JP2009230539A - Input instruction device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input instruction device which enables a plurality of input instructions by using an input instruction device for designating segment electrodes. <P>SOLUTION: The input instruction device (1) has an electrode pattern (100) for a sensor having a plurality of segment electrodes (101 to 112), and a detecting part (40) for detecting that any of the plurality of segment electrodes is instructed, wherein the detecting part determines that an input instruction corresponding to each segment electrode is made when any of the plurality of segment electrodes is independently instructed, and determines that a different input instruction other than the input instruction corresponding to each segment electrode is made when a plurality of segments are continuously instructed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input instruction device, and more particularly to an input instruction device having a plurality of segment electrodes.

  A control mechanism that can change the illuminance of a lighting device, for example, by providing a plurality of touch switches and sequentially touching the plurality of touch switches is known (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, the control mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a display segment electrode for indicating a switch touched by a user's finger, and the display segment electrode emits light when the user touches the touch switch. Has been.

  However, the usage method of a plurality of touch switches is constant, and each touch switch cannot be used in a plurality of methods.

  Liquid crystal display device and setting numerical value changing device for obtaining selection position information on liquid crystal display device using touch panel arranged on liquid crystal display device, detecting movement of user's finger on touch panel and liquid crystal display device It is known to change the numerical value displayed in (for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, the touch panel detects only the movement of the user's finger, and the touch panel cannot be used in a plurality of ways. In addition, the touch panel needs to be arranged in a matrix, for example, over the entire liquid crystal display device.

JP 58-44820 A (FIGS. 1 to 4) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-338600 (FIG. 3)

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an input instruction device that can solve the above-described problems.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an input instruction device that enables an input instruction of a plurality of methods by using an input instruction device for indicating any one of a plurality of segment electrodes.

  The input instruction device according to the present invention includes a sensor electrode pattern having a plurality of segment electrodes and a detection unit that detects which of the plurality of segment electrodes is instructed, and the detection unit includes a plurality of segment electrodes. When any one is instructed independently, it is determined that an input instruction corresponding to each segment electrode is given. When a plurality of segments are instructed continuously, other than the input instruction corresponding to each segment electrode. It is characterized in that it is determined that the input instruction is made.

  In the input instruction device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the detection unit discriminates the content of the input instruction in accordance with a continuous instruction pattern when a plurality of segment electrodes are instructed continuously.

  Furthermore, in the input instruction device according to the present invention, the detection unit can determine whether the instruction is a single instruction or a continuous instruction according to a detection interval from detection of one segment electrode to detection of the next segment electrode. preferable.

  Furthermore, in the input instruction device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the detection unit detects which of the plurality of segment electrodes is instructed based on a change in capacitance corresponding to each segment electrode.

  Furthermore, the input instruction device according to the present invention further includes a liquid crystal panel disposed under the sensor electrode pattern, the liquid crystal panel including a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of transparent substrates, and a liquid crystal A transparent electrode pattern for driving the layer, and the transparent electrode pattern preferably has substantially the same segment electrode as the segment electrode of the sensor electrode pattern.

  According to the input instruction device according to the present invention, it is possible to perform an input instruction other than the input instruction corresponding to each segment electrode by using the continuous instruction to the plurality of segment electrodes and the pattern thereof, so that the configuration is simple. It became possible to give a lot of input instructions.

  An input instruction apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, it should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an input instruction apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  The input instruction device 1 includes a touch panel 10, a liquid crystal panel 20, a backlight 30, and the like. The input instruction device 1 can be disposed, for example, in an outer frame structure of a mobile phone as an input instruction device for a mobile phone, but the outer frame structure of the mobile phone is omitted in FIG.

  The touch panel 10 is a so-called capacitive touch panel, and includes a transparent protective layer 11 made of glass or a plastic substrate, a sensor electrode pattern 100, a detection circuit 40 described later, and the like.

  The sensor electrode pattern 100 is formed by depositing a transparent conductive film made of ITO having a thickness of about 0.03 μm on the transparent protective layer 11 by sputtering, and then removing unnecessary portions by etching. Patterned into segment electrodes.

  A plurality of liquid crystal panels 20 are arranged in order to maintain a gap between the polarizing plate (not shown), the first transparent substrate 21, the second transparent substrate 26, the seal member 29, and the first and second transparent substrates 21 and 26. And a liquid crystal layer 27 enclosed between the first and second transparent substrates 21 and 26 and the seal member 29.

  A transparent electrode pattern 200 and a first alignment film 23 are formed on the first transparent substrate 21, and a common electrode 25 and a second alignment film 24 are formed on the second transparent substrate 26. It should be noted that the scale may differ from the actual for the sake of explanation.

  For the liquid crystal layer 17, TN (twisted nematic) liquid crystal or the like is used.

  The first and second transparent substrates 21 and 26 are flexible and are formed of polycarbonate resin having a thickness of 100 μm. However, the first and second transparent substrates 21 and 26 are not limited to this, and may be modified acrylic resin, polymethacrylic resin, polyethersulfone resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, norboltene resin, glass or the like. In addition, the thickness may be 50 μm to 700 μm.

  The transparent electrode pattern 200 and the common electrode 25 are not necessary by depositing a transparent conductive film made of ITO having a thickness of about 0.03 μm on the first and second transparent substrates 21 and 26 by sputtering, and then etching. It is patterned by removing various parts.

  The backlight 30 includes an EL light emitting layer, a light guide plate, LEDs, and the like.

  The touch panel 10 is disposed on the viewing side of the liquid crystal panel 20, and thus the user observes the liquid crystal panel 20 from the touch panel 10 side. In the liquid crystal panel 20, the liquid crystal layer 27 is controlled to be switched between the transmissive mode and the non-transmissive mode by applying a predetermined alternating voltage between the transparent electrode pattern 200 and the common electrode 25. For example, only the liquid crystal layer 27 corresponding to a predetermined segment electrode portion in the transparent electrode pattern 200 is driven in the transmissive mode and the other portion is driven in the non-transmissive mode, and the backlight 30 is turned on, thereby Only the part corresponding to the shape of the light can be lifted by the light of the backlight 30.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the sensor electrode pattern 100.

  The sensor electrode pattern 100 includes a first segment electrode 101 having a character shape of “APP”, a second segment electrode 102 having an upward arrow shape, a third segment electrode 103 having an illustration shape to be imaged by a camera, and a left-pointing arrow. A fourth segment electrode 104 having a shape of a rectangular shape, a fifth segment electrode having a combined shape of a rectangle, a square, and a right triangle, a sixth segment electrode 106 having a shape of a right-pointing arrow, and a shape in which the receiver is inclined. 7-segment electrode 107, 8th segment electrode 108 in the shape of a downward arrow, 9-segment electrode 109 in the shape of a receiver, 10th segment electrode 110 in the shape of a notebook, 11th in the character shape of “CLR” Segment electrode 111, eleventh segment electrode 11 having a character shape of “PWR” Is a total of 12 segments electrodes are disposed.

  The first segment electrode 101 to the twelfth segment electrode 112 are connected to the detection circuit 40 by the first wiring 121 to the twelfth wiring 132, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing capacitance when a finger touches the sensor electrode pattern shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the user's finger 2 is placed on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to the portion where the second segment electrode 102 is disposed, the capacitance between the second segment electrode 102 and the finger is increased. The total capacitance Ch of the human body via the finger is generated. The detection circuit 40 can detect whether the user's finger 2 is placed on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to which segment electrode by detecting the electrostatic capacitance Ch.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a detection circuit for the second segment electrode 102.

  The detection circuit 40 includes the power supply voltage VDD, the second segment electrode 102, the total capacitance Ch of the electrostatic capacitance generated between the second segment electrode 102 and the finger 2 and the electrostatic capacitance of the human body via the finger, and the electrostatic capacitance Ch. Including a fixed capacitance Cs, a constant current source 41, a switch SW42, a comparison circuit 43, a PWM unit 44, a timer unit 45, an oscillator 46 for the timer unit, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like arranged in parallel with each other. The control unit 47 and the like are configured. The detection circuit 40 detects whether or not the finger 2 is placed on the second segment electrode 102 due to a capacitance change by the capacitive coupling method.

  When the user's finger 2 is not placed on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to the second segment electrode 102, there is no capacitance Ch. Therefore, the capacitance charged by the constant current source 41 is a fixed capacitance. Although only Cs is present, when the user's finger 2 is placed, the capacitance Ch is present, and the capacitance charged by the constant current source 41 is Cs + Ch.

