KR100764568B1 - Input Device for Portable Electronic Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an input device suitable for use as an input device for various portable electronic devices such as mobile phones. The input device 1 according to the present invention includes a substrate 10, a plurality of first pole plates 20 and the first pole plate stacked on a corresponding number and positions of the input keys 61 on the substrate 10. An elastic layer 30 stacked on the field 20 and elastically variable in thickness by pressure, and a distance d stacked on the elastic layer 30 corresponding to the thickness of the elastic layer 30. A second electrode plate (40) disposed in a plate shape covering the entirety of the first electrode plates (20); The overlapping points of the sensing points S are generated by changing the capacitance according to the change of the distance d due to the pressure at the upper and lower overlapping positions of the first electrode plates 20 and the second electrode plate 40. By measuring the capacitance of the sensing points (S) to generate an input signal from a change in capacitance that is different depending on the position of the sensing point (S) and the amount of pressure applied to the portable electronic device 100 Characterized in that the transfer to the CPU (110).

Description

Input device for portable electronic device

1 is a block diagram of a cellular phone to which an input device according to the present invention is applied;

2 is a block diagram of an exemplary input device in accordance with the present invention;

3 is an exploded perspective view of a sensor unit of an input device according to the present invention;

4 is a cross-sectional view of a sensor unit of the input device according to the present invention;

5 is a schematic diagram of a conventional general dome switch.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

1: input device 2: sensor of the present invention

3: controller 3A: capacitance detection unit

3B: A / D Converter 3C: Control Unit

3D: D / A Converter 10: Board

20: first electrode plate 30: elastic layer

40: second electrode plate 50: protective layer

60: display sheet 61: input key

100: portable electronic device (mobile phone)

110: CPU S: sensing point

(Technology)

The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly, to an input device suitable for use as an input device of various portable electronic devices such as a mobile phone.

(Background)

The portable electronic devices represented by the mobile phones are provided with input devices provided with input keys for inputting various operations related to the use of the mobile phone such as on / off of the mobile phone, input of phone numbers and letters, and initiation and termination of calls. It is.

As the use of mobile phones has been extended from the use of traditional telephone calls to the use of various additional services such as Internet access and text transmission, more and more menus have been mounted on mobile phones, and various operations are more and more frequently performed. As a result, the number of operations of the input device also increases.

In general, a dome switch is widely used as an input key for a keypad which is an input device of a mobile phone.

5 is a schematic diagram of a conventional general dome switch.

As shown, the dome switch 200 includes a substrate 210, an arc-shaped electrode 220 disposed at a position corresponding to each input key of a keypad on the substrate 200, and an inside of the arc-shaped electrode 220. Disposed on the linear electrode 230 in a state of not being electrically connected to the arc-shaped electrode 220, and the upper portion of the linear electrode 230 in a state in which both ends of the arc-shaped electrode 220 are in electrical contact with each other. The dome-shaped electrode 240 is arranged to be arranged. These electrodes 220, 230, 240 are fixed in position by the spacer 250, the adhesive film 260, or the like.

A plurality of dome switches 200 having such a structure are appropriately disposed as many as the number corresponding to the input keys provided on the keypad. When the desired input key is pressed by hand, the dome-shaped electrode 240 is pressed to contact the linear electrodes 230. As a result, the arc-shaped electrode 200 and the linear electrode 230 are electrically connected to each other, thereby executing a process of inputting contents corresponding to the input keys of the dome switch by a keypad circuit and a program (not shown).

However, according to the slimming aspect of portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, capacitive input devices have been introduced instead of the dome switch type around slimmer models. Such capacitive input devices are a desirable environment for miniaturizing mobile phones. While providing a variety of applications.

As is widely known, a capacitive input device applied to a mobile phone or the like has a configuration in which a plurality of pole plates (copper plates) corresponding to input keys are arranged at regular intervals on a substrate to apply voltage to these pole plates. When it comes into contact with this pole plate (i.e., a sensing point for detecting hand contact), it detects the parasitic capacitance according to the dielectric constant between the hand and the pole plate to determine which pole plate (input key) is selected, and determines the input signal. It is operated in such a way that an operation corresponding to the input signal is executed by transmitting to the CPU of the cellular phone. Of course, the handset is equipped with the appropriate program for what operation corresponds to the respective plates.

As portable electronic devices become smaller, the input key spacing of the keypads becomes narrower, and as a result, an increase in the possibility of malfunction, such as manipulation of another adjacent undesired input key when the input key is operated, increases the capacitance as an input device. As the type of input device is provided, the malfunction caused by the miniaturization of the portable electronic device is alleviated.

However, the conventional capacitive input device applied to a mobile phone can only determine which pole plate (input key) the hand touches, and each pole plate is a system for inputting only a single operation. In this case, the capacitive input device is used only as an input key for shifting the position of the selection menu, and a dual structure using a conventional dome switch is applied as an input key for inputting a necessary operation in the moved menu. It was not completely beyond the limits of the input device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the problems of the input device applied to the conventional portable electronic device as described above, and does not generate an input signal only by distinguishing between a simple contact and non-contact with the pole plate (copper plate), but the magnitude of the contact pressure. The present invention provides an input device for a capacitive portable electronic device capable of inputting various and sophisticated types of operations without malfunction by allowing an input signal to be generated from a phenomenon in which capacitance changes according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, an input device of a portable electronic device is provided.

An input device of a portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a substrate, a plurality of first pole plates stacked on a corresponding number and positions of input keys on the substrate, and are stacked on the first pole plates and elastically formed by pressure. An elastic layer having a variable thickness, and a second electrode plate laminated on the elastic layer and disposed in a plate shape covering the entirety of the first electrode plates at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the elastic layer.

In the input device of the portable electronic device according to the present invention, at the overlapping position of the first pole plates and the second pole plate, the capacitance changes according to the change of the distance due to pressure, so that the overlapping points are sensed. The capacitance of the sensing points is measured, and an input signal is generated from a change in capacitance that is different depending on the position of the sensing point and the magnitude of the applied pressure, and is then transmitted to the CPU of the portable electronic device.

Hereinafter, an input device of a portable electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are merely illustrative of the input device of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile phone to which an input device according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary input device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a sensor unit of the input device according to the present invention, and FIG. Is a cross-sectional view of the sensor unit of the input device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 1 according to the present invention is applied as an input device of various portable electronic devices 100 including a mobile phone, MP3, PDA, PMP, portable game machine, and the like. The following describes an example in which the input device 1 of the present invention is applied to a mobile phone 100 which is an electronic device.

As is widely known, the cellular phone 100 includes a CPU 110 which generally controls the cellular phone 100 according to a loaded program, and an input unit for inputting various data and commands related to the use of the cellular phone 100 ( 120, 1: That is, the input device of the present invention), the monitor 130 for displaying various information regarding the use of the mobile phone 100, various programs related to the overall operation of the mobile phone 100 and various data input and output Memory 140 to store, the communication unit 150 having an antenna and a duplexer to enable mobile communication with the base station through the antenna, the audio unit 160 having a speaker and a microphone for a call, and supplying power It can be said that the configuration including the power supply unit 170, the input device 1 of the present invention is an input device applied to the input unit 120.

In using the mobile phone 100 having such a configuration, the user inputs predetermined data and commands using the input unit (input devices 120 and 1), monitors the related information through the monitor 130, and stores the memory 140. ) Necessary data are stored, and the mobile communication is executed through the communication unit 150, and all such operations are controlled overall by the CPU 110, and the necessary power is supplied from the power supply unit 170.

The input device 1 of the present invention, which is used as the input unit of the portable electronic device 100, may be configured to include the sensor unit 2 and the controller 3 as shown in FIG.

The sensor unit 2 is a component for detecting a user's manipulation (pressure) applied to the input device 1 to input a specific operation to the mobile phone 100, and the controller 3 is a sensor unit 2 Is a component that generates a corresponding input signal from the detection signal detected by the control unit and transmits it to the CPU 110 of the cellular phone 100.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sensor unit 2 includes a substrate 10, a first electrode plate 20, an elastic layer 30, a second electrode plate 40, a protective layer 50, and the like. It is the structure containing the display sheet 60. FIG.

The substrate 10 is a conventional substrate such as, for example, circuit boards PCB and FPCB capable of printing the electrode plates 20 and 40, and serves to support the components of the input device 1. The size of the substrate 10 may include the type of portable electronic device 1 to which the input device 1 of the present invention is applied, the size of the input device 1, the type of input content input by the input device 1, and the like. Can be selected accordingly.

The first pole plate 20 is a conductor corresponding to one pole plate among the pole plates arranged up and down in parallel in a general capacitance sensor. Preferably, a circular copper plate is used, and the first pole plate 20 is an input key 61. Stacked on the substrate 10 to be arranged in a corresponding number and position.

The size, number and arrangement of each of the first pole plates 20 may include the type of the portable electronic device 100 in which the input device 1 is used, the size of the space allowed for mounting the input device 1, the input device ( Various selections may be made according to the type of input operation required in 1), and the illustrated embodiment illustrates that 19 circular first electrode plates 20 are disposed.

The elastic layer 30 is laminated (coated) on the first electrode plates 20 in a constant thickness (d: distance). The elastic layer 30 exists between the two electrode plates 20 and 40 to act as a kind of dielectric, and the thickness d is elastically (resiliently) changed according to the pressure applied to the sensor unit 2. As described in more detail, the distance d between each of the first pole plates 20 and the second pole plate 40 is varied so that the capacitances of the sensing points S corresponding to the overlapping points are pressed. It acts to change with pressure.

As the elastic layer 30, for example, a TPE suitable for the present invention may be selected and used among well-known thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) such as polyolefins, PVCs, polystyrenes, polyesters, polyurethanes, and polyamides. have.

The second electrode plate 40 is a conductor plate (for example, a copper plate) like the first electrode plate 20, and is stacked (printed) on the elastic layer 30 in parallel with the first electrode plate 20, but the first electrode plate ( As shown in FIG. 20, a plurality of layers are not stacked in correspondence with the number and positions corresponding to the input keys 61, but are stacked in a single copper plate covering the entirety of the first electrode plate 20.

As the first electrode plates 20 and the second electrode plate 40 are stacked in such a manner that the elastic layer 30 is interposed therebetween, the second electrode plate 40 has a distance d corresponding to the thickness of the elastic layer 30. Are arranged in parallel with the first pole plates 20, and the overlapping points of both pole plates 20 and 40 are positions where both the first pole plate 20 and the second pole plate 40 are positioned. These overlapping points form a sensing point S that causes a change in capacitance according to the pressure in the sensor unit 2.

That is, when the user presses a specific position of the sensor unit 2 by hand, the second pole plate 40 and the elastic layer 30 are pressed and are elastic at the sensing points S located below the pressing position. As the layer 30 contracts, the distance d between the first electrode plate 20 and the second electrode plate 40 at the corresponding position is variable (reduced), and according to the change of the distance d, the corresponding sensing point S ) Changes in capacitance corresponding to the formula C = μA / d, where C is the capacitance, μ is the dielectric constant, A is the area, and d is the distance between the plates. It depends on the amount of pressure you press. After the pressing force is removed, the elastic layer 30 and the second electrode plate 40 are restored to their original positions by the elasticity of the elastic layer 30.

Conventional capacitive input devices can detect parasitic capacitance only by touching a conductor such as a hand, but the input device 1 according to the present invention can provide a non-conductor if it can apply a pressure that can change the distance d. It is also possible to use other non-conducting tools other than hands as it may be pressurized with.

The protective layer 50 is a layer for protecting the second electrode plate 40 and may be formed of, for example, polyester. The protective layer 50 may be formed as thin as possible as long as it can protect the second electrode plate 40.

The display sheet 60 is a sheet on which the input keys 61 corresponding to the input contents required for the operation of the portable electronic device 100 to which the input device 1 of the present invention is applied are printed. An example in which an input key 61 such as numbers 0-9, *, #, up, down, left and right movements, SAND, END, etc., which are widely used as input keys of a keypad of a mobile phone is displayed.

The input key 61 printed on the display sheet 60 may be variously determined according to the type of input content required for the portable electronic device 100 to which the input device 1 of the present invention is applied, and as described above. Each input key 61 is assigned a first pole plate 20.

The input contents corresponding to the respective input keys 61 and the first electrode plate 20 assigned thereto correspond to the circuit of the sensor unit 2 and the portable electronic device according to the use and function of the input device 1 of the present invention. Determined by the software loaded on the device 100).

While the sensor unit 2 has been described above, the protective layer 50 and the display sheet 60 have been described in a functionally separated configuration, but one of the protective layer 50 and the display sheet 60 is omitted so that the rest is omitted. It can also be configured to realize the function of the old one. The input device 1 of the present invention may also include a light emitting sheet (not shown) such as an EL sheet for illumination at night use.

The pole plates 20 and 40 constituting the sensor unit 2 are all electrically connected to the controller 3.

The controller 3 measures the capacitance at the sensing points S of the sensor unit 2 according to the command of the CPU 110 of the mobile phone 100, converts the measured capacitance into a voltage, and applies pressure thereto. An input signal corresponding to the position of the sensing point S and the magnitude of the pressure is generated and transmitted to the CPU 110 of the portable electronic device 100.

For example, if no pressure is applied to the sensor unit 2 while voltages are applied to the pole plates 20 and 40, there is no change in capacitance due to pressure. A signal corresponding to the capacitance value of a certain pattern determined in Fig. 2) is transmitted.

However, when pressure is applied to the sensor unit 2, the distance d between the pole plates 20 and 40 of the pressure applied part is varied and a change in capacitance occurs, and the magnitude of the change is a variable amount of distance d. (I.e., the magnitude of the pressure), and therefore, the largest change in capacitance occurs when the change in capacitance and the magnitude of the sensing points S corresponding to the position of the first electrode plate 20 are detected. The position of the sensing point S corresponding to the first pole plate 20 can be known and the relative magnitude of the applied pressure can be known.

The controller 3 may be configured as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

The change in capacitance generated at the sensing points S of the pole plates 20 and 40 of the sensor unit 2 is transmitted to the capacitance detecting unit 3A of the controller 3, and each sensing unit 3A detects each sensing. By measuring the capacitance values of the points S and converting them into voltage values, an analog signal is generated which knows the position of the pressure-sensing sensing point S and the magnitude of the applied pressure, which is A The digital signal is converted by the / D converter 3B and transmitted to the control unit 3C.

The controller 3C reads the position of the sensing point S and the magnitude of the change in capacitance from the signal of the A / D converter 3B to generate a corresponding input signal, and the generated input signal is a portable electronic device ( The CPU 110 is transmitted to the CPU 110 of the 100, and the CPU 110 performs an input operation corresponding to the corresponding input signal according to a program mounted in the portable electronic device 100. The command signal from the CPU 110 to the input device 1 is received through the control unit 3C and transmitted to the sensor unit 2 through the D / A converter 3D.

According to the input device 1 of the portable electronic device according to the present invention as described above, the input signal is generated according to the difference in the pressing force, not the input signal based on the simple contact / non-contact difference as in the conventional input device. Thus, only the input corresponding to the most strongly pressed input key can be executed, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of malfunction.

For example, when pressing the sensor unit 2, it is difficult to press the desired input key (e.g., the input key of number 1) and to apply some pressure to another adjacent input key (e.g., the input key of the number 2). In this case, the change in capacitance will occur not only at the position of the first electrode plate 20 corresponding to the input key of numeral 1 but also at the position of the second electrode plate 20 corresponding to the input key of numeral 2. The change in capacitance of the corresponding first pole plate 20 is relatively larger than the change in capacitance of the first pole plate 20 corresponding to number 2, and only the input of the number 1 input key is judged by the difference of the change in capacitance. Since the input process can be processed to be input, other input keys adjacent to the desired input key can also be significantly reduced in the possibility of malfunction.

In addition, since the input device 1 of the present invention detects the magnitude of the pressing pressure and generates an input signal, it is not necessary to mount the capacitive sensor and the dome switch as in the prior art, so that the input device of the present invention is applied. Miniaturization of portable electronic devices becomes easier.

In addition, it is very easy to design the input device 1 of the present invention so that a plurality of input keys 61 can cooperate to input a specific input content. For example, specific input contents may be associated with an input signal indicating that a change in capacitance is sequentially generated at a plurality of sensing points within a predetermined time.

As an input signal generated in response to the continuous change of capacitance at the group of sensing points as described above, for example, four input keys 61 corresponding to the numbers 2, 5, 8, and 0 may be selected as 2, 5, When pressing down in the order of 8, 0, the operation to move the position of the selection menu shown on the display to the downward direction is performed. On the contrary, when pressing up in the order of 0, 8, 5, 2, the position of the selection menu is It can be applied to inputting input contents for moving the selection menu up, down, left, and right, such as performing an operation for moving upward. At this time, the input menu to execute the desired selection menu among the moving selection menus moving upwards or downwards, for example, changes the capacitance of the corresponding input key further by pressing the key pressed more strongly when the cursor is located at the desired selection menu position. In this case, the change can be realized by generating an input signal instructing execution of the selection menu.

As described above, various applications of the input device 1 according to the present invention, including inputting a specific input content in cooperation with several input keys 61, are required for a function required as an input device of the portable electronic device 100. This can be achieved by designing a suitable circuit and software and mounting it on the portable electronic device 100 and the input device 1.

The input device of the portable electronic device according to the present invention described above does not generate an input signal by distinguishing between simple contact and non-contact with the pole plate, but changes in capacitance according to the magnitude of the pressure depending on the magnitude of the contact pressure. By allowing the input signal to be generated, various types of input operation can be realized without malfunction, and it is also expected to contribute to the miniaturization of portable electronic devices.

Claims (1)

A plurality of first electrode plates 20 and a plurality of first electrode plates 20 stacked on the substrate 10 at a corresponding number and positions of the input keys 61 on the substrate 10 and by the pressure The elastic layer 30 is elastically variable in thickness, and is laminated on the elastic layer 30 of the first electrode plate 20 at a distance (d) corresponding to the thickness of the elastic layer 30 A second electrode plate 40 disposed in a plate shape covering the whole; The overlapping points of the sensing points S are generated by changing the capacitance according to the change of the distance d due to the pressure at the upper and lower overlapping positions of the first electrode plates 20 and the second electrode plate 40. By measuring the capacitance of the sensing points (S) to generate an input signal from a change in capacitance that is different depending on the position of the sensing point (S) and the amount of pressure applied to the portable electronic device 100 Input device for a portable electronic device, characterized in that for transmitting to the CPU (110).

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