VISUAL INTERFACE SYSTEM
A visual interface system includes an operation apparatus and a matrix display apparatus. The matrix display apparatus includes a display surface and a matrix substrate. The matrix substrate includes a substrate and a matrix which is disposed at one side of the substrate while the display surface is located at the other side of the substrate. When the operation apparatus is operated on the display surface, an encoded signal is coupled to the operation apparatus from the matrix substrate. The operation apparatus receives the encoded signal so as to generate a transmission signal.
The present application is a Continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/344,462, which is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Phase conversion of International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT/CN2011/079576, filed on Sep. 13, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The PCT International Patent Application was filed and published in Chinese.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of Invention
The present invention relates to a human-machine interface system and, in particular, to a visual interface system.
Related Art
Recently, touch panels have been widely applied to the commercial electronic products such as mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3, PDA, GPS, tablet PC, UMPC, and the likes. In these electronic products, the touch panel is bound with a screen to form a touch input display apparatus. A manufacturing method of a conventional touch input display apparatus is to dispose a touch panel on a display panel of a display module. However, due to the additional touch panel, this approach not only increases the weight and sized of the product, but also the cost.
In order to broaden the applications of the commercial electronic products, some products have been added with the new function of near field communication (NFC), which can be used to replace the conventional IC card (e.g. door card, credit card, ticket, and etc.), exchange information (e.g. music, image, name card, and etc.) between two electronic devices, or the likes. Accordingly, it is desired to create a product with a simple structure and more functions.
Therefore, it is an important subject to provide a visual interface system which can achieve the desired touch input function without configuring an additional touch panel, thereby making the product lighter and thinner, lowering the production cost, and providing the NFC function for broadening the application field.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn objective of the present invention is to provide a visual interface system that can achieve the touch input function without configuring an additional touch panel, and is equipped with a near field communication (NFC) function.
The present invention can be implemented by the following technical proposals.
A visual interface system of the invention includes an operation apparatus and a matrix display apparatus. The matrix display apparatus includes a display surface and a matrix substrate including a substrate and a matrix. The matrix is disposed at one side of the substrate while the display surface is located at the other side of the substrate. When the operation apparatus is operated on the display surface, an encoded signal is coupled to the operation apparatus from the matrix substrate, and the operation apparatus receives the encoded signal so as to generate a transmission signal.
In one embodiment, the encoded signal is capacitive coupled to the operation apparatus from the matrix substrate.
In one embodiment, the transmission signal is transmitted to the matrix display apparatus or other apparatuses outside the visual interface system. The transmission signal includes touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information. Another apparatus outside the system or the matrix display apparatus processes the transmission signal to obtain an information signal, which may includes touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information.
In one embodiment, the visual interface system further includes at least one relay apparatus for processing the transmission signal to generate a relay process signal. The relay process signal is transmitted to the matrix display apparatus or other apparatuses outside the visual interface system. The transmission signal may include touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information. Besides, the relay process signal may also include touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information. Another apparatus outside the system or the matrix display apparatus processes the relay process signal to obtain an information signal, which may includes touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information.
In one embodiment, the visual interface system further includes a mode trigger apparatus for enabling the matrix display apparatus into an operating mode to output the encoded signal as the mode trigger apparatus is triggered by a user or the operation apparatus.
In one embodiment, when the operation apparatus is a user, the visual interface system further includes a sensing apparatus, and then when the user touches the display surface and the sensing apparatus simultaneously, the transmission signal is transmitted to the sensing apparatus. The sensing apparatus is electrically coupled with other apparatuses outside the visual interface system or the matrix display apparatus.
In one embodiment, the matrix further includes a plurality of row electrodes and a plurality of column electrodes. The row electrodes and the column electrodes are intersected, and the encoded signal is applied to the row electrodes or the column electrodes.
In one embodiment, the matrix further includes a plurality of transistors and a plurality of pixel electrodes, and the transistors are electrically connected with the row electrodes, the column electrodes and the pixel electrodes.
In the visual interface system of the invention, when the operation apparatus is operated on the display surface, the encoded signal is coupled to the operation apparatus from the matrix substrate, and the operation apparatus receives the encoded signal to generate a transmission signal. The transmission signal can be transmitted to other apparatuses outside the system or at least one relay apparatus, or be sent back to the matrix display apparatus. During this transmission procedure, the transmission signal can be processed by other apparatuses outside the system, and/or at least one relay apparatus, and/or the matrix display apparatus, so as to retrieve the information (e.g. touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information) contained in the encoded signal/signal processed by the relay apparatus/transmission signal.
