JP2003122496A - Input/output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input/output device capable of inputting/outputting input contents without using a power circuit or processing circuit when the contents are additionally written. SOLUTION: The input/output device comprises a display means and an electric field generating means. The display means changes the display condition of a display screen with a flexible display element based on an applied electric field. The electric field generating means disposed under the display element, which is deformed with the pressure from the visual recognition side of the display element, generates an electric field as the applied electric field at the position of the display element corresponding to the pressure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to handy terminal equipment, portable information communication equipment, OA equipment such as copying machines, facsimiles and printers, and electronic equipment such as information processing equipment such as personal computers and word processors. The present invention relates to an input / output device that can be widely used, and particularly to an input / output device that can display input / output without using a power supply circuit or a processing circuit during additional writing.

[0002]

[Prior art]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-139025

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-124542

[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-332602

[Patent Document 4] JP-A-63-2478719

Conventionally, it can be widely used in electronic devices such as handy terminal devices and portable information communication devices of this type, OA devices such as copying machines, facsimiles and printers, and personal computers and word processors. As an output device, there is known an output device such as a liquid crystal display device, in which an input device such as a touch panel is arranged in a stacked state on the upper surface of the output device to display and to input information.

Techniques relating to such an input / output device include, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-139025, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-124542, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-332602 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-247819. The one disclosed in the above has already been proposed.

The operation panel switch according to Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-139025 is an operation panel switch for performing a large number of displays, and a membrane switch having a plurality of transparent electrodes is arranged on the upper surface of a dot matrix liquid crystal display element. It is configured as follows.

Further, in the switch mechanism using the liquid crystal display panel according to Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-124542, a symbol group representing various functions of the electronic device is displayed in the switch mechanism controlling various functions of the electronic device. A liquid crystal display panel, a memory section for storing a symbol group for a plurality of screens, a transparent pressure-sensitive sensor provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal panel and capable of switching to a function according to the displayed symbol group, An interface section for switching the function of the pressure-sensitive sensor and a backlight for illuminating the liquid crystal display panel from the back surface are provided.

Further, the information processing apparatus according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-332602 mentioned above has a liquid crystal display for displaying various information, a pressure-sensitive touch panel stretched on the front surface of the liquid crystal display, and the liquid crystal display as appropriate. Displayed and displayed, the software keyboard that receives the coordinate position input on the display from the pressure-sensitive touch panel and the key that is placed on or removed from the front surface of the software keyboard, and the keys on the top surface according to the key layout of the software keyboard. A button-like protrusion is provided, and a keyboard input assisting unit with a protrusion is provided on the surface of the protrusion, and a character corresponding to the key character arrangement of the software keyboard is displayed by printing or the like.

On the other hand, the touch panel input / output device according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-247819 discloses a display device in which a display screen is formed as a set of a large number of character regions, and a matrix-like structure provided so as to overlap the screen. The size of one division area for detecting one coordinate is approximately equal to the division of the character area, and the display pitch of the character area of the display device and the division area of the digital touch switch of In a touch panel input / output device having a digital touch switch whose detection pitches are substantially equal to each other, the partitioned region of the digital touch switch is overlapped with the character region of the display device by shifting by 1/2 pitch in each of the X direction and the Y direction. It is configured to be arranged.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing a concrete structure of a control panel of a conventional copying machine among the various technologies proposed above, and FIG. 21 is an exploded view thereof. In such a conventional structure, the information input display 100
Is composed of a transmissive liquid crystal display screen 121 formed by laminating plate glass, and a touch panel 122 arranged on the display screen 121, and a panel plate 124 having an opening 123 is used for the information. It covers the input display 100. The liquid crystal display screen 121 is provided with ITO electrodes, which are transparent electrodes, on the opposite surfaces of a pair of glass substrates in a crossed manner, and the pair of glass substrates are laminated with a liquid crystal sandwiched therebetween. An image is displayed by applying a voltage to the ITO electrodes formed in a matrix on a pair of glass substrates by a display CPU circuit.

Further, the touch panel 122 has a matrix of transparent conductive thin films such as ITO formed on two glass substrates at a predetermined pitch (for example, 4 mm pitch), and then these glass substrates are provided with a slight gap. When the touch panel 122 is pressed at an arbitrary position, the conductive thin films facing each other are locally brought into contact with each other by the pressing force to cause electrical conduction, and based on the level change of the output signal. The CPU circuit 125 is configured to identify the pressed position on the touch panel 122. In FIG. 21, reference numeral 126 is a fluorescent lamp that illuminates the liquid crystal display screen 121 from behind, reference numeral 127 is a light diffusion plate that diffuses the irradiation light of the fluorescent lamp 126 over the entire surface of the liquid crystal display screen 121, and reference numeral 128 is the fluorescent light. It is an inverter circuit that lights the lamp 126.

