JPS63105416A - Panel switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a panel switch, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a panel switch, and more specifically, it includes a thin film-like panel on which a plurality of input touch parts are arranged, and a touch part on the panel is connected to the panel switch. The present invention relates to a panel switch in which a touch operation causes an electric circuit inside the panel to generate a signal corresponding to the touch operation. The panel switch according to the present invention can be used, for example, by being incorporated into an operation panel of a copying machine, an electronic desktop calculator, or the like.

[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]

In conventional operation systems, an operation button is used in most cases, and therefore, when the operator presses this button, he or she is able to detect some kind of change at the tip of the finger.

At the same time, there were physical changes, or positional changes, in the operating buttons themselves. When such operation buttons are arranged on an operation panel or an operation panel, they give unevenness to the external appearance of the panel, which not only increases the size of the structure, but also causes the operation buttons to be placed on the panel. Because the button protrudes from the front, there is a possibility that the button may be operated incorrectly.

From this point of view, panel switches have been widely used recently. A panel switch usually includes a thin-film panel on which a plurality of input touch sections are arranged, and an electric circuit that cooperates with touch operations on the panel. One type of panel switch is a so-called "touch panel." This utilizes the change in capacitance that occurs when a fingertip touches a touch area on the panel, and causes an electrical circuit to generate a signal corresponding to the touch area.

In this case, an “operation sound (so-called beep sound)” is used to notify the operator that a touch operation has been performed on the panel.
or, if a display is provided, a change in the display. However, these methods are not a direct physical response to the fingertip, and therefore lack reliability in confirmation actions. There is a problem.

Further, as another form of panel switch, there is a switch having a structure in which a pressure-sensitive electric rubber is interposed between a panel and an electric circuit. This compresses the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber by pressing the touch area on the panel with your fingertip, thereby making the rubber conductive and electrically connecting the contacts of the electric circuit through the rubber, that is, the conductor. Then, a signal corresponding to the touch portion is generated. In the case of this type of panel switch, as well as the above-mentioned "touch panel",
There is no direct physical response to the fingertip indicating that a touch operation has been performed.

In other words, in the conventional panel switch described above, the response from the switch side to the touch operation on the input touch part on the panel is not directly given to the fingertip, so the feeling of operation is poor, and it is difficult to When viewed from an ergonomic point of view, there was a problem in that the confirmation operation lacked reliability.

Furthermore, since the response to a touch operation is visual or auditory, it is extremely inconvenient if, for example, the operator has a disability in any of the senses.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems with the conventional type, and an object of the present invention is to provide a panel switch that enhances the feeling of operation and allows reliable confirmation of operation.

Means for Solving Problem c] According to the present invention, there is provided a thin film-like panel in which a plurality of input touch parts are arranged, and a touch part that performs a switching action in cooperation with the touch part of this panel. A switch element array arranged in contact with a plurality of touch parts, in which a plurality of piezoelectric elements are respectively arranged at positions corresponding to a plurality of touch parts, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged in a matrix by a plurality of row signal lines and a column signal line, respectively. A timing signal of a predetermined period is applied to each of the plurality of row signal lines mentioned above, and when an arbitrary touch part is pressed, the touch part is connected to a corresponding piezoelectric element. A panel switch is provided, comprising: control means for applying a control voltage signal having an opposite phase to a timing signal to a column signal line in which a timing signal is applied.

[Effect]

First, when the operator presses an arbitrary touch part on the panel, the control means applies a control voltage signal having an opposite phase to the timing signal to the column signal line connected to the piezoelectric element corresponding to this arbitrary touch part. . On the other hand, a timing signal with a predetermined period is applied to the row signal line connected to the piezoelectric element.

Therefore, a voltage of a certain magnitude is applied to the piezoelectric element corresponding to the pressed touch part, and this causes the piezoelectric element to vibrate at the same predetermined period as the timing signal. Since the piezoelectric element and the touch section are disposed in contact with each other, this vibration is transmitted to the fingertip of the operator who touches the touch section.

In this way, the operator can feel the vibrations transmitted to his or her fingertips, thereby increasing the feeling of operation.
This allows for more reliable operation confirmation.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a panel switch as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the switch matrix shown in FIG. 1.

The switch matrix 1 consists of a panel 11 and a switch element array 12, as shown in FIG. On the panel 11, nine input latch parts Q having numbers 1 to 9 (n=1 to 9) are arranged in a matrix. Further, a sheet switch (not shown) is built in the panel 11, and signal lines for a scan signal 5CAN and a detection signal DET, which will be described later, are connected to this sheet switch. The panel 11 has a thin film shape and is preferably formed of a material that can transmit vibrations to the fingertips that touch each touch portion Q9. In the switch element array 12, the above-mentioned nine touch parts Q l
``' Piezoelectric element Pl at the position corresponding to Q q''
'P9, for example, a laminated piezoelectric actuator element with a vibration frequency of 50 to 500 Hz is arranged, and these piezoelectric elements P7 are connected in a matrix by three row signal lines and three column signal lines, respectively. The 0th row signal line and the column signal line each have a timing signal T, which will be described later.
S, that is, ■ to ■, and control voltage signal CS, that is, ■ to O are applied. Therefore, for example, when the timing signal TS is applied and the control voltage signal C8 is applied, the piezoelectric element P vibrates. This vibration is transmitted to the corresponding touch part Q.

Returning to FIG. 1, the switch matrix 1 is connected to a controller (microcomputer) 2 via signal lines for a scan signal 5CAN, a detection signal, and a DET, and the controller 2 is connected to a voltage amplifier for a timing signal TS. 3 to the row signal line of the switch matrix 1, and to the column signal line of the switch matrix 1 via the voltage amplifier 4 for control voltage signal CS.

As one function, the controller 2 sequentially supplies scan signals 5CAN to the sheet switches in the panel 11, and when an arbitrary touch part Q7 is pressed, the touch part Q
A detection signal DET indicating which of touch parts 1 to Q is being touched is received. As another function, the controller 2 applies in advance timing signals (2), (2), and (2) of a predetermined period to the three row signal lines, respectively. Furthermore, as another function, the controller 2 sends a control voltage signal having a phase opposite to the timing signal to the column signal line connected to the piezoelectric element P1 corresponding to the arbitrary touch part Q1 when the arbitrary touch part Q is pressed. Apply CS. For example, when the touch part Q is pressed, a control voltage signal 0 having an opposite phase to the timing signal 2 is applied to the piezoelectric element P.

FIG. 3 shows the connection relationship between the piezoelectric element P7 and the signal TS and C8 lines. As mentioned above, the timing signal TS has been applied in advance, but at this point, the piezoelectric element P. Since a voltage is applied only to one end of the piezoelectric element P7, the piezoelectric element does not vibrate.The piezoelectric element P7 vibrates only when the control voltage signal CS is applied to the other end of the piezoelectric element P7.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the piezoelectric element p vibrates when signals of polarity 1 and e as shown in FIG. 3 are applied.

FIG. 4 shows a waveform diagram for explaining an example of a control mode by the controller 2 of FIG. 1.

The example in FIG. 4 shows a case where all the timing signals TS have the same predetermined period T0.

In this case, for example, when the touch part QS is pressed, the controller 2 supplies a control voltage signal ■ having an opposite phase to the timing signal ■ to the column signal line connected to the piezoelectric element P corresponding to the touch part Q. do. As a result, the piezoelectric element P vibrates at the same period as the predetermined period T0 during the pressing time. This vibration is transmitted to the touch part Q, thereby allowing the operator to more reliably confirm the touch operation.

According to the control 11 shown in FIG. 4, even if a touch part other than Q, for example Q, is pressed, the piezoelectric elements vibrate at the same period. In other words, responses to touch operations on each touch portion are all vibrations of the same frequency.

FIG. 5 shows a waveform diagram for explaining another example of the control mode by the controller 2 of FIG. 1.

The example in FIG. 5 shows a case where the timing signals TS (■ to ■) have different predetermined periods T+, Tt, and Tz.

In this case, for example, when the touch part Q5 is pressed, the controller 2 supplies a control voltage signal ■ having an opposite phase to the timing signal ■ to the column signal line connected to the piezoelectric element P corresponding to the touch part Q. do. As a result, the piezoelectric element P vibrates at the same period as the predetermined period T2 during the pressing time. According to the control mode shown in FIG. 5, when a touch part other than Q, for example Q9, is pressed, the piezoelectric element P vibrates at the same period T as the timing signal ■. Therefore, the operator can confirm the touch operation more reliably, and can easily determine whether the operation is correct or incorrect based on the fingertip.

In addition, in the control form of FIG. 5, each predetermined period T+,
It goes without saying that when setting Tz, T, it is necessary to set each station period, that is, the vibration frequency, within a range that can be determined with a fingertip. In addition, in the control mode shown in FIG.
3), (Q4.QS, Q6).

(Q?, Qll, Q9), but the vibration frequency is not limited to this, and it is also possible to change the frequency for each individual touch part, for example.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the invention, it is possible to increase the feeling of touch operation, and also to receive f! This can make recognition more reliable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a panel switch as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the switch matrix 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a piezoelectric element. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram for explaining an example of the control mode by the controller 2 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram for explaining another example of the control mode by the controller 2 shown. FIG. (Explanation of symbols) 1... Switch matrix, 2... Controller, 11... Panel, 12... Switch element array, P,... Piezoelectric element, Q7... Touch part, TS, ■ ,■,■...timing signal, CS,■,■
, O... control voltage signal, T o, T +, T z
, Tx...predetermined period.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A thin film-like panel in which a plurality of input touch parts are arranged; and a switch element array disposed in contact with the touch part to perform a switching action in cooperation with the touch part of the panel, A plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged at positions corresponding to the plurality of touch parts, and the plurality of piezoelectric elements are respectively connected in a matrix by a plurality of row signal lines and a column signal line; and the plurality of rows. A timing signal with a predetermined period is applied to each signal line, and when an arbitrary touch part is pressed, a control voltage with a phase opposite to the timing signal is applied to the column signal line connected to the piezoelectric element corresponding to the arbitrary touch part. A panel switch comprising: a control means for applying a signal; 2. 2. The panel switch according to claim 1, wherein the timing signals respectively applied to the plurality of row signal lines have the same predetermined period. 3. 2. The panel switch according to claim 1, wherein the timing signals respectively applied to the plurality of row signal lines have different predetermined periods.