JP2006343795A - Capacitance type coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capacitance type coordinate input device capable of detecting surely both a position (coordinate input function) of a finger of an operator and a switch input (pressing operation detecting function) by the finger, while constituted simply. <P>SOLUTION: A through-hole 12a is formed in each cross portion of the first electric conductive wire 14 and the second electric conductive wire 15 orthogonal each other via an insulating layer 12 to be opposed. When the operator conducts a pressing operation, the second electric conductive wire 15 is intruded into the through-hole 12a to contact (be short-circuited) with the first electric conductive wire 14, and the operation position on an operation face 10A executed by the operator is easily detected thereby. A coordinate position when moving on the operation face 10A is detected by detecting a change of an electrostatic capacity formed between the first electric conductive wire 14 and the second electric conductive wire 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capacitive coordinate input device capable of detecting both the coordinate position of an operator's finger and a pressing operation.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below exist as capacitive coordinate input devices.

  In the coordinate input device shown in Patent Document 1, when an operator's finger is moved close to the surface of a display sheet having a plurality of X electrodes and Y electrodes arranged in a matrix, the finger, each X electrode, and This utilizes the fact that each capacitance formed between the finger and each Y electrode changes according to the movement of the finger. That is, each capacitance formed between the finger and the X electrode and the Y electrode is detected as a voltage value. Then, it is possible to detect the moving direction of the finger by analyzing the time-series change of each voltage value detected in this way using predetermined software or the like.

  Moreover, the input device described in Patent Document 2 is configured to include the coordinate input device (position detection unit) and the switch input unit. In this input device, when the operator presses the display unit formed on the top sheet of the coordinate input device, the reversing member constituting the switch input means provided in the lower portion is reversed to contact the contact member Thus, the pressing operation by the operator can be detected.

As another technique, for example, there is a technique in which an operator performs a tap operation on the operation surface and detects presence or absence of a pressing operation using software from temporal data information obtained at this time.
JP-A-8-137607 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-334738

However, in the input devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 (particularly Patent Document 2), the position detection means for detecting the coordinate position of the finger and the switch input means for detecting the pressing operation are formed as separate members. . For this reason, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost.
Furthermore, there are problems such that the structure is easily complicated and it is difficult to make it thin.

  In addition, in the case of detecting the presence or absence of a pressing operation by analyzing the tap operation performed by the operator using software, if the timing of the tap operation has a time lag, the detection rate is low, and malfunction is likely. There is a problem that it is easy to give an unfamiliar user an impression that the operability is bad.

  The present invention is for solving the above-described conventional problems, and detects both the position of the operator's finger (coordinate input function) and the switch input (pressing operation detection function) by this finger with a simple configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic capacitance type coordinate input device capable of doing so.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a thin-film capacitive coordinate input device suitable for reducing the number of parts and the manufacturing process.

The present invention includes a plurality of first conductive lines extending in a first direction and arranged in parallel at a predetermined arrangement pitch along a direction orthogonal to the first direction, and extending in a second direction and the first direction. Provided between the plurality of second conductive lines arranged in parallel at a predetermined arrangement pitch along a direction orthogonal to the direction of the second direction, and between the plurality of first conductive lines and the plurality of second conductive lines. A capacitance type detection device having an insulating layer formed,
The insulating layer is formed with through-holes facing each other at an intersection where the first conductive line and the second conductive line intersect when viewed in plan. It is.

  In the capacitance type coordinate input device of the present invention, through holes are formed at the intersections of the first conductive line and the second conductive line that are orthogonal to each other through the insulating layer so as to face each other. It is possible to easily and reliably detect a pressing operation performed by the operator (for example, a determination button operation).

  In the above, the first conductive line is formed on the upper surface of the first sheet, and the second conductive line is formed on the lower surface of the second sheet.

  Further, the insulating layer is provided on the first sheet or the second sheet.

  Furthermore, the first sheet and the second sheet are formed by folding a single sheet.

  In the above means, since the first conductive line and the second conductive line can be formed on one sheet, the number of partial points can be reduced and the manufacturing process can be reduced.

Further, the first conductive line and the second conductive line are perpendicular to each other with the insulating layer interposed therebetween.
With the above means, position detection at a position on a plane coordinate can be facilitated.

  According to the capacitive coordinate input device of the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect the position information of the operator's finger and the pressing operation with a simple configuration.

