JP2011002947A - Touch pad input device with antenna and electronic equipment loaded with the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch pad input device with an antenna for achieving scale reduction, and for avoiding the deterioration of antenna communication sensitivity or sensor detection sensitivity and electronic equipment loaded with the device.SOLUTION: This invention relates to the touch pad input device (40) with an antenna arranged with the surface (44) exposed to the outside at an opening (34) perforated at a shield board (38) for shielding a radiation noise in electronic equipment (1). This input device is provided with a magnetic field type loop antenna (62) arranged inside the peripheral edge of the opening in plane view, and equipped with a conductor (64) wound like a spiral and a capacitance type touch pad (42) arranged inside the conductor in plane view, and equipped with metallic patterns (48, 50, 52) for contact sensing. Then, the adjacently wound conductor is arranged so as to be inclined while making an angle ranging from 45 degrees to 90 degrees with the surface in front view which is almost orthogonal to the plane view.

Description

  The present invention relates to a touchpad input device with an antenna capable of detecting a position touched by a dielectric, and an electronic apparatus equipped with the device.

This type of touchpad input device is mounted on an electronic device such as a laptop personal computer. In the computer, a display and a main body having a keyboard are integrally formed. In this main body, a palm rest is formed on the front side of the keyboard.
A palm rest and a wrist can be placed on the palm rest, and a touchpad input device and a reader / writer are provided separately.

  Specifically, the touch pad input device is used for moving a mouse cursor displayed on the display, the reader / writer is used for user ID authentication, and the shield plate is formed with at least two rectangular openings. From the surface of the palm rest, the surface (face sheet) of the touch pad input device can be seen from one opening, and the mark indicating the antenna can be seen from the other opening.

Here, the above-described computer suppresses the emission of unnecessary electromagnetic waves (EMI countermeasures). This is because a mother board on which an LSI such as a CPU, a memory, and a chip set is mounted is mounted in the computer, and these electronic components emit radiation noise.
Therefore, although the shield plate is installed in the palm rest leaving two openings, these two openings are not preferable because they are locations where radiation noise leaks to the outside. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a technique in which the touchpad input device and the antenna for wireless communication are integrally formed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Special Table 2002-539517

By the way, if the existing laptop personal computer described above and the technology of Patent Document 1 are combined, the touch pad input device and the reader / writer antenna are formed integrally. Can be reduced.
However, it should be noted that some touchpad input devices include a capacitive sensor.

In detail, the sensor of the said system is provided with the film board | substrate under the face sheet, and this film board | substrate has the electrode of a metal pattern.
On the other hand, the reader / writer is provided with a loop antenna for RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification), and signals are exchanged using magnetic field coupling between the antenna and the antenna of the RFID tag.

That is, the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna is reduced by the influence of both the shield plate for EMI countermeasures and the electrode of the metal pattern, so that the touch pad input device and the loop antenna are simply formed integrally. There is a problem that the antenna communication sensitivity to the RFID tag is lowered.
Further, when this electromagnetic wave is absorbed by the metal pattern, the sensor detection sensitivity is also lowered.

Here, it is conceivable to arrange the loop antenna around the touch pad input device, but this leads to a new problem that the input device becomes large and difficult to mount on a computer.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a touchpad input device with an antenna that can solve the above-described problems and can avoid downsizing and reduction in antenna communication sensitivity and sensor detection sensitivity, and an electronic device equipped with the device. That is.

A first invention for achieving the above object is a touch pad input device with an antenna in which an opening formed in a shield plate for shielding radiated noise in an electronic device has its surface exposed to the outside. It is.
This input device includes a magnetic field type loop antenna and a capacitive touch pad, and the loop antenna is disposed inside the periphery of the opening in a plan view and has a conductor wound in a spiral shape. On the other hand, the touch pad is disposed inside the conductor in a plan view and has a metal pattern for contact detection. The conductors adjacent by winding are arranged so as to be inclined at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees with respect to the surface in a front view substantially orthogonal to the plan view.

The present invention focuses on the point that a loop antenna by magnetic field coupling and a capacitive touch pad are integrally formed in a compact manner.
According to the first invention, first, the shield plate can shield radiation noise in the electronic equipment except for an opening formed through the plate, and the surface of the touchpad input device with an antenna can be shielded from the opening. I can see it.

  Here, the loop antenna has a conductor wound spirally. Specifically, this conductor is disposed inside the periphery of the opening in a plan view where the surface can be seen, and electromagnetic waves from the antenna can be emitted from the inside of the periphery of the opening toward the outside. The touch pad has a metal pattern for contact detection by a dielectric, and is also disposed inside the conductor in a plan view. The loop antenna and the touch pad are provided in a common opening.

  The conductors will be adjacent to each other by spiral winding, but the arrangement direction of these conductors is a front view substantially orthogonal to the above-described plan view, not the same direction as the surface of the touchpad input device with an antenna, The surface is inclined in a range of 45 to 90 degrees. Therefore, compared with the case where the loop antenna is simply arranged around the touch pad input device, the projection area required for arranging the conductor in the above-described plan view can be reduced, and the gap between the opening periphery and the touch pad periphery is narrow. Become. As a result, this contributes to downsizing of the touchpad input device.