Such a conventional information input display 1
In 00, a virtual operation button corresponding to a function used by the device is displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 121, and the user presses the virtual operation button.
Since the virtual operation button is pressed from above 22, it is possible to check whether or not the virtual operation button is pressed based on the relationship between the pressed position on the touch panel 122 and the display position of the virtual operation button. Therefore, in the conventional control panel having such an information input display, it is possible to assign a plurality of functions to one virtual operation button by changing the display content of the liquid crystal display screen 121 for each function used. The number of physical operation buttons provided above can be significantly reduced. Further, there has already been proposed that the touch panel 22 can be used to input characters and the like.

[0012]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, in the above-mentioned conventional input / output device such as the information input display 100, in order to display the information input by the input device including the touch panel 122 by the output device including the liquid crystal display screen 121, the touch panel 122 is used.
Information input from an input device such as the CPU circuit 125
It is necessary to detect the pressed position on the touch panel 122 and output the information of the pressed position on the touch panel 122 again to the matrix electrode of the liquid crystal display screen 121 through a processing circuit (not shown) to display it. for that reason,
In the above-mentioned conventional input / output device such as the information input display 100, the CP is used for inputting and displaying information.
A signal processing circuit including the U circuit 125 and the like, and a power supply circuit for driving the signal processing circuit, the liquid crystal display screen 121, and the like are required. Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional input / output device such as the information input display 100, in order to make it a portable device while using a liquid crystal sheet or the like as a thin input / output integrated device, a separate power supply circuit, signal processing circuit, etc. Therefore, there is a problem that the device becomes large-scale for the purpose of adding a memo to the display content of the output device.

Therefore, as a result of intensive studies on the method of reflecting the input in the display device usable as the input / output device, the present inventors output the input content to the output without using the power supply circuit or the signal processing circuit. The inventors have found a method of reflection and arrived at the present invention.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to
An object of the present invention is to provide an input / output device capable of inputting / outputting input contents without using a power supply circuit or a processing circuit at the time of additional writing.

[0015]

The input / output device of the first invention of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) changes the display state of a display screen having a flexible display element based on an applied electric field. The display means and the pressing of the display element provided below the display element from the viewing side deform the display element downward, and the electric field as the applied electric field is applied to the position of the display element corresponding to the pressing. And generating means for generating.

With such a configuration, the display element is deformed downward by the pressing from the viewing side of the display element to transmit the pressing force to the generating means, and as a result, the generating means positions the display element corresponding to the pressing. To generate an electric field. Based on the applied electric field generated, the display element changes the display state of the display screen, and is additionally written to the display element without a power source or special processing means, in other words, direct display is possible. Since there is no object that lowers the visibility, it is possible to perform additional recording and display with good visibility. Although the first invention can be expressed as a display device, in the present specification, the name of the invention is referred to as an input / output device as an input for generating an electric field at a position of a display screen in response to pressing.

The input / output device of the second invention (the invention according to claim 2) comprises detection means for detecting a position on the display screen corresponding to the pressing based on the electric field generated by the generation means. To do.

With such a structure, as in the first aspect, additional writing can be performed on the display element without a power source or special processing means, and additional writing and display can be performed with good visibility. At the same time, the detecting means detects the position on the display screen corresponding to the pressing based on the electric field generated by the generating means, so that the input information can be taken out.
As a result, it becomes possible to display information on the display element based on the extracted input information. Therefore, it is possible to convert the handwritten document into pattern information or the like by recognition or the like and display it as a normal electronic document, as well as to simply redisplay additional recording (direct display).

In the input / output device of the third invention (the invention according to claim 3), the generating means is a first and a second sheet-like piezoelectric element whose opposing surfaces are grounded with an electrode layer interposed therebetween. There is something. With such a configuration, when the first sheet-shaped piezoelectric element is on the upper side and the second sheet-shaped piezoelectric element is on the lower side, the viewing side of the display screen is negative and the display element side surface of the first sheet-shaped piezoelectric element. Is an electric field such that
It occurs at a position corresponding to writing (pressing) on the display screen, and a minus side of the facing surface of the first and second sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements corresponding to this position, the detection surface side of the second sheet-shaped piezoelectric element Since a positive electric charge is generated, the position corresponding to writing (pressing) on the display screen can be easily detected by the detecting means.

In the input / output device of the fourth invention (the invention according to claim 4), the detecting means is arranged below the second sheet-like piezoelectric element on the lower side, and has a resistor having electrodes at four corners. It is a membrane layer. With such a configuration, for example, pull-down resistors are connected to the electrodes at the four corners, and the pull-down resistors are connected according to the relationship between the resistance value and the ratio of the length from the charge generation position to the electrode of the resistance film to the resistance value. , The position in the X and Y directions can be specified by the operation-amplified value of the voltage generated in the opposing pull-down resistor, so that the position on the display screen corresponding to writing (pressing) can be easily detected with a relatively simple configuration. can do.

