JP2002202852A - Input device for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device for electronic equipment in which ON/OFF switch operation in a specific direction or manipulated variable input can be properly selected. SOLUTION: Operation input indicating a direction is done on electronic equipment which performs specific processing according to a specified program. The operation input (S1) is accepted by using a two-dimensional sensor and the direction where the manipulated variable is largest is determined as a detection axis and the manipulated variable is regarded as a detested value (S2). A mode matching the input is determined according to a program in execution (S3) and in manipulated variable mode, the detected value is supplied to the electronic equipment as a manipulated variable as it is. In switch mode, on the other hand, the absolute value of the detected value is compared with a threshold Th (S5) and a switch operation signal which indicates an ON state when the threshold is exceeded or an OFF state when not is supplied (S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for an electronic device, and more particularly to an operation for indicating a direction to an electronic device such as a portable telephone or a game play device which executes a predetermined process based on a predetermined program. The present invention relates to an input device for performing input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic devices such as mobile phones and game machines receive a predetermined operation input by a user, and a program proceeds based on the operation input. Usually, this type of operation input is often performed while looking at a cursor or other indicators displayed on the display screen, and an input indicating four directions of up, down, left, and right or eight directions including oblique directions is required. Is common. In order to perform input with such a direction, two types of input devices are roughly used.

[0003] A first type of device comprises a plurality of ON / OFs.
This device is a combination of F switches. Normally, a total of four switch buttons are arranged in the upper, lower, left, and right directions, and by appropriately pressing these buttons, a switch operation can be input in a predetermined direction. For example, if the button of the switch arranged on the right is pressed, the switch is turned on to the right.
An input indicating an operation can be performed, and an instruction to move the cursor or the game character to the right can be given. When it is necessary to input a switch operation in eight directions including an oblique direction, an input device in which a total of eight switch buttons are arranged in up, down, left, right, and oblique positions is also used. Further, there is also used an apparatus in which a switch is arranged at the center position so that various instructions can be input by using a total of five or nine buttons.

[0004] On the other hand, the second type of device is a so-called joystick type device, and can input an operation amount in a predetermined direction. In the case of the first type of apparatus using the above-described switch, a switch operation in a specific direction can be input by selectively pressing a button arranged at a specific position. This is merely for indicating one of the ON / OFF binary states, and the amount cannot be input. In the second type of device, the operation amount can be input together with the direction, for example, 5 to the right or 8 to the bottom. Specifically, the greater the operating force applied to the right, the greater the amount of operation to the right. Such a joystick type device usually has a built-in two-dimensional force sensor, and separately detects the X-axis component and the Y-axis component of the applied force, thereby detecting the applied operation input. The direction and the operation amount are detected. For example, an operation input in which the X-axis direction component is +5,
An operation input indicating an operation amount of 5 in the right direction and an -8 component in the Y-axis direction indicates an operation amount of 8 in the downward direction. Of course, by performing an operation of combining the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component, it is also possible to detect an operation input applied in an oblique direction.

[0005]

The above two types of input devices each have advantages and disadvantages. In the case of the first type of device using a switch, only ON / OFF binary state input can be performed.
When performing an operation such as “move the cursor three times to the right”, it is necessary to repeatedly press the right button three times. Therefore, in an operation such as “move the cursor 20 times to the right,”
A complicated operation of repeatedly pressing the button becomes necessary. On the other hand, in the case of the second type of device, the operation amount can be input. For example, when the joystick is tilted lightly to the right, the cursor moves by one. Quantitative control, such as moving 10 times, can be performed. Of course, it is also possible to change the moving speed of the cursor depending on whether the joystick is tilted lightly or deeply. However, when an operation such as "move the cursor three more steps" is required, it is necessary to finely adjust the angle at which the joystick is tilted, and in fact, the intention of moving the third joystick has moved five times. Such an erroneous operation is likely to occur. Therefore, in terms of moving the cursor to an accurate position, it is preferable to use the first type of device and control the number of button presses.

Thus, two types of input devices are:
Since there are advantages and disadvantages, electronic devices such as conventional mobile phones and game play devices often have both types of input devices. However, installing two types of input devices in the same electronic device impedes miniaturization and cost reduction of the device.
Originally, it is not preferable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device for electronic equipment which can appropriately use an operation input of a switch operation in a specific direction and an operation input of an operation amount in a specific direction.

[0008]

(1) A first aspect of the present invention is an electronic apparatus for performing an operation input indicating a direction to an electronic apparatus which executes a predetermined process based on a predetermined program. In the input device for operation, an output in a state where no operation input is applied is set as a zero-point reference output, and when an operation input in a positive direction or a negative direction along a predetermined detection axis is applied, the added operation input An operation input detection unit that outputs a positive or negative detection value according to the magnitude of the operation amount, an operation amount mode that treats the added operation input as a continuous operation amount along the detection axis, and an operation amount input Has a function to set any one of a switch mode and a switch mode to be treated as a switch operation regarding the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis, and according to a program executed by the electronic device,
A mode setting unit for setting one of the modes; and, when the operation amount mode is set, a detection value detected by the operation input detection unit is given to the electronic device as an operation amount for the detection axis, and a switch is provided. If the mode has been set, the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and if it exceeds the threshold value, a signal indicating the ON state is output. An operation input handling unit for providing a signal indicating an OFF state to the electronic apparatus as a switch operation in the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis if the value does not exceed the value.

(2) The second aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the electronic device input device according to the aspect, as the mode set by the mode setting unit, the operation amount mode,
A switch mode and a mixed mode in which both modes are mixed are prepared. When the mixed mode is set, the operation input handling unit detects the operation mode by the operation input detecting unit. The absolute value of the detected value is compared with a first threshold value and a second threshold value (first threshold value <second threshold value). For example, a signal indicating the OFF state is given to the electronic device as a switch operation regarding the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis, and if the signal is between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, the signal indicating the ON state. Is given to the electronic device as a switch operation relating to the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis, and if it exceeds the second threshold value, a process of giving the detected value to the electronic device as an operation amount for the detection axis is performed. Things.

(3) According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus input device for performing an operation input indicating a direction to an electronic apparatus which executes a predetermined process based on a predetermined program. An output in a state where no input is applied is set as a zero-point reference output, and when an operation input in a positive direction or a negative direction along a predetermined detection axis is applied, the output according to the magnitude of the applied operation input is determined. An operation input detection unit that outputs a positive or negative detection value, and a first threshold value and a second threshold
(The first threshold value <the second threshold value). If the signal does not exceed the first threshold value, a signal indicating the OFF state is output in the positive or negative direction of the detection axis. The first threshold value and the second threshold value are given to the electronic device as a switch operation.
If the threshold value is within the threshold value, a signal indicating the ON state is given to the electronic device as a switch operation in the positive or negative direction of the detection axis. An operation input handling unit having a function of performing a mixed mode operation of giving a value to the electronic device as a continuous operation amount along the detection axis.

(4) The fourth aspect of the present invention is the above-described third aspect.
The electronic device input device according to the aspect, has a function of setting at least two modes of an operation amount mode and a mixed mode, and sets any one of the modes according to a program executed by the electronic device. A mode setting unit for providing an operation input handling unit to provide an electronic device with a detection value detected by the operation input detection unit as an operation amount for the detection axis when the operation amount mode is set. When the amount mode operation is performed and the mixed mode is set, the mixed mode operation is performed.

(5) The fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to the third aspect of the present invention.
The electronic device input device according to the aspect, has a function of setting at least two types of modes, a switch mode and a mixed mode, and sets any one of the modes according to a program executed by the electronic device. A mode setting section is further provided, and when the switch mode is set, the operation input handling section compares the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection section with a predetermined threshold value, and A switch mode operation is performed in which a signal indicating an ON state is provided when the threshold value is exceeded and a signal indicating an OFF state is not provided when the threshold value is not exceeded. When the mode is set, the mixed mode operation is performed.

(6) The sixth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned third aspect.
The input device for an electronic device according to the aspect, has a function of setting at least three modes of an operation amount mode, a switch mode, and a mixed mode, and any one of the modes according to a program executed by the electronic device. A mode setting unit for setting a mode, wherein the operation input handling unit is configured to, when the operation amount mode is set, use a detection value detected by the operation input detection unit as an operation amount for the detection axis; Perform the operation amount mode operation given to, when the switch mode is set, compare the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit with a predetermined threshold value,
A switch mode operation in which a signal indicating an ON state when the threshold value is exceeded and a signal indicating an OFF state when the threshold value is not exceeded is provided to the electronic device as a switch operation in the positive or negative direction of the detection axis. When the mixed mode is set, the mixed mode operation is performed.

(7) A seventh aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the electronic device input device according to the sixth to sixth aspects, the operation input detection unit performs a process of outputting the applied operation input as a detection value for any one of the plurality of detection axes, and performing an operation. The input handling unit performs the necessary processing according to a predetermined mode on the output detection value for one detection axis, and then supplies the detection value to the electronic device.

(8) The eighth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the input device for electronic devices according to the seventh to seventh aspects, the operation input detection unit has a function of independently detecting an X-axis direction component and a Y-axis direction component of the operation input applied in the XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system. A force sensor is provided, and a detection value corresponding to the magnitude of an applied operation input is obtained based on the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component detected by the force sensor.

(9) The ninth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned eighth aspect.
In the input device for an electronic device according to the aspect, the operation input detecting unit detects the positive direction of the X axis, the negative direction of the X axis, and the Y axis based on the X axis direction component and the Y axis direction component detected by the force sensor. One of the four directions of the positive direction and the negative direction of the Y axis.
In this case, the operation input relating to the operation can be selectively detected.

(10) According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the input device for an electronic device according to the ninth aspect, the operation input detecting section further forms an angle of 45 ° with the X axis and the Y axis. When the V-axis and the W-axis are defined, the operation input regarding the diagonal four directions of the positive direction of the V-axis, the negative direction of the V-axis, the positive direction of the W-axis, and the negative direction of the W-axis is detected by the force sensor. The detection can be performed by synthesizing the axial direction component and the Y-axis direction component, and the operation input relating to any one of the eight directions can be selectively detected.

(11) According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device input device according to the eighth to tenth aspects,
A force sensor in the operation input detection unit is constituted by a fixed element having a fixed surface along the XY plane, a displacement element having a displacement surface opposed to the fixed surface, and four sets of detectors,
The displacement element causes displacement with respect to the fixed element based on the applied operation input, and the four sets of detectors are moved in the positive X-axis direction, the negative X-axis direction, the positive Y-axis direction, and the negative Y-axis direction. And the X-axis component of the applied operation input is detected by a detector arranged on the X-axis, and the Y-axis direction of the applied operation input is detected by the detector arranged on the Y-axis. The components can be detected.

(12) According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the input device for an electronic device according to the eleventh aspect, the force sensor in the operation input detection unit further comprises a force sensor in the Z-axis direction of the applied operation input. A component can be detected, and a click operation is input from the operation input detection unit to the electronic device based on the detected Z-axis direction component.

(13) According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device input device according to the eleventh aspect, the upper surface is included in the XY plane, and the origin of the coordinate system is located at the center of the upper surface. Connected to a substrate arranged in such a manner, a displacement portion disposed at a position centered on the Z-axis above the substrate and displaced in response to an operation input, a fixed portion fixed to the substrate, and the displacement portion and the fixed portion A displacement generator attached to the upper surface of the substrate, a contact displacement electrode formed on the lower surface of the displacement portion, and a contact formed at a position facing the contact displacement electrode of the substrate. Four sets of a capacitive element having a fixed electrode and a displacement electrode formed on the displacement part side and a fixed electrode formed on the substrate side so that the capacitance value changes due to the displacement of the displacement part. Using a force sensor with a detector and When the operation input is applied to,
When the connecting portion bends, the displacement portion causes displacement with respect to the substrate, and when no operation input is applied to the displacement portion, the contact displacement electrode and the contact fixed electrode are not in contact with each other. When the state is maintained and a predetermined amount of operation input including the Z-axis direction component in the coordinate system is applied to the displacement unit,
The contact displacement electrode and the contact fixed electrode are brought into contact with each other, and the displacement electrode forming the capacitive element and the contact displacement electrode are electrically connected, so that the contact displacement electrode and the contact fixed electrode are in contact with each other. In the state, the magnitude of the predetermined directional component of the applied operation input is detected by electrically detecting a change in the capacitance value between the fixed electrode for contact and the fixed electrode forming the capacitive element. It is something that can be recognized.

(14) According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device input device according to the thirteenth aspect, an operation input is detected based on a contact state between the contact displacement electrode and the contact fixed electrode. A click operation is input to the electronic device from the unit.

