JP2000284897A - Device for activating light scanning touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate wasteful power consumption and to extend a life by operating a light emitting element and a scan mirror by an operation-detecting signal obtained by detecting a posture deviation due to a pressure applied with the fingers of an operator or a pen so as to activate a circuit. SOLUTION: An operator depresses a protecting panel with a finger or a pen. When the protecting panel is supported at supporting points in both of the ends, the protecting panel is deformed to operate a deviation detecting sensor 85 to output a signal. When the protection panel is supported at a supporting point in one end and a spring at the other end, the protecting panel is tilted to operate the sensor 85 to output a signal. When the protecting panel is supported by springs at both of the ends, the protecting panel moves up and down to operate the sensor 85 to output a signal. When a detecting signal is outputted to a touch panel MPU 70 from the sensor 85, the operation control means 88 of light scanning units 11a and 11b is turned on by a control signal from the MPU 70 to supply power to a light emitting driver 50 and a motor driver 51 from a power source terminal 89.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to optical scanning of a retroreflector with light output from a light emitting section by rotation of a scan mirror, and light reflected by the retroreflector is received via reflection of the scan mirror. The present invention relates to an optical scanning type touch panel in which light is received by a unit and a power supply is turned on when an operation surface is pressed to activate a circuit for coordinate detection when the operation surface is pressed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical scanning type touch panel is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a protective glass and a rectangular substrate 10 having an optical filter formed on the lower surface thereof are provided, and optical scanning units 11a and 11b are arranged so as to face both corners of one side surface. The optical scanning unit 1
An elongated frame 12 is fixed to three sides except for the mounting side of 1a and 11b, and a retroreflector 13 is attached to the inner surface of the frame 12. The retroreflector 13 is formed in a tape shape, for example, and is adhered to the inner surface of the frame 12.

The optical scanning unit 11a (and the optical scanning unit 11b) is, as shown in FIG.
The fixing portion (not shown) is fixed to the substrate 10, and the unit main body 14 is mounted on the fixing portion and is attached so that the angle can be adjusted. A light emitting element (for example, a laser diode) 16 such as a semiconductor laser device and a light receiving element 17 are housed in the unit main body 14, and an upper surface thereof is provided.
Laser light 18 as scanning light output from light emitting element 16
A refracting prism 19 for refracting light (hereinafter simply referred to as light 18), a prism 21 having a half mirror 20 for transmitting the refracted light 18, and a scan mirror 22 are provided. , And rotatably provided by a pulse motor 23.

The light 18 output from the light emitting element 16 is
Is refracted by the refraction prism 19, passes through the half mirror 20 and the prism 21, is reflected by the scan mirror 22, and irradiates the retroreflector 13. In this retroreflector 13,
The reflected light is reflected by the scan mirror 22 on the substantially same optical path as the incident light, is reflected and refracted by the half mirror 20 of the prism 21, and is received by the light receiving element 17. The light 18 is scanned by the angle θ (for example, about 90 °) by the rotation of the scan mirror 22 by the pulse motor 23. If there is an object (for example, a finger or a pen) 24 in this optical scanning range, the light 18 is blocked by the object 24, and the angle θ of the object 24 is detected based on the received light energy of the light receiving element 17. You.

[0005] In FIG. 7, an optical scanning unit 11a, 1
Assuming that the angles of the object 24 detected in the respective scans 1b are θ1 and θ2, the coordinates (Px, Py) of the position P on the coordinate plane (substrate 10) specified by the object 24 are based on the principle of triangulation. Required by Assuming that the length from one optical scanning unit 11a to the other optical scanning unit 11b on the substrate 10 is L, Py = Px · tan θ1 (1) Py = (L−Px) · tan θ2 (2) Px = {tan θ2 / (tan θ1 + tan θ2)} · L (3) Py = {tan θ1 · tan θ2 / (tan θ1 + tan θ2)} · L (4) based on the equations (1) and (2). Is required.