In the input / output device of the fifth invention (the invention according to claim 5), the generating means comprises an electrode layer grounded, and one or more sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements laminated on the electrode layer. The display means includes a sheet-shaped display element laminated on the piezoelectric element, and a light-transmissive transparent electrode installed at least during additional writing on the viewing side of the display screen. . With such a configuration, the configuration can be further simplified.

In the input / output device of the sixth invention (the invention according to claim 6), the transparent electrode is provided with information based on the output of the detecting means, and a horizontal electric field is generated based on the information to display a display screen. It displays information on top. With such a configuration, additional writing can be advantageously performed on a display element such as a liquid crystal display element.

In the input / output device of the seventh invention (the invention according to claim 7), the display means includes a transparent electrode which is transparent and faces the transparent electrode on the viewing side. Information is output based on the output of the detection means, a vertical electric field is generated between the transparent electrodes based on the information, and the information is displayed on the display screen. With such a configuration, it can be realized without limiting the type of display element.

Preferably, in the input / output device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the display means is a display element having a memory property for storing display information.
For example, a spherical rotating display element (US Pat.
No. 103, etc.), liquid crystal display elements having a memory property such as ferroelectric liquid crystal display elements, and the like.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an input / output device according to the present invention.

The input / output device 1 according to the first embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 1, it is roughly divided into a liquid crystal display panel 2 as a display element and a sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3 arranged on the back side thereof.

The liquid crystal display panel 2 is a reflection type liquid crystal display panel, and is formed in a flexible sheet shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal display panel 2 includes a pair of polarizing plates 2 on both front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal display section 20.
The pair of polarizing plates 21 and 21 need not be directly laminated on the liquid crystal display unit 20, but the pair of polarizing plates 21 and 21 and the liquid crystal display unit 2 are arranged.
Other layers or plate-shaped members may be interposed between 0 and 0. As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display unit 20 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is configured by laminating a liquid crystal 23 between a pair of sheets 22 made of PES (polyether sulfone). . Further, polarizing plates 21 and 21 are arranged outside the pair of PES sheets 22 and 22. As the liquid crystal 23 laminated between the pair of PES sheets 22 and 22, for example, a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal is used, but the liquid crystal 23 is not limited to this, and other types of liquid crystal may be used. Of course good.

The liquid crystal display section 20 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 has, for example, a basic configuration and operation as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 251.
Although the one configured as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2290 and the like is used, more specifically, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-61061 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-2 filed by Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
It is possible to use the one configured as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 73531. However, in the liquid crystal display unit 20 of the liquid crystal display panel 2, a pair of PES sheets 22, 2
It is not necessary to vapor-deposit an ITO electrode, which is a transparent electrode, on 2 and one or both of the pair of PES sheets 22 and 22
A liquid crystal 23 made of a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal or the like is applied to form a film, and a pair of PES sheets 22 and 22 facing each other are laminated, and then an alignment treatment by bending is performed by passing between a plurality of rollers to manufacture. To be done. Here, since the liquid crystal display panel 2 using the liquid crystal 23 made of a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal has a memory property, it has a characteristic that the display screen can be held even when the voltage application is stopped. Have

In order to improve the visibility of the liquid crystal display panel 2 on the front surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 2, that is, the viewing side, between the PES sheet 22 and the polarizing plate 21 to prevent irregular reflection or the like. Buffer layer 2 consisting of a visibility improving sheet
4 are arranged in a laminated state. As the buffer layer 24 made of this visibility improving sheet, for example, one made of a gel resin or a rubber resin is used. On the surface of the buffer layer 24 composed of this visibility improving sheet, a polarizing plate 21 is laminated and arranged in order to clarify the shade of a display image based on the change of the optical anisotropy of liquid crystal to which an electric field is applied. ing. At that time, if the buffer layer 24 interposed between the flexible liquid crystal display unit 20 and the polarizing plate 21 has a large difference in refractive index from other members, it causes reflection of external light, and thus the liquid crystal display. The display quality of panel 2 deteriorates. Therefore, in the buffer layer 24 made of the visibility improving sheet, the refractive index of air is 1.0, whereas the refractive index of the synthetic resin forming the ferroelectric liquid crystal 23, the polarizing plate 21 and the like is 1. Since it is around 0.4, it is optimal to use a transparent buffer layer 24 having a gel-like resin or rubber-like resin with a refractive index of around 1.4.

As a material suitable for this, for example, since the visibility improving sheet manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation has a refractive index of 1.46, the buffer layer 24 is, for example, Nitto having an adhesiveness of 400 μm. A visibility improving sheet manufactured by Denko is used, and the visibility improving sheet 24 is used for the liquid crystal display panel 2.
And the polarizing plate 21 are interposed in a state of being adhered and held by the adhesiveness. The visibility improving sheet used as the buffer layer 24 is made of, for example, a gel resin such as an acrylic polymer or a rubber resin such as a silicone resin polymer.

