JP2002216583A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device where downsizing of a character input can be achieved. SOLUTION: In the device, a switch 35 directly under a finger FG can be turned on through a bendable pole 34d when an elastic sheet 32 is pushed down by the finger FG. On the other hand, the sheet 32 is most sunken in a part where the finger FG is brought into contact and inclination is generated in other parts of the sheet 32. Therefore, since axial centers of the bendable poles 34a, 34b, 34c, 34e and 34f that are extended from the backside of the inclined sheet 32 inclined in a vertical direction (axis Z), turning on of the lower switch 35 through these poles become difficult. Due to the constitution of an input 3, since the switch can be pushed down just like having a needle-like pole attached to the finger, the panel space required for the switch 35 and installation spacing can be made small so that the character input can be downsized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an input device capable of inputting a plurality of characters.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, relatively small keyboards (input devices) such as portable terminals have been commercialized. On the other hand, in order to input characters with a mobile phone or the like, it is convenient if there is a character input unit such as a keyboard that can easily input a plurality of characters.

However, in the conventional keyboard, since each key is arranged independently, each key is arranged so that the fingertip of the operator does not interfere with an adjacent key and press it. A certain occupation area corresponding to the above is required. Therefore, with such an independent arrangement of keys, there is a limit in reducing the size of the character input unit. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an input device that can reduce the size of a character input unit.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch having a main body and a movable portion, the switch being turned on when the movable portion moves in a predetermined direction. An input device comprising a plurality of switches, wherein the switch is mounted on a predetermined surface with the predetermined direction being substantially vertical,
(A) an elastic sheet stretched substantially parallel to the predetermined surface above each switch; and (b) a pole extending along the predetermined direction from a lower surface of the elastic sheet above each of the movable portions. And a predetermined character is associated with each of the switches, and one switch is turned on via a pole corresponding to a pressing point of the elastic sheet. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the first aspect of the present invention, an upper end surface of the movable portion has a shape in which a central portion is raised. Further, the invention according to claim 3 has a main body portion and a movable portion, and further includes a plurality of switches that are turned on when the movable portion moves in a predetermined direction. An input device mounted on a predetermined surface, comprising: (a) an elastic sheet stretched substantially parallel to the predetermined surface above each switch; and (b) an movable sheet below the elastic sheet. And a pole extending along the predetermined direction from the first position.
Is turned on. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the pole has flexibility. Further, the invention according to claim 5 has a main body portion and a movable portion, and includes a plurality of switches that are turned on when the movable portion moves in a predetermined direction. An input device mounted on a predetermined surface, wherein: (a) an elastic sheet stretched substantially in parallel with the predetermined surface above each switch; and (b) each of the movable portions along the predetermined direction. A flexible pole provided on the lower surface of the elastic sheet, wherein each of the switches is associated with a predetermined character, and one switch is connected via a pole corresponding to a pressing point of the elastic sheet. Turned on. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the pole has a tubular shape. The invention of claim 7 is
The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: (c) a plate provided for each position of the elastic sheet corresponding to each of the pawls. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects,
(D) further comprising an elastic member provided around each of the switches and provided between the elastic sheet and the predetermined surface. The invention according to claim 9 is an input device capable of inputting a plurality of characters associated with different positions on the first surface, wherein:
A plurality of bars arranged in parallel with each other, and (b) a second surface obtained by shifting the first surface upward, being stretched in parallel with each other and three-dimensionally intersecting with the plurality of bars. (C) when one of the plurality of strings is pressed and the one string and one bar come into contact, the one string and the one bar come into contact with each other Detecting means for detecting the position. Claim 10
In the input device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the ninth aspect, each of the plurality of bars has a pointed end facing each of the plurality of strings. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the plurality of bars and the plurality of strings are substantially orthogonal to each other. According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to any one of the ninth to eleventh aspects, the plurality of bars each have conductivity, and the plurality of strings also have conductivity. Have