  In an initial state, the SW 42 is OFF, the terminal voltage of the fixed capacitance Cs is OV, and the output of the comparison circuit 43 is LOW. Then, the fixed capacitance Cs (or Cs + Ch) is charged by the constant current source 41, and the terminal voltage Vi of Cs increases. The terminal voltage Vi is constantly compared with the reference voltage Vref in the comparison circuit 43. When the terminal voltage Vi becomes equal to or higher than the reference voltage Vref, the output of the comparison circuit 43 is switched to HIGH. When the output of the comparison circuit 43 becomes HIGH, the SW 42 is turned ON, so that the charge charged in the fixed capacitance Cs (or Cs + Ch) is discharged through the SW 42 and the terminal voltage Vi of the fixed capacitance Cs. Returns to 0V. Therefore, the output of the comparison circuit 43 returns to LOW. That is, the comparison circuit 43 repeatedly outputs LOW and HIGH at a predetermined timing.

  The PWM unit 44 outputs a signal having a pulse width corresponding to the interval until the output of the comparison circuit 43 changes from LOW to HIGH. The timer unit 45 measures the number of pulses corresponding to the pulse width of the signal output from the PWM unit 44 based on the oscillation pulse from the oscillator 46 and outputs the measurement result to the control unit 47. The control unit 47 determines whether or not the user's finger 2 is placed on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to the second segment electrode 102 based on the measurement result.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the detection circuit 40 for detecting whether or not the user's finger 2 is placed on the second segment electrode 102, but in actuality, the first segment electrode 101 to the twelfth segment are shown. It is assumed that a similar circuit is mounted on the detection circuit 40 for all of the electrodes 112. At least the control unit 47 is used for detection of all the segment electrodes, and at least the detected segment electrodes, the detection order, and the detection interval are recorded in the RAM of the control unit 47. Furthermore, the circuit configuration for detecting the change in capacitance shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and other circuit configurations may be employed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the terminal voltage Vi of the fixed capacitance Cs.

  FIG. 5A shows a case where the user's finger 2 is placed and the total capacitance is Cs + Ch, and FIG. 5B is a case where the user's finger 2 is not placed and the total capacitance is only Cs. Is shown. 5A and 5B, the vertical axis indicates the terminal voltage Vi of Cs, and the horizontal axis indicates time T.

  As shown in the figure, when the user's finger 2 is placed, since the total capacitance is large, the user's finger is not placed during the period T1 during which the output of the comparison circuit 43 switches from LOW to HIGH. Longer than the period T2. Therefore, the control unit 47 can determine whether or not the user's finger is placed on the sensor electrode pattern based on the measurement result from the timer unit 45.

  As described above, the touch panel 10 can detect which of the first segment electrode 101 to the twelfth segment electrode 112 the user's finger 2 is placed on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to the segment electrode. .

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the transparent electrode pattern 200 of the liquid crystal panel 20.

  The 1st transparent electrode pattern 200 has the 1st segment electrode 201-the 12th segment electrode 212 similar to the segment electrode arrange | positioned at the electrode pattern 100 for sensors shown in FIG. Further, the first wiring 221 to the twelfth wiring 232 for applying a voltage are connected to each segment electrode.

  In the liquid crystal panel 20, a predetermined alternating voltage is applied between a desired segment electrode (first segment electrode 201 to twelfth segment electrode 212) and the common electrode 25 from a drive unit (not shown), and the liquid crystal between the electrodes is displayed. The segment electrode can be displayed by controlling the transmission / non-transmission of the layer (passive driving).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a first input instruction pattern example on the touch panel 10.

  In the sensor electrode pattern 100 shown in FIG. 7, the first wiring 121 to the twelfth wiring 132 shown in FIG. 2 are omitted for convenience of explanation.

  The first input instruction pattern shown in FIG. 7 is defined as a case where the user's finger 2 moves from the lower left to the upper right in the drawing on the protective layer 11 of the touch panel 10. That is, the control unit 47 of the detection circuit 40 performs the seventh segment electrode 107 → the fifth segment electrode 105 → the third segment electrode 103 in this order (see arrow 70), the tenth segment electrode 110 → the eighth segment electrode 108 → the sixth segment electrode. In the order of the segment electrode 106 (see arrow 71) or the order of the tenth segment electrode 110 → the eighth segment electrode 108 → the fifth segment electrode 105 → the third segment electrode 103 (arrow 72), the user's finger 2 When the detection is continuously made on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to the segment electrode, it is determined that the first input instruction has been made.

  When there is a first input instruction, a mobile phone control mechanism (not shown) can be operated to switch the mobile phone to a photographing mode of a digital camera, for example.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second input instruction pattern example on the touch panel 10.

  In the sensor electrode pattern 100 shown in FIG. 8, the first wiring 121 to the twelfth wiring 132 shown in FIG. 2 are omitted for convenience of explanation.