On the back side of the liquid crystal display section 20,
The polarizing plate 21 is laminated as it is without interposing any member, and the polarizing plate 21 on the back surface side is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the polarizing plate 21 arranged on the front surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 2. There is. Further, the liquid crystal display panel 2
A reflection plate 25 for reflecting light incident from the front surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is laminated and arranged below the polarizing plate 21 arranged on the back surface side thereof, if necessary. This reflector 25
For example, a reflective material made of synthetic resin or the like is used.

Further, on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3 is formed.
However, in order to improve the sensitivity, two sheets are laminated in a laminated state. Here, as the sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3, for example, a sheet made of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) or the like is used. Further, among the above-mentioned two sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements 3 bonded together, a thin-film electrode 4 made of aluminum or the like is deposited on the back surface of the sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3 located below by a means such as vapor deposition. The potential of the thin-film electrode 4 is fixed by being grounded, for example.

With the above configuration, the input / output device according to the first embodiment can display the input contents without using a power supply circuit or a processing circuit as follows.

That is, in the input / output device 1 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the stylus pen 5 fixed to the ground potential from the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is used,
Information is entered by entering information such as characters and figures. The stylus pen 5 does not need to be connected to the ground again, but may be fixed to the ground potential through the human body. Further, the stylus pen 5 may be configured, for example, such that a tip end portion that comes into contact with the display element 2 is formed of a metal material, and a human finger or the like comes into contact with the tip end portion formed of the metal material.

By the way, as described above, when information such as characters and figures is written using the stylus pen 5 fixed to the ground potential from the surface of the display element, the position pressed by the stylus pen 5 is shown in FIG. A sheet-like piezoelectric element 3 arranged in a laminated state on the back surface side of the displayed element.
However, it is deformed into a downward convex shape together with the display element 2. Then, in the deformed sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3, as shown in FIG. 4, electric charges based on the polarization P are generated so as to be inversely proportional to the radius of curvature R of the deformed portion, so that the ground potential on which a character or the like is written is generated. An electric field is formed between the stylus pen 5 and the tip portion of the stylus pen 5. As a result, in the display element composed of the liquid crystal display panel 2, the alignment state of the ferroelectric liquid crystal 23 changes only in the portion to which the electric field is applied, so that the liquid crystal display panel 2 is moved according to the locus written by the stylus pen 5. Image information is displayed. Since the ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal 23 has the memory property as described above, the deformation of the sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3 returns to its original state, and the stylus pen 5 can be used even when the electric field is not applied. You can continue to display the information entered by.

As described above, in the input / output device according to the first embodiment, the power supply circuit and the processing circuit are not used,
It is possible to display the input contents on the liquid crystal display panel 2 only by writing desired information from the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 2 with the slurry pen 5.

In order to erase the image information displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2, an inverted electric field may be applied to the liquid crystal display panel 2 by an erasing circuit (not shown).

Second Embodiment FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment, the display element is not a liquid crystal display panel but is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-188489. As described above, it is configured to use an addressable display device also called a twisting ball panel display.

The addressable display device according to this Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 3-188489 includes a paper-like sheet, and the paper-like sheet comprises a translucent main layer loaded with a plurality of substantially spherical balls. Wherein each ball has at least two different faces of a contrasting color and a different surface charge, each ball being housed in a substantially spherical cavity filled with a dielectric liquid and free to rotate; Further, addressing means movable relative to the paper-like sheet and having chargeable electrode means for making information visible on the paper-like sheet by rotating the ball. Is included.

More specifically, the display sheet 30 which constitutes this addressable display device.
As shown in FIG. 5, it consists of a main body layer 31 only, and this sheet is loaded with small balls 33 that are rotatable in an internal cavity 32. A protective upper and lower layer 34 is provided to provide properties. Alternatively, protect only the upper layers,
Alternatively, the sheet may be completely contained within the protective outer packaging. The main body layer 31 is made of a sheet-like elastomer such as silicon rubber having a thickness of about 0.127 to 0.508 mm, and has high density dielectric balls 33 each having a diameter of about 15 to 30 μm therein. It is distributed. Each ball 33 has its hemispheres colored in contrasting colors, preferably one white and the other black, and have different surface charges in the electric field. Each ball 33 is housed in a spherical cavity 32, and the space between the ball 33 and the cavity 32 is filled with a dielectric liquid so that the ball 33 can rotate freely.

When the display sheet 30 is applied with an electric field having a predetermined polarity and a potential higher than a threshold value,
The balls 33 are aligned and their black sides are all in one direction. From this direction, the display sheet 3
0 looks black. On the contrary, when the polarity of the electric field is reversed, the ball 33 is rotated by 180 ° so that the white surface faces the visual direction and the display looks white. Further, the display sheet 30 can store a non-volatile image. That is, as long as the electric field does not change, the pattern for the ball is held infinitely. The direction of the ball does not change even when strong vibration is applied.

