JP2011138674A - Resistance sheet, pressure-sensitive switch, and input device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a resistance sheet that detects pressing force and highly accurately detects pressing direction, and to provide a pressure-sensitive switch used for operation of any kinds of electric equipment and an input device using the same. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal that is connected with a resistor layer of the pressure-sensitive switch is connected with a constant voltage power supply and a terminal that is connected with electrode of the pressure-sensitive switch is connected with a control means. The control means is used for estimating the pressing direction in which the resistor layer is pressed based on an input voltage that is input via the electrode of the pressure-sensitive switch in the control means. The control means generates a predetermined voltage distribution that varies in accordance with change of a direction pressed by an operator and the control means can highly accurately conduct the direction pressed by the operator, thereby obtaining the resistance sheet that is suited for the detection of the pressing detection, the pressure-sensitive switch, and the input device using the same. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a resistance sheet, a pressure sensitive switch, and an input device using the same, mainly used for operation of various electronic devices.

  In recent years, as various electronic devices such as mobile phones and car navigation systems have become highly functional and diversified, resistance sheets, pressure-sensitive switches, and input devices using the same have various convenient operations. What is possible is required.

  Such a conventional resistance sheet, a pressure-sensitive switch, and an input device using the same will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, in order to make the configuration easy to understand, the drawing shows an enlarged dimension in the thickness direction.

  11 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional input device, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view thereof. In FIG. 11, 1 is a film-like oversheet, 2 is a substantially dome-shaped movable contact, and a movable contact on the lower surface of the oversheet 1 2 is affixed by an adhesive (not shown).

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a film-like cover sheet having the same flexibility as that of the oversheet 1, and the movable contact 2 is attached to the cover sheet 3 at approximately the center position and five positions on the front, back, left and right with the oversheet 1. Yes.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a resistor layer formed by printing a material having a predetermined sheet resistance, and reference numeral 5 denotes a film-like spacer layer provided except for a portion below the movable contact 2.

  And the resistance sheet 6 is comprised from the cover sheet 3, the resistor layer 4 of the lower surface, and the spacer layer 5. FIG.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a film-like or plate-like substrate, and a plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces by copper foil or the like. In addition, a fixed contact pair 8 is provided in which semicircular fixed contacts 8A and 8B face each other with a predetermined gap.

  An electronic circuit 12 is formed on the upper surface of the substrate 7 from a constant pressure power source 9, a resistance element 10, a control means 11 including a microcomputer, and the like. The constant pressure power source 9 is a fixed contact 8 A, and the control means 11 is a fixed contact 8 B. The resistance element 10 has one end connected to the fixed contact 8B and the other end connected to the ground potential.

  And the resistance sheet 6 is mounted above each fixed contact pair 8 so that the part which is not covered with the spacer layer 5 of the resistor layer 4 may oppose.

  Further, 13 is an insulating resin rubber sheet, 14 is an insulating resin push button provided on the substantially upper surface of the rubber sheet 13, and 15 is an insulating resin operation body provided so as to surround the push button 14. A plurality of pressing portions 13A on the lower surface of 13 are in contact with the upper surface of the cover sheet 1 at the center of the plurality of movable contacts 2, and above this, a push button 14 is movable up and down and an operating body 15 is swingably disposed. An input device is configured.

  In the above configuration, as shown in the perspective view of the conventional electronic device in FIG. 13, for example, when the position of V on the right side of the operating body 15 is pressed downward, the rubber sheet 13 is bent and the movable contact 2 is pressed. The resistor layer 4 bends downward with a click feeling, the resistor layer 4 bends downward, the lower surface of the resistor layer 4 comes into contact with the fixed contacts 8A and 8B, and the fixed contacts 8A and 8B pass through the resistor layer 4. Are electrically connected.

  Then, when a pressing force is further applied thereafter, the contact area of the resistor layer 4 with respect to the fixed contacts 8A and 8B increases due to the pressing force, and the resistance value between the fixed contacts 8A and 8B decreases.

