Touch screen and mobile terminal including same

A touch screen, including: at least two cover glasses; a flexible film; a coating layer coating the flexible film; a transparent bonding layer bonding the flexible film that is coated with the coating layer to the at least two cover glasses; and a flexible printed circuit board electrically connected to the coating layer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of smart terminals, and more particularly, to a touch screen and a mobile terminal including the touch screen.

BACKGROUND

A touch screen, also referred to as a touch control screen or a touch control panel, is an induction type liquid crystal display device that can receive input by fingers. Conventionally, the touch screen mainly includes two categories: resistive touch screen and capacitive touch screen.

The capacitive touch screen operates by means of current induction of a human body. The capacitive touch screen mainly consists of a glass protection layer, a conductive layer, and a display screen. The conductive layer is generally considered a crucial part of the entire touch screen, and mainly includes a glass substrate and an indium tin oxide (ITO) film coating thereon.

Most capacitive touch screens are of planar design. However, to satisfy the requirements for industrial appearance design of electronic products, a small number of three-dimensional (3D) designs are present currently. In the 3D designs, a touch screen is formed by splicing multiple touch screens, and each of the touch screens adopts a separate ITO film and control circuit, which results in high costs.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch screen, comprising: at least two cover glasses; a flexible film; a coating layer coating the flexible film; a transparent bonding layer bonding the flexible film that is coated with the coating layer to the at least two cover glasses; and a flexible printed circuit board electrically connected to the coating layer.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a mobile terminal, comprising: a processor; and a touch screen coupled to the processor, wherein the touch screen comprises: at least two cover glasses; a flexible film; a coating layer coating the flexible film; a transparent bonding layer bonding the flexible film that is coated with the coating layer to the at least two cover glasses; and a flexible printed circuit board electrically connected to the coating layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a touch screen100, according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 1, the touch screen100includes two or more cover glasses101, a flexible film102, an indium tin oxide (ITO) coating layer103coating the flexible film102, a transparent bonding layer104, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board (not shown) electrically connected to the ITO coating layer103. For example, the cover glasses101may include a main cover glass1011and an auxiliary cover glass1012. A side of the main cover glass1011is fixedly connected to a side of the auxiliary cover glass1012, as indicated by the bold line inFIG. 1, and a surface of the main cover glass1011and a surface of the auxiliary cover glass1012form an angle therebetween. The flexible film102is bonded to the cover glasses101via the transparent bonding layer104, and the ITO coating layer103is located between the flexible film102and the transparent bonding layer104.

In one exemplary embodiment, the flexible film102is a polyester film. In the embodiment, because the ITO coating layer103coats the flexible film102, and the flexible film102is soft and pliable, the flexible film102and the ITO coating layer103thereon may be bent according to the angle between the cover glasses101, and cling to the cover glasses101.

In exemplary embodiments, the ITO coating layer103is plated on its sides with slim electrodes. For example, the flexible film102may be a rectangular film. Accordingly, four slim electrodes are plated on four sides of the ITO coating layer103, and the four electrodes are connected to a control circuit provided on the FPC board. When the touch screen100is touched by a finger, a coupling capacitance will be formed between the finger and the ITO coating layer103due to electronic charges of the human body of which the finger is a part. Currents generated from the respective electrodes will flow to the touch point, and intensities of the currents are in direct proportion to respective distances between the finger and the electrodes. The control circuit determines the intensities of the currents and a ratio thereof, thereby calculating a position of the touch point. In some embodiments, the ITO coating layer103may be printed with a pattern, which may be a rhombus or other shape.

In exemplary embodiments, the transparent bonding layer104may be an optically clear adhesive layer.

In exemplary embodiments, the touch screen100may further include a spacer bar (not shown), for connecting the main cover glass1011to the auxiliary cover glass1012. The spacer bar may be a plastic spacer bar, a rubber spacer bar, a metal spacer bar, etc.

It should be noted that, in the illustrated embodiment, the number of cover glasses is two, including one main cover glass1011and one auxiliary cover glass1012, but the number of cover glasses is not so limited, and may be set according to actual needs. In addition, the angle between the main cover glass1011and the auxiliary cover glass1012may be set according to actual needs, for example, to be 15˜90 degrees.

