JP2011004076A - Computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer stably communicating with external apparatuses while an antenna is arranged on the rear side of an electrode.SOLUTION: The computer includes: an electronic device (10) including a surface exposed to the opening of a housing and a rear on the reverse side to the surface; and at least one antenna (37b) consisting of a spiral type conductor. The electronic device (10) includes substrates (32a, 33a and 34a) and electrodes (32b, 33b, 33c and 34b) formed to the substrates (32a, 33a and 34a) and formed extensively over the whole surfaces of the substrates (32a, 33a and 34a). The antenna (37b) is positioned between the rear of the electronic device (10) and the wall of the housing (20) opposed to the rear in the thickness direction of the substrates (32a, 33a and 34a). A part of the antenna (37b) is positioned on the side outer than the outer edges of the substrates (32a, 33a and 34a) in the in-plane direction of the substrates (32a, 33a and 34a).

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer with a built-in antenna.

  A laptop computer has a body and a display that are hinged together. A keyboard is arranged on the hinge side (back side) of the main body, and a touch pad input device is arranged on the front side of the main body. The part of the housing located on both sides of the touchpad input device functions as a palm rest.

A shield member is provided inside the housing of the main body, and an electronic device such as a mother board is disposed inside the shield member. The shield member is provided so as to cover the electronic device inside the main body, and suppresses the emission or incidence of unwanted electromagnetic waves (EMI countermeasures).
However, the housing and the shield member of the main body are provided with an opening for arranging the touch pad input device, and the face sheet of the touch pad input device is exposed at the opening to form a sensing surface.

  Some laptop computers have an RFID loop antenna provided inside a housing of a main body constituting a palm rest. In this type of computer, another opening is provided in the shield member so as not to shield the RFID loop antenna. The size of the opening of the shield member for the loop antenna is set to about 1.5 to 2 times the size of the 30 mm × 30 mm loop antenna, for example.

  Here, Patent Document 1 proposes a touch pad module with an antenna as a touch pad input device. In this touchpad module, it is considered that communication with the outside becomes possible through the antenna by arranging the antenna in the opening of the shield member.

  Specifically, in the touchpad module disclosed in Patent Document 1, a protective ring is used as an antenna. According to Patent Document 1, the antenna may be provided on the printed circuit board of the touch pad. The antenna can then be placed in a separate flexible layer between or adjacent to the layers used for the touchpad array itself.

JP-T-2002-539517 (paragraph numbers 0006, 0014, 0016, 0033 and FIGS. 3, 5 etc.)

  In consideration of EMI countermeasures, it is better that the number of openings provided in the shield member is smaller. For this reason, when viewed in a plane, it is also conceivable to arrange the touch pad input device and the antenna together in one opening of the shield member. As an example of this, it is conceivable to arrange an RFID loop antenna along the outer edge of the touchpad module as in the protective ring disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  However, in this case, the antenna needs to be enlarged as the touchpad module becomes larger. Since the size of the contactless IC card (RFID tag) that is the communication partner is standardized to 85.6 × 54.0 × 0.76 mm, the antenna shape changes according to the size of the touchpad module. The sensitivity of the antenna may be reduced.

  On the other hand, it is also conceivable to arrange an antenna under the touchpad module. However, in this case, since the touch pad module has a grid-like electrode and a planar ground electrode disposed below the grid-like electrode as position detection electrodes, the electromagnetic wave generated by the antenna is It is reflected or absorbed by the planar detection electrode. Further, the electromagnetic wave generated by the external device is also reflected or absorbed by the planar ground electrode. For this reason, when the antenna is disposed below the planar detection electrode, communication with an external device such as an RFID tag is difficult.

  Another possible means is to incorporate an antenna inside the display. However, since the liquid crystal panel constituting the display also has electrodes, when an antenna is arranged on the back side of the liquid crystal panel, communication with the external device is not possible when an external device such as an RFID tag is positioned on the display surface side of the display. Have difficulty.

  The present invention has been made based on the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer that stably communicates with an external device while an antenna is disposed on the back side or the lower side of an electrode.

The present inventors have made various studies to solve the above-described problems. In the process of this study, even if the loop antenna for RFID is arranged below the touchpad input device, the present inventors have at least a part of the loop antenna protruding from the outer edge of the touchpad input device. We have learned that communication with RFID tags is possible. In addition, even when the RFID loop antenna is arranged below the liquid crystal panel, it has been found that communication with the RFID tag is possible if at least a part of the loop antenna protrudes from the outer edge of the liquid crystal panel. . Based on these findings, the inventors have arrived at the present invention.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following solutions.

