JP2011044080A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize detection potential in a pointing device to attain further accurate pointing operation. <P>SOLUTION: The pointing device 1 includes: a printed circuit board 40 on which a first electrode 45 for potential detection and a plurality of second electrodes 41 for voltage application or earthing formed around the first electrode are disposed in a noncontact state to each other; a position pointing drive body 10 disposed above the printed circuit board 40 in a noncontact state to the first electrode and determines a position to be pointed by downward push; a plate 20 formed of a conductive elastic body and provided between the position pointing drive body and the printed circuit board to have a recessed part 28 on the printed circuit board side at the center; and a retention member 50 which retains the position pointing drive body and the plate at outer circumferences thereof to be located above the printed circuit board. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointing device that can indicate an arbitrary direction on a plane.

  Pointing devices are widely used as input means for personal computers, portable communication terminals, game devices, and the like. In particular, a pointing device of a type that freely drives a columnar protruding type operating means on at least an XY plane is known as an extremely convenient operating means for freely moving an object displayed on a display. Yes. There are various types of pointing devices, and the spherical surface provided below the conductive elastic body is brought into contact with the electrode surface on the printed circuit board, and the contact positions in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are brought into contact with each other. A pointing device of a type that detects the (X, Y) coordinates of the indicated position based on the known position is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, the position detection mechanism of this type of pointing device will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 10 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a pointing device using a conductive elastic body as an operation means. FIG. 11 is a plan view of a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed below the pointing device shown in FIG.

  This pointing device has a configuration in which the rubber sensor 100 is fixed to a through hole provided at the center of a substantially annular clamp ring 150 and the lower portion of the rubber sensor 100 is opposed to the PCB 140 and held in a non-contact state. The rubber sensor 100 includes a lower drive unit 101 that is formed below and is made of a conductive elastic body, and an insulating resin molded body 102 that is fixed so as to stand in a columnar shape above the lower drive unit 101. . The lower drive unit 101 and the resin molded body 102 are connected by, for example, a fitting type or both fitting and bonding. The lower drive unit 101 has a thin dome shape and has a recess on the PCB 140 side. In the center of the top surface of the concave portion of the lower drive unit 101, there is a spherical surface portion 103 that protrudes toward the PCB 140 in a position and shape that is not in contact with the PCB 140 when the rubber sensor 100 is not pushed toward the PCB 140. In addition, a thin bent portion 104 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lower drive unit 101, which is elastically deformed when the lower drive unit 101 is pushed into the PCB 140 and is restored to its original shape when the push is released. A flange portion 105 for fixing to the clamp ring 150 is formed on the outer side of the bent portion 104.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of electrodes are formed on the upper surface of the PCB 140. The arrangement of the plurality of electrodes is as follows. A total of four small rectangular electrodes 141, 142, 143, 144 are arranged one by one at intervals of 90 degrees outside the large circular electrode 145. These electrodes 145, 141, 142, 143, and 144 are formed on the PCB 140 in a non-contact state. The four rectangular electrodes 141, 142, 143, and 144 are disposed at positions where the bottom surface of the flange portion 105 of the rubber sensor 100 disposed above can always contact. In addition, between the rectangular electrodes facing each other, when a voltage (VCC) is applied to one rectangular electrode 141 or the like, the other rectangular electrode 143 or the like is grounded, and when VCC is applied to the other rectangular electrode 143 or the like, VCC and ground are switched so that one rectangular electrode 141 and the like are grounded.

  FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the pointing device showing a state when the rubber sensor is pushed toward the printed circuit board. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting the indicated position from the contact area between the rubber sensor and the circular electrode on the printed circuit board in the state of FIG.

  When the rubber sensor 100 is not operated, the spherical surface portion 103 is not in contact with the circular electrode 145. However, when the resin molded body 102 on the upper portion of the rubber sensor 100 is pushed downward and freely moved in the plane on the PCB 140, FIG. 12, the spherical surface portion 103 below the rubber sensor 100 is in contact with the circular electrode 145. The contact area of the spherical surface portion 106 with the circular electrode 145 varies depending on the driving direction of the resin molded body 102 and the degree of pressing.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13, it is assumed that the spherical surface portion 103 is in contact with the circular electrode 145 at the region 160. In that case, on the X axis connecting the rectangular electrode 141, the circular electrode 145, and the rectangular electrode 143, between the VCC applied to the rectangular electrode 141 and the ground of the rectangular electrode 143, at the position of the left end P (X1, 0) of the region 160. Short circuit. Similarly, a short circuit occurs between the VCC applied to the rectangular electrode 143 and the ground of the rectangular electrode 141 at the position of the right end Q (X2, 0) of the region 160. Theoretically, the potential at each short-circuited position is proportional to the distance (L1) from the rectangular electrode 141 and the distance (L2) from the rectangular electrode 143. Therefore, since the distance L0 between the rectangular electrode 141 and the rectangular electrode 143 is constant at each position of the above P (X1, 0) and Q (X2, 0), the potential at each short-circuited position is detected. , By multiplying the ratio of each detected potential to VCC by the distance L0. Next, R ((X1 + X2) / 2, 0), which is an intermediate point between P (X1, 0) and Q (X2, 0), is obtained, and R is the pointing position (X coordinate) on the X axis of the pointing device. To do. Similarly, by performing the same detection on the Y axis connecting the rectangular electrode 144, the circular electrode 145, and the rectangular electrode 142, the indicated position (Y coordinate) on the Y axis is determined, and the previously obtained X coordinate and Y coordinate are determined. From the coordinates, (X, Y) coordinates that are designated positions on the XY plane are determined.

International Publication WO99 / 17180

  However, the above prior art has the following problems. As described above, it is ideal that the value of the electric resistance changes in proportion to the distance between the rectangular electrode to which VCC is originally applied and the rectangular electrode that is grounded. However, in practice, the value of the electrical resistance in the region 160 where the spherical surface portion 103 is in contact with the circular electrode 145 does not change linearly with respect to the distance from the rectangular electrode 141 to which VCC is applied, and is larger than the theoretical value. Or, it tends to be unstable such as becoming smaller. If the value of the electrical resistance is unstable, the detection potential becomes unstable, and as a result, the possibility that the indicated position is contrary to the operator's intention increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to stabilize the detection potential of the pointing device and realize a more accurate instruction operation.

  As a result of investigating the cause of the unstable value of the electric resistance as described above, the inventor has a thicker central portion than the end portion of the conductive elastic body below the rubber sensor, and the It was found that the thickness was varied between the rectangular electrode provided with VCC and the rectangular electrode grounded. On the other hand, in order to operate freely on the PCB plane, a spherical portion below the rubber sensor is necessary, so it was considered necessary to make the conductive region constant thickness while maintaining the spherical portion. Specifically, the following means was adopted as a solution means.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, an upper side of a printed circuit board in which a first electrode for potential detection and a plurality of second electrodes for voltage application or ground formed around the first electrode are arranged in a non-contact state with each other. Between the position indicating driver and the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board side at the center between the position indicating driver and the printed circuit board. A plate made of a conductive elastic body having a recess, and a position indicating drive body and a holding member for holding the plate above the printed circuit board at the outer periphery thereof, the position indicating drive body having a lower central portion A spherical portion having a downward projecting shape that can be moved downward when pushed, and a bent portion that is located on the outer periphery of the spherical portion and allows the spherical portion to move up and down by elastic deformation. Shi The plate has an outer protruding bottom that is connected to the inside of the outer peripheral bottom so as to be in a non-contact state with the first electrode under the spherical bottom and the outer peripheral bottom that makes a part or all of the plate contact the second electrode. The pointing device has a protrusion and has a constant thickness at least in a region of the protrusion of the plate that can contact the first electrode.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is a pointing device in which a plate includes a planar protrusion on a part of the bottom of the outer periphery thereof that protrudes in a planar manner toward the second electrode.

  Moreover, another form of the present invention is a pointing device provided with one or a plurality of air inflow / outflow grooves which are grooves recessed upward on the outer peripheral bottom of the plate and which are connected outward from the recesses.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is a pointing device in which a position indicating driver and a plate are fixed together.

  According to the present invention, the detection potential of the pointing device can be stabilized, and a more accurate instruction operation can be realized.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a state in which a position indicating drive body and a plate of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention are joined when viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the state in which the position indicating drive body and the plate shown in FIG. 1 are joined when viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pointing device and the printed circuit board below the pointing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the plate contacts the first electrode on the printed circuit board when the position indicating driver shown in FIG. 1 is pushed toward the printed circuit board from the state shown in FIG. It is. FIG. 5 is a top view showing the contact area of the spherical portion of the printed circuit board shown in FIG. 4 and the first electrode formed thereon. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a plurality of contact areas where the plate contacts the first electrode when the position indicating driver shown in FIG. 1 is variously driven in the plane of the printed circuit board. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the position pointing drive shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the plate shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a graph showing a change in potential between the second electrodes facing each other when the pointing device shown in FIG. 3 is used. FIG. 10 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a pointing device using a conductive elastic body as an operation means. 11 is a plan view of a printed circuit board disposed below the pointing device shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the pointing device showing a state when the rubber sensor is pushed toward the printed circuit board. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting the designated position from the contact area between the rubber sensor and the circular electrode on the printed circuit board in the state of FIG.

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

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a state in which a position indicating drive body and a plate of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention are joined when viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the state in which the position indicating drive body and the plate shown in FIG. 1 are joined when viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pointing device and the printed circuit board below the pointing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pointing device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a position indication driver 10, a plate 20 disposed below the position indication driver 10, a position indication driver 10 and the plate 20. And a holding member 50 that fixes the printed circuit board (PCB) 40 below the printed circuit board (PCB) 40.

  The position indicating driver 10 is used for instructing a desired direction by an operator pushing in toward the plate 20 and operating in an arbitrary direction on a plane parallel to the surface of the PCB 40, and determining the indicated position. It is a member. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the position indicating drive body 10 is formed with a substantially annular flange portion 11 and a step higher inward and upward than the flange portion 11, and is vertically moved by its elastic deformation. It has a substantially dome-shaped bendable portion 12 that can be bent, and a substantially columnar operation portion 13 that is erected in a columnar shape at the substantially inner center of the bent portion 12. The lower part of the operation part 13 protrudes in the back direction of the bending part 12, and includes a spherical part 16 that elastically deforms the plate 20 by pressing the operation part 13 downward and contacts the first electrode 45 on the PCB 40. Two outer projecting portions 14 projecting outward are formed on the outer peripheral portions of the flange portion 11 facing each other at an interval of 180 degrees. Each of the outer protrusions 14 is formed with one through hole 15 penetrating in the vertical direction. The position indicating drive body 10 has a shape in which the flange portion 11, the bent portion 12 and the operation portion 13 are integrally connected, and the spherical portion 16 below the operation portion 13 and the bent portion 12 on the outer periphery of the operation portion 13. The spherical surface portion 16 can be moved up and down by pushing toward the PCB 40 and releasing the pushing. The position indicating drive body 10 is preferably composed of an insulating rubber-like elastic body, and in particular, materials such as thermoplastic elastomers, thermosetting elastomers, and natural rubbers can be preferably used. Among them, silicone rubber Can be used more suitably. Further, in the position indicating drive body 10, at least the bent portion 12 is made of a rubber-like elastic body such as silicone rubber, and other portions (for example, the operation portion 13 and the spherical portion 16 below it) are made of resin such as polypropylene. It may be configured.