  Moreover, if the conductor is tilted in front view, even if the size of the opening, that is, the size of the surface of the touchpad input device is changed to various sizes, the shield plate and the electromagnetic wave from the antenna Radiation can be performed in a desired direction avoiding any touch pad having a metal pattern.

According to a second invention, in the configuration of the first invention, the loop antenna includes an antenna substrate that surrounds the periphery of the touch pad and holds a conductor on an upper side thereof, and the antenna substrate has a normal direction thereof. Further, the RFID tag is arranged facing the RFID tag that is magnetically coupled to the loop antenna so as to face the surface.
According to the second invention, in addition to the operation of the first invention, the conductor is held on the antenna substrate in a state of being tilted in the above-described front view, and the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna is simply upward. Rather than radiating toward the RFID tag, it is possible to radiate toward the RFID tag by avoiding both the shield plate and the touch pad having the metal pattern, thereby avoiding a decrease in antenna communication sensitivity and a decrease in sensor detection sensitivity.

A third invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the second invention, the antenna substrate is made of a magnetic material.
According to the third invention, in addition to the action of the second invention, the shield plate absorbs and shields the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna in addition to the radiated noise in the electronic device, and the touch pad also has its The metal pattern absorbs electromagnetic waves from the antenna. As a result, an induced current is generated in the shield plate and the metal pattern, and a demagnetizing field opposite to the direction of the magnetic field of the electromagnetic wave is generated. Therefore, the number of magnetic lines of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the loop antenna is reduced and the antenna communication sensitivity is reduced. There is a concern about the decline. However, if the antenna substrate is made of a magnetic material, this reduction in communication sensitivity can be reliably prevented.

According to a fourth invention, in the configuration of the second or third invention, the antenna substrate includes a metal sheet on a side opposite to the conductor with the antenna substrate interposed therebetween.
According to the fourth invention, in addition to the effects of the second and third inventions, if the antenna substrate itself further includes a metal sheet, the antenna communication sensitivity is higher than the metal pattern of the shield plate or the touch pad. Is greatly affected by the metal sheet. In other words, the touchpad input device is not affected by the metal part for the first time after the device is mounted on an electronic device, but can be designed in consideration of the influence of the metal sheet. This also reduces the antenna communication sensitivity. Contributes to prevention.

A fifth invention is characterized in that, in the configurations of the second to fourth inventions, the antenna substrates are opposed to each other across the surface, and their normal directions intersect on the RFID tag arrangement side. To do.
According to the fifth invention, in addition to the effects of the second to fourth inventions, the normal direction of the antenna substrate intersects on the RFID tag placement side, and the surface of the touchpad input device is temporarily Even when the size is larger than the facing surface of the RFID tag, the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna can be reliably radiated toward the RFID tag.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configurations of the second to fourth aspects, the antenna substrate is opposed to each other across the surface, and each normal direction is opposite to the RFID tag placement side across the surface. It is characterized by crossing.
According to the sixth invention, in addition to the effects of the second to fourth inventions, the normal direction of the antenna substrate intersects on the side opposite to the RFID tag placement side, Even if the facing surface is larger than the surface of the touch pad, the electromagnetic wave from the antenna can be reliably radiated toward the RFID tag.

According to a seventh invention, in the configuration of the first invention, the conductor is disposed between the inner periphery of the opening periphery and the outer periphery of the touch pad periphery in plan view, and forms an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the surface in front view. It is characterized by.
According to the seventh invention, in addition to the action of the first invention, the conductor arrangement direction is at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the surface in the above-described front view. The projection area required for arranging the conductor is minimized, and the touchpad input device with an antenna can be more reliably reduced in size.

An eighth invention is characterized in that, in the structure of the seventh invention, the conductor is held in a groove formed on the periphery of the touch pad.
According to the eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to the action of the seventh aspect, a groove is formed on the periphery of the touch pad, and the conductor is held in the groove, so that the conductor is difficult to drop off from the touch pad.

According to a ninth invention, in the configuration of the seventh or eighth invention, the conductor is held in a groove formed at equal intervals in the height direction of the touchpad input device with an antenna at the periphery of the touchpad. It is characterized by.
According to the ninth invention, in addition to the effects of the seventh and eighth inventions, a groove is formed on the periphery of the touch pad, and the conductor is held in the groove, so that the conductor is difficult to drop off from the touch pad. Become. Moreover, since each groove part is formed at equal intervals, the electromagnetic wave from a loop antenna can be radiated | emitted uniformly, The dispersion | variation in the communication quality, specifically the communicable distance can be suppressed.

According to a tenth aspect, in the configurations of the first to ninth aspects, the loop antenna radiates an electromagnetic wave in a short frequency band.
According to the tenth invention, in addition to the operations of the first to ninth inventions, when the loop antenna radiates an electromagnetic wave in a short frequency band, the communication is particularly com- pared to radio communication by a radio wave system or the like. Although the distance is shortened, the conductors are arranged so as to be tilted in the above-described front view, so that the electromagnetic waves from the antenna can be reliably radiated toward the other side of the magnetic field coupling while avoiding the shield plate and the touch pad.

