CA2073676A1 - Touch sensing device - Google Patents
Touch sensing deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA2073676A1 CA2073676A1 CA 2073676 CA2073676A CA2073676A1 CA 2073676 A1 CA2073676 A1 CA 2073676A1 CA 2073676 CA2073676 CA 2073676 CA 2073676 A CA2073676 A CA 2073676A CA 2073676 A1 CA2073676 A1 CA 2073676A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pad
- touch
- detecting means
- sensing device
- touch pad
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
- H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
- H03K17/96—Touch switches
- H03K17/9645—Resistive touch switches
Landscapes
- Electronic Switches (AREA)
- Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
- Measuring Pulse, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure Or Blood Flow (AREA)
- Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A touch sensitive pad consists of a number of electrical conductive pads (10) surrounded by a conductive pad (11).
Each pad (10) is connected via a respective capacitive blocking filter to a multiplexer (13) and an oscillator (14).
When the touch pad is touched directly to effectively bridge between one of the pads (10) and the surrounding pad (11), a change in effective impedance is detected by a resultant variation in the frequency of the oscillator (14).
A touch sensitive pad consists of a number of electrical conductive pads (10) surrounded by a conductive pad (11).
Each pad (10) is connected via a respective capacitive blocking filter to a multiplexer (13) and an oscillator (14).
When the touch pad is touched directly to effectively bridge between one of the pads (10) and the surrounding pad (11), a change in effective impedance is detected by a resultant variation in the frequency of the oscillator (14).
Description
20~3~7~
WO 91/11054 PCI`/GB91/OIH)32 ,, TOUCH SENSING DEVICE
.: , . . . . . .
- The invention ~elates to touch sensing devices.
TouGh sensing devices are known in which a single switching arrangement or a ~ultiple selective position sensing arrangement is achieved by touching the device itself or a chosen part of ~he device respectively. Such devices may make use of membrane switches~ optical sensing or electrical capacitive changes. Currently, capacitive touch sensing devices are provided with electrically insulating membranes or re~in coatings on their operati~e or exposed surfaces and generally have the drawbacks of poor reliability and poor sensitivity.
It is an o~ject of the invention to provide a touch .sensing device in which such drawbacks are at least reduced.
Accordiny to the invention a touch sensing devlce comprises an electrically conductive touch pad supported on a insulating substrate, and detecting means electrically connected to the touch pad via a capacitive blocking filter to prevent static .
WO 91/11054 PCI`/GB91/OIH)32 ,, TOUCH SENSING DEVICE
.: , . . . . . .
- The invention ~elates to touch sensing devices.
TouGh sensing devices are known in which a single switching arrangement or a ~ultiple selective position sensing arrangement is achieved by touching the device itself or a chosen part of ~he device respectively. Such devices may make use of membrane switches~ optical sensing or electrical capacitive changes. Currently, capacitive touch sensing devices are provided with electrically insulating membranes or re~in coatings on their operati~e or exposed surfaces and generally have the drawbacks of poor reliability and poor sensitivity.
It is an o~ject of the invention to provide a touch .sensing device in which such drawbacks are at least reduced.
Accordiny to the invention a touch sensing devlce comprises an electrically conductive touch pad supported on a insulating substrate, and detecting means electrically connected to the touch pad via a capacitive blocking filter to prevent static .
2~7~76 WO 91/11054 P~/GB91/00032 electrical charges being applied to the detecting ,~eans, wherein the detecting means detects a change in the impedance at the touch pad caused by a user directly touching the touch pad, in which the detecting means includes an oscillator whose output frequency varies with the change in input impedance.
~he capacitive touch sensing device may include two or more touch pads each with a respective capacitive blocking filter, and a multiplexer to sequentially connect each capacitor, and hence each touch pad, to the detecting means.
The touch pads may each be arranged adjacent a grounded pad such that in use the touch pad can ~e effectively and 'selectively bridged to ground when the touch pad is touched by the user.
The touch pads may be arranged adjacently in electrically parall 1 pairs.
A touch sensing device according to the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :
Fig~ 1 is a schematic circuit'diagram of the device;
and ~736~
.
WO91/l105q PCT/GB9l/00032 Fig. 2 shows a top view of part of a touch sensing pad.
Referring to the drawing a touch sensitive pad consists of a number of electrically conductive pads lO and a surrounding conductive pad 11 supported by an insulating substrate 9. Each pad lO is --electrically connected via a r spective blocking capacitor 12 to an analogue multiplexer 13. The surrounding pad ll is connected to ground. The output oE the multiplexer 13 is connected to an oscillator 14. Where it is required to be able to adjust to quiescent frequency of the oscillator 14, a resistor 15, which may be adjustable, and/or a capacitor 16, which may also be adjustable, are lS connected to the RC ports of the oscillator 14.