  Further, the present invention can reduce the number of parts of the coordinate input device and can facilitate the manufacturing process.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a capacitive coordinate input device as a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing details of an internal configuration of the capacitive coordinate input device. FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing a part of the coordinate input device. In FIG. 2, the first sheet and the insulating layer are indicated by solid lines, and the second sheet is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  The completed form of the capacitive coordinate input device 10 of the present invention is a thin sheet as shown in FIG. 1, and is used as, for example, an operation unit of a cellular phone (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1, an operation surface 10A is provided on the Z1 side of the coordinate input device 10, and the operator moves a finger placed on the operation surface 10A in the illustrated X or Y direction. Alternatively, a predetermined input operation can be performed by pressing (pressing operation) in the Z2 direction in the figure at a predetermined position on the operation surface 10A.

  The coordinate input device 10 mainly includes a first sheet 11 provided on the lower layer (Z2) side, a second sheet 13 provided on the upper layer (Z2) side, and an insulating layer 12 provided therebetween. The upper surface on the Z1 side of the second sheet 13 is the operation surface 10A.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the surface (the surface on the Z1 side) of the first sheet 11 extends in the X direction (first direction) and extends along the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction. A plurality of first conductive lines 14 arranged in parallel at a predetermined arrangement pitch P1 are arranged in parallel. A plurality of lines extending in the Y direction (second direction) and arranged in parallel at a predetermined arrangement pitch P2 along the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction on the lower surface (Z2 side surface) of the second sheet 13. Second conductive lines 15 are arranged in parallel.

  The insulating layer 12 is provided between the first sheet 11 and the second sheet 13. The insulating layer 12 can be formed, for example, by applying a resist solution to the surface of the first sheet 11 and covering the plurality of first conductive lines 14 with a cured resist film. The thickness of the insulating layer 12 is as thin as several tens to several hundreds of micrometers.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of through holes 12 a are formed on the surface of the insulating layer 12. That is, when the second sheet 13 is laminated on the first sheet 11, the positions at which the plurality of first conductive lines 14 and the plurality of second conductive lines 15 face each other ( A plurality of through-holes 12 a formed by deleting a part of the insulating layer 12 are provided in α corresponding to the intersection).

  At this time, one of the first conductive wires 14 is arranged at one end (end on the Z1 side) of each through hole 12a of the insulating layer 12, and the other end (end on the Z2 side). Any one of the second conductive wires 15 is disposed in the.

  The through hole 12a can be formed by exposing and developing a mask having a predetermined shape on the insulating layer 12 formed using, for example, a photoresist.

  It should be noted that, for example, “0”, “1”, “2”, “CLR”, “PWR / HLD”, a position on the surface of the operation surface 10 a and facing the plurality of through holes 12 a in the Z direction, .., “#”, “*”, Etc., the mark portion 10a composed of various characters and symbols is printed or stamped, and the data corresponding to the characters and the like by pressing (pressing) each mark portion. Information can be input to the main body of the mobile phone via the coordinate input device 10.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the detection drive means of the capacitive coordinate input device.
As shown in FIG. 4, the detection drive means 20 for driving the capacitive coordinate input device 10 shown in the present embodiment is mainly a host computer (hereinafter referred to as “host”) 21 and the above-mentioned. It comprises a calculation means 22 consisting of a dedicated LSI (also referred to as ASIC (Application Specific Circuit)) for obtaining output information from the coordinate input device 10 and calculating coordinates, and a switching means 23 for switching.

  A plurality of input terminals are provided in the input section of the switch means 23, and a plurality of first conductive lines 14 and second conductive lines 15 of the coordinate input device 10 are connected to each input terminal. . The output unit of the switch unit 23 is connected to the input unit of the calculation unit 22.

  The switch means 23 is a so-called multiplexer. When a switching signal from the host 21 is given to the switch means 23, an internal switch mechanism operates, and an input unit of the calculation unit 22 and a circuit connected to the input unit of the switch unit 23 are connected. The connection is sequentially switched at a predetermined time interval. For this reason, the input section of the calculating means 22 and the individual first conductive lines 14 and the second conductive lines 15 are connected at a predetermined cycle.

  A predetermined potential difference is set between the first conductive line 14 and the second conductive line 15 such that one is a ground potential (0 v) and the other is 5 v, for example. For this reason, the calculating means 22 can detect potential differences between all the first conductive lines 14 and the second conductive lines 15 by the switching operation of the switch means 23.