  This change in resistance value is detected by the control means 11 of the electronic circuit 12 formed on the upper surface of the substrate 7 as a change in voltage by the constant pressure power source 9 and the resistance element 10, and is displayed on the display means 17 of the electronic device 16 such as a mobile phone. The control means 11 controls the moving direction and moving speed of the cursor 19 for selecting a plurality of displayed menus 18.

  When the position of W on the right diagonal front is pressed, the right and front fixed contacts 8A and 8B are electrically connected via the resistor layer 4, and the control means 11 moves the cursor 19 diagonally upward to the right. Control the moving speed.

  In other words, when the position V on the right side of the operating body 15 is pressed, the cursor 19 moves correspondingly to the right, and when the position W located diagonally right forward is pressed, the cursor 19 moves correspondingly diagonally forward right. When the pressing force is increased, the electronic circuit performs display control for increasing the moving speed of the cursor 19.

  As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.

JP 2009-016330 A

  However, in the above conventional input device, the fixed contact pairs 8 are provided only at the front, rear, left, right, and center, so when, for example, a position slightly forward or rearward from the position V is pressed. The timing of contact of the movable contact body 2 with the fixed contact pair 8 is shifted, so that the reproducibility of the distribution of the pressing force of each fixed contact pair 8 is low, the highly accurate pressing direction cannot be detected, and the same direction as the pressing direction. I could not move the cursor with high precision.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide a pressure-sensitive switch capable of detecting a pressing force and detecting a pressing direction with high accuracy, and an input device using the pressure-sensitive switch. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a cover sheet having flexibility, a pattern wiring made of conductive metal wiring provided on the lower surface of the cover sheet, and a predetermined connection provided to the pattern wiring are provided. The pattern wiring is sandwiched between a resistor layer formed of a material having a sheet resistance and a lower surface of the cover sheet, and the spacer layer is configured such that the lower surface is positioned below the resistor layer, The resistor layer includes a first resistor layer and a second resistor layer disposed around the first resistor layer and at least partially connected to the first resistor layer. In addition, the lower surface of the resistor layer is provided with irregularities, and the resistor layer is arranged in a predetermined angle range such as a 360-degree direction between the central first resistor layer and the surrounding second resistor layer. Therefore, it is a suitable resistor for detecting the pressing direction with a simple resistor layer configuration. An effect that can be obtained sheet.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the resistor layer is disposed around the first resistor layer and the first resistor layer, and at least a part of the resistor layer is connected to the first resistor layer. The second resistor layer and the lower surface of the resistor layer are provided with irregularities so that the operator can stably detect the pressing direction and the first resistor layer in the center. In addition, it has an effect that a pressure-sensitive switch suitable for detecting the pressing direction can be obtained with a simple electrode configuration by the second resistor layer around it.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pressure sensitive switch according to the second aspect of the invention, a switch means connected to the pressure sensitive switch, a control means connected to the pressure sensitive switch and the switch means, and a constant pressure power source having a predetermined voltage. And a terminal connected to the electrode of the pressure sensitive switch is connected to the control means, and the control means switches the switch means so as to switch between the resistor layer of the pressure sensitive switch and the electrode of the pressure sensitive switch. A potential difference is generated, and the control means estimates the pressing force with which the resistor layer is pressed based on the input voltage input to the control means through the electrode of the pressure sensitive switch, and the change in the direction in which the operator presses Therefore, the operator can detect the pressing direction with high accuracy and obtain an input device suitable for detecting the pressing direction.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve an advantageous effect that a resistance sheet, a pressure sensitive switch, and an input device using the same can be realized that can detect a pressing force and detect a pressing direction with high accuracy. It is done.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a pressure-sensitive switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cross section of the pressure sensitive switch Exploded perspective view of the input device Perspective view of electronic equipment using the input device Circuit diagram of the input device Circuit diagram for explaining the operation of the input device Circuit diagram for explaining the operation of the input device Top view of the resistor layer Screen of electronic equipment using the same input device Top view of the low-resistance layer Sectional view of a conventional input device Exploded perspective view of the input device Perspective view of electronic equipment using the input device

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

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the structure same as the structure demonstrated in the term of background art, and detailed description is simplified.

  In these drawings, the cross-sectional views are shown by enlarging the dimension in the thickness direction for easy understanding of the configuration.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pressure-sensitive switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view thereof, and 21 is a flexible material such as polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, and polyimide. It is the film-like cover sheet formed in (1).

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a pattern wiring made of a conductive metal wiring such as copper, and is formed on the lower surface of the cover sheet 21 by etching or the like.

  221A to 221D are four connection ends arranged at equal intervals along the circumference, and the pattern wiring 22 extends from the connection ends 221A to 221D to the left and is connected to the terminals indicated by 22A to 22D. The

  Reference numeral 221E denotes an outer connection end of the connection ends 221A to 221D. The pattern wiring 22 extends from the connection end 221E to the left and is connected to a terminal indicated by 22E.

  The pattern wiring 22 may be formed by printing with conductive ink containing conductive particles such as silver as a conductive metal wiring.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a low resistance layer formed in a substantially ring shape using a resistor having a sheet resistance value of 0.5 kΩ to 30 kΩ / □ in which carbon powder is dispersed in a synthetic resin, and is printed on the lower surface of the pattern wiring 22 by printing or the like. It is formed.

  Here, the low-resistance layer 23 includes a first circular low-resistance portion 23A located at the center of the low-resistance layer 23, and a second low-resistance portion 23B disposed around the first low-resistance portion 23A. It has.

  Further, a slit is provided in an arc shape between the first low resistance portion 23A and the second low resistance portion 23B, so that the first low resistance portion 23A and the second low resistance portion 23B are 90 in the front, rear, left and right directions. They are connected by the connecting portion 23C at intervals of degrees.

  The front, rear, left and right ends of the second low resistance portion 23B are connection ends indicated by points A to D, and the connection ends A to D are connected to the inner ends 221A to 221D of the pattern wiring 22, respectively.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes a substantially circular high resistance layer having a fine irregularity on the lower surface and a sheet resistance value of 50 kΩ to 5 MΩ / □, which is printed on the lower surface of the low resistance layer 23. A resistive layer 25 is formed from the resistive layer 24.

  The shape of the high resistance layer 24 may be circular as shown in FIG. 1 or may be the same shape as the low resistance layer 23, or the first low resistance portion 23 </ b> A of the high resistance layer 24. The lower circular first high resistance portion 24A and the ring-shaped second high resistance portion 24B below the second low resistance portion 23B of the high resistance layer 24 may be separated from each other.

  The first resistor layer 25A is composed of the first low resistance portion 23A and the first high resistance portion 24A, and the second resistor is formed from the second low resistance portion 23B and the second high resistance portion 24B. Layer 25B is constructed.

  That is, a substantially circular first resistor layer 25A is provided in the approximate center of the resistor layer 25, and a second resistor layer 25B is provided surrounding the first resistor layer 25A. The body layer 25 </ b> A and the second resistor layer 25 </ b> B are connected by the connection portion 23 </ b> C of the low resistance layer 23.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a film-like spacer layer formed of a flexible material such as polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, etc., and covers the lower surface of the spacer layer 26 below the lower surface of the resistor layer 25. It is affixed on the lower surface of the sheet 21.

  The spacer layer 26 may be formed by printing with insulating ink containing, for example, an epoxy resin.

  That is, the pattern wiring 22 and the resistor layer 25 are sandwiched between the cover sheet 21 and the spacer layer 26, and the resistance sheet 27 is configured from these.

  Further, reference numeral 28 denotes a substantially rectangular electrode made of a metal conductor such as stainless steel or by printing of carbon or silver, and the upper surface is made of a flat plate having no irregularities.

  A predetermined gap of about 10 to 100 μm is provided between the upper surface of the electrode 28 and the lower surface of the resistor layer 25 of the resistor sheet 27, and the resistor sheet 27 is overlapped to constitute the pressure sensitive switch 40.

