JPH07261911A - Optical fiber type touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a compact and light-weight touch panel and to reduce its cost by decreasing the number of parts and thereby simplifying the constitution of the panel. CONSTITUTION:A series of X and Y axis LED groups 3 and 4 are prepared against a touch area 2 to transmit the detection beams to the area 2 in a matrix shape, together with the optical fibers 5 and 6 which are placed against the area 2 and also against the LED 3A and 4A respectively, and the phototransistors 7 arid 8 which are connected to the fibers 5 and 6 and detect the detection beams received from the LED 3A and 4A of one of both groups 5 and 4. The groups 3 and 4 are scanned by the scanners 11 and 12, and the detection beams transmitted through in a matrix shape are detected by the phototransistors 7 and 8. The photocurrent produced by the detection of those detection beams is inputted to an XY coordinate detecting circuit 15 and specifies the position of an obstacle in the area 2 in cooperation with the position signals received from the scanners 11 and 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a liquid crystal screen, a CR, etc.
Presence and position of an obstacle (fingertip, touch pen, etc.) located in front of the display screen when touching the display screen of a display device such as T with a finger or a touch pen to select information displayed on the screen. The present invention relates to an optical fiber type touch panel for optically detecting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical fiber type touch panel is one in which detection light rays are passed through in a matrix using optical fibers in a touch area such as a display screen for selecting information. The detection light beam is blocked by touching the touch area with a finger, a touch pen, or the like, and the selected position (the position touched by the finger or the like) is specified by the position of the blocked detection light beam.

As a structure of the optical fiber type touch panel, a series of optical fiber groups arranged so as to face each other across a touch area, and one of the optical fibers of this optical fiber group are provided.
A device having a light emitting element or a light receiving element connected to each of the books is generally known.

[0004]

However, the conventional optical fiber type touch panel as described above has the following problems.

(1) Since a light emitting element or a light receiving element is connected to each of the optical fibers, the number of parts is inevitably increased.

(2) Since the number of parts is increased, the structure becomes complicated, the device becomes large and the weight becomes heavy. Further, the cost of parts also increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber type touch panel which has a simplified structure to reduce the size and weight of the device and reduce the cost.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first invention is to provide a series of light emitting element groups which are arranged facing a touch area and pass detection light rays in a matrix form to the touch area, and the touch panel. An optical fiber facing the region and facing each of the light emitting elements of the light emitting element group, which makes the detection light beam incident, and each optical fiber is connected to detect the light from the light emitting element of any one of the light emitting element group. It is characterized in that it is provided with one or a small number of light receiving elements for detecting the emission of a light beam.

A second aspect of the invention is a series of light receiving elements arranged facing the touch area and detecting the detection light rays passing through the touch area in a matrix, and a group of the light receiving elements facing the touch area. And an optical fiber arranged to face each of the light receiving elements, and one or a few light emitting elements that are connected to each of the optical fibers to emit the detection light rays and pass the detection light rays in a matrix in the touch area. It is characterized by having.

[0010]

In the first aspect of the invention, the detection light rays are emitted in a matrix form from the light emitting element group to the touch area. This emitted detection light beam is incident on the optical fiber arranged to face it. Each of the optical fibers is connected to one or a small number of light receiving elements, and this light receiving element detects that any one of the light emitting elements emits a detection light beam. Each light emitting element of the light emitting element group is scanned so that it is possible to know from which position the light emitting element the detection light beam in the light receiving element is.

In this state, if any of the detection light rays passed through in a matrix, that is, one of the detection light rays in the X direction and the detection light ray in the Y direction is blocked by an obstacle such as a fingertip or a touch pen, The light receiving element does not detect the detection light beam. The position of the obstacle on the touch panel is determined from the position of the light emitting element at this time.

As described above, the position of the obstacle can be reliably detected by one or a small number of light receiving elements.

In the second aspect of the invention, the detection light rays are emitted in a matrix form from the optical fiber connected to one or a small number of light emitting elements over the entire touch area. This emitted detection light beam is made incident on each light receiving element of the light receiving element group which is arranged to face each other. Each light receiving element is scanned, and it is possible to know which light receiving element did not detect the detection light beam.

In this state, if any of the detection light rays passed through in a matrix is blocked by an obstacle, the light receiving element corresponding to that position does not detect the detection light ray, so that the obstacle is touched from that position. Determine where it is located.