[0006]

In the above configuration, conventionally, the light-emitting driver 50 of the light-emitting element 16 and the motor driver 51 of the pulse motor 23 for the scan mirror 22 require the operator to operate the touch panel for a long time. Because it is always turned on even if you do not operate it,
In addition to wasteful power consumption, there is a problem that the light emitting element 16 is deteriorated and the life of the circuit of the light emitting driver 50 and the motor driver 51 is shortened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which activates a circuit when an operator's finger or pen touches a touch panel to eliminate unnecessary power consumption and extend the life. is there.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the retroreflector 13 on the operation surface is optically scanned by the light 18 output from the light emitting section 16 by the rotation of the scan mirror 22, and reflected by the retroreflector 13. The light 18 is received by the light receiving unit 17 via the reflection of the scan mirror 22, and the coordinates of the operation surface are detected. The light scanning type touch panel is provided on the operation surface, and when the operation surface is pressed. And an operation control means 88 for operating the light emitting element 16 and the scan mirror 22 controlled by an operation detection signal of the deviation detection sensor 85. An activation device for an optical scanning type touch panel, characterized in that:

To detect the displacement, the protection plate 10 protecting the operation surface is supported by at least two fulcrums 81, and a displacement detection sensor 85 is provided at the end of the protection plate 10 so that the operation plate is pressed when the operation is pressed. Of detecting the deflection of the protection plate 10 by the deflection detection sensor 85, and using one end of the protection plate 10 protecting the operation surface as a fulcrum 8.
1 and the other end is supported by a spring 83.
A method for detecting the inclination of the protection plate 10 when the operation is pressed by the deviation detection sensor 85, and a method of detecting the inclination of the protection plate 10 when the operation is pressed by using at least two springs 83 for protecting the operation surface. There is a method in which the displacement detection sensor 85 is provided at the end of the protection plate 10 and the displacement detection sensor 85 detects the vertical movement of the protection plate 10 when the operation is pressed.

In such a configuration, the operator presses the protection plate 10 with a finger or a pen. Protective plate 10 is fulcrum 8 at both ends
When the protection plate 10 is supported, the deflection occurs in the protection plate 10 and the displacement detection sensor 85 operates to output a signal. When the protection plate 10 is supported by the fulcrum 81 at one end and the spring 83 at the other end, the protection plate 10 is tilted, the displacement detection sensor 85 operates, and a signal is output. When the protection plate 10 is supported by the springs 83 at both ends, the protection plate 10 moves up and down, the displacement detection sensor 85 operates, and a signal is output.

When a detection signal is output from the displacement detection sensor 85 to the touch panel MPU 70, the touch panel MPU 7
The operation control means 88 of the optical scanning units 11a and 11b is turned on by a control signal from 0, and power is supplied from the power supply terminal 89 to the light emitting driver 50 and the motor driver 51 to start up.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the present invention, when an operator presses the protection plate 10 with a finger or a pen, the deflection, inclination, vertical movement and the like of the protection plate 10 are detected by a deflection detection sensor 85. The light emitting driver 50 of the light emitting element 16 is
Power is supplied to the motor driver 51 of the pulse motor 23 for the scan mirror 22 to activate a circuit for coordinate detection. For detecting the displacement, a method of operating the displacement detection sensor 85 by bending of the protection plate 10 due to the pressing of the operator, a method of operating the displacement detection sensor 85 by tilting the protection plate 10 by the pressing of the operator, There is a method of operating the displacement detection sensor 85 by the up and down movement of the protection plate 10 due to the pressing. Instead of immediately starting the circuit based on the pressure or other detection signal from the displacement detection sensor 85, it detects whether the rotation of the pulse motor 23 is stable and then outputs the coordinate detection data of the touch panel MPU 70 to the display system MPU 90. By doing so, a more stable operation can be obtained. Further, when the operator starts the operation, the clock means is driven, the operation is constantly performed during the operation, and the circuit is stopped when the inoperative time reaches a certain time or more.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The optical scanning units 11a and 11b and their driving circuits will be described with reference to FIG. The optical scanning units 11a and 11b are connected to a touch panel MPU 70 together with a displacement detection sensor 85 and a clock unit 87 to be described later.
U70 is further connected to a display device 72 via a display system MPU90. The clock means 87 is activated when the operator starts the operation, is always activated during the operation, and outputs a signal for stopping the circuit when the inoperative time after stopping the operation reaches a certain time or more. Is what you do.

Since the optical scanning units 11a and 11b have the same configuration, only the optical scanning unit 11a will be described in detail. The light emitting element 16 includes a light emitting driver 50,
It is coupled to a power supply terminal 89 via an operation control means 88 comprising a power switch and the like. The scan mirror 22 is
The pulse motor 23 is coupled to the pulse motor 23.
Is coupled to a power supply terminal 89 via a motor driver 51 and an operation control means 88, and is coupled to the touch panel MPU 70 via a rotation speed detector 91 for detecting whether the rotation of the pulse motor 23 is stable. I have.

The light-receiving element 17 has a current / voltage conversion circuit 5 for converting a current corresponding to the received light energy into a voltage.
2. An A / D (analog / digital) conversion circuit 53 and a primary reflected light separation circuit 54 are sequentially coupled, and the primary reflected light separation circuit 54 A signal corresponding to the primary reflected light (the maximum received light energy) of the scan mirror 22 is separated to output an optical scanning start pulse. 55 is a measurement oscillator for outputting a measurement clock, and 56 is a counter. This counter 5
6 counts the measurement clock of the measurement oscillator 55 in one cycle of the optical scanning start pulse obtained by the primary reflected light separation circuit 54.

The touch panel MPU (microprocessor unit) includes a ROM (read only memory),
An AM (random access memory), a counter and a register are provided, and the scanning angle θ1 of the object 24 is calculated based on the object detection signal of the count signal of the measurement counter 56 of the one optical scanning unit 11a. The touch panel MPU 70 calculates the scanning angle θ2 of the object 24 based on the count signal of the counter 56 based on the received light energy of the light receiving element 17 of the other optical scanning unit 11b. Further, the touch panel MPU 70 outputs a signal for opening and closing the operation control unit 88 based on the outputs of the displacement detection sensor 85 and the clock unit 87. The display system MPU 90 connected to the MPU 70 calculates the angle θ
The coordinate plane (substrate 10) indicated by the object 24 is calculated by applying 1, θ2 to the equations (3) and (4).
The coordinates (Px, Py) of the upper position P are obtained, and a corresponding signal (for example, a coordinate display signal) is output to the display device 72.

When the operator presses the protection plate 10 with a finger or a pen, a specific configuration for detecting the deflection, inclination, vertical movement, etc. of the protection plate 10 with the displacement detection sensor 85 is shown in FIGS. 3 and FIG. FIG. 2 is an example showing a method of operating the displacement detection sensor 85 by bending of the protection plate 10 due to an operator's pressing. In FIG. 2, a rectangular protective plate 10 as an operation surface in which a filter is attached to a lower surface of a protective glass is provided with a gap on the upper surface of a display screen unit 38 such as a PDP (plasma display panel). . In the present invention, the fulcrum 81 is interposed near the left and right edges so that when the operator presses the protection plate 10 in the direction of the arrow from above, the bending as indicated by the chain line occurs.
Further, a displacement detection sensor 85 is provided downward on the outer edge 32 of the front vessel 31 surrounding the peripheral portion of the protection plate 10, and its stylus 86 faces the upper surface of the end of the protection plate 10. Have been. The protective plate 10 includes:
As shown in FIG. 5, the optical scanning units 11a and 11b are arranged so as to face both corners of one side surface of the substrate.
0, an elongated frame 12 is fixed to three sides of the optical scanning units 11a and 11b except for the side on which the optical scanning units 11a and 11b are mounted.
Is attached.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a method for operating the deviation detection sensor 85 by tilting the protection plate 10 due to an operator's pressing. In FIG. 3, a fulcrum 81 is interposed near one edge of the lower surface of the protection plate 10 and a spring 83 is interposed near the other edge. With the fulcrum 81 as a fulcrum, the spring 83 side descends so that the protection plate 10 is inclined, and furthermore, the outer edge 32 of the front vessel 31 surrounding the periphery of the protection plate 10 has a downward direction. Deflection detection sensor 8
The stylus 86 faces the upper surface of the end of the protective plate 10.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a method for operating the displacement detection sensor 85 by the vertical movement of the protection plate 10 due to the pressing of the operator. In FIG. 4, springs 83 are interposed near both ends of the lower surface of the protection plate 10, respectively. When the operator presses the protection plate 10 from above in the direction of the arrow, the protection plate 10 is opposed to the spring 83 as shown by a chain line. So as to descend, and furthermore, protective plate 1
On the outer edge 32 of the front vessel 31 surrounding the periphery of the zero, a deviation detection sensor 85 is provided downward, and its stylus 86 faces the upper surface of the end of the protective plate 10.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. A. An operation when detecting that the operator presses the protection plate 10 with a finger or a pen and activating a circuit for coordinate detection will be described. The operator presses the protection plate 10 with a finger or a pen. FIG.
In the example shown in (1), since the protection plate 10 is supported by the fulcrums 81 at both ends, the center portion is lowered, the edge portion is raised, the stylus 86 is pushed up, and a signal is output from the displacement detection sensor 85. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the protection plate 10 is supported by the fulcrum 81 at one end and the spring 83 at the other end.
The protection plate 10 is tilted by the lowering of the side 3 and the edge portion is lifted, pushing up the stylus 86, and the displacement detection sensor 85.
Outputs a signal. In the example shown in FIG. 4, since the protection plate 10 is supported by the springs 83 at both ends, the protection plate 10 is entirely lowered, and the stylus 86 that has been pushed up is lowered.
A signal is output from the displacement detection sensor 85. In the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3, there is a possibility that the displacement of the protection plate 10 when the vicinity of the fulcrum 81 is pressed may be slightly reduced, but in the example of FIG. There is an advantage that deviation can be obtained.

