English:
[0002] Mobile phones have developed dramatically over the last few years. Many mobile phones have a large touchscreen front face. This large touchscreen allows very complicated and sophisticated input methods to be used, such as virtual keyboards, multiple finger touches and the like. However, another common trend among mobile phones has been to get ever larger. This makes it harder to hold the phone and it becomes extremely difficult to try and operate the phone one-handed. Therefore, to do operations on the mobile phone, the user is required to use both hands, one to hold the phone and one to provide the input. This can be very cumbersome in many circumstances.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example mobile phone.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a capacitive touch system.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a back view of a mobile phone illustrating an example location of an example capacitive touch sensor.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a top view of the capacitive touch sensor of FIG. 3.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a view showing an inside view of the back cover of the mobile phone of FIG. 3.
[0009] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the back cover of the mobile phone of FIG. 3.
[0010] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the mobile phone of FIG. 6A with a first example case attached to the mobile phone.
[0011] FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the mobile phone of FIG. 6A with a second example case attached to the mobile phone.
[0012] FIG. 6D is a back view of the mobile phone and second example case of FIG. 6C.
[0013] FIG. 6E is a cross-sectional view of the mobile phone of FIG. 6A with a third example case attached to the mobile phone.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a back view of a mobile phone illustrating an example location of a second example capacitive touch sensor allowing right and left-hand operation.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a back view of a mobile phone illustrating an example location of a third example capacitive touch sensor.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a back view of a mobile phone illustrating an example location of a fourth example capacitive touch sensor allowing right and left-hand operation.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of operations to calibrate the back side touch sensor.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example mobile phone 100. The mobile phone 100 may include a phone system on a chip (SOC) 102. The phone SOC 102 includes a plurality of processors 104, an amount of RAM 106 and an Long-Term Evolution (LTE) modem 108. This is a very simple illustration of an example phone SOC and many other variants are available with some of the components, such as the modem being offboard. A power subsystem 110 provides power to the phone SOC 102. A battery 112 provides electrical power to the power subsystem 110. A USB port 114 is provided for external wired communications with the phone SOC 102. A large amount of dynamic RAM (DRAM) 116 is provided to be the primary memory store, with internal RAM 106 operating more as operating memory for the various processors 104. A display 118 is connected to the phone SOC 102 to provide the primary front view of the mobile phone 100. A front touch sensor system 120 is connected to the phone SOC 102 and overlays the display 118, with a separate processor operating the touch sensor. A speaker 122 provides audio output for the mobile phone 100, while a microphone 124 provides audio input to the phone SOC 102. A subscriber identification module (SIM) 126 is connected to the phone SOC 102 to provide personalization information. The radio frequency (RF) section 128 is connected to the phone SOC 102 to perform the actual wireless transmissions used in mobile phones. A flash or non-volatile memory is connected to the phone SOC 102 to store programs executed by the processors 104. A series of buttons 130 are connected to the phone SOC 102 as necessary, such as, e.g., power buttons, volume buttons and the like. A back side touch sensor system 132 is connected to the phone SOC 102 to provide a back side touch system on the mobile phone 100.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the back side touch sensor system 132. A touch sensor controller 200 is the computational portion of the back side touch sensor system 132. A processor or CPU 202 is provided in the touch sensor controller 200 to perform the necessary calculations. A nonvolatile memory 204, which stores the programs executed by the CPU 202, is connected to the CPU 202. RAM 206 is also connected to the CPU 202 to act as working memory. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) section 208 is provided to allow analog operations of the back side touch sensor system 132. Input output (I/O) ports 210 are provided and connected to the CPU 202 to allow CPU 202 to interface with the phone SOC 102. Most relevant to this discussion, a capacitive touch interface 212 is connected to the CPU 202 to perform the analog operations used in capacitive touch sensing. A back side touch sensor area 214 is connected to the capacitive touch interface 212. In normal operation the touch sensor controller 200 provides the location of the user’s index finger over or in relation to the back side touch sensor area 214 to the phone SoC 102, to allow control of the mobile phone 100. An MSP430FR2633 capacitive touch sensing mixed-signal microcontroller from Texas Instruments is an example of a back side touch sensor controller 200.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a back view of example mobile phone 300. The mobile phone 300 has a top 304, a bottom 306, a right side 308 (when viewed from the front) and a left side 310. An opening 302 is provided in a back cover or plate 301 to allow for a camera and related optical components. Other openings may be provided, such as for a power button or a fingerprint sensor. Shown in dashed lines is a back side touch sensor 314 of the mobile phone 300. The back side touch sensor 314 is shown in dotted lines and is located behind the back cover 301 of the mobile phone 300. From a review of FIG. 3, if the mobile phone 300 is held in the right-hand of an individual with the top 304 of the mobile phone 300 in an upward direction, then the back side touch sensor 314 is located such that the index finger of the user can readily swipe over the back side touch sensor 314. The arcuate shape of the back side touch sensor 314 conforms to a path taken by the user’s fingertip. This allows a secondary input which can be used by the user while the phone is held in a single hand and not requiring the use of a second hand.