An eleventh aspect of the invention is an electronic device equipped with the first to tenth touchpad input devices with antennas.
According to the eleventh invention, in addition to the effects of the first to tenth inventions, the loop antenna and the touch pad are provided in a common opening, and the loop antenna opening and the touch pad opening are provided. As compared with the case where each is formed in the shield plate, it is possible to reduce the places where radiation noise leaks to the outside. Therefore, the shielding effect of the electronic device equipped with the touch pad input device with the antenna is improved, and the space for either the loop antenna or the touch pad with respect to the shield plate is unnecessary, so that the electronic device can be downsized. It becomes possible.

  Furthermore, if the conductor is inclined and disposed in the above-described front view, the electronic device can be further miniaturized in addition to the touch pad input device with an antenna.

  According to the present invention, since the conductor is inclined and disposed, there is provided a touchpad input device with an antenna that is compact and can radiate electromagnetic waves while avoiding surrounding metal parts, and an electronic device equipped with the device. be able to.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the electronic device carrying the touchpad input device with an antenna of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the touchpad input device with an antenna of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2, and is a front view of the touchpad input device with an antenna in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the film substrate of FIG. 3. It is a front view of the touchpad input device with an antenna mounted in the electronic device of FIG. 1, and is a figure explaining a relationship with an RFID tag. It is an external appearance partial perspective view of the electronic device carrying the touchpad input device with an antenna of a 2nd embodiment. It is a front view of the touchpad input device with an antenna mounted in the electronic device of FIG. 6, and is a figure explaining a relationship with the RFID tag. (A) is a top view of the touchpad input device with an antenna of 3rd Embodiment, (b) is the front view. It is a front view of the touchpad input device with an antenna of a 4th embodiment. It is a front view of the touchpad input device with an antenna of a 5th embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a laptop personal computer (electronic device) 1 on which the antenna-equipped touchpad input device according to the first embodiment is mounted. In the computer 1, a display and a main body are integrally formed.
Specifically, first, a thin and flat resin housing 2 is disposed on the display side, and the housing 2 includes an inner surface 4 that is substantially equal to the size of A4 paper, for example.

  The inner surface 4 has an outer frame 6. The outer frame 6 is continuous with the cover surface on the back side of the inner surface 4 as viewed in the same figure, and a liquid crystal screen 8 is provided inside the outer frame 6. As shown in this figure, a camera 10 with a microphone is provided at the upper end of the outer frame 6, and images of the user facing the liquid crystal screen 8 and the surrounding situation can be taken, and further, voice can be picked up.

A hinge 12 is provided on the opposite side of the camera 10 across the liquid crystal screen 8, and the housing 2 is rotatably connected to the main body via the hinge 12.
The main body side is thicker than the housing 2, but also includes a flat resin housing 20, and this thick portion has side surfaces 24 extending from both ends of the hinge 12 toward the front side as viewed in this figure. , 24 and the front surface 26 which is connected to the side surface 24 and located on the most front side in FIG. Further, the lower peripheral edge of each side surface 24 and front surface 26 is connected to the bottom surface, and the upper peripheral edge of each side surface 24 and front surface 26 is connected to the upper surface 22, respectively. The mother board etc. which mounted is mounted.

  The upper surface 22 and the bottom surface are also formed in substantially the same size as the inner surface 4 and the cover surface. When the housing 2 rotates toward the housing 20 from the state of FIG. 1 and the inner surface 4 and the upper surface 22 face each other, the cover surface and the bottom surface are in a folded state that can be visually recognized from the outside. The computer 1 in this state can be easily carried by the user.

Returning to the state of FIG. 1 again, the upper surface 22 has an outer frame 28, and a keyboard 30 is provided near the hinge 12 of the outer frame 28. Also, palm rests 32 and 32 on which the user's palm and wrist can be placed are provided on the front side of the keyboard 30 and in the vicinity of each side surface 24 as viewed in FIG.
Here, in this embodiment, one common opening (opening) 34 is formed between the palm rests 32.

  Specifically, the common opening 34 of the present embodiment is, for example, a rectangle smaller than the card size (54 × 85.6 mm), and the outer frame 28 and the shield plate 38 (under the outer frame 28) ( 2 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). The touchpad input device with an antenna 40 is provided in the housing 20 so as to be exposed from the opening 34.

  The shield plate 38 covers the side and the lower side of the input device 40 between the upper surface 22 and the bottom surface except for the common opening 34, and radiation noise in the housing 20 radiates from the opening 34 to the outside. It is shielded from being done. On the top surface 22, a left / right button 36 is disposed between the input device 40 and the upper peripheral edge of the front surface 26. The button 36 is used for switching the position of the mouse cursor displayed on the liquid crystal screen 8, and for working. Select or execute content.

