Touch apparatus

A touch apparatus includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes, a plurality of second sensing electrodes, and a plurality of third sensing electrodes. The first sensing electrodes extend along a first direction. The second sensing electrodes are electrically isolated from the first sensing electrodes, and extend along a second direction. The plurality of third sensing electrodes are electrically isolated from the second sensing electrodes, and extend along the first direction. At least some of the first sensing electrodes, at least some of the second sensing electrodes, and at least some of the third sensing electrodes are formed at different film layers respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 106104710, filed on Feb. 14, 2017. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates an electronic apparatus, and particular to a touch apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

A touch apparatus plays an important role no matter in a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer. Gradually, use of the touch apparatus is updated from touching by a finger to an active stylus. The active stylus includes a lot of technologies, and mainly may be divided into electromagnet-type and capacitive technologies. A capacitive stylus needs an independent electromagnetic induction plate, and is unique because of enabling, through electromagnetic induction, the stylus to actively transmit a signal, having good performances for a long time. The capacitive stylus implements an electric field output by pre-loading a voltage by a pen point, and calculates, according to an electric field during a reception period of a sensing end, a touch position of the pen point which is above a touch panel. A greatest advantage of the capacitive stylus is including no independent induction plate, but sensing the finger and an active stylus by using an existing touch panel, and therefore has an advantage in cost. However, the finger and the active stylus share two sets of sensing electrodes, so that efficiencies for sensing the finger and the active stylus cannot be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a touch apparatus having a good efficiency.

The touch apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes, a plurality of second sensing electrodes, and a plurality of third sensing electrodes. The first sensing electrodes extend along a first direction. The second sensing electrodes are electrically isolated from the first sensing electrodes, and extend along a second direction different from the first direction. The plurality of third sensing electrodes are electrically isolated from the second sensing electrodes, and extend along the first direction. At least some of the first sensing electrodes, at least some of the second sensing electrodes, and at least some of the third sensing electrodes are formed at different film layers respectively.

Based on the above, the touch apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, efficiency for sensing a finger and/or a stylus can be improved by using the third sensing electrodes outside the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes.

In order to make the aforementioned features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Herein, examples of exemplary embodiments are described in the figures with reference to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail. As possible, same component symbols in the figures and the description are used to represent the same or similar parts.

FIG. 1is a schematic top view of a touch apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIG. 1. A touch apparatus100includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes110extending along a first direction x, a plurality of second sensing electrodes120extending along a second direction y, and a plurality of third sensing electrodes130extending along the first direction x. The first sensing electrodes110and the second sensing electrodes120are electrically isolated. The third sensing electrodes130and the second sensing electrodes120are electrically isolated. At least some of the first sensing electrodes110, at least some of the second sensing electrodes120, and at least some of the third sensing electrodes130are formed at different film layers respectively.

Please refer toFIG. 1. The touch apparatus100further includes a control unit140. The first sensing electrodes110, the second sensing electrodes120, and the third sensing electrodes130are electrically connected to the control unit140. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100further includes a plurality of first cables112, a plurality of second cables122, and a plurality of third cables132. The first sensing electrodes110may be electrically connected to the control unit140through the first cables112. The second sensing electrodes120may be electrically connected to the control unit140through the second cables122. The third sensing electrodes130may be electrically connected to the control unit140through the third cables132. The control unit140, for example, is an integrated circuit (integrated circuit, IC) including a plurality of pins, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the plurality of first cables112, the plurality of second cables122, and the plurality of third cables132may be separated from each other and be connected to the plurality of pins of the control unit140respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, each of third cables132and a corresponding first cable112may also be connected together before extending to the control unit140, so that the control unit140needs not to add quantity of the pins because the third sensing electrodes130are provided.

The touch apparatus100may determine a touch position of a finger of a user according to signals on the first sensing electrodes110and the second sensing electrodes120. The touch apparatus100may also determine a touch position of a stylus according to signals on the second sensing electrodes120and the third sensing electrodes130. It should be noted that, because configurations of the third sensing electrodes130, the efficiency of the touch apparatus100for sensing the finger and/or the stylus can be improved, being described in examples below by usingFIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 3.

