JP2009258903A - Touch panel device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel device that accurately performs position detection in a short time, and performs the position detection even when a plurality of conductors approach or come into contact with it. <P>SOLUTION: An arithmetic circuit 4 detects variation in capacitance of some electrode by the approach or contact of the conductor with a touch panel section 1. A control circuit 7 performs detection of approach or contact position of the conductor in a state where a predetermined number of a plurality of electrodes are bound and interconnected based on the detection result of the arithmetic circuit 4. Then, the electrodes near the detected position are individually interconnected, and, in the other region, the position detection of the conductor is performed in the state where the predetermined number of the plurality of electrodes are bound and interconnected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel device capable of inputting with a conductor such as a finger, and in particular, in a matrix type capacitive touch panel in which electrodes for detecting the X and Y directions are arranged on a matrix, the conductor is in close proximity and in contact with the touch panel device. The present invention relates to a detectable touch panel device.

  With the miniaturization of devices, touch panel type input devices integrated with an input display have come to be used in various fields. Conventionally, various types of touch panels that detect input with a finger or a pen have been put into practical use. Among these, what is called the electrostatic capacitance method is that a weak current is passed through the touch panel surface to form an electric field, and the change in the electrostatic capacitance value when a finger or other conductor is touched lightly reduces the voltage, etc. It converts and detects, and detects the contact position.

  Further, there is a matrix method as a method for detecting two-dimensional input position coordinates such as a finger. In this configuration, an electrode for detecting a position in the X direction and an electrode for detecting a position in the Y direction are arranged orthogonally in a strip shape (line shape). Conventionally, when detecting contact of a finger or the like in these matrix electrode type electrodes, first, a part of the electrode is thinned and scanned, and when proximity of the finger or the like is detected, the periphery of the electrode is detailed. There is one that scans and detects signals to shorten the entire detection time (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-7-129308

  The conventional touch panel device detects the detailed contact position by scanning the periphery of the electrode where the contact of the stylus pen is detected. However, if the detection condition is satisfied, the electrode scan is terminated and coordinate calculation is performed. ing. For this reason, since electrode scanning is not performed except for the portion where the stylus pen is in contact, there has been a problem that, for example, when another pen or the like is simultaneously in contact with another region, this cannot be detected.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and enables position detection to be performed with high accuracy and in a short time, and also to perform position detection even when a plurality of conductors are close to or in contact with each other. An object of the present invention is to obtain a touch panel device that can be used.

  A touch panel device according to the present invention combines a predetermined number of a plurality of electrodes with an arithmetic circuit that detects a change in capacitance of any electrode due to the proximity or contact of a conductor with respect to a touch panel portion in which a plurality of electrodes are arranged. In the connected state, after detecting the proximity or contact position of the conductor based on the detection result of the arithmetic circuit, the electrodes near the detected position are individually connected, and a plurality of electrodes are combined in a predetermined number in other areas. And a control circuit for detecting the position of the conductor in a connected state.

  The touch panel device of the present invention detects a proximity of a conductor or a contact position in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, and then individually connects the electrodes in the vicinity of the detected position. Conductor position detection is performed in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, so that position detection can be performed with high accuracy and in a short time, and even when a plurality of conductors are close or in contact with each other These position detections can be performed.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating the touch panel device according to the first embodiment.
The illustrated touch panel device includes a touch panel unit 1, an oscillation circuit 2, a detection electrode coupling control circuit 3, an arithmetic circuit 4, an X-axis input side switch 5a, a Y-axis input side switch 5b, an X-axis output side switch 6a, and a Y-axis output side. A switch 6b and a control circuit 7 are provided.

  The touch panel unit 1 is a coordinate input touch panel in which an X-axis electrode line for detecting a position in the X-axis direction and a Y-axis electrode line for detecting a position in the Y-axis direction are arranged on a matrix. The oscillation circuit 2 is an oscillation circuit that generates a pulse signal. The detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 is a control circuit that controls which of the X-axis electrode line and the Y-axis electrode line of the touch panel unit 1 is coupled.

  The arithmetic circuit 4 is an arithmetic circuit that detects a signal of an electrode line of the touch panel unit 1 and calculates an input position of a conductor such as a finger. The X-axis input side switch 5a is a switch for inputting a pulse signal to the input end of the X-axis electrode line, and the Y-axis input side switch 5b is for inputting a pulse signal to the input end of the Y-axis electrode line. Switch. The X-axis output side switch 6a is a switch for connecting the output end of the X-axis electrode line to the arithmetic circuit 4, and the Y-axis output side switch 6b is the output end of the Y-axis electrode line to the arithmetic circuit 4. It is a switch for connection. The control circuit 7 controls the entirety, and instructs the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 to detect the proximity or contact position of the conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected. When it is performed, the control circuit for instructing to connect the electrodes in the vicinity of the position individually and connect a plurality of electrodes in a predetermined number to other regions.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing details of the X-axis input side switch 5a (Y-axis input side switch 5b).
The X-axis input side switch 5a (Y-axis input side switch 5b) includes connection lines 10 to the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 and connection lines 12, 13, 14,..., N to the electrode lines of the touch panel unit 1. A connecting portion 11 for connecting the connecting line 10 and the connecting lines 12, 13, 14,..., N is connected, and the connection between the connecting portion 11 and the connecting lines 12, 13, 14,. By doing so, the electrode line of the touch panel part 1 is selected. The X-axis output side switch 6a and the Y-axis output side switch 6b selectively connect the opposite configurations, that is, the connection lines to the arithmetic circuit 4 and the connection lines to the plurality of electrode lines of the touch panel unit 1. It is configured as follows.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of electrode lines arranged on the touch panel unit 1.
As illustrated, the X-axis electrode lines 20 to 23 and the Y-axis electrode lines 24 to 27 are each formed in a rectangular strip shape. The X-axis electrode lines 20 to 23 are electrode lines for detecting the position in the horizontal direction, that is, the X-axis direction, and the Y-axis electrode lines 24 to 27 are detected in the vertical direction, that is, the position in the Y-axis direction. It is an electrode wire for doing. Further, the X-axis electrode lines 20 to 23 and the Y-axis electrode lines 24 to 27 are arranged so as to intersect with each other so that the X-axis electrode lines 20 to 23 are on the upper side.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing only the X-axis electrode lines on the touch panel unit 1, and in this example, X-axis electrodes X1 to X20 are illustrated.

  FIG. 5 illustrates one X-axis electrode line (X-axis electrode line 22 in this example) and one Y-axis electrode line (Y-axis electrode line 25 in this example). It is explanatory drawing which shows the state brought close to the X-axis electrode line. Here, Cs in the figure is a capacitance between the fingertip and the X-axis electrode line 22.

  FIG. 6 shows an equivalent circuit in the case where a fingertip approaches or contacts a certain electrode line. In the figure, Vo is a voltage value applied to the input end of the electrode line, Rs is a resistance value of the electrode line, Cs is a capacitance generated between the fingertip and the electrode line, and Vs is an output end of the electrode line. Represents the detected voltage value.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a conductor such as a finger is in proximity to or in contact with the X-axis electrode line of the touch panel unit 1. F in FIG. 7 shows a finger or the like that is close to or in contact with X7 which is an X-axis electrode.
8 and 9 are diagrams showing the processing flow of the first embodiment, respectively.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Hereinafter, an operation when an operator brings a finger close to the touch panel unit 1 in FIG. 1 will be described.
In step ST1 of the processing flow of FIG. 8, the control circuit 7 instructs the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 to scan the entire surface electrode.

The whole surface electrode scanning process in step ST1 of FIG. 8 will be described in detail using the processing flow of FIG.
In step ST110 of FIG. 9, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 determines whether or not to connect individual electrodes. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the initial state is not connecting individual electrodes but connecting two electrodes in combination. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, among the X-axis electrodes from the electrode X1 to the electrode X20, the electrode X1 and the electrode X2 are coupled (broken frame 30 in FIG. 4), and the electrode X3 and the electrode X4 are coupled (FIG. 4). ,..., Electrode X19 and electrode X20 are coupled (dashed frame 39 in FIG. 4).

  By combining a plurality of electrodes in this way, the effective area of the electrode itself can be increased, the finger detection sensitivity described later can be improved, and the state in which the finger is close to the touch panel unit 1 can be detected well. Can do.

Here, in order to couple a plurality of electrodes, it becomes N in step ST110 of FIG. 9, and the process proceeds to step ST111. In step ST111, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 performs multi-electrode coupling. Specifically, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 puts the coupling unit 11 in the connected state with respect to the connection line 12 connected to the electrode X1 and the connection line 13 connected to the electrode X2 in the X-axis input side switch 5a as shown in FIG. To do. Thereby, the electrode X1 and the electrode X2 are coupled in a circuit and connected to the connection line 10 to the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3.
Similarly, in the X-axis output side switch 6a, the electrode X1 and the electrode X2 are coupled, and the electrode X1 and the electrode X2 are connected to the arithmetic circuit 4.

Next, in step ST112 of FIG. 9, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 oscillates at the input end of the X-axis electrode lines (here, the coupled electrodes X1 and X2) connected by the X-axis input side switch 5a. The pulse signal of the circuit 2 is applied.
Here, when the operator's fingertip approaches or comes into contact with the touch panel unit 1, the fingertip and the X-axis electrode line are electrostatically coupled, and a current flows from the X-axis electrode line to the fingertip via this capacitance. The arithmetic circuit 4 obtains the voltage value at the output end of the X-axis electrode line via the X-axis output side switch 6a.

Next, the operation of the arithmetic circuit 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the fingertip approaches or contacts the X-axis electrode line 22, a capacitance Cs is generated between the fingertip and the electrode.
In this state, in the equivalent circuit of FIG. 6, a current flows to the human body (ground in the equivalent circuit of FIG. 6) side through the capacitance Cs. The arithmetic circuit 4 detects a voltage Vs corresponding to the resistance value Rs. Here, since a part of the current flowing through the X-axis electrode line flows to the ground side via Cs, the voltage Vs detected by the arithmetic circuit 4 is lower than the voltage Vo applied to the input end of the X-axis electrode line. It will be a thing.
The control circuit 7 acquires the voltage drop obtained by the arithmetic circuit 4 as a signal detection value.

Next, in step ST113 of FIG. 9, the control circuit 7 determines whether or not the obtained signal detection value is equal to or higher than a certain level Th1. This Th1 is used to determine whether or not the fingertip has approached the touch panel unit 1, and a signal detection value when the finger has approached is obtained in advance.
Here, if the predetermined level Th1 is not reached, N is determined in step ST113, and the process proceeds to step ST115. In step ST115, the control circuit 7 determines whether or not scanning of all electrodes has been completed. That is, it is determined whether signal detection for all of the X-axis electrode and the Y-axis electrode is completed.

If all the electrodes have not been scanned, the answer is N in step ST115, and the process returns to step ST110. Here, since all the electrodes have not been scanned, the process returns to step ST110. In step ST110, the result is N because of the multiple electrode coupling as before, and the process proceeds to step ST111.
In step ST111, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 instructs the X-axis input side switch 5a to couple the electrode X3 and the electrode X4. In step ST112, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 performs signal detection.
Thereafter, the process is sequentially performed in the same manner until the detection of all the electrodes is completed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, a case is considered where the fingertip approaches and contacts the X7 of the X-axis electrode.
In this case, it is assumed that the signal detection value of the electrode of the broken line frame 33 in FIG. 4, that is, the electrode obtained by combining the electrode X7 and the electrode X8 exceeds a certain level Th1. In this case, Y is determined in step ST113, and the process proceeds to step ST114.
In step ST114, the control circuit 7 stores the detected signal detection value and the electrode number, in this case, information on the broken line frame 33 obtained by combining the electrode X7 and the electrode X8, in a buffer (not shown).

When the detection of all the X and Y electrodes is completed, Y is determined in step ST115, and the process proceeds to step ST120. In step ST120, the control circuit 7 obtains the finger position based on the stored signal detection value and the electrode number. Specifically, the stored electrode number is N, the signal detection value is V (N), and the signal detection values of the adjacent electrode numbers are V (N−1) and V (N + 1) (both adjacent If the electrode number is not stored, the signal detection value is 0), and all N satisfying the following conditions are obtained and set as finger positions.
V (N-1) <V (N) and V (N + 1) <V (N)
That is, when the signal detection value of the electrode number of interest is larger than the signal detection values of both adjacent sides, it is assumed that the electrode number of interest indicates the peak of the signal detection value, and that electrode number is set as the finger position.

  When the process of step ST120 is finished, the entire surface electrode scanning process is finished. Note that processing in the case of Y in step ST110 will be described later.

Returning to FIG. 8, if the finger position detection is successful, the answer is Y in step ST2, and the process proceeds to step ST3. If the finger position cannot be detected, N is determined in step ST2, and the process returns to step ST1 to perform full-surface electrode scanning again.
Next, in step ST3, the control circuit 7 calculates coordinate values. Specifically, the coordinate value is obtained from the electrode number detected as the finger position.
Most simply, for example, if the horizontal width of the touch panel unit 1 is XL, the number of X-axis electrodes is M, and the electrode number at the finger position is N (number from the left end of the touch panel unit 1), the coordinate value Xp in the X direction is Xp = XL * N / M or the like.

Next, in step ST4 of FIG. 8, the control circuit 7 sets an electrode scanning method based on the finger position information. This process will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
When the finger approaches and contacts X7, if the broken line frame 33 that combines the electrodes of X7 and X8 is obtained as the finger position as described above, the control circuit 7 determines the finger position obtained by the multi-electrode combination. In this case, it is determined whether or not the detected signal value is larger than a predetermined threshold value Th2, and if it is larger, the electrode scanning method is changed on the assumption that the finger shifts to the contact state. If it is smaller than the threshold value Th2, the proximity state of the finger is not changed, and the electrode scanning method is not changed.
The threshold value Th2 is used to determine whether or not the finger has touched the touch panel unit 1, and a signal detection value when the finger moves to the contact state is obtained in advance.

  When the signal detection value is larger than the threshold value Th2, for example, the control circuit 7 individually connects the electrodes to a range including the four electrodes before and after the electrodes X7 and X8 included in the broken line frame 33 at the finger position. Set up. In FIG. 7, since the broken line frame 33 (electrode X7, electrode X8) is obtained as the finger position, the four electrode numbers X3, X4, X5, and X6, and X9, X10, X11, and X12 are provided before and after that. And the range from the X-axis electrodes X3 to X12 (L1 in FIG. 7) is set to be individually electrode-connected.

  Next, returning to the start of the processing flow of FIG. 8, signal detection at the next time is performed. In step ST1, full surface electrode scanning is performed in the same manner as described above. In step ST110 of FIG. 9, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 determines whether or not individual electrodes are connected. In the state of FIG. 7, since the electrodes X1 and X2 are a plurality of electrodes, the result is N in S110 and the process proceeds to step ST111. The processing after S111 is the same as before.

  Next, in the case of the electrode X3, since this time is an individual electrode connection, the result is Y in step ST110, and the process proceeds to step ST116. In step ST116, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 connects only the electrode X3. More specifically, the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 connects the line connected to the electrode X3 in FIG. To do. Similarly, the electrode X3 is connected to the arithmetic circuit 4 also in the X-axis output side switch 6a.

  Next, signal detection is performed in step ST117. The detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 applies the pulse signal of the oscillation circuit 2 to the input end of the electrode X3 connected by the X-axis input side switch 5a. Then, the voltage drop is obtained by the arithmetic circuit 4 in the same manner as described above, and the control circuit 7 obtains the voltage drop obtained by the arithmetic circuit 4 as a signal detection value.

Next, in step ST113, the control circuit 7 determines whether or not the obtained signal detection value is equal to or higher than a certain level Th3.
This is for determining whether or not the fingertip has touched the touch panel unit 1, and a signal detection value when the finger touches in advance is obtained in advance, and this is used as a certain level Th3 to actually detect the signal. Compare whether the value is greater than this.

Here, when the predetermined level Th3 is not reached, N is determined in step ST118, and the process proceeds to step ST115. On the other hand, if a signal detection value equal to or higher than the certain level Th3 is obtained, Y is determined in step ST118, and the process proceeds to step 119.
In step ST119, the control circuit 7 stores the detected signal detection value and electrode number information in a buffer (not shown). Note that the information stored in step ST114 in FIG. 9 (stored in the finger proximity state) is stored separately (stored in the finger contact state).

  When all the electrodes have been processed, Y is determined in step ST115, and the process proceeds to step ST120. In step ST120, similarly to the above-described operation, the control circuit 7 considers that the target electrode number indicates the peak of the signal detection value when the signal detection value of the target electrode number is larger than the signal detection values on both sides. The electrode number is taken as the finger position.

  Returning to FIG. 8, if the finger position is successfully detected, the answer is Y in step ST2, and the process proceeds to step ST3. The processing in step ST3 and step ST4 is the same as the above-described full surface electrode scanning processing.

As described above, in the first embodiment, generally, signal detection is performed with high sensitivity in a state where the electrodes are combined, and when a finger or the like approaches or comes in contact, the surroundings are determined based on the proximity or contact position of the finger. Signals are detected in detail by connecting the electrodes individually. As a result, with respect to a certain range around the electrode where the finger is detected, the electrodes are individually connected and detected in detail, so that coordinate information can be obtained with high accuracy. By detecting it high, it becomes possible to detect the proximity of another finger with high sensitivity simultaneously with the detection of finger contact.
In addition, not all electrodes are connected individually at the time of finger contact, but the electrodes other than the periphery of the finger perform signal detection by combining multiple electrodes, so the total number of detection electrodes can be reduced, reducing processing time. Can also be realized.

  As described above, according to the touch panel device of Embodiment 1, a touch panel unit in which a plurality of electrodes are arranged, and an arithmetic circuit that detects a change in capacitance of any electrode due to the proximity or contact of a conductor with respect to the touch panel unit. And, in a state where a plurality of electrodes are coupled and connected, based on the detection result of the arithmetic circuit, the proximity or contact position of the conductor is detected, and then the electrodes near the detected position are individually connected, The other areas are equipped with a control circuit that detects the position of a conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, so that position detection can be performed with high accuracy and in a short time. These positions can be detected even when they are close or in contact.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 10. FIG.
The overall block diagram of the second embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 1, but the operation of the control circuit 7 is different in the operation when a plurality of fingers are in contact. That is, when the control circuit 7 detects a plurality of proximity or contact positions of a conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, the range of electrodes to be individually connected is compared with a case where the position detection is single. It is configured to be small. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and will be described using the configuration of FIG.

  In the second embodiment, a case where a plurality of fingers touch the touch panel unit 1 is considered. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, it is assumed that a finger contacts the electrode X7 (indicated by F in the figure), and then another finger contacts the electrode X18 (indicated by G in the figure). ). Since the operation when a finger contacts the electrode X7 is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description of the position detection operation on the electrode X7 is omitted.

Next, the operation when another finger approaches the electrode X18 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
In the processing flow of FIG. 8, steps ST1, ST2, and ST3 perform the same processing as in the first embodiment. That is, after the contact of the finger on the electrode X7 is detected, the electrode X17 and the electrode X18 are coupled as shown in FIG. 7, so the broken line frame 38 in FIG.

Next, in step ST4 of FIG. 8, the control circuit 7 sets the electrode scanning method based on the finger position information. If a plurality of finger positions are obtained, a single finger is detected. Compared to the individual electrode connection range is reduced. This is because the range in which the finger moves independently becomes narrower in the case of an operation with two fingers than in the case of one finger.
Specifically, in step ST4 of FIG. 8, when a plurality of finger positions are detected, the control circuit 7 includes two electrodes before and after the electrodes X17 and X18 included in the broken line frame 38 of the finger positions. Set to connect individual electrodes to the range. That is, the range from the electrode X15 to the electrode X20 (L2 in FIG. 10) including the electrodes X15 and X16 and the electrodes X19 and X20 in FIG. 10 is set to be individually electrode-connected.

  In addition, the finger position of the electrode X7 is also changed from the state in which only the finger in contact with the electrode X7 is detected to the range excluding the two electrodes in front and back as the individual electrode connection range. Specifically, the range from the electrode X5 to the electrode X10 (L2 in FIG. 10) excluding the electrodes X3 and X4 and the electrodes X11 and X12 in FIG. 10 is set to be individually electrode-connected.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when a plurality of fingers are detected, the control circuit 7 controls the electrode coupling so as to detect the detailed position by switching the second finger to the individual electrode. However, unlike the case of detecting only one finger, the range for connecting individual electrodes around the finger position is reduced. In other words, compared to a single finger, the operation range of the finger is narrower in the case of an operation with two fingers, and therefore the range for connecting individual electrodes is made smaller in order to perform signal detection in detail.
As a result, when detecting a plurality of fingers such as two fingers, it is possible to reduce the number of detection electrodes by reducing the individual electrode detection range, thereby shortening the detection processing time.

  As described above, according to the touch panel device of the second embodiment, when the control circuit detects a plurality of proximity or contact positions of a conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, the electrodes to be individually connected are connected. This range is made smaller than the case where the position detection is single, so that the processing time can be shortened even when a plurality of conductor positions are detected.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Hereinafter, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The overall block diagram of the third embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 1, but the operation of the control circuit 7 is different in that the range in which the individual electrode connection is made is variable according to the moving speed of the finger. That is, when the control circuit 7 detects the proximity or contact position of a conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, the movement speed is reduced based on the movement speed of the conductor at the time of detection. Accordingly, the range of electrodes to be individually connected is controlled to be small. Since the configuration other than this is the same as that of the first embodiment or the second embodiment, description will be made using the configuration of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, as in the first embodiment, the operation when a finger approaches and contacts the electrode X7 will be described.
In the processing flow of FIG. 12, steps ST1, ST2, and ST3 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Next, in step ST5 of FIG. 12, the control circuit 7 obtains the moving speed of the finger. Specifically, the moving speed is calculated based on the difference between the coordinate position of the finger obtained one time ago and the coordinate position of the finger obtained in step ST3. If the X coordinate value one time ago is X (t-1), the Y coordinate value is Y (t-1), the X coordinate value obtained this time is X (t), and the Y coordinate value is Y (t), the movement The speed V (t) is obtained by the following equation, for example.
V (t) = max (| X (t) −X (t−1) |, | Y (t) −Y (t−1) |)

  Next, in step ST6 of FIG. 12, the control circuit 7 sets an electrode scanning method according to the moving speed of the finger. For example, when the moving speed obtained in step ST5 is smaller than a preset threshold value Thv, the range for connecting individual electrodes is made smaller than usual. That is, when the moving speed of the finger is smaller than the threshold value, the range excluding two electrodes before and after the normal individual electrode connection range shown in the first embodiment is set as the range for individual electrode connection. Change as follows.

Specifically, in FIG. 11, compared to FIG. 7, the range from electrode X5 to electrode X10 (L2 in FIG. 11) excluding electrodes X3 and X4 and electrodes X11 and X12 is set to be individually electrode-connected. To do.
The threshold value Thv is obtained in advance as a finger moving speed so that there is no omission of detection of finger movement even if the individual electrode connection range is reduced, and this is set to Thv.