The touch pad input device 40 with an antenna according to the present embodiment includes a rectangular touch pad 42 as shown in FIG. 2 corresponding to a plan view of the upper surface 22, and the touch pad 42 is arranged at the periphery of the common opening 34. Arranged inside.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 corresponding to the front view of the upper surface 22, the touch pad 42 includes a face sheet (surface) 44 that can be seen from the opening 34, for example, a three-layer film substrate 46, and a main substrate 56. Used to move the mouse cursor. In FIG. 3, the space from the face sheet 44 to the main board 56 is particularly emphasized to help understand the structure.

On the other hand, the input device 40 of the present embodiment includes a reader / writer loop antenna 62 used for user ID authentication or the like on the outer periphery of the touch pad 42.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the loop antenna 62 includes an antenna conductor (conductor) 64, and the conductor 64 spirally surrounds the periphery of the touch pad 42.

  More specifically, for example, among the antenna conductors 64 for four turns, the first turn drawn from the antenna circuit 70 in FIG. 2 is wound closest to the periphery of the touch pad 42. Next, the second turn is wound outside the first turn, the third turn is wound outside the second turn, and the fourth turn is wound outside the third turn, and then reaches the ground.

In addition, the second turn of the antenna conductor 64 of this embodiment is disposed obliquely below the first turn, the third turn is obliquely below the second turn, and the fourth turn is oblique from the third turn. The antenna conductors 64 and 64 adjacent to each other are arranged so as to be inclined by spiral winding.
More specifically, the loop antenna 62 of the present embodiment includes a magnetic substrate (antenna substrate) 66 as shown in FIG. The magnetic substrate 66 is formed by kneading and softening a powder of soft magnetic material such as permalloy with an organic binder. The magnetic substrate 66 is formed in a substantially square shape in a plan view of FIG. Fixed to the side of the. The thickness of the magnetic substrate 66 is 0.5 mm, for example, and the real component μ ′ of the magnetic permeability is 10 or more, for example.

  Further, the magnetic substrate 66 extends in a direction away from the peripheral edge of the touch pad 42 while forming a predetermined angle α with respect to the face sheet 44 (FIG. 3), and an outer peripheral portion extending obliquely below the substrate 66. Is disposed in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the housing 20. The antenna conductor 64 for four turns is held on the upper side of the magnetic substrate 66 using, for example, an adhesive.

As described above, in the substantially square-shaped magnetic substrate 66, the normal directions surrounding the periphery of the touch pad 42 are opposite to the arrangement side of the RFID tag 80 shown in FIG. 5 with the face sheet 44 interposed therebetween. In other words, it intersects the face sheet 44 not on the top surface 22 side of the computer 1 but on the bottom surface side.
The predetermined angle α in this embodiment is, for example, in the range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees, does not increase the area (projected area) seen in FIG. 2 required for the antenna conductor 64 and the magnetic substrate 66, and the loop antenna 62 This is a value for preventing the antenna communication sensitivity and the sensor detection sensitivity of the touch pad 42 from being lowered.

Further, a metal sheet 68 is provided on the lower side of the magnetic substrate 66, that is, on the surface opposite to the surface holding the antenna conductor 64 (FIG. 3).
The loop antenna 62 is a magnetic field type antenna that performs radio communication using an electromagnetic induction method, for example, a 13.56 MHz frequency band (short wave: HF band) and radiates electromagnetic waves toward the RFID tag 80 possessed by the user.

  Specifically, the RFID tag 80 is a passive type that does not have a power source, is formed in a size substantially equal to the card size, and has an IC chip (not shown) embedded therein. The chip has a function of rewriting / adding data to the memory, and is connected to a coiled antenna 82 formed on the outer peripheral side of the tag 80 (FIG. 5).

When the RFID tag 80 passes through the magnetic field generated by the loop antenna 62, electrical resonance occurs, and a current due to electromagnetic induction is generated in the coiled antenna 82 to activate the IC chip.
In addition, since a magnetic field opposite to the magnetic field from the loop antenna 62 is generated in the antenna 82, non-contact data between the reader / writer and the RFID tag 80 can be obtained by superimposing a signal or energy on the magnetic field. Can be exchanged.

  Note that the total thickness of the antenna conductor 64 for four turns shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the thickness of each conductor 64 are both 2 mm or less, for example. In FIG. 2, the antenna conductors 64 and 64 of the first and second turns can be seen inside the periphery of the common opening 34, but the upper side of the antenna conductor 64 is the upper surface 22 to the vicinity of the periphery of the touch pad 42. Covered.

The touch pad 42 of the present embodiment includes a film substrate 46 below the face sheet 44 and a main substrate 56 below the film substrate 46, and touches the face sheet 44 using a change in capacitance. Detect position.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the film substrate 46 includes a rectangular first substrate 47, second substrate 49, and third substrate 51 that are smaller than the common opening 34. These substrates 47, 49, 51 are made of, for example, a conductive material such as an ITO (indium tin oxide) film, and are adhered to each other in a stacked state while ensuring electrical insulation from each other. Is disposed below the face sheet 44.