In the case of the display sheet 30 according to the second embodiment, unlike the liquid crystal display panel, it is not necessary to use a deflecting plate or the like, so that the display sheet 30 can be formed thinner correspondingly, and the stylus pen can be used. The pressing force of the stylus pen 5 can be transmitted to the piezoelectric element 3 more effectively, and additional writing with the stylus pen 5 can be performed more reliably.

Third Embodiment FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals. The stylus pen does not have to be fixed to the ground potential, and information can be freely entered.

That is, in the input / output device 1 according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the transparent electrode 7 is uniformly formed on the surface of the display element 2, and the transparent electrode 7 is grounded. It is configured to be connected and fixed to the ground potential. As the transparent electrode 7, for example, ITO (Int
A material made of ium tin oxide) or the like is used, but it goes without saying that a transparent electrode made of another material may be used. The transparent electrode 7 is preferably formed as thin as possible in order to efficiently transmit the pressing force applied by the stylus pen 5 to the piezoelectric element.

By doing so, the stylus pen 5
It is not necessary to fix itself to the ground potential, and it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the embodiment described in FIG. 1 even if the potential is free. Therefore, the type and characteristics of the writing instrument that writes information in the input / output device 1 configured as described above are not limited to the stylus pen 5, and any writing instrument can be used. The potential of the transparent electrode 7 is not limited to the ground potential, as long as it is fixed at a constant potential.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and will be described. Not only can the information be automatically input to the display element, but the input information can be taken out as an electric signal.

FIG. 7 shows an input / output device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The input / output device 1 according to the fourth embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 7, a resistance film 8 is provided on the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 3, and coordinate position information is extracted on the four sides in the vertical and horizontal directions of the resistance film 8 as shown in FIG. The extraction electrodes 9a and 9b are provided.

Further, in the input / output device 1, the thin film electrode 4 made of aluminum or the like is provided between the two sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements 3, and the upper sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3 is for display. The sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements 3 on the lower side are each used for extracting coordinate position information.

Then, in the input / output device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, information is displayed from the surface of the transparent electrode with the stylus pen 5 to display the information similarly to the second embodiment, and the information is taken out. By providing the electrodes for use 9a and 9b, the electric charge generated by the pressing force of the stylus pen 5 can be detected in both the vertical and horizontal directions as shown in FIG. ing. As a result, it is possible to automatically display on the display element 2, and at the same time, it is possible to take out input information as an electric signal to the outside when necessary.

To further explain, in the input / output device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the detecting means for extracting the coordinate position information is arranged under the second sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3 on the lower side and the four corners. The resistance film layer 8 has electrodes 9a and 9b for extraction. With this configuration, for example, pull-down resistors (R4) are connected to the extraction electrodes 9a and 9b at the four corners,
The ratio of the resistance value of the pull-down resistor R4 to the resistance value of the length from the charge generation position of the second sheet-shaped piezoelectric element 3 (the position where charges corresponding to the voltage V are generated) to the electrode of the resistance film ( R1 = R2), the voltage generated in the pull-down resistor R4 that is opposed, {V / (R2 + R4)} × R4 =
Since the position in the X direction and the Y direction can be specified by the value obtained by differentially amplifying the difference (VR2-VR1) between VR2 and {V / (R1 + R4)} × R4 = VR1, the writing can be performed with a relatively simple configuration. The position on the display screen corresponding to (pressing) can be easily detected.

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 10 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and will be described below. In the fourth embodiment, the detection means is provided separately from the piezoelectric element to detect the input location in an analog manner. However, in the fifth embodiment, the detection means is provided separately from the piezoelectric element to detect the input information digitally. Is configured.

FIG. 10 shows an input / output device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The input / output device 10 according to the fifth embodiment
As shown in FIG. 10, a liquid crystal display panel 2 as a display element and an input means arranged on the back surface side thereof have a function of displaying information on the display element and having a function of inputting information, as shown in FIG. 11 and 12, the liquid crystal display panel 2 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the input means includes a first layer input element 11 and a second layer input element 12.
It is composed of two layers. Input device 1 of the first layer
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first and second layer input elements 12 are formed by alternately arranging linearly formed piezoelectric elements 13 and resistance layers 14 in a stripe shape,
The piezoelectric element 13 and the resistance layer 14 are arranged in a laminated state so as to cross each other. The piezoelectric element 13
Is formed of, for example, PVDF, and the resistance layer 1
4 is made of ITO or the like. In addition, the resistance layer 14 of the input element 11 of the first layer and the input element 12 of the second layer
Insulation layer 15 is partially or entirely interposed at the intersection of the lines, so that the charge flowing through resistance layer 14 of each of input element 11 of the first layer and input element 12 of the second layer is transferred to the other layer. Of the resistance layer 14 is prevented.