  Further, in the above example, when the moving speed is smaller than the threshold Thv, the individual electrode connection is made in the range excluding two electrodes before and after the normal individual electrode connection range, but the moving speed is low. As long as the control is performed so that the range in which the individual electrodes are connected becomes smaller, any control method such as the number of thresholds or the range in which the individual electrodes are connected may be used.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the moving speed is obtained from the time change of the coordinate position of the finger, and the electrode scanning method is set according to the moving speed of the finger. This makes it possible to appropriately control the width of the individual electrode connection according to the finger moving speed. For example, when the finger moving speed is smaller than the threshold value, it is considered that the finger moving amount is small, and the signal detection is performed in detail. The range of connecting individual electrodes for performing the above can be reduced, and the detection processing time can be shortened.

  As described above, according to the touch panel device of the third embodiment, when the control circuit detects the proximity of the conductor or the contact position in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, Based on the moving speed of the conductor, the range of electrodes to be individually connected is controlled to decrease as the moving speed decreases, so even when the position of the conductor moves, the position can be detected with high accuracy and in a short time. It can be carried out.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
Hereinafter, Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG.
The overall block diagram of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 1, but the operation of the control circuit 7 is different in terms of control of electrode scanning when detecting the proximity / contact of the initial finger. That is, when the control circuit 7 detects the proximity or contact position of a conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, first, the control circuit 7 detects the position of the conductor using an electrode closer to the conductor, After detecting the position by the electrode on the side close to the conductor, the position of the conductor is detected by the electrode on the far side. Other configurations are the same as those in any of Embodiments 1 to 3, and will be described using the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the X-axis electrode and the Y-axis electrode arranged on the touch panel unit 1 as described in the first embodiment. In this example, an X-axis electrode for detecting a position in the horizontal direction, that is, the X-axis direction is arranged above the Y-axis electrode for detecting a position in the vertical direction, that is, the Y-axis direction.
In the case of this example, the X-axis electrode disposed on the upper side of the Y-axis electrode has higher signal detection sensitivity for proximity / contact of a finger or the like. Therefore, first, the proximity / contact of the finger is detected using only the X-axis electrode having high signal detection sensitivity, and the Y-axis electrode is scanned when the proximity / contact of the finger is detected.

The operation of the fourth embodiment will be described below using the processing flow of FIG.
In step ST10 of FIG. 13, the control circuit 7 instructs the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 to first scan the X-axis electrode. The electrode scanning process flow is the same as that shown in FIG. 9 of the first embodiment. However, in step ST115 of FIG. 9, the result is Y when all scanning of the X-axis electrode is completed, and the process proceeds to step ST120. Find the position.

  Next, if finger position detection is successful with respect to the X-axis electrode, Y is determined in step ST11, and the process proceeds to step ST12. If the finger position of the X-axis electrode has not been detected, N is determined in step ST11, the process returns to step ST10, and the X-axis electrode is scanned again. That is, in the fourth embodiment, the finger position is successfully detected by scanning only the X-axis electrode, instead of returning to the scanning of all the electrodes again after performing the entire scanning of the X-axis electrode and the Y-axis electrode. If not, the scan of the Y-axis electrode is not performed, and the scan returns to the scan of the X-axis electrode again.

  In step ST12 of FIG. 13, the control circuit 7 calculates the X coordinate based on the finger position information of the X-axis electrode obtained in step ST10. Since the coordinate calculation method is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. If the X coordinate can be calculated in step ST12, in step ST13, the control circuit 7 instructs the detection electrode coupling control circuit 3 to scan the Y-axis electrode. The electrode scanning process flow is the same as that in FIG. 9 of the first embodiment. However, in step ST115 in FIG. 9, Y is reached when all scanning of the Y-axis electrode is completed, and the process proceeds to step ST120 to obtain the finger position.