  The plate 20 is a member that is capable of contacting the first electrode 45 on the surface of the PCB 40 by receiving pressure from the spherical portion 16 of the position indicating drive body 10 above the plate 20 and elastically deforming downward. The plate 20 has a shape in which a thin plate is inverted, a substantially annular ring-shaped member 21 serving as a bottom portion of the outer periphery thereof, and a protrusion projecting upward in a planar shape inside the ring-shaped member 21. Part 23. The outer peripheral portion 22 of the projecting portion 23 is an inclined surface connected to the ring-shaped member 21 below. Two outer projecting portions 24 projecting outward are formed on the outer peripheral portions of the ring-shaped member 21 facing each other at intervals of 180 degrees. Each of the outer protrusions 24 is formed with one through hole 25 penetrating in the vertical direction. The plate 20 is a member obtained by molding a disc-shaped conductive elastic body having a substantially constant thickness into an inverted dish shape including a ring-shaped member 21 and a protruding portion 23. As a result, in particular, the thickness of the protrusion 23 is substantially constant in the plane. However, the top surface portion of the protruding portion 23 excluding the outer peripheral portion 22 may have a constant thickness without making the entire protruding portion 23 including the outer peripheral portion 22 constant. That is, it is only necessary that at least a region in contact with the first electrode 45 in the plate 20 has a constant thickness.

  The plate 20 is a conductive elastic body formed by kneading a conductive filler and an insulating rubber-like elastic material. As the conductive filler, conductive materials such as particles, fibers, and plates can be suitably used, and conductive materials such as carbon and metal can be used as the material. Among these, particulate carbon (carbon black) can be preferably used. In addition, materials such as thermoplastic elastomers, thermosetting elastomers, and natural rubber can be suitably used for the rubbery elastic body, and among these, silicone rubber can be suitably used. The conductive material is preferably contained in the conductive elastic body in the range of 5 to 50% by weight, more preferably 15 to 35% by weight.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the plate 20 is deformed by being pressed by the spherical portion 16 from above the plate 20, and is recessed below the projecting portion 23 so as to be in contact with the first electrode 45 on the PCB 40. 28. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom surface of the ring-shaped member 21 of the plate 20 is slightly surfaced toward the PCB 40 at a position in contact with the four second electrodes 41, 42, 43, 44 on the PCB 40. Four planar protrusions 27 protruding in a shape are formed at an interval of approximately 90 degrees from the center of the ring-shaped member 21. This is to ensure electrical contact between the plate 20 and the second electrodes 41, 42, 43, 44. In addition, air inflow / outflow grooves 26 are formed in the ring-shaped member 21 so as to connect the inner space and the outside world at intervals of about 90 degrees from the center so as to avoid the planar protrusion 27. . The air inflow / outflow grooves 26 are also formed to extend to the outer peripheral portion 22 of the protrusion 23. The air inflow / outflow groove 26 facilitates air inflow and outflow between the recess 28 and the outside world when the plate 20 is pushed toward the PCB 40 and then elastically deforms to return to the original state. It is provided in order to prevent the problem of the up and down operation caused by the inside of the recess 28 being in a reduced pressure state.

  The position indicating driver 10 and the plate 20 are connected by a pin 30 that passes through the through hole 15 of the position indicating driver 10 and the through hole 25 of the plate 20 and can be integrated. The pin 30 is made of resin or the like. The position indicating drive body 10 and the plate 20 joined by the two pins 30 are inserted from below the through hole of the holding member 50 and are fixed so as not to come out above the holding member 50. Specifically, the lower diameter of the through hole of the holding member 50 is made larger than the upper diameter to form a step in the middle of the through hole, and the flange portion 11 of the position indicating driver 10 and the plate 20 are formed in the step. The ring-shaped member 21 is abutted. As shown in FIG. 3, the flange portion 11 is inclined upward so as to increase in thickness from the joint portion with the inner bent portion 12 toward the outer side. The holding member 50 is in contact with the upper surface of the flange portion 11 and holds the position indicating drive body 10 so as not to come out upward. Since the flange portion 11 is inclined upward, the position indicating drive body 10 and the plate 20 are not easily removed from the holding member 50. In addition, without using the pin 30, a column-shaped protruding portion that protrudes in the direction of the through hole 25 of the plate 20 is formed on the position indicating drive body 10, and the protruding portion is inserted into the through hole 25 to perform position indicating driving. The body 10 and the plate 20 may be joined. Further, a columnar protruding portion that protrudes in the direction of the through hole 15 of the position indicating driver 10 is formed on the plate 20, and the protruding portion is inserted into the through hole 15 to connect the position indicating driver 10 and the plate 20. You may join.

