Touch display device and touch display module

A touch display device includes a printed circuit board and a cover. The printed circuit board has a top surface, a bottom surface and soldering points. The printed circuit board includes a first printed circuit, a light element and a second printed circuit. A part of the first printed circuit is on the top surface or the bottom surface and connected with the corresponding soldering point. The light emitting element is on the top surface and electrically connected to the first printed circuit. On the top surface, the second printed circuit does not overlap with the first printed circuit. The cover covers the printed circuit board. The cover has light transmission areas which are aligned with the light elements. The second printed circuit is configured to provide a capacitance value coupled to a capacitive sensing element coupled between the second printed circuit and the cover.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 108113878, filed Apr. 19, 2019, which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates to a display device with touch functions and to a touch display module, in which the display device includes a seven-segment display device.

Description of Related Art

Traditional display devices, such as seven-segment displays, are still widely used. For example, traditional display devices can be used for a clock or as a scoreboard typically found on a sports field. Such traditional display devices may also be found at teaching sites. Compared with devices that can display more complex images (for example, TV screens), traditional display devices such as seven-segment displays are cheaper and easier to set up.

With the advance of technology, display devices with touch functions are becoming increasingly popular. However, the touch functions for these display devices are achieved in combination with an additional touch element, which is not suitable for use with a traditional display device.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is related to a touch display device.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch display device includes a printed circuit board and a cover. The printed circuit board has a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of soldering points. The printed circuit board includes a first printed circuit, a plurality of light emitting elements and a second printed circuit. A part of the first printed circuit is on at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the printed circuit board. The part of the first printed circuit is connected with the corresponding soldering point. The light emitting elements are located on the top surface of the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the first printed circuit. The second printed circuit does not overlap with the first printed circuit on the top surface. The cover covers the printed circuit board. The cover has light transmission areas respectively aligned with the light emitting elements.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch display device further includes a capacitive sensing element. The capacitive sensing element is electrically connected to the second printed circuit to detect the changing capacitance value of the cover. The second printed circuit is configured to provide a capacitance value coupled to a capacitive sensing element coupled between the second printed circuit and the cover.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second printed circuit is electrically connected a corresponding one of the soldering points.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cover contacts the first printed circuit.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cover contacts the second printed circuit.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cover contacts the first printed circuit and the second printed circuit.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the light emitting elements are light emitting diodes.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cover has a plurality of accommodating sections. The light emitting elements are respectively located in the accommodating sections.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch display device further includes a plurality of pins. The pins respectively protrude the printed circuit board from the corresponding soldering points.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the printed circuit board has at least one fixing opening. The cover has at least one fixing member, and the at least one fixing member is coupled to the at least one fixing opening.

In some embodiments, the touch display device further includes an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is configured at the bottom surface of the printed circuit board to connect the printed circuit board and the cover.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the printed circuit board further has at least one light sensor. The light sensor is located on the top surface of the printed circuit board. The light sensor is aligned with at least one of the light transmission areas.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the light transmission areas comprise seven first light transmission areas to form a seven-segment display.

In some embodiments, the printed circuit board further has a light sensor. The light transmission areas of the cover further includes a second light transmission area. The second light transmission area is located at a side of the seven light transmission areas and aligned with the light sensor.

One aspect of the present disclosure is related to a touch display module.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch display module includes a plurality of the touch display devices mentioned above. The touch display devices are coupled to each other.

In summary, in the above embodiments of the present disclosure, touch functions of the touch display device are achieved by the second printed circuit integrated on the cover, and the second printed circuit can be directly printed on the printed circuit board. Compared with integrating additional touch elements with display devices to generate touch functions, the manufacturing of the first printed circuit and the second printed circuit in the production process is more cost-effective, and space is also reduced. In addition, a plurality of the touch display devices can be combined as a touch display module, so that more complex touch functions can be realized in a simple manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following embodiments are disclosed with accompanying diagrams for a detailed description. For illustration clarity, many details are explained in the following descriptions. However, it should be understood that these details do not limit the present invention. That is, these details are not necessary in parts of embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, for simplifying the drawings, some of the conventional structures and elements are shown with schematic illustrations. Also, the same labels may be regarded as the corresponding components in the different drawings unless otherwise indicated. The drawings are drawn to clearly illustrate the connection between the various components in the embodiments, and are not intended to depict the actual sizes of the components.