When the operator presses the protection plate 10 with a finger or a pen on the touch panel, the protection plate 10 is displaced by any of the methods shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. When the detection signal is output to the touch panel MPU 70, the operation control means 88 of the optical scanning units 11a and 11b is turned on by a control signal from the touch panel MPU 70, and power is supplied from the power supply terminal 89 to the light emitting driver 50 and the motor driver 51 to start. . Then, light 18 is emitted from the light emitting element 16, and the pulse motor 23 rotates to start scanning of the scan mirror 22. The rotation of the pulse motor 23 is detected by a rotation speed detector 91, and a signal indicating that the rotation is stable is transmitted to the touch panel M.
When sent to the PU 70, the coordinate detection data is output from the touch panel MPU 70 to the display system MPU 90.

When the operator starts the operation, the clock means 87 is started. Then, the clock means 87 is always driven during the operation, and measures the non-operation time when the operation is stopped. When the measurement time reaches a certain time or more, a signal is sent to the touch panel MPU 70 and the light scanning unit 1
A control signal for opening the operation control means 88 of 1a, 11b is output, and the circuit is stopped until the operator starts the next operation.

B: Next, the substrate 1 indicated by the object 24
The operation of detecting the coordinate position on 0 will be described. (A) The retroreflector 13 is optically scanned by the light 18 output from the light emitting element 16 by rotating the scan mirror 22 by the pulse motor 23. The light 18 reflected by the retroreflector 13 is received by the light receiving element 17 via the scan mirror 22. This operation (a) operates similarly in the optical scanning units 11a and 11b.

(B) The current corresponding to the light receiving energy of the light receiving element 17 is converted into a voltage by a current / voltage conversion circuit 52, and is converted into a digital signal by an A / D conversion circuit 53.
The light is input to the primary reflected light separation circuit 54, and an optical scanning start pulse corresponding to the primary reflected light of the scan mirror 22 is output from the primary reflected light separation circuit 54. This optical scanning start pulse 1
The measuring clock in the cycle is counted by the counter 56, and a count value signal is output to the touch panel MPU 70.

(C) The touch panel MPU 70 calculates the scanning angle θ1 of the object 24 based on the object detection signal of the count value signal of the counter 56 in the optical scanning unit 11a. The operations (b) and (c) are performed by the optical scanning unit 1
1b operates in the same manner, and the touch panel MPU 70
Calculates the scanning angle θ2 of the object 24. Then, the touch panel MPU 70 calculates the coordinates (Px, Py) of the position P on the coordinate plane indicated by the target object 24 by performing a calculation by applying the obtained angles θ1 and θ2 to the equations (3) and (4). , And outputs a corresponding signal to the display device 72.