  First, an X drive electrode (metal pattern) 48 is formed on the first substrate 47. The X drive electrode 48 is a set of a plurality of metal bands arranged in a lattice pattern, is formed at a constant interval along the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 4, and extends linearly toward the Y-axis direction. . The X drive electrode 48 is electrically connected to the main board 56 through a through hole (not shown).

  Next, the second substrate 49 is positioned below the first substrate 47, and the Y drive electrode (metal pattern) 50 is formed on the second substrate 49. This Y drive electrode 50 is also an assembly of a plurality of metal bands arranged in a lattice pattern, and is formed at regular intervals along the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 4 and extends linearly in the X-axis direction. . That is, the X drive electrode 48 and the Y drive electrode 50 are perpendicular to each other in the longitudinal direction of the metal strip. The Y drive electrode 50 is also electrically connected to the main board 56 through a through hole (not shown).

Further, a detection electrode (metal pattern) 52 is formed on the second substrate 49. The detection electrode 52 is formed in a comb-tooth shape, and the comb-tooth portion of the detection electrode 52 of the present embodiment extends linearly in the X-axis direction at a position where the detection electrode 52 meshes with the adjacent Y drive electrodes 50 and 50. Yes. The detection electrode 52 is also electrically connected to the main board 56 through a through hole (not shown).
Subsequently, the third substrate 51 located on the lower side of the second substrate 49 has a ground (ground electrode) 53, is formed in a planar shape, and has a cut at a position where it engages with the detection electrode 52.

The loop antenna 62 and the touch pad 42 of this embodiment, that is, the antenna conductor 64, the magnetic substrate 66 and the metal sheet 68, and the X drive electrode 48, the Y drive electrode 50, the detection electrode 52, and the film substrate 46 described above. The inductance is set in the range of 0.3 to 3 μH (1 μH = 1 × 10 ⁻⁶ H).
On the other hand, a power supply unit, an amplification unit, an A / D conversion unit, and a control unit (all not shown) are mounted on the main board 56, and the X drive electrode 48 and the Y drive electrode 50 are connected to the power supply unit. Has been. On the other hand, the detection electrode 52 is connected to the amplification unit, and further connected to the A / D conversion unit and the control unit.

  When the power supply unit supplies power to the X drive electrode 48 and the Y drive electrode 50, an electric field having a predetermined potential is generated. In this state, when a dielectric (for example, a finger) touches the face sheet 44, the X drive electrode 48 and the detection electrode. Since the electrostatic capacity between the Y driving electrode 50 and the detection electrode 52 changes, the X coordinate data and the Y coordinate data can be obtained.

  More specifically, when power is supplied to the selected predetermined X drive electrode 48, a capacitance is formed between the drive electrode 48 and the detection electrode 52. In this state, when a finger approaches the drive electrode 48, capacitance is also formed between the finger and the drive electrode 48 or between the finger and the detection electrode 52. The capacitance between the drive electrode 48 and the detection electrode 52 changes.

Subsequently, the change in potential of the detection electrode 52 is amplified by the amplification unit, converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit, and then input to the control unit. The control unit obtains X coordinate data based on the information obtained by the detection electrode 52 and the information of the selected X drive electrode 48.
The X drive electrode 48 and the Y drive electrode 50 are supplied with power, for example, alternately, and the supply of power to the Y drive electrode 50 is performed after the supply of power to the X drive electrode 48 is stopped.

  In a state where power is supplied to the selected predetermined Y drive electrode 50, when the finger approaches the drive electrode 50, the capacitance between the drive electrode 50 and the detection electrode 52 changes. . The change in potential of the detection electrode 52 is also input to the control unit, and Y coordinate data can be obtained based on information obtained by the detection electrode 52 and information on the selected Y drive electrode 50.

As a result, the control unit identifies the position touched by the finger, and the mouse cursor can be moved as described above.
On the other hand, the reader / writer is configured to be driven separately from the touch pad 42, and the antenna circuit 70 outputs a signal toward the loop antenna 62 from the time when the main power button of the computer 1 is pushed down. Output intermittently.

  Therefore, even when the finger is not touching the face sheet 44, the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna 62 of the present embodiment is in a direction away from the touch pad 42 as shown by a broken line with an arrow in FIG. Thus, the light is radiated from between the periphery of the common opening 34 of the shield plate 38 and the periphery of the touch pad 42, and travels toward the coiled antenna 82. As a result, magnetic field coupling occurs between the loop antenna 62 and the RFID tag 80 held above the touch pad 42. For example, the computer 1 can perform user ID authentication even when logging in to the operation system. .

By the way, although the above-mentioned common opening 34 is formed in a rectangle smaller than the card size (54 × 85.6 mm), it may be formed in a rectangle larger than this card size.
Specifically, one common opening 34 shown in FIG. 6 is formed between the palm rests 32 in a rectangular shape approximately equal to the size of the mobile phone (for example, 62.1 × 115.5 mm). .