In addition, terms used in the specification and the claims generally have the usual meaning as used in the field, in the context of the disclosure and in the context of the particular content unless particularly specified. Some terms used to describe the disclosure are discussed below or elsewhere in the specification to provide additional guidance related to the description of the disclosure to those in the art.

Phrases “first,” “second,” etc., are solely used to separate the descriptions of elements or operations with the same technical terms, and are not intended to convey a meaning of order or to limit the disclosure.

Secondly, phrases “comprising,” “includes,” “provided,” and the like, are all open-ended terms, i.e., meaning including but not limited to.

FIG. 1is an exploded view of a touch display device100according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the touch display device100includes a printed circuit board110, a cover130and a capacitive sensing device115.

In this embodiment, the capacitive sensing device115is a touch IC integrated on the printed circuit board110. However, it should be understood that the touch display device100with the integrated capacitive sensing device115is an example and does not limit the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the capacitive sensing device115does not need to be integrated on the printed circuit board110. Reference may be made to the description below.

Referring toFIG. 1, the printed circuit board110has a top surface111, an opposite bottom surface112and a plurality of soldering points113. The soldering points113include soldering points113cand113tas shown inFIG. 1. The printed circuit board110includes a first printed circuit114, a plurality of light emitting elements118and a second printed circuit122. The soldering points113tare connected to the second printed circuit122.

In this embodiment, the first printed circuit114is partially exposed on the top surface111and/or the bottom surface112of the printed circuit board110, and the first printed circuit114is electrically connected the corresponding soldering points113cof the soldering points113. The exposed part of the first printed circuit114is used for connection to other elements (e.g., the light emitting elements118) on the printed circuit board110. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board110is a multi-layered splint structure, and the routing of the first printed circuit114can be configured inside the printed circuit board110. By reducing the part of the first printed circuit114exposed on the printed circuit board110, the usable area of the top surface111and the bottom surface112of the printed circuit board110can be increased for greater placement or integration of elements.

In this embodiment, the printed circuit board110further has a plurality of passive elements116. Some of the passive elements116are electrically connected to the light emitting elements118. When the light emitting elements118emit light, the passive elements116connected to the light emitting elements118can be used to protect the first printed circuit114and the light emitting elements118. In some embodiments, the passive elements116include resistances.

In this embodiment, the capacitive sensing element115is integrated on the top surface111of the printed circuit board110. The passive element116used for the capacitive sensing element115is also integrated on the top surface111of the printed circuit board110. In other words, the capacitive sensing element115and the passive element116used for the capacitive sensing element115are electrically soldered to the exposed part of the first printed circuit114, and the exposed part of the printed circuit114is exposed on the top surface111. In this embodiment, a light sensor119is further integrated on the top surface111of the printed circuit board110. The light sensor119is located near a side of one of the light emitting elements118. In some embodiments, the first printed circuit114can be configured on the bottom surface112of the printed circuit board110.

In this embodiment, the printed circuit board110has a plurality of the light emitting elements118on the top surface111. In this embodiment, the light emitting elements118are light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light emitting elements118are arranged in a specific way to achieve display functions of the touch display device100. In this embodiment, the display functions of the touch display device100are provided in the form of a seven-segment display. As shown inFIG. 1, on the printed circuit board110, the light emitting elements118are arranged as a rectangle bisected by a horizontal segment. Therefore, numbers can be formed by the touch display device100. It should be understood that the seven-segment display form arrangement is an example and does not limit the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the light emitting elements118are electrically connected to the first printed circuit114, and the first printed circuit114is electrically connected to the corresponding soldering point113c. In some embodiments, an external control circuit can be connected to the first printed circuit114through the corresponding soldering point113c, and the external control circuit can control the light emitting elements118to achieve the display functions of the touch display device110.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, in this embodiment, the second printed circuit122is located on the top surface111of the printed circuit board110. However, on the top surface111, the second printed circuit122does not overlap the first printed circuit114. The second printed circuit122is electrically connected to a corresponding soldering point113tof the soldering points113. The second printed circuit122is configured to perform the touch functions of the touch display device100. One of the advantages of the second printed circuit122being electrically connected to the soldering point113tis that after the touch display device100is constructed, the second printed circuit122can be further tested through the soldering point113t, and the sensitivity of the touch functions can even be adjusted. In some embodiments, the second printed circuit122can be printed on the printed circuit board110together with the first printed circuit114when the printed circuit board110is manufactured, so as to reduce production costs. In some embodiments, the second printed circuit122is a metal pad integrated on the top surface of the printed circuit board110.

