JP2000207121A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device with more satisfactory in precision for by prolonging the transmission route of vibrations due to keying to a base part and reducing the vibration at the base part. SOLUTION: In this input device, a flexible substrate 8 is provided with an annular base part 8b and a drawing part 8d connected to the base part 8b, the base part 8b is provided with plural distortion detecting elements 9a-9d, the drawing part 8d is provided with a drawing conductor 10 from the distortion detecting elements 9a-9d, the drawing part 8d is coupled via a bent part 8c to the base part 8b, and the drawing part 8d is draw from the base part 8b via the bent part 8c. Thus, the vibrations caused by keying are absorbed by the bent part 8c, the vibrations at the base part 8b can be reduced, and the input device satisfactory in precision can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device using a distortion detecting element used for a computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 3, in an input device using a conventional strain detecting element, an operation member 51 made of a synthetic resin having flexibility has a prismatic operation portion 51a and an operation portion 5a.
Three plate-like beam portions 51b, 51c, and 51d radially extending from the lower portion of 1a at an angle of 90 degrees to each other, and three plate-like beam portions 51b, 51c, and 5 below the operation portion 51a.
1d. The operating member 51 includes a beam 51b, 51c, and 51d. The entire lower surface of the beam abuts on the frame 50 of a keyboard used in a computer. The distal ends of the parts 51b, 51c, and 51d are attached by being pressed by the frame body 50. The operation member 51 is configured such that the operation section 51a is connected to X1, X2
The beams 51b, 51c and 51d are bent by tilting in the directions and the Y1 and Y2 directions, respectively.
The amount of deflection increases or decreases according to the amount of tilt of the operation unit 51a.

A flexible substrate 52 made of a polyester material has a base 52a and a lead-out portion 52b connected to the base 52a, and one surface of the base 52a has two strain detecting elements 53 made of a resistor. , 54 are formed, and lead wires 55, 56 which are connected to the strain detecting elements 53, 54 and are formed by printing silver-based conductive ink are provided on the lead-out portion 52b. The base 52a of such a flexible board 52 is directly attached to the upper surface of the beam portions 51b and 51c arranged at an angle of 90 degrees on the side where the strain detecting elements 53 and 54 are not formed by an adhesive. And one of the strain detecting elements 53 is provided on the beam 51b.
Further, the other strain detecting element 54 is in a state of being mounted on the beam portion 51c. The drawer 52
“b” protrudes straight outward from the upper end of the beam 51b, and the end of the drawer 52b is connected to the keyboard.

The operation of the input device is performed by tilting the operation unit 51a of the operation member 51 in the X1 direction.
1b, the strain detecting element 53 disposed on the beam portion 51b also expands to increase the resistance value, and when the operation portion 51a is tilted in the X2 direction, the beam portion 51 is bent.
b The upper surface bends in the shrinking direction, and the strain detecting element 53 arranged on the beam plate 51b also shrinks to reduce the resistance value. When the operation unit 51a is tilted in the Y1 direction, the resistance value of the strain detection element 54 increases according to the same principle as described above.
When tilted in the Y2 direction, the resistance value of the strain detection element 54 decreases. Then, the change in the resistance value is detected as a change in the voltage value, and the change in the voltage value is read by the computer,
The cursor is controlled so that the movement of X1, X2, or Y1, Y2 of the operation unit 51a is the up, down, left, or right movement of the cursor.

When a key on the keyboard is operated, that is, when the key is hit, the vibration caused by the hit is transmitted to the drawer 52b connected to the keyboard. Therefore, the vibration is transmitted through the drawer 52b to the distortion detecting element 53. Is transmitted straight to the optical axis and greatly affects the distortion detecting element 53, and the distortion detecting element 53 fluctuates greatly.

