Touch input device and vehicle including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10556509-B2
Application number	US-201816176964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2018
Priority date	Jan 5, 2018
Publication date	Feb 11, 2020
Grant date	Feb 11, 2020

Abstract

A touch input device includes: a frame having a plurality of frame holes; a flexible printed circuit board coupled to one surface of the frame and having a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of frame holes; a sensor electrode disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and a sensor integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the sensor electrode and configured to sense a change in capacitance value of the sensor electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A touch input device comprising:
a frame having a plurality of frame holes;
a flexible printed circuit board coupled to one surface of the frame and having a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of frame holes;
a sensor electrode disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and
a sensor integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the sensor electrode and configured to sense a change in capacitance of the sensor electrode.

2. The touch input device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor electrode comprises an Rx electrode and a Tx electrode.

3. The touch input device of claim 2 , wherein
the Rx electrode is disposed on a first surface of the flexible printed circuit board, and
the Tx electrode is disposed on a second surface of the flexible printed circuit board, the second surface being opposite to the first surface of the flexible printed circuit board.

4. The touch input device of claim 2 , wherein when the Rx electrode extends in a first direction, the Tx electrode extends in a second direction that intersects the first direction.

5. The touch input device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor electrode is provided in plural and disposed between the plurality of holes.

6. The touch input device of claim 2 , wherein when the Rx electrode is disposed on a front surface of the flexible printed circuit board and the Tx electrode is disposed on a rear surface of the flexible printed circuit board, the Rx electrode overlaps with the Tx electrode in a front-rear direction.

7. The touch input device of claim 1 , wherein the frame is made of a nonconductive material.

8. The touch input device of claim 1 , wherein
the flexible printed circuit board further comprises a connector, and
the connector electrically connects the flexible printed circuit board to a printed circuit board on which the sensor IC is mounted.

9. A vehicle comprising an air conditioner and a touch input device, wherein the touch input device comprises:
a base including a metal composite and having a plurality of base holes through which air passing through the air conditioner is discharged;
a sensor electrode which includes a plated sensor electrode or a metalized sensor electrode; and
a sensor integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the sensor electrode and configured to sense a change in capacitance of the sensor electrode.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the sensor electrode comprises:
a first sensor electrode disposed on a first surface of the base; and
a second sensor electrode formed on a second surface of the base, the second surface being opposite to the first surface of the base.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the base comprises a curved surface or a discontinuous surface.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a connector electrically connects the sensor electrode to a printed circuit board.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein when the first sensor electrode is disposed on a front surface of the base and the second sensor electrode is disposed on a rear surface of the base, the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode are arranged such that the first sensor electrode overlaps with the second sensor electrode in a front-rear direction.

14. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a protective layer disposed on one surface of the base to cover the sensor electrode.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Seok Donghee
• Kwon Gideok
• Lee Jong Bok
• Ro Heejin

Classifications

• G06F3/0488 Primary

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/0443

  using a single layer of sensing electrodes · CPC title

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title

• G06F2203/04111

  Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate · CPC title

• B60K37/06 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic