JP2010204987A - Touchpad input device, and apparatus with touchpad input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touchpad input device and an apparatus with the touchpad input device that facilitate manually written input of characters, etc. while providing perception of operating direction and operating distance through the tactile sense. <P>SOLUTION: The touchpad input device (10) includes a touch operation member with a touch operation surface (30), and a detection means for detecting the presence and the position of an object on the touch operation surface (30). The touch operation surface (30) has a flat first area (30a) and a second area (30b) where a plurality of concave or convex transformed parts (28) are arranged along at least one arrangement direction and spaced apart from each other, as compared with the first area (30a). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a touchpad input device and a device with a touchpad input device.

For example, some electronic devices such as a notebook personal computer, a mobile phone, and a car navigation system have a touch pad (pad input device) as input means. The operator of the electronic device can move the cursor on the display screen by moving the fingertip along the touch pad, and can specify a desired icon.
In this type of pad input device, for example, there is one in which a concave or convex portion is provided on the surface of the touch pad so that the operator can appropriately grasp the operation direction and the operation distance with the touch of a finger ( For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-76005 A JP 2007-72660 A

However, in the prior art touch pad, since the concave portion or the convex portion is formed over the entire surface of the touch pad, it is difficult to move the fingertip smoothly. For this reason, the prior art touchpad has a problem that it is difficult to input characters by handwriting.
Particularly in China, there is a strong demand for handwriting input of characters and the like, and it is required to facilitate handwriting input of characters and the like.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touchpad input device and a touchpad input device that can easily sense handwriting input of characters and the like while providing tactile sensation of the operation direction and operation distance It is to provide attached equipment.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following solutions.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touchpad input device including a contact operation member having a contact operation surface, and a detection unit that detects a position of an object on the contact operation surface. The contact operation surface includes a flat first region and a plurality of concave or convex change portions as compared to the first region, the second change region being disposed along at least one arrangement direction and spaced apart from each other. A touchpad input device is provided.

According to the touch pad input device of the present invention, when an operator moves an object on the second region of the contact operation surface, the operator senses the changed portion by touch. Thereby, the operator can grasp | ascertain exactly the distance (operation distance) and the direction (operation direction) which he has moved the object exactly.
On the other hand, when the operator wants to input a character, symbol, or figure (hereinafter referred to as a character or the like), the operator may move the object so as to draw the character or the like on the first region of the contact operation surface. By doing so, input of characters and the like is not hindered by the changing unit, and handwriting input of characters and the like is easy for the operator of the touchpad input device.

Solution 2: Preferably, the changing portion is arranged along an outer edge of the contact operation surface, and the first region is located closer to the center of the contact operation surface than the changing portion.
In the touch pad input device of the solving means 2, the area of the first region is maximized by arranging the changing portion along the outer edge of the contact operation surface. This makes it easier for the operator to input characters and the like.

Solution 3: Preferably, the contact operation member includes a contact plate, and a contact film stacked on the contact plate and having a plurality of holes partially exposing the surface of the contact plate, The first area of the surface is constituted by the surface of the contact film, and the changing portion of the second area is constituted by a portion of the surface of the contact plate exposed from the hole.
According to the touch pad input device of the solving means 3, the changing portion can be provided on the contact operation surface with a simple configuration.

  Solution 4: According to one aspect of the present invention, the touchpad input device according to any one of solutions 1 to 3, a display screen, and a control device that operates the display device based on the output of the touchpad input device. The display screen can display a plurality of icons in a state in which one of the icons is highlighted, and the change unit is configured to change the change in the second region. There is provided a device with a touchpad input device, wherein the interval and arrangement direction of the parts correspond to the interval and arrangement direction of the icons on the display screen, respectively.

  In the device with a touchpad input device of the present invention, the interval between the change unit and the icon and the arrangement direction correspond to each other. Therefore, the operator moves an object on the contact operation surface, and selects a desired icon from a plurality of icons. It is easy to select accurately.

Solution 5: Preferably, the plurality of changing portions are arranged in a ring shape on the contact operation surface, and the plurality of icons are arranged in a ring shape on the display screen.
In the touchpad input device of the solution 5, since the changing portion and the icon are arranged in a ring shape, the operator moves an object on the contact operation surface and selects a desired icon from a plurality of icons accurately. Is easy.

Solving means 6: Preferably, when the detecting means detects that the position of the object has changed along the arrangement direction of the changing portions at a distance corresponding to the interval between the changing portions, the control device The display screen is controlled so as to switch the icon displayed in the emphasized state.
According to the touch pad input device of the solving means 6, the operator changes the presence position of the object along the arrangement direction of the changing portions by a distance corresponding to the interval of the changing portions, thereby displaying the highlighted icon. It can be switched easily and accurately.

  As described above, the touch pad input device according to the present invention provides a sense of touch with respect to the operation direction and the operation distance, but also facilitates handwriting input of characters and the like.

It is a perspective view showing roughly appearance of a device with a touchpad input device of a first embodiment. It is a top view which shows the display screen of the apparatus with a touchpad input device of FIG. 1 in the state of the selection mode which displayed the several icon. It is a top view shown in the state which displayed the display screen of the apparatus with a touchpad input device of FIG. 1 in the state of handwriting input mode. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the touchpad input device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing the first film substrate and the second film substrate of FIG. 5 in an exploded manner. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the electrical connection of the apparatus with a touchpad input device of FIG. It is a top view which shows the display screen of the apparatus with a touchpad input device which concerns on 2nd embodiment in the state of the selection mode which displayed the several icon. It is a top view which shows roughly the contact operation member which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the XI-XI line of FIG. It is a top view which shows roughly the contact operation member which concerns on 3rd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an external device with a touchpad input device according to the first embodiment. The device with a touchpad input device includes a touchpad input device 10 and an external device 11 that is electrically connected to the touchpad input device 10.
The external device 11 is, for example, an audio integrated navigation device, and is fitted into a dashboard of a vehicle. The external device 11 has a display screen 12, and various information is displayed on the display screen 12. The displayed information is appropriately switched according to the operation of the operator.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of icons 14 are arranged and displayed on the display screen 12 in the selection mode in which the operator selects and determines the function executed by the external device 11. . In the present embodiment, a plurality of icons 14 are arranged in a ring shape, and each icon 14 includes a rectangular figure and characters displayed in the figure. The characters indicate functions assigned to the icons 14.

  The selected icon 14 is displayed with emphasis compared to other icons 14 that are not selected, for example, by changing the color of a figure or a character. Then, the operator performs a determination operation if the icon 14 that is highlighted is the desired icon 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operator is in a handwriting input mode in which the operator inputs, for example, a place name of the destination by handwriting, the center circular area (display area for handwritten characters, etc.) A line handwritten by the operator is displayed in 16. In addition, characters and the like recognized from the handwritten line are displayed in a rectangular region (recognized character display region) 18 positioned above the display region 16 of handwritten characters and the like. That is, the operator can select characters to be input to the external device 11 by handwriting and recognizing characters, symbols, figures, or the like.
FIG. 3 illustrates a state where the operator has already written A, B, C, and D and has written E halfway. A two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 is a line to be written by the operator.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the touch pad input device 10 of FIG. 1, and the touch pad input device 10 is disposed within the reach of the operator's hand. The operator can cause the navigation device to perform a predetermined operation by directly operating the touch pad input device 10 without directly touching the navigation device as the external device 11.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the touch pad input device 10 includes a housing 20, and a circular recess 21 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 20. A circular contact film 22 is disposed in the recess 21, and the contact film 22 is in close contact with the upper surface of the housing 20, in other words, the bottom surface of the recess 21 so as not to be relatively rotatable.
A plurality of circular holes 24 are formed in the contact film 22 along the outer edge thereof. The number, interval, and arrangement direction of the holes 24 correspond to the number, interval, and arrangement direction of the icons 14. In this embodiment, twelve holes 24 are arranged in a ring at regular intervals.

The upper surface of the housing 20 is partially exposed through each hole 24. The surface 26 of the contact film 22 and the circular portion 28 on the upper surface of the housing 20 exposed through the hole 24 constitute a contact operation surface 30.
Accordingly, the contact operation surface 30 includes a flat region (first region) 30a provided in a circular shape in the center in the radial direction and an annular outer edge region (second region) 30b located on the radially outer side of the first region 30a. It is configured. In the contact operation surface 30, the circular portion 28 of the outer edge region 30b constitutes a height change portion that is recessed from the flat region 30a.