[0006]

The conventional input device has a configuration in which the drawer 52b projects straight outward from the upper end of the beam 51b, and the end of the drawer 52b is connected to the keyboard. Therefore, when the user strikes the key, the vibration caused by the strike is generated by the drawer 52b connected to the keyboard.
Therefore, there is a problem that the vibration is transmitted straight to the distortion detecting element 53 via the extraction portion 52b, greatly affects the distortion detecting element 53, and the distortion detecting element 53 largely fluctuates.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flexible substrate having an annular base and a lead-out portion connected to the base. Along with providing the strain detection elements, the lead portion is provided with a lead conductor from the strain detection element,
The drawer is connected to the base via a bent portion forming a part of the drawer, and the drawer is drawn out of the base via the bent portion. As a second solution, the bent portion is connected at a position located between the base and the strain detecting element. Further, as a third solution means, an operation part located at a central part, a beam part radially extending from a lower part of the operation part,
An operating member having a connecting portion connecting between the adjacent beam portions, and an annular base provided with a plurality of strain detecting elements, and a flexible substrate having a conductor drawn out from the strain detecting element, The beam portion is disposed at an angle of 90 degrees, and in a state where the strain detection element is located on the beam portion, the base portion of the flexible substrate is attached to the beam portion, and the pull-out portion is The structure was derived from above the connecting part. Further, as a fourth solution, a part of the drawer derived from the connection is suspended in the vicinity of the connection. Further, as a fifth solution means, there is provided a mounting member for mounting the operation member,
Further, the drawer is coupled to the base via a bent portion forming a part of the drawer, and a part of the drawer is suspended in a state where a part of the bent portion is suspended. It was configured to be supported by an attachment member.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The input device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which the input device of the present invention is mounted on a mounting plate, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the input device. Next, the input device of the present invention using the distortion detecting element will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The mounting plate 1 which is made of a relatively thick metal plate and constitutes a keyboard frame or the like, A plurality of cut and raised bendable tongue pieces 1a are provided. A flexible operating member 2 made of a synthetic resin or a molded product of a synthetic resin containing glass fibers (modified polyphenylene ether or the like) is connected to a prism-shaped operating portion 3 and a lower portion of the operating portion 3. And extend radially from the bottom with 90
A plurality of beams 4a, 4b, 4 extending in a cross shape at an angle of degrees
c, 4d, four connecting portions 5 connected to the other ends adjacent to the beam portions 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and the adjacent beam portions 4a provided at the corners of the operation portion 3. 4b, 4
c, 4d, and the beam portion 4
a, 4b, 4c, 4d, four triangular holes 6 separating them
And

A recess 7 is provided below the beams 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d so that when the operation member 2 is mounted, the beams 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d float above the mounting surface. At the same time, the outer shape of the beam portions 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and the connecting portion 5 is octagonal. Operation unit 3
Are arrows X1, X2 and Y1, Y as shown in FIG.
It can be tilted in two directions, and based on this
a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are bent so that the upper surface thereof expands and contracts, and the beam portions 4a, 4b, 4d
Due to the presence of the holes 6 provided between c and 4d, when the operation unit 3 is tilted, the adjacent beam portions can bend without being affected by each other.

A flexible substrate 8 made of a synthetic resin has an octagonal annular base 8b having a square hole 8a in the center, and a rectangular bent portion 8c joined to the base 8b.
And a drawer 8d having On the upper surface of the base 8b, strain detecting elements 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d made of resistors and the like are formed at the positions of the crosses.
b and the upper surface of the drawer 8d, the respective strain detecting elements 9a, 9
b, 9c, 9d and connected to the strain detecting elements 9a, 9
The lead conductor 10 from b, 9c, 9d is formed.
The bent portion 8c of the drawing portion 8d is
a and 9c, is connected to the base 8b and
Are drawn out of the base 8b via the bent portion 8c. In the above embodiment, four distortion detecting elements 9a,
Although the description has been given of the case using the elements 9b, 9c and 9d, the element using two strain detecting elements 9a and 9c may be used. The entire upper surface of the base 8b and a part of the upper surface of the drawer 8d are
A resist 11 (hatched portion) made of an insulating material is provided to cover the strain detecting elements 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and a part of the lead conductor 10.

A flat mounting member 1 made of a metal plate.
Reference numeral 2 denotes an octagonal receiving portion 12a provided at the center, an arm portion 12b extending in three directions from the receiving portion 12a, and a receiving portion 1
4a, and four protrusions 12c provided on the side edge of 2a. Then, the operating member 2 is placed on the receiving portion 12a, the protruding piece 12c is bent to the connecting portion 5, and the operating member 2 is mounted on the mounting member 12, and when the operating member 2 is mounted, Depending on the existence, the beam parts 4a, 4b, 4
c and 4d have a gap between them and the receiving portion 12a. In addition, the operation member 3 attached to the attachment member 12 has the operation part 3 penetrated through the hole 8a of the flexible substrate 8, and the lower surface of the base part 8b is attached on the beam parts 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d with an adhesive. In addition, the flexible substrate 8 is attached.

Then, the flexible substrate 8 is connected to the operating member 2.
When attached to the, the strain detection elements 9a, 9b, 9c,
9d is positioned on the beam portions 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, respectively, and the bent portion 8c is connected to the beam portions 4a and 4d.
c, the pull-out portion 8d connected to the bent portion 8c is attached to the attachment member in a state in which the bent portion 8c protrudes outward from the connecting portion 5 and the bent portion 8c is floating in the air, that is, in a suspended state. 12 are placed on the arms 12b. Then, in the input device configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the mounting member 12 is placed on the mounting plate 1 of the keyboard, and the tongue piece 1 a is bent over the arm 12 b of the mounting member 12, The tongue 1a is attached to the mounting plate 1, and the end of the drawer 8d is connected to the keyboard.

When the operation unit 3 is tilted in the X1 direction, the upper surface of the beam 4a bends in the extending direction and the upper surface of the beam 4b bends in the contracting direction. While the resistance value of the strain detecting element 9a on the upper surface of the beam portion 4a increases, the resistance value of the strain detecting element 9b on the upper surface of the beam portion 4b decreases, and when the operating portion 3 is further tilted in the X2 direction, the beam portion 4
a, the upper surface of the beam 4b bends in the direction in which it expands, and the upper surface of the beam 4b bends in the direction of extension.
On the other hand, the resistance value of the strain detecting element 9b on the upper surface of the beam portion 4b increases, and a voltage difference is generated between the strain detecting elements 9a and 9b. To move.

When the operation unit 3 is tilted in the Y1 direction, the upper surface of the beam 4c bends in the extending direction and the upper surface of the beam 4d bends in the contracting direction. While the resistance of 9c increases, the resistance of the strain detecting element 9d on the upper surface of the beam 4d decreases, and when the operation unit 3 is further tilted in the Y2 direction, the upper surface of the beam 4c bends in the contracting direction. ,
Since the upper surface of the beam 4d bends in the extending direction, the resistance value of the strain detecting element 9c on the upper surface of the beam 4c decreases, but the beam 4
The resistance value of the strain detecting element 9d on the upper surface of d increases, and this causes a voltage difference between the strain detecting elements 9c and 9d, so that the cursor moves in the Y-axis direction.

In this way, the input device is operated and the keyboard is operated by operating the key. When the key is hit, the vibration caused by the hit is applied to the flexible board connected to the keyboard. 8 to the drawer 8d. However, the drawn portion 8d is not
Is connected to the base 8b through
The vibration is absorbed by the bent portion 8c, and the vibration at the base 8b is extremely reduced. Further, the drawer 8d is connected to the base 8b between the strain detecting elements 9a and 9c, and the drawer 8d is led out of the connecting portion 5, and furthermore, the drawer 8d is suspended so that the key can be further reduced. Vibration transmission to the base 8b due to beating can be reduced.