(C-1) detecting means for detecting conduction due to contact between the one string and the one bar;
(C-2) There is provided a means for detecting the position where the one string and the one bar are in contact with each other based on a detection result by the detection means. According to a thirteenth aspect, in the input device according to the twelfth aspect, (d)
It further includes an insulating sheet stretched substantially parallel to the second surface above the plurality of strings. According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to any one of the ninth to thirteenth aspects, (e) the four sides of which the lengths of the two opposing sides are equal are equal to each other, and A frame having both ends connected to each other by a hinge having a rotation axis in a direction orthogonal to a surface, wherein the plurality of bars are provided on two opposing sides of the four sides. And the plurality of strings are rotatably connected on the second surface to two sides of the four sides other than the two sides.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of an information processing apparatus 1 functioning as an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Information processing device 1
Is configured as a small personal computer that can be folded at the central part 11, has a display unit 2 and an input unit 3, and is electrically connected to the display unit 2 and the input unit 3 (not shown). have. This control unit is
It has a PU and a memory, and controls the information processing apparatus 1 overall. The display unit 2 has a liquid crystal display 21 on which characters input to the input unit 3 by the operator are displayed. FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating the configuration of the input unit 3. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view as viewed from a position III-III of FIG. The input unit 3 has a concave portion 31 having a rectangular cross section, and has a rectangular sheet 32 on which a square character portion KP on which characters are written is provided on the upper surface thereof. This sheet 32
Is formed of an elastic material extending in the main surface direction, and its edge is connected to the side wall 31a of the concave portion 31 so as to cover the concave portion 31 and is stretched substantially in parallel with the base surface 31b. On the upper surface of the sheet 32, a disk-shaped plate 33 made of, for example, transparent plastic having a certain hardness is provided at the center of each character portion KP. On the other hand, a plurality of elongated poles 34 are connected to the lower surface of the seat 32, and a switch 35 is provided below each pole 34.
The plate 33 is provided for each corresponding position of the seat 32 corresponding to each pole 34. This plate 3
3 serves to guide the fingertip of the operator to the character portion KP, and has a main surface perpendicular to the center axis of the pole 34, so that when the fingertip of the operator presses the plate 34, It also plays the role of guiding the moving direction of the pole 34 in the pushing direction CA. The pole 34 is formed of a flexible material such as rubber, for example, and extends above the switches 35 from the lower surface of the sheet 32 in the pushing direction CA of the switches 35. With such a configuration of the pole 34, the (center axis of) the pole 34 is straight,
That is, when the upper end surface 34S and the lower end surface 34T of the pole 34 are parallel to each other, the upper end surface 3S is pushed along the pushing direction CA.
The force can be transmitted from 4S to the lower end surface 34T. On the other hand, in the state where the pole 34 is bent, the degree of bending increases due to buckling or the like when trying to transmit a force.
It becomes difficult to transmit the force from the bottom to the lower end face 34T. The pole 34 preferably has a tubular, that is, a hollow cylindrical structure. This is because, in the case of a tubular shape, the force can be transmitted more smoothly when the pole 34 is straight, and the load is more severely bent when the pole is bent. Also, the pole 34 that bends when the load is unloaded,
The resilience to return straight will also increase. The switch 35 has a main body 35a and a movable part 35b,
The movable portion 35b is turned on (conducting) by moving in the pushing direction CA. As for the switch 35, the main body 35a is mounted on the base surface 31b with the pushing direction CA substantially vertical. Further, the movable portion 35b of the switch 35 has a curved upper end surface (contact surface) 35f in which a central portion is raised. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the input unit 3 is pressed by the operator. FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the input unit 3 corresponding to FIG. The fingertip FG of the operator moves the plate 33 immediately above the pole 34d downward (−
When pressing down in the Z direction), the force Fa acting in the pressing direction CA is transmitted to the upper end surface 35f of the movable portion 35b via the pole 34d because the central axis of the pole 34d is straight, and the switch Fa is pressed. 35 can be turned on. In this case, since the plate 33 is hard, the force Fa acting vertically on the main surface of the plate 33 can be appropriately transmitted to the pole 34d extending in a direction perpendicular to the main surface.
The sheet 32 is a plate 33 with which the fingertip FG contacts.
At the point (press point), the fingertip FG
The sheet 32 is inclined about the position where the sheet 32 contacts.
