JP2004102985A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of enhancing a degree of freedom of a PC by constituting it in the thin shape. <P>SOLUTION: The input device is constituted so that equipment on which the input device 1 is mounted is extremely thinly formed by sticking an input sensor 2 on the rear surface of an insulative supporting board 4 which supports the input sensor 2 and thinly forming the input sensor 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a capacitive input device used as, for example, a pointing device of a personal computer, and more particularly to a thin input device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 12 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a conventional input device. The input device 100 is a pad type which is a kind of pointing device mounted on a notebook type personal computer.
[0003]
In the input device 100 shown in FIG. 12, an X electrode layer 103 composed of a plurality of X electrodes 102 is laminated and formed on an upper surface of a film substrate 101 made of a synthetic resin. A Y electrode layer 105 composed of a plurality of Y electrodes 104 is laminated and formed. The X electrodes 102 and the Y electrodes 104 are arranged in a lattice.
[0004]
The surfaces of the X electrode layer 103 and the Y electrode layer 105 are covered with insulating films 106 and 107, respectively. Then, the topsheet 108 is provided on the X electrode layer 103 side which is the operation surface side. The outer dimensions of the electrode layers 103 and 105, the insulating films 106 and 107, and the topsheet 108 are all the same square shape.
[0005]
Further, a control circuit board 110 is provided on the lowermost layer on the opposite side to the topsheet 108, and a control circuit 111 is provided on the surface of the control circuit board 110 opposite to the film substrate 101. It is arranged. The control circuit board 110 has the same outer dimensions as the film board 101.
[0006]
Furthermore, in the input device 100, through holes (not shown) are formed in the film substrate 101, the insulating film 107, and the control circuit substrate 110, respectively, and the X electrode layer 103 and the Y electrode layer 105 are electrically connected. The signal is transmitted to the control circuit 111 based on the capacitance detected by the X electrode layer 103 and the Y electrode layer 105.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional input device 100 described above, since all of the electrode layers 103 and 105 including the film substrate 101 are provided on the control circuit board 110, the thickness of the entire input device becomes large. When mounted on a notebook personal computer (PC), the thickness of the PC could not be further reduced. Further, since the control circuit board 110 has the same size (area) as the film board 101, the cost is high.
[0008]
Further, in order to attach the input device 100 to a PC housing or the like, a support plate made of metal is attached to the input device 100, and the support plate is screwed to the PC housing. Further, a rectangular opening for the input device 100 is formed in a PC housing, for example, a front side of a keyboard or the like so that the topsheet 108 of the input device 100 is exposed from the surface of the PC housing, and the input device is provided in the opening. become. Also in this case, the outer peripheral edge of the topsheet 108 is shielded by the inner peripheral edge of the opening.
[0009]
As described above, in order to attach the input device to the PC housing, a support plate, an opening, and the like are required, which increases the cost and reduces the degree of freedom in designing the PC housing by forming the opening.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device capable of overcoming the problems of the conventional device, having a thin configuration, and improving the degree of freedom in designing a PC.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A feature of the input device of the present invention to achieve the above object is an input device having an input sensor in which an X electrode layer and a Y electrode layer for detecting capacitance are stacked on a flexible substrate. The input sensor is attached to the back surface of an insulating support plate that supports the input sensor. By employing such a configuration, the thin input sensor attached to the back surface of the support plate can be operated from the top surface of the support plate.
[0012]
Another feature of the input device of the present invention resides in that a concave portion for fitting the input sensor is formed on the back surface of the support plate where the input sensor is attached. By adopting such a configuration, the input sensor can be accommodated within substantially the thickness of the support plate, and furthermore, the operation can be performed more favorably from the upper surface of the support plate having a reduced thickness. .
[0013]
Yet another feature of the input device of the present invention is that an indicator for indicating the position of the input sensor is formed on the support plate. And by employing such a configuration, the operator can easily know the position of the input sensor supported on the back surface of the support plate.
[0014]
Still another feature of the input device of the present invention is that a topsheet is detachably provided on the surface of the support plate. By adopting such a configuration, the topsheet detachably provided on the surface of the support plate can be freely replaced as needed.
[0015]
Another feature of the input device of the present invention is that the topsheet is attached to the support plate. And by adopting such a configuration, the topsheet adhered to the support plate can be replaced more easily.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of an input device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a capacitive input device 1 used as a pointing device of a personal computer (PC) includes a film. The input sensor 2 is made of a flexible material such as The input sensor 2 is provided on the back surface of the housing 4 of the PC 3 as an example of the insulating support plate.
