensing grid to determine the position of the contact point. When the finger touches the panel, a capacitance is formed between the finger and the grid, and the controller uses the variation of the electrical parameters of the grid to calculate the coordinate position of the contact point. Contact point motion is still sensed. However, on the whole, although the touch panel can be used for fast cursor manipulation by finger touch, it is only suitable for simple drawing or simple interface operations.

If the user needs precise drawing, the digital board is a very good choice. The digital pad is a handwriting input device with electromagnetic induction, and the user must use a dedicated electromagnetic pen input device to position the cursor. When the signal of the electromagnetic pen input device is sensed on the digital board, it is detected through the X-axis antenna scanning circuit and the Y-axis scanning circuit on the digital board, and the position and pressure of the cursor are calculated.

In today's market, the touch panel and the digital pad are two independent products, and users can only use a single input method in a single product, such as a touch method or an electromagnetic pen input method. Therefore, the present inventor thinks about designing another device that can accept the aforementioned two input methods, so that the user has various and convenient usage modes.

Contents of the invention

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a pointer input device with dual input modes. The dual input modes are touch mode and electromagnetic pen input mode respectively, so that users can use different input modes according to convenience in a single pointer input device. In addition, the pointer input device can automatically select a suitable signal processing program according to the input method used by the user, so that the user does not need to switch manually, which is more convenient and easy to use.

A secondary object of the present invention is to provide a cost-effective pointer input device. Although the pointer input device has dual input modes, the production cost will not be doubled. The cost of the pointer input device of the present invention and a simple digital board Comparing each other, they are almost the same. It is very practical in terms of cost-effectiveness, and the products are more competitive in the market.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a practical and convenient pointer input device that is widely used. The pointer input device can be combined with the integration of software and firmware to exert the best use effect. For example, in a hypothetical case, when the user suddenly has some inspiration, he can use the touch method to draw a simple sketch with the quick and easy cursor manipulation of the finger, and then use the electromagnetic pen input method to redraw a more precise graphic or Modify the graphics. Alternatively, designers use the individual advantages of the touch mode or the electromagnetic pen input mode to define different usage patterns in the product to provide users with more appropriate control and input modes. For example, when used in a computer, in the web browsing search mode, it provides a touch input operation; and in fine art drawing or handwriting recognition mode, it is changed to an electromagnetic pen input mode.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides a pointer input device with dual input modes, which is characterized in that it includes:

A control operation module with at least one microprocessor;

A coordinate sensing module with a touch sensing loop unit and an electromagnetic induction loop unit;

A first analog multiplexing module, which is driven by the aforementioned control operation module to enable the electromagnetic induction loop unit of the coordinate sensing module to perform a scanning action;

A first signal processing module, which receives the induction signal of the electromagnetic induction loop unit from the first analog multiplexing module, and transmits it to the control operation module after processing;

A second analog multiplexing module, driven by the aforementioned control operation module, can enable the touch sensing loop unit of the coordinate sensing module to perform a scanning action; and

A second signal processing module receives the sensing signal from the touch sensing loop unit from the second analog multiplexer module, and sends it to the control operation module after processing.

Wherein the touch sensing circuit unit and the electromagnetic induction circuit unit of the coordinate sensing module adopt a laminated structure.

Wherein the touch sensing circuit unit of the coordinate sensing module is a projected capacitive touch structure.

Wherein the control operation module only makes one of the touch sensing loop unit and the electromagnetic induction loop unit of the coordinate sensing module perform scanning action at the same time.

Wherein the coordinate sensing module is formed by a printed circuit board.

Wherein the coordinate sensing module is formed by a flexible circuit board.

Wherein the coordinate sensing module forms relevant circuits on the glass surface.

The control calculation module outputs the calculated signal data through a transmission interface, and the transmission interface is a wired or wireless transmission mode.

The pointer input device with dual input modes provided by the present invention enables the user to freely use the electromagnetic pen input method or touch method in the pointer input device of the present invention, and cooperate with the software of the system itself to control various commands.

Description of drawings

In order to make those skilled in the art understand the purpose, feature and effect of the present invention, below in conjunction with specific embodiment, and cooperate accompanying drawing, the present invention is described in detail as follows, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the block diagram of main structure of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the present invention;

3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the coordinate sensing module of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the coordinate sensing module of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the coordinate sensing module of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the coordinate sensing module of the present invention.

Explanation of main component symbols

1: Control computing module

11: Microprocessor

2: Coordinate sensing module

2A, 2B, 2C, 2D: coordinate sensing module

21: Touch sensing circuit unit

22: Electromagnetic induction circuit unit

23: circuit board

24: Signal line layer

25: Signal line layer

26: through hole

3: The first analog multiplexing module

4: The first signal processing module

5: The second analog multiplexing module

6: The second signal processing module

71: Flexible circuit board base material

72: Signal line layer

73: Signal line layer

74: Line isolation layer

75: through hole

8: Substrate

Detailed ways

As shown in Figure 1, it is a block diagram of the main structure of the pointer input device with dual input mode of the present invention. The pointer input device A of the present invention mainly includes a control operation module 1, a coordinate sensing module 2, a first analog Multiplexing module 3, a first signal processing module 4, a second analog multiplexing module 5, and a second signal processing module 6, etc. The coordinate sensing module 2 can accept touch input or electromagnetic pen input, while the control operation module 1 uses the analog multiplexing module to scan the signal input by touch or electromagnetic pen, and then the signal processing module converts the sensing signal After processing, the microprocessor 11 in the control operation module 1 performs related calculations and then outputs. Therefore, the single pointer input device A of the present invention can accept two different input modes.