In use, whenever a human finger, for example, is touched against the substrate and effectively bridges a gap between a conductor pad 1O and the surrounding conductor pad 11, the net effective impedance applied to the capacitive input port changes and the oscillator 14 responds to vary its output frequency from its quiescent freguency. This variation of frequency represents that the pad has been touched - and by simultaneously sensing the sequencing of the multiplexer 13, which of the conductive pads lO that has been touched by the finger is also determined.
2~73~7~
In this way, whenever the pad is touched~ that touching and the position of the finger is . .
determined. The body provides an impedance between the pads lO and ll which is effective to change the effective input impedance to the oscillator 14. The detector oscillator 14 responds to such changes in imped,ance in its input circuit.
.
In an alternative embodiment, a touch pad is formed with one or more exposed conductive pads lO as above except that the surrounding pad ll is omitted. Each pad lO is connected via a respective capacitor to the oscillator. The multiplexer 13 is provided where required. When a finger or other part of the body is touched against the pad or any of the pads, the effective impedance applied to the input of the oscillator alters and so induces a variation of its output frequency as before.
The blocking filters 12 prevent static electricity charges being applied to the input of the oscillator. Such charges may be considerable in use and would otherwise destroy the integrated circuit components of the oscillator 14. The capacitors 12 have a preferred value of lO0 to lO00 pF The oscillator frequency is preferably about lO0 KHz. A
suitable oscillator is a multivibrator Model CD 4047 supplied by Record Company of America (RCA).
2 al 7 3 6 ~ 6 2 ~ 2 ~ ~ 12 ~
16 De~embeY ~
The filters 12 also filter out direct current components and some electrical noise from a finger applied to the touch pad.
S It will be noted -that the touch sensi~ive pads described have exposed conductive pads which are touched directly in use; this contrasts to the prior art capacitive touch pads.
The described pads are simpler to manuîacture and have been found to lead to generally more reliable and sensitive operation.
In a particularly preferred application, the touch sensing device is used with a display such as a C~T display or, more preferably, a liquid cr~stal display. The conductive pads are transparent and may be formed, for example, from a deposit of tin oxide laid on the front surface of the display.
In the described embodiments, the device responds in practice to -the changes brought about by directly touching the pads which normally result from one or more of the following:-1. Changes in effective input capacitance;
2. Changes in effective input resistance; and *1i13tiV!~a~ S7~ T
2~36~
WO91/11054 Pc~/GB9l/ooo32 3 Application of A.C. signals, primarily mains frequency (50 or 60 c/s) pick-up signals from local power lines.
~he capacitive touch sensing device may include two or more touch pads each with a respective capacitive blocking filter, and a multiplexer to sequentially connect each capacitor, and hence each touch pad, to the detecting means.
The touch pads may each be arranged adjacent a grounded pad such that in use the touch pad can ~e effectively and 'selectively bridged to ground when the touch pad is touched by the user.
The touch pads may be arranged adjacently in electrically parall 1 pairs.
A touch sensing device according to the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :
Fig~ 1 is a schematic circuit'diagram of the device;
and ~736~
.
WO91/l105q PCT/GB9l/00032 Fig. 2 shows a top view of part of a touch sensing pad.
Referring to the drawing a touch sensitive pad consists of a number of electrically conductive pads lO and a surrounding conductive pad 11 supported by an insulating substrate 9. Each pad lO is --electrically connected via a r spective blocking capacitor 12 to an analogue multiplexer 13. The surrounding pad ll is connected to ground. The output oE the multiplexer 13 is connected to an oscillator 14. Where it is required to be able to adjust to quiescent frequency of the oscillator 14, a resistor 15, which may be adjustable, and/or a capacitor 16, which may also be adjustable, are lS connected to the RC ports of the oscillator 14.
In use, whenever a human finger, for example, is touched against the substrate and effectively bridges a gap between a conductor pad 1O and the surrounding conductor pad 11, the net effective impedance applied to the capacitive input port changes and the oscillator 14 responds to vary its output frequency from its quiescent freguency. This variation of frequency represents that the pad has been touched - and by simultaneously sensing the sequencing of the multiplexer 13, which of the conductive pads lO that has been touched by the finger is also determined.
2~73~7~
In this way, whenever the pad is touched~ that touching and the position of the finger is . .
determined. The body provides an impedance between the pads lO and ll which is effective to change the effective input impedance to the oscillator 14. The detector oscillator 14 responds to such changes in imped,ance in its input circuit.
.