  Further, the connection end 221E of the resistance sheet 27 is connected to the electrode 28 via a connection member (not shown) by pressure contact such as an anisotropic conductive paste or a spring or rubber. 22E is electrically connected to the electrode 28.

  Such a pressure sensitive switch 40 is incorporated in an electronic device such as a cellular phone, for example, to constitute an input device as shown in an exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, in which 41 is polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, or the like A plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 41 using copper foil or the like.

  Further, the upper surface of the substrate 41 is formed of a conductive contact ring 42 made of conductive metal provided on the front, rear, left and right, and a fixed contact pair 42 having a circular fixed contact at the center thereof, a connection connector 43 made of insulating resin, and a semiconductor element such as a microcomputer. The control means 44, the switch means 45 composed of a plurality of switches that can be switched by inputting signals from the control means 44, the resistance element 46, and the like are arranged, and each is connected by a wiring pattern to constitute an electronic circuit 47. The

  Reference numeral 48 denotes a movable contact body sheet in which a light guide sheet made of an insulating resin that emits light that has entered from an end face is emitted at a predetermined position on an upper surface of a non-conductive resin oversheet. A movable contact body formed in a dome shape with a metal conductor denoted by 49 is attached to the front, rear, left and right.

  Then, the movable contact body sheet 48 is placed on the substrate 41 with the front and rear, left and right movable contact bodies 49 facing each other on the front and rear, left and right fixed contact pairs 42 of the substrate 41. The pressure-sensitive switch 40 is disposed inside, and the terminals 22 </ b> A to 22 </ b> E of the pressure-sensitive switch 40 are connected to the connection connector 43.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a rubber sheet made of an elastic material such as silicone or elastomer, and a central button made of an insulating resin indicated by 51 at the center of the rubber sheet 50 is a ring made of the same insulating resin indicated by 52 surrounding the central button 51. A ring-shaped ring button is also attached with an adhesive (not shown) or the like, which is made of the same insulating resin and indicated by 53 around the ring button 52.

  The central button 51 and the ring button 52 are arranged above the resistor layer 25 of the pressure-sensitive switch 40, and each button is placed on the rubber sheet 50 so that the direction button 53 is positioned above the front, rear, left and right movable contact bodies 49. Is pasted to constitute the input device 60.

  The input device 60 configured as described above is, for example, a lower housing that faces a display means such as a liquid crystal display element 62 in an electronic device 61 such as a folding cellular phone as shown in the perspective view of FIG. On the upper surface of 63, the center button 51, the ring button 52, and the direction button 53 are disposed so as to be operable by the operator.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the input device 60 will be described with reference to the circuit diagram of FIG. 5. In this figure, terminals 22 A to 22 D connected to points A to D of the low resistance layer 23 of the resistor layer 25. Are connected to the switches 45A to 45D of the switch means 45.

  Here, the switches 45A and 45D are for switching between a state connected to a constant pressure power source (for example, + 5V) and an open state, and the switches 45B and 45C are for switching between a state connected to a ground potential (0V) and an open state. In the state where the switch 45A is connected to the constant pressure power source, the switches 45B to 45D are all open.

  Note that the voltage of the constant pressure power source can be 0.1 V or more and 30 V or less, and more preferably 1 V or more and 15 V or less.

  Further, one end of the electrode 28 is connected to the control means 44 via the terminal 22E, and a voltage signal indicated by Vin is input to the control means 44, and the other end is connected to the switch 45E via the resistance element 46. .

  Here, the switch 45E is connected to the ground potential in the initial state.

  Further, the switches 45A to 45E are switched by the output signal S1 from the control unit 44, and the voltage signal Vin changes according to the switch switching results of the switches 45A to 45E.

  In the input device 60 configured as described above, if the operator operates the ring button 52 and presses the point P of the second resistor layer 25B, for example, the second resistor layer 25B and the electrode 28 The contact area changes, and the contact resistance between the second resistor layer 25B and the electrode 28 indicated by Rp changes.

  The control means 44 performs the estimation process of the pressing force. A constant pressure power source is applied from the switch 45A and the switch 45E is connected to the ground potential. Therefore, the voltage signal Vin is supplied to the second resistor layer 25B and the electrode. 28 is determined by a voltage division ratio between the resistance value R of the resistance element 46 and the sum of the line resistance Rap between the point A and the point P (Rp + Rap).

  That is, the control unit 44 switches the switch unit 45 to generate a predetermined potential difference between the resistor layer 25B of the pressure-sensitive switch 40 and the electrode 28 of the pressure-sensitive switch 40, and thus a voltage corresponding to the generated potential difference. The signal Vin is input to the control means 44.

  And the control means 44 performs the correction procedure which correct | amends the line resistance Rap between the point A-point P after estimating the pressing direction of the point P through the 1st-3rd direction estimation procedure mentioned later, and performs 2nd resistance The contact resistance Rp between the body layer 25B and the electrode 28 is calculated.

  The correction procedure will be specifically described. First, the control unit 44 estimates the resistance value of (Rp + Rap) based on, for example, a comparison table of the voltage signal Vin and (Rp + Rap) provided in the control unit 44.

  Then, after the control means 44 estimates the pressing direction of the point P, for example, the point where the line resistance between the points A and C is a known value Rac and the angle corresponding to the arc between them is estimated to be α degrees. If the angle corresponding to the pressing direction of P is β degrees, Rac × β / α, which is the line resistance Rap between point A and point P, is calculated.

  Then, the control means 44 calculates the contact resistance Rp by subtracting the line resistance Rap between point A and point P from (Rp + Rap), and for example, based on the contact resistance Rp and pressing force comparison table provided in the control means 44. , P point pressing force is estimated.

  Next, the first to third direction estimation procedures will be described in order.

  Here, first, as shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 6, the control means 44 switches the switch 45A from the open state to the state connected to the constant pressure power supply, and connects the switch 45C from the open state to the ground potential by the control signal S1. Switch to the state, and switch 45E to the open state.

  Thereby, the voltage corresponding to the voltage division ratio at the point P between the path A point-P point-C point in FIG. 6 is applied to the control means 44 via the contact resistance Rp between the second resistor layer 25B and the electrode 28. Input as the input voltage Vin.

  The control unit 44 estimates the pressing direction based on, for example, the voltage signal Vin provided in the control unit 44 and a pressing direction comparison table. If it is a point on the dotted line Q that passes through, the same voltage as the voltage corresponding to the voltage dividing ratio at the point P between the points A, P, and C is obtained as Vin.

  Here, the control means 44 estimates that any point on the dotted line Q is pressed (first direction estimation procedure).

  Then, as shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 7, the control means 44 then switches the switch 45A to the open state, the switch 45B to the ground potential, the switch 45C to the open state, and the switch 45D to the constant pressure power source. Switch.

  Thereby, the voltage corresponding to the voltage division ratio at the point P between the path D point-P point-B point in FIG. 7 is sent to the control means 44 via the contact resistance Rp between the second resistor layer 25B and the electrode 28. Input as the input voltage Vin.

  And the control means 44 is a point on the dotted line R orthogonal to the line segment connecting the points D and B based on the voltage signal Vin provided in the control means 44 and the comparison table of the pressing direction, for example. Is pressed (second direction estimation procedure).

  Further, the control unit 44 compares the result of the first direction estimation procedure with the result of the second direction estimation procedure, and estimates that the pressing direction is the direction of the point P (third direction estimation procedure).

  That is, by applying a voltage to the resistor layer having a predetermined sheet resistance, an input voltage that varies depending on the pressing direction is input to the control unit 44, so that the control unit 44 can estimate the pressing direction.

  For example, if the operator operates the center button 51 and presses the point S of the first resistor layer 25A shown in FIG. 8, the contact area between the first resistor layer 25A and the electrode 28 changes. The contact resistance between the first resistor layer 25A and the electrode 28 changes.

  Also in this case, as in the case of operating the ring button 52, the control means 44 estimates the pressed position of the point S through the first to third direction estimation procedures, and calculates the line resistance between the points A and S. A correction procedure is performed to calculate the contact resistance.