  First Solution: According to one aspect of the present invention, an electron having a housing having an opening, a surface accommodated in the housing and exposed at the opening of the housing, and a back surface opposite to the surface. In a computer comprising a device and at least one antenna made of a spiral conductor, the electronic device includes a substrate and an electrode formed over the entire surface of the substrate, and the antenna has a thickness of the substrate. The antenna is located between the back surface of the electronic device and the wall of the housing facing the back surface, and a part of the antenna is outside the outer edge of the substrate in the in-plane direction of the substrate. A computer is provided that is located in

According to the computer of the first solution, since a part of the antenna protrudes from the outer edge of the substrate of the electronic device, the electromagnetic wave generated by the antenna reaches the external device, and conversely, the electromagnetic wave generated by the external device. Also reach the antenna. For this reason, communication between the antenna and the external device is realized.
On the other hand, since a portion other than a part of the antenna may be inside the outer edge of the substrate of the electronic device, even if the antenna is provided, an increase in the size of the computer is suppressed.
As the electronic device, for example, a touch pad input device or a liquid crystal display can be used.

  Second Solution: Preferably, the computer is of a laptop type having a main body and a liquid crystal display connected to each other, and a shield for shielding electromagnetic noise is provided inside the housing of the main body. A member is provided, and the shield member is formed with an opening continuous with the opening of the housing, and the electronic device is a touch pad input device having a sensing surface exposed at the opening of the shield member.

According to the computer of the second solving means, since the touch pad input device and the antenna are arranged in one opening of the shield member when viewed in a plane, the number of openings formed in the shield member can be reduced. . For this reason, in this computer, radiation or incidence of noise between the inside and outside of the main body is efficiently prevented by the shield member, and the computer is excellent in EMI countermeasures.
On the other hand, in this computer, the size of the touch pad input device is not limited by the size of the antenna, and the size of the touch pad input device is not limited by the size of the antenna. For this reason, the degree of freedom of design of this computer is high, and an antenna can be shared between computers having different specifications.

  Third solution: Preferably, the substrate of the touchpad input device has a rectangular shape, each turn of the antenna has a substantially rectangular shape, and each turn of the antenna is mutually connected at one corner. The two intersecting sides are located outside the outer edge of the substrate as viewed in the in-plane direction of the substrate while being along the two sides that intersect each other at one corner at the outer edge of the substrate, The diagonal of the one corner is located inside the outer edge of the substrate when viewed in the in-plane direction of the substrate.

In the computer of the third solution means, since at least two sides of each winding of the antenna protrude from at least the outer edge of the substrate of the touchpad input device, communication between the antenna and the external device is stably realized.
On the other hand, in this computer, since the sides other than the two sides of each winding of the antenna may be inside the outer edge of the substrate of the touchpad input device, the increase in size is reliably suppressed.

Fourth solution means: Preferably, the antenna has four antennas corresponding to the four corners of the outer edge of the substrate.
According to the touch pad input device of the fourth solving means, by cooperating the four antennas, even if the touch pad input device is larger than the antenna, the sensitivity of the antenna near the center of the touch pad input device is improved. Secured.

  Fifth Solution: Preferably, the touch pad input device is provided along a face sheet having a sensing surface exposed at an opening of the shield member, and for measuring a capacitance. And a ground electrode layer including a ground electrode along the electrode group on a side opposite to the sensing surface, and the ground electrode has a plurality of openings. .

  According to the computer of the fifth solving means, the electromagnetic wave generated by the antenna and the electromagnetic wave generated by the external device pass through the opening of the ground electrode. For this reason, communication between the antenna and the external device is stabilized.

According to the computer of the present invention, since a part of the antenna protrudes from the outer edge of the substrate of the electronic device, the electromagnetic wave generated by the antenna reaches the external device, and conversely, the electromagnetic wave generated by the external device also enters the antenna. To reach. For this reason, communication between the antenna and the external device is realized. As a result, in the computer of the present invention, cooperation with an external device is achieved by communication using an antenna.
On the other hand, since a part other than the antenna may be inside the outer edge of the substrate of the electronic device, even if the antenna is provided, this computer is excellent in EMI countermeasures, and the computer itself is prevented from being enlarged.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a personal computer according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic fragmentary sectional view which follows the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the schematic external appearance of the laminated body for touchpad input devices and antennas of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the touchpad input device of FIG. 3, and the laminated body for antennas. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a ground electrode layer in FIG. 4. It is a top view of the antenna layer in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the ground electrode layer of FIG. 4 overlaid on the antenna layer of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the touch pad input device and the antenna laminate of FIG. 3 at the position of the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric circuit in the personal computer of FIG. 1. It is a top view which shows the laminated body for touchpads of a modified example with a dashed-dotted line with the antenna layer of FIG. It is a top view which shows the laminated body for touchpads with the dashed-dotted line with the antenna layer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a partial plan view showing a part of a region XII in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the schematic structure of a liquid crystal panel.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a laptop personal computer (electronic device) 11 equipped with the touch pad input device 10 of the first embodiment. The computer 11 has a main body 12 and a display 14, and the main body 12 and the display 14 are coupled via a hinge. The display 14 reversibly stands (opens) with respect to the main body 12 by being rotated about the hinge as a fulcrum from a state of being superimposed on the main body 12 that is normally placed flat (closed state).

  The display 14 has a display housing 16 made of, for example, resin. The display housing 16 has a flat box shape and has a size substantially equal to, for example, A4 paper. Although the display housing 16 has a surface (inner surface) that faces the main body 12 when in the closed state, an opening is formed on the inner surface of the display housing 16 over substantially the entire area. For example, a liquid crystal panel 18 is exposed in the opening 16 a of the display housing 16.

The main body 12 has a flat box-shaped resin main housing 20.
The upper wall of the main housing 20 facing the display 14 in the closed state is provided with an opening 20a on the back side, that is, on the hinge side when viewed toward the liquid crystal panel 18, and a keyboard 21 is provided in the opening 20a. Is arranged. The size of the upper wall of the main housing 20 is substantially the same as the inner surface of the display housing 16.

In addition, an opening 20 b is formed in the upper wall of the main housing 20 at the center in front of the keyboard 21. The face sheet 22 of the touch pad input device is exposed in the opening 20b.
Further, an opening 20c is formed on the upper wall of the main housing 20 in front of the opening 20b, and two buttons 24a and 24b are exposed side by side in the width direction of the main housing 20 in the opening 20c.
In addition, the area | region of the both sides of opening 20b, 20c in the upper wall of the main housing 20 functions as a palm rest.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 and shows a partial cross section of the main body 12.
A metal shield member 26 is provided inside the main housing 20. The shield member 26 has a substantially box shape that is slightly smaller than the main housing 20, and substantially the entire area is covered by the main housing 20 except for the area where the keyboard 21, the face sheet 22, and the buttons 24 a and 24 b are exposed.

  An opening 26 a is formed on the upper wall of the shield member 26 corresponding to the position of the opening 20 b of the main housing 20. A bottom plate 27 slightly larger than the opening 26a is disposed inside the shield member 26 so as to correspond to the opening 26a. The bottom plate 27a has conductivity, and the bottom plate 27a and the upper wall of the shield member 26 are mechanically and electrically connected by, for example, a plurality of conductive connection members 27b.

The bottom plate 27 a is disposed so as to close the opening 26 a of the shield member 26, but the bottom plate 27 a is separated from the upper wall of the shield member 26. For this reason, the bottom plate 27a and the connection member 27b form a recess 27 continuous with the opening 26a, and the touchpad input device 10 with an antenna is disposed in the recess 27.
The number of connection members 27b is four, for example.

[Touchpad input device]
The touch pad input device 10 includes a printed circuit board 28 having a wiring (not shown) having an appropriate pattern, and the printed circuit board 28 is fixed in the recess 27 by a support member (not shown).

The printed circuit board 28 is disposed substantially parallel to the upper wall of the main housing 20. Electrical elements such as LSI chips 30a and 30b are mounted on the bottom surface of the recess 27, that is, the bottom surface of the printed circuit board 28 facing the bottom plate 27a.
On the upper surface of the printed circuit board located on the opening 20b side, a touchpad laminate 31 for a touchpad including the face sheet 22 is fixed.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic appearance of the touchpad input device 10. The printed circuit board 28 has a rectangular shape equivalent to the touch pad laminate 31, and the touch pad laminate 31 is fixed to one surface of the printed circuit board 28. The touchpad laminate 31 is connected to an electrical element mounted on the other surface of the printed circuit board 28.

  The electrical element mounted on the printed circuit board 28 is connected to a mother board (not shown) disposed inside the shield member 26 via an input / output terminal.

[Laminate]
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the touch pad input device 10 in an exploded manner.
The touchpad laminate 31 includes a ground electrode layer 32, a Y drive electrode layer 33, an X drive electrode layer 34, and a face sheet 22 in this order from the printed circuit board 28 side. The magnetic layer 38, the antenna layer 37, the ground electrode layer 32, the Y drive electrode layer 33, the X drive electrode layer 34, and the face sheet 22 are in close contact with each other by an adhesive or the like.

[Y drive electrode layer]
The Y drive electrode layer 33 is formed integrally with the substantially square film substrate (Y drive electrode substrate) 33a, the lattice-shaped Y drive electrode 33b formed integrally with the film substrate 33a, and the film substrate 36a. It comprises a comb-shaped detection electrode 33c. The Y drive electrode 33b and the detection electrode 36c are distributed over substantially the entire area of one surface of the film substrate 33a while being arranged so as to mesh with each other.
Specifically, the Y drive electrode 33 b is configured by a plurality of conductive bands parallel to each other, and the conductive bands extend in the depth direction of the main body 12 of the personal computer 11, respectively. They are separated from each other at regular intervals in the width direction.

  The detection electrode 33c includes a plurality of conductive bands parallel to each other and one conductive band that connects one end of these bands to each other. The plurality of conductive bands of the detection electrode 33c extend in the depth direction of the main body 12 of the personal computer 11 and extend in the width direction of the main body 12 of the personal computer 11 similarly to the plurality of conductive bands of the Y drive electrode 33b. Are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. The plurality of conductive bands of the detection electrode 33c are arranged between the plurality of conductive bands of the Y drive electrode 33b.

[X drive electrode layer]
The X drive electrode layer 34 includes a substantially square film substrate (X drive electrode substrate) 34a and a lattice-shaped X drive electrode 34b formed integrally with the film substrate 34a. The X drive electrodes 34b are distributed over substantially the entire area of one surface of the film substrate 34a. Specifically, the X drive electrode 34 b is configured by a plurality of conductive bands parallel to each other, and the conductive bands extend in the width direction of the main body 12 of the personal computer 11. They are separated from each other at regular intervals in the depth direction.

[Ground electrode layer]
The ground electrode layer 32 includes a substantially square film substrate (ground substrate) 32a and a ground electrode 32b formed integrally with the film substrate 32a.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the ground electrode 32b has a mesh shape in which the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b are combined. That is, the ground electrode 32b has the same shape as the plurality of bands of the detection electrode 33c and the Y drive electrode 33b, and a plurality of conductive bands arranged in the same manner as the bands of the detection electrode 33c and the Y drive electrode 33b. 35a and a plurality of conductive bands 35b each having the same shape as the plurality of bands of the X drive electrode 38 and arranged in the same manner as the band of the X drive electrode 34b.

  Since the bands 35a and 35b are on the same plane, they intersect with each other integrally to form a plurality of intersecting portions 35c arranged periodically in the depth direction and the width direction of the main body 12. The gap between the bands 35a and 35b forms a plurality of rectangular windows (openings) 35d in the ground electrode layer 32 where no conductor exists. The openings 35d are also periodically arranged in the depth direction and the width direction of the main body 12 in accordance with the period of the band of the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the band of the X drive electrode 34b.

Therefore, the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b are orthogonal to each other so as to form a mesh shape when viewed in the stacking direction. The ground electrode 32b overlaps the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b.
In the present embodiment, as a preferable aspect, the X drive electrode 34b is projected onto the ground electrode layer 32 in the stacking direction, the Y drive electrode 33b is projected onto the ground electrode layer 32 in the stacking direction, and detection. An opening 35d is formed in a region other than the region where the electrode 33c is projected onto the ground electrode layer 34 in the stacking direction.

The detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b constitute an electrode group for detecting the position of an object such as a fingertip that contacts the surface of the face sheet 22.
The film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a and the face sheet 22 have substantially the same size, and are overlapped so that the four corners are aligned and along each other. The stacking direction of the film substrates 32 a, 33 a, 34 a and the face sheet 22 coincides with the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the main body 12.

[Laminate for antenna]
2 to 4 again, the antenna laminate 36 is also fixed to the lower surface of the printed circuit board 28 with, for example, an adhesive with an electrical element interposed therebetween.
As shown in FIG. 4, the antenna laminate 36 includes an antenna layer 37, a magnetic layer 38, and a metal layer 39 in order from the printed circuit board 28 side, and these antenna layer 37, magnetic layer 38, and The metal layers 39 are fixed to each other by an adhesive, for example.

[Antenna layer]
The antenna layer 37 is preferably composed of a substantially rectangular film substrate (antenna substrate) 37a and an antenna 37b formed integrally with the film substrate 37a. The antenna laminate 36 only needs to include at least the antenna 37b, and preferably includes the magnetic layer 38 and the metal layer 39.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the antenna layer 37, and the antenna 37b is formed of a conductor band extending in a predetermined pattern. The width of the conductor is, for example, in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.00 mm. The antenna 37b is preferably a magnetically coupled loop antenna extending in a spiral shape along the outer edge of the film substrate 37a, and the number of turns of the loop antenna is preferably two or more.
In addition, although metals, such as aluminum and copper, can be used as a conductor, you may use electroconductive oxides, such as ITO (indium tin oxide).

  FIG. 7 shows the ground electrode layer 32 together with the antenna layer 37 by a one-dot chain line. As shown in FIG. 7, when viewed in a plan view, each winding (turn) of the antenna 37b has a substantially square shape. When viewed in the in-plane direction of the film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a, the two sides 40a, 40b, 41a, and 41b of the windings 40 and 41 are separated from the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a of the touchpad laminate 31. Protrudes. These two protruding sides 40a, 40b, 41a, and 41b intersect at one corner 40c and 41c, respectively, and along the two sides that intersect each other at one corner in the film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a, respectively. .

  The corners 40d and 41d that are opposite to the corners 40c and 41c protruding from the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a are located on the inner side of the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a. Preferably, the part of the antenna 37b other than the two sides 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b is substantially entirely or most of the part located inside the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, 34a.

In addition, preferably, the portion of the antenna 37b located on the inner side of the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a straddles the bands 35a and 35b of the ground electrode 32b and passes through the plurality of openings 35d. Most of them pass through the opening 35d.
That is, when viewed in a plan view, the two sides 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b of the windings 40, 41 of the antenna 37b protrude from the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, 34a of the touchpad laminate 31, and the film The shape and arrangement of each of the antenna 37b and the ground electrode 32b are determined so that most of the antenna 37b positioned inside the outer edges of the substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a passes through the opening 35d.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the shape of the opening 26 a of the shield member 26 is slightly enlarged corresponding to the fact that the antenna laminate 36 protrudes from the outer edge of the touchpad laminate 31. .

  FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the touch pad laminate 31, the printed circuit board 28, and the antenna laminate 36 at a position along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the cross section of the band 35a of the ground electrode 32b is, for example, a quadrangle, and the cross section of the band constituting the band 35b of the ground electrode 32b, the antenna 37b, the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b. Is also a quadrangle, for example. The bands 35a and 35b of the ground electrode 32b and the bands of the antenna 37b, the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b can be formed using a printing technique.

[Magnetic layer]
The magnetic layer 38 has, for example, a rectangular thin plate shape. The real part μ ′ of the relative permeability (complex relative permeability) of the magnetic layer 38 is higher than that of the shield member 26, and is preferably 10 or more. The thickness T of the magnetic layer 38 is preferably 0.5 mm or less. Furthermore, the magnetic layer 38 has electrical insulation.

As such a magnetic layer 38, a material in which a soft magnetic powder such as Sendust or Permalloy is hardened with a binder can be used.
[Metal layer]
The metal layer 39 has, for example, a rectangular thin plate shape. The material of the metal layer 39 is aluminum, for example.
Note that the antenna film substrate 37a, the magnetic layer 38, and the metal layer 39 have substantially the same size, and are overlaid so that the four corners are aligned with each other. The stacking direction of the antenna film substrate 37 a, the magnetic layer 38 and the metal layer 39 coincides with the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the main body 12.

[Circuit configuration]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic electric circuit of the personal computer 11 including the touch pad input device 10.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50 and a memory 52 are mounted on the mother board of the personal computer 11. The CPU 50 is connected to a hard disk 56 disposed inside the shield member 26 via a disk controller 54 that is also mounted on the mother board.

  When the personal computer 11 is turned on, the CPU 50 starts up a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and an operating system stored in the hard disk 56, and then executes application software in accordance with an instruction from the operator.

  The CPU 50 is connected to the liquid crystal panel 18 via a display controller 58 mounted on the mother board, and the liquid crystal panel 18 displays an input / output screen of the BIOS, operating system, and application software.

  Further, the CPU 50 is connected to the keyboard 21 via the keyboard controller 60 mounted on the mother board, and performs a predetermined operation on the operating system or application software in response to pressing of each button of the keyboard 21 by the operator. Execute.

In addition, the CPU 50 is connected to the touch pad input device 10 via the touch pad controller 62 mounted on the mother board.
Specifically, the touch pad input device 10 includes a position detection circuit 64 connected to the X drive electrode 34b, the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the ground electrode 32b. The position detection circuit 64 scans the voltages applied to the X drive electrode 34b, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the detection electrode 32b, and changes the capacitance between the X drive electrode 34b, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the detection electrode 32b. Is detected. Then, the position detection circuit 64 detects the contact position of the fingertip or the like on the face sheet 22 based on the change in capacitance.

Scanning the voltage means sequentially applying the voltage to the plurality of conductor bands of the X drive electrode 34b and the Y drive electrode 33b.
Therefore, when viewed instantaneously, of the conductor bands of the X drive electrode 34b and the Y drive electrode 33b, one conductor band to which a voltage is applied and the detection electrode 33c cooperate to form one measurement region. To do.

In a longer time range, a plurality of measurement regions are distributed along the face sheet 22 by sequentially applying voltages to all the conductor bands of the X drive electrode 34b and the Y drive electrode 33b. It will be.
Note that the measurement region also includes a region of the sensing surface located on the conductor band of the X drive electrode 34b, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the detection electrode 33c.
A signal related to the contact position detected by the position detection circuit 64 is input to the touchpad controller 62 via the interface 66.

In the present embodiment, the entire surface of the face sheet 22 is exposed at the opening 20b, and the position detection circuit 64 can detect the contact position of an object such as a fingertip on the entire surface of the face sheet 22. For this reason, in this specification, the whole surface of the face sheet 22 is also referred to as a sensing surface.
Although the position detection circuit 64 and the interface 66 are configured by electric elements such as an LSI chip 30a mounted on a printed circuit board, in FIG. 4, an X drive electrode 34b, a Y drive electrode 33b, a detection electrode 33c, In addition, the wiring for connecting the ground electrode 32b and the position detection circuit 64 is omitted.

  The CPU 50 changes the position of the cursor displayed on the liquid crystal panel 18 by the operating system in accordance with the change in the contact position of the fingertip on the face sheet 22.

  The buttons 24a and 24b are also connected to the CPU 50 via the interface 66 and the touch pad controller 62. For example, if the position of the fingertip is changed on the face sheet 22 while one of the buttons 24a is pressed, a predetermined value on the liquid crystal panel 18 is displayed. The display area is selected and highlighted. If the button 24a is pressed twice in succession, the command selected according to the cursor position is executed. Further, by pressing the other button 24b, for example, a menu screen is displayed.

On the other hand, referring also to FIG. 5, for example, the outer end of the antenna 37 b is grounded, and the inner end of the antenna 37 b is connected to the matching circuit 70 via a capacitor 69. The capacitor 69 and the matching circuit 70 are configured by an electrical element such as an LSI chip 30b that is mounted on the printed circuit board 28 and different from the electrical element for the position detection circuit 64.
In FIG. 4, the wiring for connecting the antenna 37b and the capacitor 69 is omitted.

The matching circuit 70 is connected to the CPU 50 via a transmission / reception circuit 72 and a wireless controller 74 mounted on the mother board. For example, the CPU 50 operates the wireless controller 74, the transmission / reception circuit 72, the matching circuit 70, and the antenna 37b by resident application software, and performs communication with the outside continuously or intermittently.
Note that the transmission / reception circuit 72 may be mounted on the printed circuit board 28 of the touch pad input device 10 instead of the mother board.

  In the present embodiment, the antenna 37b is a magnetic field type loop antenna for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). When the operator holds the RFID tag (non-contact IC card) over the face sheet 22, communication using a 13.56 MHz frequency band (short wave: HF band) is performed between the RFID tag and the antenna 37b, for example.

  For example, the antenna 37b is used for ID authentication for confirming whether or not the personal computer 11 has a proper use authority. In this case, as soon as the personal computer 11 is turned on, power is supplied to the wireless controller 74, the transmission / reception circuit 72, the matching circuit 70, and the antenna 37b so that communication for ID authentication is performed. Is preferred.

According to the computer 11 of the first embodiment described above, since a part of the antenna 37b protrudes from the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a of the touchpad input device 10, the electromagnetic waves generated by the antenna 37b are external devices. Conversely, the electromagnetic wave generated by the external device also reaches the antenna 37b. For this reason, communication between the antenna 37b and the RFID tag as an external device is realized.
On the other hand, except for a part of the antenna 37b, it may be inside the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, 34a of the touchpad input device 10, so that even if the antenna 37b is provided, the increase in the size of the computer 11 is suppressed. Is done.

  According to the computer 11 of the first embodiment described above, the touch pad input device 10 and the antenna 37b are arranged in one opening 26a of the shield member 26 when seen in a plan view. The number is reduced. For this reason, this computer 11 is effectively prevented from radiating or entering noise between the inside and outside of the main body 12 by the shield member 26, and is excellent in EMI countermeasures.

  On the other hand, in the computer 11, the size of the touch pad input device 10 is not limited by the size of the antenna 37b, and the size of the touch pad input device 10 may be limited by the size of the antenna 37b. Absent. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the computer 11 is high, and the antenna 37b can be applied to computers having different specifications.

According to the computer 11 of the first embodiment described above, the two sides 40a, 41a, 40b, 41b of the windings 40, 41 of the antenna 37b protrude at least from the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, 34a of the touchpad input device 10. Therefore, communication between the antenna 37b and the external device is stably realized.
On the other hand, in this computer 11, since the two sides 40a, 41a, 40b, 41b of each winding of the antenna 37b may be inside the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, 34a of the touchpad input device 10, they are large. Is reliably suppressed.

  According to the computer 11 of the first embodiment described above, since the opening 35d is provided in the ground electrode 32b as a preferable mode, the electromagnetic wave generated by the antenna 37b and the RFID tag as an external device are generated. A part of the electromagnetic wave passes through the opening 35d of the ground electrode 32b. For this reason, more stable communication between the antenna 37b and the external device is realized.

Further, according to the computer 11 of the first embodiment, as a preferred mode, a part of the antenna 37b located inside the outer edges of the film substrates 32a, 33a, 34a is formed by the X drive electrode layer 34, the Y drive electrode layer 33, and In the stacking direction of the ground electrode layer 32, the X drive electrode 34b, the Y drive electrode 33b and the detection electrode 33c are not shielded by the conductive bands and the ground electrode 32b.
For this reason, more stable communication is realized between the antenna 37b and the external device.

  Furthermore, according to the computer 11 of the first embodiment, as a preferred mode, the antenna 37b is formed in close contact with the film substrate 37a for the antenna 37b, so that the antenna 37b is reliably supported and the antenna 37b is deformed. Is prevented.

Furthermore, according to the computer 11 of the first embodiment, the magnetic layer 38 is provided as a preferred mode, and the magnetic flux generated by the antenna 37b is guided to the inside of the magnetic layer 38. Therefore, the number of magnetic fluxes that pass through the shield member 26 Is reduced. On the other hand, since the magnetic layer 38 has electrical insulation, even if magnetic flux passes through the magnetic layer 38, generation of eddy current is suppressed.
As a result, according to the touch pad input device, more stable communication is realized between the antenna 37b and the external device.

Further, according to the computer 11 of the first embodiment, since the thickness t of the magnetic layer 38 is 0.5 mm or less, the computer 11 can be prevented from being enlarged even if the magnetic layer 38 is provided.
On the other hand, even if the thickness t of the magnetic layer 38 is 0.5 mm or less, since the value of the real part μ ′ of the magnetic permeability is 10 or more, the magnetic flux is guided to the inside of the magnetic layer 38 and the shield member 26 is The number of magnetic fluxes passing through is reliably reduced.
As a result, according to the computer 11, more stable communication is realized between the antenna 37b and the external device.

  On the other hand, according to the computer 11 of the first embodiment, the metal layer 39 is provided as a preferred mode, and electromagnetic waves are reflected or absorbed by the metal layer 39, so the influence of the shield member 26 on the sensitivity of the antenna 37b is reduced. Is done. As a result, according to the computer 11, more stable communication is realized between the antenna 37b and the external device.

The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above, and various modifications are possible.
For example, although the ground electrode 32b, the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b are formed on separate film substrates 32a, 33a, and 34a, they may be formed on the front and back of the two film substrates. Good. Alternatively, the ground electrode 32b, the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b may be integrally formed on the multilayer printed circuit board using a multilayer printed circuit board.
That is, the ground layer 32b, the Y drive electrode layer 33, and the X drive electrode layer 34 may include at least the ground electrode 32b, the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b. The configuration of the substrate that supports the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b is not particularly limited.

  In the first embodiment, as a preferred mode, the ground electrode 32b has a mesh shape such that the detection electrode 33c, the Y drive electrode 33b, and the X drive electrode 34b are combined. Is not limited to a mesh shape. For example, the shape of the ground electrode 32b may be a planar shape.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the contact position of the fingertip or the like is detected by orthogonal coordinates, but the electrode group may be configured to be detected by polar coordinates.
Further, the number of windings of the antenna 37b is not limited to two.
The antenna 37b may be formed by winding a conducting wire having a circular or elliptical cross section, or may be directly fixed to the printed circuit board 28 without the film substrate 37a.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the sensing surface is formed by the face sheet 22, but the sensing surface may be formed by the X drive electrode layer 34 or the like by omitting the face sheet 22.

  In the first embodiment, the magnetic layer 38 has a quadrangular shape, but may have other shapes as long as the number of magnetic fluxes passing through the shield member 26 can be reduced. For example, the magnetic layer 39 may have a square shape along the antenna 40b.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the touch pad laminate 31 including the face sheet 22, the X drive electrode layer 34, the Y drive electrode layer 33, and the ground electrode layer 32 has a rectangular shape. As indicated by a chain line, an elliptical or circular touch pad laminate 80 may be used.

Here, FIG. 11 shows an antenna layer 82 according to the second embodiment.
The antenna layer 82 includes a film substrate 82a and a plurality of antennas 82b, 82c, 82d, and 82e formed integrally with the film substrate 82a. Each antenna 82b, 82c, 82d, 82e is made of a spiral conductor. The antennas 82b, 82c, 82d, and 82e are electrically connected to each other, and substantially constitute one magnetically coupled loop antenna.

In this antenna layer 82, four antennas 82b, 82c, 82d, and 82e are arranged so as to correspond to the corners of the touchpad laminate 31, and the two sides of the antennas 82b, 82c, 82d, and 82e are It protrudes from the outer edge of the touchpad laminate 31.
In the computer 11 to which the antenna layer 82 is applied, the sensing surface of the touch pad input device 10 is made by cooperating the four antennas 82b, 82c, 82d, and 82e as compared with the case where the single antenna 37b is used. Even if it is large, the sensitivity of the antenna near the center of the sensing surface of the touchpad input device 10 is ensured.

  Further, the region where the antenna 37b is disposed is not limited to the recess 27. FIG. 12 is a view showing a region XII in FIG. 1 with a part of the display housing 16 partially cut away. In FIG. 12, as a third embodiment, the antenna layer 37 is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 18. Also in this case, the two sides of the antenna 37 b protrude from the outer edge of the liquid crystal panel 18 as viewed in a plan view.

Here, FIG. 13 shows a schematic configuration of the liquid crystal panel 18, and the liquid crystal panel 18 also includes a substrate (glass substrate) and electrodes (pixel electrodes) formed over the entire surface of the substrate. In the present invention, the expression that the electrode is formed over the entire surface of the substrate includes not only the case where the electrode is a planar electrode, but also a period such as the X drive electrode 34b and the Y drive electrode 33b. The case where it is comprised by the element of the several conductor arranged in a line is also included.
Also in the third embodiment, since the two sides of the antenna 37b protrude from the outer edge of the liquid crystal panel 18, communication with an external device on the display surface side of the liquid crystal panel 18 is realized.

10 Touchpad input device (electronic device)
11 Personal computer (electronic equipment)
12 Body 14 Display (electronic device)
18 LCD panel 20 Main housing 20b Opening 21 Keyboard 22 Face sheet (sensing surface)
26 Shield member 26a Opening 27 Recess 27a Bottom plate 27b Connection member 28 Printed circuit board 32 Ground electrode layer 32a Film substrate 32b Ground electrode 33 Y drive electrode layer 33a Film substrate 33b Y drive electrode (second drive electrode, electrode group)
33c Detection electrode (electrode group)
34 X drive electrode layer 34a Film substrate 34b X drive electrode (first drive electrode, electrode group)
35a Ground electrode strip 35b Ground electrode strip 35c Intersection 35d Opening 37 Antenna layer 37a Film substrate (antenna substrate)
37b Antenna 38 Magnetic layer (magnetic member)
39 Metal layer

Claims (5)

A housing having an opening;
An electronic device housed in the housing and having a surface exposed at an opening of the housing and a back surface opposite to the surface;
In a computer comprising at least one antenna made of a spiral conductor,
The electronic device includes a substrate and an electrode formed over the entire surface of the substrate,
The antenna is located between the back surface of the electronic device and the wall of the housing facing the back surface in the thickness direction of the substrate,
A part of the antenna is located outside the outer edge of the substrate in the in-plane direction of the substrate. The computer of claim 1.
The computer is a laptop having a main body and a liquid crystal display connected to each other,
A shield member that shields electromagnetic noise is provided inside the housing of the main body,
The shield member is formed with an opening continuous with the opening of the housing,
The computer according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a touch pad input device having a sensing surface exposed at an opening of the shield member. The computer according to claim 2.
The substrate of the touchpad input device has a rectangular shape;
Each winding of the antenna has a substantially rectangular shape,
The two sides that intersect each other at one corner in each turn of the antenna are along the two sides that intersect each other at one corner at the outer edge of the substrate, respectively, and in the in-plane direction of the substrate, Located outside the outer edge,
The computer according to claim 1, wherein a diagonal of the one corner of each turn of the antenna is located on an inner side of an outer edge of the substrate when viewed in an in-plane direction of the substrate. The computer according to claim 3.
A computer having four antennas corresponding to four corners of an outer edge of the substrate. The computer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The touchpad input device is
A face sheet having a sensing surface exposed at the opening of the shield member;
A group of electrodes provided along the sensing surface and constituting a plurality of measurement regions for measuring capacitance;
A ground electrode layer including a ground electrode along the electrode group on the opposite side of the sensing surface;
The computer wherein the ground electrode has a plurality of openings.

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