In some embodiments, the second printed circuit122is not necessarily connected to the soldering point113t. For example, when the capacitive sensing element115is located on the printed circuit board110, the second printed circuit122can be electrically connected to the capacitive sensing element115directly, and does not need to be additionally connected to the soldering point113t.

The printed circuit110is covered by the cover130of the touch display device100. The cover130is coupled to the second printed circuit122. The cover130has a plurality of first light transmission areas134, and each light emitting element118is aligned with one of the first light transmission areas134. In some embodiments, one first light transmission area134can be aligned with one or more light emitting elements118. In this embodiment, each first light transmission area134is aligned with two corresponding light emitting elements118on the top surface111of the printed circuit board110. In this embodiment, the material of the first light transmission areas134is a diffusion agent. In this embodiment, the light emitting elements118are arranged in the form of a seven-segment display, and the cover130includes seven first light transmission areas134to form a seven-segment display. The seven first light transmission areas134are seven segments arranged as a rectangle of two vertical segments on each side with one horizontal segment on the top, middle, and bottom, and the middle segment between the two side of the rectangle bisects the rectangle horizontally. Each of the seven first light transmission area134is aligned with two corresponding light emitting elements118first light transmission areas134. Therefore, the image of numbers can be formed by the touch display device100. For example, when all of the seven light emitting elements118aligned with the seven light transmission areas134emit light, a number “8” is formed on the upper cover130. In this embodiment, the cover130further includes a second light transmission area135. The second light transmission area135is aligned with the light sensor119, and the second light transmission area135is at a side of a corresponding one of the seven first light transmission areas134. Therefore, the light sensor119and the second light transmission area135enable the touch display device100to have a function of receiving a light signal. It should be understood that the alignment described herein is not limited to vertical alignment. For example, in some embodiments, the light emitting elements118are not necessarily aligned vertically with the first light transmission areas134, and each light emitting element118corresponds to a first light transmitting area134, with the light emitted by the light emitting element118passing through the corresponding first light transmitting area134, which is made by a diffusion agent. In such a case, the number “8” can still be formed on the upper cover130.

FIG. 2illustrates the bottom surface of the cover130of the touch display device110ofFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 2, in this embodiment, the cover130further has a plurality of accommodating sections138. The bottom of each accommodating section138has a corresponding first light transmission area134or second light transmission area135. In this embodiment, when the cover130is connected to the printed circuit board110, each first light transmission area134and the corresponding accommodating section138are aligned with the corresponding one of the light emitting elements118, and the light emitting elements118are respectively located in the corresponding accommodating sections138. In this embodiment, the accommodating sections138can be regarded as segment inside space with segment shapes. Therefore, when the light emitting elements118emit light, the emitted light from each light emitting element118will not leak from the corresponding accommodating section138. In other words, the light emitted from any one of the light emitting elements118does not affect the light emitted from the other light emitting elements118.

Referring to bothFIG. 1andFIG. 2, in some embodiments, the printed circuit board110further has at least one fixing opening126, and the cover130further has at least one fixing member142. In this embodiment, the touch display device100has four fixing openings126on the printed circuit board110and four fixing members142on the bottom of the cover130. As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, in this embodiment, each fixing member142can be regarded as a boss, and the four fixing openings are four boss holes. When the printed circuit board110is connected to the cover130, the fixing members142are respectively aligned with the fixing openings126, and the fixing members142protrude from the bottom surface112of the printed circuit board110to interconnect the printed circuit board110and the cover130.

In some embodiments, the touch display device100further includes an adhesive layer. After fixing the printed circuit board110and the cover130through the fixing members142and the fixing openings126, the adhesive layer can be disposed at the bottom surface112of the printed circuit board110, such that the bottom surface112is connected to the cover130. In that case, the fixing members142can be regarded as a cold stakes. An advantage of such a configuration is that the bottom surface112of the printed circuit board110does not need to be fixed by a hot press assembly process, and the bottom surface112of the printed circuit board110can have a larger number of elements and circuits.

In this embodiment, the touch functions of the touch display device110are achieved by contact between the cover130and the second printed circuit122. In this embodiment, a part of the second printed circuit122is located in one of the fixing openings126, and the corresponding fixing member142is coupled to the fixing opening126, such that the cover130is coupled to the second printed circuit122by direct contact between the cover130and the second printed circuit122. The soldering point113tis connected to the second printed circuit112. Through the soldering point113t, the second printed circuit122can be measured to have a capacitance value. The capacitance value is caused by the coupling between the second printed circuit122and the cover130. When a user's finger contacts the cover130, the finger, the cover130and the second printed circuit122are coupled to each other, and another capacitance value can be provided by measuring the soldering point133t. Since the finger is a conductor, after the finger touches the cover130, the overall capacitance value measured by the soldering point133twill be affected. Therefore, the capacitance value measured before the finger touches and the capacitance value measured after the finger touches are different. By measuring the capacitance value by connecting the capacitive sensing element115to the soldering point113t, a determination can be made as to whether the user has touched the panel130, thereby realizing the touch function.

In some embodiments, the cover130does not need to contact the second printed circuit122directly. Even if the second printed circuit122does not contact the cover130, the second printed circuit122is still coupled to the cover130, and a capacitance value caused by the coupling of the cover130and the second printed circuit122can still be provided. When the user's finger touches the cover130, the finger, the cover130, and the second printed circuit122are coupled to each other since the finger is conductive, and the change in the capacitance value can be measured through the second printed circuit122to determine whether the user's finger has touched the cover130to realize the touch function. In such embodiments, it is necessary to ensure that the distance between the cover130and the second printed circuit122is not too large. In other words, the distance between the cover130and the second printed circuit122should be less than a predetermined value. This ensures that the cover130directly contacts a part of the printed circuit board110and is fixed. In some embodiments, the cover130contacts the first printed circuit114. In some embodiments, the cover contacts the first printed circuit114and the second printed circuit122.

In this embodiment, the cover130covers the top surface111of the printed circuit board110, and the cover130contacts the second printed circuit122but not the first printed circuit114, the capacitive sensing elements115, the passive element116, the light emitting elements118and the light sensor119. Therefore, the cover130does not damage those elements.

As shown inFIG. 1, in this embodiment, the conductive sensing element115and the passive element116are integrated to the printed circuit board110. Such a configuration can reduce the occupied area for circuit routing and prevent noise from affecting the touch functions and the display functions. In some embodiments, through the direct integration of the capacitive sensing element115, the display function of the touch display device100can be directly switched on and off by touching the cover130.

In the present disclosure, it should be understood that the capacitive sensing element115does not have to be integrated on the printed circuit board110. That is, the second printed circuit122can be connected to an external capacitive sensing element115through the corresponding soldering point113tto thereby realize the touch functions.

In the above embodiments, the touch display device100of the present disclosure is described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. The display functions of the touch display device100can be performed by a seven-segment display, and the touch function can be realized by the coupling between the second printed circuit122, the cover130and the capacitive sensing element115. In some embodiments, by the integration of the light sensor119on the printed circuit board110, the touch display device100can realize the display functions, the touch functions and light sensing functions through use of a limited amount of space.

In addition to the above structure, in some embodiments, the printed circuit board110and the cover130can be configured with a light transmitting adhesive for protecting elements of the touch display device100. The light-transmitting adhesive does not excessively affect the light emission of the light emitting elements118, and further provides a waterproof function for the printed circuit board110and the cover130. In addition to having a waterproof function, the waterproof adhesive is also a dielectric material, such that the variation range of the capacitance value measured through the second printed circuit122can be further increased to thereby in turn increase the sensitivity for the touch function.

According to the above description, in some embodiments, a configuration may be provided in which there is no integration of the capacitive sensing element115with the printed circuit board110and the cover130.FIG. 3is an exploded view of a touch display device100aaccording to another embodiment of the disclosure. Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 3, the difference between the printed circuit board110aof the touch display device100aand the printed circuit board110of the touch display device100lies in the different elements included in the printed circuit board110aand the way in which the soldering points113are connected externally. As shown inFIG. 3, the printed circuit board110aincludes only the first printed circuit114, the light emitting elements118, and the second printed circuit122. That is, in this embodiment, the capacitive sensing element of the touch display device100ais not integrated on the printed circuit board110aand the cover130a. The capacitive sensing element can be connected to the second printed circuit122through the corresponding soldering point113t. Therefore, the touch display device100acan be made simpler as an independent touch module to be connected with other circuits having a capacitive sensing element. Since the printed circuit board110adoes not have a light sensor119, the light emitting element118is placed in the position of the light sensor119in the previous embodiment. The touch display device100adoes not have the function of light sensing, but only the functions of touch sensing and signal displaying.