In addition, the input element 11 and the second
As shown in FIG. 13, the input element 12 of each layer is formed of each resistance layer 1
4 can be individually connected to a differential circuit composed of operational amplifiers via electronic scanning circuits 16 and 17.
The difference between the outputs from the resistance layers of the input element of the layer and the input element of the second layer is detected by the difference circuit.

With the above configuration, in the input / output device according to the fifth embodiment, the input contents can be output and displayed without using the power supply circuit or the processing circuit as follows. Not only is it possible, but it is also possible to enter the completed information.

That is, in the input / output device 10 according to the fifth embodiment, as described above, by writing desired information on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 2 using the stylus pen 5, the stylus pen 5 can be used. First-layer input element 11 and second-layer input element 12 pressed by
As shown in FIG. 14, each piezoelectric element 13 is deformed downward in a convex shape to generate electric charges. At that time, since the resistance layer 14 adjacent to each of the piezoelectric elements 13 is grounded via the resistors R and R connected to the difference circuit 18 as shown in FIG. 13, the piezoelectric element at the pressed position is shown. The charge generated in 13 causes an electric field between the charge and the transparent electrode 7 laminated on the surface of the display element 2. As a result, the liquid crystal 23 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 corresponding to the position pressed by the stylus pen 5 has the alignment state changed and the optical anisotropy is different from that of the other parts, and thus is pressed by the stylus pen 5. Display the image according to the trajectory.

On the other hand, in the input element 11 of the first layer and the input element 12 of the second layer, as shown in FIG. 13, the charges generated in each piezoelectric element pass through the adjacent resistance layer and the scanning circuit 16, The difference circuit 1 is sequentially switched by 17
8 and the output of the resistance layer 14 of the first-layer input element 11 and the second-layer input element 12 are connected by the difference circuit 18.
The difference of the outputs of the resistance layer 14 of is obtained.

At this time, the input element 11 and the second
Assuming that the pressed position of the input element 12 of the layer is a point A shown in FIG. 15A, the resistance layers of the input element 11 of the first layer and the input element 12 of the second layer adjacent to this point A. As shown in FIG. 15B, a voltage V corresponding to the polarization charge generated in each piezoelectric element is output from 14. Therefore, for example, when the output of the resistance layer 14 of the second input element 12 is sequentially scanned with reference to each resistance layer 14 of the first input element 11, the resistance not adjacent to the pressing position of the stylus pen 5 is detected. No voltage is output from the layer 14, but the voltage V is output from the resistance layer 14 adjacent to the position pressed by the stylus pen 5. Therefore, the input element 11 of the first layer and the input element 12 of the second layer
When the difference between the voltages output from the resistance layer 14 is sequentially scanned, the resistance layer 14 adjacent to the position pressed by the stylus pen 5 is scanned as shown in FIG. Since the output voltage is 2 V, it becomes possible to automatically input the information of the position pressed by the stylus pen 5.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, the input contents can be output and displayed without using the power supply circuit and the processing circuit, and the entered information can be input. Has become.

As a result, each of the crossing portions becomes a pressure detecting portion, and the resistance films 14 on both sides of the place where the pressure is applied act as read electrodes, and by connecting this to the outside, the input place is detected outside. be able to. Of course, the input information is automatically displayed on the display element 2.

Sixth Embodiment FIG. 16 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and will be described below. Of course, it is possible to output and display the input contents without using a power supply circuit or a processing circuit, and it is also possible to automatically display arbitrary image information.

That is, in the input / output device 10 according to the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the liquid crystal display unit 2 is provided with ITO electrodes 26, 26 which are transparent electrodes.
The TO electrodes 26, 26 are a pair of PES at a predetermined pitch.
On the sheets 22, 22 made of (polyether sulfone),
It is deposited in a straight line. The pair of PES sheets 2
ITO electrodes 26 and 26 deposited on the electrodes 2 and 22, respectively
Are arranged linearly at a predetermined pitch so as to be orthogonal to each other, and the upper electrode 26 and the lower electrode 26 form a matrix.

On the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 2, the piezoelectric element 3, the thin film electrode 4, the piezoelectric element 3 and the resistance film 8 are sequentially laminated. In addition, the ITO electrodes 26 and 26 deposited on the pair of PES sheets 22 and 22, respectively.
Is connected to the ground and maintained at the ground potential when additional writing is performed with the stylus pen 5, and an electric field is formed between the stylus pen 5 and the electric charge generated in the piezoelectric element 3 by the additional writing. It is like this.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the control circuit of the input / output device 1 configured as described above.

In FIG. 17, reference numeral 60 denotes a CPU for controlling the input / output device 10, and this CPU 6
0 displays the display screen based on the input information on the liquid crystal display section 20 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 on the front and back sides. That is, C
The PU 60 is configured to perform drawing processing on each liquid crystal display unit 20 via the driver circuit 61 based on the configuration data of the screen to be displayed (hereinafter referred to as frame data).