  That is, when estimating the pressed position, the control unit 44 estimates that the dotted line T including the S point is pressed in the first direction estimating procedure, and determines the S point in the second direction estimating procedure. It is presumed that the included dotted line U is pressed.

  Then, in the third direction estimation procedure, the control means 44 estimates that the S point that is the intersection of the dotted line T and the dotted line U is pressed.

  For example, as shown in the screen diagram of FIG. 9, when the map menu is displayed on the display means 62, the ring button 52 is pressed, for example, in an oblique direction or a direction slightly deviated from the direction. However, the control means 44 moves the pointer indicated by 64 in the desired direction of the pressing operation, and increases the moving speed of the pointer 64 when operated by a stronger force.

  Further, when the operator presses the center button 51 and changes the pressing force, the scale display of the displayed map menu changes in accordance with the pressing force.

  In other words, the control means 44 can move the pointer or the like with high accuracy in the direction operated by the operator, and can estimate the pressing force of the ring button 52 to change the moving speed of the pointer or the center button 51. The scale of the menu on the map is changed by estimating the pressing force of the map, so that the degree of freedom of operation is high and smooth operation is possible.

  In the above description, as shown in the top view of FIG. 10A, the shape of the low resistance layer 23 is a substantially circular first low resistance portion 23A and the periphery of the first low resistance portion 23A. The second low resistance portion 23B is disposed so as to be surrounded, and the first low resistance portion 23A and the second low resistance portion 23B are described as being connected by the connection portion 23C at intervals of 90 degrees on the front, rear, left, and right. However, this is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, there are three slits provided in the low resistance layer 71. As a result, the first low resistance portion 71A and the second low resistance are formed by the three connection portions 71C. The portion 71B may be configured to be connected. As shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D, the slits provided in the low resistance layer 72 or the low resistance layer 73 are provided in two places, and two places are provided. The first low resistance part 72A and the second low resistance part 72B or the first low resistance part 73A and the second low resistance part 73B may be connected by the connection part 72C or 73C.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10E, the first low resistance portion 74A and the second low resistance portion 74B are connected by a single connection portion 74C as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 10 (f), the connecting portion is not necessarily required, and the first low resistance portion 75A and the second low resistance portion 75B are all on the outer periphery of the first low resistance portion 75A. You may comprise as what is connected by a circumference.

  The outer shape of the low resistance layer may not be substantially circular. As shown in FIG. 10G, the first low resistance having a substantially circular shape is formed inside the second rectangular low resistance portion 76B. The portion 76A may be disposed, and as shown in FIG. 10 (h), the first low resistance portion 77A may also be a substantially square shape, and as shown in FIG. 10 (i), the low resistance layer Even if the outer shape of 78 is substantially square or the like, the first low resistance portion 78A and the second low resistance portion 78B may be configured to be connected around the entire circumference of the first low resistance portion 78A. good.

  Further, in the above description, the points A to D have been described as being arranged on the front, rear, left and right sides of the substantially circular low resistance layer 23. However, when the second low resistance part 79B is substantially square, If the points A to D are provided on the left and right sides, the points A to D may not be in a symmetrical positional relationship across the first low resistance portion 79A.

  In addition, even if the first low resistance portion and the second low resistance portion of the low resistance layer are not directly electrically connected by the low resistance layer, they are electrically connected by the high resistance layer on the lower surface of the low resistance layer. Thus, the present invention can be implemented when the first resistor layer and the second resistor layer are electrically connected.

  In the above description, the control means 44 has been described as performing the correction procedure when the pressing force estimation process is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the A of the low resistance layer 23 is not limited thereto. The line resistance from the point connected to the constant pressure power source to the pressed point P or S point can be reduced by configuring the input device 60 to connect a plurality of points to point D to the constant pressure power source. Therefore, even if the control unit 44 does not perform the correction procedure, the pressing force can be estimated almost accurately.