For this reason, the central axes of the poles 34a, 34b, 34c, 34e, and 34f extending from the lower surface of the inclined sheet 32 are also inclined from the vertical (Z-axis) direction. Therefore, the upper end surfaces 34 of the poles 34a, 34b, 34c, 34e, 34f
S (lower surface of sheet 32) and upper end surface 35f of switch 35
Therefore, it is necessary to bend the pole 34 to turn on the switch 35. However, as described above, when a force is applied while the pole 34 is curved,
Since the degree of bending increases, no force can be transmitted to the switch 35. In this case, since the center of the upper end face 35f of the switch 35 is raised, the degree of parallelism between the upper end face 34S of the pole and the upper end face 35f of the switch 35 is further reduced as the distance from the center of the upper end face 35f increases. Therefore, fingertip F
It becomes more difficult to turn on the switch 35 via the inclined pole 34 other than the pole 34d immediately below G,
One switch 35 can be accurately turned on via the pole 34d corresponding to the pressing point of the seat 32.
Each switch 35 is associated with a character described in a character portion KP, and is connected to a control chip that performs input processing of the input unit 3 by wiring. As a result, the control chip can recognize that the character written in the character portion KP immediately above the turned on switch 35 has been input by the operator, and can transmit this input information to the control unit of the information processing device 1. According to the configuration of the input unit 3 of the information processing apparatus 1 described above, each switch can be pressed down as if a needle-shaped pole is attached to a fingertip. Therefore, the area and arrangement interval of the character part KP (switch) can be reduced, The input section can be reduced in size. <Second Embodiment> An information processing apparatus 1A according to a second embodiment of the present invention has a configuration similar to that of the information processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), but differs in an input unit. .
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configuration of the input unit 3A of the information processing apparatus 1A. The drawing shows the seat 32 and the base surface 31b.
FIG. 5 shows a view from below (a base surface 31b side) from an intermediate position with respect to FIG. The input unit 3A is provided between the sheet 32 and the base surface 31b with respect to the input unit 3 of the first embodiment, and has a configuration in which an elastic member 36 made of, for example, a sponge is added. The elastic member 36 has a lattice shape and is provided so as to surround each switch 35. With the configuration of the input unit 3A, the input unit 3A
Is pressed by the operator, the sheet 32 locally sinks around the fingertip FG as shown in FIG.
As a result, the inclination of the central axes of the poles 34p and 34r adjacent to the pole 34q immediately below the fingertip FG increases compared to the first embodiment, so that the poles 34q corresponding to the pressing points of the seat 32 can be more reliably provided. Switch 3 for 1
5 can be pushed. Also, when the end of the sheet 32 (especially the character portion KP near the four corners of the sheet 32) is pressed, the sheet 32 locally sinks, so that a smooth pressing operation can be performed. With the configuration of the input unit 3A of the information processing device 1A described above,
The same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the sheet 32 locally sinks at the pressing point, the one switch 35 can be pressed more reliably. <Third Embodiment> FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of an information processing device 4 functioning as an input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 4 is configured as a small personal computer that can be folded at the central part 41, and has a display unit 5 and an input unit 6 and a display unit 5.
And a control unit (not shown) electrically connected to the input unit 6
have. The control unit has a CPU and a memory, and controls the information processing device 4 in an integrated manner. The display unit 5
The liquid crystal display 51 has a liquid crystal display 51 on which characters input by the operator from the input unit 6 are displayed. FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating the configuration of the input unit 6. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view seen from the position IX-IX in FIG. The input section 6 has a concave portion 61 having a rectangular cross section, and a rectangular sheet 62 having insulating properties is stretched so as to cover the concave portion 61. The sheet 62 is made of an elastic material extending in the main surface direction, and its edge is connected to the side wall 61a of the concave portion 61, and is expanded substantially parallel to the base surface 61b. Base surface 6 of recess 61
1b (first surface), 30 square character portions MP on which characters are written are provided at different positions,
Six metal bars (bars) 63 are arranged at equal intervals through the center of the character portion MP in parallel with the X axis. This metal rod 6
Numeral 3 has conductivity, has a triangular cross section, and has a sharp tip end facing the metal string 65. Also,
Five rectangular leaf springs 64 are arranged on the base bottom surface 61b of the recess 61 for each metal string 65 in a row in the X-axis direction. Between the base surface 61b of the concave portion 61 and the sheet 62,
Five metal strings (strings) 65 are stretched in parallel with the Y-axis at equal intervals on the second surface obtained by shifting the base surface 61b upward, passing above the center of the character portion MP. The metal string 65 has conductivity. One end of the metal string 65 is fixed to the upper part of the leaf spring 64, and the other end is connected to the side wall 61 a of the recess 61. With such an arrangement, the metal string 65 and the metal bar 63 cross three-dimensionally at right angles in the center of the character portion MP. Here, the metal string 65 and the sheet 62 have a fixed separation distance. this is,
This is to suppress the influence of the sheet 62 on the adjacent metal string 65 when the operator's fingertip presses the target metal string 65. That is, when the distance between the metal string 65 and the sheet 62 is short, when the target metal string 65 is pressed, the adjacent metal string 65 is pushed by the sinking sheet 62 and moves downward. However, this is to prevent the adjacent metal string 65 moving downward from coming into contact with the metal bar 63. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are diagrams illustrating a state in which the input unit 6 is pressed by the operator. FIG.
Shows a vertical cross section of the input unit 6 corresponding to FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 shows a top view of the input unit 6 corresponding to FIG. When the fingertip FG of the operator presses the metal string 65a downward (-Z direction), the leaf spring 64 bends, and the metal string 65a contacts the metal bar 63 immediately below the fingertip FG. in this case,
Since the metal bar 63 has a sharp end facing the metal bar 65, the metal bar 65 surely comes into contact with one metal bar 63. Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the metal string 65b adjacent to the metal string 65a is pushed away in the X direction by the fingertip FG. Even if the distance between the two metal strings 65b that separates one metal string 65a is smaller than the width of the fingertip FG in this way, when pressed down due to the characteristics of the strings, the adjacent metal string 65b
Expands in the X direction, so that the size of the input unit 6 can be further reduced in the X direction. When the metal string 65 is pressed, the metal bar 63 and the metal string 65 cross and contact at any one of the character portions MP. A method of detecting the character portion MP at which this contact occurs will be described below. explain. FIG. 12 shows a character portion M in which the metal bar 63 and the metal string 65 are in contact with each other.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for detecting P. Voltage sources E1 to E6 that generate different voltages are connected to the metal rod 63. For example, the voltage source E1 is set to 0.1 V and the voltage source E2
Is 0.2 V, the voltage source E3 is 0.3 V, and the voltage source E4 is.
Different voltages are applied to the metal bar 63 by setting 4V, the voltage source E5 to 0.5V, and the voltage source E6 to 0.6V. on the other hand,
Voltmeters D1 to D5 are connected to the metal strings 65, respectively. The voltmeters D1 to D5 are configured by, for example, A / D converters, and the measurement results of the voltmeters D1 to D5 are input to the control chip 69. With such a configuration, for example,
When the metal bar 63 and the metal string 65 come into contact with each other at the character part MPa, the metal bar 63 and the metal string 65 are electrically connected, so that the voltmeter D3 detects 0.4 V applied by the voltage source E4. . Based on the detection information, the control chip 69 determines the contact position, that is, the character portion M on the base surface 61b.
The position of Pa can be detected. Then, the control chip 69 transmits to the control unit of the information processing device 4 information that the character associated with the character part MPa has been input by the operator. With the configuration of the input unit 6 of the information processing device 4 described above, characters can be input by contact between the metal bar and the metal strings, so that the area and arrangement interval of the character units MP can be reduced, and the size of the character input unit can be reduced. Can be achieved. <Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 13 is a front view showing the main configuration of an information processing device 7 functioning as an input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view seen from the position QQ in FIG. The information processing device 7 is configured as a small personal computer, has a display unit 8 and an input unit 9, and has a control unit (not shown) that is electrically connected to the display unit 8 and the input unit 9. are doing. The control unit has a CPU and a memory, and controls the information processing device 7 in an integrated manner. The information processing device 7 has three switches 72 on a housing 71. By operating the switch 72, the operator can operate the information processing device 7.
