JP2005174114A - Key entry support device for touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key entry support device for touch panel, which allows users to easily see touch panel display and to accurately input keys. <P>SOLUTION: The key entry support device for touch panel is a keypad panel 10 placed on the surface of a touch panel 1. On a base body 12, a key area 20, which has the same key arrangement as a key 2 arrangement of the touch panel 1, is formed. The key area 20 is transparently formed to see the key 2 of the touch panel 1 through it, and formed like a lens to magnify and display the key 2 of the touch panel 1. In addition, the key entry support device for touch panel is a keypad sheet 110 that is laminated on the surface of the touch panel 1, on which a key area 112 that has the same key arrangement as the key 2 arrangement of the touch panel 1 is formed. The key area 112 is transparently formed to see the key 2 of the touch panel 1 through it and formed like a lens to magnify and display the key 2 of the touch panel 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a key input support body for a touch panel that can easily perform key input operations with easy-to-see key display on a touch panel that is widely used such as a liquid crystal panel having a touch panel function, a remote control panel, and a control panel. .

Conventional liquid crystal panels, remote control panels, control panels, and the like having a touch panel function tend to have a large number of keys for higher functionality or to make the entire touch panel smaller for miniaturization. Therefore, in any of these panels, there is a side where the area given to one key has to be reduced.
Therefore, when touching the touch panel with a fingertip or a pen, the desired key is too small to be pressed, the finger or pen to be operated slides on the surface of the touch panel and the key cannot be pressed accurately, or another key is accidentally pressed. There is a problem of pressing and typing.
In addition, since a click feeling is not obtained when inputting by pressing the touch panel with a finger, for example, a protruding flam part is provided inside the film liquid crystal (back side of the liquid crystal display surface) like the liquid crystal touch panel of JP-A-2000-250709, There is a type in which a click feeling is obtained by buckling of a flam projecting portion when inputting by pushing with a finger.
However, this touch panel is limited to a click feeling when pressed, and cannot be added to a touch panel with a different form. It is not possible to obtain reliable operability by providing

JP 2000-250709 A

When inputting with a fingertip or a touch pen, the conventional touch panel has a smaller key area due to an increase in the number of keys on the touch panel due to higher functionality of the device and a reduction in the touch surface area of the touch panel due to downsizing of the device. It has become to.
For this purpose, the following issues have arisen.
1. The key display surface (characters and images) is becoming difficult to see.
2. Since the touch panel surface is flat and the area of the keys is small, when inputting with a fingertip or a pen, operation input errors such as pressing simultaneously with the adjacent key or pressing the adjacent key are increasing.
3. The load at the time of key input is increasing for the elderly and the elderly.

  Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a key input support body for a touch panel that makes it easy to see the display on the touch panel and can ensure key input.

The key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 1 of the present invention is a keypad panel placed on the surface of the touch panel, wherein a key area having an arrangement similar to the key arrangement of the touch panel is formed on the base, The key area is a key input support body for a touch panel which is formed in a transparent shape so as to see through the keys of the touch panel and is formed in a lens shape so as to enlarge and display the keys of the touch panel.
The touch panel key input support body according to claim 2 of the present invention is the touch panel key input according to claim 1, wherein a key button constituting a key area is inserted into a through hole formed in the base. It is a support body.
In the key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 3 of the present invention, the base is a synthetic resin panel, and a through hole corresponding to the surface shape of the key is formed at a position corresponding to the key of the touch panel. It is the key input assistance body for touchscreens of Claim 2.
In the key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 4 of the present invention, the base has a peripheral portion protruding from the peripheral touch panel side, and a contact portion of the key button is provided in a space surrounded by the peripheral portion. 4. The touch panel key input support body according to claim 2, wherein the touch panel key input support body is configured to be accommodated.
In the key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 5 of the present invention, the key button is made of a transparent synthetic resin, and a pressing portion for performing a pressing operation with a hand or the like, and a contact portion for pressing the surface of the touch panel And a fitting portion that is narrower than the pressing portion and the contact portion and that connects the pressing portion and the contact portion and is fitted into the through hole of the base, and the surface of the pressing portion has a hemispherical surface and / or a Fresnel lens shape. The key input support body for touchscreens in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 comprised.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the key input support body for a touch panel, wherein the key button is fixed to the base body such that a clearance is provided such that the contact portion is in contact with or lightly touches the surface of the touch panel. The key input support body for touchscreens in any one of Claim 2 thru | or 5.
The key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 7 of the present invention is a keypad sheet laminated on the surface of the touch panel, wherein a key area having the same arrangement as the key arrangement of the touch panel is formed, and the key area is A key input support body for a touch panel, which is formed in a transparent shape for seeing through the keys of the touch panel and formed in a lens shape for displaying the keys of the touch panel in an enlarged manner.
In the key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 8 of the present invention, the keypad sheet is formed of an elastic or plastic synthetic resin sheet, and the touch panel according to claim 7 has an area substantially equal to the touch panel as a whole. It is a key input support body.
In the key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 9 of the present invention, the key area has elasticity or plasticity, and when a gap is formed between the key area and the surface of the touch panel, the click feeling is obtained. The key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 7, wherein the key input support body is bulged outward from the surface of the touch panel.
In the key input support body for a touch panel according to claim 10 of the present invention, the key area includes a semi-convex lens and / or a Fresnel lens bulging outward from the surface of the touch panel in order to enlarge the key display of the touch panel. The touch panel key input support body according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the touch panel key input support body is configured to be configured.
The key input support body for a touch panel according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the key area according to any one of the ninth to tenth aspects, wherein the key area has a surface shape substantially the same as a surface shape of a key of the touch panel. This is a key input support body for a touch panel.