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the touch pad input device 40 with an antenna according to the second embodiment includes a face sheet 44, a three-layer film substrate 46, and a main substrate 56, and a common opening 34. The shape is a rectangle larger than the RFID tag 80. Therefore, the arrangement direction of the antenna conductor 64 that spirally surrounds the periphery of the touch pad 42 is changed.

Specifically, for example, among the antenna conductors 64 for four turns, the first turn drawn from the antenna circuit 70 is wound closest to the touch pad 42, and the second and subsequent turns are sequentially wound outward. Then reach the ground.
However, as shown in FIG. 7, the second turn of the antenna conductor 64 of this embodiment is disposed obliquely above the first turn, and the adjacent antenna conductors 64 and 64 are inclined by spiral winding. Are arranged.

More specifically, the magnetic substrate 66 of this embodiment extends in a direction away from the periphery of the touch pad 42 while forming a predetermined angle α with respect to the face sheet 44, and the outer periphery extending obliquely above the substrate 66. The portion is disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface 22.
Therefore, the substantially square-shaped magnetic substrate 66 has each normal direction surrounding the periphery of the touch pad 42 on the RFID tag 80 placement side, in other words, on the bottom surface side of the computer 1 with respect to the face sheet 44. It intersects on the upper surface 22 side. The predetermined angle α is the same as the value in the first embodiment.

  As a result, the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna 62 of the present embodiment is in a direction away from the shield plate 38 as shown by a broken line with an arrow in FIG. 7, and the peripheral edge of the common opening 34 and the peripheral edge of the touch pad 42. To the coiled antenna 82. Therefore, magnetic field coupling occurs between the loop antenna 62 and the RFID tag 80 held above the touch pad 42.

On the other hand, the antenna conductor 64 of the first and second embodiments is disposed so as to be separated from the periphery of the touch pad 42, but may be disposed along the side surface shape of the touch pad 42.
More specifically, in the touchpad input device with an antenna 40 according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the antenna conductor 64 is directly wound around the side surface of the touchpad 42 having a height of about 1 mm. The spiral antenna conductors 64 corresponding to the turns change directions at the four corners of the touch pad 42 and reach the upper side of the main board 56 at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the face sheet 44.

Furthermore, you may form a groove | channel in the four corner parts mentioned above.
Specifically, in the touch pad 42 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the spiral antenna conductor 64 for four turns also reaches the upper side of the main board 56 at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the face sheet 44. .
However, first, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, one groove portion 58 having a substantially U-shape is formed in each of the four corner portions as viewed from the front. The antenna conductor 64 of this embodiment is wound and held in a substantially U-shaped depression sandwiched between upper and lower portions of the touch pad 42.

  On the other hand, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, four substantially square-shaped groove portions 59 are formed at four corner portions, and the recessed portions of the respective groove portions 59 are arranged in the height direction of the touch pad 42 (see FIG. 10). (Up and down direction) are provided at equal intervals. As a result, the spiral antenna conductor 64 for four turns is wound and held in a substantially square-shaped depression at a larger interval than the embodiment of FIG.

8 to 10, if a magnetic material is arranged as in the first and second embodiments, the number of magnetic lines of electromagnetic waves radiated from the loop antenna 62 does not decrease, and the communication A decrease in sensitivity can be reliably prevented.
That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, a magnetic bobbin that protrudes toward the main board 56 but does not protrude above the face sheet 44 is provided on the side surface of the touch pad 42, and the antenna conductor is provided on the bobbin. 64 may be held.

9 and 10, a magnetic body surrounding the lower side of the antenna conductor 64, for example, the side surface of the main board 56, may be disposed.
As described above, the present invention focuses on the point that the loop antenna 62 by the magnetic field coupling and the capacitive touch pad 42 are integrally formed in a compact manner.
According to this embodiment, first, the shield plate 38 can shield the radiation noise in the laptop personal computer 1 except for the common opening 34 formed through the plate 38. Can see the face sheet 44 of the touch pad input device 40 with an antenna.

  Here, the loop antenna 62 has an antenna conductor 64 wound spirally. Specifically, the conductor 64 is disposed inside the peripheral edge of the common opening 34 in a plan view of the face sheet 44, and electromagnetic waves from the antenna 62 are directed outward from the inner periphery of the common opening 34. Can be emitted. A touch pad 42 having electrodes 48, 50, and 52 for detecting contact with fingers and a conductive film substrate 46 is also disposed inside the inner periphery of the conductor 64 in a plan view. 62 and the touch pad 42 are provided in the common opening 34.

  The antenna conductors 64 are adjacent to each other by a spiral winding, but the arrangement direction of each of the conductors 64 is a front view substantially orthogonal to the above-described plan view, and is not a direction flush with the face sheet 44. The face sheet 44 is inclined at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees. Therefore, compared with the case where the loop antenna is simply arranged around the touch pad input device with the antenna, the projection area required for the arrangement of the conductor 64 in the above-described plan view can be reduced, and the peripheral edge of the common opening 34 and the touch pad The gap with the peripheral edge of 42 becomes narrow. As a result, this contributes to downsizing of the touchpad input device 40 with an antenna.