Therefore, in the input / output device 10 according to the sixth embodiment, by combining the liquid crystal display panel and the piezoelectric element, the input contents are output and displayed without using the power supply circuit or the processing circuit in the additional writing. Of course, it is possible to automatically display arbitrary image information by applying a voltage to the ITO electrodes 44 arranged in a matrix on the liquid crystal display panel 2 according to the image information. Has become.

Seventh Embodiment FIG. 18 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals. Of course, it is possible to output and display input contents without using a power supply circuit or processing circuit, and it is possible to automatically display arbitrary image information. The arrangement of the electrodes for displaying image information is different from that of the sixth embodiment.

That is, in the input / output device 10 according to the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, the liquid crystal display portion 2 is provided with the ITO electrode 26 which is a transparent electrode.
As electrodes, a pixel electrode 26a and a counter electrode 26b are vapor-deposited only on a surface side sheet 22 made of PES (polyether sulfone) for each predetermined pixel. The ITO electrode 26 composed of the pixel electrode 26a and the counter electrode 26b deposited on the PES sheet 22 on the surface side is not shown in the figure.
Each pixel is driven by an FT (thin film transistor). The liquid crystal display element 2 is configured to display an image by the horizontal electric field formed by the pixel electrode 26a and the counter electrode 26b. As described above, a technique for displaying an image by applying a lateral electric field to the liquid crystal display element 2 is disclosed in, for example, "NIKKEI MICRODEVICE", December 1996, P134 to P135. Can be used.

Below the liquid crystal display panel 2,
The piezoelectric element 3 and the resistance film 8 are sequentially stacked. In addition,
The ITO electrodes 26a and 26b respectively vapor-deposited on the pair of PES sheets 22 and 22 are connected to the ground and maintained at the ground potential when additional writing is performed with the stylus pen 5. An electric field is formed between the electric charges generated in the piezoelectric element 3 by the additional writing, etc.

Therefore, in the input / output device 10 according to the seventh embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel 2 and the piezoelectric element 3 are combined without using a power supply circuit or a processing circuit.
Not only the input content can be output and displayed, but also arbitrary image information can be automatically displayed. However, a transparent electrode may be provided only on one side of the liquid crystal display unit 20. Therefore, the liquid crystal display panel 2 can be made thinner by that amount, the pressing force of the stylus pen 5 can be more effectively transmitted to the piezoelectric element 3, and additional writing by the stylus pen 5 can be performed more reliably. You can

Eighth Embodiment FIG. 19 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals. Of course, it is possible to output and display the input contents without using a power supply circuit or processing circuit, and it is also possible to automatically display arbitrary image information. Can be taken out as an electric signal.

That is, in the input / output device 10 according to the eighth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the membrane switch 70 is arranged in a laminated state on the back side of the two sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements 3. The membrane switch 70 includes a pair of switch sheets 72 and 72 having electrode patterns 71 formed in a matrix at predetermined pitches in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, and between the pair of switch sheets 72 and 72. Placed on the electrode pattern 7
A region 74 corresponding to the first switch portion 73 is formed of a spacer sheet 75 cut out in a circular shape or a rectangular shape. The membrane switch 70 is pressed by bending the switch sheets 72, 72 in the area pressed by a pen, finger, etc. and contacting the switch portions 73 formed with the pair of switch sheets 72, 72 with each other. The one that detects the coordinates of the position is used (Japanese Patent No. 25).
56711 publication).

However, the membrane switch 70 is not limited to this, and is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-31.
5668, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-258147, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-241647, or Japanese Patent No. 25306.
Various materials disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 51, etc. can be used, and the type thereof does not matter.

[0077]

As described above in detail, in the input / output device of the first invention (the invention according to claim 1) of the present invention, a display screen having a flexible display element based on an applied electric field is displayed. Display means for changing the display state, and by pressing from the viewing side of the display element provided below the display element, the display element is deformed downward, and the position of the display element corresponding to the pressing is applied. Since it is configured to include a generating unit that generates an electric field as an applied electric field, it is possible to additionally write to the display element without providing a power source or special processing means, in other words, to perform direct display, and further display element Above is
There is nothing that reduces visibility, so
It becomes possible to perform additional recording and display with good visibility.

In the input / output device of the second invention (the invention according to claim 2), there is provided a detecting means for detecting a position on the display screen corresponding to the pressing based on the electric field generated by the generating means. Since it is configured as described above, like the first invention, it is possible to additionally write to the display element without a power source or special processing means, and it is possible to perform additional writing and display with good visibility, Since the detecting means detects the position on the display screen corresponding to the pressing based on the electric field generated by the generating means, the input information can be taken out.
As a result, it becomes possible to display information on the display element based on the extracted input information. Therefore, it is possible to convert the handwritten document into pattern information or the like by recognition or the like and display it as a normal electronic document, as well as to simply redisplay additional recording (direct display).