Simple input for The display unit 8 has a liquid crystal display 81 on which characters input by the operator from the input unit 9 are displayed. The input unit 9 has a similar configuration to the input unit 6 of the third embodiment. That is, the input unit 9 includes six metal rods 91 arranged at equal intervals in the X-axis direction, and three metal rods 91 that intersect these metal rods 91 in the air and are stretched at equal intervals in the Y-axis direction. And a metal string 92. on the other hand,
The input unit 9 is different from the third embodiment in that the sheet 62 is omitted, and four hinges 93 having a rotation axis AR parallel to the Z axis are connected to three rectangular flat plates 94a to the ends. To 94c and a square plate 95. A frame of the input unit 9 is formed by four sides of the three rectangular flat plates 94a to 94c and the side surface 7b on the input unit 9 side of the information processing device 7. Then, six metal rods 91 are rotatably connected on the XY plane to the rectangular flat plate 94b corresponding to two sides having the same length and the side surface 7b of the information processing device 7, and have a length of A rectangular flat plate 94a and a rectangular flat plate 94 corresponding to the other two sides equally facing each other.
c, three metal strings 92 are rotatably connected in the XY plane. With such a pantograph-like structure PT of the input unit 9, three rectangular flat plates 94a, 94b, 9
The frame composed of 4c and the side surface 7b of the information processing device 7 can be deformed in the direction RL while maintaining the shape of a parallelogram. The plate 95 has a front surface 9 corresponding to the first surface.
5f is provided with a plurality of character portions TP on which characters are written. Further, the plate 95 is configured to be slidable in the direction UD (X direction), and can be stored in the storage port 73 provided in the information processing device 7. With the configuration of the input unit 9 as described above, as shown in FIG. 15, the pantograph-like structure is shifted from the state PT1 to the state PT3 via the state PT2, and the plate 95 is housed in the housing opening 73. Space can be reduced. That is,
When the information processing device 7 is not used, or when a simple operation using the switch 72 is performed, the input unit 9 as shown in FIG.
Is made compact. On the other hand, when characters or the like are input, the input unit 9 is expanded as shown in FIG. 13 so that a large number of characters can be input. The wiring of the input unit 9 corresponding to FIG. 12 is, for example, a metal rod 91 on the side surface 7b side.
And a voltmeter is connected to the end of the metal string 92 on the side of the rectangular flat plate 94c via wiring (not shown) in the rectangular flat plate 94c. Then, for example, by switching a switch, the voltage from the voltage source is applied to the metal rod 91 in the unfolded state shown in FIG. 13, and the voltage is not applied to the metal rod 91 in the state shown in FIG. With the configuration of the input unit 9 of the information processing device 7 described above, the third
As in the embodiment, the area and arrangement interval of the character portion MP can be reduced, and the size of the character input portion can be reduced. Furthermore, since the input unit 9 has a pantograph-like structure, it can be made compact when the input unit 9 is not used, and contributes to space saving. <Modifications> The input unit of the second embodiment may have the following configuration. FIG. 16 shows an input unit 3 according to a modification of the present invention.
It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the principal part structure of B. The input unit 3B has a similar configuration to the input unit 3A of the second embodiment,
An upper end surface 35g of the switch 35 has a planar shape, and a flexible pole 3 is formed from the upper end surface 35g.
4 is different in that it extends along the pushing direction CA. With such a configuration, the sheet 3 is moved by the fingertip FG.
2 is pressed, the sheet 32 sinks down and comes into contact with the pole 34t.
Through t, one switch 35 can be pressed. Further, the pole 34u adjacent to the pole 34t does not contact the sinking sheet 32, or the sheet 3
2, the switch 35 is bent in a direction away from the pressing point, so that one switch 35 immediately below the fingertip FG can be appropriately pressed. The input unit of the second embodiment may have the following configuration. FIG. 17 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a main configuration of an input unit 3C according to a modification of the present invention. The input unit 3C has a configuration similar to that of the input unit 3A of the second embodiment, except that the upper end surface 35g of the switch 35 has a planar shape, and the upper end surface 35g and the sheet 32
A different point is that a flexible pole 34t is provided along the pushing direction CA between the lower surface and the lower surface. With this configuration, when the sheet 32 is pressed by the fingertip FG, the sheet 32 sinks down and moves the pole 34v downward (push-in direction CA). Therefore, one switch is provided via the pole 34v corresponding to the pressed point. 35 can be pressed. Also, the pole 34w adjacent to the pole 34v is
Since the seat 32 is inclined, the seat 32 is curved. As a result, the pressing force is not transmitted via the adjacent pole 34w, so that one switch 35 immediately below the fingertip FG can be appropriately pressed. -The pole in the first and second embodiments is not necessarily required to be in the shape of a tube, but may be in the shape of a solid cylinder or a prism. -In the first and second embodiments, it is not essential to provide a circular plate on the sheet, and it is not particularly necessary to provide a plate. Further, the plate does not necessarily have to have a disk shape, but may have a shape such as a square plate shape. The switches of the first and second embodiments are not necessarily independent of each other, and all the switches may be configured by one sheet switch. -The sheet in the first embodiment is not necessarily required to have a constant thickness, but may be thinner as it approaches the end. Thus, the extension of the sheet at the end is greater than that at the center, so that the switch disposed at the end can be pressed down smoothly via the pole. In the second embodiment, it is not essential to provide the elastic member 36 between the base surface and the sheet, and a liquid or the like may be filled. Also in this case, since the sheet portion in contact with the fingertip sinks locally, an appropriate switch can be pressed. In the third and fourth embodiments, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display may be provided on the first surface. In this case, the arrangement of the character portions can be changed by switching the display screen. As a result, the user can perform input with a desired character arrangement. For the detection of the contact position in the third and fourth embodiments, it is not essential to apply different voltages to the metal rod, and alternating currents of different frequencies may be applied.