  The host 21 gives the switching signal to the switch means 23 at a predetermined time interval, so that the host 21 passes between the plurality of first conductive lines 14 and the plurality of second conductive lines 15 via the calculation means 22. The potential differences corresponding to all the combinations are monitored at a predetermined cycle.

  At this time, when the operator lightly touches the operation surface 10A of the coordinate input device 10 with his / her finger, the capacitances of the first conductive line 14 and the second conductive line 15 located near the finger change. As a result, the potential difference changes. For this reason, it is possible to detect the position of the finger on the operation surface 10 </ b> A by detecting and calculating the change in the potential difference by the calculation means 22.

  Further, when the finger placed on the operation surface 10A is moved along the operation surface 10A in any direction (X direction and / or Y direction in the XY coordinate system on the operation surface 10A), the finger moves according to the movement of the finger. The potential difference between the corresponding first conductive line 14 and the second conductive line 15 is continuously changed. For this reason, by calculating the temporal change state of each potential difference between the first conductive line 14 and the second conductive line 15 by the calculation means 22, the finger on the operation surface 10A can be changed. It is possible to detect coordinate information such as a movement position, a movement direction, or a movement speed (coordinate detection function).

  Next, when the operator depresses a finger at the position of an arbitrary mark portion 10a on the operation surface 10A, the corresponding first conductive wire 14 as shown in FIG. It is bent and deformed in a convex shape in the direction. Since the thickness of the insulating portion 12 is small, the first conductive wire 14 and the second conductive wire 15 corresponding to the first conductive wire 14 can be brought into contact with each other through the through hole 12a only by lightly pressing a finger. Can do. At this time, since the second conductive line 15 on the 5v side is short-circuited to the first conductive line 14 on the ground side and both are set to the same potential (0v), the host 21 is connected via the calculating means 22. It can be detected that the pressing operation (switch operation) by the operator has been performed. Moreover, it is possible to reliably and easily detect the position information on which position on the operation surface 10A is operated from the combination of the plurality of first conductive lines 14 and the plurality of second conductive lines 15 (pressing) Operation detection function).

  Alternatively, the detection driving means 20 continuously performs coordinate information detection operation immediately before and after the pressing operation is performed. For this reason, by determining the operation position immediately before and immediately after the pressing operation from the time information when it is detected that the pressing operation has been performed, it is possible to determine at which position on the operation surface 10A the pressing operation has been performed. The position information may be detected.

  Then, the position of the mark portion 10a corresponding to the pressing operation performed by the operator is specified from the position information thus obtained, and the host 21 generates data information for this and inputs it to the main body of the mobile phone. Thus, the mobile phone body can display information corresponding to the pressing operation on a liquid crystal display device or the like.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a state before the assembly of the capacitance type coordinate input device shown as the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows the coordinate input device of FIG. 5 folded as a part of the assembly process. It is a perspective view which shows the state after being done.

  A coordinate input device 30 shown in FIG. 5 is formed of a single sheet 31 having flexibility and insulation, for example. The sheet 31 is divided into two areas, a first area (first sheet) 31A provided on the Y1 side in the figure and a second area (second sheet) 31B provided on the Y2 side in the figure. Yes. A plurality of surfaces extending in the Y direction (first direction) and arranged in parallel at a predetermined arrangement pitch P2 along the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction on the surface (Z1 side surface) of the first region 31A. First conductive wires 34 are arranged in parallel. Similarly, the surface of the second region 31B (the surface on the Z1 side) extends in the X direction (second direction) and is parallel at a predetermined arrangement pitch P1 along the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction. A plurality of second conductive lines 35 arranged side by side are arranged in parallel. In this embodiment, six first conductive lines 34 are provided, and eight second conductive lines 35 are provided.

  On the surface of the first region 31A, an insulating layer 32 that conceals a large number of the plurality of first conductive lines 34 is provided. The insulating layer 32 is formed of the same photoresist film as that shown in the first embodiment, and through holes 32a similar to the above are formed in the insulating layer 32 in a matrix. Each through hole 32a is formed at a position facing the first conductive line 34 with an arrangement pitch in the X direction P2 and an arrangement pitch in the Y direction P1. For this reason, when the sheet 31 is viewed from the Z1 side in the drawing, each first conductive wire 34 can be partially viewed through the through hole 32a.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sheet 31 is bent at a virtual folding line QQ at an intermediate portion in the Y direction (intermediate between the first region 31 </ b> A and the second region 31 </ b> B). At this time, the first region 31 </ b> A and the second region 31 </ b> B are fixed using an adhesive or the like in a state where the insulating layer 32 is provided.