(15) According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device input device according to the eleventh aspect, the upper surface is included in the XY plane, and the origin of the coordinate system is located at the center of the upper surface. Connected to a substrate arranged in such a manner, a displacement portion disposed at a position centered on the Z-axis above the substrate and displaced in response to an operation input, a fixed portion fixed to the substrate, and the displacement portion and the fixed portion And a connection part having flexibility, and the connection part is flexible, and the displacement part is inclined with respect to the X axis when an X-axis operation input is applied to the displacement part. And a displacement generator that generates a displacement such that when the Y-axis operation input is applied to the displacement unit, the displacement unit is inclined with respect to the Y-axis. A first inner electrode, and a second inner electrode disposed at a position on the upper surface of the substrate in the negative X-axis direction. A third inner electrode disposed at the Y-axis positive direction position on the upper surface, a fourth inner electrode disposed at the Y-axis negative direction position on the substrate upper surface, and a first inner position at the X-axis positive direction position on the substrate upper surface A first outer electrode disposed outside the electrode, a second outer electrode disposed outside the second inner electrode on the substrate upper surface in the negative X-axis direction, and a first outer electrode disposed on the substrate upper surface in the Y-axis positive direction. A third outer electrode disposed outside the third inner electrode, a fourth outer electrode disposed outside the fourth inner electrode at a Y-axis negative direction position on the upper surface of the substrate, and a first inner electrode , A first outer electrode, a second inner electrode, a second outer electrode, a third inner electrode, a third outer electrode, a fourth inner electrode, and a fourth outer electrode, respectively. The displacement generator is formed at a position where displacement of the lower surface of the displacement generator occurs, and the displacement portion is X
When tilted by a predetermined amount in the positive direction of the axis, a portion thereof contacts the first outer electrode, and when the displacement portion tilts by a predetermined amount in the negative direction of the X-axis, a portion thereof becomes the second When the displacement portion is in contact with the outer electrode and tilts by a predetermined amount in the positive Y-axis direction, a portion thereof contacts the third outer electrode and the displacement portion is tilted by a predetermined amount in the negative Y-axis direction. A displacement electrode configured such that a portion thereof contacts the fourth outer electrode when the displacement electrode contacts the first inner electrode and the displacement electrode when the displacement electrode contacts one of the outer electrodes. Measuring a first capacitance value indicating the capacitance of the first capacitance element based on an electrical characteristic between the outer electrode in contact with the displacement electrode and the first inner electrode; 2 shows the capacitance of a second capacitive element formed by a second inner electrode and a displacement electrode. 2 is measured based on the electrical characteristics between the outer electrode and the second inner electrode that are in contact with the displacement electrode, and the capacitance value of the third inner electrode and the second electrode formed by the third inner electrode is measured. A third capacitance value indicating the capacitance of the third capacitive element is measured based on an electrical characteristic between the outer electrode and the third inner electrode that are in contact with the displacement electrode, and a fourth capacitance value is measured. The fourth capacitance value indicating the capacitance of the fourth capacitance element formed by the inner electrode and the displacement electrode is calculated by calculating the electric capacitance between the outer electrode and the fourth inner electrode in contact with the displacement electrode. And outputs a detection value for the X-axis operation input based on the difference between the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value. And a detection circuit that outputs a detection value for the Y-axis operation input based on the difference from the capacitance value of No. 4 Those were Unishi.

(16) According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device input device according to the fifteenth aspect, a pressing rod is provided at a position along the Z-axis on the lower surface of the displacement portion, and the origin of the upper surface of the substrate is provided. An ON / OFF switch is provided at a nearby position, and the ON / OFF switch is operated based on the pressing force applied to the pressing bar. A click operation is input to the device.

(17) In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device input device according to the eleventh aspect, the upper surface is included in the XY plane, and the origin of the coordinate system is located at the center of the upper surface. Connected to the substrate arranged in such a manner, a displacement portion disposed at a position centered on the Z axis above the substrate and displaced in response to an operation input, a fixed portion fixed to the substrate, and the displacement portion and the fixed portion A displacement generator attached to the top surface of the substrate, and a positive X-axis region, a negative X-axis region, and a Y region on the top surface of the substrate.
A first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, a fourth resistor, and a first resistor on the lower surface of the displacement portion, A first contact conductor, a second contact conductor, a third contact conductor, and a second contact conductor disposed at positions respectively opposed to the second resistor, the third resistor, and the fourth resistor. And a contact sensor having the contact conductor of (4), the connecting portion has flexibility, and when an operation input is applied to the displacing portion, the connecting portion bends, whereby the lower surface of the displacing portion is formed. Causes a displacement with respect to the upper surface of the substrate, and based on the displacement, a contact state of each contact conductor with each resistor changes, and each contact conductor is elastically deformed conductive material. From the shape where the area of the contact surface changes based on the change of the contact state with each resistor. To so that, based on the change in the area of the contact surface, in which the applied X-axis operation input and the Y-axis operation input to the displacement unit and can be detected.

(18) According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device input device according to the seventeenth aspect, a fifth resistor is further provided in a region near the origin on the upper surface of the board, and A fifth contact conductor is provided on the lower surface at a position facing the fifth resistor, and the operation input detection unit sends the fifth contact conductor to the electronic device based on a contact state of the fifth contact conductor with the fifth resistor. In contrast, a click operation is input.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

§1. First, the configuration of a conventional general input device for an electronic device used in an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a game play device will be briefly described. As described above, as this type of input device, a first type device using a switch and a second type device using a force sensor are mainly used.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are top views of this first type of device. Here, for convenience, the X axis and the Y axis are defined in the directions shown in the figure, and the following description will be made. The input device 1 shown in FIG.
1 to B15 are arranged. The buttons B11 and B12 are arranged on the X-axis, and are used to input a switch operation in the X-axis positive direction (right) and negative direction (left).
On the other hand, the buttons B13 and B14 are arranged on the Y-axis, and are used to input a switch operation in the Y-axis positive direction (up) and in the negative direction (down). With these four buttons, switch operation inputs in four directions, up, down, left, and right can be made. The button B15 arranged at the center is used for a switch operation input having no direction (for example, a click operation).

The input device 2 shown in FIG. 2 has nine buttons B21 to B29. Button B22, B2
Reference numeral 6 is arranged on the X-axis and is used to input a switch operation in the X-axis positive direction (right) and negative direction (left).
The buttons B26 and B24 are arranged on the Y-axis, and are used to input a switch operation in the Y-axis positive direction (up) and in the negative direction (down). Further, buttons B21, B23, B2
5, B27 are arranged on an axis at an angle of 45 °, and are used to input a switch operation in an oblique direction. The button B29 arranged at the center is used for a switch operation input having no direction (for example, a click operation).

As described above, in the input device in which the buttons of a plurality of switches are arranged at predetermined positions, the switch operation input can be performed in four directions or eight directions. OF
This is an input indicating the binary state of F, not an input indicating the operation amount. However, the operation amount in a predetermined direction can be transmitted to the electronic device by the number of times the button is pressed.
When accurately transmitting a minute operation amount such as “move the cursor to the right by two steps”, FIGS.
The first type of device using a switch as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the input device shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is a second type of device using a force sensor, and is generally a device called a joystick. Here, for convenience, an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis are defined in directions as illustrated, and the following description will be made. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the joystick 3 using a gauge resistance type force sensor. A substrate 3A is disposed on the XY plane, and a rectangular pole-shaped stick 3 is provided on the substrate 3A at a position along the Z axis.
B is attached. Gauge resistors G11 to G14 are attached to four sides of the stick 3B, respectively. The operator can give an operation input by applying a force to tilt the stick 3B in the positive or negative direction of the X axis or the Y axis. For example, if a force is applied such that the stick 3B is tilted in the positive direction of the X axis, the gauge resistance G11 contracts and the gauge resistance G12 expands, and each resistance value changes. Thus, the direction (positive direction or negative direction) and magnitude of the force applied in the X-axis direction can be detected by calculating the difference between the resistance values of these two gauge resistors. Similarly, the gauge resistance G13,
Using G14, the direction and magnitude of the force applied in the Y-axis direction can be detected.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a side view and a top view of the joystick 4 using a capacitive force sensor.
A substrate 4A is arranged on the XY plane, and a diaphragm 4B made of a metal plate is arranged thereon. A stick 4C is attached to the upper surface of the diaphragm 4B, and the diaphragm 4B is fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 4A with screws 4D. Also, on the upper surface of the substrate 4A,
The fixed electrodes E1 and E2 are arranged, and the diaphragm 4
B itself functions as a displacement electrode facing these fixed electrodes E1 and E2. Thus, the first capacitance element C1 is formed by the fixed electrode E1 and the displacement electrode 4B (diaphragm), and the second capacitance element C2 is formed by the fixed electrode E2 and the displacement electrode 4B (diaphragm). Here, when the operator inputs an operation input such as tilting the stick 4C in the positive or negative direction of the X axis, the capacitive element C
Since the electrode intervals of the capacitors C1 and C2 change (for example, when the electrodes are tilted in the positive direction of the X-axis, the electrode interval of the capacitor C1 decreases and the electrode interval of the capacitor C2 increases). By calculating the difference between the capacitance values,
The direction (positive direction or negative direction) and magnitude of the force applied in the X-axis direction can be detected.

The capacitive joystick 4 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is of a type which detects only an operation input in the X-axis direction. For example, as shown in the top view of FIG. If four fixed electrodes E11 to E14 are arranged on 5A, and a diaphragm to which a stick is attached is arranged thereon, four sets of capacitance elements C11 to C14 can be formed, and the X-axis direction and the Y-axis Operation input in the axial direction can be detected. That is, the direction and magnitude of the force acting in the X-axis direction can be detected by calculating the difference between the capacitance values of the capacitance elements C11 and C12 arranged on the X-axis, and can be arranged on the Y-axis. Capacitance elements C13, C
The direction and magnitude of the force acting in the Y-axis direction can be detected by calculating the difference between the capacitance values of the fourteenth and the fourteenth.

As described above, if a force sensor capable of independently detecting the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component of the force applied to the stick is used, other directional components can be obtained by calculation. That is, on the XY two-dimensional coordinate system as shown in FIG.
If a point Q having an axial component as a coordinate value is plotted, the position of the point Q indicates the direction of the applied force, and the distance between the point Q and the origin O indicates the magnitude of the applied force. Become. For example, if a point Q (a, 0) on the X-axis is obtained as a result of applying a predetermined operation input, the operation input is a force in the positive direction of the X-axis having a magnitude a, and a point on the X-axis. Q (-b, 0)
Is obtained, it can be recognized that the operation input is a force of the magnitude b in the negative direction of the X-axis. Also, an arbitrary point Q (x,
When y) is obtained, it can be recognized that an operation input in a direction on a straight line connecting the origin O and the point Q (x, y) has been applied.

However, the operation input added by the operator is made by a rough sense of the human, and does not always have a strict direction. Therefore, in practice, it is preferable that some detection axes are defined in advance, and the added operation input is handled as an operation input along any one of the detection axes. For example, if it is sufficient to detect only operation inputs in four directions of up, down, left, and right, two axes of the X axis and the Y axis may be set as detection axes. In this case, if the point Q having the detected X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component as coordinate values is not on the X-axis or the Y-axis, the nearest projection point on the X-axis or the Y-axis is obtained. It suffices to determine which detection axis the operation input is based on the projection point. For example, in the case of the point Q (x, y) shown in the figure, the nearest projection point on the X axis or the Y axis is the point Qy on the Y axis. (The size is the distance between the origin O and the point Qy).

Of course, the detection axis is not limited to the two axes of the X axis and the Y axis. For example, as shown
It is also possible to define a V axis and a W axis that form 45 ° with respect to the X axis and the Y axis, and to use a total of four axes as detection axes. In this case, for example, when an operation input corresponding to the position of the point Q (a, a) is applied, it is recognized that the operation input is a force in the positive direction of the V-axis having the magnitude [route 2 · a]. it can. In the case of the point Q (x, y) shown in the figure, the projection point on the nearest detection axis may be obtained. For example, two points Q (x,
If the distance between the two points Q (x, y) and Qw is smaller than the distance between y) and Qy, the nearest detection axis is the W axis, and the projection point is the point Qw on the W axis. Therefore, the operation input at this time may be handled as an operation input in the positive direction of the W axis (the size is the distance between the origin O and the point Qw).

As described above, if several detection axes are defined in advance, it becomes possible to treat the added operation input as an operation input relating to any of the detection axes. In practice, two detection axes, X and Y, are defined, and operation inputs in four directions can be detected. Alternatively, four detection axes including V and W axes are further defined. However, it is preferable that operation inputs in eight directions can be detected. Of course, a detection axis may be defined by another method so that an operation input in an arbitrary direction can be detected.

In any case, the second type of input device using this force sensor is characterized in that it can input an operation amount in a predetermined direction, and the first type of input device using a switch. There is a major difference in this point from the device. However, as described above, these two types of input devices have advantages and disadvantages, and the first type of input device using a switch can accurately control the number of times the button is pressed. The second type of input device utilizing a force sensor is
There is an advantage that an arbitrary operation amount can be input by one operation.

§2. The input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention
Basic Configuration and Basic Operation If the input device for an electronic device according to the present invention is used, it is possible to appropriately use the input of the switch operation in the specific direction and the input of the operation amount in the specific direction by one input device. become able to. A first feature of the present invention is that an input device having a force sensor (for example, FIG.
To the input device as shown in FIG. 6), and the handling of the detected value is selectively used depending on the mode setting. And the second of the present invention
Is characterized in that this mode setting is performed according to a program executed by the electronic device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention. The basic components of this input device are an operation input detection unit 10, an operation input handling unit 2
0, a mode setting unit 30 for the electronic device 40
It has a function of performing an operation input indicating a direction. here,
The electronic device 40 is a device that executes a predetermined process based on a predetermined program, such as a mobile phone or a game play device.

The operation input detecting section 10 is constituted by a force sensor, and sets an output in a state where no operation input is applied as a zero point reference output, and detects an operation input in a positive or negative direction along a predetermined detection axis. When added, it has a function of outputting a positive or negative detection value according to the magnitude of the applied operation input. Specifically, for example, FIGS.
Can be used as the operation input detection unit 10. The force sensor shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a one-dimensional force sensor having the X axis as a detection axis. When this sensor is used as the operation input detection unit 10, an operation input along the X axis is obtained. Will be.

On the other hand, the force sensor shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 6 is a two-dimensional force sensor using the X-axis and the Y-axis as detection axes. Define two detection axes, X axis and Y axis,
It is possible to detect an operation input related to directions, and further, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to detect operation inputs related to a total of eight directions by adding the V axis and the W axis to the detection axes. Of course, an arbitrary axis is further defined on the XY plane, and 1
An operation input in an arbitrary direction such as two directions or sixteen directions may be detected. For example, X, Y, V,
In the case of detecting operation inputs in eight directions using the four axes of W as detection axes, as described above, additional operation is performed based on the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component obtained as the output of the two-dimensional force sensor. Coordinate point Q (x,
y) is plotted on an XY coordinate system as shown in FIG.
If the projection point Qw to the nearest detection axis W is obtained, the added operation input is used to determine the distance between the origin O and the projection point Qw (or the distance between the origin O and the coordinate point Q (x, y)). It can be output as a detection value along the detection axis W as an operation amount. As described above, the detection value output from the operation input detection unit 10 is an operation amount within a detection range from a positive maximum value to a negative maximum value for any one detection axis.

The operation input handling unit 20 is a component having an intermediary function of transferring the detection value output from the operation input detection unit 10 to the electronic device 40. The method by which the operation input handling unit 20 handles the detection value output from the operation input detection unit 10 is determined depending on the mode set in the mode setting unit 30. In the mode setting section 30, one of the operation amount mode and the switch mode is set. Here, the operation amount mode is the operation input detection unit 10.
Is a mode in which the operation input applied to the operation input is handled as a continuous operation amount along the detection axis, that is, a mode in which the detection value of the force sensor included in the operation input detection unit 10 is directly transmitted to the electronic device 40. . On the other hand, the switch mode is a mode in which the applied operation input is handled as a switch operation in the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis. In this mode, a signal indicating the state of the OFF switch is transmitted to the electronic device 40.

The mode setting section 30 has a function of setting one of the operation amount mode and the switch mode in accordance with a program executed by the electronic device 40. As described above, the electronic device 40 is a device that executes a predetermined process based on a predetermined program, such as a mobile phone or a game play device. If so, such an input request has been made based on the execution of some program. The mode setting unit 30 has a function of performing any mode setting according to the program currently being executed. That is, if the currently executing program requests an operation input as a continuous operation amount along a predetermined detection axis, the operation amount mode is set, and a switch operation in the predetermined detection axis direction is performed. When the operation input is requested, the switch mode is set.

In order to specifically determine which mode is required by the currently executing program, for example, which mode is required for each program to be executed by the electronic device 40 is determined. May be prepared, and the requested mode may be recognized by referring to this table. Alternatively, a mode setting flag may be prepared using a memory, a register, or the like in the electronic device 40, and each program may have a function of setting a flag indicating a mode requested by itself. It should be noted that the “program” in this specification is not limited to a so-called “application program”, but also an “OS program”, a “library”,
It is used in a broad concept including various programs called "routines". For example, even if the same "application program" is being executed, for each "routine" included therein, Different mode settings may be made respectively.

The operation input handling unit 20 performs different handling on the detection value from the operation input detection unit 10 in accordance with the mode set in the mode setting unit 30 in this manner, and sends this to the electronic device 40. Tell That is, when the operation amount mode is set in the mode setting unit 30, the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit 10 is directly provided to the electronic device 40 as the operation amount for the detection axis. On the other hand, when the switch mode is set in the mode setting unit 30, the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit 10 is compared with a predetermined threshold value. A signal indicating the ON state and a signal indicating the OFF state if the threshold value is not exceeded are given to the electronic device as a switch operation relating to the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis.

As described above, the operation input detection unit 10
In the case where the operation input handling unit 20 has a function of outputting the added operation input as a detection value for a specific detection axis, the operation input handling unit 20 converts the detection value for the specific detection axis into a necessary value according to the setting mode. After processing, the electronic device 40
Will be given to. XY as the operation input detection unit 10
If a force sensor having a function of independently detecting the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component of the operation input applied in the Z three-dimensional coordinate system is used, the X-axis direction component detected by this force sensor and Based on the Y-axis direction component, a detection value corresponding to the magnitude of the operation input applied to the specific detection axis (the nearest detection axis) is obtained, and the detection value is subjected to processing according to the setting mode. Thereafter, an operation input suitable for the program currently being executed can be transmitted to the electronic device 40.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an XY coordinate system for explaining a method of handling detected values in the operation input handling unit 20. If a two-dimensional force sensor is used as the operation input detection unit 10, a detection value for an arbitrary detection axis on the XY plane can be obtained as described above.
Let us consider a case in which two detection axes, an axis and a Y axis, are defined and an operation input detection unit 10 that can detect operation inputs in four directions is used. In this case, based on the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component detected by the two-dimensional force sensor,
An operation input relating to any one of four directions of the positive direction of the X axis, the negative direction of the X axis, the positive direction of the Y axis, and the negative direction of the Y axis is selectively detected by the operation input detection unit 10. Become.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When an operation input corresponding to the position of (x1, y1) is applied, a projection point Q (x1, 0) on the X-axis, which is the nearest detection axis, is obtained by the operation input detection unit 10, and the X-axis In the positive direction, a detection value having the operation amount x1 is selectively output. The operation input handling unit 20 performs two kinds of handling for such detected values. First, when the operation amount mode is set by the mode setting unit 30, a process is performed in which the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit 10 is directly provided to the electronic device 40 as the operation amount for the detection axis. Specifically, the operation input of “operation amount x1 in the positive direction of the X axis” is transmitted to the electronic device 40 as it is. This is equivalent to the operation when a conventional input device using a force sensor is used. On the other hand, the mode setting unit 30
If the switch mode has been set by the operation mode, the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit 10 is compared with a predetermined threshold value. If the threshold value is not exceeded, a process of giving a signal indicating the OFF state to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation in the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis is performed. More specifically, the absolute value of the detected value x1 is compared with a predetermined threshold value Th, and a signal indicating an ON state if the absolute value x1> Th, and a signal indicating an OFF state if the absolute value x1 ≦ Th is provided by a switch. The operation is given to the electronic device 40. In the example shown in FIG. 9, since the absolute value x1> Th, a switch operation signal indicating an ON state in the positive direction of the X-axis is given to the electronic device 40. this is,
The operation is the same as the case of using the input device of the type using the conventional switch. Specifically, the operation is equivalent to the operation input of pressing the button B11 of the switch in the four-way input device shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the coordinate point Q (x
When an operation input corresponding to the position of (2, y2) is applied, a projection point Q (0, y2) on the Y axis, which is the nearest detection axis, is obtained by the operation input detection unit 10, and the negative value of the Y axis is obtained. With respect to the direction, a detection value having the operation amount y2 is selectively output. The operation input handling unit 20 performs two kinds of handling for such detected values. First, when the operation amount mode is set by the mode setting unit 30, a process is performed in which the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit 10 is directly provided to the electronic device 40 as the operation amount for the detection axis. Specifically, the operation input of “the operation amount y2 in the positive Y-axis direction” is transmitted to the electronic device 40 as it is. This is equivalent to the operation when a conventional input device using a force sensor is used. On the other hand, the mode setting unit 30
If the switch mode has been set by the operation mode, the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit 10 is compared with a predetermined threshold value. If the threshold value is not exceeded, a process of giving a signal indicating the OFF state to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation in the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis is performed. Specifically, the absolute value of the detected value y2 is compared with a predetermined threshold value Th, and when the absolute value y2> Th, a signal indicating an ON state, and when the absolute value y2 ≦ Th, a signal indicating an OFF state is output by a switch. The operation is given to the electronic device 40. In the example shown in FIG. 9, since the absolute value y2 ≦ Th, a switch operation signal indicating an OFF state in the Y-axis negative direction is given to the electronic device 40. This is the same operation as the case where a conventional input device using a switch is used. Specifically, the operation shown in FIG.
This is equivalent to an operation input of releasing the finger from the switch button B14 of the direction input device.

As described above, the operation in the case where the two input axes of the X axis and the Y axis are defined and the operation input detecting section 10 which can detect the operation input in four directions is used has been described. V-axis and W at 45 ° to Y-axis
An axis is defined, and an operation input relating to four oblique directions of the positive direction of the V axis, the negative direction of the V axis, the positive direction of the W axis, and the negative direction of the W axis is input into the X axis direction component detected by the force sensor and the Y axis. The direction components can be detected by synthesizing them.
The same applies to the operation in the case where an operation input relating to any one of the directions is selectively detected.

When the eight directions are detected, the operation input detecting unit 10 outputs the X-value detected by the two-dimensional force sensor.
The X-axis, Y-axis,
One of a total of eight directions, that is, positive and negative directions for each of the axis, the V axis, and the W axis, is selected, and a predetermined detection value is output in the selected direction. When the operation amount mode is set, the operation input handling unit 20 outputs the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit 10
The electronic device 4 is directly used as an operation amount for the detection axis.
Give to 0. This is equivalent to the operation when a conventional input device using an eight-directional force sensor is used.
On the other hand, if the switch mode has been set, the absolute value of the detected value is compared with a predetermined threshold value. A signal indicating the OFF state is given to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation regarding the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis. This is the same operation as when a conventional switch-type input device is used.
Button B21 of the switch in the eight-way input device shown in FIG.
To the operation input by B28.

After all, when the switch mode is set, a boundary circle α having a threshold value Th and a radius centered on the origin O is drawn as shown by a broken line in the coordinate system of FIG. In addition, if the coordinate point corresponding to the applied operation input (or the projected point on the nearest detection axis) is within the boundary circle α, the switch operation indicates an OFF state, and if the coordinate point is outside the boundary circle α, the switch is ON. Is transmitted from the operation input handling unit 20 to the electronic device 40.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention. First, step S1
In, the operation input from the operator is detected, and subsequently,
In step S2, a detection axis and a detection value according to the operation input are determined. These processes are performed in the operation input detection unit 10. For example, the X-axis component and the Y-axis component of the operation input are detected by the two-dimensional force sensor, and the nearest one is detected based on the detection result. The detection axis is determined, and the detection value for the detection axis is determined. The detection axis and the detection value determined in step S2 are supplied to the operation input handling unit 20.

Subsequently, in step S3, the mode setting unit 3
At 0, branch processing is performed according to the mode set. As described above, the mode setting unit 30
One of the operation amount mode and the switch mode is set based on a program executed in the electronic device 40. Here, if the operation amount mode has been set, the process proceeds to step S4, and the operation input handling unit 2
By 0, a process of transmitting the detected value as it is to the electronic device 40 as the operation amount related to the detection axis is performed. on the other hand,
If the switch mode has been set, step S
Proceeding to 5, the absolute value of the detected value is compared with the threshold value Th. If the absolute value of the detected value does not exceed the threshold value Th, the process proceeds to step S6, where a switch operation signal indicating an OFF state related to the detected axis is given to the electronic device 40. On the other hand, when the absolute value of the detected value exceeds the threshold value Th, the process proceeds to step S7, and a switch operation signal indicating an ON state related to the detected axis is given to the electronic device 40.

As described above, a series of processes for the added operation input is completed, and as long as the input operation is continued, the process returns to step S1 via step S8, and the process for the next operation input is performed. . Since the setting mode by the mode setting unit 30 changes according to the program currently being executed by the electronic device 40, the branch in step S3 also changes each time.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams showing a specific example of the relationship between the program being executed by the electronic device 40 and the mode set by the mode setting section 30. FIG.
This example is a case in which a mobile phone is used as the electronic device 40. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display during execution of a program for displaying a map (hereinafter, referred to as a map program). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display during execution of a program for selecting some icon (hereinafter, referred to as an icon selection program). Here, the map program has a screen scroll function, and a map on the screen is scrolled in each direction by giving an operation input in any one of eight directions including four directions, up, down, left, right, and diagonally. It is assumed that the icon selection program has a function of selecting one of a total of twelve icons arranged in four columns and three rows. In the icon selection program, the selected icon is indicated by being surrounded by a black frame cursor CU (in the example of the figure, a clock icon is selected), and is vertically, horizontally, and obliquely. It is assumed that the black frame cursor CU can be moved in each direction by giving an operation input in any one of eight directions including the four directions.

When such a map program and an icon selection program are prepared, more suitable mode setting can be performed for each program. Which mode setting should be set for each program must be determined by comprehensively considering the usage form, operability, amount of information to be displayed, etc. of each program. Is preferably set to the operation amount mode in the case of the map program as shown in FIG. 11, and is preferably set to the switch mode in the case of the icon selection program as shown in FIG. In the case of the map program, if the operation amount mode is set, for example, a predetermined direction and an operation amount such as 10 in the right direction and 4 in the upper left direction can be input. The operation becomes possible, and the scroll amount can be input as an analog operation amount. When the operator wants to increase the scroll amount, the stick 3B shown in FIG.
Alternatively, an operation input in which the inclination angle of the stick 4C shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the case of the icon selection program, if the switch mode is set, for example, if it is desired to move the black frame cursor CU to the right by two columns, the stick 3B shown in FIG. The operation input for tilting the stick 4C shown in FIG. 4 rightward twice may be performed. This operation is performed by pressing button B22 on the input device shown in FIG.
This is equivalent to the operation of pressing once, and it is possible to move the black frame cursor CU to the right by exactly two columns. This corresponds to a digital operation, so to speak, based on the number of operations,
An accurate digital amount can be transmitted to the electronic device 40.