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a displacement detection sensor 85 provided on the operation surface for detecting displacement when the operation surface is pressed by operation, and operation detection of the displacement detection sensor 85 The light emitting element 16 and the scan mirror 2 are closed by a signal.
And an operation control unit 88 for supplying power to the touch panel 2 so that when an operator's finger or pen touches the touch panel, the circuit is activated to eliminate unnecessary power consumption and extend the life of the circuit and elements. Can be.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the protection plate 10 for protecting the operation surface is supported by at least two fulcrums 81, the protection plate 10 is suitable for a material which is easily bent during operation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, one end of the protection plate protecting the operation surface is supported by the fulcrum 81 and the other end is supported by the spring 83.
Is suitable for detecting the inclination of a material made of a material that is difficult to bend.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the protection plate protecting the operation surface is supported by at least two springs 83, even if any position of the protection plate is pressed, the displacement is substantially equal. Is obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the non-operation time after driving by the operation detection signal of the deviation detection sensor 85 is measured, and when the non-operation time becomes a predetermined value or more, the operation control means 88 is opened. Since the clock means 87 is provided, wasteful power consumption can be more reliably eliminated and a longer life can be achieved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the scan mirror 22 driven by the operation detection signal of the deviation detection sensor 85
A rotation speed detector 91 for detecting whether or not the rotation of the pulse motor 23 is stable is provided, and the coordinate data of the touch panel MPU 70 is sent to the display system MPU 90 by the output of the rotation speed detector 91. The instability at the initial stage of rotation is removed, and more reliable coordinate data can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an optical scanning type touch panel activation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which a deflection of a protection plate 10 is detected as a deflection by a deflection detection sensor 85.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which the deviation of the protection plate 10 is detected by a deviation detection sensor 85 as an inclination.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which the displacement of the protection plate 10 is detected by a displacement detection sensor 85 as vertical movement.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a general optical scanning type touch panel.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a general optical scanning unit.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of triangulation for coordinate detection.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Protective plate, 11a, 11b: Optical scanning unit, 12
... frame, 13 ... retroreflector, 14 ... unit body, 16 ... light emitting element, 17 ... light receiving element, 18 ... light, 19
... refraction prism, 20 ... half mirror, 21 ... prism, 22 ... scan mirror, 23 ... pulse motor, 24
.. Target object, 25 unit support plate, 31 front vessel, 32 outer edge, 38 display screen, 50 light emission driver, 51 motor driver, 52 current / voltage conversion circuit, 53 A / D conversion Circuit, 54: primary reflected light separation circuit, 55: measuring oscillator, 56: counter, 70: touch panel MPU, 72: display device, 81: fulcrum, 83 ...
Spring, 85: deviation detection sensor, 86: stylus, 87: clock means, 88: operation control means, 89: power supply terminal, 90: display system MPU, 91: rotation speed detector.

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B068 AA03 AA32 BB20 BC04 BD13 BE06 BE11 5B087 AA03 CC11 CC26 CC34 DD02 DJ09

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A retroreflector (1) on an operation surface using light (18) output from a light emitting unit (16) by rotation of a scan mirror (22).
3 is optically scanned, and light 18 reflected by the retroreflector 13
Is received by the light receiving unit 17 via the reflection of the scan mirror 22 and the coordinates of the operation surface are detected. The light scanning type touch panel is provided on the operation surface, and the deviation of the operation surface when the operation is pressed. Displacement detection sensor 85 for detecting
And an operation control means 88 for operating the light emitting element 16 and the scan mirror 22 which are controlled by the operation detection signal of the deviation detection sensor 85, and which starts the light scanning type touch panel. . 2. A protection plate 10 for protecting an operation surface is supported by at least two fulcrums 81, and a displacement detection sensor 85 is provided at an end of the protection plate 10 so that the protection plate 10 when the operation is pressed.
2. The activation device for an optical scanning type touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the deflection of the optical scanning type touch panel is detected by a deflection detection sensor. 3. One end of a protection plate 10 that protects the operation surface is supported by a fulcrum 81, the other end is supported by a spring 83, and a displacement detection sensor 85 is provided at an end of the protection plate 10. 2. The activation device for an optical scanning type touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the inclination of the protection plate at the time of pressing is detected by the displacement detection sensor. 4. A protection plate 10 for protecting the operation surface is supported by at least two springs 83, and a displacement detection sensor 85 is provided at an end portion of the protection plate 10 so that the protection plate 10 when the operation is pressed.
2. The activation device for an optical scanning type touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the vertical movement of the touch panel is detected by a displacement detection sensor. 5. A clock means 87 for measuring a non-operation time after driving by the operation detection signal of the deviation detection sensor 85 and opening the operation control means 88 when the non-operation time exceeds a predetermined value. The method according to claim 1, wherein
5. The activation device for an optical scanning type touch panel according to 2, 3, or 4. 6. A rotation number detector 91 for detecting whether the rotation of the pulse motor 23 of the scan mirror 22 driven by the operation detection signal of the deviation detection sensor 85 is stabilized,
The output of the rotation speed detector 91 allows the touch panel MPU
6. The activation device for an optical scanning type touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate data of 70 is sent to the display system MPU90.