  The first region 31A and the second region 31B are overlapped in the Z direction while being positioned using a predetermined means. Therefore, when the sheet 31 is viewed in plan, that is, when the sheet 31 is viewed in the Z2 direction from the illustrated Z1 side, or when the sheet 31 is viewed in the Z1 direction from the illustrated Z2 side, the six One conductive line 34 and the eight second conductive lines 35 form 6 × 8 = 48 intersecting portions.

  At the 48 intersections, the first conductive wire 34 is disposed at one end (Z2 side) of each through hole 32a, and the second end (Z1 side) is the second end. Conductive wires 34 are arranged.

  In the second embodiment, for example, the surface on the Z2 side of the second region 31B forms the operation surface 30A in FIG. And the mark part 30a is provided in the surface of this operation surface 30A, and the position which opposes the said some through-hole 32a in a Z direction.

  The assembled coordinate input device 30 has substantially the same configuration as the coordinate input device 10 shown in the first embodiment. For this reason, by using the same detection driving means 20 as described above, it is possible to detect the coordinate position and the pressing operation.

  However, in the second embodiment, since the coordinate input device 30 can be manufactured by folding back one sheet 31, two sheets (the first sheet 14 and the second sheet 15) are combined. Compared to the first embodiment to be used, the number of parts can be reduced. Further, since the first conductive line 34 and the second conductive line 35 can be formed on the same surface of the sheet 31 (on the surface on the Z1 side in FIG. 5), they can be formed simultaneously in one step. It becomes possible. For this reason, the manufacturing process can be facilitated as compared with the case of using two sheets as in the first embodiment.

  In each of the above embodiments, the configuration in which the insulating layer is provided on one sheet (first sheet) side has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the insulating layer includes the first layer. It may be formed so as to cover the second conductive line 15 on the second sheet.

  In each of the above embodiments, the first conductive line and the second conductive line are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other at an angle of 90 ° with the insulating layer interposed therebetween when viewed in plan (arranged in a matrix). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may intersect at other angles.

The perspective view which shows the electrostatic capacitance type coordinate input device as the 1st Embodiment of this invention, The perspective view which expands and shows the details of the internal configuration of a capacitive coordinate input device, Partial sectional view showing a part of the coordinate input device in an enlarged manner, Block diagram showing the configuration of the detection drive means of the capacitive coordinate input device, The expansion | deployment perspective view which shows the state before the assembly of the electrostatic capacitance type coordinate input device shown as the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state after the coordinate input device of FIG. 5 is folded as a part of the assembly process;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Coordinate input device 10A Operation surface 10a Mark part 11 1st sheet | seat 12 Insulating layer 12a Through-hole 13 2nd sheet | seat 14 1st conductive wire 15 2nd conductive wire 20 Detection drive means 21 Host (computer)
22 Calculation means 23 Switch means 30 Coordinate input device 30A Operation surface 30a Mark section 31 Sheet 31A First area (first sheet)
31B 2nd area | region (2nd sheet | seat)
32 Insulating layer 32a Through hole P1, P2 arrangement pitch

Claims (5)

A plurality of first conductive lines extending in a first direction and arranged in parallel at a predetermined arrangement pitch along a direction orthogonal to the first direction, and extending in a second direction and the second direction; A plurality of second conductive lines arranged in parallel at a predetermined arrangement pitch along an orthogonal direction, and an insulating layer provided between the plurality of first conductive lines and the plurality of second conductive lines A capacitance type detection device comprising:
The insulating layer is formed with a through hole facing the intersection where the first conductive line and the second conductive line intersect when viewed in a plan view. Capacitance type coordinate input device.   2. The capacitance according to claim 1, wherein the first conductive line is formed on the upper surface of the first sheet, and the second conductive line is formed on the lower surface of the second sheet. Expression coordinate input device.   3. The capacitive coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is provided on the first sheet or the second sheet.   4. The electrostatic capacity type coordinate input device according to claim 2, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are formed by folding a single sheet.   4. The electrostatic capacity type coordinate according to claim 1, wherein the first conductive line and the second conductive line are orthogonal to each other with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. 5. Input device.

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