In the input / output device of the third invention (the invention according to claim 3), the generating means is a first and a second sheet-shaped piezoelectric element whose opposing surfaces are grounded with an electrode layer interposed therebetween. There is something. With such a configuration, when the first sheet-shaped piezoelectric element is on the upper side and the second sheet-shaped piezoelectric element is on the lower side, the viewing side of the display screen is negative and the display element side surface of the first sheet-shaped piezoelectric element. Is generated at a position corresponding to writing (pressing) on the display screen, and negative and second electric fields are applied to the facing surfaces of the first and second sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements corresponding to this position. Since a positive charge is generated on the detection surface side of the sheet-shaped piezoelectric element, the position on the display screen corresponding to writing (pressing) can be easily detected by the detecting means.

In the input / output device of the fourth invention (the invention according to claim 4), the detecting means is arranged below the second sheet-shaped piezoelectric element on the lower side, and has a resistor having electrodes at four corners. It is a membrane layer. With such a configuration, for example, 4
Connect a pull-down resistor to the corner electrode, and according to the relationship between the resistance value of the pull-down resistor and the ratio of the resistance value to the length from the charge generation position to the electrode of the resistance film, Since the position in the X direction and the Y direction can be specified by the operation-amplified value, the position on the display screen corresponding to writing (pressing) can be easily detected with a relatively simple configuration.

In the input / output device of the fifth invention (the invention according to claim 5), the generating means comprises a grounded electrode layer, and one or more sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements laminated on the electrode layer. The display means includes a sheet-shaped display element laminated on the piezoelectric element, and a light-transmissive transparent electrode installed at least during additional writing on the viewing side of the display screen. . With such a configuration, the configuration can be further simplified.

In the input / output device of the sixth invention (the invention according to claim 6), the transparent electrode is provided with information based on the output of the detecting means, and a horizontal electric field is generated based on the information to display a display screen. It displays information on top. With such a configuration, additional writing can be advantageously performed on a display element such as a liquid crystal display element.

In the input / output device of the seventh invention (the invention according to claim 7), the display means is provided with a light-transmissive transparent electrode facing the transparent electrode on the viewing side. Information is output based on the output of the detection means, a vertical electric field is generated between the transparent electrodes based on the information, and the information is displayed on the display screen. With such a configuration, it can be realized without limiting the type of display element.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an input / output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional configuration diagram showing in more detail an embodiment of the input / output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view showing a usage state of the input / output device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the radius of curvature and the polarization.

FIG. 5 is a sectional configuration diagram showing an input / output device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an input / output device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional configuration diagram showing an input / output device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a resistance film of an input / output device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective explanatory view showing a usage state of the input / output device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional configuration diagram showing an input / output device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan configuration diagram showing first and second input elements of the input / output device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an input / output device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing an input / output device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective explanatory view showing a usage state of the input / output device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

15 (a) and 15 (b) are explanatory views respectively showing detection states of the input / output device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a sectional configuration diagram showing an input / output device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the input / output device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a sectional configuration diagram showing an input / output device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a sectional configuration diagram showing an input / output device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing a specific structure of a control panel of a conventional copying machine.

FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 input / output device, 2 liquid crystal display panel, 21 deflection plate,
22 PES sheet, 23 liquid crystal, 3 sheet-shaped piezoelectric element, 4 thin film electrode.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2H089 HA18 NA58 TA02 TA07                 5B068 AA22 AA32 BB36 BC07 BD13                       BD17 BE08 CC06 CC13 CD06

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Display means for changing the display state of a display screen having a flexible display element based on an applied electric field, and pressing from below the display element on the viewing side of the display element, An input / output device comprising: a generating unit configured to deform the display element downward and generate an electric field as the applied electric field at a position of the display element corresponding to the pressing. 2. The input / output device according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that detects a position on the display screen corresponding to the pressing based on the electric field generated by the generation unit. 3. The first and second sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements, the opposing surfaces of which are grounded with an electrode layer sandwiched therebetween, and the generating means is a piezoelectric element in the form of a sheet. I / O device. 4. The detection means is a resistive film layer disposed below the second sheet-shaped piezoelectric element on the lower side and having electrodes at four corners. The input / output device according to claim 1. 5. The generating means includes a grounded electrode layer,
The display means includes one or more sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements laminated on the electrode layer, and the display means has a sheet-shaped display element laminated on the piezoelectric element and a viewing side of a display screen. 6. The input / output device according to claim 1, further comprising at least a light-transmissive transparent electrode installed at the time of additional writing. 6. The transparent electrode is provided with information based on the output of the detection means, generates a lateral electric field based on the information, and displays the information on a display screen. The input / output device according to item 5. 7. The display means is provided with a light-transmissive transparent electrode facing the transparent electrode on the viewing side, and these transparent electrodes are provided with information based on the output of the detection means, and between the transparent electrodes. 6. A vertical electric field is generated based on the information to display the information on the display screen.
The input / output device according to the item. 8. The input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a display element having a memory property for storing display information.