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates the back side touch sensor 314 in more detail. A printed circuit board 402 has a series of electrodes or traces 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 on the surface of the printed circuit board 402. The traces 406 - 420 are configured in the illustrated example for a mutual-capacitive touch sensing configuration. A self-capacitance sensing configuration could be utilized as well. A flexible cable 422 having a series of contacts 424 is connected to the printed circuit board 402 to allow electrical connection between the touch sensor controller 200 and the printed circuit board 402.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a view of the back cover 301 of the mobile phone 300 from the inside of the mobile phone 300 so that the capacitive sensor PCB 402 and cable 422 are readily visible when mounted to the back cover 301.
[0023] FIG. 6 A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the back cover 301 with the printed circuit board 402, with the various traces 406-420, illustrated as being affixed to the back cover 301. In this arrangement the traces 406-420 are very close to the outside or back of the mobile phone 300 and thus operates with a lesser level of gain because of the higher sensitivity of the configuration. In FIG. 6B, a case 600 has been added to the mobile phone 300, with the case 600 overlaying the back cover 301 to generally protect the mobile phone 300. As shown, this increases the distance of the user’s finger from the traces 406 - 420. Depending on the thickness and the electrical properties of the protective material of the case 600, sensitivity of the back side touch sensor system 132 may be changed from the caseless example of Fig. 6A, such as by increasing conversion gain or count. FIG. 6C shows an alternative case 602. The case 602 includes an external ridge or curved finger guide 604, as shown in FIG. 6D, which generally indicates or outlines the back side touch sensor 314 to allow the user to have easy index finger registration with the back side touch sensor 314. A third example case 606 is illustrated in FIG. 6E. In case 606, instead of the external ridge 604 used with the case of 602, the case 606 has an opening or cutout area 608, which generally indicates or conforms to the back side touch sensor 314. This allows both registration of the user’s index finger and increased sensitivity or reduced gain, as now the cover thickness and materials are not blocking the capacitive sensors.
[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates a mobile phone 700 having a capacitive touch sensor area 702 which is generally formed in a 180° arc, rather than the 90° arc of the back side touch sensor 314. This allows the use of the touch sensor area in either left-handed or right-handed operation, thus reducing the number of phones required to be developed, produced and inventoried.