  The first input instruction pattern shown in FIG. 8 is defined as a case where the user's finger 2 moves on the protective layer 11 of the touch panel 10 from the upper right to the lower left on the drawing. That is, the control unit 47 of the detection circuit 40 performs the order of the third segment electrode 103 → the fifth segment electrode 105 → the seventh segment electrode 107 (see the arrow 80), the sixth segment electrode 106 → the eighth segment electrode 108 → the tenth segment. In the order of the segment electrode 110 (see arrow 81) or the order of the third segment electrode 103 → the fifth segment electrode 105 → the eighth segment electrode 108 → the tenth segment electrode 110 (arrow 82), the user's finger 2 When the detection is continuously made on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to the segment electrode, it is determined that the second input instruction has been made.

  When there is a second input instruction, the mobile phone control mechanism (not shown) can be operated so as to switch the mobile phone to a music playback mode for playing back music data recorded therein, for example.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a third input instruction pattern example on the touch panel 10.

  In the sensor electrode pattern 100 illustrated in FIG. 9, the first wiring 121 to the twelfth wiring 132 illustrated in FIG. 2 are omitted for convenience of explanation.

  The first input instruction pattern shown in FIG. 9 is defined as a case where the user's finger 2 moves from the left side to the right side in the drawing on the protective layer 11 of the touch panel 10. That is, the control unit 47 of the detection circuit 40 performs the order of the first segment electrode 101 → the second segment electrode 102 → the third segment electrode 103 (see the arrow 90), the fourth segment electrode 104 → the fifth segment electrode 105 → the sixth segment electrode. The order of the segment electrode 106 (see arrow 91), the order of the seventh segment electrode 107 → the eighth segment electrode 108 → the ninth segment electrode 109 (see the arrow 92), or the tenth segment electrode 110 → the eleventh segment electrode 111 → the When the user's finger 2 is continuously detected on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to each segment electrode in the order of the 12 segment electrodes 112 (see arrow 93), it is determined that the third input instruction has been made. .

  When there is a third input instruction, the control mechanism of the mobile phone (not shown) can be operated to increase the output sound of a speaker (not shown) by one step, for example.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a fourth input instruction pattern example on the touch panel 10.

  In the sensor electrode pattern 100 shown in FIG. 10, the first wiring 121 to the twelfth wiring 132 shown in FIG. 2 are omitted for convenience of explanation.

  The first input instruction pattern shown in FIG. 10 is defined as a case where the user's finger 2 moves from the left side to the right side in the drawing on the protective layer 11 of the touch panel 10. That is, the control unit 47 of the detection circuit 40 performs the order of the third segment electrode 103 → the second segment electrode 102 → the first segment electrode 101 (see the arrow 94), the sixth segment electrode 106 → the fifth segment electrode 105 → the fourth segment. Segment electrode 104 (see arrow 95), ninth segment electrode 109 → eighth segment electrode 108 → seventh segment electrode 107 (see arrow 96), or twelfth segment electrode 112 → eleventh segment electrode 111 → first When the user's finger 2 is continuously detected on the transparent protective layer 11 corresponding to each segment electrode in the order of the 10 segment electrodes 110 (see arrow 97), it is determined that the fourth input instruction has been made. .

  When there is a fourth input instruction, the mobile phone control mechanism (not shown) can be operated to, for example, lower the output sound of a speaker (not shown) by one step.

  The four input instruction patterns described above are examples, and arbitrary instruction contents can be set by detecting two or more consecutive segment electrodes.

  Further, the instruction contents by the four input instruction patterns described above are also an example, and when other instruction contents, for example, the first input instruction pattern is detected, the TV is viewed instead of the shooting mode of the camera. You may make it switch to a mode.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detection processing flow.

  The processing flow shown in FIG. 11 is executed by the CPU of the control unit 47 in accordance with a program stored in advance in the ROM or the like of the control unit 47. A series of processes shown in FIG. 11 are automatically and repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals.

  First, it is determined whether or not detection has been made by any of the first segment electrode 101 to the twelfth segment electrode 112 (S10). If no detection has been made, a series of processing ends.

  If a detection is made in S10, it is determined whether it is a single instruction or a continuous instruction (S11). In the control unit 47, when detection is performed by any of the first segment electrode 101 to the twelfth segment electrode 112, the type and detection interval of the segment electrode detected in the RAM or the like of the control unit 47 are automatically set. S11 is determined according to the recorded contents of the RAM of the control unit 47.