  Moreover, in the magnetic field coupling, it is preferable that the primary side coil and the secondary side coil to be coupled have the same size. However, if the antenna conductor 64 is inclined and disposed in the front view, the common opening 64 is temporarily provided. , That is, even if the size of the face sheet 44 is changed to various lengths, the shield plate 38 or the electrodes 48, 50, 52 and the film substrate 46 are used to transmit electromagnetic waves from the loop antenna 62. It becomes possible to radiate in a desired direction avoiding any touch pad 42.

  Furthermore, the antenna conductor 64 of the first and second embodiments is held on the magnetic substrate 66 in a state of being inclined in the above-described front view, and the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna 62 is simply radiated upward. Instead, the shield plate 38 and the touch pads 42 having the electrodes 48, 50, 52 and the film substrate 46 can be avoided to radiate toward the RFID tag 80, and the antenna communication sensitivity is lowered and the sensor detection sensitivity is reduced. Decrease can be avoided.

  More specifically, the shield plate 38 absorbs and shields electromagnetic waves from the loop antenna 62 in addition to radiation noise generated by the electronic components in the computer 1. The touch pad 42 also includes the electrodes 48, 50, 52 and the film substrate 46 absorb electromagnetic waves from the antenna 62. As a result, an induced current is generated in the shield plate 38, each of the electrodes 48, 50, 52 and the film substrate 46, and a demagnetizing field opposite to the direction of the magnetic field of the electromagnetic wave is generated. There is a concern that the number of lines of electromagnetic waves decreases and the antenna communication sensitivity decreases.

  In particular, in the case of the above-described computer 1 intended for mobile use, it is required to be lightweight and easy to carry, and it is necessary to increase the degree of integration of the components in the housing 22. In addition to the shield plate 38, metal parts such as electronic circuits and hard disk drive fasteners are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the 62, and the gap between these metal parts and the loop antenna 62 becomes very narrow, and the electromagnetic waves are absorbed by the metal parts. It becomes easy to be done.

However, if the antenna conductor 64 is held on the magnetic substrate 66, the number of lines of magnetic force directed to the RFID tag 80 can be increased, and a decrease in communication sensitivity of the antenna 62 can be reliably prevented.
Further, if the magnetic substrate 66 itself includes the metal sheet 68, the antenna communication sensitivity is more influenced by the metal sheet 68 than the shield plate 38, the electrodes 48, 50, 52 and the film substrate 46. . That is, the touchpad input device with an antenna 40 is not affected by the metal portion until the device 40 is mounted on the computer 1, but can be designed in consideration of the influence of the metal sheet 68. Contributes to prevention of antenna communication sensitivity degradation.

  On the other hand, the induced current generated in the X drive electrode 48, the Y drive electrode 50, the detection electrode 52, and the film substrate 46 of the touch pad 42 breaks the balance of the electric field between the electrodes 48, 50, and 52, and accurately positions the finger. However, if the magnetic substrate 66 is tilted as described above, electromagnetic waves from the loop antenna 62 can be radiated avoiding the touch pad 42, and a decrease in sensor detection sensitivity can be avoided. is there.

In addition, since the touch pad 42 and the loop antenna 62 are configured to be separately driven, the general-purpose loop antenna 62 is obtained.
Further, as in the first embodiment, the normal direction of the magnetic substrate 66 intersects on the opposite side to the arrangement side of the RFID tag 80 (FIG. 5). However, even if the facing surface of the RFID tag 80 is much larger than the face sheet 44 as in a smaller computer, the electromagnetic waves from the loop antenna 62 can be reliably radiated toward the RFID tag 80.

Further, as in the second embodiment, the normal direction of the magnetic substrate 66 intersects on the arrangement side of the RFID tag 80 (FIG. 7), and the face sheet 44 is much larger than the facing surface of the RFID tag 80. Even so, the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna 62 can be reliably radiated toward the RFID tag 80.
This point will also be described in detail. The touch pad 42 is also required to be provided with a display screen at the position of the face sheet 44 and to be touched by two or more fingers, so that one side is larger than 100 mm. Is assumed.

With the increase in the size of the touch pad 42, there is a concern that if the loop antenna 62 is simply formed around the touch pad 42, the electromagnetic wave from the antenna 62 becomes difficult to be emitted toward the coiled antenna 82 of the card-size RFID tag 80. is there.
However, as shown in FIG. 7, since the normal direction of the magnetic substrate 66 intersects on the side where the RFID tag 80 is arranged, the communication sensitivity of the loop antenna 62 is prevented from being lowered while the size of the touch pad 42 is increased. It can be done.

  Next, as in the third to fifth embodiments, the arrangement direction of the antenna conductor 64 forms an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the face sheet 44 in the front view of FIGS. 8B, 9 and 10. Then, the projected area required for the arrangement of the antenna conductor 64 in the plan view of FIG. 2 becomes the smallest, and the touchpad input device with an antenna 40 can be more reliably reduced in size.