[0017]
The input device 1 is of a capacitance type, and as shown in FIG. 5, when a conductor such as a finger 11 comes into contact with or comes close to the input sensor 2, a capacitance change occurs, and the capacitance change is electrically detected. By detecting, the position of the finger 11 or the like can be detected.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the input sensor 2 is attached to the back surface of the flat housing 4 on the front side of the keyboard 5 in the PC 3, and is attached with a double-sided adhesive tape 6 or an adhesive. It is invisible from the surface. The housing 4 is formed of an insulating material made of a molded resin or the like, and the thickness of the portion where the input sensor 2 is adhered is about 2 mm or less, more preferably 1 mm or less. Since the input sensor 2 is of a capacitance type, if the distance between the input sensor 2 and the finger 11 or the like is 2 mm or more, the sensitivity is deteriorated.
[0019]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it is also possible to form a curved portion 4A on a part of the housing and attach the input sensor 2 to the back surface of the curved portion 4A. This is because the input sensor 2 is formed of a film or the like, so that the input sensor 2 can be adhered along the curved surface of the curved portion 4A. In addition, when the input sensor 2 is attached to the back surface of the curved portion 4A in this manner, when the operator performs the pointing operation, the operator traces the surface of the curved portion 4A, so that the operational feeling is improved as compared with the flat surface.
[0020]
Since the input device 1 is composed of the thin film input sensor 2 and can be attached to the back surface of the housing 4, the input device 1 can be arranged anywhere on the housing 4 of the PC 3, and the degree of freedom of design is improved, and the design is improved. There are no restrictions.
[0021]
On the other hand, details of the input sensor 2 are shown in FIGS.
[0022]
6 to 9, the input sensor 2 has a flexible film substrate 10. The film substrate 10 is formed of an insulating synthetic resin sheet such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). As shown in FIG. 6, the film substrate 10 is provided with an extension 11 whose one side in the longitudinal direction projects sideways.
[0023]
On the lower surface of the film substrate 10, an X electrode layer 20X is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, on the X electrode layer 20X, a plurality (16) of X electrodes x1, x2,..., X15, x16 are formed in the X direction in parallel with each other at predetermined intervals. The drive electrode 20Xd is formed. One end of each of the X electrodes x1, x2, ..., x15, x16 is formed to extend to the extension portion 11.
[0024]
In the X electrode layer 20X formed on the film substrate 10, dummy electrodes xd (a total of 15) are alternately formed between the X electrodes x1, x2,..., X15, x16. By providing the dummy electrodes xd in this way, for example, the effect of moisture adhering to the input sensor 2 can be dispersed.
[0025]
A ground electrode 21 is formed on the film substrate 10 on one surface of the X-direction drive electrode 20 </ b> Xd and extends to the extension 11 along the peripheral edge of the film substrate 10. Further, in a gap formed between the X-direction drive electrode 20Xd of the film substrate 10 and the ground electrode 21, X switching electrodes 22, 23, and 24 formed of a plurality of electrodes are formed. . The X-direction drive electrode 20Xd, the ground electrode 21, and the X switching electrodes 22, 23, and 24 are all formed by a screen printing method using a silver paste or a silver-based paste.
[0026]
A flexible insulating film 12 formed by applying or printing an insulating resin (resist) is provided on the surface of each of the electrodes 20X, 21, 22, 23, and 24. The resist can be selected from, for example, polyamide, epoxy resin, polyurethane and polyester. At this time, a plurality of through holes hl, h2, ..., h12, k2, k4, ..., k10, m2, m4, ..., ml0, s2 are formed in the insulating film 12, as shown in FIG. ing. These through holes are formed at positions corresponding to one ends of the X switching electrodes 22, 23, and 24. The electrode shown in FIG. 7 in which the through hole corresponding to FIG. 8 is not formed is an inspection electrode.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 9, a Y electrode layer 20Y is provided on the surface (lower surface) of the insulating film 12. In the Y electrode layer 20Y, a Y-direction drive electrode 20Yd composed of a plurality of (12) Y electrodes yl, y2,..., Yll, y12 is formed in a direction orthogonal to the X-direction drive electrode 20Xd. 8 of the Y electrodes yl, y2,..., Ill, y12, the predetermined portion shown in FIG. It is formed to extend to the position of the through hole.
[0028]
On the surface (lower surface) of the insulating film 12, a detection electrode S is provided in the same layer as the Y-direction drive electrode 20Yd. The detection electrode S is composed of comb-shaped electrodes sa and sb, and the electrodes ys of the comb-shaped electrodes sa and sb are alternately formed with the Y electrodes yl, y2,. In the interdigital electrodes sa and sb, the tips of the interdigital electrodes are formed in opposite directions to each other, and the interdigital electrodes sa and sb are integrated into one electrode at the center in the Y direction. It extends to the position of a predetermined through hole shown in FIG.
[0029]
In FIG. 8, the X electrode layer 20X is indicated by a thick white line and the Y electrode layer 20Y is indicated by a thin solid line in FIG. 9, but both electrodes are formed by electrodes having substantially the same width. .
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 6, a flexible insulating film 13 made of the same insulating resin as the insulating film 12 is formed on the entire surface including the Y-direction drive electrode 20Yd by printing.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 7, in the input device 1 of the present embodiment, the ends Ds of all the electrodes of the X electrode layer 20 </ b> X and all the electrodes of the Y electrode layer 20 </ b> Y are the extension portions 11 formed on the film substrate 10. Guided to the end. On the surface (lower surface) side of the film substrate 10, the protruding dimension (L2) of the insulating films 12, 13 that overlaps with the extension 11 is formed shorter than the extension (L1 + L2) of the extension 11. When the insulating films 12 and 13 are laminated on the film substrate 10, the ends Ds of the electrode layers formed on the surface of the film substrate 10 are exposed on the surface (see FIG. 6). Then, the ends Ds of the X electrode layer 20X and the Y electrode layer 20Y are connected to the conductive portion 5 formed on the control circuit board 7. The control circuit board 7 is formed with an outer dimension sufficiently smaller than the film board 10. The portion of the dimension L exposed at this time is a region connected to the conductive portion 5.
[0032]
The control circuit board 7 is formed of a board 7a made of paper phenol, paper epoxy, glass epoxy, or the like, and a conductive portion 8 connected to an end Ds of the electrode layer is formed on one surface of the board 7a. . In the conductive portion 8, a plurality of lands 8a are formed at predetermined intervals in the X direction. The conductive portion 8 can be formed by applying gold plating or carbon to a metal surface such as steel foil or steel. However, it is preferable to use gold-plated material in consideration of resistance and bonding strength.
[0033]
Since the entirety of the input sensor 2 thus formed except for the control circuit board 7 has flexibility, the input sensor 2 is formed from the curved portion 4A of the support plate 4 to the flat portion 4B. It is adhered in the concave portion 4C of the housing 4 by a double-sided adhesive tape (not shown) previously adhered in the concave portion 4C on the back surface so as to follow the planar shape of the concave portion 4C.
[0034]
The control circuit board 7 connected to the input sensor 2 is attached to the back surface of the flat portion 4B of the housing 4 with a double-sided adhesive tape (not shown).
[0035]
On the other hand, on the front side of the surface of the housing 4, an indicator 9 indicating the position of the input sensor 2 located below the housing 4 is formed. Therefore, the operator can easily know the position of the input sensor 2 supported on the back surface of the support plate 2.
[0036]
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the indication section 9 is displayed in color on the surface of the housing 4 so as to match the square shape of the input sensor 2, the surface roughness is changed, and the arrow α in the scroll direction is displayed. , Β are displayed, the operability is improved.
[0037]
As described above, since the input device 1 of the present embodiment includes the flexible and thin input sensor 2, when the input device 1 is mounted on the notebook PC 3, the thickness of the PC 3 is further reduced. It can be mounted on a support plate having a curved surface (for example, the curved portion 4A of the housing 4), so that the versatility of mounting can be increased.
[0038]
Further, the planar shape of the control circuit board 7 can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
[0039]
Further, since the support plate 4 is further thinned by forming the concave portion 4C, the operation of the input device 1 from the support plate 2 can be stably performed.
[0040]
Next, FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the input device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a capacitance type input device 30 used as a pointing device of the PC 3 is different from the first embodiment. Similarly, it is formed by disposing an input sensor 2 formed of a flexible material such as a film on the back surface of the housing 4 of the PC 3.
[0041]
Further, in the present embodiment, a surface sheet 31 serving as an operation surface of the input device 30 is detachably disposed at a position facing the input sensor 2 on the surface of the housing 4. The top sheet 31 is preferably formed of a material such as PET or polycarbonate to a thickness of 50 to 400 μm.