The mode setting process performed by the mode setting section 30 may be generally performed based on the intention of the creator of each program. For example, in the case of a map program as shown in FIG. 11, if the creator of the map program determines that it is more appropriate to receive an input in the operation amount mode, the operation amount mode is included in the program. What should be done is to put an instruction to do so. However, in practicing the present invention, the mode setting process by the mode setting unit 30 does not necessarily have to follow the intention of the program creator, and an arbitrary mode setting is performed according to the intention of the operator (user of the program). It doesn't matter. For example, a table indicating the mode setting for each program is prepared in the memory of the electronic device 40, and the mode specified by the creator is set for each program as the initial setting. If this table can be arbitrarily rewritten by the operator as needed, it is possible to make a mode setting for each program that is considered to be most easy for the operator to operate.

§3. Embodiment Using Mixed Mode As described above, in the input device for an electronic device according to the present invention, the mode setting unit 30 sets either the operation amount mode or the switch mode, and the operation input handling unit 20 In, by performing handling according to each mode, while using a single force sensor, an analog operation input (operation amount mode) or a digital operation input (switch mode) can be executed. Can be selectively used depending on the program. However, depending on the program, optimum operability may not always be obtained with only these two modes.

For example, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a so-called spreadsheet program execution screen. In such a spreadsheet program, a screen including a large number of cells arranged vertically and horizontally is displayed, and the operator needs to perform an operation input for selecting a specific cell. For example, in the example shown,
The state where the cell C3 (the cell located in the column of C and the row of 3) is selected is shown. Here, the selected cells are hatched. As described above, as a method for changing a selected cell to another cell in a state where a specific cell is selected, there is usually provided a method of giving an operation input indicating a direction from an input device. For example, in the state shown in the figure, if an operation input indicating a right direction is given, the selected cell moves rightward as D3, E3, F3, G3, and an operation input indicating a down direction is given. In this case, the selected cells are C3, C4, C5, C
It moves downward, such as 6, C7. Of course, when the operation input detection unit 10 having a function of outputting operation inputs in a total of eight directions including four diagonal directions is used, an operation input in a diagonal direction such as a lower right direction can be given. In this case, the selected cells are D4, E
It moves to the lower right, such as 5, F6, G7.

Now, let us consider which mode is suitable for executing a program for performing “movement of selected cell” in such a spreadsheet program. First, consider the case where the operation amount mode is set. In this case, if the operation amount in the right direction when the operation stick is slightly tilted to the right is set to 1 and the operation amount in the right direction when the operation stick is tilted to the right is set to 10, depending on the angle at which the stick is tilted, An operation amount of 1 to 10 in the right direction can be given. Therefore, if the operation amount 1 is made to correspond to the movement of one cell, from the operation input of moving the selected cell right by one cell to the operation input of moving the selected cell right by 10 cells , An operation input of ten stages can be given. Of course, it is possible to input an arbitrary movement amount of 1 to 10 cells not only to the right but also to each direction including up, down, left and right or four diagonal directions. Therefore, if the operation is performed in the operation amount mode, the selected cell can be moved to a desired position at a stretch. However, since the magnitude of the movement amount needs to be adjusted by adjusting the force of the finger that depresses the stick, for example, even if the operation input is intended to move rightward by four cells, the operation input is actually performed. May move by 5 cells. In this case, if it is attempted to return to the left by one cell, it may have been moved by two cells this time. As described above, when the operation amount mode is set, there is an advantage that an arbitrary movement amount can be designated by one operation, but there is a disadvantage that it is not suitable for accurate position adjustment.

On the other hand, when the switch mode is set,
The relationship between this advantage and disadvantage is reversed. For example, if it is desired to move the stick rightward by four cells, the operation of tilting the stick rightward by a predetermined amount (the amount by which the detected value exceeds the threshold value Th) may be repeated four times. . If a process of moving the selected cell by one cell in the direction of the detection axis is performed every time there is an operation input of a switch operation indicating switching to the ON state with respect to a predetermined detection axis, Is performed n times in the predetermined direction, the selected cell can be accurately moved in the predetermined direction by n cells. However, in order to move by n cells, the stick operation must be repeated n times, and the operation must be complicated as the moving distance of the selected cell becomes longer.

As described above, even when the same program is used, it is convenient to set the operation amount mode in accordance with the input contents intended by the operator, and it is convenient to set the switch mode. There may be a case where both cases are mixed. In such a case, as the third mode, a mode setting of a mixed mode may be made possible. That is, the mode setting unit 30 has a function of setting three modes of the operation amount mode, the switch mode, and the mixed mode according to the program currently being executed by the electronic device 40. Here, the mixed mode is a mode for performing a mixed operation of the operation amount mode and the switch mode. When the mixed mode is set, the operation input handling unit 20 sets the first threshold ThL. And the second threshold value ThH, the following process is performed (where the first threshold value ThL <the second threshold value ThH). First, the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit 10 is compared with a first threshold value ThL and a second threshold value ThH. And the absolute value of the detected value is
If the signal does not exceed the first threshold ThL, a signal indicating the OFF state is given to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation in the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis. Further, the absolute value of the detected value is determined by the first threshold value ThL and the second threshold value T
If it is between hH, a signal indicating the ON state is given to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation regarding the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis. Further, if the absolute value of the detected value exceeds the second threshold value ThH, the obtained detected value is given to the electronic device 40 as an operation amount for the detection axis.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a two-dimensional coordinate system showing the concept of such processing. As described above, the given operation input is output from the operation input detection unit 10 as a detection value related to one of the nearest selected axes. It is shown as a coordinate point on the detection axis. The operation input handling unit 20 that performs the process in the mixed mode selectively executes the following three types of processes according to the position of the coordinate point. That is, a boundary circle α having a radius of the first threshold ThL and a boundary circle β having a radius of the second threshold ThH around the origin O.
When the coordinate point is located within the boundary circle α, a signal indicating the OFF state is given to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation in the positive or negative direction of the detection axis, and the boundary circles α and β When the coordinate point is located in an intermediate section between the coordinate point and the electronic device 40, a signal indicating the ON state is given to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation regarding the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis, and the coordinate point is located outside the boundary circle β. In this case, the obtained detection value is directly provided to the electronic device 40 as an operation amount for the detection axis.

In other words, when the tilt angle of the stick of the force sensor is a light tilt angle that is within the boundary circle α, the OFF state is indicated for the detection axis closest to the tilt direction. The switch operation signal is transmitted to the electronic device 40
When the inclination angle of the stick of the force sensor is a medium inclination angle included in the intermediate section between the boundary circles α and β, the ON of the detection axis closest to the inclination direction is turned ON. The switch operation signal indicating the state is
0, and when the inclination angle of the stick of the force sensor is a deep inclination angle outside the boundary circle β, the operation according to the inclination angle is performed on the detection axis closest to the inclination direction. The quantity will be provided to the electronic device 40. When the operator intends to perform the switch operation input, the operator enters a range corresponding to the inside of the boundary circle β (the boundary circle α
And the stick operation)
If it is intended to input an operation amount, a stick operation corresponding to the outside of the boundary circle β may be performed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the operation input handling unit 20 when the mixed mode is set. When performing three types of mode settings including the mixed mode,
Three branches are prepared from step S3 in FIG.
As described above, when the manipulated variable mode is set, the process branches to step S4. When the switch mode is set, the process branches to step S5, but when the mixed mode is set. In step S
3 branches to step S11 in FIG. In this step S11, first, the operation input detecting unit 1
The absolute value of the detection value output from 0 is the first threshold value Th
It is determined whether or not L is exceeded. If not exceeded (in the boundary circle α), the process proceeds to step S12,
A signal indicating the FF state is given to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation regarding the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S11 that the absolute value of the detection value exceeds the first threshold value ThL (outside the boundary circle α), the process proceeds to step S13, and this time, the detection value It is determined whether the absolute value exceeds a second threshold ThH. If not exceeded (boundary circle α
In the case between (β) and (β), the process proceeds to step S14,
A signal indicating the state is given to the electronic device 40 as a switch operation regarding the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis. If it is determined in step S13 that the absolute value of the detected value exceeds the second threshold value ThH (outside the boundary circle β), the process proceeds to step S15, and the obtained detected value is directly detected. The operation amount for the axis is given to the electronic device 40. Thus, steps S12, S14, S1
When any one of the processes 5 is executed, the process returns to the step S1 via the step S8 in the flowchart of FIG.

Such a mixed mode is described, for example, in FIG.
In a spreadsheet program as shown in FIG. 3, it is convenient to perform an operation input for moving a selected cell.
For example, as shown in FIG. 13, in a state where cell C3 is selected, the selected cell is moved right by two cells,
In the case of performing the operation of selecting the cell E3, the operation amount input in the positive direction of the X-axis within the range of the intermediate region between the boundary circles α and β shown in FIG. Good.
In this case, the operation input handling unit 20 turns on the X-axis positive direction.
Since a signal indicating that the switch operation indicating the state has been repeatedly performed twice is transmitted to the electronic device 40, the program for “moving the selected cell” operating in the electronic device 40 performs the selection. Processing for moving the cell to the right (positive X-axis direction) by two cells is performed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, if the operation of moving the selected cell to the right by four cells and selecting the cell G3 is performed while the cell C3 is selected,
Although the above-described switch operation input can be repeated four times, an operation amount input in the X-axis positive direction corresponding to the outside of the boundary circle β shown in FIG. Amount) may be executed once. In this case, the operation input handling unit 20 transmits a predetermined operation amount in the positive direction of the X axis to the electronic device 40. Then, a process of moving the selected cell to the right (positive X-axis direction) by four cells (corresponding to the operation amount) is performed. Of course, it is actually difficult to accurately input the operation amount corresponding to the movement amount of four cells, but by subsequently performing the operation input by the switch operation, the position of the selected cell can be finely adjusted. Since such modifications can be made, there is no practical problem. For example, if the user intends to input the operation amount corresponding to the movement of four cells, but actually inputs only the operation amount corresponding to the movement of three cells, the selected cell is only three cells. Will not move,
Subsequently, if a switch operation input in the ON state (operation input within the range of the intermediate region between the boundary circles α and β) is performed, the selected cell can be moved to a desired target position.

As described above, in the operation in the mixed mode, the operation amount mode and the switch mode can be appropriately used depending on the operator's intention, so that a more flexible input operation can be performed, which is convenient. Moreover, the operator adds a larger operation amount (an operation amount outside the boundary circle β) when the movement amount of the cell is large, and a medium operation amount when the movement amount of the cell is small. Since the intuitive operation of adding the amount (the amount of operation that is an intermediate region between the boundary circles α and β) several times may be performed, the operability is extremely good.

In the embodiment shown here, any one of the operation amount mode, the switch mode, and the mixed mode is set by the mode setting unit 30, and the operation input handling unit 20 responds to the set mode. Although an example in which the above-described processing is executed has been described, an apparatus that operates only in the mixed mode is sufficiently useful depending on the use of the input apparatus. In this case, there is no need to provide the mode setting unit 30, and the operation input handling unit 20 always executes the processing in the above-described mixed mode. Alternatively, a mode setting unit 30 having a function of setting two modes, an operation amount mode and a mixed mode, is provided, and one of the modes is set according to a program executed by the electronic device 40. Alternatively, the operation input handling unit 20 may perform the operation amount mode operation or the mixed mode operation according to the set mode. Further, a mode setting unit 30 having a function of setting two modes of a switch mode and a mixed mode is provided, and one of the modes is set according to a program executed by the electronic device 40, The operation input handling unit 20 may perform a switch mode operation or a mixed mode operation according to the set mode.

§4. Force Sensor Suitable for Use of the Present Invention The operation input detection unit 10 which is a component of the electronic device input device according to the present invention is configured using a force sensor. This force sensor may be of any type as long as it has a function of detecting the magnitude of an operation input along a predetermined detection axis as a continuous operation amount. However, in practice, it is preferable to use the one-dimensional force sensor shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 or the two-dimensional force sensor shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. In particular, if a two-dimensional force sensor is used, the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component of the applied operation input can be independently detected. It becomes possible to detect an operation input relating to an arbitrary detection axis such as the V axis or the W axis.

As shown in FIG. 5, the one-dimensional force sensor shown in FIG. 4 has a substrate 4A on which a pair of fixed electrodes E1 and E2 are formed. The capacitance elements C1, C
2, and has a function of detecting the X-axis direction component of the operation input applied to the stick 4C based on the change in the capacitance value. Also, as already mentioned in §1,
If a substrate 5A as shown in FIG. 6 is used instead of the substrate 4A, and four fixed electrodes E11 to E14 are arranged and a diaphragm is provided so as to face these, four sets of capacitive elements C11 to C14 can be formed. Having a two-dimensional force sensor. In this two-dimensional force sensor, the capacitance is added based on the difference between the capacitance value of the capacitance element C11 arranged in the positive direction of the X axis and the capacitance value of the capacitance element C12 arranged in the negative direction of the X axis. The X-axis direction component of the operation input can be detected, and the capacitance value of the capacitance element C13 arranged on the Y axis positive direction and the capacitance element C14 arranged on the Y axis negative direction
The Y-axis direction component of the applied operation input can be detected based on the difference from the capacitance value.

Such a two-dimensional force sensor is eventually XY
A fixing element (substrate 5A) having a fixing surface along a plane;
A displacement element (diaphragm) having a displacement surface facing the fixed surface, and four sets of detectors (capacitance elements C11 to C14)
And the displacement element is configured to cause displacement with respect to the fixed element based on the applied operation input, and
Four sets of detectors are arranged in the X-axis positive direction, the X-axis negative direction, the Y-axis positive direction, and the Y-axis negative direction, respectively. X-axis direction component is detected, and a detector arranged on the Y-axis
This is a sensor capable of detecting the Y-axis component of the applied operation input. It is suitable to use such a type of two-dimensional force sensor for the input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention.