  4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the plate contacts the first electrode on the printed circuit board when the position indicating driver shown in FIG. 1 is pushed toward the printed circuit board from the state shown in FIG. It is.

  When the position indicating driver 10 is pushed toward the PCB 40, the plate 20 disposed immediately below is pushed toward the PCB 40, and a part of the plate 20 contacts the first electrode 45 on the PCB 40. The portion where the plate 20 is in contact with the first electrode 45 is a place corresponding to a position immediately below the portion where the spherical portion 16 is in contact with the plate 20.

  FIG. 5 is a top view showing the contact area of the spherical portion of the printed circuit board shown in FIG. 4 and the first electrode formed thereon.

  The PCB 40 is a circuit board made of a highly insulating resin or a composite of the resin and glass. On the surface of the PCB 40, there are four first electrodes 41, 42, 43, which are arranged at positions where the first electrode 45 which can be disposed below the spherical portion 16 and the planar protrusion 27 of the plate 20 can be contacted. 44 are formed in a non-contact state with each other. The second electrodes 41, 42, 43, and 44 are electrodes that can switch between application of VCC and ground. Among the second electrodes 41, 42, 43, 44, two second electrodes facing each other across the first electrode 45 are applied when VCC is applied to one second electrode (for example, the second electrode 41). The other second electrode (for example, the second electrode 43) opposite to this is grounded, and conversely, when VCC is applied to the other second electrode (for example, the second electrode 43), it opposes this. The second electrode to which VCC is applied and the second electrode to be grounded are alternately switched so that one second electrode (for example, the second electrode 41) is grounded. The first electrode 45 is connected to the A / D converter, and when the plate 20 comes into contact with the first electrode 45, the contact between the second electrode to which VCC is applied and the second electrode that is grounded. The division potential at the position can be measured.

  For example, it is assumed that the plate 20 is in contact with the first electrode 45 in the contact region 60 as shown in FIG. The direction connecting the second electrode 41 and the second electrode 43 is the X-axis direction, the distance between the second electrode 41 and the second electrode 43 is L0, and the X axis on the side close to the second electrode 41 in the contact region 60 The upper point is P (x1, 0), and the distance between the second electrode 41 and the point P is L1. Similarly, a point on the X axis on the side close to the second electrode 43 in the contact region 60 is Q (x2, 0), and a distance between the second electrode 43 and the point Q is L2. When VCC is applied to the second electrode 41, the current from the second electrode 41 is short-circuited to the first electrode 45 at the point P. On the other hand, when VCC is switched and VCC is applied to the second electrode 43, the current from the second electrode 43 is short-circuited to the first electrode 45 at the point Q.

  The plate 20 has a certain thickness in the plane thereof, particularly in the plane of the protruding portion 23. Therefore, the divided potential measured by the first electrode 45 (or the electric resistance that can be obtained from the divided potential) is proportional to the distance that the current has passed through the plate 20. Accordingly, the electrical resistance increases in proportion to the length of L1, and the electrical resistance takes the minimum value at the end on the second electrode 41 side of the first electrode 45, and the end on the second electrode 43 side of the first electrode 45. Takes the maximum value. Similarly, when VCC is applied to the second electrode 43, the electric resistance takes the minimum value at the end of the first electrode 45 on the second electrode 43 side, and at the end of the first electrode 45 on the second electrode 41 side. Take the maximum value. As described above, by detecting the divided potentials at the point P and the point Q, the coordinates of the point P (x1, 0) and the point Q (x2, 0) can be obtained. When the center point R ((x1 + x2) / 2, 0) between the point P (x1, 0) and the point Q (x2, 0) is defined as the X coordinate of the position designated by the operator, which contact region 60 is Even in the case of the position, the indicated position can be determined by obtaining the point P (x1, 0) and the point Q (x2, 0). This is because the coordinates on the Y axis can be determined by the same method when the direction connecting the second electrode 44 and the second electrode 42 is the Y axis direction. Thereby, the coordinates (X, Y) can be determined as the coordinates of the designated position.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a plurality of contact areas where the plate contacts the first electrode when the position indicating driver shown in FIG. 1 is variously driven in the plane of the printed circuit board.