  Next, if finger position detection is successful with respect to the Y-axis electrode, Y is determined in step ST14, and the process proceeds to step ST15. If the finger position of the Y-axis electrode cannot be detected, N is determined in step ST14, and the process returns to step ST10. In step ST15, the control circuit 7 calculates the Y coordinate based on the finger position information of the Y-axis electrode obtained in step ST13. Since the coordinate calculation method is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Finally, in step ST16, the control circuit 7 sets an electrode scanning method based on the finger position information. Since the content of this process is the same as that of step ST4 of FIG.

Thus, in the fourth embodiment, first, the finger position is detected by scanning only the X-axis electrode disposed on the upper side of the X and Y-axis electrodes. If the finger position cannot be detected, the X-axis electrode is again detected. Returning to the scanning, the Y-axis electrode is scanned if the finger position can be detected.
As a result, the proximity / contact of the finger is detected using only the highly sensitive X-axis electrode, and the Y-axis electrode is detected after the proximity / contact of the finger is detected. Therefore, the processing time until the finger position is detected can be shortened. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the X-axis electrode is on the upper side. However, if the Y-axis electrode is on the upper side, the Y-axis electrode may be configured to detect the proximity / contact of the finger first.

  As described above, according to the touch panel device of the fourth embodiment, the touch panel unit is arranged such that the electrode that detects the X direction intersects with the electrode that detects the Y direction, and the control circuit has a plurality of electrodes predetermined. When the proximity or contact position of the conductor is detected in a state where the number is coupled and connected, first, the position of the conductor is detected by the electrode on the side close to the conductor, and the position is detected by the electrode on the side close to the conductor. Later, since the position of the conductor is detected with the electrode on the far side, the processing time until the detection of the proximity or contact of the conductor can be shortened.

It is a block diagram which shows the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the input side switch of the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a part of touchscreen part which has a strip-shaped electrode wire. It is explanatory drawing which shows the X-axis electrode wire of the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which brought the fingertip close to the X-axis electrode in the touch panel device by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows the equivalent circuit when a fingertip adjoins or contacts the electrode wire with the touch panel device by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the conductor adjoined or contacted on the X-axis electrode line of the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the whole touch panel apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole surface electrode scanning process of the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which multiple conductors adjoined or contacted on the X-axis electrode line of the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the conductor adjoined or contacted on the X-axis electrode line of the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the touchscreen apparatus by Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel part, 2 Oscillator circuit, 3 Detection electrode coupling control circuit, 4 Arithmetic circuit, 5a X-axis input side switch, 5b Y-axis input side switch display part, 6a X-axis output side switch, 6b Y-axis output side switch, 7 Control circuit, 20-23 X-axis electrode line, 24-27 Y-axis electrode line, Cs capacitance.

Claims (4)

A touch panel portion on which a plurality of electrodes are arranged;
An arithmetic circuit for detecting a change in capacitance of any electrode due to proximity or contact of a conductor to the touch panel unit;
After detecting the proximity or contact position of the conductor based on the detection result of the arithmetic circuit in a state where the predetermined number of the electrodes are coupled and connected, the electrodes near the detected position are individually connected. The other area is a touch panel device provided with a control circuit for detecting the position of the conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected.   When a plurality of electrodes are coupled and connected, and the control circuit detects multiple proximity or contact positions of the conductor, the control circuit must reduce the range of electrodes to be connected individually compared to the case where the position detection is single. The touch panel device according to claim 1.   When the control circuit detects the proximity or contact position of a conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, the movement speed is reduced based on the movement speed of the conductor at the time of detection. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel device is controlled to reduce a range of electrodes to be individually connected. The touch panel unit is arranged such that an electrode for detecting the X direction intersects with an electrode for detecting the Y direction,
When detecting a proximity or contact position of a conductor in a state where a predetermined number of electrodes are coupled and connected, the control circuit first detects the position of the conductor by an electrode closer to the conductor, and 4. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the position of the conductor is detected with an electrode on the far side after the position is detected with an electrode on the side close to the conductor. 5.

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