Further, as in the fourth and fifth embodiments, the groove portion 58 or the groove portion 59 is formed at the periphery of the touch pad 42, and the antenna conductor 64 is connected to the touch pad 42 by holding the antenna conductor 64 in the groove portion 58 or the groove portion 59. It becomes difficult to drop off.
Furthermore, if each groove part 59 is formed at equal intervals as in the fifth embodiment, the electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna 62 can be radiated uniformly, and the communication quality, specifically, the variation in the communicable distance can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, RFID is classified into HF band (13.56 MHz), weak radio band (300 MHz), specific low power radio band (400 MHz), UHF band (900 MHz), ISM band (2.45 GHz), etc. Although it can be classified, when the loop antenna 62 radiates HF band electromagnetic waves, the communication distance is particularly short as compared with radio communication using a radio wave system. However, since the antenna conductor 64 is disposed at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees with respect to the face sheet 44 in the front view described above, the electromagnetic wave avoids the shield plate 38 and the touch pad 42. On the other hand, the RFID tag 80 can be reliably radiated about 20 mm away from the face sheet 44.

  Further, the loop antenna 62 and the touch pad 42 are provided in one common opening 34, compared with the case where the opening for the loop antenna and the opening for the touch pad are respectively formed in the shield plate. , The place where radiation noise leaks to the outside can be reduced. Therefore, the shielding effect of the personal computer 1 equipped with the touchpad input device with antenna 40 is improved, and the space for either the loop antenna or the touchpad with respect to the shield plate 38 is not required. Miniaturization can also be achieved.

Furthermore, if the conductor is inclined and disposed in the above-described front view, the personal computer 1 can be further downsized in addition to the touch pad input device 40 with the antenna.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.
For example, the detection electrode 52 described above is formed on the third substrate 51, but is not necessarily limited to this form, and may be formed on the second substrate 49 in the case of the comb-like shape of FIG. 4. Further, when this detection electrode is extended linearly in the Y-axis direction at a position where it engages with the adjacent X drive electrodes 48, 48, it may be formed on the first substrate 47.

The drive electrodes of the first and second substrates 47 and 49 may be a polar coordinate system in addition to the XY coordinate system.
Furthermore, although the touchpad input device with an antenna of the present invention has been described as an example embodied in a laptop personal computer 1, it can naturally be applied to mobile electronic devices such as PDAs and mobile phones. It is.

  In any of these cases, as described above, in addition to the miniaturization, there is an effect that it is possible to avoid a decrease in antenna communication sensitivity and sensor detection sensitivity.

1 Personal computer (electronic equipment)
34 Common opening (opening)
38 Shield plate 40 Touchpad input device with antenna 42 Touchpad 44 Face sheet (surface)
48 X drive electrode (metal pattern)
50 Y drive electrode (metal pattern)
52 Detection electrode (metal pattern)
58, 59 Groove 62 Loop antenna 64 Antenna conductor (conductor)
66 Magnetic substrate (antenna substrate)
68 Metal sheet 80 RFID tag

Claims (11)

The touchpad input device with an antenna is arranged with its surface exposed to the outside at an opening formed in a shield plate that shields radiation noise in an electronic device,
A magnetic field type loop antenna which is disposed inside the periphery of the opening in a plan view and has a conductor wound in a spiral;
It is arranged inside the conductor in the plan view, and comprises a capacitive touch pad having a metal pattern for contact sensing,
The antenna-attached touch, wherein the conductors adjacent to each other by the winding are disposed so as to be inclined at an angle of 45 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the surface in a front view substantially orthogonal to the planar view. Pad input device. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 1,
The loop antenna includes an antenna substrate that surrounds the periphery of the touch pad and holds the conductor on the upper side thereof,
The antenna-use touchpad input device, wherein the antenna substrate is disposed so that a normal direction thereof faces an RFID tag that is magnetically coupled to the loop antenna so as to face the surface. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 2,
The antenna-attached touchpad input device, wherein the antenna substrate is made of a magnetic material. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 2 or 3,
The antenna touchpad input device, wherein the antenna substrate includes a metal sheet on a side opposite to the conductor across the antenna substrate. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The antenna-use touchpad input device, wherein the antenna substrate is opposed to the surface of the antenna substrate, and the normal directions of the antenna substrate intersect on the RFID tag arrangement side. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The antenna substrate is opposed to the antenna substrate, and the normal directions of the antenna substrate intersect at the opposite side of the RFID tag arrangement side with the surface interposed therebetween. Input device. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 1,
The antenna is disposed between the inner periphery of the opening periphery and the outer periphery of the touch pad periphery in the plan view, and forms an angle of 90 degrees with the surface in the front view. Touchpad input device. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 7,
The touchpad input device with an antenna, wherein the conductor is held in a groove formed on the periphery of the touchpad. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 7 or 8,
The touchpad input device with an antenna, wherein the conductor is held in a groove portion formed at equal intervals in the height direction of the touchpad input device with an antenna at the periphery of the touchpad. The touchpad input device with an antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The touch antenna input device with an antenna, wherein the loop antenna radiates an electromagnetic wave in a short frequency band.   An electronic apparatus comprising the antenna-attached touchpad input device according to claim 1.

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