[0016]

According to the input device of the present invention, the flexible substrate 8 has an annular base 8b and a drawer 8d connected to the base 8b. The base 8b has a plurality of strain detecting elements 9a to 9d. And a lead 8d is provided with a lead conductor 10 from each of the strain detecting elements 9a to 9d. The lead 8d is connected to the base 8b via the bent portion 8c, and the lead 8d is connected to the bent portion 8c. , The vibration caused by hitting of the key is absorbed by the bent portion 8c, the vibration at the base 8b can be reduced, and a highly accurate input device can be provided. In addition, the bent portion 8c is provided at the base 8 located between the strain detecting elements 9a and 9c.
Since the connection is made at the point b, the transmission path of the vibration due to the hit of the key to the base portion 8b can be lengthened, and the vibration at the base portion can be further reduced, and a more accurate input device can be provided.

An operating member 2 having an operating portion 3 located at a central portion, beams 4a to 4d extending radially from a lower portion of the operating portion 3, and a connecting portion 5 connecting adjacent beams.
A flexible substrate 8 having an annular base 8b provided with a plurality of strain detecting elements 9a to 9d and a conductor 10 extending from the strain detecting elements 9a to 9d;
4d are disposed at an angle of 90 degrees, and the beam portions 4a to
In a state where the strain detecting elements 9a to 9d are located on the 4d, the base 8b of the flexible substrate 8 is attached to the beams 4a to 4d, and the drawer 8d is led out from above the connecting portion 5, so that the strain detecting elements 9a to 9d Can be made longer than before, the impact on the distortion detecting elements 9a to 9d due to the hit of the key can be reduced, and an accurate input device can be provided. In addition, since a part of the drawer 8d led out from the connecting part 5 is suspended in the vicinity of the connecting part 5, vibrations caused by hitting the key can be absorbed in the suspended part, and a more accurate input device can be obtained. Can be provided. Further, it has an attachment member 12 for attaching the operation member 2,
d is connected to the base 8b via the bent portion 8c, and a part of the drawing portion 8d is supported by the mounting member 12 while a part of the bent portion 8c is suspended. The portion 8c can absorb the vibration caused by the key strike, and can provide a more accurate input device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state where an input device of the present invention is mounted on a mounting plate.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mounting plate 1a Tongue piece 2 Operation member 3 Operation part 4a Beam part 4b Beam part 4c Beam part 4d Beam part 5 Connection part 6 Hole 7 Concave part 8 Flexible board 8a Hole 8b Base 8c Bend part 8d Pull-out part 9a Strain detecting element 9b Strain detecting element 9c Strain detecting element 9d Strain detecting element 10 Lead-out conductor 11 Resist 12 Mounting member 12a Receiving part 12b Arm part 12c Protrusion piece

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A flexible substrate having an annular base and a drawer connected to the base, wherein the base has:
Along with providing a plurality of strain detecting elements, the lead-out section is provided with a lead-out conductor from the strain detecting element, and the lead-out section is provided via a bent portion forming a part of the lead-out section. An input device coupled to a base, wherein the drawer is drawn out of the base through the bent portion. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion is coupled at a position located between the base and the strain detecting element. 3. An operation member having an operation portion located at a central portion, a beam portion radially extending from a lower portion of the operation portion, and a connection portion connecting between the adjacent beam portions, and a plurality of strains. An annular base provided with a detection element, and a flexible substrate having a lead conductor from the strain detection element,
The beam portion is disposed at an angle of 90 degrees, and in a state where the strain detection element is located on the beam portion, the base portion of the flexible substrate is attached to the beam portion, and the pull-out portion is An input device derived from a connection portion. 4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein a part of the lead-out portion derived from the connection portion is suspended in the vicinity of the connection portion. 5. A drawing device, comprising: a mounting member for mounting the operation member, wherein the drawing portion is coupled to the base via a bent portion forming a part of the drawing portion. 5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein a part of the drawer is supported by the mounting member while the part is suspended in the air.