JP2010251120A - Capacitance-type input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capacitance-type input device which is usable that does not interfere with input work, even if an insulating material is used, and capable of suppressing continuity failure and disconnection, accompanying a three-dimentional molding. <P>SOLUTION: In the input device, a deformable ground layer 2, a pattern layer 3, and a transparent layer 4 to be pressed are laminated on the surface of a support layer 1 to three-dimensionally mold them; a detection section 10 and an external connection section 20 are disposed on the back of the support layer 1; and the change of capacitance is detected by the detection section 10 to convert it to an input signal. The detection section 10 is composed of a circuit board 11, fixed to the back of the support layer 1 while facing the ground layer 2, and an elastic insulating dielectric 14 brought into pressure contact with the land 12 of the circuit board 11 and the ground layer 2 by intervening between them. The external connection section 20 is composed of a circuit board 21, fixed to the back of the support layer 1, while facing the ground layer 2, and a conductor 24 brought into pressure contact with the circuit board 21 and the ground layer 2, by interposing between them, and the ground layer 2 is connected to an external circuit via the conductor 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic capacitance type input device used for portable equipment such as an air conditioner, an audio, and a mobile phone.

  Although not shown in the figure, a conventional capacitance type input device employed in a notebook computer or the like has an electrode layer connected to an external circuit laminated on an insulating support layer, and an insulating property is formed on the electrode layer. The surface manipulation layer is laminated, and the user's finger contacts the surface manipulation layer. In the electrode layer, for example, a plurality of electrode portions are patterned by printing on the surface of an insulating film, and elongated lead lines for connecting to external circuits are extended from each electrode portion by printing.

  In such a capacitance-type input device, when a finger contacts the surface operation layer, a capacitor is formed between the electrode part of the electrode layer and the finger, and the capacitance changes depending on where the finger is located. (See Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-99346 W02003 / 036247 JP-A-5-26753

  The conventional capacitance type input device is configured as described above, and requires a finger as a conductor in the configuration of the capacitor. Therefore, when an insulating glove is fitted or a prosthetic hand is used, the capacitor is not used. There is a problem in that it is impossible to detect a change in electrostatic capacity, and the input work is hindered. In addition, the conventional capacitive input device is sometimes three-dimensionally formed from the viewpoint of improving the designability. In this case, the electrode layer is also three-dimensionally formed. The lead-out line extends at a portion that bends sharply in the vertical direction, and as a result, there is a risk of poor conduction or disconnection.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above. Even if an insulator is used, there is no hindrance to input work, and a capacitance type that can suppress conduction failure and disconnection associated with three-dimensional molding. An object is to provide an input device.

In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a deformable conductive layer and a pressed layer are laminated on the surface of the support layer, and at least the conductive layer and the pressed layer among these support layer, conductive layer, and pressed layer Is formed three-dimensionally, and a detection part and an external connection part are provided on the back surface of the support layer, respectively, and a change in capacitance is detected by the detection part and converted into an input signal,
The detection unit includes a substrate that is attached to the back surface of the support layer and faces the conductive layer, and an elastic insulator that is interposed and connected between the electrode of the substrate and the conductive layer,
The external connection portion includes a substrate that is attached to the back surface of the support layer and faces the conductive layer, and a conductor that is electrically connected to be interposed between the substrate and the conductive layer. The conductive layer is connected to an external circuit.

Note that a pattern layer can be interposed between the conductive layer and the pressed layer, and the light transmitting property from the light source can be imparted to the conductive layer, the pressed layer, and the patterned layer, respectively.
Moreover, elasticity can be given to the conductor of an external connection part and a conductor can also be compressively deformed.

  Here, the support layer in the claims may be a light guide layer that guides light rays from the light source and guides the light in the direction of the light-transmitting conductive layer, pattern layer, and pressed layer. The pattern layer corresponds to a character, a figure, a symbol, a combination thereof, or a combination of these and a color, and can impart light transparency to at least a part thereof. This pattern layer can be appropriately laminated on all or part of the back surface of the pressed layer.

  As the conductor, for example, conductive elastic rubber, elastic elastomer, spring, electrical connector, or the like can be used. Alternatively, a laminate of an insulator and a conductor may be used. Furthermore, the capacitive input device according to the present invention is used for at least an air conditioner, an audio, a portable device represented by a mobile phone, a car center console, an audio, and the like.

  According to the present invention, when the pressed layer is pressed for the input device operation, the insulator forming the capacitor is deformed together with the conductive layer and the electrode of the substrate of the detection unit, and the distance between the conductive layer and the electrode of the substrate is increased. By changing the capacitance, the capacitance is changed, and the change in the capacitance is detected and converted into an input signal, so that the input operation can be performed. Since the capacitance is changed by the deformation of the insulator accompanying the pressing operation, the change in the capacitance can be detected with a simple configuration even when an insulating glove is fitted or a hand is prosthetic.

  In addition, since a conductor is used instead of the lead-out line and is used for routing to an external circuit, even if the capacitive input device is three-dimensionally formed, a conduction failure or disconnection is caused. There is little fear.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that, even if an insulator is used, input work is not hindered, and conduction failure and disconnection associated with three-dimensional molding can be suppressed.

Moreover, if a pattern layer is interposed between the conductive layer and the pressed layer, the pressed layer can be decorated, and the functionality and operability of the pressed layer can be improved. In addition, if the conductive layer, the pressed layer, and the pattern layer are each provided with light transmissivity that transmits light from the light source, the pattern layer can be illuminated to facilitate the operator's input operation.
Furthermore, if elasticity is given to the conductor of the external connection portion and the conductor is compressed and deformed, the connection between the electrode layer and the substrate can be stabilized.

1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view schematically showing an embodiment of a capacitive input device according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a capacitive input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The capacitive input device according to the present embodiment has a rigid support layer 1 as shown in FIG. The ground layer 2, the pattern layer 3, and the transparent pressed layer 4 that are deformable on the surface are sequentially laminated and three-dimensionally formed, and the detection unit 10 and the external connection unit 20 are formed on the back surface of the support layer 1. It is an input device that is arranged at a distance and detects a change in capacitance by the detection unit 10 and converts it into an input signal.

  The support layer 1 is molded using a predetermined material having optical transparency, and is three-dimensionally molded three-dimensionally. The predetermined material for the support layer 1 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include hard polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, modified polyphenylene ether, acrylic resin, and ABS resin. On the back surface side of the support layer 1, a light source is installed that is located on the opposite side of the transparent pressed layer 4 and that irradiates a light beam of chromatic color (for example, red, blue, green, etc.). Are sequentially incident on the support layer 1, the ground layer 2, the pattern layer 3, and the transparent pressed layer 4, thereby illuminating the pattern layer 3 to facilitate the operator's input operation.

  The ground layer 2 is formed into a transparent and conductive thin film by, for example, screen printing or the like of a low-resistance conductive polymer having optical transparency. The material of the ground layer 2 may be silver, copper, carbon or the like as long as it is a conductive material.

  The pattern layer 3 is, for example, lightly transmissive letters, figures, symbols, a combination of these, or a combination of these with a color or the like on the surface of the ground layer 2 or the back surface of the transparent pressed layer 4 Are stacked as operation keys or the like. The method for laminating the pattern layer 3 is not particularly limited, and for example, a screen printing method using a light transmissive ink, a film insert molding method, or the like is employed.

  The transparent pressed layer 4 is formed into a thin sheet or film using, for example, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic resin or the like having light transmittance and flexibility, and the finger of the operator is protected while the pattern layer 3 is protected. The finger is pressed with a gloved finger, a prosthetic hand, or a writing instrument.

  The detection unit 10 is interposed between the circuit board 11 that is screwed and fixed to the back surface of the support layer 1 and faces the ground layer 2 through a gap, and the land 12 of the circuit board 11 and the back surface of the ground layer 2. And an elastic insulating dielectric 14 that is electrically pressed. Conductive patterns including lands 12 as electrodes are formed on at least the surface of the circuit board 11 by screen printing or the like, and the lands 12 are connected to an external circuit such as a CPU via lead wires 13. The insulating dielectric 14 is formed into a cylindrical shape using a material such as flexible and elastic light-transmitting silicone rubber or urethane rubber, and forms a capacitor together with the ground layer 2 and the land 12.

  The external connection portion 20 is electrically fixed by being screwed to the back surface of the support layer 1 and opposed to the ground layer 2 via a gap, and is interposed between the circuit substrate 21 and the ground layer 2. The ground layer 2 is connected to an external circuit through the conductor 24. Conductive patterns including lands 22 as electrodes are formed on at least the surface of the circuit board 21 by screen printing or the like, and the lands 22 are connected to an external circuit such as a CPU via lead wires 23.

  The conductor 24 is formed into a cylindrical conductive rubber that can be elastically deformed by, for example, a conductive elastomer, and is compressed and interposed between the back surface of the ground layer 2 and the land 22 of the circuit board 21. Act as a line. A conductive contact resistance suppression film 25 made of carbon, silver paste or the like is selectively covered on the flat front end surface of the conductor 24 that is in pressure contact with the ground layer 2. The contact resistance suppression film 25 of the conductor 24 is preferably pressed against a flat portion where the stress of the ground layer 2 does not act, in other words, a non-stretched portion that is not stretched in the Z direction when the ground layer 2 is three-dimensionally formed. .

  In the above configuration, when an input device operation is desired, a predetermined portion of the pattern layer 3, for example, a facing portion facing the detection unit 10 may be pressed from the transparent pressed layer 4 side. Then, the insulating dielectric 14 forming the capacitor is compressed and deformed in the thickness direction to change the distance between the ground layer 2 and the land 12, and the capacitances thereof are changed, and the change in the capacitance is detected. In addition, the input device can be operated by being converted into an input signal. A plurality of insulating dielectrics 14 may be provided as each switch.

  According to the above configuration, the capacitance is changed by the deformation of the insulating dielectric 14 caused by the pressing operation, not by configuring the capacitor with the tracing finger. Therefore, even in the case of wearing an insulating glove or a prosthetic hand The change in capacitance can be reliably detected with a simple configuration. Therefore, since the detection sensitivity is improved, the input operation is not hindered. In addition, since the screen printing method is used for manufacturing the capacitive input device, the thickness of the ground layer 2 and the pattern layer 3 can be easily changed, and these components can be easily changed. The degree of freedom can be significantly improved.

  Further, since the conductor 24 made of conductive rubber is used in place of the lead line positioned at the portion that bends sharply from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, and is used for routing to an external circuit, for example, a capacitance type input device Even when three-dimensionally molding is three-dimensionally formed, there is no possibility of causing poor conduction or disconnection. Furthermore, since the conductor 24 is not simply brought into contact with the flat portion of the ground layer 2 but is brought into contact with being compressed and deformed, stabilization of the connection can be greatly expected.

  In the above embodiment, the ground layer 2, the pattern layer 3, and the transparent pressed layer 4 are sequentially laminated on the support layer 1 in the above embodiment, and these are three-dimensionally formed. 3 and the transparent pressed layer 4 may be laminated and three-dimensionally formed. Further, the support layer 1 may be a light guide layer made of silicone rubber that guides light from the LED and guides it in the direction of the light transmissive ground layer 2, the pattern layer 3, and the transparent pressed layer 4. Conversely, the support layer 1 may be made opaque as necessary.

  A concave portion or a convex portion for recognizing the operation portion may be appropriately formed on the surface of the transparent pressed layer 4. Further, the circuit boards 11 and 21 of the detection unit 10 and the external connection unit 20 can be made identical. Further, the front and back surfaces of the circuit boards 11 and 21 can be connected through holes. A plurality of insulating dielectrics 14 may be provided as each switch. It is also possible to drill a through hole in the circuit board 21 and insert a conductor 24 into the through hole to expose the end portion thereof, and to connect to an external circuit such as a CPU. Further, the conductor 24 can be an electrical connector or the like in which conductive elastomers and insulating elastomers are alternately arranged.

1 Support layer 2 Ground layer (conductive layer)
3 Pattern layer 4 Transparent pressed layer (pressed layer)
10 Detection Unit 11 Circuit Board (Board)
12 Land (electrode)
14 Insulating dielectric (insulator)
20 External connection 21 Circuit board (board)
24 Conductor

Claims (3)

A deformable conductive layer and a pressed layer are laminated on the surface of the support layer, and at least the conductive layer and the pressed layer among the support layer, the conductive layer, and the pressed layer are three-dimensionally formed on the back surface of the support layer. Is a capacitance-type input device that includes a detection unit and an external connection unit, detects a change in capacitance by the detection unit, and converts the change into an input signal.
The detection unit includes a substrate that is attached to the back surface of the support layer and faces the conductive layer, and an elastic insulator that is interposed and connected between the electrode of the substrate and the conductive layer,
The external connection portion includes a substrate that is attached to the back surface of the support layer and faces the conductive layer, and a conductor that is electrically connected to be interposed between the substrate and the conductive layer. A capacitive input device characterized in that the conductive layer is connected to an external circuit.   The electrostatic capacitance according to claim 1, wherein a pattern layer is interposed between the conductive layer and the pressed layer, and the conductive layer, the pressed layer, and the patterned layer are each provided with light transmittance that transmits light from the light source. Type input device.   The capacitance-type input device according to claim 1, wherein elasticity is imparted to the conductor of the external connection portion to compress and deform the conductor.

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