[0042]
Here, the conventional topsheet 108 is attached to the back surface of the housing 4 together with the input sensor 2, and a portion other than the outer peripheral edge is exposed to the outside of the housing 4 through an opening formed in the housing 4. As a result, the top sheet 108 could not be freely replaced.
[0043]
On the other hand, in the second embodiment, since the topsheet 31 is detachably provided on the surface of the housing 4, the topsheet 31 can be easily replaced.
[0044]
In addition, since the topsheet 31 can be easily replaced, the user can freely replace the topsheet 31 according to the shape and tactile liking of an individual finger, such as the topsheet 31 having wrinkles on the surface. In addition, the operability can be improved in accordance with personal preference by the difference in sheet material (different in permittivity) and thickness. Furthermore, since the topsheet 31 having the stains or abrasion can be easily replaced, hygiene can be improved, and the change in the dielectric constant due to the stain and the sensitivity deviation due to the thickness change due to the abrasion can be eliminated. Operability of the input device 30 can be maintained. Furthermore, the topsheet 31 provided with a desired color or pattern can be freely replaced, and a decorative effect can be enjoyed.
[0045]
More preferably, the topsheet 31 is adhered to the surface of the housing 4 via an adhesive 33 such as a double-sided adhesive tape. By doing so, the topsheet 31 attached to the surface of the housing 4 can be peeled off, so that the topsheet 31 can be replaced more easily.
[0046]
In particular, when the sensor is used by being divided into a plurality of different functional areas (for example, a part becomes a dial or a scroll bar), it is necessary that the seat can be easily replaced.
[0047]
Further, a concave portion 4 d recessed toward the input sensor 2 may be provided at the position where the topsheet 31 is provided in the housing 4. With this configuration, the surface of the topsheet 31 does not protrude significantly from the surface of the housing 4, so that the apparatus can be made thinner, and the topsheet 31 is not used except when the topsheet 31 is replaced. Can be effectively prevented from being separated from the housing 4.
[0048]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made as necessary.
[0049]
For example, by arranging the topsheet 31 on the surface of the curved portion 4A of the housing 4, the operational feeling of the input device may be further improved.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a thin configuration can be achieved.
[0051]
That is, since the input sensor is attached to the back surface of the insulating support plate that supports the input sensor, the input sensor can be formed thin, and the equipment on which the input device is mounted can be formed extremely thin. The sensor can be mounted along a curved surface.
[0052]
Further, if a concave portion in which the input sensor is fitted is formed on the back surface of the support plate where the input sensor is attached, the input sensor can be accommodated substantially within the thickness of the support plate. The operation can be performed more favorably from the support plate whose thickness is reduced.
[0053]
Furthermore, if the indicator indicating the position of the input sensor is formed on the support plate, the operator can easily know the position of the input sensor supported on the back surface of the support plate.
[0054]
Furthermore, if the topsheet is detachably provided on the surface of the support plate, the topsheet can be easily replaced.
[0055]
Further, if the topsheet is attached to the support plate, the topsheet can be more easily replaced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of an input device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 4 showing an installed portion. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing details of an input sensor of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a through hole formed in the insulating film of FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is a circuit wiring diagram showing a Y electrode layer of FIG. 6; FIG. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment of the input device according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional input device.
1,30 Input device 2 Input sensor 3 Personal computer (PC)
Reference Signs List 4 Housing 4A Curved portion 4B of housing 4 Flat portion 4C of housing 4 Concave portion 5 of housing 4 Keyboard 6 Double-sided adhesive tape 7 Control circuit board 8 Conducting unit 9 Pointing unit 10 Film substrate 11 Fingers 12, 13 Insulating film 20X X electrode layer 20Y Y electrode layer 21 Ground electrodes 22, 23, 24 Switching electrode 31 Surface sheet

Claims (5)

An input device having an input sensor in which an X electrode layer and a Y electrode layer for detecting capacitance are stacked on a flexible substrate,
An input device, wherein the input sensor is attached to a back surface of an insulating support plate that supports the input sensor. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion in which the input sensor is fitted is formed on a back surface of the support plate at a portion where the input sensor is attached. 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein an indicator that indicates a position of the input sensor is formed on the support plate. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a topsheet is detachably provided on a surface of the support plate. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the top sheet is attached to the support plate.

Images