As mentioned above, the visual interface system of the invention can be directly applied to the system containing matrix structure such as TFT LCD panel, OLED panel, LED panel, electrophoretic display panel, MEMS display panel, or the likes, thereby integrating display, touch input and data transmission functions together. Thus, the manufactured products can be lighter and thinner and the product cost can be decreased, thereby improving the product competitiveness. Moreover, the encoded signal is coupled to the external operation apparatus instead of being directly read by the matrix substrate, so that it is unnecessary to modify the layout on the matrix substrate. For example, regarding the touch input application, it is unnecessary to add the capacitance sensing components in the display panel for detecting the change of external capacitance values. As a result, the present invention can decrease the manufacturing cost and shrink the process time.
The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.
In this embodiment, the operation apparatus 11 is, for example, a stylus, an IC card, an NFC reading apparatus, or a user (especially the hand of a user). When the operation apparatus 11 is an electronic apparatus, it may include some functional circuits such as a process control circuit, a storage circuit or a transmission circuit. Herein, any circuit can be composed of hardware, software or firmware, or their combinations. When the operation apparatus 11 is a user, the user (operation apparatus) can serve as a conductor for transmitting signals.
In this embodiment, the matrix substrate 122 is a substrate configured with pixel matrix for displaying images, such as the TFT substrate of LCD panel, OLED panel, LED panel, electrophoretic panel, MEMS display panel, and the likes. The matrix 124 includes a plurality of row electrodes, a plurality of column electrodes, and a plurality of pixel electrodes, wherein the row electrodes and the column electrodes are intersected. Moreover, the matrix 124 can be an active matrix or a passive matrix. In this embodiment, the matrix 124 is an active matrix for example. Besides, the matrix 124 may further include a plurality of transistors electrically connected with the row electrodes, the column electrodes and the pixel electrodes, respectively.
The implementation of the embodiment used in the touch input purpose will be described hereinafter. Referring to
The encoded signal ES is applied to the matrix substrate 122, and additional display data signal is applied to the matrix substrate 122 for displaying images. The encoded signal ES is applied during the blanking time of the display data signals. For example, the encoded signal ES can be applied between two frames or scan operations of two row electrodes, or during the gap generated as shortening the input time of the display signals. Or, the encoded signal ES can have a higher frequency and be directly added to the display signal.
The encoded signal ES and the transmission signal TS will be further described hereinbelow, wherein the matrix substrate 122 is a TFT substrate of an LCD apparatus.
In this embodiment, the column electrodes D1˜DN can transmit not only the data signals for displaying images but also the encoded signal. For example, the display signal can be directly added to the encoded signal with higher frequency or be added to the blank period of the displayed data signal such as the period after the scan procedure of all row electrodes S1˜SM are finished and before the next scan procedure start (the blank period between frames). Or, the display signal can be inserted after one row electrode is scanned and before the scan of next row electrode, or within the scan period of row electrode by reducing the display data signal period and before sending the display data. Herein, the encoded signal can be provided by expending T-con circuit function and data or scan driving circuit, thereby simplifying the circuit design.
The duty cycle of the encoded signal of this embodiment is smaller than that of the data signals so as to maintain the display quality.
When a user grabs the operation apparatus 11 and operates it on the display surface 121 of the matrix display apparatus 12 (e.g. to contact or approach the display surface), the encoded signal is capacitive coupled from the matrix substrate 122 to the operation apparatus 11. This embodiment takes the column electrodes D1˜DN for transmitting the encoded signals ES for an example, so the column electrode can serve as one of the capacitive coupling electrodes, and the operation apparatus 11 has the other capacitive coupling electrode. For example, when the operation apparatus 11 is a stylus, a conductor configured at the tip of the stylus functions as the other capacitive coupling electrode.