In the illustrated embodiment, by using the flexible film102as a substrate for the ITO coating layer103, and combining the two or more cover glasses101with an angle formed therebetween, the touch screen100can detect actions from the two or more cover glasses101by using one ITO coating layer103and one control circuit, thereby satisfying the need for diversification of industrial appearance design of the electronic products while reducing costs of manufacturing touch screens.

FIGS. 2-4are a schematic structural diagram, a side view diagram, and a top view diagram of a touch screen200, respectively, according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIGS. 2-4, the touch screen200includes a main cover glass2011, a first auxiliary cover glass2012, a second auxiliary cover glass2013, a flexible film202, an ITO coating layer203, a transparent bonding layer204, and an FPC board (not shown).

In exemplary embodiments, the ITO coating layer203coats the flexible film202. A first side of the main cover glass2011is fixedly connected to a first side of the first auxiliary cover glass2012, and a second side, opposite to the first side, of the main cover glass2011is fixedly connected to a first side of the second auxiliary cover glass2013. Moreover, a surface of the main cover glass2011and a surface of the first auxiliary cover glass2012form a first angle therebetween, and the surface of the main cover glass2011and a surface of the second auxiliary cover glass2013form a second angle therebetween. For example, the first angle may be the same as the second angle. The flexible film202coated with the ITO coating layer203is bonded to the cover glasses2011,2012and2013via the transparent bonding layer204. The ITO coating layer203is located between the flexible film202and the transparent bonding layer204, and is electrically connected to the FPC board.

In one exemplary embodiment, the flexible film202may be a polyester film. In the embodiment, because the ITO coating layer203coats the flexible film202, and the flexible film202is soft and pliable, the flexible film202and the ITO coating layer203thereon may be bent according to the angles between the cover glasses2011,2012and2013, and cling to the cover glasses2011,2012and2013.

In exemplary embodiments, the ITO coating layer203is plated on its sides with slim electrodes. For example, the flexible film202may be a rectangular film. Accordingly, four slim electrodes are plated on four sides of the ITO coating layer203, and the four electrodes are connected to a control circuit provided on the FPC board. When the touch screen200is touched by a finger, a coupling capacitance will be formed between the finger and the ITO coating layer203due to electronic charges of the human body. Currents generated from the respective electrodes will flow to the touch point, and intensities of the currents are in direct proportion to respective distances between the finger and the electrodes. The control circuit determines the intensities of the currents and a ratio thereof, thereby calculating the position of the touch point. In some embodiments, the ITO coating layer203is printed with a pattern, which may be a rhombus or other shape.

In exemplary embodiments, the transparent bonding layer204may be an optically clear adhesive layer. The transparent bonding layer204mainly serves to bond the cover glasses2011,2012, and2013to the ITO coating layer203.

In exemplary embodiments, the touch screen200may further include first and second spacer bars205. The main cover glass2011is connected to the first auxiliary cover glass2012via the first spacer bar205, and is connected to the second auxiliary cover glass2013via the second spacer bar205. The spacer bars205may be plastic spacer bars, rubber spacer bars, metal spacer bars, etc.

It should be noted that, in the illustrated embodiment, the number of cover glasses is three, including one main cover glass2011, and two auxiliary cover glasses2012and2013, but the number of cover glasses is not so limited, and may be set according to actual needs. In addition, the angle between the main cover glass2011and each of the auxiliary cover glasses2012or2013may be set according to actual needs, for example, to be 15˜90 degrees.

In the illustrated embodiment, by using the flexible film202as a substrate for the ITO coating layer203, and combining the cover glasses2011,2012, and2013with angles formed therebetween, the touch screen200can detect actions from the cover glasses by using one ITO coating layer and one control circuit, thereby satisfying the need for diversification of industrial appearance design of electronic products while reducing costs of manufacturing touch screens.

FIG. 5is a block diagram of a mobile terminal500, according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 5, the mobile terminal500includes a liquid crystal display screen501, a touch screen502, a processor504, and a housing (not shown). For example, the touch screen502may be the touch screen100(FIG. 1) or200(FIGS. 2-4). The touch screen502is fixed on the housing, and a main cover glass of the touch screen502covers the liquid crystal display screen501. The processor504and a power supply505are provided within the housing, and the power supply505is electrically connected to the touch screen502, the liquid crystal display screen501, and the processor504.

