Patent Description:
Document <CIT> discloses a knob device comprising an element that is placed in a central hole of the knob device and enables the generation of a touch and press event of the knob device.

Knob devices are often used in general electronic apparatus, such as the knob for volume adjustment on an audio player, the knob for frequency adjustment on a radio and the knob for air conditioning/air volume adjustment on a car console, where many of these electronic apparatuses are equipped with a touch panel. Therefore, how to integrate the knob device and the touch panel to assist user in control has become an issue. In some traditional methods, the glass of the touch panel has holes on which the knobs are mounted. However, digging holes in the glass has disadvantages such as complicated steps, high cost and reduced glass strength. In some other traditional methods, the touch pad is installed in the knob and then directly mounted on the touch panel, and the function of the knob is achieved by touch effect of the touch pad on the touch panel. For example, when a user rotates the knob, a finger and the touch pad form a loop with the touch panel, such that a cell of the touch panel touched by the touch pad sends a touch signal. According to touch signals of different cells of the touch panel, the angle of rotation of the knob can be captured. However, certain problems may occur. For example, the resolution of the touch panel may be insufficient when the knob is small. For another example, when the touch pad of the knob is located between two touch panel cells, it is difficult to determine its position. Therefore, there is a need for a novel method and associated architecture to improve the resolution of rotation of the knob on the touch panel for solving the problems without introducing any side effect or in a way that is less likely to introduce a side effect.

This in mind, the present invention aims at providing a knob device applicable to a touch panel, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

This is achieved by a knob device according to independent claim <NUM>. The dependent claims pertain to corresponding further developments and improvements.

As will be seen more clearly from the detailed description following below, the disclosed knob device is applicable to a touch panel. The knob device comprises a knob cover, a plurality of sensing pads and a rotation sensing element. The plurality of sensing pads are fixedly arranged on the touch panel. A gap is form between two sensing pads. The plurality of sensing pads and gaps are distributed in a ring around a center of an orthographic projection of the knob cover. The rotation sensing element is connected to the knob cover. When the knob cover is turned to be rotated, the rotation sensing element is rotated synchronously. When a user touches the knob device and the rotation sensing element overlaps one of the plurality of sensing pads, the touch panel generates a sensing signal in response to a location of the rotation sensing element.

Please refer to <FIG> in conjunction with <FIG>. <FIG> is a diagram of a knob device <NUM> arranged on a touch panel <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is an exploded view illustrating the knob device <NUM> arranged on the touch panel <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the knob device <NUM> comprises a knob cover <NUM> arranged on the touch panel <NUM>. When a user operates the knob device <NUM> by contacting the knob cover <NUM>, the knob cover <NUM> forms a conductive path. This path allows the user's finger touching the knob device <NUM> to be connected to the touch panel <NUM> through the conductive path, which is equivalent to allowing the user to indirectly control the touch panel <NUM>. In other words, when the user touches the knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM>, the touch panel <NUM> generates a sensing signal in response to a loop formed by the touch panel <NUM>, the knob device <NUM> and the user. Furthermore, when the user rotates or presses the knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM>, the touch panel <NUM> generates different sensing signals in response to the movement and location of the knob device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the knob device <NUM> comprises a rotation sensing element <NUM>, a pressing sensing element <NUM> and a plurality of sensing pads <NUM> fixedly arranged on the touch panel. When the knob cover <NUM> is rotated, the rotation sensing element <NUM> is rotated synchronously. The plurality of sensing pads <NUM> do not change locations while the rotation sensing element <NUM> is rotating. In the present embodiment, the rotation sensing element <NUM> comprises a base <NUM> and a pin <NUM> arranged on the base <NUM>, and the base <NUM> is connected to the knob cover <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the pin <NUM> is arranged on the knob cover <NUM>, and the base <NUM> is omitted. The plurality of sensing pads <NUM> are separated from each other by gaps. The plurality of sensing pads <NUM> and gaps are distributed in a ring around a center of an orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM>, where the orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM> may be on a two-dimensional (2D) plane parallel with the touch panel <NUM>. In addition, the touch panel <NUM> has multiple touch panel cells <NUM> arranged in a matrix format. When the user touches the knob cover <NUM> and the pin <NUM> of the rotation sensing element <NUM> overlaps one of the plurality of sensing pads <NUM> (e.g., the rotation sensing element <NUM> may abut against or get close to one of the plurality of sensing pads <NUM>), the touch panel cell(s) <NUM> under the one of the plurality of sensing pads <NUM> generate sensing signal (s) in response to a location of the rotation sensing element <NUM>. For example, based on the sensing signal (s) output from the touch panel cell(s) <NUM>, the touch panel <NUM> generates a rotation sensing signal in response to the user touching and rotating knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the pin <NUM> is arranged above the plurality of sensing pads <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the pin <NUM> is arranged between the plurality of sensing pads <NUM> and the touch panel <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the knob device <NUM> arranged on the touch panel <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of sensing pads <NUM> are fixedly arranged above the touch panel <NUM>, and abut against to the touch panel <NUM>. The pressing sensing element <NUM> may be connected to the knob cover <NUM> and/or the base <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the pressing sensing element <NUM> is shown connected to the knob cover <NUM> for better understanding of technical features of the present invention. When the user touches and presses the knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM>, the pressing sensing element <NUM> abuts against or gets close to the touch panel <NUM>, such that the touch panel cell (s) <NUM> under the pressing sensing element <NUM> generate pressing sensing signal(s) in response to the pressing sensing element <NUM>. In other words, when a touch and press event of the knob device <NUM> occurs, the pressing touching element <NUM> abuts against or gets close to at least one of the plurality of sensing pads <NUM>, and controls a pressing sensing signal of the touch panel <NUM>. For example, based on the pressing sensing signal (s) output from the touch panel cell(s) <NUM>, the touch panel <NUM> generates a pressing sensing signal in response to the user touching and pressing the knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM>.