Further, a voltage may be sequentially applied to each metal bar from one voltage source by switching a switch. In this case, the pressed character portion is specified from the information of the application timing and the metal string at which the voltage was detected at that timing. In the present invention, the “character” is a concept including a code and a symbol, and the “flexible pole” includes a pole partially having a flexible section.

As described above, according to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, the pole is provided between the elastic sheet stretched above each switch and the movable portion of each switch. Therefore, the size of the character input unit can be reduced. In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, the upper end surface of the movable portion has a shape in which a central portion is raised. As a result, it becomes more difficult to turn on the switch as the contact position of the pole becomes farther from the center of the upper end surface of the movable portion, so that it is possible to prevent the switch from being turned on via a pole that does not correspond to the pressed point. Also,
According to the invention of claim 4, the pole has flexibility.
As a result, the force can be transmitted only when the pole is straight, so that one switch can be appropriately turned on. According to the invention of claim 6, since the pole has a tubular shape, the pressing force can be transmitted more smoothly when the pole is straight. According to the invention of claim 7, since a plate is provided for each position of the elastic sheet corresponding to each of the poles, a pressing force acting vertically on the main surface of the plate is applied to the pole extending in a direction perpendicular to the main surface. Can communicate properly. Further, the invention according to claim 8 includes an elastic member provided around each of the switches and provided between the elastic sheet and the predetermined surface. As a result, the sheet locally sinks at the pressed point, so that the switch 1 can be turned on more reliably. According to the ninth to fourteenth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of bars are respectively arranged in parallel on the first surface, and each bar is stretched in parallel on the second surface obtained by shifting the first surface upward. And a plurality of bars which cross over the plurality of bars in a three-dimensional manner, the size of the character input unit can be reduced. In particular, according to the invention of claim 10, since the plurality of bars each have a pointed end facing the plurality of strings, when one string is pressed, it can properly contact one bar. According to the eleventh aspect, since the plurality of bars and the plurality of strings are substantially orthogonal to each other, the size of the character input unit can be further reduced. Further, according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, contact between one string and one bar is detected in order to detect conduction due to contact between one string and one bar and to detect a contact position based on the detection result. It can be easily detected. According to the invention of claim 13, since the insulating sheet is stretched substantially in parallel with the second surface above the plurality of strings, the influence of the voltage applied to the bar or the string on the operator is suppressed. be able to. According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame in which both ends of each of the four sides are connected by a hinge having a rotation axis in a direction orthogonal to the first surface, the two sides of the four sides facing each other
A plurality of bars are rotatably connected to the first side on the first surface, and a plurality of strings are rotatably connected to the two sides other than the two sides on the second surface. This makes it possible to make the character input unit compact when not in use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an information processing apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows the principal part structure of.

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a configuration of an input unit 3.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view as viewed from the position of III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where an input unit 3 is pressed by an operator.