A touch apparatus in the comparative embodiment includes the first sensing electrodes110and the second sensing electrodes120of the touch apparatus100, but does not include the third sensing electrodes130of the touch apparatus100.FIG. 2is a schematic diagram of a signal S110on a first sensing electrode110and a signal S120on a second sensing electrode120of the touch apparatus according to a comparative embodiment. Please refer toFIG. 2. The touch apparatus according to the comparative embodiment senses the finger and the stylus within a frame time T, where the stylus may send a signal. The frame time T includes a first subframe time T1, a second subframe time T2successive to the first subframe time T1, and a third subframe time T3successive to the second subframe time T2. A control unit of the touch apparatus according to the comparative embodiment respectively reads, at the first subframe time T1and the second subframe time T2, the signal S110on the first sensing electrode110and the signal S120-1on the second sensing electrode120, so as to determine a touch position of a stylus. Within the third subframe time T3, the control unit of the touch apparatus according to the comparative embodiment drives the plurality of first sensing electrodes110(i.e., the control unit inputs the signal Silo to the first sensing electrodes110) and reads the signal S120on the second sensing electrode120, so as to determine a touch position of a finger. In the comparative embodiment, a processing time of the stylus is, for example, 3.6 ms, a processing time of the finger is, for example, 3.9 ms, a frame time for sensing the finger and the stylus for one time is, for example, 7.5 ms, and a report rate is, for example, 133 Hz.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of a signal S110-1on a first sensing electrode110, a signal S120-1on a second sensing electrode120, and a signal S130-1on a third sensing electrode130according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 2. The touch apparatus100senses the finger and the stylus within the frame time T, where the stylus may send a signal. The frame time T includes a first subframe time T1, and a second subframe time T2successive to the first subframe time T1. Within the first subframe time T1, the control unit140reads the signal S120-1on the second sensing electrode120and the signal S130-1on the third sensing electrode130at the same time, so as to determine the touch position of the stylus. Within the second subframe time T2, the control unit140drives the plurality of first sensing electrodes110(i.e., the control unit140inputs the signal S110-1to the first sensing electrodes110) and reads the signal S120-1on the second sensing electrode120, so as to determine the touch position of the finger. It should be noted that because of the configuration of the third sensing electrode130, when the touch apparatus100sense the stylus, the control unit140needs not to respectively read the signals on two sets of sensing electrodes at different periods of time (for example, the first subframe time T1and the second subframe time T2inFIG. 2), but may read the signal S120-1on the second sensing electrode120and the signal S130-1on the third sensing electrode130at the same time. In this way, the processing time of the stylus may be shortened, thereby improving the efficiency of the touch apparatus100for sensing the finger and/or the stylus. For example, compared with the touch apparatus according to the comparative embodiment, in the present embodiment, the processing time of the stylus may be shortened to 2.3 ms, the frame time for sensing the finger and the stylus for one time may be shortened from 7.5 ms to 6.2 ms, and the report rate may substantially be improved from 133 Hz to 160 Hz, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 4is a schematic diagram of a signal S110-2on a first sensing electrode110, a signal S120-2on a second sensing electrode120, and a signal S130-2on a third sensing electrode130according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 4. The touch apparatus100senses the finger and the stylus within the frame time T, where the stylus may send a signal. The frame time T includes a first subframe time T1, and a second subframe time T2successive to the first subframe time T1. Within the first subframe time T1, the control unit140reads the signal S120-2on the second sensing electrode120and the signal S130-2on the third sensing electrode130at the same time, so as to determine the touch position of the stylus. Particularly, within the first subframe time T1and the second subframe time T2, the control unit140drives the first sensing electrode110(i.e., the control unit140inputs the signal S110-2to the first sensing electrodes110) and reads the signal S120-2on the second sensing electrode120, so as to determine the touch position of the finger. It should be noted that because of the configuration of the third sensing electrode130, the touch apparatus100may perform, within a period of time of sensing the finger, a part of an action of sensing the stylus. In this way, the report rate may be shortened, thereby improving the efficiency of the touch apparatus100for sensing the finger and/or the stylus. For example, in the present embodiment, the frame time for sensing the finger and the stylus for one time may be shortened from 7.5 ms to 3.9 ms, and the report rate may substantially be improved from 133 Hz to 260 Hz, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The third sensing electrode130is configured to sense a touch position of the third sensing electrode130, and is also configured to sense an orientation of the stylus. The orientation of the stylus includes a distance from the stylus suspended outside the touch apparatus100to a touch surface of the touch apparatus100, and may include a free movement, rotation, and incline within the orientation of the stylus in a three-dimensional space such as a degree of inclination of the stylus. The degree of inclination of the stylus refers to a size of an included angle between the touch surface of the touch apparatus (for example: an upper surface of a protection element150or an upper surface of a second substrate220of a display module LCM in the subsequent paragraphs) and a length direction of the stylus. How to sense the distance from the stylus suspended outside the touch apparatus100to the touch surface of the touch apparatus100and the degree of inclination of the stylus is described below in examples with reference toFIG. 5.

FIG. 5shows signals on a first sensing electrode and on a second sensing electrode of a touch apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 5. As shown in the second line ofFIG. 5, when the stylus is suspended outside the touch apparatus100(i.e., the stylus does not touch the touch surface), a distance from the stylus to the third sensing electrode130is far, a capacitance between the stylus and the third sensing electrode130is small, and the signal on the third sensing electrode130is small. As shown in the third line ofFIG. 5, when the stylus touches the touch surface of the touch apparatus100, the distance from the stylus to the third sensing electrode130is close, the capacitance between the stylus and the third sensing electrode130is large, and the signal on the third sensing electrode130is great. According to a size of the signal on the third sensing electrode130, it may be determined that whether the stylus is suspended outside the touch apparatus100. For example, when the stylus touches the touch surface of the touch apparatus100, the signal on the third sensing electrode130is a standard signal; and if the signal on the third sensing electrode130is smaller than the standard signal, it may be determined that whether the stylus is suspended outside the touch apparatus100. Further, according to a difference between the signal on the third sensing electrode130and the standard signal, the distance from the stylus suspended outside the touch apparatus100to the touch surface of the touch apparatus100may further be determined.

In addition, please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 5. As shown in the third line ofFIG. 5, the control unit140may read the signal on the first sensing electrode110(i.e., the first sensing electrode110receives a signal sent by the stylus) and the signal on the third sensing electrode130(the third sensing electrode130receives the signal sent by the stylus) at the same time, so as to obtain a first signal difference. As shown in the fourth line ofFIG. 5, at a second time point different from a first time point, the control unit140may read the signal on the first sensing electrode110and the signal on the third sensing electrode130at the same time, so as to obtain a second signal difference. The control unit140compares the first signal difference and the second signal difference, so as to determine the degree of inclination of the stylus. For example, as shown in the third line ofFIG. 5, the degree of inclination of the stylus is low (for example: being nearly not inclined). At this time, a difference between the signal on the first sensing electrode110and the signal on the third sensing electrode130is the first signal difference. As shown in the fourth line ofFIG. 5, the difference between the signal on the first sensing electrode110and the signal on the third sensing electrode130is the second signal difference. If the second signal difference is smaller than the first signal difference, the inclination of the stylus may be determined. Further, in a case in which the second signal difference is smaller than the first signal difference, the smaller second signal difference indicates a greater degree of inclination of the stylus.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 6. In the present embodiment, the first sensing electrode110may be a transmission electrode (Transmission; Tx), and the second sensing electrode120may be a reception electrode (Reception; Rx). The third sensing electrode130, the second sensing electrode120, and the first sensing electrode110may be selectively and sequentially arranged along a line-of-sight direction z, where the line-of-sight direction z is vertical to an extension direction of the first sensing electrode110(i.e., the first direction x) and an extension direction of the second sensing electrode120(i.e., the second direction y). However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Both the first sensing electrode110and the second sensing electrode120may sense the finger, and the second sensing electrode120and the third sensing electrode130may sense the stylus. In other embodiments, the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130may also be arrange in another appropriate sequence.

Please refer toFIG. 6. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and may further include the protection element (cover lens)150, an adhesive layer160, and a first substrate170. The first substrate170is, for example, a glass substrate, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first sensing electrode110and the second sensing electrode120may be formed at an upper surface and a lower surface of the first substrate170respectively, so as to form a stack structure S1. The third sensing electrode130may be formed at a lower surface of the protection element150, so as to form a stack structure S2. The stack structure S1and the stack structure S2may be connected together by using the adhesive layer160. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100may further include an adhesive layer180and the display module LCM. The stack structure S1and the stack structure S2may be attached on the display module LCM by using the adhesive layer180, so that the touch apparatus100further has a display function. In the present embodiment, the protection element150, the third sensing electrode130, the adhesive layer160, the second sensing electrode120, the first substrate170, the first sensing electrode110, the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

It should be noted that manners for configuring the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130in the touch apparatus100shown inFIG. 6is merely for describing the present invention in examples, but is not intended to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130may also be stacked in other manners, so as to form a plurality of different types of touch apparatuses. The plurality of different types of touch apparatuses also fall within the protection scope of the present invention. This is described in examples below with reference toFIG. 7toFIG. 16.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIG. 7. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100A includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the protection element150, the adhesive layer160, an insulation layer190, and the first substrate170. The first sensing electrode110is formed at the lower surface of the first substrate170. The second sensing electrode120is formed at the upper surface of the first substrate170. The insulation layer190is formed at the upper surface of the first substrate170, so as to cover the second sensing electrode120. The third sensing electrode130is formed on the insulation layer190, so as to be electrically isolated from the second sensing electrode120. The first sensing electrode110, the first substrate170, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer190, and the third sensing electrode130form a stack structure S3. The stack structure S3may be connected to the protection element150by using the adhesive layer160. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100A may further include the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM. The protection element150, the adhesive layer160, and the stack structure S3may be attached on the display module LCM by using the adhesive layer180, so that the touch apparatus100A further has a display function. In the present embodiment, the protection element150, the adhesive layer160, the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer190, the second sensing electrode120, the first substrate170, the first sensing electrode110, the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 8is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIG. 8. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100B includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the protection element150, an insulation layer191, and an insulation layer192. The third sensing electrode130is formed at the lower surface of the protection element150. The insulation layer191covers the third sensing electrode130. The second sensing electrode120is formed on the insulation layer191. The insulation layer192covers the second sensing electrode120. The first sensing electrode110is formed on the insulation layer192. The protection element150, the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer191, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer192, and the first sensing electrode110form a stack structure S4. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100B may further include the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM. The stack structure S4may be attached on the display module LCM by using the adhesive layer180, so that the touch apparatus100further has a display function. In the present embodiment, the protection element150, the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer191, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer192, the first sensing electrode110, the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 9is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100C includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the protection element150, the insulation layer191, an adhesive layer162, and a film172. The third sensing electrode130is formed at the lower surface of the protection element150. The insulation layer191covers the third sensing electrode130. The second sensing electrode120is formed on the insulation layer191. The protection element150, the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer191, and the second sensing electrode120form a stack structure S5. The first sensing electrode110is formed at an upper surface of the film172. The first sensing electrode110and the film172form a stack structure S6. The stack structure S5is attached on the stack structure S6by using the adhesive layer162. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100C may further include the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM. The stack structure S5and the stack structure S6are attached on the display module LCM by using the adhesive layer180, so that the touch apparatus100C further has a display function. In the present embodiment, the protection element150, the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer191, the second sensing electrode120, the adhesive layer162, the first sensing electrode110, the film172, the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 10is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100D includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the protection element150, an adhesive layer163, the film172, an adhesive layer164, and a film174. The third sensing electrode130is formed at an upper surface of the film172. The second sensing electrode120is formed at a lower surface of the film172. The third sensing electrode130, the film172, and the second sensing electrode120form a stack structure S7. The stack structure S7is attached at the lower surface of the protection element150by using the adhesive layer163. The first sensing electrode110is formed at an upper surface of the other film174. The first sensing electrode110and the film174form a stack structure S8. The stack structure S7is attached on the stack structure S8by using the adhesive layer164. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100D may further include the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM. The protection element150, the stack structure S7, and the stack structure S8are attached on the display module LCM by using the adhesive layer180, so that the touch apparatus100D further has a display function. In the present embodiment, the protection element150, the adhesive layer163, the third sensing electrode130, the film172, the second sensing electrode120, the adhesive layer164, the first sensing electrode110, the film174, the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 11is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100E includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the protection element150, the adhesive layer163, the insulation layer191, and the film172. The first sensing electrode110is formed at the lower surface of the film172. The second sensing electrode120is formed at the upper surface of the film172. The insulation layer191covers the second sensing electrode120. The third sensing electrode130is formed on the insulation layer191. The first sensing electrode110, the film172, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer191, and the third sensing electrode130form a stack structure S9. The stack structure S9is attached at the lower surface of the protection element150by using the adhesive layer163. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100E may further include the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM. The protection element150and the stack structure S9are attached on the display module LCM by using the adhesive layer180, so that the touch apparatus100E further has a display function. In the present embodiment, the protection element150, the adhesive layer163, the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer191, the second sensing electrode120, the film172, the first sensing electrode110, the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 12is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100F includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the protection element150, the adhesive layer163, the insulation layer191, the insulation layer192, and the film172. The first sensing electrode110is formed at the upper surface of the film172. The insulation layer192covers the first sensing electrode110. The second sensing electrode120is formed on the insulation layer192. The insulation layer191covers the second sensing electrode120. The third sensing electrode130is formed on the insulation layer191. The film172, the first sensing electrode110, the insulation layer192, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer191, and the third sensing electrode130form a stack structure S10. The stack structure S10is attached at the lower surface of the protection element150by using the adhesive layer163. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100F may further include the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM. The protection element150and the stack structure S10are attached on the display module LCM by using the adhesive layer180, so that the touch apparatus100F further has a display function. In the present embodiment, the protection element150, the adhesive layer163, the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer191, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer192, the first sensing electrode110, the film172, the adhesive layer180and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 13is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100G includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the display module LCM, an insulation layer193, and an insulation layer194. The display module LCM includes a first substrate210, a second substrate220opposite to the first substrate210, and a display medium230configured between the first substrate210and the second substrate220. The first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130may all be configured on the display module LCM. In detail, the first sensing electrode110is formed at an upper surface of the second substrate220, the insulation layer193covers the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120is formed on the insulation layer193, the insulation layer193covers the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130is formed on the insulation layer194. The third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer194, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer193, the first sensing electrode110, the second substrate220, the display medium230, and the first substrate210are sequentially stacked along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 14is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100H includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the display module LCM and the insulation layer193. The display module LCM includes the first substrate210, the second substrate220opposite to the first substrate210, and the display medium230configured between the first substrate210and the second substrate220. Parts of the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130may be configured within the display module LCM. Parts of the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130may be configured outside the display module LCM. For example, in the present embodiment, the first sensing electrode110may be configured within the display module LCM, that is, located between the first substrate210and the second substrate220. In detail, the first sensing electrode110may be configured between the second substrate220and the display medium230of the display module LCM. The second sensing electrode120may be formed at an upper surface of the second substrate220. The insulation layer193covers the second sensing electrode120. The third sensing electrode130is formed on the insulation layer193. In the present embodiment, the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer193, the second sensing electrode120, the second substrate220, the first sensing electrode110, the display medium230, and the first substrate210may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sight direction z. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the first sensing electrode110may also be configured between the display medium230and the first substrate210; and the third sensing electrode130, the insulation layer193, the second sensing electrode120, the second substrate220, the display medium230, the first sensing electrode110, and the first substrate210may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 15is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100I includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the display module LCM. The display module LCM includes the first substrate210, the second substrate220opposite to the first substrate210, and the display medium230configured between the first substrate210and the second substrate220. In the present embodiment, the first sensing electrode110and the second sensing electrode120may be configured within the display module LCM, that is, located between the first substrate210and the second substrate220. The third sensing electrode130may be configured outside the display module LCM. For example, the first sensing electrode110may be configured on the first substrate210of the display module LCM, and located between the display medium230and the first substrate110. The second sensing electrode120may be configured on the second substrate220, and located between the second substrate220and the display medium230. The third sensing electrode130may be configured at the upper surface of the second substrate220. In the present embodiment, the third sensing electrode130, the second substrate220, the second sensing electrode120, the display medium230, the first sensing electrode110, and the first substrate210may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sight direction z. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In still another embodiment, the third sensing electrode130, the second substrate220, the second sensing electrode120, the first sensing electrode110, the display medium230and the first substrate210may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sight direction z; and in yet another embodiment, the third sensing electrode130, the second substrate220, the display medium230, the second sensing electrode120, the first sensing electrode110and the first substrate210may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 16is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus100J includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the display module LCM and an insulation layer195. The display module LCM includes the first substrate210, the second substrate220opposite to the first substrate210, and the display medium230configured between the first substrate210and the second substrate220. In the present embodiment, the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode130may all be configured within the display module LCM. For example, the first sensing electrode110may be configured on the first substrate210of the display module LCM; the insulation layer195covers the first sensing electrode110; and the second sensing electrode120is formed on the insulation layer195. The second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer195, and the first sensing electrode110may be located between the display medium230and the first substrate210. The third sensing electrode130may be configured on the second substrate220of the display module LCM, and located between the second substrate220and the display medium230. In the present embodiment, the second substrate220, the third sensing electrode130, the display medium230, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer195, the first sensing electrode110and the first substrate210may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sight direction z. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Any one of the foregoing touch apparatuses100A-100J may sense, by using a sensing method same to that of the touch apparatus100, a touch position of a finger and a touch position of a stylus. In addition, any one of the foregoing touch apparatuses100A-100J may also be used to sense a degree of inclination of the stylus, and details are not described herein again.

Please refer toFIG. 1. In the present embodiment, each of the third sensing electrodes130partially overlaps a corresponding first sensing electrode110. In other words, each of the third sensing electrodes130does not totally cover the corresponding first sensing electrode110. In this way, although the third sensing electrode130is closer to a user as compared with the first sensing electrode110and the second sensing electrode120, configuration of the third sensing electrode130also would not excessively affect finger-sensing capacities of the first sensing electrode110and the second sensing electrode120. In the present embodiment, the third sensing electrode130may be located within the first sensing electrode110. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the third sensing electrode130and the first sensing electrode110may also be configured in other appropriate manners; this is described below usingFIG. 17toFIG. 21as examples.

FIG. 17shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensing electrode according to another embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment ofFIG. 17, the third sensing electrode130may also partially overlap the first sensing electrode110and exceed the first sensing electrode110.FIG. 18shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensing electrode according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment ofFIG. 18, the third sensing electrode130may be located beside the first sensing electrode110. In other words, the third sensing electrode130may be staggered from the first sensing electrode110and does not overlap the same.FIG. 19shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensing electrode according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment ofFIG. 19, the first sensing electrode110has an opening110a; and an orthographic projection of a third sensing electrode130corresponding to the first sensing electrode110on a surface at which the first sensing electrode110is located may be located within the opening110a.FIG. 20shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensing electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment ofFIG. 20, the first sensing electrode110has a plurality of openings110a; a third sensing electrode130corresponding to the first sensing electrode110may have a plurality of branch portions138; and orthographic projections of the plurality of branch portions138on the surface at which the first sensing electrode110is located may be located within the plurality of openings110arespectively.

In addition, in the embodiments ofFIG. 17toFIG. 20, a shape of the third sensing electrode130uses a stripe as examples, and a shape of the first sensing electrode110uses a strip-shaped pattern or a plurality of strip-shaped patterns connected with each other as examples. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the third sensing electrode130and the first sensing electrode110may also represent other appropriate shapes; this is described below usingFIG. 21as an example.FIG. 21shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensing electrode according to another embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment ofFIG. 21, the third sensing electrode130may include a plurality of rhombic patterns134and a plurality of bridge lines136, where each of bridge lines136is connected to adjacent two rhombic patterns134, and the opening110aof the first sensing electrode110may have a jagged edge corresponding to the plurality of rhombic patterns134. The first sensing electrode110and the third sensing electrode130of any one ofFIG. 17toFIG. 21may be applied to any one of the foregoing touch apparatus100,100A,100B,100C,100D,100E,100F,100G,100H,100I, or100J.

Based on the above, the touch apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes extending along a first direction, a plurality of second sensing electrodes extending along a second direction, and a plurality of third sensing electrodes extending along the first direction and electrically isolated from the second sensing electrodes. Efficiency for the touch apparatus to sense a finger and/or a stylus may be improved by using the third sensing electrodes outside the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes.

Although the present invention discloses the foregoing by using the embodiments, the foregoing is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person of ordinary skill in the art may make some variations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should fall within the scope defined by the appended claims below.