[0025] FIG. 8 illustrates an example phone 800 where the arcuate back touch sensor 314 is replaced by an areal or area sensor 802. By using an area sensor 802, two dimensional movements of the user’s index finger can readily be detected, as compared to the curved one- dimensional operation of the back side touch sensor 314. This allows improved user control, though not as finely detailed as if using the front touch system. FIG. 9 illustrates a mobile phone 900 with an area sensor 902 suitable for left and right-handed operation.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a flowchart 1000 of operations to calibrate the back side touch sensor system 132. As discussed above, in some instances the mobile phone may have a case installed to protect the mobile phone. The protective material of the case and the proximity (or lack thereof) of the case back cover changes the capacitive properties of the back side touch sensor system 132 so that recalibration is necessary. In step 1002, a user interface (UI) is displayed to provide user instructions for the calibration process. In step 1004, the user is instructed to place his finger over the back side touch sensor. In step 1006, the user is instructed to begin moving his finger along the back side touch sensor. In step 1008, an initial adjustment is made of the touch sensitivity parameters. These parameters include conversion gain and conversion count. In step 1010, a determination is made whether satisfactory movement of the user’s finger is detected. If not, in step 1012 a determination is made if the parameter adjustments are at maximum sensitivity. If so, in step 1014 an error message is displayed to the use to indicate that calibration has failed. If not, operation returns to step 1008 for the next adjustment of the sensitivity parameters.
[0027] If satisfactory movement was detected in step 1010, in step 1016 the sensitivity parameters are stored for continuing use. In step 1018 the user is informed that finger movement can stop and calibration is completed.
[0028] The illustrated capacitive touch sensor configurations are examples, and variations can be used for other specific designs. For example, self-capacitance or mutual-capacitive configurations can be used. Differing configurations and number of PCB traces can be used. Alternative sensor areas and shapes can be used. For example, rather than the illustrated 90° arc, a greater or lesser arc can be used, with the arc starting or stopping at different locations.
[0030] This description is based on microcontrollers from Texas Instruments and the CapTIvateTM technology to provide a more complete description, but other touch sensing microcontrollers and technologies can be used. Also, touch sensors with embedded processors can be used, with one of the processors in the handheld device providing the processing functions in replacement of the embedded processor.
[0031] While a mobile phone is used as the example handheld device, the back side touch sensor can be used on other handheld devices.
[0032] Modifications are possible in the described embodiments, and other embodiments are possible, within the scope of the claims.

中文:
[0002]在过去几年,移动电话已取得巨大的发展。许多移动电话具有大触摸屏的正面。此大的触摸屏允许使用非常复杂且精细的输入方法,例如虚拟键盘、多指触摸等。然而,移动电话当中的另一总趋势是变得越来越大。此致使更难握持电话且尝试单手操作电话变得非常困难。因此,为操作移动电话,用户需要使用双手,一只手握持电话且一只手提供输入。此在许多情况下可能是麻烦的。
[0004]图1是实例性移动电话的框图。
[0005]图2是电容性触摸系统的框图。
[0006]图3是移动电话的后视图,所述后视图图解说明实例性电容性触摸传感器的实例性位置。
[0007]图4是图3的电容性触摸传感器的俯视图。
[0008]图5是展示图3的移动电话的后盖的内视图的视图。
[0009]图6A是图3的移动电话的后盖的横截面图。
[0010]图6B是图6A的移动电话的横截面图,其中第一实例性套壳附接到所述移动电话。
[0011]图6C是图6A的移动电话的横截面图,其中第二实例性套壳附接到所述移动电话。
[0012]图6D是图6C的移动电话及第二实例性套壳的后视图。
[0013]图6E是图6A的移动电话的横截面图,其中第三实例套壳附接到所述移动电话。
[0014]图7是移动电话的后视图,所述后视图图解说明允许右手及左手操作的第二实例性电容性触摸传感器的实例性位置。
[0015]图8是移动电话的后视图,所述后视图图解说明第三实例性电容性触摸传感器的实例性位置。
[0016]图9是移动电话的后视图,所述后视图图解说明允许右手操作及左手操作的第四实例性电容性触摸传感器的实例性位置。
[0017]图10是校准后侧触摸传感器的操作流程图。
[0018]图1图解说明实例性移动电话100的框图。移动电话100可包含电话单芯片系统(SOC)102。电话SOC 102包含多个处理器104、大量RAM 106及长期演进(LTE)调制解调器108。此是对实例性电话SOC的非常简单的图解说明且可使用具有所述组件中的一些组件(例如,板外的调制解调器)的许多其它变型。电力子系统110向电话SOC 102提供电力。电池112向电力子系统110提供电力。提供USB端口114以用于与电话SOC 102进行外部有线通信。提供大量动态RAM(DRAM)116以作为主存储存储装置,其中内部RAM 106更多地用作各种处理器104的操作存储器。显示器118连接到电话SOC 102以提供移动电话100的主前视图。前触摸传感器系统120连接到电话SOC 102且覆叠在显示器118上,其中单独的处理器操作触摸传感器。扬声器122提供移动电话100的音频输出,而麦克风124向电话SOC 102提供音频输入。订户识别模块(SIM)126连接到电话SOC 102以提供个性化信息。射频(RF)区段128连接到电话SOC 102以执行用于移动电话中的实际无线传输。快闪存储器或非易失性存储器连接到电话SOC 102以存储由处理器104执行的程序。一串按钮130视需要连接到电话SOC102,例如电源按钮、音量按钮等。后侧触摸传感器系统132连接到电话SOC 102以在移动电话100上提供后侧触摸系统。
[0019]图2是后侧触摸传感器系统132的框图。触摸传感器控制器200是后侧触摸传感器系统132的计算部分。在触摸传感器控制器200中设置处理器或CPU 202以执行必要的计算。存储由CPU 202执行的程序的非易失性存储器204连接到CPU 202。RAM 206也连接到CPU202以用作工作存储器。提供模/数转换器(ADC)区段208以允许后侧触摸传感器系统132进行模拟操作。提供输入输出(I/O)端口210且输入输出(I/O)端口210连接到CPU 202以允许CPU 202与电话SOC 102介接。与此论述最相关的是,电容性触摸界面212连接到CPU 202以执行用于电容性触摸感测的模拟操作。后侧触摸传感器区域214连接到电容性触摸界面212。在正常操作中,触摸传感器控制器200将用户食指的位置在后侧触摸传感器区域214之上或相对于后侧触摸传感器区域214提供至电话SoC 102,以允许控制移动电话100。来自德州仪器公司的MSP430FR2633电容性触摸感测混合信号微控制器是后侧触摸传感器控制器200的实例。