The liquid crystal display screen501is configured to display information input by a user, information provided to a user, and various graphic user interfaces of the mobile terminal500. These graphic user interfaces may be constituted by graphics, texts, icons, videos, and any combinations thereof.

The power supply505may include a battery, and is configured to supply power to various parts, e.g., the touch screen502, the liquid crystal display screen501, the processor504, etc. of the mobile terminal500. For example, the power supply505can be logically connected to the processor504via a power supply management system, so as to achieve functions such as charging management, discharging management, and power consumption management by the power supply management system. The power supply505may further include one or more of a direct current (DC) power supply, an alternate current (AC) power supply, a recharging system, a power supply failure detection circuit, a power supply converter or inverter, a power supply state indicator, or any other components.

The processor504operates as a control center of the mobile terminal500. For example, the processor is connected to various components of the mobile terminal500using various interfaces and circuitries, and performs various functions of the mobile terminal500and processes data so as to perform overall monitoring to the mobile terminal500, by running or executing software programs and/or modules stored in a storage and invoking data stored in the storage. Alternatively, the processor504may include one or more processing cores. For example, the processor504may integrate an application processor and a modem processor, where the application processor mainly controls operating systems, user interfaces, and application programs, etc., and the modem processor mainly controls wireless communications.

The mobile terminal500may further include one or more of a storage503, a radio frequency (RF) circuit506, an input unit507, a sensor508, an audio circuit509, and a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) module510. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the mobile terminal500may have a structure not limited by that shown inFIG. 5. For example, the mobile terminal500may include more or less components than those shown inFIG. 5, or combine some of the components, or include different arrangements of the components.

In exemplary embodiments, the RF circuit506is configured to receive and send wireless signals during receiving and sending data. For example, after receiving downlink information from a base station, the RF circuit506sends the received information to the processor504for processing. In addition, uplink data is transmitted to the base station by the RF circuit506. The RF circuit506may include an antenna, at least one amplifier, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a user identity module card, a transceiver, a coupler, a low noise amplifier (LNA), a duplexer, etc. Further, the RF circuit506may communicate with other devices via wireless communications and networks. The wireless communications may use any of communication standards or protocols including, e.g., Global System of Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), E-mail, Short Messaging Service (SMS), etc.

The storage503is configured to store software programs and modules. The processor504performs various functional applications and data processing by running the software programs and modules stored in the storage503. The storage503may mainly include a program storage region and a data storage region, where the program storage region may store operating systems, application program(s) required by at least one function (e.g., audio playing function, image playing function), etc.; and the data storage region may store data (e.g., audio data, phone book, etc.) created according to the usage of the mobile terminal500, etc. In addition, the storage503may include a high speed random access memory or a nonvolatile memory, such as a disk storage device or a flash memory device, or may include other volatile solid state memory. Accordingly, the storage503may further include a storage controller, so as to provide access to the storage503by the processor504, the input unit507or the touch screen502.

The input unit507is configured to input digital or character information, and generate signal input relating to user settings and function controls. For example, the input unit507may include one or more of a physical keyboard, functional keys (e.g., volume control key, switch key, etc.), a track ball, a mouse, an operation lever, etc.

The sensor508may include one or more of an optical sensor, a motion sensor, and other sensors. For example, the optical sensor may include an ambient light sensor and a proximity sensor. The mobile terminal500may be further configured with gyroscope, barometer, hygrometer, thermometer, infrared sensor, and other sensors.

The audio circuit509is configured to provide an audio interface between the user and the mobile terminal500. The audio circuit509may convert received audio data into an electrical signal, and then convert the electrical signal into an audio signal to be output. On the other hand, the audio circuit509may convert a received audio signal into an electrical signal, convert the electrical signal into audio data, and then input the audio data to the processor504for processing. The processed audio data are transmitted to, for example, another terminal via the RF circuit506; or the audio data may be output to the storage503for further processing. The audio circuit509may further include an earphone jack, so as to provide communication between an external earphone and the mobile terminal500.

The WiFi module510is configured to provide the user with wireless wideband internet access, and may facilitate the user's receiving and sending e-mails, browsing websites, and accessing streaming media, etc.

Although not shown inFIG. 5, the mobile terminal500may further include a camera, a Bluetooth module, etc.