A detailed description of each structure is given below: the coordinate sensing module 2 has a touch sensing loop unit 21 and an electromagnetic induction loop unit 22 inside. The touch sensing circuit unit 21 and the electromagnetic induction circuit unit 22 adopt a laminated structure, and the lines of the touch sensing circuit unit 21 and the electromagnetic induction circuit unit 22 can be individually layered or arranged in layers alternately. In this embodiment, the touch sensing loop unit 21 is a capacitive touch structure, specifically a projected capacitive touch structure.

The first analog multiplexing module 3 is connected between the control computing module 1 and the coordinate sensing module 2 , and the first analog multiplexing module 3 cooperates with the electromagnetic induction loop unit 22 . The operation mode is that the control operation module 1 makes the electromagnetic induction loop unit 2 through the first analog multiplexing module 3

2 Relative loops are scanned. The first signal processing module 4 is connected between the control computing module 1 and the first analog multiplexing module 3 . The first signal processing module 4 has a signal amplification circuit, an automatic gain control circuit, a filter circuit, etc., and can transmit the induction signal of the electromagnetic induction loop unit 22 to the control operation module 1 after processing.

The second analog multiplexing module 5 is connected between the control computing module 1 and the coordinate sensing module 2 , and the second analog multiplexing module 5 cooperates with the touch sensing loop unit 21 . The operation mode is that the control computing module 1 scans the corresponding loop of the touch sensing loop unit 21 through the second analog multiplexing module 5 . The second signal processing module 6 is connected between the control computing module 1 and the second analog multiplexing module 5 , and is used for processing the sensing signal of the touch sensing loop unit 21 and then sending it to the control computing module 1 .

The control computing module 1 has at least one microprocessor 11 inside. In addition to driving the first and second analog multiplexing modules 3 and 5, the control operation module 1 will also perform calculation processing on the signals returned by the first and second signal processing modules 4 and 6, and finally process the The final signal data is output, for example, to a system host (such as a computer host), and the integration of software and hardware in the system host can be used to achieve the best use effect. The transmission interface output from the control computing module 1 to the system host can be in wired or wireless transmission mode.

On the whole, when the pointer input device A of the present invention is in operation, if the electromagnetic pen input and the touch input are carried out simultaneously, it will give priority to continue to process the signal receiving and processing of the electromagnetic pen input, and will only continue if there is no electromagnetic pen signal. The signal processing of the touch input is carried out, so that two sensing signals are not received at the same time and interfere with each other. In this way, when the user holds the electromagnetic pen in the pointer input device A to perform electromagnetic pen input, although the palm of the hand touches the pointer input device, the touch sensing will not be activated, so that the electromagnetic pen input can work normally.

The following will describe the mode of operation and flow of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, it is a flow chart of the operation of the present invention. Please also refer to Figure 1. In step 200, the pointer input device A enters a start state. Then enter step 201, the electromagnetic induction loop unit performs a scanning action, and its operation mode is that the control operation module 1 drives the first analog multiplexing module 3 to make the electromagnetic induction loop unit 22 of the coordinate sensing module 2 perform a scanning action.

Step 202, determine whether there is an input signal of the electromagnetic pen. If yes, go to step 203. If not, go to step 205. The operation mode of this step is that after the control operation module 1 receives the first signal processing module 4 and processes the induction signal responded by the electromagnetic induction loop unit 22, the control operation module 1 performs subsequent relative processes according to the result.

Step 203, performing data calculation processing on the electromagnetic induction signal. After the control calculation module 1 receives the input signal of the electromagnetic pen, it will still make the electromagnetic induction loop unit 22 continue to scan through the first analog multiplexing module 3, for example, scan the two antennas on the right and left of the strongest antenna, and capture The signals of each antenna, the calculation of the pressure value input by the electromagnetic pen, and the key signal of the pen...etc. Afterwards, the control calculation module 1 calculates the required relative data such as coordinates and pressure through the calculation processing and correction and fine-tuning of the internal microprocessor 11 .

Then proceed to step 204 , the control operation module outputs the processed signal data, and then returns to the state of step 201 .

When there is no electromagnetic pen input, go to step 205, and the touch sensing circuit unit 22 performs a scanning action. In this operation mode, the control operation module 1 drives the second analog multiplexer module 5 to make the touch sensing loop unit 21 of the coordinate sensing module 2 perform a scanning operation.

Step 206, determine whether there is a touch input signal. If yes, step 207 will be performed. If not, go to step 201 and return to the initial scanning state of electromagnetic induction. The operation mode of this step is that the control operation module 1 performs subsequent relative processes according to the result after receiving the second signal processing module 6 to process the sensing signal responded by the touch sensing circuit unit 21 .