FIG. 5 is an information processing apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configuration of an input unit 3A of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where an input unit 3A is pressed by an operator.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a main configuration of an information processing device 4 functioning as an input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing the configuration of the input unit 6.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view as viewed from the position IX-IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state where an input unit 6 is pressed by an operator.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state where an input unit 6 is pressed by an operator.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a method of detecting a character portion MP in which a metal bar 63 and a metal string 65 are in contact with each other.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a main configuration of an information processing device 7 functioning as an input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view as viewed from a position QQ in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing how the input unit 9 is made compact.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a main configuration of an input unit 3B according to a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a main configuration of an input unit 3C according to a modification of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 4, 7 Information processing device, 3, 3A, 3B, 3
C, 6, 9 input part, 31b, 61b base plane, 32,
62 sheets, 33 plates, 34 poles, 35
Switch, 36 elastic member, 63, 91 metal bar (bar), 65, 92 metal string (string), 93 hinge (hinge), D1-D5 voltmeter, E1-E6 voltage source, KP, MP, TP character part.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A switch having a main body and a movable portion, wherein a plurality of switches are turned on when the movable portion moves in a predetermined direction, and the switch is mounted on a predetermined surface with the predetermined direction being substantially vertical. An input device provided: (a) an elastic sheet stretched substantially parallel to the predetermined surface above each switch; and (b) an upper surface of the elastic sheet above each of the movable portions from a lower surface of the elastic sheet. A pole extending along a predetermined direction, wherein each of the switches is associated with a predetermined character, and one switch is turned on via a pole corresponding to a pressing point of the elastic sheet. Input device to do. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein an upper end surface of the movable portion has a shape in which a central portion is raised. 3. A switch having a main body and a movable part, wherein a plurality of switches are turned on when the movable part moves in a predetermined direction, and the switch is mounted on a predetermined surface with the predetermined direction being substantially vertical. (A) an elastic sheet stretched substantially parallel to the predetermined surface above each switch; and (b) a predetermined direction from each of the movable portions below the elastic sheet. And a pole extending along the line, wherein each of the switches is associated with a predetermined character, and one switch is turned on via a pole corresponding to a pressing point of the elastic sheet. apparatus. 4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the pole has flexibility. 5. A switch having a main body and a movable portion, wherein a plurality of switches are turned on when the movable portion moves in a predetermined direction, and the switch is mounted on a predetermined surface with the predetermined direction being substantially vertical. An input device provided: (a) an elastic sheet stretched substantially parallel to the predetermined surface above each switch; and (b) an elastic sheet extending from each of the movable portions along the predetermined direction. A flexible pole provided on the lower surface, wherein each of the switches is associated with a predetermined character, and one switch is turned on via a pole corresponding to a pressing point of the elastic sheet. An input device characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the pole has a tubular shape. 7. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising: (c) a plate provided for each position of the elastic sheet corresponding to each of the poles. Input device. 8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein (d) is provided around each of the switches, and is provided between the elastic sheet and the predetermined surface. An input device further comprising an elastic member. 9. An input device capable of inputting a plurality of characters associated with different positions on a first surface, comprising: (a) a plurality of bars arranged in parallel on the first surface; (B) a plurality of strings each of which is stretched in parallel on the second surface obtained by shifting the first surface upward and crosses the plurality of bars in a three-dimensional manner; and (c) among the plurality of strings. When one string is depressed and the one string and one bar come into contact with each other, a detecting means for detecting the position where the one string and the one bar come into contact with each other is provided. Input device. 10. The input device according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of bars has a pointed end facing each of the plurality of strings. 11. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of bars and the plurality of strings are substantially orthogonal to each other. 12. The input device according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of bars has conductivity.
The plurality of strings also have conductivity, respectively, the detection unit includes: (c-1) a detection unit that detects conduction due to contact between the one string and the one bar; (c-2) An input device, comprising: means for detecting the position at which the one string and the one bar come into contact with each other based on a detection result by the detection means. 13. The input device according to claim 12, further comprising: (d) an insulating sheet stretched substantially parallel to the second surface above the plurality of strings. Input device. 14. The input device according to claim 9, further comprising: (e) four sides each having two opposing sides having the same length, and extending in a direction orthogonal to the first surface. A frame connected to both ends of each of the four sides by a hinge having a rotation axis, wherein the plurality of bars rotate on the first surface on two opposite sides of the four sides. The input device, wherein the plurality of strings are rotatably connected to the two sides of the four sides other than the two sides on the second surface.