  Further, two openings 32 are formed on the upper surface of the housing 20 so as to be separated from the recesses 21, and buttons 34 are respectively disposed in the openings 32. One of the buttons 34 is used to determine the selected content. For example, the operator presses the button 34 to determine whether or not to execute the function of the icon selected using the touch operation surface 30, and the character or the like recognized / selected by handwriting is displayed on the navigation device. It is possible to determine whether or not to input.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG.
The housing 20 includes a box-shaped upper case 36 whose bottom surface is open, and a bottom plate 38 that closes the opening of the upper case 36. An electric circuit unit is disposed in the housing 20.
The electric circuit unit detects the presence position of an object such as a fingertip on the contact operation surface 30. For this purpose, the electric circuit unit has a first film substrate 40, a second film substrate 42, a wiring film substrate 44, and a main substrate 46. The first film substrate 40 and the second film substrate 42 are bonded to each other in a laminated state while ensuring electrical insulation, and the second film substrate 42 and the wiring film substrate 44 are integrally formed. Yes.
The wiring film substrate 44 is electrically connected to the main substrate 46 via a connector. These substrates 40, 42, 44, 46 are fixed in the housing 20 by being supported by a holder 48.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the first film substrate 40 and the second film substrate 42 in an exploded state. An X driving electrode 48 is formed on the first film substrate 40, and the X driving electrode 48 is a set of a plurality of metal bands arranged in a lattice shape.
Further, the Y driving electrode 50 is formed on the second film substrate 42, and the Y driving electrode 59 is also a set of a plurality of metal bands arranged in a lattice shape. However, in the X drive electrode 48 and the Y drive electrode 50, the longitudinal directions of the metal bands are orthogonal to each other.
Further, a comb-shaped detection electrode 52 is formed on the second film substrate 42 so as to mesh with the Y drive electrode 50.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the touch pad input device 10 and the external device 11.
A position calculation circuit 54 is provided on the main board 46. The position calculation circuit 54, together with the X drive electrode 48, the Y drive electrode 50, and the detection electrode 52, constitutes means (detection unit 56) for detecting the position of the object on the contact operation surface 30. In the present embodiment, the detection unit 56 is a capacitance type, and detects the position of the object on the contact operation surface 30 based on the X drive electrode 48 and the capacitance between the Y drive electrode 50 and the detection electrode 52. To do.

The main board 46 is provided with an MPU (microprocessor) 58 as a means for controlling the operation of the touchpad input device 10 as a whole. The MPU 58 has an object position calculated by the position calculation circuit 54. Entered. The MPU 58 outputs the input position of the object to the external device 11, whereby the external device 11 performs a predetermined operation.
A button 34 is also connected to the MPU 58, and the MPU 58 outputs a command input via the button 34 to the external device 11.

The external device 11 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 60, a touch pad controller 62, a display controller 64, a DVD drive controller 66, as means for controlling the overall operation of the external device 11 based on the output of the touch pad input device 10. A DVD drive 67 and a memory 70 are included.
Specifically, in the selection mode, the CPU 60 appropriately displays the icon 14 to be highlighted according to the position of the object on the touch operation surface 30 in cooperation with the touch pad controller 62 and the display controller 64. Switch.
In the handwriting input mode, the CPU 60 cooperates with the touchpad controller 62 and the display controller 64 to display lines and the like handwritten on the touch operation surface 30 on the display screen 12 and to display characters and the like from the lines. recognize.

Accordingly, when the operator operates the external device 11 via the touch pad input device 10 described above, for example, a fingertip is brought into contact with the contact operation surface 30 and can be moved along the contact operation surface 30 as necessary. That's fine.
Specifically, the operator may touch the circular portion 28 corresponding to the desired icon 14 in the selection mode of FIG. Therefore, in the present embodiment, one circular portion 28 is associated with each icon 14, and the circular arrangement of the circular portions 28 is associated with the circular arrangement of the icons 14. If the portion of the touch operation surface 30 that is first touched is a portion other than the circular portion 28 corresponding to the desired icon 14, the operator may move the fingertip along the contact operation surface 30.

  If the operator touches the touch operation surface 30 for the first time, if the other circular portion 28 is touched, the other icon 14 corresponding to the other circular portion 28 is highlighted. In this case, the operator may move the fingertip to the circular portion 28 corresponding to the desired icon 14 along the arrangement direction of the circular portions 28 in the outer edge region 30b of the contact operation surface 30. As a result, the highlighting of the other icons 14 is canceled and the desired icon 14 is highlighted.

That is, the operator selects the desired icon 14 by moving the fingertip along the circumferential direction of the contact operation surface 30 by a distance or a rotation angle corresponding to the interval between the other icon 14 and the desired icon 14. can do.
Then, the operator may press the button 34 when the desired icon 14 is highlighted and decide to execute the selected function.

Further, when the operator is in the handwriting input mode of FIG. 3, the external device 11 recognizes characters and the like by tracing the flat area 30a in the center of the contact operation surface 30 with a fingertip so as to draw a desired character and the like. Can be made.
According to the touch pad input device 10 of the first embodiment described above, when the operator moves the fingertip on the outer edge region 30b of the contact operation surface 30, the depressed circular portion 28 is sensed by touch. Thereby, the operator can grasp | ascertain exactly the distance (operation distance) and the direction (circumferential direction) which he moved the fingertip.
On the other hand, when the operator wants to input characters, symbols, or figures, the object may be moved so as to draw characters or the like on the flat region 30 a of the contact operation surface 30. By doing so, input of characters and the like is not hindered by the recessed circular portion 28, and it is easy for the operator of the touchpad input device 10 to input characters and the like.

And in the touchpad input device 10 of 1st embodiment, the area of the flat area | region 30a becomes the maximum by arrange | positioning the recessed circular part 28 along the outer edge of the contact operation surface 30. FIG. This makes it easier for the operator to input characters and the like.
In the device with a touch pad input device of the first embodiment, the arrangement direction of the recessed circular portion 28 and the icon 14 and the interval in the arrangement direction correspond to each other. It is easy to accurately select a desired icon 14 from a plurality of icons 14 by moving the fingertip.

Further, in the device with the touch pad input device of the first embodiment, the recessed circular portion 28 and the icon 14 are arranged in an annular shape, so that the operator can move an object on the contact operation surface 30 and perform a plurality of operations. It is easy to accurately select a desired icon 14 from the icons 14.
Further, according to the touch pad input device device of the first embodiment, the operator can change the position of the fingertip along the arrangement direction of the circular portions 28 by a distance corresponding to the interval between the circular portions 28. The highlighted icon 14 can be switched easily and accurately.
Furthermore, according to the device with the touch pad input device of the first embodiment, the circular portion 28 recessed in the contact operation surface 30 is formed with a simple configuration in which the contact film 22 is laminated on the upper surface (contact plate) of the housing 20. Can be provided.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 shows the display screen 12 of the device with the touch pad input device of the second embodiment in the selection mode. On this display screen 12, a plurality of twelve icons 14 are displayed in a matrix of 3 rows and 4 columns arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the contact operation surface 70 in the device with the touchpad input device according to the second embodiment. For example, the contact operation surface 70 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the housing 20, but the contact operation surface 70 may be formed on a member separate from the housing 20 and the member may be fixed to the housing 20.

As shown in FIG. 9, the outer shape of the contact operation surface 70 is a quadrangle. The contact operation surface 70 has a flat region 70 a at the center, and the flat region 70 a is surrounded by a rectangular outer edge region 70 b along the outer edge of the contact operation surface 70.
A plurality of square portions 72 are provided in the outer edge region 70b, and the square portions 72 are arranged at regular intervals in a line along the length direction on each of the vertical and horizontal sides of the outer edge region 70b. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the square portion 72 of the outer edge region 70b is recessed as compared with the flat region 70a, and constitutes a height change portion.

In the device with the touch pad input device according to the second embodiment, when the outer edge region 70b is traced with the fingertip in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction in the selection mode, the fingertip from the square portion 72 to the other square portion 72 Is moved, the highlighted icon 14 is switched in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction.
When the left side portion or the right side portion of the outer edge region 70b is traced with the fingertip in the vertical direction, the icon 14 is switched in the same column on the display screen 12. Similarly, when the front edge portion or the rear edge portion of the outer edge region 70b is traced with the fingertip in the horizontal direction, the icon 14 is switched in the same line on the display screen 12.

That is, in this embodiment, the square part 72 is not made to correspond to the icon 14 on a one-to-one basis, but the arrangement direction of the square part 72 and the interval in the arrangement direction are the arrangement direction of the icon 14 and the arrangement of the icon 14. Corresponding to the spacing in the direction.
Note that the arrangement direction and interval of the square portions 72 (hereinafter referred to as an arrangement pattern) are not necessarily the same as the arrangement pattern of the icons 14 and may be similar at a certain ratio.
In addition, from the second embodiment described above, it is understood that a member separate from the housing 20 is not necessarily provided in order to form the height change portion on the contact operation surface 70.

[Third embodiment]
It is a top view which shows the contact operation surface 80 in the apparatus with a touchpad input device of 3rd embodiment. The contact operation surface 80 is different from the contact operation surface 70 in that the square portion 82 is provided only along one side.
From this third embodiment, it can be seen that the height change portion, that is, the square portion 82 formed on the contact operation surface 80 may be formed only at a part of the outer edge of the contact operation surface 80. In other words, the change units need only be arranged in at least one direction corresponding to the arrangement direction of the icons 14.

The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible.
For example, in the first embodiment, one circular portion 28 is associated with one icon 14 in the selection mode, but it is not necessarily one-to-one as in the second and third embodiments. It is not necessary to be supported by. In such a case, when an arbitrary part of the outer edge region 30b is moved along the circumferential direction, it is highlighted when it is detected that the fingertip has moved by a distance corresponding to the interval between the circular portions 28. The icon 14 can be switched to the adjacent icon 14.

  In 1st thru | or 3rd embodiment, although the circular part 28 and the square parts 72 and 82 which were dented rather than the flat area | region 30a, 70a, 80a of the contact operation surface 30,70,80 were formed, flat area | region 30a, 70a. , 80a may be formed. That is, it is only necessary to form a change portion that changes the height of the contact operation surfaces 30, 70, and 80.

In 1st thru | or 3rd embodiment, although the circular part 28 and the square parts 72 and 82 as a change part were formed in the outer edge area | region 30b, 70b, 80b of the contact operation surface 30,70,80, a change part is It does not necessarily have to be formed in the outer edge regions 30b, 70b, 80b. However, in order to enlarge the areas of the flat regions 30a, 70a, 80a for handwriting input or pen input as much as possible, it is preferable to form the changing portions in the outer edge regions 30b, 70b, 80b.
In the first to third embodiments, the icons 14 and the changing portions are arranged in the circumferential direction, the vertical direction, or the horizontal direction, but may be arranged in an oblique direction or a radial direction.

In the first to third embodiments, the detection unit 56 of the touchpad input device 10 is a capacitance type, but other known methods such as a resistance film type may be used. Also, the configuration of the electric circuit unit is not particularly limited.
In the first to third embodiments, the selected icon 14 is highlighted. However, instead of highlighting or together with the highlighting, a cursor is used to show the selected icon 14 to the operator. It may be displayed on the display screen 12. In this case, the movement of the cursor is linked to the movement of the fingertip on the contact operation surfaces 30, 70, 80.

In the first to third embodiments, the CPU 60, the touch pad controller 62, the display controller 64, the DVD drive controller 66, the DVD drive 67, and the memory 70 constitute a control device (control means) that controls the display screen 12. However, the configuration of the control device is not limited to this.
Finally, the external device 11 to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a navigation device, and may be an electronic information device such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, or a remote controller.

10 Touchpad Input Device 11 External Device (Navigation Device)
12 Display screen 14 Icon 16 Display area of handwritten characters, etc. 18 Display area of recognized characters, etc. 20 Housing 22 Contact film 28 Circular portion (change portion)
30 Contact operation surface 30a Flat area (first area)
30b Outer edge region (second region)
40 First film substrate 42 Second film substrate 44 Film substrate for wiring 46 Main substrate 47 Holder 56 Detection unit (detection means)
60 CPU (control device)
62 Touchpad controller (control device)
64 Display controller (control device)

Claims (6)

A contact operation member having a contact operation surface;
A touchpad input device comprising a detecting means for detecting the presence position of an object on the contact operation surface,
The contact operation surface includes a flat first region and a plurality of concave or convex change portions as compared to the first region, the second change region being disposed along at least one arrangement direction and spaced apart from each other. And a touch pad input device. The touchpad input device according to claim 1.
The changing portion is disposed along an outer edge of the contact operation surface,
The touch pad input device according to claim 1, wherein the first region is located closer to a center side of the contact operation surface than the changing portion. The touchpad input device according to claim 1 or 2,
The contact operation member includes a contact plate and a contact film laminated on the contact plate and having a plurality of holes that partially expose the surface of the contact plate.
The first region of the contact operation surface is configured by the surface of the contact film, and the change portion of the second region is configured by a portion of the surface of the contact plate exposed from the hole. Pad input device. The touchpad input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A display screen;
In a device with a touchpad input device comprising a control device for operating the display device based on the output of the touchpad input device,
The display screen can display a plurality of icons in a state where one of the icons is highlighted,
With the touch pad input device, the change unit is arranged so that the interval and the arrangement direction of the change unit in the second region correspond to the interval and the arrangement direction of the icons on the display screen, respectively. machine. In the apparatus with a touchpad input device according to claim 4,
The plurality of changing portions are arranged in an annular shape on the contact operation surface,
The device with a touchpad input device, wherein the plurality of icons are arranged in a ring shape on the display screen. In the apparatus with a touchpad input device according to claim 4 or 5,
When the detection means detects that the position of the object has changed along the arrangement direction of the change parts and at a distance corresponding to the interval between the change parts, the control device is displayed in an emphasized state. A device with a touchpad input device, wherein the display screen is controlled to switch icons.

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