[0020]图3图解说明实例性移动电话300的后视图。移动电话300具有顶部304、底部306、右侧308(在从前方观察时)及左侧310。在后盖或板301中设置开口302以允许用于相机及相关光学组件。可设置其它开口,例如用于电源按钮或指纹传感器。短划线所展示的是移动电话300的后侧触摸传感器314。后侧触摸传感器314是以虚线展示且位于移动电话300的后盖301后面。再次观察图3,如果移动电话300握持在个人的右手中且移动电话300的顶部304在向上方向上,那么后侧触摸传感器314被定位成使得用户的食指可容易在后侧触摸传感器314之上滑扫。后侧触摸传感器314的弓形形状与用户指尖滑过的路径共形。此允许当单手握持电话时用户可使用次级输入且不需要使用另一只手。
[0021]图4更详细地图解说明后侧触摸传感器314。印刷电路板402具有在印刷电路板402的表面上的一串电极或迹线404、406、408、410、412、414、416、418及420。迹线406到420在所图解说明的实例中被配置成互电容性触摸感测配置。还可利用自电容感测配置。具有一串触点424的柔性缆线422连接到印刷电路板402以允许触摸传感器控制器200与印刷电路板402之间电连接。
[0022]图5是移动电话300的后盖301的视图,所述视图是从移动电话300的内侧看以使得电容性传感器PCB 402及缆线422在安装至后盖301时可容易观察到。
[0023]图6A图解说明具有印刷电路板402的后盖301的横截面图,其中如所图解说明后盖301附着有各种迹线406至420。在此布置中,迹线406到420非常靠近移动电话300的外侧或后面且因此由于配置的灵敏性较高而以更小的增益水平操作。在图6B中,已将套壳600添加至移动电话300,其中套壳600覆盖在后盖301上以广泛地保护移动电话300。如所展示,此增大用户手指与迹线406到420的距离。根据套壳600的保护材料的厚度及电性质,后侧触摸传感器系统132的灵敏性与图6A的无套壳实例相比可例如因增大转换增益或计数而发生改变。图6C展示替代套壳602。套壳602包含外部隆起部或曲线形手指引导件604,如图6D中所展示,所述外部隆起部或曲线形手指引导件604大体上指示后侧触摸传感器314或标出后侧触摸传感器314的轮廓,以允许用户容易将食指与后侧触摸传感器314套准。图6E中图解说明第三实例性套壳606。在套壳606中,代替套壳602所使用的外部隆起部604,套壳606具有开口或切口区域608,开口或切口区域608大体上指示后侧触摸传感器314或与后侧触摸传感器314共形。此既允许用户食指套准也允许增大灵敏性或减小增益,原因在于现在盖厚度及材料不会阻挡电容性传感器。
[0024]图7图解说明具有电容性触摸传感器区域702的移动电话700,电容性触摸传感器区域702大体上形成为后侧触摸传感器314的180°弧而不是90°弧。此允许以左手操作或右手操作使用触摸传感器区域,因此减小需要开发、生产及库存的电话数目。
[0025]图8图解说明弓形后触摸传感器314由区域传感器(areal or area sensor)802取代的实例性电话800。通过使用区域传感器802,与后侧触摸传感器314的曲线形一维操作相比,可容易检测到用户食指的二维移动。此尽管不像使用前触摸系统一样精准但允许改进用户控制。图9图解说明具有适合于左手操作及右手操作的区域传感器902的移动电话900。
[0026]图10是校准后侧触摸传感器系统132的操作的流程图1000。如上文所论述,在一些例子中,所述移动电话可具有经安装以保护移动电话的套壳。套壳的保护材料及套壳后盖的接近度(或不接近)改变后侧触摸传感器系统132的电容性性质以使得必须重新校准。在步骤1002中,显示用户界面(UI)以提供用于校准过程的用户指令。在步骤1004中,指导用户将其手指放置在后侧触摸传感器之上。在步骤1006中,指导用户开始沿着后侧触摸传感器移动其手指。在步骤1008中,对触摸灵敏性参数进行初始调整。这些参数包含转换增益及转换计数。在步骤1010中,确定是否检测到用户手指的满意的移动。如果否,那么在步骤1012中,确定参数调整是否达到最大灵敏性。如果达到最大灵敏性,那么在步骤1014中,向使用显示错误消息以指示校准已失败。如果没有达到最大灵敏性,那么操作返回到步骤1008以进行灵敏性参数的下一次调整。
[0027]如果在步骤1010中检测到满意的移动,那么在步骤1016中存储灵敏性参数以供继续使用。在步骤1018中,告知用户可停止手指移动且校准完成。
[0028]所图解说明的电容性触摸传感器配置是实例,且其它具体设计可使用变化形式。举例来说,可使用自电容或互电容性配置。可使用不同配置及数目的PCB迹线。可使用替代传感器区域及形状。举例来说,不使用所图解说明的90°弧,可使用更大或更小的弧,其中所述弧在不同的位置处开始或停止。
[0030]此说明是基于来自德州仪器公司及CapTIvateTM技术的微控制器来提供更完整说明,但可使用其它触摸感测微控制器及技术。此外,可使用具有嵌置式处理器的触摸传感器,但手持式装置中的处理器中的一者提供处理功能以取代所述嵌置式处理器。
[0031]虽然使用移动电话作为实例性手持式装置,但后侧触摸传感器可用在其它手持式装置上。
[0032]可对所描述的实施例做出修改,且在权利要求书的范围内可具有其它实施例。