JP2574313Y2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to display and input information with a word processor, a copying machine, a personal computer, an audio device, or the like, and to allow an operator of the device to interactively input information on a display unit. The present invention relates to an input device in various configured electronic devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in various electronic devices, a display device has a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).
A CRT display device such as a display or a liquid crystal panel display device is used. In addition, a plasma display or the like may be used.

[0003] Such a method of performing an input operation with a separate keyboard in order to interactively perform an input operation on a display device is generally performed by a personal computer or a word processor.

On the other hand, in consideration of improvement of operability and effective use of the operation surface, recently, there is no input operation part of a single function determined, and input is performed in accordance with guidance of characters and numerals shown on a display unit. The method of operation is taken. For example, in the case of a copier or the like, a liquid crystal panel display is used for the operation unit, and a guidance screen according to the number of copies, a copy magnification, an operation sequence, and various editing functions and processing functions are selected and instructed. The screen is displayed. In order to instruct the functions and the number of sheets, a transparent thin glass and a transparent electrode are attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display to form a touch panel, thereby forming a liquid crystal touch panel display. The touch panel covers the entire display unit and is divided into a number of small blocks so that an input can be made from any position in the area of the display unit. Therefore, the input operation can be easily performed by displaying three types of pictograms and the like using, for example, three different positions on the display unit as selections, and selecting one of the pictograms and pressing the finger to determine the operation. You.

However, since the liquid crystal touch panel has thin electrodes formed on the display, there is no clicking feeling when the operator presses it, and the feeling of the input response is very poor. As a method for solving such a problem, a configuration is adopted in which a tact switch having a click feeling is separately formed beside the display unit to form an operation unit.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a conventional example.

FIGS. 4A and 5A are plan views, and FIGS. 4B and 5B are cross-sectional views taken along the line XX '.

In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 1 denotes a liquid crystal display portion formed on a liquid crystal display substrate 5, for example, "A";
The character 10 of "B" is displayed. In this configuration, the tact switch 9 is soldered to the printed circuit board 6, and the key tops 3a and 3b are attached. Therefore, when it is desired to make a selection according to the display of "A", the key top 3a is pressed.

In FIG. 4, since the key tops 3a and 3b are used, it is difficult to reduce the thickness. FIG. 5 shows a configuration for solving this.

In FIG. 5, a thin tact switch 9 is soldered on a printed circuit board 6 beside the liquid crystal display section 1, and a sheet 4 is placed thereon. With such a configuration, the operation unit can be configured with a thinness equivalent to the thickness of the liquid crystal display unit 1 and a key input unit closer to the display unit than in FIG.

[0011]

However, in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the prior art, a separate key switch (9) is required, so that the cost is high and the position of the key switch is changed to the liquid crystal display section. You will be farther away.

That is, in the liquid crystal display section, since the hatched portion 8 shown in FIG. 4 is required as a space for the display electrode pattern, characters, numerals, pictures, This is because symbols and the like cannot be displayed. Therefore, when the operator looks at the operation unit, the switches 3a and 3b corresponding to the positions of "A" and "B" on the liquid crystal display unit are formed apart from each other, so that there is a drawback that it is difficult to judge the correspondence. .

The use of the printed circuit board 6, the tact switch 9, and the key tops 3a and 3b increases the size of the operation portion of this portion, restricts the outer shape of the device in terms of design, and reduces the thickness of the device. It has a drawback that it also hinders the production.

On the other hand, in the case where the thickness is reduced as shown in FIG. 5, the click feeling is reduced by the sheet 4, and it is difficult for the user to be satisfied with the operability. Furthermore, the human body is charged in winter when the air tends to dry, and the operation unit is a part where the charged fingertip comes into contact. Therefore, the operation unit must have a structure that can withstand malfunction or destruction due to discharge at the moment of input touch. On the other hand, in the configuration of the conventional example described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a discharge preventing means must be provided around a separate switch unit. For example, in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 5B, an operation panel spacer 7 must be attached to the tact switch 9 in order to prevent a discharge leak transmitted from the side of the liquid crystal display unit 1 to the surface of the printed circuit board 6 or the sheet 2. . In order to prevent discharge using such a member, dimensional restrictions and design restrictions, such as a certain distance between the display unit and the switch unit, increase, and the operability deteriorates.

