JP2012032929A - Input device for electronic apparatus, electronic apparatus, and input control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate any possibility of an erroneous detection in a keyboard device having an input operation surface located at the top surface and defined to be a flat surface.SOLUTION: This input device includes a backlight unit 4 that is disposed on a lower part of a display film 3 at a prescribed distance apart therefrom and comprises a light source 4a and a light guide plate 4b, and a plurality of light receiving elements 24 disposed between an input panel 7 and the display film 3. This input device further includes a load sensor 22 which is fixed to an adjacency of a central part on the lower face of the input panel 7 and detects a load applied to the input panel 7 at the time of the input. This input device also includes control means that receives light receiving signals from the plurality of light receiving elements 24 and load signals from the load sensor 22 and recognizes an input operation. While monitoring a load response curve of the load sensor (a strain gage) 22, the control means defines the location of a light receiving element having a largest signal change as a genuine input operation signal out of the respective light receiving elements, specifies a key corresponding to coordinate information from the respective light receiving elements 24, and executes an input operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device for an electronic device, an input control method for the input device, and an electronic device using the input device, and more particularly to an input device having a flat input operation surface and an input control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an input device for an electronic device having a display device such as an LCD (liquid crystal display device) or a CRT, characters, numbers and other symbols (graphics) arranged on the screen of the display device and displayed on the screen , Including pictograms called icons made up of images, etc., including a single symbol made up of a plurality of symbols) from the surface side while seeing through the desired characters, numbers and other symbols ( In the following description, a device (hereinafter referred to as a “touch panel”) that generates and outputs information corresponding to the position of the symbol by touching the position of “predetermined symbol” with a finger or the like in this description. Widely used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
For example, in electronic devices such as automated teller machines such as banks and car navigators, touch panel displays have been prevalent, and they are actively used in small electronic devices such as portable information terminals and electronic dictionaries. It has become.

On the other hand, various proposals have been made to realize an input device that does not necessarily include a display device such as an LCD or CRT using a touch panel. For example, the applicant does not require a function as a display device. There has been proposed a keyboard device that has a flat input operation surface located on the uppermost surface as in a touch panel display (see Patent Document 2).
In addition, as a light detection input device, the vertical and horizontal position coordinates of the light blocked by touching the screen, with the light emitting side using LEDs on the vertical and horizontal walls around the surface of the display panel and the light receiving side facing it Therefore, it has been developed that includes at least three pressure sensors for determining which position on the screen is touched, and for determining whether the touch is true or false (see Patent Document 3).
Furthermore, as a light-sensitive touch panel, an area sensor is provided on the liquid crystal panel with photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix corresponding to the display pixels of the liquid crystal panel, and the backlight emission on the back of the liquid crystal panel is used for input. The light reflected at the touch position of the pen is incident on the photoelectric conversion element of the area sensor, and based on the change in the matrix pattern of the photoelectric conversion element that has detected the light, it is determined which position on the screen is touched, It has been developed (see Patent Document 4).

JP 2005-317041 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-253938 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-332607 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-11998

Now, in the input device such as the keyboard device described in Patent Document 2, since the input operation surface located on the uppermost surface is a flat surface, it is easy to clean and dirt is difficult to adhere, and the appearance is improved. In addition, it can maintain a clean state, and has a high degree of functionality and aesthetics. And, to realize a flat input operation surface, a capacitive touch panel can be used, so that a touch panel with excellent translucency can be easily configured, and highly sensitive input detection is possible. It is possible.
However, the high sensitivity also contributes to a unique problem that is not found in conventional input devices having a plurality of key switches. That is, in such an input device, if the user's finger or the like approaches or touches the touch panel other than when the user intentionally executes the input operation, it may be mistaken for the input operation. .

  This is a problem particularly in the case of an input device in which a large number of symbol positions are distributed on a relatively wide input operation surface, such as a keyboard device for a personal computer. Unlike an input device such as a portable electronic device, which is often operated with a specific finger (for example, a forefinger), a personal computer keyboard device can be used to perform an input operation at that time on an input operation surface. It is normal that there are fingers that are not used directly, and ergonomically, even when the input operation is not being performed, the finger is usually lightly touched on the input operation surface Is the default state. In a capacitive touch panel, for example, it may be difficult to properly distinguish between such a default state and a state in which a user intentionally performs input.

On the other hand, when the sensor light is blocked by dust or the like, the input device described in Patent Document 3 cannot perform touch detection over the entire panel. In addition, touch detection becomes impossible even when ambient light such as illumination or sunlight enters the sensor directly. Therefore, this type of input device has a problem that the use environment is limited.
Furthermore, since the touch panel described in Patent Document 4 determines which position on the screen is touched based on the change in the matrix pattern of the photoelectric conversion elements, it accurately determines which position on the screen is touched. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to clarify the change in the matrix pattern using an input pen with a small contact area.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the possibility of erroneous input and improve the operability in an input device for an electronic apparatus having a flat input operation surface. There is.

(Aspect of the Invention)
The following aspects of the present invention exemplify the configuration of the present invention, and will be described separately for easy understanding of various configurations of the present invention. Each section does not limit the technical scope of the present invention, and some of the components of each section are replaced, deleted, or further while referring to the best mode for carrying out the invention. Those to which the above components are added can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Here, in the following description, the “true” input operation means an input operation intentionally performed by the user of the input device, and the “false” input operation means that the user operates on the input operation surface. When the coordinate information of the specific position is input from the touch panel to the input control unit even though the input operation of “true” is not performed for the specific position, the input operation corresponding to the coordinate information Say.
Note that the main cause of the “false” input operation is that the user's finger or the like approaches or touches the touch panel regardless of the user's input intention, and the proximity or contact is detected by the touch panel. Although conceivable, the present invention is not limited by the cause of the occurrence of a “false” input operation.
In the following description, the directions “up” and “down” mean the up and down directions when the input device according to the present invention is laid flat and the input operation surface is positioned horizontally.

(1) An input panel including a half mirror and a top cover arranged to cover the upper surface of the half mirror;
A display film disposed below the input panel for displaying a predetermined symbol;
A backlight unit composed of a light source and a light guide plate disposed below the display film;
A plurality of light receiving elements disposed between the input panel and the display film and at positions corresponding to the symbols of the display film,
A load sensor disposed near the center of the lower surface of the input panel for detecting a load on the input panel at the time of input;
An input device including a light receiving signal from the plurality of light receiving elements and a load signal from the load sensor, and a control means for recognizing an input operation (Claim 1).

  Among the input operations detected by the input panel, the input device described in this section includes a true input operation intentionally performed by the user and a false input operation detected regardless of the user's input intention. The determination is based on the load value detected by the load sensor and the light reception signals from the plurality of light receiving elements. Specifically, each of the symbols on the display film is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence in principle (in the case of a large key such as a shift key, a plurality of symbols may be assigned to one symbol as necessary. (If the load sensor detects the load when the light emitted from the backlight is reflected on the user's finger by a plurality of light receiving elements.) It is determined that the corresponding symbol has been input. This effectively eliminates false input operations, eliminates the possibility of erroneous input to electronic devices, and improves the operability of the input device.

(2) In the above item (1), the plurality of light receiving elements are arranged at positions where the light emitted from the backlight unit and not specularly reflected by the half mirror is received. ).
In the input device described in this section, the light receiving elements arranged at the positions corresponding to the symbols on the display film each receive light emitted from the backlight unit and not reflected by the half mirror (directly). (Position not receiving light automatically). If the light emitted from the backlight is reflected by the user's finger and the load is detected by the load sensor, it is determined that the symbol corresponding to the received light receiving element has been input.

(3) In the above item (1) or (2), the plurality of light receiving elements are arranged at positions to receive light emitted from the backlight unit and reflected by an operator's finger. (Claim 3).
In the input device described in this section, the light receiving elements arranged at the positions corresponding to the symbols of the display film each receive light emitted from the backlight unit and reflected by the operator's finger ( (Position to receive light directly). If the load sensor detects the load when the light emitted from the backlight is reflected by the user's finger, it is determined that the symbol corresponding to the received light receiving element has been input. When other light (for example, disturbance light) is received, it is not determined that a symbol corresponding to the received light receiving element is input regardless of whether or not the load sensor detects the load.

(4) In the above items (1) to (3), the light source is an input device that blinks at a constant frequency that is not less than a frequency at which visual flicker cannot be felt and is outside the emission frequency band of the fluorescent lamp.
In the input device described in this section, the light source that constitutes the backlight unit blinks at a constant frequency that is higher than the frequency at which the flicker cannot be felt visually and is outside the fluorescent light emission frequency band. The light discriminated by the frequency is used for light reception detection of the light receiving elements arranged at positions corresponding to the symbols of the display film.
(5) In the above item (4), the control means includes an input device including a control logic that handles only light originating from the light source as an input signal among light received by the plurality of light receiving elements. .
In the input device described in this section, in the control means, out of the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements, the light caused by the light source, that is, the frequency at which visual flicker cannot be felt, is outside the emission frequency band of the fluorescent lamp. Only light that blinks at a constant frequency is handled as an input signal. When the light emitted from the backlight blinks at a constant frequency and the light reflected by the user's finger is received, if the load is detected by the load sensor, a symbol corresponding to the received light receiving element is input. Judge that

(6) In the above items (4) and (5), the light source flashes at a constant frequency of 120 Hz or more.
In the control means, among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements, only the light caused by the light source, that is, the light blinking at a constant frequency of 120 Hz or more is handled as the input signal. When the light emitted from the backlight blinks at a constant frequency and the light reflected by the user's finger is received, if the load is detected by the load sensor, a symbol corresponding to the received light receiving element is input. Judge that Thus, if the light source blinks at a constant frequency of 120 Hz or higher, the user cannot feel flickering visually.

(7) In the above items (1) to (6), the control means handles, as an input position, a position corresponding to a light receiving element having the largest signal change among lights received by a plurality of light receiving elements. An input device comprising: (Claim 5).
In the input device described in this section, in the control means, the position corresponding to the light receiving element having the largest signal change among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements is handled as the input position. In other words, the load sensor detects the load when receiving the light emitted from the backlight unit and reflected by the operator's finger, which changes the most at the position where the user touches the top cover. Then, it is determined that a symbol corresponding to the received light receiving element has been input.

(8) In the above items (1) to (7), an input device which is a keyboard device for a personal computer (claim 6).
The input device described in this section is applied regardless of the user's input intention by applying the input device according to the present invention to an input device having a relatively wide input operation surface, such as a keyboard device for a personal computer. Or, even when a user's finger or the like is close to or in contact with the touch panel due to preparation for input operation, etc., it is possible to distinguish a false input operation due to such proximity or contact from a true input operation. It is possible to prevent information unrelated to the input intention of the user from being output to the personal computer. As a result, in a keyboard device using a light detection type touch panel and having a flat input operation surface, it is as reliable as a normal keyboard device configured using a key switch having a predetermined stroke and pressing reaction force. Input is possible.

Furthermore, the input device according to the present invention may constitute, for example, an electronic device controller such as a remote controller of an AV device or an input portion of an electronic device such as a desktop electronic computer.
(9) The present invention provides an electronic device (claim 7) using the input devices (1) to (8).

(10) an input panel including a half mirror and a top cover arranged to cover the upper surface of the half mirror;
A display film disposed below the input panel for displaying a predetermined symbol;
A backlight unit composed of a light source and a light guide plate disposed below the display film;
A plurality of light receiving elements disposed between the input panel and the display film and at positions corresponding to the symbols of the display film,
A load sensor disposed near the center of the lower surface of the input panel for detecting a load on the input panel at the time of input;
An input control method for an input device for an electronic device, comprising: a light receiving signal from the plurality of light receiving elements; and a load signal from the load sensor, and a control unit that recognizes an input operation.
Detecting a load applied to the input panel by the load sensor;
Detecting the position corresponding to the light receiving element having the largest signal change among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements as an input position;
Determining whether the input operation is true or false;
Generating information corresponding to the coordinate information to be output to the electronic device based on the coordinate information from the input panel only when the input operation is determined to be true. Control method (Claim 8)
The input control method described in this section exhibits the same effects as the input device described in the above section (1) by executing the above steps.

(11) In the input control method according to (10), in the step of detecting, as an input position, a position corresponding to the light receiving element having the largest signal change among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements. An input control method in which only light originating from the light source among light received by the light receiving element is handled as an input signal.
The input control method described in this section treats only the light caused by the light source among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements as an input signal, and thus has the same effect as the input device described in the above section (5). It plays.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of erroneous input and improve the operability in the input device for an electronic apparatus provided with the light detection type touch panel.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part of the input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows typically a part of input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the input control method of the input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a right view. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ′ of the input device illustrated in FIG. 5.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the input device in the present embodiment constitutes a keyboard device for a personal computer 28, and includes a light detection panel 2 including a load sensor 22 and a light receiving element 24, and an input control unit 12. The input control unit 12 includes a key code conversion unit 12A and a load response monitoring unit 12B.

  The light detection type panel 2 is a touch panel in which the input operation surface 6 positioned on the uppermost surface is a translucent flat surface, and constitutes a component of the input device. As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the light-sensitive panel 2 includes a flat input operation surface 6 provided on the upper surface side of the light-sensitive panel 2, and the user can input corresponding to each key. An input operation is executed by touching a specific position on the operation surface with a finger or the like. At this time, the light detection type panel 2 detects the generation position of the input operation based on the change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element 24 caused by the input operation, and the coordinate information thereof is the key code conversion unit 12A of the input control unit 12. Is input.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the input control unit 12 includes an appropriate photodetection panel drive unit (not shown) according to the mode of the photodetection panel 2, and hardware for this purpose. The software and, if necessary, the software can be configured by applying a well-known technique.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the input device in the present embodiment includes an input panel 7 including a half mirror 9 and a top cover 8 disposed so as to cover the upper surface of the half mirror 9. . In addition, a display film 3 for displaying a predetermined symbol 3a disposed at a predetermined distance apart from the input panel 7 is provided. The display unit 3 includes a backlight unit 4 including a light source 4a and a light guide plate 4b that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and is provided between the input panel 7 and the display film 3. A light receiving element 24 is provided. In addition, there is provided only one load sensor 22 that is fixed near the center of the lower surface of the input panel 7 and detects the load applied to the input panel 7 at the time of input. Further, the input device according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 12 that receives light reception signals from a plurality of light receiving elements 24 and a load signal from the load sensor 22 and recognizes an input operation.
In addition, the distance between the input panel 7 and the display film 3 is set so that at least a space sufficient for the load sensor 22 and the light receiving element 24 not to be buffered with other constituent members can be secured. The distance between the display film 3 and the backlight unit 4 is set so that the light receiving element 24 does not receive (directly) the light emitted from the backlight unit 4 and specularly reflected by the half mirror 9 as will be described later. As long as this condition is satisfied, the display film 3 and the backlight unit 4 may be in close contact with each other. Furthermore, the input panel 7 and the laminated body 5 including the display film 3, the backlight unit 4, and the light receiving element 24 are accurately positioned by, for example, a positioning frame body of a resin molded product.

  Here, for example, a strain gauge is used as the load sensor 22, and this is directly fixed to the lower surface of the input panel 7 (half mirror 9) by, for example, adhesion. The load applied to the is detected. And as FIG. 1 shows, each load value which the load sensor 22 detected as a response of the load added to the input panel 7 is input into the load response monitoring part 12B of the input control part 12 as load information. This load value is continuously or intermittently input during the operation of the input device (or at least while the input operation is detected by the light receiving element 24), and the load response monitoring unit 12B includes the load sensor 22. The load value and its time variation pattern (load response curve) are monitored. In addition, as long as the load sensor 22 can grasp | ascertain the bending of the input panel 7 for the above-mentioned objective, the fixed position is not restrict | limited, However, A plurality is not necessary and it is sufficient if one is provided.

On the other hand, the light receiving element 24 is arranged at a position corresponding to each of the symbols of the display film 3 in a one-to-one principle in plan view. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, for each of the input areas A, B, C, and D related to each symbol of the display film 3 that is visible through the input panel 7, the light receiving elements 24 </ b> A, 24 </ b> B, 24C and 24D are arranged. In addition, the plurality of light receiving elements 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are arranged at positions that do not (directly) receive light emitted from the backlight unit 4 and specularly reflected by the half mirror 9. For the plurality of light receiving elements 24, for example, a CMOS (CMOS image sensor), a CCD (CCD image sensor), a PD (photodiode), a PSD (semiconductor position detecting element), and the like are used. For example, it is fixed directly by bonding.
Here, regarding the installation method of the plurality of light receiving elements 24, a sheet (light receiving element arrangement sheet) different from the display film 3 is prepared, and the plurality of light receiving elements 24 are arranged and fixed on the sheet (light receiving element arrangement sheet). Then, a method of superimposing the light receiving element arrangement sheet on the display film 3 may be adopted.

More specifically, the symbol 3a portion of the display film 3 (see FIG. 5) is printed with a pattern in which light is transmitted and only the symbol 3a appears with high brightness, for example, only the outline of the symbol 3a is printed, A negative symbol printing film that performs uniform printing in a dark color such as black is used as the display film 3 in the background (background) portion. Then, for each of the input areas A, B, C, and D relating to each symbol, as shown in FIG. 3, the light L transmitted through the portion of the symbol 3a is reflected by the operator's finger (not shown). L ′ is arranged at a position for directly receiving light. In the example of FIG. 2, the light receiving elements 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D of the input areas A, B, C, and D related to the symbols on the display film 3 are arranged at the four corners of each input area. However, this is just an example. Therefore, each symbol is set so that the light emitted from the backlight unit 4 is not (directly) received by the mirror-reflected light by the half mirror 9 and the light is directly received by the operator's finger. The positions of 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are determined for each of the input areas A, B, C, and D.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, signals F _{A to} F _D relating to the respective light amounts detected by the light receiving elements 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are obtained as responses of light detected by the light receiving element 24. The light amount information is input to the key code conversion unit 12A of the input control unit 12. During the operation of the input device (or at least while the input operation is detected by the light receiving element 24), the key code conversion unit 12A inputs the light amount value of the light receiving element 24 and the light intensity value thereof. A time variation pattern (light quantity response curve) is monitored.

Further, an LED is used as the light source 4a of the backlight unit 4, and the light source 4a flashes at a specific frequency outside the light emission frequency band of the fluorescent lamp (for example, 120 Hz or more) above a frequency at which flickering cannot be felt visually. As described above, it is controlled by the control means 12 or the light source driver. The control means 12 receives the light reception signals from the plurality of light receiving elements 24 and the load signals from the load sensor 22 and recognizes the input operation, and among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements 24, the light source 4a. The control logic which treats only the light resulting from this, ie, the light of a specific frequency as an input signal is included. In addition, the control means 12 includes control logic that handles, as an input position, a position corresponding to the light receiving element having the largest signal change among the signals F _{A to} F _D related to the light amounts received by the plurality of light receiving elements 24. It is a waste.
Here, the specific frequency refers to outside the emission frequency band of the fluorescent lamp. Since general fluorescent lamps emit light at 100 Hz to 120 Hz, and inverter type fluorescent lamps are said to emit light at 20 KHz to 60 KHz, any frequency within a frequency band of 120 Hz to 20 KHz By turning on the LED as the light source 4a, the ambient light can be identified and controlled as the light caused by the light source 4a.

  In this embodiment, the input control unit 12 is configured as a general microcomputer system by a microcomputer, a ROM for storing software and various data, a RAM used for work, and necessary peripheral circuits. . At least main parts of the key code conversion unit 12A and the load response monitoring unit 12B are implemented as a microcomputer software routine, and include hardware such as an input / output interface circuit, if necessary. However, the input control unit 12 according to the present invention is not limited by the implementation mode, and is configured by any appropriate hardware or software, or a combination thereof as long as an input control operation described later is executed. It may be a thing.

Next, a basic input control operation in the input device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. As described above, the load response monitoring unit 12B monitors the load response curve obtained from the load sensor 22, and the shape of the curve is used to determine a true input operation intentionally performed by the user. When a predefined criterion is satisfied, a keystroke valid signal is sent to the key code conversion unit 12A. Then, the key code conversion unit 12A only defines a key code (output) that is defined for the key corresponding to the coordinate information input from the light detection type panel 2 only when the key response signal is received from the load response monitoring unit 12B. Information) is generated and output to the personal computer 28.
This makes it possible to effectively eliminate false input operations while utilizing the highly sensitive input detection of the light detection type touch panel, eliminates the possibility of erroneous input to the personal computer 28, and improves the operability of the input device. It becomes possible to improve.

Here, as the reference for determining the authenticity of the input operation based on the load response curve, any appropriate reference can be used according to the specifications of the input device, for example, the load response by the load sensor 22, for example. When the peak value and half width are extracted from the shape of the curve, and one or more criteria such as the peak value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold or the half value width is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold are satisfied, the input operation is determined to be true. It may be one that is discriminated.
In the present embodiment, the light receiving element 24 includes individual light receiving elements 24A to 24D that detect the light amount at four points, and signals F _{A to} F _D relating to the light amount are input to the key code conversion unit 12A. Therefore, in order to determine the authenticity of the input operation, the position corresponding to the light receiving element having the largest signal change is handled as the input position from the response curves of the plurality of signals F _{A to} F _D.

  In the case of a true input operation intentionally performed by the user, the coordinate information input to the input control unit 12 from the light receiving elements 24A to 24D while the predetermined load by the load sensor 22 is detected. The indicated position can be used as one of the criteria for determining the authenticity of the input operation.

That is, the input control operation by the input control unit 12 of the input device according to the present embodiment is first performed while monitoring the load response curve of the load sensor (strain gauge) 22 (S100), as shown in a preferred example in FIG. ), the signal _F a to F _D according to the quantity of each light receiving element 24A~24D is, when the light of a specific frequency emitted from the light source 4a (Yes) (S110), the largest light-receiving element of the signal change Using the corresponding position as a true input operation signal, a key corresponding to coordinate information from each of the light receiving elements 24A to 24D is specified (S120), and the basic input operation described above with reference to FIG. 1 is performed (S130). ). On the other hand, when the signals F _{A to} F _D relating to the light amounts of the light receiving elements 24A to 24D are not light of a specific frequency emitted from the light source 4a (No) in step S110, the light receiving elements 24A to 24D are disturbed. Assuming that the light L ″ (see FIG. 3) has been detected, the process returns to step S100 without performing the normal operation.
As a result, it is possible to more surely and effectively eliminate false input operations. As a result, in a keyboard device that uses a light-sensitive touch panel and has a flat input operation surface, a predetermined stroke and a pressing reaction can be prevented. A reliable input equivalent to that of a normal keyboard device configured using a key switch having power can be achieved.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the implementation mode of the input control operation in the input control unit 12, but in terms of the functional block shown in FIG. The key code conversion unit 12A executes the key identification (S120) that is executed by the monitoring unit 12B and corresponds to the coordinate information, and the signals F _{A to} F _D relating to the light amounts of the light receiving elements 24A to 24D are received by the light source 4a. The load response monitoring unit 12B receives, for example, the light reception frequency information for each light receiving element specified from the key code conversion unit 12A, and determines whether the light is a specific frequency light emitted from (S110). You may do.
Further, the determination in step S110 may be executed based on the direct coordinate information without specifying a key.

Next, a preferred configuration example of the input device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The input device shown in FIG. 5 is a keyboard device for a personal computer, and includes a shallow square dish-shaped lower case 1 having a horizontally long rectangular shape in a plan view and a substantially inverted trapezoidal cross section. The lower case 1 is manufactured by synthetic resin molding, for example, ABS resin molding, and includes a leg portion 1a on the bottom surface. The lower case 1 houses a main part of a keyboard device that performs an input operation of information, specifically, a symbol by a touch described later.

The translucent light detection type panel 2 is a laminate of a display film 3 on which an arbitrary symbol 3a (see FIG. 5) is printed and a backlight unit 4 which is a surface emitting layer that illuminates the display film 3. 5 is stored. In this case, the light detection type panel 2 is disposed on the upper surface side of the display film 3, that is, the upper surface in the illustrated example, and the backlight unit 4 is disposed on the lower surface side of the display film 3, that is, the lower surface in the illustrated example. In the keyboard device according to the present embodiment, the input operation surface 6 located on the uppermost surface of the device is a flat surface having no unevenness.

Furthermore, a light-transmitting input panel 7 is laminated on the upper surface side of the light detection type panel 2, in this embodiment, on the upper surface of the light detection type panel 2.
The upper surface of the input panel 7 forms the input operation surface 6 and is a flat surface without unevenness. The input panel 7 is formed by stacking a half mirror, a smoke panel, or a translucent plate or sheet (collectively referred to as a top cover) and a half mirror. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the top cover 8 and the half mirror 9 are laminated, and the half mirror 9 is arranged toward the laminated body 5 side. Further, the load sensor 22 is fixed to the central portion of the lower surface of the input panel 7 or the vicinity thereof.
In the present embodiment, the top cover 8 is made of a transparent acrylic plate or a transparent polycarbonate plate. The half mirror 9 is formed of, for example, a film-like or film-like half mirror, and is attached to the top cover 8 to constitute the input panel 7.

The half mirror 9 is arranged toward the laminate 5 side, that is, the top cover 8 is arranged toward the apparatus upper surface side for the following reason.
That is, when the top cover 8 is arranged toward the upper surface of the apparatus, the uppermost surface of the apparatus, that is, the input operation surface 6 is the upper surface of the top cover 8. The acrylic plate and the polycarbonate plate forming the top cover 8 are all excellent in durability, impact resistance, insulation, etc., and the keyboard device constituent members arranged on the lower surface side thereof, that is, the half mirror 9 and the load sensor 22. This is because the light receiving element 24, the display film 3, the backlight unit 4, and the like can be protected mechanically and electrically.
In addition, the acrylic plate and the polycarbonate plate are excellent in translucency in addition to the above-mentioned durability, impact resistance, insulation, etc., and the printed symbol 3a on the display film 3 is passed through the half mirror 9 on the lower surface side. It is easy to obtain a flat surface without any irregularities. Furthermore, it is a material that can easily remove dust and dirt such as human body oil and fat adhering to the surface, and is optimal as a top cover 8 (an upper surface forming member of the input panel 7) that forms the input operation surface 6 on the uppermost surface of the keyboard device. Because it becomes.

  Since the input panel 7 and the half mirror 9 have translucency as described above, the symbol 3a printed on the display film 3 can be seen through on the uppermost surface of the apparatus (input operation surface 6). When the input panel 7 is composed of the top cover 8 and the half mirror 9, the symbol 3a printed on the display film 3 when the backlight unit 4 is lit is clearly displayed from the input operation surface 6 which is the uppermost surface of the apparatus. I can see through. In addition, when the backlight unit 4 is turned off, the uppermost surface of the apparatus that forms the input operation surface 6 is brought into a mirror state by the half mirror 9, and the effect as a mirror is exhibited.

  The light detection type panel 2 touches the position of the desired symbol 3a with a finger or the like while seeing through the symbol group 11 printed on the display film 3 from the front side, information corresponding to the position of the symbol 3a ( This is a device for generating and outputting symbol information. As shown in FIG. 1, the touch panel 2 realizes a function as a keyboard device (a function of outputting information corresponding to the symbol 3 a instructed by touch) in cooperation with the touch panel drive circuit.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the half mirror 9 is a half mirror (dielectric half mirror) made of a dielectric multilayer film. This is to make it possible to use a film-like half mirror in the light detection type panel 2. Further, according to the dielectric half mirror 9, when the keyboard device according to the present embodiment is not operated as a symbol input device (the light detection panel 2 is set in a non-operating state) and only the backlight unit 4 is in an operating state. In addition, a mirror surface colored according to the characteristics of the dielectric multilayer film can be obtained on the uppermost surface of the apparatus constituting the input operation surface 6.

With the display film 3, a large number of predetermined symbols 3a (symbol group 11) are printed in a positive position (positive image) or a negative state (negative image) at a predetermined position on the surface of the translucent base film. Film, ie positive symbol printing film or negative symbol printing film.
In the present embodiment, printing is performed in a pattern in which light is transmitted through the symbol 3a portion and only the symbol 3a appears with high brightness. For example, only the outline of the symbol 3a is printed, and black or the like is printed on the ground (background) portion. A negative symbol printing film that performs uniform printing in a dark color is used as the display film 3. This is mainly due to the fact that only the outer frame portion of the printing area of the symbol group 11 (symbol group 11) and the symbol group 11 appearing on the display film surface emerges on the negative symbol printing, and the visibility and appearance are improved. is there.