  In this case, if all the four points A to D are connected to the constant pressure power source, the control means 44 can estimate the pressing force with the highest accuracy.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the resistor layer is around the first resistor layer and the first resistor layer, and at least a part of the resistor layer is connected to the first resistor layer. The second resistor layer is provided, and the lower surface of the resistor layer is provided with irregularities, and the resistor layer is arranged in a predetermined angular range in the 360-degree direction that is the entire horizontal plane and in the center position thereof. Therefore, a resistance sheet suitable for detecting the pressing direction can be obtained with a simple resistor layer configuration.

  The resistor layer includes a first resistor layer and a second resistor layer that is disposed around the first resistor layer and at least part of which is connected to the first resistor layer. The electrode is composed of a thin plate disposed so as to cover the entire lower surface of the resistor layer, and can be configured to cover a predetermined direction and a predetermined width pressed by the operator. Since the detection can be performed stably and the electrode can be simply formed of a thin plate, a pressure-sensitive switch suitable for detecting the pressing direction can be obtained with a simple configuration.

  Furthermore, a pressure-sensitive switch, switch means connected to the pressure-sensitive switch, control means connected to the pressure-sensitive switch and the switch means, and a constant-pressure power source having a predetermined voltage are connected to the electrodes of the pressure-sensitive switch. And the control means switches the switch means to generate a predetermined potential difference between the resistor layer of the pressure sensitive switch and the electrode of the pressure sensitive switch. The direction in which the layer is pressed is estimated based on the input voltage input to the control means through the electrode of the pressure-sensitive switch, and the predetermined voltage distribution that changes according to the change in the direction in which the operator presses is resisted. Since it is generated in the body layer, the pressing direction of the operator can be detected with high accuracy, and an input device suitable for detecting the pressing direction can be obtained.

  The resistance sheet, pressure-sensitive switch, and input device using the same according to the present invention have an advantageous effect of providing a device capable of detecting a pressing force and detecting a pressing direction with high accuracy. Useful for operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Cover sheet 22 Pattern wiring 23 Low resistance layer 24 High resistance layer 25 Resistor layer 26 Spacer layer 27 Resistance sheet 28 Electrode 40 Pressure sensitive switch 41 Board | substrate 42 Fixed contact pair 43 Connection connector 44 Control means 45 Switch means 46 Resistance element 47 Electron Circuit 48 Movable contact body sheet 49 Movable contact body 50 Rubber sheet 51 Center button 52 Ring button 53 Direction button 60 Input device 61 Electronic device 62 Display means 63 Lower casing 64 Pointer

Claims (3)

A cover sheet having flexibility, a pattern wiring made of conductive metal wiring provided on the lower surface of the cover sheet, and a material having a predetermined sheet resistance connected to the pattern wiring. The pattern wiring is sandwiched between the resistor layer and the lower surface of the cover sheet, and the spacer layer is configured such that the lower surface is positioned below the resistor layer. A resistor layer; and a second resistor layer disposed around the first resistor layer, at least a part of which is connected to the first resistor layer, and a lower surface of the resistor layer Resistive sheet with unevenness. A resistor layer formed of a material having a predetermined sheet resistance, and disposed below the resistor layer with a predetermined interval, and when the resistor layer is pressed and contacted from above, the resistor layer and A conductive electrode whose contact area changes according to the pressing force between the resistor layer and a terminal connected to the electrode, and the resistor layer includes a first resistor layer, A second resistor layer disposed around the first resistor layer, at least a portion of which is connected to the first resistor layer, the electrode covering the entire lower surface of the resistor layer; A pressure-sensitive switch composed of thin plates placed over. A pressure-sensitive switch according to claim 2, a switch means connected to the pressure-sensitive switch, a control means connected to the pressure-sensitive switch and the switch means, and a constant pressure power source having a predetermined voltage, and the pressure-sensitive switch. A terminal connected to the electrode of the switch is connected to the control means, and the control means switches the switch means to change a predetermined potential difference between the resistor layer of the pressure sensitive switch and the electrode of the pressure sensitive switch. And the control means estimates the pressing force of pressing the resistor layer based on the input voltage input to the control means via the electrodes of the pressure sensitive switch.

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