In practice, the Z-axis component of the applied operation input can be detected, and the detected Z-axis component can be detected.
It is preferable that a click operation be input from the operation input detection unit 10 to the electronic device 40 based on the axial component. The input of this click operation is performed by operating the center button B15 in the four-way input device using the switch shown in FIG. 1 or by using the switch shown in FIG.
This corresponds to the operation of the center button B29 in the direction input device. For example, in the icon selection screen shown in FIG. 12, when the user moves the black frame cursor CU to select a desired icon and then performs an operation of activating application software corresponding to the selected icon, a click operation is usually performed. (Including the so-called double-click operation) in many cases. In addition, on the screen of the spreadsheet program shown in FIG. 13, in many cases, a click operation is required even when a selected cell is determined and then any operation is performed on the selected cell. As described above, the operation input of a general electronic device includes the operation input indicating four directions of up, down, left, and right or eight directions including oblique directions, and the click operation input having no concept of the direction. There are many. Therefore, in practice, it is preferable to provide a function capable of independently detecting the Z-axis direction component of the applied operation input as a click operation input. Hereinafter, three specific examples of force sensors having a function of detecting a Z-axis direction component as a click operation input and suitable for use in the input device for an electronic device according to the present invention will be described.

(1) Force Sensor According to First Embodiment FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of a force sensor according to a first embodiment suitable for use in an input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention. The basic technical idea is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-35264.
No. 5 discloses it. The main components of the force sensor are a substrate 110, a displacement generator 120, and a fixture 130 for mounting the displacement generator 120 on the substrate 110. Here, for convenience of explanation, an XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system is defined by taking the X axis in the right direction in the drawing, the Z axis in the upward direction, and the Y axis in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Substrate 110
Are arranged such that the upper surface is included in the XY plane, and the origin O of the coordinate system is located at the center of the upper surface. On the other hand, the displacement generator 120 is disposed at a position centered on the Z axis above the substrate, and is displaced by receiving an operation input, a fixed portion 123 fixed to the substrate, a displacement portion 121 and a fixed portion. 1
23, and an elastically deforming portion 124.
And is constituted by.

The displacement portion 121 is a columnar member, the connection portion 122 is a thin member with a bowl formed on the periphery of the displacement portion 121 turned down, and the fixing portion 123 is further disposed around the periphery. It is a formed annular member. Fixed part 12
3 is fixed on the substrate 110 by the fixture 130. Further, the elastic deformation portion 124 is a columnar member formed on the lower surface of the displacement portion 121. This displacement generator 12
0 itself is made of silicone rubber, and has a property of causing elastic deformation as a whole. In particular, the connecting portion 122 having a small thickness and the elastically deforming portion 124 protruding downward include:
It has a structure that causes large elastic deformation.

On the lower surface of the displacement part 121, three kinds of electrodes (conductive layers) are formed: a contact displacement electrode F20A, a wiring electrode F20B, and a displacement electrode F20C. The contact displacement electrode F20A is formed of a disc-shaped conductive layer formed on the bottom surface of the elastic deformation portion 124, and the wiring electrode F20B is formed of a cylindrical conductive layer formed on the side surface of the elastic deformation portion 124. The electrode F20C is formed of a washer-shaped conductive layer formed on the periphery of the bottom surface of the displacement part 121. The wiring electrode F20B includes a contact displacement electrode F20A and a displacement electrode F2.
The three types of electrodes constitute a single conductive layer connected to each other. On the other hand, as shown in the top view of FIG. 17, a total of nine electrodes (in the figure, each electrode portion is hatched to clarify the shape of the electrode pattern) are provided on the upper surface of the substrate 110. Is formed. On the innermost side, four contact fixed electrodes E21 to E24 are arranged at positions on the X-axis or the Y-axis, and an annular fixed electrode E29 is arranged therearound. Further outside, four fixed electrodes E
25 to E28 are arranged at positions on the X axis or the Y axis. Here, the four fixed electrodes for contact E21 to E24 are used.
Are arranged at positions where they can come into contact with the contact displacement electrode F20A, and the five fixed electrodes E25 to E29 are arranged at positions facing the washer-shaped displacement electrode F20C.

Here, the capacitive elements constituted by the fixed electrodes E25 to E29 and the washer-shaped displacement electrodes F20C opposed thereto are respectively replaced with the capacitive elements C25 to C2.
I will call it 9 Each of these capacitive elements is a displacement unit 1
It functions as a detector whose capacitance value changes due to the displacement of 21. However, the fixed electrodes E21 to E29 formed on the upper surface of the substrate 110 are wired by a wiring layer (not shown) to the signal processing circuit for the force sensor. No wiring is applied to the formed displacement electrode F20C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, when no operation input is applied to the displacement unit 121, the contact displacement electrode F20A and each contact fixed electrode E21 are in a non-contact state, and the displacement electrode F20A , F20B, F20
C maintains an electrically floating state. Therefore, the capacitance values of the capacitance elements C25 to C29 cannot be detected on the signal processing circuit side.

However, if a predetermined operation input is applied to the displacement unit 121 and the operation input has a negative Z-axis component, the flexible connection unit 122 bends and the displacement unit 121 is bent. 121 causes displacement with respect to the substrate 110, and the lower end of the elastically deformable portion 124 approaches the substrate 110. Eventually, the contact displacement electrode F20A becomes
When an operation input having a component in the Z-axis direction sufficient to make contact with any one of the contact fixed electrodes E21 to E24 is applied, the displacement electrode F20C becomes the contact fixed electrodes E21 to E2.
4. The contact displacement electrode F20 in contact with any one of
A is connected to the signal processing circuit via A, and the X-axis component and the Y-axis component of the operation input are detected independently. That is, X is determined based on the difference between the capacitance value of the capacitance element C25 and the capacitance value of the capacitance element C26.
The axial component is detected, and the Y-axis component is detected based on the difference between the capacitance value of the capacitance element C27 and the capacitance value of the capacitance element C28. In this embodiment, it is also possible to detect a component in the Z-axis direction based on the capacitance value of the capacitance element C29.

FIG. 18 is an equivalent circuit of the force sensor shown in FIG. As described above, the electrode E on the substrate 110 side
Wiring is applied to 21 to E29, and terminals T
Although connected to 21 to T29, the electrodes F20A, F20B, and F20C formed on the displacement portion 121 side are normally in an electrically floating state as illustrated. However, when an operation input having a Z-axis direction component is applied,
Contact displacement electrode F20A functioning as switch SW
Is in a contact state with any of the contact fixed electrodes E21 to E24, and a terminal (any of T21 to T24) wired to the contact fixed electrode in the contact state is provided with:
By measuring the capacitance value between the terminals T25 to T29, the capacitance value of each capacitance element C25 to C29 can be obtained.

For example, if the operator applies a force in the positive direction of the X axis while pushing the upper surface of the displacement portion 121 toward the substrate 110 (while applying a force in the negative direction of the Z axis),
Although the intervals between the electrodes constituting each of the capacitance elements C25 to C29 are all short, the bending of the connection portion 122 and the elastic deformation portion 12
Since the displacement portion 121 is displaced in the positive direction of the X axis based on the elastic deformation of No. 4, the electrode interval of the capacitive element C25 disposed in the positive direction of the X axis is disposed in the negative direction of the X axis. The distance between the electrodes constituting the capacitance element C26 is further shorter than the capacitance value of the capacitance element C25.
6 is larger than the capacitance value. Thus, by measuring the difference between the capacitance values of the two capacitance elements C25 and C26 arranged on the X-axis, the X-axis component of the operation input can be obtained. Similarly, both capacitance elements C27,
By measuring the difference between the capacitance values of C28, the Y-axis component of the operation input can be obtained, and by measuring the capacitance value of the capacitive element C29, the Z-axis component of the operation input can be obtained. You can also.

However, it is possible to detect such a capacitance value of each capacitance element after the switch SW in the equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 18 is turned on, that is, the contact displacement electrode F20A Fixed electrode E21 for contact
This is after contacting any one of E24 to E24. This means that this force sensor has a so-called “play” area, and even if the operator applies a slight operation input to the displacement section 121, such an operation input will not be signal processed. It will not be detected by some circuits. In other words, in the input device for an electronic device using the force sensor according to this embodiment, the operation input is effective only when an operation input that pushes the upper surface of the displacement portion 121 with a certain force is applied. Will be detected.

Note that the click operation (input operation only in the negative direction of the Z axis, which has no directional component in the X or Y axis) when the force sensor according to this embodiment is used is detected by contact. Displacement electrode F20A and four contact fixed electrodes E21
To E24. Specifically, for example, Z
When an input operation is performed only in the negative direction of the axis, the elastically deforming portion 124 shown in FIG. 16 moves in parallel to the position directly below and comes into contact with all four contact fixed electrodes E21 to E24. In the equivalent circuit shown in FIG.
When it is detected that all of T24 to T24 are in a short-circuit state, it may be handled as if there was a click operation. Alternatively, when the significant X-axis component and the significant Y-axis component are not detected even though the capacitance value of the capacitor C29 is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold, the elastic deformation is performed. It is also possible to determine that the part 124 has been translated right below and treat it as if there was a click operation. When the click operation is detected by the latter method, the four contact fixed electrodes E21 to E24 shown in FIG. 17 may be replaced with one short-circuited electrode.

FIG. 19 is a side sectional view showing a modified example of the force sensor according to the first embodiment (the force sensor shown in FIG. 16). The difference from the force sensor shown in FIG. 16 is that a displacement generator 120A having no elastic
A disk-shaped displacement electrode FF20 is formed on the entire lower surface of the displacement portion 121.
(Contact displacement electrode F20 in the force sensor shown in FIG. 16)
A, which also has the function of the wiring electrode F20B and the displacement electrode F20C), and the contact fixed electrodes E21 to E24 shown in FIG. This is the point that the electrodes EE21 to EE24 are provided. Since the contact fixed electrodes EE21 to EE24 having a height are provided, the central portion of the displacement electrode FF20 can easily contact the contact fixed electrodes EE21 to EE24. Can perform almost the same function as the force sensor shown in FIG. Also in the case of this modification, the click operation is performed by the capacitive element C2.
If the detection is performed based on the capacitance value of 9, the four fixed electrodes for contact EE21 to EE24 can be replaced by a single short-circuited electrode.

(2) Force Sensor According to Second Embodiment FIG. 20 is a side sectional view of a force sensor according to a second embodiment suitable for use in the input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention. The basic technical idea is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-3770.
No. 24 is disclosed. The main components of this force sensor are a substrate 210, a displacement generator 220, a cap 230 that covers the center of the displacement generator 220, and a fixture 240 for mounting the displacement generator 220 on the substrate 210. is there. Here, for convenience of explanation, an XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system is defined by taking the X axis in the right direction in the drawing, the Z axis in the upward direction, and the Y axis in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Substrate 21
0 is arranged such that the upper surface is included in the XY plane, and the origin O of the coordinate system is located at the center of the upper surface. On the other hand, the displacement generator 220 is disposed at a position centered on the Z-axis above the substrate, and is displaced in response to an operation input, a fixed portion 223 fixed to the substrate, a displacement portion 221 and the fixed portion. 223 and a connection unit 222 that connects the H.223 with the H.223.

The displacement part 221 is a cylindrical member, the connection part 222 is a thin washer-shaped member formed around the displacement part 221, and the fixed part 223 is further formed around the periphery. It is an annular member. The fixing part 223 is fixed on the substrate 210 by the fixture 240. The cap 230 includes an operation body 231 functioning as a main body thereof, and a pressing rod 232 extending downward from a center position of the operation body 231, and is bonded to the displacement portion 221. The center position of the displacement portion 221 (Z
A portion along the axis) is formed with a through hole through which the pressing rod 232 is inserted, and the pressing rod 232 is
1 protrudes further downward. In this embodiment, the displacement generator 220 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and the cap 230 is made of a rigid material such as plastic. Since the connecting portion 222 is made of an elastic material having a small thickness, it has sufficient flexibility.

The substrate 210 is a basic element in the form of a flat plate. In this embodiment, a general printed circuit board for circuit mounting is used. When a printed circuit board is used as the substrate 210 as described above, electrodes and wirings can be easily formed on the substrate 210, and a force sensor suitable for mass production can be realized. FIG. 21 is a top view of the substrate 210. A thin switch 250 is arranged at the center of the substrate 210, that is, at the position of the origin O. The thin switch 250 is a switch used for detecting a click operation input, and operates based on a pressing force (a pressing force having a Z-axis direction component) from above. That is, in the steady state, the OFF state is maintained, but when a pressing force is applied, the state changes to the ON state. Although any specific structure of the thin switch 250 may be adopted, in this embodiment, the metal dome 251 (the substrate 210
It is arranged so that the bowl is prone at the center position of
The mechanical switch which operates using the deformation of the above is used.

Around the thin switch 250, four inner electrodes E31 to E34 are formed, and a single annular common outer electrode E30 is formed outside the inner electrodes E31 to E34. Here, the first inner electrode E31 is disposed at the X-axis positive direction position, the second inner electrode E32 is disposed at the X-axis negative direction position, and the third inner electrode E33 is disposed at the Y-axis positive direction position. , The fourth inner electrode E34 is arranged at a position in the Y-axis negative direction. Each of the inner electrodes has the same shape and size, and is arranged at a position separated by the same distance from the origin O so as to be symmetric with respect to the X axis or the Y axis. This is to make the sensitivity of the X-axis operation input and the sensitivity of the Y-axis operation input equal and to avoid interference between them. On the other hand, the common outer electrode E30 is
It is a single annular electrode arranged so as to surround the periphery of 31 to E34, and its center coincides with the origin O. A circle drawn by a broken line further outside the common outer electrode E30 indicates an outer peripheral contour position of the displacement generator 220 shown in FIG.