In this way, the position of the obstacle can be reliably detected with one or a few light emitting elements.

[0016]

Embodiments of the optical fiber type touch panel according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] An optical fiber type touch panel 1 according to this embodiment has a touch area 2 as shown in FIG.
An X-axis LED group 3 and a Y-axis LED group 4 as a series of light emitting element groups that pass the detection light rays in a matrix, and optical fibers 5, 5, ... And 6, 6 ,.
It is provided with phototransistors 7 and 8 as light receiving elements for detecting that a detection light beam is emitted from any one of LEDs 3A and 4A as light emitting elements constituting the X-axis LED group 3 and the Y-axis LED group 4.

The X-axis LED group 3 and the Y-axis LED group 4 are composed of a large number of LEDs 3A, 3A, ... And 4A, 4A ,. The X-axis LED group 3 and the Y-axis LED group 4 are arranged adjacent to each other facing the touch area 2 and forming an angle of 90 degrees. As a result, the emission detection light rays from the X-axis LED group 3 and the Y-axis LED group 4 are passed through the touch area 2 in a matrix.

Each optical fiber 5, 5, ... And 6, 6 ,.
Are the LEDs 3A, 3A, ... Of the X-axis LED group 3 and the LEDs 4 of the Y-axis LED group 4 facing the touch area 2.
A, 4A, ... are arranged facing each other, and each LED 3
The detection light beams from A and 4A are respectively incident.

One phototransistor 7, 8 is provided for each of the optical fibers 5, 5, ... And 6, 6, 6. The phototransistor 7 has an X-axis LE.
The optical fibers 5, 5, ... That face the D group 3 are connected, and the phototransistor 8 is connected with the optical fibers 6, 6, ... That face the Y-axis LED group 4. The phototransistors 7 and 8 detect light rays from the X-axis LED group 3 and the Y-axis LED group 4 as specific LEDs 3A, 3A, ... And 4A, 4
It is detected as an emission detection light ray from any one of these, not from A.

An X-axis scanner 11 is connected to the X-axis LED group 3. This X-axis scanner 11 includes an X-axis LED group 3
The LEDs 3A, 3A, ... Are scanned. That is, each of the LEDs 3A, 3A, ... Is sequentially turned on from one side, and is made incident on the phototransistor 7 via each of the optical fibers 5, 5 ,.
A Y-axis scanner 12 is connected to the Y-axis LED group 4. Similar to the X-axis scanner 11, the Y-axis scanner 12 sequentially lights the LEDs 4A, 4A, ... One by one from one side, and the phototransistor 8 is spaced at regular intervals via the optical fibers 6, 6 ,. Photocurrent is generated every time.
These X-axis scanner 11 and Y-axis scanner 12 are each LE
.. and 4A, 4A, ..

Further, the X-axis scanner 11 and the Y-axis scanner 12 are connected to an XY coordinate detection circuit 15. X
The axis scanner 11 sequentially outputs a drive pulse current to the LEDs 3A, 3A, ... In order to scan the LEDs 3A, 3A ,.
The axis position signal is output to the XY coordinate detection circuit 15. This X
The axis position signal means the LEDs 3A, 3 of the X-axis LED group 3.
It is a signal indicating which LED 3A of A, ... Is turned on. Similarly to the X-axis scanner 11, the Y-axis scanner 12 also applies a drive pulse current for scanning each LED 4A to each LE.
D4A, 4A, ... are sequentially output, and the Y-axis position signal is synchronized with this drive pulse current and the XY coordinate detection circuit 1 is output.
Output to 5. This Y-axis position signal is a signal indicating which LED 4A of the Y-axis LED group 4 is turned on, like the X-axis position signal.

The phototransistors 7 and 8 are also connected to the XY coordinate detection circuit 15. In the XY coordinate detection circuit 15, each LED 3 of the X-axis LED group 3 and the Y-axis LED group 4 is
It is judged from the photocurrent by the phototransistors 7 and 8 that the detection light beam is emitted from any one of A, 3A, ... 4A, 4A ,. The XY coordinate detection circuit 15 determines that there is an obstacle at the XY coordinate position when no photocurrent is input.

The optical fiber type touch panel 1 configured as described above identifies the position of the obstacle as follows.

A constant current power supply 13 is provided by the X-axis scanner 11.
Is controlled, and the drive pulse current is output to the X-axis LED group 3. This drive pulse current causes X-axis LE
The LEDs 3A, 3A, ... Of the D group 3 are scanned. Each LE
The detection light beams emitted from D3A, 3A, ... Enter the phototransistor 7 through the respective optical fibers 5. Photocurrent is generated in the phototransistor 7, and the XY coordinate detection circuit 1
5 is output. Similarly to the X-axis scanner 11, the Y-axis scanner 12 also controls the current of the constant current power supply 13 to cause the LEDs 4A, 4A, ... Of the Y-axis LED group 4 to emit detection light beams. The detection light beam enters the phototransistor 8 via each optical fiber 6. As a result, the detection light rays are passed through the touch area 2 in a matrix. The photocurrent generated in the phototransistor 8 is the XY coordinate detection circuit 1
5 is output. X-axis scanner 11 and Y-axis scanner 1
In 2, X is synchronized with the output of the drive pulse current.
The axis position signal and the Y axis position signal are output to the XY coordinate detection circuit 15.

In the XY coordinate detecting circuit 15, if the X-axis position signal and the Y-axis position signal are input and further the photocurrents from the phototransistors 7 and 8 which are generated in synchronization with them are input, the coordinates corresponding to them are input. Judge that there is no obstacle at the position. Further, when the X-axis position signal and the Y-axis position signal are input, but when the photocurrent synchronized with them is not input, it is assumed that the detection light beam is blocked by the obstacle, and the X-axis position signal and the Y-axis position signal are input. It is determined that there is an obstacle at the coordinate position of the touch area 2 corresponding to the signal.

As a result, the coordinate position of the touch area 2 having the obstacle is specified. Due to the presence of this obstacle, it is determined that the information corresponding to the position is selected, and the subsequent processing is performed.

From the above, the X-axis LED group 3 and the Y-axis LE are
The phototransistors 7 and 8 arranged one by one corresponding to the D group 4 can reliably detect the position of the obstacle.

As a result, the number of phototransistors 7 and 8 arranged (the number of parts) can be greatly reduced, and the structure of the optical fiber type touch panel 1 can be simplified. Further, the size and weight of the touch panel 1 can be reduced and the cost can be reduced with the simplification of the configuration of the touch panel 1.

[Second Embodiment] Contrary to the case of the first embodiment, this embodiment has one LED as a light emitting element,
A large number of phototransistors as light receiving elements are arranged.

The optical fiber type touch panel 21 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, is an X-axis phototransistor group 23 as a series of light receiving element groups for detecting the detection light rays passing through the touch area 22 in a matrix form. , Y-axis phototransistor group 24, and optical fibers 25, 25, ... And 26, 26 ,.
, And optical fibers 25, 25, ... And 26, 26, ... Are respectively connected, and LEDs 27, 28 for emitting detection light rays from the respective optical fibers 25, 26 are provided.

The X-axis phototransistor group 23 and the Y-axis phototransistor group 24 are composed of a large number of phototransistors 23A, 23A, ... And 24A, 24A ,. The X-axis phototransistor group 23 and the Y-axis phototransistor group 24 are adjacent to each other in a state of facing the touch region 22, and are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees. As a result, the detection light rays passed through the touch area 22 in a matrix form enter the phototransistors 23A, 23A, ... And 24A, 24A ,.

Each optical fiber 25, 25, ... and 26, 2
6, are the phototransistors 23A, 2 of the X-axis phototransistor group 23 facing the touch area 22.
, And the phototransistors 24A, 24A, ... Of the Y-axis phototransistor group 24, respectively. Each of the optical fibers 25, 25, ... And 26,
Detected light beams from 26, ...
A and 24A respectively enter.

One LED 27, 28 is provided for each LED. Optical fibers 25, 25, ... Facing the X-axis phototransistor group 23 are connected to the LED 27,
Optical fibers 26, 26, facing the Y-axis phototransistor group 24 are connected to the LED 28. Each LED
27 and 28 are optical fibers 25, 25, ... And 26,
Detecting light rays are passed through the entire touch area 22 via 26, ... In a matrix form. A constant current power supply 33 is directly connected to each of the LEDs 27 and 28. As a result, the LEDs 27, 28 are constantly turned on, and the optical fibers 25,
Detecting light rays are passed through the touch area 22 by a matrix 26.

