TOUCH FEEDBACK CORRECTION METHOD AND TOUCH MODULE USING SAME

A touch feedback correction method and a touch module using the touch feedback correction method are provided. In the touch feedback correction method, the coordinate values and the initial vibration values of plural press region on a touch panel of the touch module are detected. Consequently, a driving voltage calibration table is established. Then, a vibrating unit of the touch module is driven according to plural compensated voltage values of the driving voltage calibration table. Consequently, the plural press regions generate plural corrected vibration values, respectively.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a correction method, and more particularly to a correction method for an input module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A touch module is an input module of an electronic device. When a user's finger is pressed and slid on the touch module, the operations of the electronic device can be correspondingly controlled. Since the touch module is very thin and light, the touch module is widely used in a notebook computer, a mobile phone, a PDA or any other appropriate electronic device. As the trends of designing the modern electronic products are toward light weightiness and slimness, the applications of touch modules on the electronic products become more popular.

According to the operating principles of the touch module, a sensing unit is disposed within the touch module to sense the touched position, the touched number or the sliding trajectory of the user's hand and generate corresponding sensing values and control signals. Moreover, the touch module is usually equipped with a vibrating unit. When the touch module is pressed by the user, the vibrating unit is subjected to vibration. Consequently, a touch panel of the touch module generates vibration feedback.

However, since the dimensions or the stacking structures of touch panels of different input devices are usually different and the positions of the vibrating units are also different, some drawbacks occur. For example, when different press regions of the touch panel are pressed by the user, the press regions generate different vibration values. In other words, the user cannot achieve a good pressing experience

For solving the above drawbacks, it is important to provide a touch feedback correction method for generating the similar vibration feel on different press regions of a touch panel of a touch module.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a touch feedback correction method for correcting the vibration values of a touch module. When different press regions on a touch panel of the touch module are pressed by the user, the touch panel can generate the similar vibration feedback.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a touch feedback correction method for a touch module is provided. The touch module includes a touch panel, a vibrating unit and a storage unit. The vibrating unit is located under the touch panel to vibrate the touch panel. The storage unit being electrically connected with the vibrating unit. The touch feedback correction method includes the following steps. In a step (a), the touch panel are divided into plural press regions, and initial vibration values of the plural press regions are detected. In a step (b), a driving voltage calibration table is established according to coordinate values of the plural press regions and the initial vibration values of the plural press regions. The driving voltage calibration table contains plural compensated voltage values corresponding to the plural press regions. In a step (c), the driving voltage calibration table is written into a firmware of the storage unit. In a step (d), the firmware is executed to drive the vibrating unit according to the driving voltage calibration table. Consequently, the plural press regions generate plural corrected vibration values, respectively.

Preferably, in the step (a), a specified press region of the plural press regions is located over the vibrating unit. When a standard voltage value is provided to drive the vibrating unit, the initial vibration value corresponding to the specified press region is served as a standard vibration value.

Preferably, in the step (b), each of the plural compensated voltage values corresponding to the plural press regions is acquired through a calculation process.

Preferably, in the calculation process, each of the plural compensated voltage values is obtained according to a mathematic formula: Vc=Vs×(Gs/G1), wherein Vc is the compensated voltage value, Vs is the standard voltage value, Gs is the standard vibration value, and G1 is the corresponding initial vibration value.

In an embodiment, the touch feedback correction method further includes a step (e) of detecting the plural corrected vibration values of the plural press regions.

In an embodiment, the storage unit is a flash memory, an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a programmable read-only memory (PROM).

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a touch module is provided. The touch module includes a frame, a touch panel, a vibrating unit and a storage unit. The touch panel is installed on the frame. The touch panel includes plural press regions. The vibrating unit is located under the touch panel. The storage unit is electrically connected with the vibrating unit. A firmware of the storage unit contains a driving voltage calibration table. The driving voltage calibration table contains plural compensated voltage values corresponding to the plural press regions. The firmware is executed to drive the vibrating unit according to the plural compensated voltage values of the driving voltage calibration table. Consequently, the plural press regions generate plural corrected vibration values, respectively.

In an embodiment, each of the plural compensated voltage values corresponding to the plural press regions is acquired through a calculation process. In the calculation process, each of the plural compensated voltage values is obtained according to a mathematic formula: Vc=Vs×(Gs/G1), wherein Vc is the compensated voltage value, Vs is a standard voltage value, Gs is a standard vibration value, and G1 is the corresponding initial vibration value.

In an embodiment, when the standard voltage value is provided to drive the vibrating unit, the initial vibration value corresponding to the press region overlying the vibrating unit is served as the standard vibration value.

In an embodiment, the storage unit is a flash memory, an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a programmable read-only memory (PROM).

From the above descriptions, the present invention provides the touch feedback correction method. By the touch feedback correction method, the initial vibration values of the plural press regions on the touch panel of the control module can be corrected. After the correction, the corrected vibration values of the plural press regions on the touch panel are equal or nearly equal. Consequently, the uniformity and consistency of the vibration feels corresponding to different press region will be enhanced. When different press regions of the touch panel are pressed, the touch panel can generate the similar vibration feedback.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG.1Ais a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the architecture of a touch feedback correction system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG.1A, the touch feedback correction system1comprises a touch module10, a G-sensor80and a computing device90. The computing device90comprises a control unit91. The computing device90is electrically connected with the touch module10and the G-sensor80. The G-sensor80is used for detecting the vibration value of the touch module10when the touch module10is subjected to vibration.