  The position indicating driver 10 is driven in various ways within the plane of the PCB 40. For example, the plate 20 at each position of the contact areas 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d, 60e, 60f, 60g, 60h, 60i as shown in FIG. Is in contact with the first electrode 45 on the PCB 40. Even when the contact region 60a or the like is not on the X axis connecting the second electrodes 41 and 43 or the Y axis connecting the second electrodes 44 and 42, the center of each contact region is measured by the above-described measurement of the divided potential. The coordinates (X, Y) of the point can be obtained, and thereby the position indicated by the operator can be obtained. Further, since the plate 20 is interposed between the spherical portion 16 of the position indicating drive body 10 and the PCB 40 and contacts the first electrode 45, compared to the case where the spherical portion 16 contacts the first electrode 45, It contacts the first electrode 45 in a smaller contact area. In addition, the contact areas 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d, 60e, 60f, 60g, 60h, and 60i on the first electrode 45 are substantially circular and tend to be the same size. Therefore, the indicated position can be detected more accurately.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the position pointing drive shown in FIG.

  A preferred form of an example of the position indicating driver 10 is as follows. The outer diameter D1 of the flange portion 11 of the position indicating drive body 10 is 10 mm. The outer diameter D2 of the bent portion 12 is 7.6 mm. The height S from the bottom surface of the flange portion 11 to the lower end portion of the spherical portion 16 is 0.3 mm. The thickness T1 of the outermost peripheral part 11b of the flange part 11 is 0.7 mm, and the thickness T2 of the flange part 11 at the joint part 11a between the flange part 11 and the bent part 12 is 0.45 mm. Thus, the flange portion 11 is inclined upward from the inside toward the outside and is thickened by 0.25 mm.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the plate shown in FIG.

  A preferred form of an example of the plate 20 is as follows. The outer diameter of the plate 20 is 10 mm, which is the same as the outer diameter D1 of the position indicating drive body 10 described above. The outer diameter D3 of the protrusion 23 is 7 mm. A height H from the bottom surface of the ring-shaped member 21 to the upper surface of the protruding portion 23 is 0.6 mm. A thickness T3 of the ring-shaped member 21 is 0.3 mm. Therefore, the thickness of the protrusion 23 is also 0.3 mm. The thickness T4 of the planar protrusions 27 formed at four locations on the bottom surface of the ring-shaped member 21 is 0.05 mm. A height L from the bottom surface of the ring-shaped member 21 to the back surface of the protruding portion 23 is 0.35 mm.

  When the position indicating driver 10 shown in FIG. 7 is placed on the plate 20 shown in FIG. 8 and both are integrated by the pin 30, the spherical portion 16 of the position indicating driver 10 contacts the upper surface of the protruding portion 23. As described above, when the spherical portion 16 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the projecting portion 23 in a state where the position indicating driver 10 is not operated, the plate 20 is smoothly moved when the position indicating driver 10 is pushed downward. It can be pushed down. It is also possible to design the height S from the bottom surface of the flange portion 11 to the lower end portion of the spherical portion 16 to be higher than 0.3 mm so that the spherical portion 16 is not in contact with the protruding portion 23. However, in that case, when the position indicating drive body 10 is pushed downward, a feeling of contact with the plate 20 is transmitted to the operator, so that the feeling of operation is inferior. Therefore, it is preferable that the spherical surface portion 16 is in contact with the upper surface of the protruding portion 23 when the position indicating drive body 10 is not operated.

  FIG. 9 is a graph showing a change in potential between the second electrodes facing each other when the pointing device shown in FIG. 3 is used.