However, the common outer electrode E30 does not necessarily need to be physically constituted by a single annular electrode.
That is, in principle, the first outer electrode disposed outside the first inner electrode E31 and the second inner electrode E32
A second outer electrode disposed on the outer side, a third outer electrode disposed on the outer side of the third inner electrode E33, and a fourth
And the fourth outer electrode disposed outside the inner electrode E34 may be disposed on the substrate. However, as described later, in the detection circuit used in this embodiment, these outer electrodes are electrically connected to each other so as to have the same electric potential. Therefore, in practice, four physically independent outer electrodes are used. It is preferable to physically arrange a single common outer electrode E30 as shown in the figure, rather than to arrange each of them.

The side sectional view of FIG.
This corresponds to a cross-sectional view cut along the Z plane. However, in order to avoid the figure being complicated, FIG. 20 and FIG.
In the figure, only the cross section of each electrode formed on the substrate 210 is shown, and illustration of a portion seen behind the cross section is omitted. In addition, four inner electrodes E31
The insulating film R is formed on the upper surfaces of E34 to E34 (the insulating film R is not shown in the top view of FIG. 21). The insulating film R may be formed of a general resist layer having a certain resistance.

On the other hand, the lower surface of the displacement generator 220 (displacement portion 2
21 and the inner part of the connection part 222)
A washer-shaped displacement electrode E40 is arranged. As shown in the side cross-sectional view of FIG. 20, the displacement electrode E40 has the inner electrodes E31 to E34 and
Are formed so as to oppose each other, and are formed at positions where displacement of the lower surface of the displacement generator 220 occurs. As a result, the first capacitance element C31 is formed by the first inner electrode E31 and a part of the displacement electrode E40, and the second capacitance element C32 is formed by the second inner electrode E32 and a part of the displacement electrode E40. , Third
A third capacitive element C33 is formed by the inner electrode E33 of the third electrode and a part of the displacement electrode E40, and the fourth inner electrode E3
4 and a part of the displacement electrode E40 form a fourth capacitive element C34. Each inner electrode E31 to E
The insulating film R formed on the upper surface of the electrode 34 has a function of preventing each inner electrode from being in electrical contact with the displacement electrode E40.

Next, the function of the force sensor will be described. Here, the case where the operation input F31 as shown in FIG. 22 is added will be described as an example. When such an operation input F31 in the X-axis positive direction is applied,
The displacement generator 220 is deformed as shown in FIG.
That is, the connection portion 222 is bent by the operation input F31,
The displacement part 221 is inclined toward the positive direction of the X axis. At this time, the tip of the pressing rod 232 serves as a fulcrum. However, since a sufficient force has not yet been applied to press the pressing rod 232 downward (in the negative Z-axis direction), the thin switch 250 is turned off. It remains in a state. in this way,
When the displacement portion 221 is tilted in the positive direction of the X-axis, the first capacitive element C31 (the first inner electrode E31 and the displacement electrode E4).
The gap between the electrodes of the capacitive element formed by the opposing portion of the capacitor 0 is narrowed, and conversely, the second capacitive element C32 (the capacitive element formed by the opposing portion of the second inner electrode E32 and the displacement electrode E40). Are wider. as a result,
The capacitance value C31 of the first capacitance element C31 increases, and the capacitance value C32 of the second capacitance element C32 decreases. Therefore, taking the difference between the capacitance values C31 and C32, this difference indicates the amount of inclination of the displacement portion 221 in the X-axis direction.

Conversely, when an operation input is made to incline the displacement portion 221 in the negative direction of the X-axis, the operation shown in FIG.
Of the first capacitive element C
The capacitance value C31 of the second capacitance element C3 decreases.
The capacitance value C32 of 2 increases. Therefore, if the difference between the capacitance values C31 and C32 is calculated, the sign of the difference is reversed. After all, the sign of the difference between the capacitance values C31 and C32 is
Indicates the sign (X-axis positive direction or X-axis negative direction) of the added operation input in the X-axis direction, and the absolute value of the difference indicates the absolute value of the X-axis direction component of the added operation input. become. Similarly, the sign and the operation amount of the Y-axis direction component are determined by the capacitance value C33 of the third capacitance element C33 and the fourth capacitance element C34.
Can be detected from the capacitance value C34.

Here, when a predetermined operation input is given, one of the capacitance values of a pair of capacitance elements arranged on the X axis or the Y axis increases, and the other decreases. However, depending on the case, there may be a case where both the capacitance values of the pair of capacitance elements increase. For example, when the pressing rod 232 is made of a deformable material and contracts in the length direction when the operation input F31 is applied, the operation of the operation input F31 causes the electrode spacing of all the capacitance elements to be narrowed and the total capacitance to be reduced. The capacitance value of the element increases. However, even in such a case where the capacitance value of all the capacitance elements increases, X
There is no difference in that the X-axis component or the Y-axis component of the operation input can be detected based on the difference between the capacitance values of the pair of capacitance elements arranged on the axis or the Y axis.

Actually, a detection circuit as shown in FIG. 23 may be prepared to detect the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component. Here, the C / V conversion circuit 26
Circuits 1 to 264 convert the capacitance values of the capacitance elements C31 to C34 into voltage values V31 to V34, respectively.
The difference circuits 265 and 266 are circuits that output the difference between the respective voltage values. That is, the signal output from the difference circuit 265 to the output terminal Tx is the difference between the voltage values V31 and V32.
This is a signal indicating the difference between the capacitance values C31 and C32. This is a signal indicating the X-axis direction component of the applied operation input. Similarly, the difference circuit 266 sets the output terminal T
The signal output to y is the difference between the voltage values V33 and V34, and is a signal indicating the difference between the capacitance values C33 and C34. This is a signal indicating the Y-axis direction component of the applied operation input.

As described above, the method of detecting the direction and amount of the applied force based on the difference between the capacitance values of the two capacitive elements is a technique already used in the conventional capacitive force sensor. However, the feature of the embodiment shown here is that each capacitor C
In order to detect the capacitance values of 31 to C34, each of the inner electrodes E31 to E34 and the displacement electrode E40 facing the inner electrodes E31 to E34.
Instead of directly measuring the capacitance value between the inner electrodes E31 to E34 and the common outer electrode E30, the capacitance value is measured. For example, when the X-axis direction component of the applied operation input is large to some extent, as shown in FIG. 22, the displacement unit 221 is inclined by a predetermined amount in the positive X-axis direction, and a part of the displacement Electrode E30
Will come into contact with a part of the Therefore, in this state, the common outer electrode E30 and the displacement electrode E40 are in a conductive state, and the first inner electrode E31 and the common outer electrode E30 are in a conductive state.
The capacitance between the first capacitance element 30 and the capacitance value 30 indicates the capacitance value C31 of the first capacitance element C31. After all, even if there is an operation input in the X-axis positive direction operation, the X-axis negative direction operation input, the Y-axis positive direction operation input, or the Y-axis negative direction operation input, the operation amount is the predetermined amount. If it is above the threshold,
Since the displacement electrode E40 and the common outer electrode E30 come into contact with each other at any place, by measuring the electrical characteristics between the common outer electrode E30 and each of the inner electrodes E31 to E34, each capacitance element C31 is measured. To C34 can be obtained, and each axial component of a given operation input can be detected.

In other words, in the circuit shown in FIG.
One of the electrodes drawn as the capacitive elements C31 to C34 is the inner electrode E31 to E34, respectively, but the other electrode is not on the displacement electrode E40 which should be the counter electrode of the capacitive element, but on the substrate 210 side. This is the formed common outer electrode E30. Therefore, in order for the detection circuit shown in FIG. 23 to execute the original detection processing, the displacement electrode E40 and the common outer electrode E30 may come into contact with each other at any point and be in an electrically conductive state. It is a premise. Generally, the common outer electrode E30 is connected to the ground potential, and the displacement electrode E40 and the common outer electrode E30 are connected.
The displacement electrode E40 may be configured to be at the ground potential when it comes into contact with 30.

In the force sensor of this embodiment, as described above, the click operation (input operation only in the negative Z-axis direction, having no directional component in the X-axis or Y-axis) is performed by the thin switch 250 as described above. Can be detected. The thin switch 250 is an ON / OFF switch that is turned on based on the pressing force (force in the negative direction of the Z-axis) applied to the pressing rod 232. A click operation can be input from the detection unit to the electronic device.

(3) Force Sensor According to Third Embodiment FIG. 24 is a side sectional view of a force sensor according to a third embodiment suitable for use in the input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention. The basic technical idea is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-1320.
No. 12 discloses it. The main components of the force sensor are a substrate 310, a displacement generator 320, and an attachment 330 for mounting the displacement generator 320 on the substrate 310. Here, for convenience of explanation, the X axis is in the right direction in the drawing, the Z axis is in the upward direction, and the Y axis is in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
Take the axes to define an XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system. Substrate 310
Are arranged such that the upper surface is included in the XY plane, and the origin O of the coordinate system is located at the center of the upper surface. On the other hand, the displacement generator 320 is arranged at a position centered on the Z axis above the substrate, and is displaced by receiving an operation input, a fixed portion 323 fixed to the substrate, 3
And a connection unit 322 for connecting the H.23.

The displacement portion 321 is a cylindrical member, the connection portion 322 is a thin bowl-shaped member formed around the displacement portion 321, and the fixed portion 323 is further formed around the periphery. It is an annular member. The fixing portion 323 is fixed on the substrate 310 by the attachment 330. In this embodiment, the displacement generator 320 is formed by integrally molding insulating silicon rubber. Connection part 322
Is sufficiently flexible because of its small thickness.
FIG. 25 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of the entire displacement generator 320 when an operation input is applied to the displacement unit 321 in the negative direction of the Z axis. The bending of the connecting portion 322 causes the entire displacement portion 321 to move downward.

As described above, the substrate 310 is a flat rigid substrate having an upper surface along the XY plane.
In this embodiment, a glass epoxy substrate is used. Although the material of the substrate 310 is not particularly limited, as described later, it is necessary to form a plurality of resistors that are electrically independent from each other on the upper surface thereof. It is necessary to have sex. Therefore, in practice, it is preferable to use a glass epoxy substrate, a polyimide substrate, a glass substrate, or the like made of an insulating material. Of course, a metal plate can be used as the substrate 310, but in this case, it is necessary to form an insulating film at least on the resistor forming portion on the upper surface.

FIG. 26 is a top view of the substrate 310, and the dashed-dotted rectangle indicates the position of the displacement generator 320 disposed thereon. The cross section of the substrate 310 shown in FIG. 24 is a cross section of the substrate 310 shown in FIG. 26 cut along the X-axis. The upper surface of the substrate 310 is included in the XY plane of the XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system, and the origin O is defined at the center. As shown, six resistors R1 to R6 are formed on the upper surface of the substrate 310. These resistors R1 to R6 are all resistors made of flat carbon in the case of this embodiment. And any shape may be used. However, in practice, it is preferable to use a plate-shaped resistor that can be formed on the upper surface of the substrate 310 by printing using a material such as carbon.

The important point here is that these resistors R1 to R1
This is the arrangement of R6. As shown in the drawing, the first resistor R1 is disposed in the X-axis positive region on the upper surface of the substrate 310,
The resistor R2 is disposed in the negative X-axis region on the upper surface of the substrate 310, the third resistor R3 is disposed in the positive Y-axis region on the upper surface of the substrate 310, and the fourth resistor R4 is disposed on the substrate 310. 31
It is arranged in the Y-axis negative area on the upper surface of the zero. Each of the four resistors R1 to R4 has a rectangular shape having the same size, and is arranged so as to be line-symmetric with respect to the X axis or the Y axis. Also, the origin O and each resistor R
The distances from 1 to R4 are also the same.
As will be described later, the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 are used for detecting the X-axis direction component of the applied operation input, and the third resistor R3 and the fourth resistor R4 are ,
It is used for detecting the Y-axis direction component of the added operation input.

On the other hand, the fifth resistor R5 and the sixth resistor R6 are square-shaped plate resistors having the same size as each other. Here, the fifth resistor R5 is arranged so that its center point is located at the position of the origin O, whereas the sixth resistor R6 is arranged at the lower right of these resistor groups. Have been. As described later, the fifth resistor R5 and the sixth resistor R6 are used for detecting a Z-axis direction component of the applied operation input. However, the original detection value of the Z-axis direction component is obtained from the fifth resistor R5, and the sixth resistor R6 is used only for reference of a standard resistance value. Therefore, here, the fifth resistor R5 is referred to as a "Z-axis resistor" and the sixth resistor R6
Is referred to as a “reference resistor”. Z-axis resistor R
5 can be arranged at any position on the upper surface of the substrate 310 in principle, but in order to enhance the detection sensitivity, the origin O
(A position intersecting the Z axis). This is because, due to the structure of the displacement generator 320 according to the present embodiment, the displacement at the central portion (the portion that intersects the Z axis) is the largest. On the other hand, since the reference resistor R6 is a resistor simply used to refer to the resistance value, the reference resistor R6 may be arranged at an arbitrary position on the substrate 310.