In step 207, data processing of the touch sensing signal is performed. The touch sensing circuit unit 21 transmits the obtained sensing signal to the control operation module 1 after being processed by the second signal processing module 4, and the control operation module 1 then enters the antenna signal value into the formula to obtain the correct coordinate data . Finally, the operation of step 204 is performed, the control operation module outputs the processed touch coordinate signal data, and then returns to the state of step 201 . In this way, although the pointer input device of the present invention can accept two different input modes, it only processes the signal processing of one input mode at the same time.

The coordinate sensing module 2 of the present invention can be made in many ways. In this case, only four structures are provided for reference to prove that the present invention is indeed feasible, but it is not limited to use these four ways. As shown in FIG. 3 , the coordinate sensing module 2A is composed of a printed circuit board. In this embodiment, a signal circuit layer 24 and 25 are respectively formed on the upper and lower sides of a circuit board 23 , and the signal circuit layer 24 and 25 represent circuits in which touch sensing loops and electromagnetic induction loop units are staggered. In addition, the circuit board 23 is provided with a plurality of through holes 26, the through holes 26 penetrate the circuit board 23 and each signal line layer, and the inner wall has a wire layer for connecting the lines of each layer.

As shown in FIG. 4 , it is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the coordinate sensing module of the present invention. In this embodiment, the coordinate sensing module 2B is formed by a flexible thin film circuit board (such as MEMBRANE). Its structure is that there is a flexible circuit board substrate 71 in the middle, and several layers of signal circuit layers 72 and signal circuit layers 73 are respectively formed on the upper and lower sides of the flexible circuit board substrate 71, but the signal circuit layer 72 located in the upper layer and the The top surface is isolated and protected by several layers of line isolation layers 74 . The signal line layer 72 is used as a touch sensing circuit unit. The middle and bottom surface of the signal line layer 73 located on the lower layer of the flexible circuit board base 71 are also isolated and protected by several layers of line isolation layers 74 . The signal line layer 73 serves as an electromagnetic induction loop unit. In addition, several through-holes 75 are provided. The through-holes 75 penetrate through each signal circuit layer and have a wire layer on the inner wall to connect the circuits of each layer.

As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, they are plan views of the third and fourth embodiments of the coordinate sensing module of the present invention. In these two embodiments, the difference between the coordinate sensing module 2C and the coordinate sensing module 2D It is only because of the difference in circuit layout graphics, and the formation method and manufacturing process of the circuit are the same. The coordinate sensing modules 2C and 2D mainly form circuits on the surface of the substrate 8 , and the substrate 8 can be a circuit board, a glass plate, . . . and the like. The circuit is arranged in a staggered manner with several layers of circuits, and forms a touch sensing circuit unit and an electromagnetic induction circuit unit at the same time. Therefore, the coordinate sensing module 2 of the present invention is not limited to a single structure.

Based on the above, the pointer input device of the present invention is a single device, which can provide users with two different input modes: electromagnetic pen input and touch input. When the electromagnetic pen input is used, the cursor can be precisely controlled, and it has pressure sensitivity, which can carry out precise professional drawing mode. If touch input is used, a finger or a simple pen can be used to control the cursor for simple drawing or simple interface operation mode. Therefore, the present invention has great practical value and innovation, and meets the application conditions of a patent.

However, what is described above is merely an example of the present invention, and should not limit the implementation scope of the present invention. That is, all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the patent scope of the present invention should still fall within the scope covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. A pointer input device with dual input modes, characterized in that it comprises: A control operation module with at least one microprocessor; A coordinate sensing module with a touch sensing loop unit and an electromagnetic induction loop unit; A first analog multiplexing module, which is driven by the aforementioned control operation module to enable the electromagnetic induction loop unit of the coordinate sensing module to perform a scanning action; A first signal processing module, which receives the induction signal of the electromagnetic induction loop unit from the first analog multiplexing module, and transmits it to the control operation module after processing; A second analog multiplexing module, driven by the aforementioned control operation module, can enable the touch sensing loop unit of the coordinate sensing module to perform a scanning action; and A second signal processing module receives the sensing signal of the touch sensing loop unit from the second analog multiplexer module, and sends it to the control operation module after processing. 2. The pointer input device with dual input modes according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensing loop unit and the electromagnetic induction loop unit of the coordinate sensing module adopt a laminated structure. 3. The pointer input device with dual input modes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch sensing loop unit of the coordinate sensing module is a projected capacitive touch structure. 4. The pointer input device with dual input modes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control operation module only makes the touch sensing loop unit and the electromagnetic induction loop of the coordinate sensing module One of the units performs a scan operation. 5. The pointer input device with dual input modes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coordinate sensing module is formed by a printed circuit board. 6. The pointer input device with dual input modes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coordinate sensing module is formed by a flexible circuit board. 7. The pointer input device with dual input modes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coordinate sensing module forms related lines on the glass surface. 8. The pointer input device with dual input mode according to claim 1, wherein the control operation module outputs the calculated signal data through a transmission interface, and the transmission interface is wired or wireless transmission model.

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