In an alternative embodiment, a touch pad is formed with one or more exposed conductive pads lO as above except that the surrounding pad ll is omitted. Each pad lO is connected via a respective capacitor to the oscillator. The multiplexer 13 is provided where required. When a finger or other part of the body is touched against the pad or any of the pads, the effective impedance applied to the input of the oscillator alters and so induces a variation of its output frequency as before.
The blocking filters 12 prevent static electricity charges being applied to the input of the oscillator. Such charges may be considerable in use and would otherwise destroy the integrated circuit components of the oscillator 14. The capacitors 12 have a preferred value of lO0 to lO00 pF The oscillator frequency is preferably about lO0 KHz. A
suitable oscillator is a multivibrator Model CD 4047 supplied by Record Company of America (RCA).
2 al 7 3 6 ~ 6 2 ~ 2 ~ ~ 12 ~
16 De~embeY ~
The filters 12 also filter out direct current components and some electrical noise from a finger applied to the touch pad.
S It will be noted -that the touch sensi~ive pads described have exposed conductive pads which are touched directly in use; this contrasts to the prior art capacitive touch pads.
The described pads are simpler to manuîacture and have been found to lead to generally more reliable and sensitive operation.
In a particularly preferred application, the touch sensing device is used with a display such as a C~T display or, more preferably, a liquid cr~stal display. The conductive pads are transparent and may be formed, for example, from a deposit of tin oxide laid on the front surface of the display.
In the described embodiments, the device responds in practice to -the changes brought about by directly touching the pads which normally result from one or more of the following:-1. Changes in effective input capacitance;
2. Changes in effective input resistance; and *1i13tiV!~a~ S7~ T
2~36~
WO91/11054 Pc~/GB9l/ooo32 3 Application of A.C. signals, primarily mains frequency (50 or 60 c/s) pick-up signals from local power lines.
Claims (3)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A touch sensing device comprising a conductive touch pad supported on an insulating substrate. and detecting means having its input electrically connected directly to the touch pad via a capacitive blocking filter to prevent static electrical charges being applied from the pad to the detecting means wherein the detecting means detects a change in the impedance at the touch pad caused by a user directly touching the touch pad, in which the detecting means comprises an oscillator whose output frequency varies with the change in input impedance
2. A touch sensing device according to claim 1, which includes two or more touch pads each with a respective capacitive blocking filter, and a multiplexer between each capacitive filter and the detecting means to sequentially connect each capacitor to the detecting means.
3. A touch sensing device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the touch pads are each arranged adjacent a grounded pad such that in use the touch pad can be effectively bridged to ground when the touch pad is touched by the user.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET
SUBSTITUTE SHEET
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB909000624A GB9000624D0 (en) | 1990-01-11 | 1990-01-11 | Touch sensing device |
GB9000624.8 | 1990-01-11 | ||
GB9020766A GB2241064B (en) | 1990-01-11 | 1990-09-24 | Touch sensing device |
GB9020766.3 | 1990-09-24 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2073676A1 true CA2073676A1 (en) | 1991-07-12 |
Family
ID=26296483
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA 2073676 Abandoned CA2073676A1 (en) | 1990-01-11 | 1991-01-10 | Touch sensing device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0510057A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU636003B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2073676A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1991011054A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5036321A (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1991-07-30 | Otis Elevator Company | Capacitive sensing, solid state touch button system |
US5511231A (en) * | 1993-06-21 | 1996-04-23 | Nec Corporation | Selective calling receiver capable of stopping a notifying operation by touching a chain clip |
CA2803140A1 (en) | 2009-06-19 | 2010-12-23 | Yoogo Projections Inc. | Personal security key holder |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2727522A1 (en) * | 1977-06-18 | 1979-01-04 | Licentia Gmbh | Touch contact for TV receiver - has inner and outer concentric electrodes on insulating board with inner electrode connected through hole to conductor on board rear |
CH657240A5 (en) * | 1981-11-26 | 1986-08-15 | Inventio Ag | TOUCH CONTROLLER CAPACITIVE SWITCHING DEVICE. |
EP0203923B1 (en) * | 1984-02-16 | 1991-09-11 | ANTIKIDIS, Jean-Pierre | Method for scanning a keyboard with capacitive keys and keyboard provided with means for scanning a keyboard according to this method |
-
1991
- 1991-01-10 CA CA 2073676 patent/CA2073676A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-01-10 EP EP19910902266 patent/EP0510057A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1991-01-10 AU AU70648/91A patent/AU636003B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1991-01-10 WO PCT/GB1991/000032 patent/WO1991011054A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1991011054A1 (en) | 1991-07-25 |
AU7064891A (en) | 1991-08-05 |
EP0510057A1 (en) | 1992-10-28 |
AU636003B2 (en) | 1993-04-08 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FZDE | Dead |