The displacement generator 320 is a member arranged on the upper surface of the substrate 310. As shown in FIG. 27, five contact conductors K1 to K5 are formed on the lower surface of the displacement portion 321 located at the center of the displacement generator 320. Each of the contact conductors K1 to K5 has a hemispherical shape and is made of a conductive material that is elastically deformed. Here, conductive silicon rubber is used as the conductive material that is elastically deformed, and the contact conductors K1 to K5 are used.
Are formed by molding conductive silicone rubber into a bowl shape and bonding it to the lower surface of the displacement portion 321. Here, the arrangement of the contact conductors K1 to K5 is important. That is, the contact conductors K1 to K5 are connected to the resistors R1 to R1, respectively.
It is arranged at a position facing R5. The side sectional view of FIG. 1 clearly shows a state in which the contact conductors K1, K2, and K5 are arranged at positions facing the resistors R1, R2, and R5, respectively. Note that no contact conductor is provided at a position facing the reference resistor R6. This is because the reference resistor R6 is a resistor used to refer to the resistance value, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 25, when an operation input including a negative component of the Z-axis direction is applied to the displacement portion 321, the connection portion 322 is bent, and the lower surface of the displacement portion 321 is displaced with respect to the upper surface of the substrate 310. Then, the contact conductors K1 to K5 come into contact with the resistors R1 to R5, and the contact state changes.
More specifically, the area of the contact surface of each conductor for contact with each resistor changes. The basic principle of the force sensor according to the present embodiment is that the area of such a contact surface is detected as a change in the resistance value of the resistor, and the magnitude of the applied operation input is obtained. The principle is as follows.

Now, as shown in the side sectional view of FIG. 28 (a), one resistor R is formed on the upper surface of the substrate 310, and a hemispherical contact conductor is formed on the lower surface of the displacement portion 321. Let K be formed. FIG. 28 (a) shows the displacement portion 32
1 shows a state where the contact conductor K is displaced so as to approach the substrate 310, and the contact conductor K is almost in point contact with the center of the resistor R at its lower end point. FIG. 28B is a top view of the resistor R at this time.
The contact surface of the contact conductor C is shown. As described above, in a state where the lower end point of the contact conductor K is almost in point contact with the surface of the resistor R, the contact surface S is a minute circle close to a point.

Now, as shown in FIG. 28 (b),
Wirings are drawn out from both left and right ends of the resistor R, and terminals T1 and T2 are connected to ends of these wirings.
Suppose that the resistance value between two was measured. In other words, the resistance value between two points sandwiching the “contact position (contact surface S) of the contact conductor K” on the resistor R is measured. In this case, since the contact surface S is a minute circle close to a point, the contact conductor K hardly affects the measured resistance value, and the resistance value obtained by the measurement is This is a value close to the original resistance value. FIG.
(c) is an equivalent circuit of such a measurement system. The arrow extending downward from the contact conductor K only contacts the center point of the resistor R, and only the original resistance value of the resistor R appears between the terminals T1 and T2. .

On the other hand, as shown in the side sectional view of FIG. 29A, the operation input applied to the displacement portion 321 in the downward direction (negative Z-axis direction) of the figure is further increased. Since the contact conductor K is made of a conductive material that is elastically deformed (conductive silicon rubber in this example), the contact conductor K is crushed by the pressing force as shown in FIG. The state of contact with the body R changes. The shape of the contact conductor K is a shape in which the area of the contact surface changes based on such a change in the contact state (in this example, a hemispherical shape). K
Is crushed in the vertical direction, the area of the contact surface increases. FIG. 29B is a top view of the resistor R at this time, and a circle S indicates a contact surface of the contact conductor K. The concentric circle drawn inside the circle S is a resistor R
3 is an isobar showing the distribution of the pressure applied to the surface of FIG. That is, the contact pressure increases toward the center of the circle S.

As described above, when the contact surface of the contact conductor K increases, the resistance value between the two terminals T1 and T2 changes. That is, since the contact conductor K is a conductor and has a property that a current is much more likely to flow than the resistor R, the current flowing between the terminals T1 and T2 is reduced at the contact surface portion indicated by the circle S. Would bypass the inside of the contact conductor K without passing through the inside of the resistor R. FIG. 29C shows an equivalent circuit of such a measurement system. The two arrows extending downward from the contact conductor K are in contact with two places of the resistor R, and the current is diverted to the contact conductor K side at these two places. The interval between the two arrows increases according to the size of the contact surface of the contact conductor K. As a result, the larger the area of the contact surface of the contact conductor K with respect to the resistor R, the more the two terminals T1, T2
The resistance between them will decrease.

In this manner, the larger the negative component in the Z-axis direction of the operation input applied to the displacement unit 321 becomes,
The area of the contact surface of the contact conductor K increases, and both terminals T
The resistance value between T1 and T2 decreases. Although a linear relationship does not always hold between the magnitude of the negative Z-axis component of the operation input and the resistance value between the two terminals, a monovalent functional relationship holds between the two, and the resistance value between the two terminals is reduced. If the measurement can be performed, the magnitude of the applied Z-axis negative direction component can be obtained.

According to such a principle, the use of the force sensor shown in FIG. 24 makes it possible to detect the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis components of the operation input applied to the displacement section 321. In this force sensor, the operation input must always be applied in a form accompanied by the Z-axis negative direction component. For example, the substrate 31 shown in FIG.
It is assumed that an operation input has been applied such that a part of the displacement portion 321 located above the zero resistor R1 is pressed downward with a finger. Thus, an operation input that pushes a position shifted in the X-axis positive direction is an operation input in the X-axis positive direction. In this case, first, the contact conductor K1 contacts the resistor R1. Depending on the force of the pushing finger, only one set of the contact conductor K1 and the resistor R1 may be in a contact state, or all the contact conductors K1 to K5 and the resistors R1 to R5 may be in a contact state. In some cases. However, in any case, when the degree of collapse of the contact conductors K1 and K2 arranged on the X-axis is compared, the degree of collapse of K1 is larger than that of K2. Therefore, the contact area of K1 with R1 is K2
Is larger than the contact area with respect to R2. Therefore, for example, if the resistance values at both ends of the resistors R1 and R2 shown in FIG. 26 are measured, the resistance value of the resistor R1 is smaller than the resistance value of the resistor R2. The greater the difference between the two resistance values, the greater the component in the X-axis direction of the applied operation input.

Eventually, the resistors R1 and R2 arranged on the X axis
, The X-axis direction component of the applied operation input can be detected, and the resistor R disposed on the Y-axis can be detected.
3 and R4, the applied operation input Y
An axial component can be detected. Further, in this embodiment, by measuring the resistance value of the resistor R5, the Z-axis direction component of the applied operation input can be detected.
In this case, the resistance value of the reference resistor R6 may be compared with the resistance value of the resistor R5. Then, the input of the click operation can be transmitted to the electronic device.

When using the force sensor according to this embodiment, a detection circuit as shown in FIG. 30 may be prepared. The circuit shown in FIG. 30A uses the resistors R1 and R2 to output the detection value of the X-axis direction component of the operation input to the output terminal Tx.
Is a detection circuit that outputs a signal. In this detection circuit, an X-axis detection resistor is formed by connecting a first resistor R1 and a second resistor R2 in series at an X-axis detection connection point Jx. As shown in FIG. 28B, both end points of the first resistor R1 or the second resistor R2 are
The center point on both short sides on the left and right sides of the rectangular resistor is set so that the current flows in the left and right directions in the figure.
Of course, any two end points may be used as the end points of each resistor R as long as they sandwich the contact position of the contact conductor K. For example, in FIG. The current may flow in the vertical direction in the figure by setting the center point on both the upper and lower long sides of the resistor in the shape of a circle.

In the circuit of FIG. 30A, the first resistor R1
X constituted by a series connection of the second resistor R2
The axis detecting resistor has an upper end connected to the power supply Vcc, a lower end grounded, and a state in which a constant power supply voltage Vcc is applied to both ends. Here, the voltage output to the output terminal Tx is a voltage at the connection point Jx for X-axis detection, and the power supply voltage Vcc is changed by the resistance value of the first resistor R1 and the resistance value of the second resistor R2. It is equivalent to the value apportioned with the value. As described above, when the operation input indicating the X-axis positive direction is applied, the resistance value of the first resistor R1 decreases as compared with the resistance value of the second resistor R2. Therefore, the voltage output to the output terminal Tx increases. Conversely, when an operation input indicating the negative direction of the X-axis is applied, the voltage output to the output terminal Tx decreases. As a result, the voltage value output to the output terminal Tx in a state where no operation input is applied (theoretically, Vcc
/ 2), the operation input in the positive direction of the X-axis having a magnitude corresponding to the increase is applied when the voltage value increases, and when the voltage value decreases, That is, an operation input in the X-axis negative direction having a size corresponding to the descending width is applied. Thus, FIG.
The use of the detection circuit of (a) enables detection of the X-axis direction component of the applied operation input based on the output voltage of the output terminal Tx.

Similarly, if the detection circuit shown in FIG. 30B is used, it is possible to detect the Y-axis direction component of the applied operation input based on the output voltage of the output terminal Ty. Further, if the detection circuit shown in FIG. 30C is used, the Z-axis component of the applied operation input can be detected based on the output voltage of the output terminal Tz, and this can be used as the detection of a click operation. can do.

The force sensor suitable for use in the input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention has been described based on several embodiments. Of course, the present invention utilizes the force sensor described in these embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to use other types of force sensors.

[0120]

As described above, according to the input device for an electronic device of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately use the operation input of the switch operation in the specific direction and the operation input of the operation amount in the specific direction. An input device for a device can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a four-way type input device using a conventional general switch.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an eight-way input device using a conventional general switch.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional input device using a general two-dimensional force sensor.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a conventional input device using a general one-dimensional force sensor.

5 is a top view of an input device of the type using the one-dimensional force sensor shown in FIG.

6 is a top view showing an electrode arrangement on a substrate when the input device of the type using the one-dimensional force sensor shown in FIG. 4 is extended to a two-dimensional force sensor.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an X-axis direction component and a Y-axis direction component of a force detected by a two-dimensional force sensor are plotted on a two-dimensional coordinate system.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an input device for an electronic device according to the present invention.

9 is a diagram illustrating a boundary circle α indicating a threshold Th on the two-dimensional coordinate system illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a basic operation of the electronic device input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display screen during execution of a program for displaying a map.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display screen during execution of a program for selecting an icon.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display screen during execution of a spreadsheet program.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a boundary circle α indicating a first threshold ThL and a boundary circle β indicating a second threshold ThH on the two-dimensional coordinate system illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic device input device according to the present invention when the mixed mode is set.

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of a force sensor according to the first embodiment, which is suitable for use in the input device for electronic equipment according to the present invention.

17 is a plan view showing an electrode pattern on a substrate 110 of the force sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is an equivalent circuit of the force sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a side sectional view showing a modification of the force sensor shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a side sectional view of a force sensor according to a second embodiment suitable for use in the input device for an electronic device according to the present invention.

21 is a top view of the substrate 210 of the force sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 22 is a side sectional view for explaining the operation of the force sensor shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram showing a detection circuit used in the force sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 24 is a side sectional view of a force sensor according to a third embodiment which is suitable for use in the input device for an electronic device according to the present invention.

25 is a side sectional view illustrating the operation of the force sensor shown in FIG. 24.

26 is a top view of the substrate 310 of the force sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 27 shows contact conductors K1 to K1 of the force sensor shown in FIG.
It is a figure showing arrangement of K5.

28 is a side sectional view (a), a plan view (b), and an equivalent circuit (c) showing a first contact state between the contact conductor C and the resistor R in the force sensor shown in FIG. 24.

29 is a side sectional view (a), a plan view (b), and an equivalent circuit (c) showing a second contact state between the contact conductor C and the resistor R in the force sensor shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 30 is a circuit diagram showing a detection circuit used for the force sensor shown in FIG. 24;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 4 direction input device using switch 2 ... 8 direction input device using switch 3 ... Joystick using gauge resistance type force sensor 3A ... substrate 3B ... stick 4 ... Joystick using capacitive type force sensor 4A ... substrate 4B: Diaphragm 4C: Stick 4D: Screw 5A: Board 10: Operation input detection unit 20: Operation input handling unit 30: Mode setting unit 40: Electronic device 110: Substrate 120, 120A: Displacement generator 121: Displacement unit 122: Connection Part 123 ... Fixed part 124 ... Elastic deformation part 130 ... Mounting tool 210 ... Substrate 220 ... Displacement generator 221 ... Displacement part 222 ... Connecting part 223 ... Fixed part 230 ... Cap 231 ... Operation body 232 ... Pressing rod 240 ... Mounting tool 250 … Thin switch 251… Metal dome 261-264… C / V conversion circuit 26 5,266 difference circuit 310 board 320 displacement generator 321 displacement part 322 connecting part 323 fixing part 330 mounting fixture B11-B15, B21-B29 switch button CU black frame cursor C31-C34 capacity Elements E1, E2, E11 to E14 ... fixed electrodes E21 to E24 ... fixed electrodes for contact E25 to E29 ... fixed electrodes EE21 to EE24 ... fixed electrodes for contact E30 ... common outer electrodes E31 to E34 ... inner electrodes E40 ... displacement electrodes F20A ... Contact displacement electrode F20B: Wiring electrode F20C: Displacement electrode FF20: Displacement electrode F31: Operation input G11 to G14: Gauge resistance Jx, Jy, Jz: Connection point K, K1 to K5: Contact conductor Q: Coordinate point, Projection point R: insulating film / resistor R1 to R6: resistor S: contact surface SW: switch Th, ThL, hH ... threshold T1, T2, T21~T29, Tx, Ty, Tz ... terminal V31~V34 ... voltage Vcc ... the power supply voltage α, β ... boundary circle