According to the invention of claim 1, the keypad panel for input support can be placed on the input surface of the touch panel, and the keys (characters and images) displayed on the touch panel are placed on the lens of the keypad panel. The key area can be enlarged and easy to see, the location of the key can be easily specified, and reliable key input can be performed.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the keys on the touch panel can be enlarged by the key buttons constituting the key area, making it easy to see, and reliable key input can be performed.
According to invention of Claim 3, the key area corresponding to the surface shape of this key can be formed in the position corresponding to the key of a touch panel.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a foreign key does not enter between the contact portion and the touch panel surface by the peripheral portion, and a certain key input can be performed by lightly pressing the key area.
According to the invention of claim 5, the key area can easily identify the location of the key as the pressing portion protrudes outward, and constitutes a lens, so that the key display on the touch panel is enlarged. As a result, visibility is improved and reliable key input can be performed.
According to the invention of claim 6, the keypad sheet is formed of an elastic synthetic resin sheet, and a certain key input can be performed by lightly pressing the key area.
According to the invention of claim 7, the keypad sheet for input support can be laminated on the input surface of the touch panel, and the keys (characters and images) displayed on the touch panel are placed on the lens of the keypad sheet. The key area formed can be enlarged and easy to see, the location of the key can be easily specified, and reliable key input can be performed.
According to the invention of claim 8, the keypad sheet is formed of an elastic or plastic synthetic resin sheet, and a certain key input can be performed by lightly pressing the key area.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the key area bulges outward from the touch panel surface, the location of the key can be easily specified, and a click feeling can be obtained when the key area is pressed with a fingertip. It is done.
According to the invention of claim 10, since the key area can be easily specified by bulging outward and the lens is configured, the key display on the touch panel is enlarged. Visibility is improved and reliable key input can be performed.
According to the invention of claim 11, since the key area has a surface shape substantially the same as the surface shape of the key of the touch panel, the increase in the number of keys of the touch panel and the reduction of the key area per one can be performed. That is, it can cope with narrowing and becoming smaller.

  The above-mentioned object, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a keypad panel for a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the keypad panel for a touch panel shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the keypad panel for touch panel is placed on the touch panel. FIG. 4 is an illustrative sectional view showing a method of use.

  This keypad panel 10 is used to improve the visibility and operability of the touch panel 1 as shown in FIG. 10, and is an elastic or plastic synthetic resin having substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the touch panel 1. The panel is made of, for example, polypropylene and is placed on the surface of the touch panel 1.

The keypad panel 10 has a key area having the same arrangement as the arrangement of the keys 2 of the touch panel 1.
The key area is composed of a key button 20 partially protruding from the surface of the touch panel 1, and the key button 20 has elasticity or plasticity, and a gap is formed between the key button 20 and the surface of the touch panel 1. Alternatively, when pressed with a touch pen, the touch panel 1 bulges outward from the surface of the touch panel 1 so as to obtain a click feeling.

The keypad panel 10 has a flat rectangular polypropylene substrate 12 having a substantially same flat outer shape as the touch panel 1.
A key button 20 having elasticity or plasticity constituting a key area is inserted into a through hole 14 formed in the base 12.

The base 12 is integrally formed with a synthetic resin panel, and a through hole 14 corresponding to the surface shape of the key 2 is formed at a position corresponding to the key 2 of the touch panel 1.
As the substrate 12, the following resin can be selected.
-ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer) resin-HIPS (impact polystyrene) resin-PP (polypropylene) resin-Polycarbonate resin-Acrylic resin-POM (Polyoxymethylene (acetal)) resin

The key button 20 is made of a transparent synthetic resin, and is pressed more narrowly and pressed than the pressing portion 22 when the pressing operation is performed by hand, the contact portion 24 pressing the surface of the touch panel 1, and the pressing portion 22 and the contact portion 24. And a fitting portion 26 that connects the portion 22 and the contact portion 24 and is fitted into the through hole 14 of the base 12.
The key button 20 is preferably a transparent resin so that the display on the touch panel 1 can be seen through, and a resin having an appropriate refractive index to slightly enlarge the display on the touch panel 1 due to the lens effect. A resin having a soft touch feeling is good, and an amorphous resin can be selected mainly for those purposes.
For example, the following resin can be selected.
-AS (acrylonitrile styrene copolymer) resin-PS (polystyrene) resin-Vinyl chloride resin-PP (polypropylene) resin-Methacrylic resin-Acrylic resin-Polycarbonate resin, etc.

The key button 20 is a base body in a state where a clearance is provided so that the contact portion 24 comes into contact with the surface of the touch panel 1 or is lightly touched so that a click feeling can be obtained when the key button 20 is pressed with a finger or a touch pen. 12 is fixed.
The surface of the pressing portion 22 is formed in a lens shape to enlarge and display the key 2 of the touch panel 1. That is, it is configured as a hemispherical surface and / or a Fresnel lens.

  The length (in the height direction) of the fitting portion 26 that defines the distance between the pressing portion 22 and the contact portion 24 is slightly longer than the thickness of the base 12 and is formed between the pressing portion 22 and the contact portion 24. The peripheral edge of the base 12 on the through hole 14 side is fitted into the annular recess 28 with a slight gap left therebetween. That is, when the key button 20 is not pressed with a hand or an input pen, the lower surface 22a of the pressing portion 22 (the lower surface on the fitting portion 26 side) and the upper surface of the peripheral edge 12a on the through hole 14 side of the base 12 (on the surface side of the base 12). The key button 20 is fitted to the base body 12 at the fitting portion 26 so that the peripheral edge of the through-hole 14 is in contact with the lower surface of the contact portion 24 and the surface of the touch panel 1 is in contact. When the key button 20 is pressed with a hand or an input pen, the key button 20 is configured to press the key 2 of the touch panel 1 while being slightly depressed.

  Unlike the above embodiment, the length (in the height direction) of the fitting portion 26 of the key button 20 is longer than the thickness of the base 12 as shown in FIG. You may comprise so that a clearance gap may be formed between the lower surface 22a (the lower surface by the side of the fitting part 26), and the upper surface of the through-hole 14 side periphery 12a of the base | substrate 12. FIG. That is, the upper surface 24a of the contact part 24 and the lower surface of the peripheral edge 12a on the through hole 14 side of the base 12 (peripheral part of the through hole 14 on the back surface side of the base 12) are in contact with each other, When the key button 20 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 5B, the key button 20 may be pressed slightly while the key button 20 is slightly depressed.

The key button 20 can be transparent, translucent, or colored according to the user's preference, and can provide an option for expressing the function name of the key button 20 on the surface of the pressing portion 22 by printing or molding.
Further, the key button 20 is formed by shaping braille or numbers, symbols, hieroglyphs, etc., for the convenience of the visually impaired or by protruding from the base 12 of the key button 20 to the outside (up). It is also possible to provide an option with improved accessibility by changing the shape of the (pressing portion 22) to an arbitrary shape such as ◯, Δ, □.

  The base 12 is formed so that a peripheral edge 16 protrudes from the peripheral touch panel 1 side, and a contact portion 24 of a key button 20 described later is accommodated in a space surrounded by the peripheral edge 16. Yes. The lower surface of the peripheral edge portion 16 is bonded and fixed to the peripheral edge portion of the touch panel.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a keypad sheet for a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the keypad sheet for a touch panel shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a keypad sheet for a touch panel is stacked on the touch panel. FIG. 9 is an illustrative sectional view showing a method of use.

  This keypad sheet 110 is used to improve the visibility and operability of the touch panel 1 as shown in FIG. 10, and is an elastic or plastic synthetic resin having substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the touch panel 1. The sheet is laminated on the surface of the touch panel 1 formed of, for example, vinyl chloride resin or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin.

The keypad sheet 110 has a key area 112 having an arrangement similar to the arrangement of the keys 2 of the touch panel 1.
The key area 112 is transparent or lightly colored so that the key 2 of the touch panel 1 can be seen through. In this embodiment, the entire keypad sheet is formed of a synthetic resin that is transparent or has a thin color that can be seen through.
Further, the key area 112 is formed in a lens shape for enlarging and displaying the key 2 of the touch panel 1.

  The key area 112 is formed so as to constitute a semi-convex lens or a funnel lens that bulges outward from the surface of the touch panel in order to enlarge the display of the key 2 of the touch panel 1. The surface shape is substantially the same as the surface shape.

