JP2010134576A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device that reduces a manufacturing cost by simplifying a configuration, and achieves an excellent operation sense by facilitating a click. <P>SOLUTION: In the input device, deformable electroconductive metal domes 10 are each made to face to each of a plurality of electrodes 3 of a single-sided printed circuit board 1. Each electrode 3 is formed from: an inner electrode 4 formed on a surface of the single-sided printed circuit board 1; and an outer electrode 6 formed on the surface of the single-sided printed circuit board 1, and surrounding the inner electrode 4 at an interval. The outer electrode 6 is formed in a planar C shape, and a wiring pattern of the inner electrode 4 is drawn out from between both ends thereof. Each metal dome 10 is formed in a sectional dish shape, has an approximate lozenge in a plan view, and is electrically connected and supported to the outer electrode 6, and the metal dome 10 is made to separatably face to the inner electrode 4 with a gap. Because using the low-cost single-sided printed circuit board 1, it is not necessary to bore a through-hole or the like so as to draw out the inner electrode 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capacitance-type input device used for a mobile phone, a mobile terminal, and the like.

  Although a conventional input device such as a mobile phone is not shown, a deformable conductive metal dome facing a plurality of electrodes of a double-sided printed wiring board, and a flexible operation layer that presses the plurality of metal dome, It is configured with.

  Each electrode of the double-sided printed wiring board includes a planar ring-shaped support electrode arranged on the surface of the double-sided printed wiring board, and a contact electrode formed on the surface of the double-sided printed wiring board and positioned at the center of each support electrode. These supporting electrodes and contact electrodes are electrically insulated. A wiring pattern is connected to each support electrode, and this wiring pattern is printed on the surface of the double-sided printed wiring board. On the other hand, each contact electrode is drawn out through the through hole on the back surface of the double-sided printed wiring board and connected to the wiring pattern, and this wiring pattern is printed on the back surface of the double-sided printed wiring board.

The metal dome is curved, for example, by processing a thin stainless steel plate into a substantially circular flat shape with a cross-section of the plate, and is soldered to the electrode support electrode and is opposed to the electrode contact electrode via a gap. It functions as a switch input means together with the contact electrode of the electrode. In the operation layer, a plurality of operation display parts composed of characters, figures, symbols, and the like are arranged at predetermined intervals, and each operation display part is opposed to the electrode support electrode and the metal dome by the operator. A pressing operation is performed with a finger (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 4049703

  The conventional input device is configured as described above and uses a double-sided printed wiring board. Therefore, a through hole or the like has to be drilled to draw out the contact electrode, which complicates the configuration and reduces manufacturing costs. There is a problem that it cannot be planned. In addition, since the metal dome is simply a flat plate having a dish-shaped cross section, there is a problem in that clicking may not be easy unless it is pressed strongly, and as a result, it is difficult to obtain a good operational feeling.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an input device that can simplify the configuration and reduce the manufacturing cost, and can facilitate the click and obtain a good operation feeling. It is said.

In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a deformable conductive metal dome is opposed to the electrode of the single-sided wiring board,
The electrode includes an inner electrode formed on the surface of the single-sided wiring board and an outer electrode formed on the surface of the single-sided wiring board and surrounding the inner electrode with a space therebetween. Pull out the inner electrode wiring pattern from
The metal dome is formed in a dish shape in cross section, and is electrically connected and supported to the outer electrode of the electrode as a substantially rhombus in plan view, and this metal dome is opposed to the inner electrode of the electrode so that they can be contacted via a gap. It is a feature.

The metal dome includes a flexible pusher layer covering the metal dome and a flexible operation layer covering the pusher layer, and the metal dome is pressed (pressed and pressed) on the opposite portion of the pusher layer facing the metal dome. ) To form a pusher to be deformed.
Further, the outer electrode can be formed in a substantially C-shape in a plane, the wiring pattern of the inner electrode is drawn out from between both ends, and the peripheral edge of the metal dome is bonded to the outer electrode of the electrode via an adhesive tape. it can.

  Here, the single-sided wiring board in the claims includes at least a single-sided printed wiring board and a single-sided flexible printed wiring board. The metal dome is formed using a conductive metal plate, resin plate, or the like. The approximate rhombus includes at least a rhombus, a cross, a petal, a shuriken, and the like. Further, the pusher layer may be a light guide layer made of silicone rubber that guides light from a light source such as an LED positioned in the lateral direction to the operation layer and diffuses and emits the light-transmitting operation display unit.

  According to the present invention, since a relatively inexpensive single-sided wiring board is used, it is not necessary to provide a through hole or the like for drawing out the inner electrode on the single-sided wiring board. Moreover, since it is easy to bend with the planar rhombus which a part of metal dome which deform | transforms mechanically was missing, favorable click can be anticipated with weak force.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to simplify the configuration and reduce the manufacturing cost, and it is possible to easily click and obtain a good operation feeling.

In addition, if a pusher that presses and deforms the metal dome is formed at the opposite portion of the pusher layer that faces the metal dome, the metal dome can be pressed and deformed by concentrating the pressing force to obtain the best click feeling. be able to.
Moreover, if the peripheral edge of the metal dome is bonded to the outer electrode of the electrode through an adhesive tape instead of troublesome soldering, the manufacturing operation can be facilitated and speeded up, and the mass productivity of the input device can be achieved. Improvement can be expected.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the input device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of single-sided printed wiring boards 1 of a mobile phone. A deformable conductive metal dome 10 facing the electrode 3, an insulating pusher layer 20 that covers the single-sided printed wiring board 1 and presses the metal dome 10 facing each other, and the pusher layer 20 are covered. And an insulating operation layer 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the single-sided printed wiring board 1 is screen-printed with a conductor pattern including a plurality of electrodes 3 and wiring patterns 5 on the surface of an insulating substrate made of, for example, a phenolic resin substrate. A conductive ground layer 2 is screen printed.

  The plurality of electrodes 3 are arrayed and formed at a predetermined interval on the surface of the single-sided printed wiring board 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each electrode 3 is screen-printed on the surface of the single-sided printed wiring board 1 and screen-printed on the surface of the single-sided printed wiring board 1, and the inner electrodes 4 are spaced apart from each other. The inner electrode 4 and the outer electrode 6 are electrically insulated and are connected to a control device including a CPU of a mobile phone.

  The inner electrode 4 is formed into a planar circle or rectangle using, for example, aluminum foil or copper foil, and is connected to an elongated wiring pattern 5. The wiring pattern 5 is formed using a conductive paste, a conductive polymer, or the like. Screen printed. Further, the outer electrode 6 is formed in a plane C shape by using, for example, aluminum foil or copper foil, and is connected to an elongated wiring pattern, and the wiring pattern 5 of the inner electrode 4 is exposed to the outside from between the open ends. Pulled out. Similarly to the wiring pattern 5 of the inner electrode 4, the wiring pattern of the outer electrode 6 is screen-printed using a conductive paste, a conductive polymer, or the like.

  Although not shown, the control device includes a display unit such as a display panel of a mobile phone, position detection means for detecting the position of the operator's finger as a conductor based on a change in capacitance, and transmission for transmitting audio signals and data signals. A receiving unit that receives a voice signal and a data signal, and a storage unit that stores telephone number data, address data, various setting data, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each metal dome 10 is formed into a substantially rhombus shape that is formed in a cross-sectional dish shape that bulges upward by pressing a thin stainless steel plate, for example, and deformed in plan view. The metal dome 10 is electrically connected and supported to the outer electrode 6 of the electrode 3, and is opposed to the inner electrode 4 of the electrode 3 through a gap so as to be able to contact and separate from above, and is controlled as a switch input means together with the electrode 3. Connected to the device. The peripheral edge 11 of the metal dome 10 is fitted and bonded onto the outer electrode 6 of the electrode 3 via a planar ring-shaped adhesive tape 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pusher layer 20 is formed into a flexible thin sheet by using a molding material including, for example, silicone rubber and the like. Tapered pushers 21 adjacent to each other with a gap at the top of the upper surface are extended downward, and the pushers 21 press and deform the surface of the metal dome 10 by point contact so that the inner electrode 4 and the inner side of the electrode 3 It functions to contact the upper part of the metal dome 10 that is recessed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation layer 30 is formed into a thin sheet that can be elastically deformed by a molding material containing, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, and is laminated and bonded to the surface of the pusher layer 20 via an adhesive layer. The operation layer 30 includes a plurality of operation display units 31 made of characters, figures, symbols, and the like arranged at predetermined intervals. The operation display units 31 face each other with the metal dome 10 and the pusher layer 20 facing each other. It is pressed by the operator's finger.

  In the above configuration, when a finger is brought close to the predetermined operation display unit 31 of the operation layer 30, an electrostatic capacity is generated / changed between the finger and the metal dome 10 below the predetermined operation display unit 31. The voltage of the position detecting means changes due to the change in capacitance, and the metal dome 10 below the predetermined operation display unit 31 is detected by this position detecting means. When the metal dome 10 below the predetermined operation display unit 31 is detected in this way, a signal is output from the position detection means to the control device, and the control device detects the position information of the finger.

Next, when a finger is brought into contact with a predetermined operation display unit 31 of the operation layer 30 and pressed, the pusher 21 protruding from the pusher layer 20 is lowered to cause the metal dome 10 to be pressed and deformed downward. 4 and the upper part of the recessed metal dome 10 come into contact with each other, and the control device detects that the predetermined operation display unit 31 has been pressed by this conduction.
At this time, the upper part bulging above the metal dome 10 is recessed inward and downward to generate a reaction force, and this reaction force is transmitted to the operator's finger, so that the operator feels that the operation has been performed reliably. Become.

  According to the above configuration, an inexpensive single-sided printed wiring board 1 is used instead of an expensive and complicated double-sided printed wiring board, and the wiring pattern 5 of the inner electrode 4 can be drawn out on the surface of the single-sided printed wiring board 1. There is no need to drill through holes or the like for drawing out the electrode 4. Therefore, the configuration and the manufacturing method can be remarkably simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced. Further, unlike the prior art, the ground layer 2 having a mesh structure can be formed and shielded on the entire back surface of the single-sided printed wiring board 1, so that it is highly expected that radiation noise from peripheral circuit elements and the like is suppressed.

  In addition, the mechanically deforming metal dome 10 is not a simple plane substantially circular, but is partially flat and substantially rhombus-shaped, so that it can be easily bent. As a result, the best operational feeling can be easily obtained. Furthermore, since the peripheral edge 11 of the metal dome 10 is fitted and bonded onto the outer electrode 6 via the flat ring-shaped adhesive tape 12, the bonding operation is really easy, and the manufacturing operation is facilitated and speeded up. Is possible.

It is a section explanatory view showing typically an embodiment of an input device concerning the present invention. It is a plane explanatory view showing typically an embodiment of an input device concerning the present invention. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Single-sided printed wiring board (single-sided wiring board)
2 Ground layer 3 Electrode 4 Inner electrode 5 Wiring pattern 6 Outer electrode 10 Metal dome 11 Peripheral part 12 Adhesive tape 20 Pusher layer 21 Pusher 30 Operation layer 31 Operation display part

Claims (3)

An input device in which a deformable conductive metal dome is opposed to an electrode of a single-sided wiring board, the electrode being formed on the surface of the single-sided wiring board and the inner side of the surface of the single-sided wiring board An outer electrode that surrounds the electrode at an interval, cuts out a part of the outer electrode, and draws out the wiring pattern of the inner electrode therefrom.
The metal dome is formed in a dish shape in cross section, and is electrically connected and supported to the outer electrode of the electrode as a substantially rhombus in plan view, and this metal dome is opposed to the inner electrode of the electrode so that they can be contacted via a gap. Characteristic input device.   A pusher layer that includes a flexible pusher layer that covers the metal dome and a flexible operation layer that covers the pusher layer, and that pushes and deforms the metal dome at the opposing portion of the pusher layer facing the metal dome. The input device according to claim 1.   The outer electrode is formed in a substantially C-shaped plane, the wiring pattern of the inner electrode is drawn out from between both ends, and the peripheral edge of the metal dome is bonded to the outer electrode of the electrode via an adhesive tape. 2. The input device according to 2.

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