After receiving the encoded signal ES through the capacitive coupling, the operation apparatus 11 processes the received encoded signal ES to generate a transmission signal TS. This process includes amplifying and/or decoding the encoded signal ES so as to determine the touch position, the touch gesture (writing style), the corresponding function instruction, or which column electrode is touched or pressed. To be noted, the encoded signal ES is capacitive coupled to the operation apparatus 11, and the value of the capacitance relies upon the distance between the operation apparatus and the display surface, which means the amplitude of the signal can provide the z-axis information, so that the operation apparatus 11 can get not only the two-dimensional coordinates but also the z coordinate. Accordingly, the transmission signal TS stands for the result of processing the encoded signal ES, ranging from simple amplification to extract the information like commands of action.
After generating the transmission signal TS, the operation apparatus 11 can transmit the transmission signal TS to the matrix display apparatus 12, other relay apparatus, or other apparatuses outside the visual interface system through wire/wireless electrical coupling (including capacitive coupling) or optical coupling. In this embodiment, the transmission signal TS is directly transmitted to the matrix display apparatus 12.
When this invention is applied to other non-touch input applications, the information to be transmitted is encoded to generate an encoded signal ES based on a specific coding rule, and then the encoded signal ES is capacitive coupled from the matrix substrate 122 (e.g. configured as a cell phone or tablet computer) to the operation apparatus 11 (e.g. short distance wireless reading apparatus attached on the wall). Similarly, the operation apparatus 11 can process (decodes or modifies) the encoded signal ES based on the preset coding rule so as to obtain the transmission signal TS, and then uses the transmission signal TS on the corresponding application such as access control, payment, financial transaction, file transmission, and the likes.
In the above, the operation apparatus 11 processes the encoded signal ES to obtain the information contained in the transmission signal TS such as the touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information. In other embodiments, the matrix display apparatus 12 may process the transmission signal TS to obtain an information signal, which contains the touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information. In this case, the information signal, instead of the transmission signal TS, carries the complete information.
As mentioned above, referring to
Besides, a response signal RS can also be transmitted between the operation apparatus 11 and the matrix display apparatus 12. Herein, the response signal RS is for providing the information of the receiving status of the operation apparatus 11 to the matrix display apparatus 12, announcing the operation apparatus 11 to get ready for receiving the signal, or synchronizing the operation apparatus 11 and the matrix display apparatus 12. This configuration can create an interactive mechanism between the transmitting and receiving signals. Moreover, the response signal RS can provide the synchronization function for establishing an information handshaking procedure between the operation apparatus 11 and the matrix display apparatus 12.
The relay apparatus 13 can process the transmission signal TS to generate a relay processed signal IS and then transmit the relay processed signal IS to the matrix display apparatus 12. In the procedures of coupling the encoded signal ES to the operation apparatus 11 to generate the transmission signal TS, processing the transmission signal TS by the relay apparatus 13 to generate the relay processed signal IS, and transmitting the relay processed signal IS to the matrix display apparatus 12 to obtain the information signal, the signal is processed by means, for example, amplification, decoding, modifying and/or interpretation, which can be implemented by all or either one of the operation apparatus 11, the matrix display apparatus 12 and the relay apparatus 13. Accordingly, the transmission signal TS, the relay processed signal IS or the information signal can contain the touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information.
Besides, the response signal RS of the first embodiment can also be applied to the operation apparatus, relay apparatus and/or matrix display apparatus of the second embodiment, thereby creating an interactive mechanism between the transmitting and receiving signals. Moreover, the response signal RS can provide the synchronization function for establishing an information handshaking procedure between the operation apparatus, relay apparatus and matrix display apparatus.
In the visual interface system of the invention, when the operation apparatus is operated on the display surface, the encoded signal is coupled to the operation apparatus from the matrix substrate, and the operation apparatus receives the encoded signal to generate a transmission signal. In touch input application, the transmission signal can be directly or indirectly transmitted to the matrix display apparatus. During this transmission procedure, the transmission signal can be processed by operation apparatus, at least one relay apparatus, and/or the matrix display apparatus, so that the matrix display apparatus can retrieve the information contained in the encoded signal and transmission signal, such as touch input information, instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information.