The key area 112 has elasticity or plasticity, and a gap is formed between the key area 112 and the surface of the touch panel 1. When the key area 112 is pressed with a finger or a touch pen, a click feeling is obtained from the surface of the touch panel 1. It bulges outward.
In this embodiment, the key area 112 part is bulged upward from the part laminated on the surface of the touch panel 1 and a gap is formed therebetween.
The laminated area 114 that overlaps the surface of the touch panel 1 other than the key area 112 is formed in a flat shape so as to be in close contact with the flat touch panel 1. On the back surface of the laminated area 114, a hole is formed in the portion of the key area 112. The key area 112 rises upward from the edge of the hole 116 formed in the laminated area 114, and bulges in a U-shaped cross section. Yes.

The entire keypad sheet 110 is formed in substantially the same shape as the surface of the touch panel 1 and is configured to be accommodated in the surrounding wall 3 surrounding the touch panel 1 and bonded to the surface of the touch panel 1 with a light adhesive force. For example, a vinyl chloride resin or a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin.
Further, in the case of a touch panel without the surrounding wall 3, an adhesive layer or a double-sided adhesive tape is appropriately adhered to the back surface of the keypad sheet 10 so as not to fall from the surface of the touch panel 1. You may do it.

It is a perspective view solution figure of the keypad panel for touchscreens which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is AA 'sectional drawing of the keypad panel for touchscreens shown in FIG. It is a perspective view solution figure which shows the state which laminated | stacked the keypad panel for touch panels on the touch panel. It is a cross-sectional solution figure which shows the usage method. It is a cross-sectional schematic solution figure which shows the modification of a key button, (A) is a perspective schematic solution figure in the state which mounted the keypad panel for touchscreens in the touchscreen, (B) is a cross-sectional schematic solution figure which shows the usage method. It is a perspective view solution figure of the keypad sheet for touchscreens which is another embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the keypad sheet for a touch panel shown in FIG. It is a perspective view solution figure which shows the state which laminated | stacked the keypad sheet | seat for touch panels on the touch panel. It is a cross-sectional solution figure which shows the usage method. It is a perspective view solution figure which shows an example of a touch panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel 2 Key 3 Enclosure wall 10 Keypad panel 12 Base body 14 Through-hole 16 Peripheral part 20 Key button 22 Press part 24 Contact part 26 Fitting part 28 Recess 110 Keypad sheet 112 Key area 114 Laminated area 116 Hole

Claims (11)

A keypad panel placed on the surface of the touch panel,
A key area with the same arrangement as the key arrangement of the touch panel is formed on the base,
The key area is a key input support body for a touch panel that is formed in a transparent shape so as to see through the keys of the touch panel and is formed in a lens shape for displaying the keys of the touch panel in an enlarged manner.   The key input support body for touchscreens of Claim 1 by which the key button which comprises a key area was inserted by the through-hole drilled in the base | substrate.   The touch panel key input support body according to claim 2, wherein the base is a synthetic resin panel, and a through hole corresponding to the surface shape of the key is formed at a position corresponding to the key of the touch panel.   4. The base body according to claim 2, wherein a peripheral portion protrudes from the peripheral touch panel side and is formed so that a contact portion of the key button is accommodated in a space portion surrounded by the peripheral portion. Key input support for touch panel. The key button is made of transparent synthetic resin,
Press part when pushing by hand etc.,
A contact part for pressing the surface of the touch panel;
A fitting portion that is narrower than the pressing portion and the contact portion and that connects the pressing portion and the contact portion and is fitted into the through hole of the base body,
The key input support body for touch panels in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 with which the surface of the press part was comprised by hemispherical surface and / or Fresnel lens shape.   The key input support for a touch panel according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the key button is fixed to the base body so that a clearance is provided such that the contact portion comes into contact with or slightly touches the surface of the touch panel. body. A keypad sheet laminated on the surface of the touch panel,
A key area with the same arrangement as the key arrangement on the touch panel is formed.
The key area is a key input support body for a touch panel that is formed in a transparent shape so as to see through the keys of the touch panel and is formed in a lens shape for displaying the keys of the touch panel in an enlarged manner.   The keypad sheet according to claim 7, wherein the keypad sheet is formed of an elastic or plastic synthetic resin sheet and has an area substantially equal to that of the touch panel as a whole.   The key area has elasticity or plasticity, and is bulged outward from the surface of the touch panel so as to obtain a click feeling when a gap is formed between the key area and the surface of the touch panel and pressed. Or the key input assistance body for touchscreens in any one of Claim 8.   The key area is formed so as to constitute a semi-convex lens and / or a Fresnel lens bulging outward from the surface of the touch panel in order to enlarge the key display of the touch panel. Key input support body for touch panel as described in Crab.   The key input support body for a touch panel according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the key area has a surface shape substantially the same as a surface shape of a key of the touch panel.

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