A silk printing method is suitable as a printing method of the symbol 3a. In order to prevent malfunction of the light-sensitive panel 2, the symbol 3a is printed using ink that does not contain a metallic substance.
Printing on the display film 3 may be performed on the front surface (light detection panel 2 side) or back surface (backlight unit 4 side) of the base film, or on both the front and back surfaces. It is possible to further enhance the effect that characters appear from the input operation surface 6. Further, the cost can be reduced by performing the process on either the front side or the back side.
It has already been mentioned that symbols refer to letters, numbers, and other symbols, but in a keyboard device for a personal computer, various symbols related to a predetermined key arrangement, such as alphanumeric characters, function key symbols, and other special symbols. Point to. The symbols are arranged according to a predetermined key arrangement.

  As the backlight unit 4, in this embodiment, a sidelight type backlight unit including an LED 4 a and a light guide plate 4 b is used. In this case, the shape of the light guide plate (pattern) of the backlight unit 4 so as to emit light only at the position corresponding to the symbol 3a that is actually illuminated so as to ensure the brightness of the symbol position and reduce the number of LEDs 4a. Is formed. Note that a backlight unit made of an inorganic EL light emitting element may be used instead of the sidelight type backlight unit made up of the LED 4a and the light guide plate 4b. According to this, the keyboard device can be made thinner. In addition, it can easily emit multicolor light.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described using an application example to a keyboard device for a personal computer. However, the present invention is not limited to a keyboard device for other electronic devices, for example, an electronic device controller such as a remote controller for AV devices. It will be understood that the present invention can be similarly applied to an electronic desk calculator.

  1: lower case, 2: light detection panel, 3: display film, 3a: symbol, 4: backlight unit, 4a: LED, 4b: light guide plate, 5: laminate, 6: input operation surface (upper surface of device) ), 7: Input panel, 8: Top cover, 9: Half mirror, 11: Symbol group, 12: Input control unit, 12A: Key code conversion unit, 12B: Load response monitoring unit, 22: Load sensor (strain gauge) , 24 (24A to 24D): light receiving element, 28: personal computer

Claims (9)

An input panel including a half mirror and a top cover arranged to cover the upper surface of the half mirror;
A display film disposed below the input panel for displaying a predetermined symbol;
A backlight unit composed of a light source and a light guide plate disposed below the display film;
A plurality of light receiving elements disposed between the input panel and the display film and at positions corresponding to the symbols of the display film,
A load sensor disposed near the center of the lower surface of the input panel for detecting a load on the input panel at the time of input;
An input device comprising: a light receiving signal from the plurality of light receiving elements and a load signal from the load sensor, and a control means for recognizing an input operation. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light receiving elements are arranged at positions that do not receive light emitted from the backlight unit and specularly reflected by the half mirror. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light receiving elements are arranged at positions to receive light emitted from the backlight unit and reflected by an operator's finger. The light source is blinking at a constant frequency outside the fluorescent light emission frequency band above the frequency at which visual flicker cannot be felt,
4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a control logic that handles, as an input signal, only light originating from the light source among light received by the plurality of light receiving elements. 5. Input device. 5. The control unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a control logic that handles, as an input position, a position corresponding to the light receiving element having the largest signal change among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements. The input device according to claim 1. 6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a keyboard device for a personal computer. An electronic apparatus using the input device according to claim 1. An input panel including a half mirror and a top cover arranged to cover the upper surface of the half mirror;
A display film disposed below the input panel for displaying a predetermined symbol;
A backlight unit composed of a light source and a light guide plate disposed below the display film;
A plurality of light receiving elements disposed between the input panel and the display film and at positions corresponding to the symbols of the display film,
A load sensor disposed near the center of the lower surface of the input panel for detecting a load on the input panel at the time of input;
An input control method for an input device for an electronic device, comprising: a light receiving signal from the plurality of light receiving elements; and a load signal from the load sensor, and a control unit that recognizes an input operation.
Detecting a load applied to the input panel by the load sensor;
Detecting the position corresponding to the light receiving element having the largest signal change among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements as an input position;
Determining whether the input operation is true or false;
Generating information corresponding to the coordinate information to be output to the electronic device based on the coordinate information from the input panel only when the input operation is determined to be true. An input control method characterized by the above. In the step of detecting, as an input position, the position corresponding to the light receiving element having the largest signal change among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements, the light source among the light received by the plurality of light receiving elements 9. The input control method according to claim 8, wherein only light is handled as an input signal.