As mentioned above, the visual interface system of the invention can be directly applied to the system containing matrix structure such as TFT LCD panel, OLED panel, LED panel, electrophoretic display panel, MEMS display panel, or the likes, thereby integrating display, touch input and data transmission functions together. Thus, the products can be lighter and thinner and the product cost can be decreased, thereby improving the product competitiveness. Moreover, the encoded signal is coupled to the external operation apparatus instead of being directly read by the matrix substrate, so that it is unnecessary to modify the layout on the matrix substrate. For example, regarding to the touch input application, it is unnecessary to add the capacitance sensing component in the display panel for detecting the change of external capacitance values. As a result, the present invention can decrease the manufacturing cost and time.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A visual interface system, comprising:
- an operation apparatus; and
- a matrix display apparatus, comprising: a display surface, wherein the display surface is a surface of the matrix display apparatus, which is closest to a viewer when the viewer is watching images displayed on the matrix display apparatus; and a matrix substrate including: a substrate; and a matrix, wherein the display surface is disposed on one side of the substrate and the matrix is disposed on the other side of the substrate and attached to the substrate, wherein the matrix comprises: a plurality of displaying pixel electrodes on the substrate; a plurality of transistors on the substrate; a plurality of row electrodes and a plurality of column electrodes on the substrate for sending displaying signals to the displaying pixel electrodes through the transistors and for wirelessly transmitting encoded media information to the operation apparatus by coupling, wherein the row electrodes, the column electrodes, the displaying pixel electrodes and the transistors are disposed on the same side of the substrate, the row electrodes and the column electrodes are intersected, the transistors are electrically connected with the row electrodes, the column electrodes and the pixel electrodes, and the encoded media information contains instruction information, identification information, transaction information or file information;
- wherein, when the operation apparatus is operated on the display surface, the encoded media information is coupled from the matrix substrate to the operation apparatus through the row electrodes or the column electrodes, and the operation apparatus receives the encoded signal so as to extract instruction information, identification information, transaction information, or file information from the encoded media information and generate a transmission signal.
2. The visual interface system of claim 1, wherein the encoded signal is capacitive coupled to the operation apparatus from the matrix substrate.
3. The visual interface system of claim 1, wherein the transmission signal is transmitted to the matrix display apparatus.
4. The visual interface system of claim 1, wherein the transmission signal comprises instruction information, identification information, transaction information or file information.
5. The visual interface system of claim 3, wherein the matrix display apparatus processes the transmission signal to obtain an information signal, and the information signal comprises instruction information, identification information, transaction information, or file information.
6. The visual interface system of claim 1, further comprising:
- at least a relay apparatus for processing the transmission signal to generate a relay processed signal.
7. The visual interface system of claim 6, wherein the relay processed signal is transmitted to the matrix display apparatus.
8. The visual interface system of claim 6, wherein the transmission signal comprises instruction information, identification information, transaction information, file information or other information.
9. The visual interface system of claim 6, wherein the relay processed signal comprises instruction information, identification information, transaction information, or file information.
10. The visual interface system of claim 7, wherein the matrix display apparatus processes the relay processed signal to generate an information signal, and the information signal comprises instruction information, identification information, transaction information, or file information.
11. The visual interface system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a mode trigger apparatus for enabling the matrix display apparatus into an operating mode to output the encoded signal as the mode trigger apparatus is triggered by a user or the operation apparatus.
12. The visual interface system of claim 1, wherein when the operation apparatus is a user, the visual interface system further comprises a sensing apparatus, and then when the user touches the display surface and the sensing apparatus simultaneously, the transmission signal is transmitted to the sensing apparatus.
13. The visual interface system of claim 12, wherein the sensing apparatus has a mode trigger function, so the sensing apparatus enables the matrix display apparatus to an operating mode to output the encoded signal as the user activates the sensing apparatus.
14. The visual interface system of claim 3, wherein the transmission signal comprises instruction information, identification information, transaction information, or file information.
15. The visual interface system of claim 6, further comprising:
- a mode trigger apparatus for enabling the matrix display apparatus into an operating mode to output the encoded signal as the mode trigger apparatus is triggered by a user or the operation apparatus.
16. The visual interface system of claim 6, wherein when the operation apparatus is a user, the visual interface system further comprises a sensing apparatus, and then when the user touches the display surface and the sensing apparatus simultaneously, the transmission signal is transmitted to the sensing apparatus.
17. The visual interface system of claim 1, wherein the encoded signal comprises a time-reference point signal.
18. The visual interface system of claim 1, wherein a display data signal is applied to the matrix substrate for displaying images, and the encoded signal have a frequency higher than the display data signal and is directly added to the display data signal.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 17, 2017
Publication Date: Aug 3, 2017
Inventor: Hsiung-Kuang TSAI (Taipei City)
Application Number: 15/488,965