[0015] Alternatively, it is conceivable to adopt a structure in which sealing is used to reduce the size by sealing, but the productivity deteriorates due to the bonding process.
The cost is high. And the reliability of bonding is also required,
It has the disadvantage that it is difficult to realize as a product.

[0016]

A display means for displaying predetermined information, an input means arranged on the display means for inputting position information, and an input means for inputting the position information of the input means. And a key button for generating a key click, and inputting the position corresponding to the information displayed on the display means by designating the position by the input means and operating the key button. And input information corresponding to the key buttons.

[0017]

According to the present invention, an input operation with a click feeling can be performed, and an input unit can be provided at a position close to the display of numbers, symbols, pictures, characters, etc. on the display unit, so that mistakes such as erroneous input are prevented. Is prevented.

[0018]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX 'of FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a liquid crystal display unit, and reference numeral 12 denotes a transparent touch panel formed on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display unit 11. The transparent touch panel 12 is formed by combining thin glass plates at the top and bottom, and has touch panel electrodes 14a, 14a on its inner surface.
b and touch panel contacts 12a and 12b are formed. Then, the touch panel 12 is configured.

The two transparent glass plates are used for the liquid crystal display 11
It is pasted on. Touch panel contact 12a,
The contact 12b is normally separated by a spacer 12c between the thin glass sheets and thus does not contact, but when pressed from the top of the figure, the touch panel contact 12
a and 12b are in contact with each other and the touch panel electrodes 14a,
It can be seen that conduction has occurred between 14b.

Although only a part of the contacts is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a matrix-like contact is formed on the entire surface of the liquid crystal display area D so that an input operation can be performed at an arbitrary place. I have. Touch panel contacts 12a and 12
Above b, there is a key top member 13a (or 13b), which is formed of rubber in the present example, and has a shape such that a click feel is generated at a fold of the rubber when pressed. The key top members 13a and 13b are
It is fixed so that it does not move. Therefore, the key top member 13a is arranged right next to the liquid crystal display area D, and the character 10 of "A" is displayed immediately near the key top member 13a. For this reason,
In FIG. 1, it can be seen at a glance that the key top member 13a corresponds to the character "A". When the key top member 13a is pressed, the lower part of the key top member 13a pushes down the glass of the transparent touch panel 12 and the touch panel contacts 12a and 12b come into contact with each other, so that an input signal of "A" is received between the touch panel electrodes 14a and 14b. Can be

In this embodiment, the key top members 13a, 1a
Although rubber is used as 3b, the invention is not limited to this, and a metal spring material having a click feeling may be used.

The position of the key top members 13a and 13b is not limited to the right side of the display unit, and the key top members 15a to 15b shown in FIG.
5f, a frame 16 that covers the key top member at the center of the liquid crystal display unit 11 may be formed.

In this embodiment, the description has been made with reference to a liquid crystal display unit as a display device. However, the same applies to a display device such as a CRT display or a plasma display.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the liquid crystal display unit and the key top member have a simple configuration in which a key top with a click feeling is permanently provided on a part of the transparent touch panel provided on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display unit. Can be made closer to each other than before, so that the correspondence between the key top member and the display can be very easily understood by the operator. It also has the economic effect of eliminating the need for an additional printed circuit board for key input.

Further, the key input section having a click feeling has a simple configuration, so that a more easy-to-use device can be provided.

Further, since the electrical contact portion is inside the transparent touch panel, malfunction and destruction due to electrostatic discharge can be prevented. And it is possible to provide a user with a device that is thin and has good operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a section taken along line XX ′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view according to Conventional Example 1 and a cross-sectional view showing a XX ′ cross-section thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a plan view according to Conventional Example 2 and a XX ′ cross section thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Liquid crystal display part 12 Touch panel 12a, 12b Touch panel contact 13a, 13b Key top member 14a, 14b Touch panel electrode 17 Operation panel spacer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 3/02 310 G06F 3/023

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A display unit for displaying predetermined information; an input unit arranged on the display unit for inputting positional information; and a partial area of the input unit for inputting the positional information. A key button for generating a key click, wherein the key button is operated by inputting the position corresponding to the information displayed on the display means by designating the position by the input means and operating the key button. Input device to input information corresponding to