  As apparent from the graph 70 of FIG. 9, when VCC is applied to the second electrode 44 and the second electrode 42 is grounded, the potential A between the second electrode 44 and the second electrode 42 is the second of them. It changes linearly according to the distance between the electrodes 44 and 42. The same potential change is observed when VCC is applied to the second electrode 42 and the second electrode 44 is grounded. Further, the same applies between the second electrode 41 and the second electrode 43. The reason why the graph 70 in which the potential between the second electrodes changes linearly according to the distance is obtained is that the protrusions 23 of the plate 20 have substantially the same thickness.

  The preferred embodiments of the pointing device of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, the second electrodes 41, 42, 43, and 44 are electrodes capable of switching between application of VCC and ground, but may be electrodes capable of either application of VCC or ground. When the contact region 60 between the plate 20 and the first electrode 45 is extremely small, any one of the second electrodes 41 and 43 (or the second electrodes 44 and 42) facing each other is used as an electrode for applying a VCC, This is because the error of the indicated position is small even if the other is used as an electrode for grounding.

  Further, the plate 20 is provided with four planar protrusions 27 on a part of the bottom surface of the ring-shaped member 21 to stabilize the contact with the second electrodes 41, 42, 43, 44. The protrusion 27 is not an essential configuration. Further, the plate 20 is provided with a leg portion that extends in four directions from the protrusion 23 without providing the ring-shaped member 21, and the bottom surface (corresponding to the bottom of the outer periphery) of the leg portion and the second electrodes 41, 42, 43 and 44 may be brought into contact with each other. Alternatively, only the protruding portion 23 of the plate 20 may have a constant thickness, and the ring-shaped member 21 may be larger or smaller than the thickness of the protruding portion 23. Further, the region of the protruding portion 23 excluding the outer peripheral portion 22 may have a constant thickness, and the thickness of the other portions may be different from that of the region.

  Furthermore, the number of the air inflow / outflow grooves 26 provided in the plate 20 is not limited to four, and may be three or less or five or more. The air inflow / outflow groove 26 is not an essential component of the plate 20 and may not be provided. Further, the position indicating driver 10 and the plate 20 may not be integrally connected. Furthermore, the flange portion 11 may be excluded from the position indicating drive body 10 and the configuration of the position indicating drive body 10 may be configured to include only the operation portion 13 and the bent portion 12.

  The present invention can be used as an operation means of an electronic device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pointing device 10 Position indication drive body 11 Flange part 12 Bending part 16 Spherical part 20 Plate 21 Ring-shaped member (outer peripheral bottom part)
23 Projection 26 Air Outflow / Inflow Groove 27 Planar Projection 28 Recess 40 PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
41, 42, 43, 44 Second electrode 45 First electrode 50 Holding member

Claims (4)

A first electrode for potential detection and a plurality of second electrodes for voltage application or grounding formed around the first electrode are arranged in a non-contact state with each other above the first electrode and the non-contact state. A position indicating driver that is arranged in contact and determines a position to be indicated by pushing downward;
Between the position indicating driver and the printed circuit board, a plate made of a conductive elastic body having a concave portion on the printed circuit board side in the central portion thereof;
A holding member for holding the position indicating driver and the plate above the printed circuit board at the outer periphery thereof;
With
The position indicating driver is
A spherical portion of a downward projecting shape that is arranged at the lower central portion and can move downward when pushed,
A bent portion on the outer periphery of the spherical portion, and allowing the spherical portion to move up and down by elastic deformation;
Having at least
The plate
An outer peripheral bottom part contacting all or part of the second electrode with the second electrode;
A projecting portion having an upward projecting shape connected to the inside of the outer peripheral bottom so as to be in a non-contact state with the first electrode below the spherical portion;
Have
The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein at least a region of the protruding portion of the plate that can contact the first electrode has a constant thickness.   2. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the plate includes a planar projecting portion projecting planarly toward the second electrode on a part of the outer peripheral bottom portion.   The said plate is equipped with the 1 or several air inflow / outflow groove | channel which is a groove | channel recessed in the upper side at the said outer peripheral bottom part, and is connected outside from the said recessed part, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. pointing device.   The pointing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the position indicating driver and the plate are fixed together.

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