  Whether it is a single instruction or a continuous instruction is determined depending on whether the detection interval is equal to or less than a threshold value. For example, when the detection interval is 0.5 seconds or less, it can be determined that the instruction is continuous. Note that the threshold value of 0.5 seconds is merely an example, and other optimal values can be used as the threshold value based on the time required for detection by the detection circuit, the rule of thumb, or the like.

  If it is determined in S11 that the instruction is a single instruction, it is determined that an instruction input corresponding to each segment electrode has been made (S16), and the series of processing ends. The instruction input corresponding to each segment electrode is, for example, that the first segment electrode 101 is execution of an application program and the third segment electrode is a camera shutter button ON.

  If it is determined in S11 that the instruction is a continuous instruction, the first input instruction pattern (see FIG. 7) recorded in advance in the ROM or the like of the control unit 47 matches the detected continuous instruction. It is determined whether or not to perform (S12). If the first input instruction pattern matches with the first input instruction pattern in S12, it is determined that it is an instruction to change to the shooting mode of the camera (S17), and the series of processing ends.

  In S12, if the first input instruction pattern does not match, the second input instruction pattern (see FIG. 8) recorded in advance in the ROM or the like of the control unit 47 matches the detected continuous instruction. Is determined (S13). If the second input instruction pattern matches with the second input instruction pattern in S13, it is determined that the instruction is to change to the music reproduction mode (S18), and the series of processes is terminated.

  If the second input instruction pattern does not coincide with the second input instruction pattern in S13, the detected continuous instruction coincides with the third input instruction pattern (see FIG. 9) recorded in the ROM or the like of the control unit 47 in advance. Is determined (S14). If the third input instruction pattern matches with the third input instruction pattern in S14, it is determined that the input instruction is a volume UP (S19), and the series of processes is terminated.

  In S14, if the third input instruction pattern does not match, the fourth input instruction pattern (see FIG. 10) recorded in advance in the ROM or the like of the control unit 47 matches the detected continuous instruction. Is determined (S15). In S15, when it coincides with the fourth input instruction pattern, it is determined that the input instruction is for the volume DOWN (S20), and the series of processing ends.

  In S15, when it does not coincide with the fourth input instruction pattern, it is determined that the input instruction is unknown, a predetermined operation (for example, alarm, warning display, etc.) is performed, and the series of processes is terminated.

  Since the input instruction is discriminated according to the processing flow as shown in FIG. 11, not only the input instruction corresponding to each segment electrode but also other input instructions by continuous instructions can be discriminated. It was. Therefore, an input instruction that does not correspond to the segment electrode can be performed on the touch panel (input instruction device) using only the segment electrode.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the display apparatus 1 which concerns on this invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pattern of a sensor electrode pattern 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows the electrostatic capacitance when a finger | toe touches on the sensor electrode pattern shown in FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a detection circuit for a second segment electrode 102. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the terminal voltage Vi of fixed electrostatic capacitance Cs. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first transparent electrode pattern 200 of the liquid crystal panel 20. 5 is a diagram showing a first input instruction pattern example on the touch panel 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second input instruction pattern example on the touch panel 10. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third input instruction pattern example on the touch panel 10. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a fourth input instruction pattern example on the touch panel 10. It is a figure which shows an example of a detection processing flow.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display apparatus 10 Touch panel 11 Protective layer 20 Liquid crystal panel 40 Detection circuit 47 Control part 100 Sensor electrode pattern 101-112 Segment electrode 200 Transparent electrode pattern 201-212 Segment electrode

Claims (5)

A sensor electrode pattern having a plurality of segment electrodes;
A detection unit that detects which of the plurality of segment electrodes is designated,
The detection unit determines that an input instruction corresponding to each segment electrode has been made when any of the plurality of segment electrodes is instructed independently, and when the plurality of segments are instructed continuously It is determined that an input instruction other than the input instruction corresponding to each segment electrode has been made.
An input instruction device characterized by that.   The input instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of segment electrodes are continuously instructed, the detection unit determines input instruction contents according to a continuous instruction pattern.   The input instruction device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit determines whether the instruction is a single instruction or a continuous instruction according to a detection interval from detection of one segment electrode to detection of the next segment electrode. .   The input according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detection unit detects which of the plurality of segment electrodes is instructed based on a change in capacitance corresponding to each segment electrode. Pointing device. A liquid crystal panel disposed under the sensor electrode pattern;
The liquid crystal panel has a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of transparent substrates, and a transparent electrode pattern for driving the liquid crystal layer,
The input instruction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transparent electrode pattern includes a segment electrode that is substantially the same as a segment electrode included in the sensor electrode pattern.

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