Furthermore, when the user touches and rotates the knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM>, the touch panel cell (s) <NUM> under one sensing pad <NUM> which overlaps the pin <NUM> generate sensing signal(s) in response to a location of the rotation sensing element <NUM>. It is noticed that, the knob cover <NUM> has a mechanism (e.g., a spring) that allows the knob cover <NUM> to be pressed down and rebound up when not being pressed. This mechanism is known to those skilled in the art, so the mechanism is not shown in figures, and further description is omitted here for simplicity.

For example, please refer to <FIG> is a top view illustrating the knob device <NUM> arranged on the touch panel <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. Assume that when the user touches and presses the knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM>, four touch panel cells 301a, 301b, 301c and 301d are under the pressing sensing element <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the four touch panel cells 301a, 301b, 301c and 301d generate four sensing signals due to the pressing sensing element <NUM> directly above the touch panel cells 301a, 301b, 301c and 301d. When the knob cover <NUM> is rotated, the pressing touching element <NUM> is rotated synchronously. The touch panel <NUM> (particularly, a controller of the touch panel <NUM>) can be pre-programed for generating the pressing sensing signal when receiving four sensing signals generated from four touch panel cells (e.g., touch panel cells 301a, 301b, 301c and 301d in this embodiment). In addition, the pin <NUM> is connected to the knob cover <NUM>, such that the pin <NUM> is synchronously rotated with the knob cover <NUM>. The pin <NUM> is rotated to be moved from one sensing pad <NUM> to another sensing pad <NUM>. When the user touches the knob device <NUM> and the pin <NUM> of the rotation sensing element <NUM> overlaps one of the plurality of sensing pads <NUM>, the touch panel <NUM> generates a rotation sensing signal in response to a location of the rotation sensing element <NUM>. In other words, when a touch and rotation event of the knob device <NUM> occurs and the pin <NUM> of the rotation sensing element <NUM> overlaps one of the plurality of sensing pads <NUM>, a location of the rotation sensing element <NUM> controls a rotation sensing signal of the touch panel <NUM>. As shown in the top view, all the sensing pads <NUM> may have the same shape and the same size, an orthographic projection of the pressing touching element <NUM> and the plurality of sensing pads <NUM> do not overlap, the pressing touching element <NUM> and the rotation sensing element <NUM> do not overlap. In the present embodiment, all the sensing pads <NUM> are located in the orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiment, said each sensing pad <NUM> comprises a first part and a second part connected with the first part, the first part is located in the orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM>, and the second part is located outside of the orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM>.

For example, please refer to <FIG> is a top view illustrating a plurality of sensing pads <NUM> distributed in a ring area around a center of an orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM> is on the touch panel <NUM>, a ring area is located around a center of the orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM> (the knob cover <NUM> is not shown in <FIG> for simplicity), and a plurality of radiations are formed from the center of the orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM>. The plurality of radiations are separated by <NUM> degrees, and one sensing pad <NUM> is formed corresponding to one radiation in the ring area. In other words, the ring area around the center of the orthographic projection of the knob cover <NUM> is divided into a plurality of parts, and each sensing pad <NUM> is located in one of the plurality of parts of the ring area. As shown in the top view, all the sensing pads <NUM> may have the same shape and the same size, an orthographic projection of the pressing touching element <NUM> and the plurality of sensing pads <NUM> do not overlap, the pressing touching element <NUM> and the rotation sensing element <NUM> do not overlap, and an area of each of the sensing pads <NUM> is formed outside of an orthographic projection of the rotation sensing element <NUM>.

In practice, the degrees between the plurality of radiations are set depending on the resolution of the rotation angle of the knob device <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the degrees between the plurality of radiations are all <NUM> degrees, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the degrees between the plurality of radiations may not be all the same. It is noticed that one gap <NUM> is formed between every two neighboring sensing pads <NUM> among the plurality of sensing pads <NUM>. In other words, the plurality of sensing pads <NUM> are separated from each other.

Similarly, when the user touches the knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM>, two touch panel cells 301e and 301f are under a sensing pad 170a which overlaps the pin <NUM>, such that the two touch panel cell 301e and 301f generate two sensing signals which represents that the knob device <NUM> is touched. If the user rotates the knob cover <NUM> of the knob device <NUM> clockwise, the pin <NUM> is moved to a position above a sensing pad 170b, such that two touch panel cells <NUM> and <NUM> are under the sensing pad 170b which overlaps the pin <NUM> and generate two sensing signals. The touch panel <NUM> (particularly, a controller of the touch panel <NUM>) can be pre-programed for generating a rotation sensing signal which represents that the knob device <NUM> is rotated when firstly receiving two sensing signals generated from two touch panel cell (e.g., touch panel cells 301e and 301f in this embodiment) and then receiving two sensing signals generated from another touch panel cells (e.g., touch panel cells <NUM> and <NUM> in this embodiment). It is noticed that when the pin <NUM> is moved above one of the plurality of gaps <NUM>, the touch panel cell(s) under the pin <NUM> does not generate any sensing signal, such that the location of the pin <NUM> and the rotation angel of the knob device <NUM> are not misjudged even at a position between two touch panel cells. Furthermore, the resolution of the rotation angle of the knob device <NUM> can be higher. In other words, when the touch and rotation event of the knob device occurs and the pin <NUM> of the rotation sensing element <NUM> does not overlap one of the plurality of sensing pads <NUM>, the rotation sensing element <NUM> does not induce the rotation sensing signal of the touch panel <NUM>.

In addition, the quantity and the shapes of sensing pads may have some variations to meet different requirements. Regarding specific touch panel cells under the sensing pads, the touch panel <NUM> (particularly, a controller of the touch panel <NUM>) has to be pre-programed for generating a rotation sensing signal corresponding to the specific touch panel cells.

Claim 1:
A knob device (<NUM>), applicable to a touch panel (<NUM>), the knob device (<NUM>) comprising:
a knob cover (<NUM>);
a plurality of sensing pads (<NUM>), fixedly arranged on the touch panel (<NUM>), wherein the plurality of sensing pads (<NUM>) and a plurality of gaps (<NUM>) are distributed in a ring area around a center of an orthographic projection of the knob cover (<NUM>), and one of the plurality of gaps (<NUM>) is formed between every two neighboring sensing pads (<NUM>) among the plurality of sensing pads (<NUM>); and
a rotation sensing element (<NUM>), connected to the knob cover (<NUM>), wherein when the knob cover (<NUM>) is rotated, the rotation sensing element (<NUM>) is rotated synchronously;
characterized in that
when a touch and rotation event of the knob device (<NUM>) occurs, the rotation sensing element (<NUM>) moves in such a way that it overlaps either only one of the plurality of sensing pads (<NUM>), or only one of the plurality of sensing pads (<NUM>) and only one of the plurality of gaps (<NUM>), or only one of the plurality of gaps (<NUM>),
wherein when the rotation sensing element (<NUM>) overlaps one of the plurality of sensing pads (<NUM>) in response to the touch and rotation event of the knob device (<NUM>), a location of the rotation sensing element (<NUM>) controls a rotation sensing signal of the touch panel (<NUM>), and when the rotation sensing element (<NUM>) overlaps only one of the plurality of gaps (<NUM>) in response to the touch and rotation event of the knob device (<NUM>), the rotation sensing element (<NUM>) does not induce the rotation sensing signal of the touch panel (<NUM>).