Continued reference is made toFIG. 1andFIG. 3. InFIG. 1, the soldering points113are designed as half barrel solder pads. The soldering points113are distributed on the edge of the top surface111of the printed circuit board110, and the metal contacts connected outwardly are exposed. The other printed circuit boards and the metal contacts of the printed circuit board110can be directly soldered. As shown inFIG. 3, in this embodiment, the touch display device100afurther includes a plurality of pins113p, and the pins113pprotrude from the soldering points113cand113tperpendicularly from the bottom surface112and the top surface111of the printed circuit board110a, and the soldering points113cand113tare respectively connected to the pins113p.

FIG. 4illustrates the bottom surface of the touch display device100aofFIG. 3. In this embodiment, after the cover130ais connected to the printed circuit board110a, the cover130completely covers the top surface111of the printed circuit board110a, and the pins113pof the printed circuit board110aprotrude from the bottom surface112. The touch display device100ahaving the pins113pprotruding from the printed circuit board110aallows for more convenient soldering to a device having a corresponding opening for pins.

FIG. 5is an exploded view of a touch display module200according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The touch display module200is constructed by integrating a plurality of touch display devices described above, and these touch display devices are coupled to each other.FIG. 5illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment integrates two exemplary touch display devices of the present disclosure. The two touch display devices share a printed circuit board210.

As shown inFIG. 5, the touch display module200has one printed circuit board210. The printed circuit board210is a combination of two blocks, and each block is a touch display device of the present disclosure (e.g., touch display device100ashown inFIG. 3). Two second printed circuits222and222aare respectively on the two blocks of the printed circuit board210. The soldering points213on the printed circuit board210are half barrel solder pad structures and thereby easy to directly solder to other control circuits. The soldering points213include soldering points213cand soldering points213t, and the soldering points213tare respectively connected to the second printed circuits222and222a. In this embodiment, although the two touch display devices on the two blocks are located on the one printed circuit board210, the second printed circuit222is coupled to the cover230, the second printed circuit222ais coupled to the cover230a, and the covers230and230aare independent. When the user's finger touches the cover230, a change of a capacitance value can be measured by a corresponding soldering point213tas described above. A similar operation can be performed with respect to the cover230a. Thus, the covers230and230acan have a capacitance value change due to such touch actions. The second printed circuits222and222acan be respectively connected to external capacitive sensing elements through the corresponding soldering points213t. The changes of the capacitance values from the different covers230and230aare sensed and respectively converted into touch signals. The capacitive sensing element is, for example, the capacitive sensing element115shown inFIG. 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, touching different covers230and230aof the touch display module200can generate different touch signals.

In some embodiments, the touch display module200is connected to an external circuit. The external circuit receives different touch signals from different covers230and230ato control the light emission of the plurality of light emitting elements218of the touch display module200. For example, the touch display module200is a controllable digital display module that controls the light emitting elements218to emit light, so that the touch display module200displays a set of numbers between “00” and “99.” In this example, the number is increased by one when the cover230is touched once, and the number is decreased by one when the cover230ais touched once. It should be understood that this is only one embodiment of the touch display module200. Other similar examples, such as touching different covers230and230acause the numbers displayed by the touch display module200to change in brightness to be lighter and darker. The embodiments in which the display signals of the light emitting elements218are controlled by using different touch signals of different covers230and230aare included in the present invention.

It should be understood that the touch display module200as an adjustable digital display module is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and the disclosure should not be limited thereto. For example, the touch display device of the touch display module200disclosed herein does not necessarily share the same printed circuit board, or the touch display module200can further integrate a touch IC or a light sensor. In some embodiments, the touch display module200can integrate a larger number of touch display devices, and such configurations are all included in the present disclosure.

The foregoing has described features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the description in various aspects. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.