An X-axis scanner 31 is connected to the X-axis phototransistor group 23. The X-axis scanner 31 scans each phototransistor 23A of the X-axis phototransistor group 23, and the X-axis LED of the first embodiment.
This is similar to the control of group 3. That is, one of the phototransistors 23A sequentially outputs a control signal to activate the phototransistor 23A to selectively detect the detection light beam that is constantly transmitted. Further, the same X-axis position signal as in the first embodiment is output to the XY coordinate detection circuit 35. The Y-axis scanner 32 has the same function as the X-axis scanner 31. XY coordinate detection circuit 3
The function of 5 is the same as that of the XY coordinate detection circuit 15 of the first embodiment.

The optical fiber type touch panel 21 constructed as described above identifies the position of the obstacle as follows.

Each of the LEDs 27, 2 is controlled by the constant current power source 33.
8 is constantly turned on, and the detection light beams are always passed through the touch area 22 in a matrix form by the optical fibers 25 and 26. Each detected light beam is incident on each phototransistor 23A, 24A of the phototransistor group 23, 24.
By controlling the X-axis scanner 31 and the Y-axis scanner 32,
The phototransistors 23A and 24A of the phototransistor groups 23 and 24 sequentially detect the presence or absence of incident detection light rays. The phototransistor 23 is activated by the incidence of the detection beam
A photocurrent is generated in A and 24A and is output to the XY coordinate detection circuit 35. In the XY coordinate detection circuit 35, based on the presence or absence of the X-axis position signal, the Y-axis position signal and the photocurrent, the first
By the same operation as that of the embodiment, the coordinate position of the obstacle is specified.

As a result, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Modification] In the first embodiment, the case where the light receiving elements 7 and 8 are connected to the optical fibers 5 and 6 one by one has been described as an example. However, the number is 2 or more (to the extent that the number does not increase so much). The number of) may be provided. Also by this, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in the second embodiment, the LEDs 27,
Although the case where 28 is connected to the optical fibers 25 and 26 one by one has been described as an example, even if two or more are provided, the same operation and effect as those of the second embodiment can be obtained.

[0041]

As described in detail above, according to the optical detecting device of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The detection light rays which are passed through the touch area in a matrix form by the light emitting element group are condensed using a plurality of optical fibers and are made incident on one or a few light receiving elements to detect the presence or absence of an obstacle. With this configuration, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of light receiving elements arranged, simplify the configuration, and reduce the size and weight of the device. Further, cost reduction can be achieved.

(2) In the case where the detection light from one or a small number of light emitting elements is made to pass through the entire touch area in a matrix form by an optical fiber and is made incident on a series of light receiving element groups to detect the presence or absence of an obstacle. Also, the number of light-emitting elements arranged can be significantly reduced, and similarly to the above, the configuration can be simplified to reduce the size and weight of the device and reduce the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an optical fiber type touch panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an optical fiber type touch panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 21 ... Optical fiber type touch panel, 2, 22 ... Touch area, 3 ... X-axis LED group, 3A ... LED, 4 ... Y-axis L
ED group, 4A ... LED, 5, 6, 25, 26 ... Optical fiber, 7, 8 ... Phototransistor, 11, 31 ... X-axis scanner, 12, 32 ... Y-axis scanner, 13, 33 ... Constant current power supply, 15 , 35 ... XY coordinate detection circuit, 23 ... X-axis phototransistor group, 23A ... Phototransistor, 2
4 ... Y-axis phototransistor group, 24A ... Phototransistors, 27, 28 ... LED.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A series of light emitting element groups arranged facing the touch area and passing detection light rays in a matrix form in the touch area, and facing the touch area and facing each light emitting element of the light emitting element group. An optical fiber that is arranged so as to make the detection light beam incident, and that each optical fiber is connected to detect that the detection light beam is emitted from any one of the light emitting elements of the light emitting element group 1
Alternatively, an optical fiber type touch panel having a small number of light receiving elements. 2. A series of light receiving elements arranged facing the touch area and detecting detection light rays passing through the touch area in a matrix, and each light receiving element of the light receiving element group facing the touch area. Optical fibers arranged to face each other, and one or a few light emitting elements which are connected to the optical fibers and emit the detection light rays and pass the detection light rays in a matrix form in the touch area. Fiber optic touch panel featuring.