CN210324138U

CN210324138U - Electronic device

Info

Publication number: CN210324138U
Application number: CN201890000544.XU
Authority: CN
Inventors: 南一昭; 加纳英和
Original assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-10-02
Filing date: 2018-09-25
Publication date: 2020-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2028-09-25
Also published as: JPWO2019069729A1; JP7016876B2; WO2019069729A1

Abstract

The utility model provides an electronic equipment, it possesses: a collapsible housing (102); a pressing sensor (1); a state detection unit (21) that detects whether the housing (102) is in a folded state; and a processing unit (22) that processes, when the state detection unit (21) detects that the case (102) is in a non-folded state, a signal generated by the pressing sensor (1) as a first operation when the piezoelectric film (10) receives a pressing operation, and processes, when the state detection unit detects that the case (102) is in a folded state, a signal generated by the pressing sensor (1) as a second operation when the piezoelectric film (10) receives a pressing operation.

Description

Electronic device

Technical Field

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a foldable electronic device.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a foldable smart phone.

Patent document 1 specification of U.S. Pat. No. 9348362

In the terminal such as the smartphone described in patent document 1, downsizing, thinning, and enlargement of a display of the terminal itself are required. In this case, it is difficult to arrange a mechanical switch on the housing of the smartphone. Therefore, instead of disposing the mechanical switch, a method of operating on the touch panel of the display is often used.

Here, if all the mechanical switches are operated on the touch panel of the display, the terminal needs to be turned on and operated on the display every time the operation is performed. Therefore, it is difficult to perform an operation with one hand or the like, and further, since the display of the display is started every time the terminal is turned on, there is a fear of increasing power consumption.

The contents of the utility model

Therefore, an object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can be operated in a folded state and can suppress power consumption.

An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including a foldable housing, a push sensor, a state detection unit, and a processing unit. The pressure sensor includes a piezoelectric film, a first electrode disposed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode disposed on a second main surface of the piezoelectric film so as to face the first electrode. The state detection unit detects whether the housing is in a folded state. The processing unit processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a first operation when the state detection unit detects that the case is not folded and the piezoelectric film is pressed, and processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a second operation when the state detection unit detects that the case is folded and the piezoelectric film is pressed.

In this configuration, the state detection unit can detect whether or not the housing is folded. When the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation in a state where the case is not folded, the processing section processes a signal generated at the pressing sensor as a first operation. This enables the electronic apparatus to be operated with the case open. In contrast, when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation in a state where the case is folded, the processing unit processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a second operation. Thereby, the electronic apparatus can be operated from the outside without being opened in a state where the case is folded, and power consumption generated in a state where the case is opened can be suppressed. In addition, since the electronic apparatus can perform signal processing corresponding to the open/close state of the housing, it is possible to accept operations corresponding to each state.

The pressing sensor is disposed at least at a curved portion of the housing.

The pressing sensor is disposed inside the housing in a folded state.

The electronic device further includes a display unit disposed inside the housing in a folded state, and the pressing sensor is disposed to overlap the display unit.

The pressure sensor is transparent.

The press sensor detects a plurality of press patterns.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the operation can be performed in a folded state, and power consumption can be suppressed.

Drawings

Fig. 1(a) is a perspective view of a state in which the electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment is opened, and fig. 1(B) is a perspective view of a state in which the electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment is folded.

Fig. 2 is a conceptual sectional view for explaining an electronic device according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3(a) is an exploded perspective view and fig. 3(B) is a sectional view of a push sensor used in the electronic device according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the piezoelectric film according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5(a) to 5(C) are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining the use state of the electronic device according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6(a) and 6(B) are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining an electronic device according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view for explaining an electronic device according to a third embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1(a) is a perspective view of a state in which the electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment is opened, and fig. 1(B) is a perspective view of a state in which the electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment is folded. Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along line I-I shown in fig. 1 (a). The electronic devices shown in fig. 1(a) and 1(B) are merely examples, and are not limited thereto, and can be changed as appropriate according to specifications. In the drawings, wiring and the like are omitted for convenience of explanation.

As shown in fig. 1(a), the electronic apparatus 100 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 102 having an open upper surface. In fig. 1(a), the electronic apparatus 100 is slightly bent in the closing direction, but the electronic apparatus 100 may be used in a flat state or a state of being bent in the opposite direction.

The electronic device 100 includes a flat surface panel 103 arranged to seal an opening of an upper surface of the case 102. The surface panel 103 functions as an operation surface on which a user performs a touch operation using a finger, a pen, or the like. Hereinafter, the width direction (lateral direction) of the housing 102 is referred to as X direction, the length direction (longitudinal direction) is referred to as Y direction, and the thickness direction is referred to as Z direction.

The electronic apparatus 100 is entirely formed of a material having flexibility. As shown in fig. 1(B), in the first embodiment, the electronic apparatus 100 can be folded in a line by being bent in the X direction. That is, the electronic device 100 can be opened and closed or curled. In the folded state of the electronic apparatus 100, the back surface 105 is exposed to the outside.

As shown in fig. 2, the electronic apparatus 100 includes a display unit 104, a pressing sensor 1, a state detection unit 21, and a processing unit 22 inside a casing 102. The pressing sensor 1 and the display unit 104 are stacked in this order from the inside toward the outside of the housing 102. The display unit 104 is formed on the surface of the front panel 103 inside the housing 102. The pressing sensor 1 and the display unit 104 may be arranged in reverse. In this case, the pressure sensor 1 is formed of a member having translucency.

When a user performs a touch operation on the surface panel 103 using a finger, a pen, or the like, a pressing force is transmitted to the pressing sensor 1 via the surface panel 103 and the display unit 104. As described later in detail, the pressing sensor 1 outputs a potential corresponding to a pressing force generated by an operation received through the surface panel 103.

The state detection unit 21 detects whether or not the housing 102 is folded. The processing unit 22 processes the signal generated by the pressing sensor 1 according to the state detected by the state detecting unit 21.

Fig. 3(a) is an exploded perspective view and fig. 3(B) is a sectional view of a push sensor used in the electronic device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the piezoelectric film according to the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 3(a) and 3(B), the pressure sensor 1 includes a piezoelectric film 10, a first electrode 11, and a second electrode 12. In fig. 3(a) and 3(B), illustration of the piezoelectric film 10, the first electrode 11, and the second electrode 12 is omitted.

The piezoelectric film 10 has a first main surface 14 and a second main surface 15. The first electrode 11 is a flat film, and is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, similarly to the piezoelectric film 10. The first electrode 11 is provided on the first main surface 14 of the piezoelectric film 10. The second electrode 12 is in the form of a flat film and is provided on the second main surface 15 of the piezoelectric film 10. The number and shape of the piezoelectric film 10, the first electrode 11, and the second electrode 12 may be changed as appropriate according to the specification.

As shown in fig. 3(B), in the pressure sensor 1, at least one of the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 may completely overlap the piezoelectric film 10 in a plan view, or may be located inside the piezoelectric film 10 in the surface direction. This can suppress short-circuiting at the ends of the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the piezoelectric film 10. The piezoelectric film 10 may be a thin film formed of a chiral polymer. As the chiral polymer, in the first embodiment, polylactic acid (PLA), particularly L-type polylactic acid (PLLA), is used. The main chain of PLLA composed of a chiral polymer has a helical structure. PLLA has piezoelectricity when it is uniaxially stretched and molecules are oriented. Then, the flat surface of the piezoelectric film 10 is pressed, and a voltage is generated in the uniaxially stretched PLLA. At this time, the amount of voltage generated depends on the amount of displacement of the plate surface in the direction orthogonal to the plate surface in accordance with the amount of pressing.

In the first embodiment, the uniaxial stretching direction of the piezoelectric film 10(PLLA) is set to a direction forming an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the Y direction and the Z direction as indicated by an arrow 901 in fig. 4. The 45 degrees include, for example, angles of about 45 degrees ± 10 degrees. Thereby, a voltage is generated by pressing the piezoelectric film 10.

PLLA generates piezoelectricity by orientation treatment of molecules by elongation or the like, and therefore, it is not necessary to perform polarity adjustment treatment as in piezoelectric ceramics or other polymers such as PVDF. That is, the piezoelectricity of PLLA, which is not a ferroelectric, is not found by ion polarization as in a ferroelectric such as PVDF or PZT, but is a helix structure which is a characteristic structure derived from molecules. Therefore, the PLLA does not generate pyroelectricity due to another ferroelectric piezoelectric body. Since the pressing sensor 3 is not pyroelectric, it is possible to make the pressing sensor thin because it does not have an influence due to the temperature of the user's finger or frictional heat. Further, PVDF or the like has a variation in piezoelectric constant with the passage of time, and in some cases, the piezoelectric constant is significantly reduced, but the piezoelectric constant of PLLA is very stable with the passage of time. Therefore, the displacement caused by the pressing can be detected with high sensitivity without being affected by the surrounding environment.

The piezoelectric film 10 may be formed of a thin film made of an ion-polarized ferroelectric such as PVDF or PZT subjected to polarity adjustment treatment instead of PLLA.

As the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 formed on both principal surfaces of the piezoelectric film 10, metal-based electrodes such as aluminum and copper can be used. When the electrodes are required to have transparency, a material having high transparency, such as ITO or PEDOT, can be used for the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12. By providing the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12, the electric charge generated in the piezoelectric film 10 can be obtained as a voltage, and a pressing amount detection signal having a voltage value corresponding to the pressing amount can be output to the outside.

The state detection unit 21 detects whether the housing 102 is in a folded state. That is, the state detection unit 21 detects whether or not the piezoelectric film 10 provided in the pressure sensor 1 is in a folded state.

When the state detection unit 21 detects that the case 102 is not in the folded state, and the piezoelectric film 10 receives a pressing operation, the processing unit 22 processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor 1 as a first operation. On the other hand, when the state detection unit 21 detects that the case 102 is folded, and the piezoelectric film 10 receives a pressing operation, the processing unit 22 processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor 1 as a second operation. The state in which the housing 102 is folded and the processing performed by the processing section 22 will be described in detail below.

Fig. 5(a) to 5(C) are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining a use state of the electronic apparatus 100. Fig. 5(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the push sensor 1 in a state where the electronic apparatus 100 is not folded. Fig. 5(B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic apparatus 100 in a state where the electronic apparatus 100 is folded in half at a line II in fig. 5 (a). Fig. 5(C) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic apparatus 100 in a state where a part of the electronic apparatus 100 is folded at a line III in fig. 5 (a). In fig. 5(a) to 5(C), for convenience of explanation, only a part of the housing 102 and the push sensor 1 are shown, and the other structures are omitted.

As shown in fig. 5(a), the electronic apparatus 100 is in an unfolded state, that is, the electronic apparatus 100 is in an opened state, and for example, as shown in fig. 1(a), the surface panel 103 is in an exposed state to the outside. In a state where the electronic apparatus 100 is opened, almost no force is applied to the piezoelectric film 10 of the push sensor 1, and therefore there is no position where it is greatly expanded and contracted. In this state, the push sensor 1 performs a normal output regardless of the position of the push sensor 1 receiving the push operation. Thereby, the state detector 21 detects that the case 102 is in the opened state.

When the user touches the electronic apparatus 100 from the front panel 103 side of the electronic apparatus 100 in a state where the electronic apparatus 100 is not folded, as indicated by an arrow 501 in fig. 5(a), a pressing force is transmitted to the pressing sensor 1 via the front panel 103 and the display unit 104. The pressing force is applied to the pressing sensor 1 in the negative direction of the Z axis. The pressing sensor 1 outputs an electric charge corresponding to the received pressing force. The processing section 22 processes the signal generated at the press sensor 1 as a first operation. The first operation means, for example, processing as a signal input from the surface panel 103 side. In this case, the processing unit 22 outputs the signal generated by the pressure sensor 1 as it is without changing the signal. Thereby, the electronic apparatus 100 can be operated in a state where the case 102 is opened.

Next, as shown in fig. 5(B), a state in which the electronic apparatus 100 is folded in half at the line II of the electronic apparatus 100 will be described. In a state where the electronic apparatus 100 is folded in half, the case 102 is folded outside and the push sensor 1 is folded inside. The piezoelectric film 10 of the pressing sensor 1 is largely bent in the vicinity of the line II. In this state, the front panel 103 and the display unit 104 cannot be visually recognized from the outside.

In a state where the electronic apparatus 100 is folded in half, as indicated by an arrow 502 in fig. 5(B), when the bending portion of the piezoelectric film 10 receives a pressing operation, the pressing sensor 1 outputs an output different from a case where the piezoelectric film 10 is flat. Thereby, the state detection unit 21 detects that the housing 102 is in the folded state. Further, the periphery of the curved portion of the case 102 may be formed of a material having a certain degree of hardness. In this case, in a state where the electronic apparatus 100 is folded, the case 102 is bent and a force for deforming is applied to the inner side. Therefore, since the curved portion of the case 102 presses the piezoelectric film 10, the curved portion of the piezoelectric film 10 does not receive a pressing operation from the outside, and the state detection unit 21 can detect the state in which the case 102 is folded.

When the state detection section 21 detects a state in which the electronic apparatus 100 is folded in half, the processing section 22 processes a signal generated at the pressing sensor 1 as a second operation. In a state where the electronic apparatus 100 is folded in half, for example, as indicated by an arrow 503 in fig. 5(B), when the housing 102 receives a pressing operation, a pressing force is applied to the pressing sensor 1 in the negative direction of the Z axis via the housing 102. At this time, the processing unit 22 detects only the pressing force received by the pressing sensor 1 from the housing 102 side. That is, the second operation indicates, for example, processing a signal generated at the press sensor 1 as a signal input from the housing 102 side. In this case, the processing unit 22 inverts the positive and negative of the generated electric charge for the signal generated by the push sensor 1, for example, and outputs the inverted electric charge. Further, a signal generated when the pressing force is applied from the pressing sensor 1 side to the case 102 side by the pressing operation from the outside may be treated as zero. Thereby, the electronic apparatus 100 can be operated from the outside without opening the case 102 in a folded state. In this way, by changing the processing of the signal generated by the push sensor 1 in accordance with the open/close state of the housing 102, the electronic apparatus 100 can receive the operation corresponding to each state. In addition, power consumption for display of the display portion 104 generated in a state where the case 102 is opened can be suppressed.

Next, as shown in fig. 5(C), a state in which a part of the electronic apparatus 100 is folded at the line III will be described. In this state, the same explanation as in the state where the electronic apparatus 100 is folded in half is omitted. The piezoelectric film 10 of the pressing sensor 1 is largely bent in the vicinity of the line III. In this state, the front panel 103 and the display unit 104 are partially visible from the outside.

As shown in fig. 5(C), in a state where a part of the electronic apparatus 100 is folded at the line III, when the bending portion of the piezoelectric film 10 receives a pressing operation as shown by an arrow 504 in fig. 5(C), the pressing sensor 1 outputs an output different from a case where the piezoelectric film 10 is flat. Thereby, the state detection unit 21 detects the state in which the case 102 is folded. In the pressure sensor 1, the piezoelectric film 10, the first electrode 11, or the second electrode 12 may be disposed in a state of being divided into a plurality of portions along the Y-axis direction. In this case, since the output is detected for each piezoelectric film 10 at the folded position, the folded position can be detected.

When the state detection section 21 detects the state in which the electronic apparatus 100 is folded, the processing section 22 processes the signal generated at the pressing sensor 1 as a second operation. In a state where a part of the electronic apparatus 100 is folded, for example, as indicated by an arrow 505 in fig. 5(C), when the housing 102 receives a pressing operation, a pressing force is applied to the pressing sensor 1 in the negative direction of the Z axis via the housing 102. At this time, the processing unit 22 detects only the pressing force received by the pressing sensor 1 from the housing 102 side. This enables the electronic apparatus 100 to be operated with a part of the housing 102 folded. In this case, the electronic apparatus 100 can be operated by pressing the housing 102 while visually checking a part of the display portion 104 of the housing 102. The state in which a part of the electronic apparatus 100 is folded is not limited to this, and may be changed depending on the use state such as a case where the ratio of the display portion 104 that can be visually recognized from the outside is relatively wide or narrow. This can cope with a case where the operation is complicated and a wide operation range is required, a case where the operation is simple and the operation is sufficient in a relatively narrow operation range, or the like.

Fig. 6(a) and 6(B) are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining an electronic device according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same configuration as that of the electronic apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will not be described.

As shown in fig. 6(a) and 6(B), the electronic apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment is bent at the line II. In the electronic apparatus 200, the pressing sensor 1 is disposed in at least a bent portion of the housing 102. The electronic device 200 has an organic EL display having a press detection function as the display unit 104.

As shown in fig. 6(a), in a state where the case 102 is opened, the state detection portion 21 detects that the case 102 is in an opened state. In this case, the processing unit 22 outputs the pressing force applied to the organic EL display as indicated by an arrow 601 in fig. 6(a) as it is. That is, the processing section 22 processes the signal generated by the display section 104 as a first operation.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 6(B), when the housing 102 is pressed in a state where the housing 102 is folded, the state detector 21 detects the state where the housing 102 is folded, as shown by an arrow 602 in fig. 6 (B). In this case, the processing section 22 processes the pressing force applied to the organic EL display without keeping the same output as the second operation. For example, as shown by an arrow 603 in fig. 6(B), when the pressing operation is received by the housing 102, the processing unit 22 processes the pressing force applied to the organic EL display as the pressing force with which the housing 102 is operated and outputs the pressing force. In this way, by changing the processing of applying the pressing force to the organic EL display in accordance with the open/close state of the housing 102, the electronic apparatus 200 can receive the operation corresponding to each state.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view for explaining an electronic device according to a third embodiment. The electronic apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment except that it includes the sub-display 71. Therefore, in the third embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and will be omitted.

As shown in fig. 7, the electronic apparatus 300 further includes a sub-display 71 on the rear surface 105. When the case 102 receives a pressing operation in a state where the electronic apparatus 300 is folded, the state detection unit 21 detects a state where the case 102 is folded. In this case, the electronic apparatus 300 displays the sub-display 71. Options such as operation keys displayed on the sub-display 71 can be operated. In this case, the display portion 104 side inside the housing 102 can suppress power consumption by turning off the display. In this way, by processing the signals so as to detect the pressing force given to each display in accordance with the open/close state of the housing 102, the electronic apparatus 300 can accept the operation corresponding to each state.

In the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment, the pressing sensor may detect a plurality of pressing patterns in the folded state. For example, the electronic device may be operated in accordance with a change in operation, such as playing a sound when the push sensor detects two consecutive push operations, stopping the sound when three consecutive push operations are detected, or increasing the volume of the sound played when one continuous long-press operation is detected. In addition, when the operation is performed in the push mode, it is not necessary to provide or display a specific button or the like on the electronic apparatus.

In the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment, the warning may be issued when the pressing sensor receives a pressing operation with a force more than necessary. For example, a case where an alarm is sounded or an electronic device is vibrated is cited. This prevents the electronic device from being subjected to a force more than necessary and from malfunctioning.

In the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment, the number of the pressing sensors is one, but a plurality of the pressing sensors may be provided. In this case, the pressing sensors are arranged in a matrix or parallel to the operation surface of the electronic device, whereby a signal corresponding to a place where the pressing operation is received can be processed. For example, the playback volume of the sound can be changed or the playback speed of the sound can be changed according to the direction.

Finally, the above description of the embodiments is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the protection scope of the present invention, and is not the above-described embodiment. The scope of the present invention includes the scope equivalent to the scope of the present invention.

Description of reference numerals

1 … pressure sensor

10 … piezoelectric film

11 … first electrode

12 … second electrode

14 … first major face

15 … second main surface

21 … state detection part

22 … processing part

100. 200, 300 … electronic equipment

102 … housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device is provided with:

a collapsible housing;

a pressure sensor including a piezoelectric film, a first electrode disposed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode disposed on a second main surface of the piezoelectric film so as to face the first electrode;

a state detection unit that detects whether the housing is in a folded state; and

and a processing unit configured to process a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a first operation when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation in a case where the state detection unit detects that the case is not folded, and process a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a second operation when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation in a case where the state detection unit detects that the case is folded.

2. The electronic device of claim 1,

the pressing sensor is disposed at least at a curved portion of the housing.

3. The electronic device of claim 1,

the pressing sensor is disposed inside the housing in a folded state.

4. The electronic device of claim 2,

the pressing sensor is disposed inside the housing in a folded state.

5. The electronic device of claim 3,

the electronic device further includes a display unit disposed inside the housing in a folded state,

the pressing sensor is disposed to overlap the display unit.

6. The electronic device of claim 4,

the pressing sensor is disposed to overlap the display unit.

7. The electronic device of any of claims 1-6,

the pressure sensor is transparent.

8. The electronic device of any of claims 1-6,

the press sensor detects a plurality of press patterns.

9. The electronic device of claim 7,

the press sensor detects a plurality of press patterns.