The touch module10comprises a storage unit11and a vibrating unit12. The storage unit11comprises a firmware111. Moreover, the storage unit11is electrically connected with the vibrating unit12. The execution of the firmware111can control the operations of the touch module10. Moreover, the execution of the firmware111can drive the vibrating unit12to result in vibration of the touch module10. Preferably but not exclusively, the storage unit11is a flash memory, an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a programmable read-only memory (PROM).

Please refer toFIG.1Aagain. After the vibration values at different press regions of the touch module10are detected by the G-sensor80, the values of the vibration values are transmitted to the computing device90. At the same time, the coordinate values of the press regions detected by the G-sensor80are transmitted from the touch module10to the computing device90. According to the values of the vibration values of the press regions and the coordinate values of the press regions, the control unit91of the computing device9establishes a driving voltage calibration table92.

FIG.1Bis a schematic top view illustrating the touch module of the touch feedback correction system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG.1B, the touch module10comprises the storage unit11, the vibrating unit12, a frame13and a touch panel14. The touch panel14is installed on the frame13. The vibrating unit12is located under the touch panel14. The storage unit11is also located under the touch panel14. Moreover, the storage unit11is electrically connected with the vibrating unit12.

In an embodiment, the touch panel14is equally divided into nine press regions141˜449in a nine-square grid form. The vibrating unit12is located under the press region148. When the user's finger is placed on the touch panel14to touch or press the touch panel14, the touch module10recognizes which of the press regions141˜149is touched or pressed according to the resolution of the touch panel14and the coordinate value of the position corresponding to the detected finger. In this embodiment, the touch panel14is divided into nine press regions in an array arrangement. It is noted that the number of the press regions and the arrangement of the press regions are not restricted. That is, the number of the press regions and the arrangement of the press regions may be varied according to the use or production requirements.

FIG.2is a flowchart illustrating a touch feedback correction method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Firstly, in a step S100, the touch panel14is divided into plural press regions141˜149, and the initial vibration values G1 of the plural press regions141˜449are respectively detected. In the step S100, the press regions141˜149of the touch panel14are arranged in an array (seeFIG.1B).

In case that the touch panel14is pressed before the vibration values are corrected, the firmware111is executed to provide a standard voltage value Vs to drive the vibrating unit12to vibrate the touch panel14. The G-sensor80as shown inFIG.1Apresses on the press regions141˜449sequentially and thus detects and retrieves the initial vibration values G1 of the press regions141˜449.

In an embodiment, the standard voltage value Vs is 4.6V, and the press region148is located over the vibrating unit12. When the standard voltage value Vs is provided to drive the vibrating unit12, the initial vibration value G1 corresponding to the surface of the press region148is used as a standard vibration value Gs. For example, the standard vibration value Gs is 4.4 G. The initial vibration values G1 of the press regions141˜149retrieved by the G-sensor80are listed in Table 1.

Then, in a step S101, the driving voltage calibration table92as shown inFIG.1Ais established according to the coordinate values and the initial vibration values G1 of the press regions141˜149, wherein the driving voltage calibration table92contains compensated voltage values Vc corresponding to the plural press regions141˜149. In the step S101, the control unit91of the computing device90acquires the compensated voltage values Vc corresponding to the plural press regions141˜149through a calculation process. In the calculation process, the compensated voltage values Vc are obtained according to a mathematic formula: Vc=Vs×(Gs/G1). In the mathematic formula, Vc is the compensated voltage value, Vs is the standard voltage value, Gs is the standard vibration value, and G1 is the initial vibration value. The compensated voltage values Vc corresponding to the plural press regions141˜149are listed in Table 2.

Then, in a step S102, the driving voltage calibration table92is written into the firmware111of the storage unit11. In the step S102, the driving voltage calibration table92established by the control unit91of the computing device90through the calculation process is written into the firmware111of the storage unit11.

Then, in a step S103, the firmware111is executed to drive the vibrating unit12according to the driving voltage calibration table92, and thus the press regions141˜149generate corresponding corrected vibration values G2.

Afterwards, in a step S104, the corrected vibration values G2 of the press regions141˜149are detected. In the step S104, the G-sensor80as shown inFIG.1Apresses on the press regions141˜449sequentially and thus detects and retrieves the corrected vibration values G2 of the press regions141˜149. The corrected vibration values G2 of the press regions141˜149retrieved by the G-sensor80are listed in Table 3.

FIG.3is a line graph illustrating the vibration values of the press regions of the touch module of the present invention before and after correction. As shown inFIG.3, the initial vibration values G1 of the press regions141˜149are obviously different. After the correction, the corrected vibration values G2 of the press regions141˜149are equal or nearly equal.

From the above descriptions, the present invention provides the touch feedback correction method. By the touch feedback correction method, the initial vibration values of the plural press regions on the touch panel of the control module can be corrected. After the correction, the corrected vibration values of the plural press regions on the touch panel are equal or nearly equal. Consequently, the uniformity and consistency of the vibration feels corresponding to different press region will be enhanced. When different press regions of the touch panel are pressed, the touch panel can generate the similar vibration feedback. In other words, the technologies of the present invention are industrially valuable.