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiromichi Itano 4-73, Sugaya, Ageo-shi, Saitama Prefecture Wako Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Okada 4-73, Sugaya, Ageo-shi, Saitama F-term (reference) 2C001 BB00 BB08 BC00 BC01 CA00 CA01 CA06 CA09 5B087 AA09 BC02 BC08 BC12 BC13 BC17 BC33 BC34 DD03

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An input device for performing an operation input indicating a direction to an electronic device which executes a predetermined process based on a predetermined program, wherein the input device outputs an output when no operation input is applied. An operation input that outputs a positive or negative detection value according to the magnitude of the applied operation input when an operation input in a positive or negative direction along a predetermined detection axis is applied as a zero point reference output. A detection unit, an operation amount mode for handling the applied operation input as a continuous operation amount along the detection axis, and a switch mode for handling the added operation input as a switch operation regarding the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis. A mode setting unit that has a function of setting one of the modes, and sets one of the modes in accordance with a program executed by the electronic device. When the switch mode is set, the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit is given to the electronic device as an operation amount for the detection axis. The absolute value of the detection value detected by the input detection unit is compared with a predetermined threshold value.
If the threshold value is not exceeded, a signal indicating the OFF state is output.
An input device for an electronic device, comprising: an operation input handling unit that gives the electronic device as a switch operation related to a positive direction or a negative direction of the detection axis. 2. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the mode setting unit further has a function of setting a mixed mode for performing a mixed operation of the operation amount mode and the switch mode. When the mode is set, the operation input handling unit determines the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit as a first threshold value and a second threshold value (first threshold value). If the signal does not exceed the first threshold value, a signal indicating the OFF state is given to the electronic device as a switch operation relating to the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis. Between the threshold value and the second threshold value, a signal indicating the ON state is given to the electronic device as a switch operation relating to the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis, and the signal exceeds the second threshold value. If so, the detected value is Operation amount input device for an electronic device, which comprises carrying out the process of giving the electronic device as for Dejiku. 3. An input device for performing an operation input indicating a direction to an electronic device that executes a predetermined process based on a predetermined program, wherein the input device outputs an output when no operation input is applied. An operation input that outputs a positive or negative detection value according to the magnitude of the applied operation input when an operation input in a positive or negative direction along a predetermined detection axis is applied as a zero point reference output. A detecting unit, and comparing an absolute value of a detection value detected by the operation input detecting unit with a first threshold value and a second threshold value (first threshold value <second threshold value). If the signal does not exceed the first threshold, a signal indicating the OFF state is given to the electronic device as a switch operation in the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis, and the first threshold value and the second threshold value If the signal indicates the ON state, Given to the electronic device as a switch operation about the positive or negative direction of the detection axis,
An operation input handling unit having a function of performing a mixed mode operation of providing the electronic device with the detected value as a continuous operation amount along the detection axis if the detected value exceeds the second threshold value. Characteristic input device for electronic equipment. 4. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the input device has a function of setting at least two modes of an operation amount mode and a mixed mode, and according to a program executed by the electronic device. And a mode setting unit for setting any one of the modes. The operation input handling unit, when the operation amount mode is set, converts the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit into an operation for the detection axis. An input device for an electronic device, wherein the input device performs an operation amount mode operation to be given to the electronic device as a quantity, and performs the mixed mode operation when the mixed mode is set. 5. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the input device has a function of setting at least two modes of a switch mode and a mixed mode, and according to a program executed by the electronic device. A mode setting unit for setting any one of the modes is further provided. The operation input handling unit, when the switch mode is set, sets the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit to a predetermined threshold value. When the threshold value is exceeded, a signal indicating the ON state is given to the electronic device as a switch operation relating to the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis, and a signal indicating the OFF state is provided to the electronic device when the threshold value is not exceeded. An input device for an electronic device, which performs a switch mode operation and performs a mixed mode operation when a mixed mode is set. 6. The electronic device input device according to claim 3, further comprising a function of setting at least three modes of a manipulated variable mode, a switch mode, and a mixed mode, wherein the program is executed by the electronic device. A mode setting unit for setting any one of the modes according to the operation input handling unit. When the operation amount mode is set, the operation input handling unit outputs a detection value detected by the operation input detection unit to a detection axis. Perform an operation amount mode operation to be given to the electronic device as the operation amount for, and when the switch mode is set, compare the absolute value of the detection value detected by the operation input detection unit with a predetermined threshold value, If the threshold is exceeded, a signal indicating the ON state is output.
A switch mode operation for giving a signal indicating the FF state to the electronic device as a switch operation in the positive direction or the negative direction of the detection axis is performed, and when the mixed mode is set, the mixed mode operation is performed. Input device for electronic equipment. 7. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation input detection unit detects the applied operation input as a detection value for one of a plurality of detection axes. The operation input handling unit provides a detection value for the one detection axis to an electronic device after performing necessary processing according to a predetermined mode. Input device for equipment. 8. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation input detecting unit includes an X-axis direction component and a Y-axis direction component of the operation input applied in the XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system. And a detection value corresponding to the magnitude of the applied operation input based on the X-axis direction component and the Y-axis direction component detected by the force sensor. An input device for an electronic device, characterized in that the input device is obtained. 9. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the operation input detection unit detects a forward direction of the X axis based on the X axis direction component and the Y axis direction component detected by the force sensor.
An input device for an electronic device, having a function of selectively detecting an operation input in one of four directions of a negative direction of an X-axis, a positive direction of a Y-axis, and a negative direction of a Y-axis. 10. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the operation input detecting unit further comprises:
When defining the V axis and the W axis that form °, the operation sensor detects four diagonal directions of the positive direction of the V axis, the negative direction of the V axis, the positive direction of the W axis, and the negative direction of the W axis by the force sensor. An electronic device having a function of detecting by combining the obtained X-axis direction component and Y-axis direction component, and a function of selectively detecting an operation input in any one of eight directions. Input device. 11. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the force sensor in the operation input detection unit has a fixed element having a fixed surface along the XY plane, and a force element facing the fixed element. A displacement element having a displacement surface, and four sets of detectors, wherein the displacement element generates displacement relative to the fixed element based on an applied operation input; Detectors are on the positive X-axis direction, on the negative X-axis direction,
The X and Y of the operation input applied by the detectors arranged on the positive axis direction and the negative Y axis direction and by the detectors arranged on the X axis, respectively.
An input device for an electronic device, wherein an axial component is detected, and a Y-axis component of an applied operation input is detected by a detector arranged on the Y axis. 12. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the force sensor in the operation input detection unit further has a function of detecting a Z-axis direction component of the applied operation input. An input device for an electronic device, wherein a click operation is input to the electronic device from an operation input detection unit based on the Z-axis direction component. 13. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein a top surface is included in an XY plane, and a substrate arranged such that an origin of a coordinate system is located at a center of the top surface; A displacement unit disposed at a position around the Z axis and displaced in response to an operation input, a fixed unit fixed to the substrate, and a connection unit connecting the displacement unit and the fixed unit; A displacement generator attached to the upper surface of the substrate, a contact displacement electrode formed on the lower surface of the displacement portion, a contact fixed electrode formed at a position facing the contact displacement electrode on the substrate, Four sets of capacitive elements each having a displacement electrode formed on the displacement portion side and a fixed electrode formed on the substrate side so that the capacitance value changes due to the displacement of the displacement portion. And a connector, wherein the connection portion has flexibility Therefore, when an operation input is applied to the displacement unit, the connection unit bends, whereby the displacement unit causes displacement with respect to the substrate, and no operation input is applied to the displacement unit. In the case where the contact displacement electrode and the contact fixed electrode maintain a non-contact state, and when a predetermined amount of operation input including a Z-axis direction component in the coordinate system is applied to the displacement unit, The contact displacement electrode and the contact fixed electrode are brought into contact with each other, the displacement electrode forming the capacitive element and the contact displacement electrode are electrically connected, and the contact displacement electrode and the contact When the fixed electrode is in a contact state, by electrically detecting a change in a capacitance value between the fixed electrode for contact and the fixed electrode forming the capacitive element, the applied operation input is applied. Recognize the magnitude of the predetermined direction component Input device for an electronic device, characterized in that to use a force sensor that can be. 14. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 13, wherein a click operation is input from the operation input detection unit to the electronic device based on a contact state between the contact displacement electrode and the contact fixed electrode. An input device for an electronic device, wherein the input device performs the following. 15. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein an upper surface is included in an XY plane, and a substrate disposed such that an origin of a coordinate system is located at a center of the upper surface. A displacement unit disposed at a position around the Z axis and displaced in response to an operation input, a fixed unit fixed to the substrate, and a connection unit connecting the displacement unit and the fixed unit; Attached to the upper surface of the substrate, the connection portion has flexibility, and when the X-axis operation input is applied to the displacement portion, the displacement portion tilts with respect to the X-axis. And a displacement generator that generates a displacement such that the displacement unit is inclined with respect to the Y axis when a Y-axis operation input is applied to the displacement unit; A first inner electrode, disposed at a position on the upper surface of the substrate in the negative X-axis direction; 2, a third inner electrode disposed at a position in the Y-axis positive direction on the substrate upper surface, a fourth inner electrode disposed at a Y-axis negative direction position on the substrate upper surface, A first outer electrode disposed outside the first inner electrode at the X-axis positive direction position; and a second outer electrode disposed outside the second inner electrode at the X-axis negative direction position on the substrate upper surface. An outer electrode, a third outer electrode disposed outside the third inner electrode at a Y-axis positive direction position on the substrate upper surface, and a fourth inner electrode at a Y-axis negative direction position on the substrate upper surface. A fourth outer electrode disposed on the outside, the first inner electrode, the first outer electrode, the second inner electrode, the second outer electrode, the third inner electrode,
The third outer electrode, the fourth inner electrode, and the fourth outer electrode are formed at positions where displacement of the lower surface of the displacement generator is generated so as to face each of the fourth outer electrode, and the displacement portion is in the X-axis positive direction. When a part thereof contacts the first outer electrode when inclined by a predetermined amount toward, and when the displacement part is inclined by a predetermined amount toward the negative direction of the X-axis, a part thereof When the displacement portion is in contact with the outer electrode and is inclined by a predetermined amount in the positive Y-axis direction, a portion thereof contacts the third outer electrode, and the displacement portion faces the Y-axis negative direction. When tilted by a fixed amount, a displacement electrode part of which is configured to contact the fourth outer electrode, When the displacement electrode contacts any of the outer electrodes,
A first capacitance value indicating a capacitance of a first capacitance element formed by the first inner electrode and the displacement electrode is set to a value between the outer electrode in contact with the displacement electrode and the first capacitance value. The second inner electrode and the displacement electrode are measured based on electrical characteristics between the second inner electrode and the displacement electrode.
Measuring a second capacitance value indicating the capacitance of the capacitive element based on the electrical characteristics between the outer electrode and the second inner electrode that are in contact with the displacement electrode, A third capacitance value indicating a capacitance of a third capacitance element formed by the third inner electrode and the displacement electrode, by changing the third capacitance value between the outer electrode in contact with the displacement electrode and the third inner electrode. And a fourth capacitance value indicating a capacitance of a fourth capacitance element formed by the fourth inner electrode and the displacement electrode, which is measured based on an electric characteristic between the fourth inner electrode and the displacement electrode. The first capacitance value and the second capacitance value are measured based on an electrical characteristic between an outer electrode in contact with an electrode and the fourth inner electrode.
A detection value for the X-axis operation input based on the difference between the third capacitance value and the fourth capacitance value.
And a detection circuit for outputting a detection value for the Y-axis operation input based on a difference from the capacitance value of the input device. 16. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 15, wherein a pressing rod is provided at a position along the Z-axis on the lower surface of the displacement unit, and an ON / OFF switch is provided at a position near the origin on the upper surface of the substrate. ON / OFF based on the pressing force applied to the rod
A switch is configured to operate, and a click operation is input from the operation input detection unit to the electronic device based on the operation of the ON / OFF switch. apparatus. 17. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein a top surface is included in an XY plane, and a substrate arranged such that an origin of a coordinate system is located at a center of the top surface; A displacement unit disposed at a position around the Z axis and displaced in response to an operation input, a fixed unit fixed to the substrate, and a connection unit connecting the displacement unit and the fixed unit; A displacement generator attached to the upper surface of the substrate; a first resistor disposed in an X-axis positive region, an X-axis negative region, a Y-axis positive region, and a Y-axis negative region on the upper surface of the substrate; , A third resistor, a fourth resistor, and the first resistor, the second resistor, the third resistor, and the fourth resistor on the lower surface of the displacement unit. , A first contact conductor, a second contact conductor, and a third contact conductor, An electrical body and a fourth contact conductor, wherein the connecting portion has flexibility, and when an operation input is applied to the displacement portion, the connecting portion bends. The lower surface of the displacement portion is displaced with respect to the upper surface of the substrate, and based on the displacement, the contact state of the conductor for contact with the resistor changes. The conductor is made of a conductive material that is elastically deformed, and has a shape in which the area of the contact surface changes based on a change in the state of contact with each of the resistors. A force sensor capable of detecting an X-axis operation input and a Y-axis operation input applied to the displacement unit based on the change is used. 18. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 17, further comprising a fifth resistor in a region near the origin on an upper surface of the substrate,
The fifth lower surface of the displacement portion is located at a position facing the fifth resistor.
And a click operation input from the operation input detection unit to the electronic device is performed based on a contact state of the fifth contact conductor with the fifth resistor. An input device for electronic equipment, characterized in that: