JP2012195166A - Operation input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation input device employing a capacitance sensor and allowing everybody to operate with high reliability with little false detection while exhibiting excellent operability.SOLUTION: A remote controller 1 is equipped with an operation switch 5 including a capacitance sensor 3 for detecting change in the capacitance between a first electrode 31 arranged on the bottom 51 of a recess 50 surrounded by the inner peripheral surface 52, and a second electrode 32 arranged around the first electrode 31. The second electrode 32 has at least a part arranged along the inner peripheral surface 52 of the recess 50, and the first electrode 31 has a surface area facing the recess 50 which is smaller than that of the second electrode 32.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation input device that inputs an operation for operating a target device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an operation input device for inputting various operations on a target device, a device that employs a capacitance sensor capable of detecting a human body is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to the capacitance sensor, it is possible to detect a human body according to a change in capacitance between a pair of electrodes provided with a potential difference.

  With an operation input device that employs such a capacitance sensor, not only a touch operation on the operation surface but also a non-contact operation that does not require a touch on the operation surface can be detected. In general, in a capacitance sensor, the higher the electric flux density of an electric field formed between electrodes, the greater the change in capacitance when a human body approaches, and the higher the sensitivity.

  However, the operation input device employing the conventional capacitance sensor has the following problems. In other words, in order to realize an operation input device that can be operated with high certainty by men and women of all ages, it is necessary to form a wide detection area so as to absorb variations in operation position to some extent. If it is formed widely, erroneous detection is likely to be induced, and there is a risk of malfunction of the target device not intended by the operator.

JP-A-5-291924

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and is an operation input device that employs a capacitance sensor, and has excellent operability that can be operated with high certainty by few people with few false detections. An operation input device provided is to be provided.

The present invention is an operation input device including an operation switch provided with a capacitance sensor for detecting an operation,
The capacitance sensor includes a first electrode disposed at the bottom of a recess provided to be recessed from the operation surface;
A second electrode disposed around the first electrode so as to include at least a portion disposed along an inner peripheral surface of the recess,
In the operation input device, the surface area of the first electrode facing the dent is smaller than the surface area of the second electrode facing the operation surface and the dent (Claim 1).

  In the operation input device of the present invention, the surface area of the first electrode is set smaller than that of the second electrode. Therefore, between the first electrode and the second electrode (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “between electrodes”), the electric flux gradually converges from the second electrode having a large area toward the first electrode having a small area. An electric field is formed, and the electric flux density around the first electrode is high. Further, the first electrode having a high density of the surrounding electric flux is disposed behind the bottom of the recess. Therefore, in the operation input device, a detection area with high electric flux density and high sensitivity is formed around the inside of the recess.

  If it is a recessed part provided so that it may become depressed from the said operation surface, there is little possibility that a hand, a fingertip, etc. enter by the operation | movement which the operation side does not intend. Therefore, in the detection region formed around the inside of the recess, there is less possibility that the above operation is erroneously detected. On the other hand, from the operation side, the depressed dent can be a target for operation. If there is an operation target, it is possible to reduce variations in the operation position on the operation side, and it is possible to guide the operated fingertip or the like toward the recessed portion with high certainty.

  As described above, the operation input device of the present invention is an excellent operation input device that can guide the operation toward the recess with high reliability and can detect the operation performed toward the recess with high reliability. .

Examples of the detection target of the capacitance sensor in the present invention include a human body such as a fingertip, palm, fist, head, and foot.
Further, the recess in the operation input device of the present invention is a complete recess that communicates with the outside only through the opening located opposite the bottom and is surrounded by the inner peripheral surface over the entire circumference. However, it may be an incomplete recess with a part of the inner peripheral surface missing. Further, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the depth direction may be any cross-sectional shape (opening shape at the opening). It may be round, rectangular or triangular. Furthermore, it may be a conical shape gradually narrowing in the depth direction, or may be a cylindrical shape having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape regardless of the depth. The size of the opening is preferably a size that can accommodate the detection target, such as a fingertip to be operated, and more preferably a size that is slightly larger than the detection target and not too large. For example, if it is a recessed part which wants to insert a finger with a size suitable for a fingertip, the positional variation of the fingertip to operate can further be reduced.

  Further, in the case of the dent portion surrounded by the inner peripheral surface over the entire circumference as described above, the second electrode may be disposed so as to surround the periphery of the dent portion over the entire circumference without a gap, You may arrange | position the said 2nd electrode arrange | positioned in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, although the second electrode may be disposed over the entire area in the depth direction on the inner peripheral surface, the arrangement range of the second electrode may be limited to a part in the depth direction. . Furthermore, the second electrode may be an electrode formed only by a portion along the inner peripheral surface of the recess. In this case, the surface area facing the operation surface is almost zero.

In addition, a plurality of the operation switches are provided,
It is preferable that a part of the second electrode is shared between at least any two operation switches, or the second electrode corresponding to at least any two operation switches is integrally formed ( Claim 2).

  In an operation input device having a plurality of the operation switches, it is necessary to avoid interference between the operation switches. Therefore, the effect of the present invention that the operation can be detected with high reliability becomes more effective. Furthermore, if a part of the second electrode is shared or integrally formed between the two operation switches as described above, the arrangement efficiency of the plurality of operation switches can be improved, and the size of the operation switches can be sufficiently increased. The entire device can be reduced in size while being secured.

In addition, it is preferable that a 3D display unit that stereoscopically displays an operation mark that is lifted from the bottom of the dent and visually observed is provided.
The operation mark that is lifted from the bottom of the dent and visually observed is suitable for pointing to the detection area formed around the inside of the dent as described above. Furthermore, if the operation mark is displayed, the target at the time of operation becomes clearer, and the positional variation on the operation side can be further reduced. Note that the operation mark may be three-dimensionally displayed so as to substantially coincide with the opening of the recess. In this case, it is possible to realize a feeling of operation similar to touching the operation surface without contact. In particular, it is suitable for environments where touch operations are avoided, such as toilets, kitchens, and washstands.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a remote controller in the first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the operation switch in Example 1 (AA arrow sectional drawing in FIG. 1). 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a remote controller in Embodiment 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the detection area | region of the operation switch in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an electrode arrangement structure in Example 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing another electrode structure in Example 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing another electrode structure in Example 1. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of an operation switch in Example 2 (sectional drawing corresponded in the AA arrow cross section in FIG. 1). The perspective view which shows the remote control in Example 2. FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a remote controller in Embodiment 3. Explanatory drawing which shows the other electrode structure in Example 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing other operation switches in the third embodiment. The perspective view which shows the remote control in Example 4. FIG.

The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the following examples.
Example 1
This example is an example related to the remote controller 1 that employs a capacitance sensor 3 as an operation detection sensor. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.
The remote controller 1 of this example is an operation input device for operating a toilet with a shower function (not shown). The remote controller 1 is installed at a position where a user sitting on a toilet seat can easily operate, for example, a wall of a toilet room.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, six operation switches 5A to 5F such as a buttocks shower start switch 5B and stop switch 5A are arranged on the operation surface 10 corresponding to the front surface of the remote control 1 having a shallow box shape. ing. Each operation switch 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> F is formed using a recess 50 provided on the operation surface 10. The recess 50 opens to the operation surface 10 through an opening 55 having a diameter of about 25 mm, and has a constricted internal shape with an inner diameter gradually decreasing toward the bottom 51. The bottom 51 has a bottom surface having a diameter of about 15 mm.

Each of the operation switches 5A to 5F includes a capacitance sensor 3 that detects a change in capacitance between the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 (hereinafter, appropriately described as “between electrodes”). Has been.
The first electrode 31 is disposed substantially at the center of the bottom 51 of the recess 50. The surface shape of the first electrode 31 facing the recess 50 is a circular shape having a diameter of 1 to 5 mm. The second electrode 32 is disposed so as to surround the recess 50 over the entire circumference. The second electrode 32 has a three-dimensional shape combining a cone-shaped portion 321 that gradually narrows toward the bottom portion 51 and a flange-shaped (flange-shaped) edge portion 322 that extends from the rear end to the outer peripheral side. is doing. A cone-shaped portion 321 in the second electrode 32 is disposed along the inner peripheral surface 52 of the recessed portion 50, and a collar-shaped edge portion 322 is disposed along the operation surface 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the remote controller 1 houses the control board 2 to which the operation switches 5A to 5F and the infrared transmitter 38 are electrically connected. The control board 2 is provided with a detection unit 21 that detects operations on the operation switches 5A to 5F and a control unit 22 that controls the infrared transmitter 38.

  The detection part 21 detects the presence or absence of operation based on the change of the electrostatic capacitance between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacitance sensor 3 of each operation switch 5A-F. The detection unit 21 detects a change in capacitance caused by a fingertip or the like inserted into the recess 50, and thereby determines whether or not an operation has been performed. At this time, the formation range of the detection area is determined according to the threshold value when detecting the change in capacitance, and the detection area becomes wider as the threshold value becomes smaller, and the detection area becomes narrower as the threshold value becomes larger.

  The control unit 22 controls the infrared transmitter 38 to output an infrared signal corresponding to the operation switch 5 whose operation is detected by the detection unit 21. For example, if the buttocks shower start switch 5B is operated, the buttocks shower start signal is output from the infrared transmitter 38.

  In the remote controller 1 of the present example configured as described above, the first electrode 31 of each of the operation switches 5A to 5F is held at a positive potential, and the second electrode 32 is held at a reference potential of zero volts. As described above, in this example, the second electrode 32 is disposed from the inner peripheral surface 52 of the recess 50 to the outer periphery, while the first electrode 31 is disposed on the bottom 51 of the recess 50. Yes. In the electric field between the electrodes arranged in this manner, an electric flux is formed so as to converge toward the first electrode 31 as shown in FIG. Thereby, in each of the operation switches 5A to 5E, a region having a high electric flux density is formed around the bottom 51 of the recess 50. Furthermore, in the capacitance sensor 3 of this example, the surface area of the first electrode 31 facing the recess 50 is much smaller than the surface area of the second electrode 32 facing the recess 50 and the operation surface 10. Yes. Therefore, the electric flux is further concentrated around the first electrode 31 to further increase the density.

  In addition, in the capacitance sensor 3 of this example, the first electrode 31 is disposed behind the bottom 51 of the recess 50. Therefore, the degree of spreading of the electric flux around the first electrode 31 is suppressed and becomes nearly parallel, and a high-density region of electric flux density is formed elongated along the vertical direction of the bottom 51, that is, along the depth direction of the recess 50. Will be. Thereby, in each operation switch 5A-E of this example, as shown with the hatching area | region in FIG. 4, it is long and sharp as the vertical direction is extended from the bottom part 51 toward the opening part 55, and it suppressed. A detection region 310 is formed.

According to the detection region 310 in which the lateral expansion of the operation switches 5A to 5E of the remote control 1 of this example is suppressed, it may be different from, for example, an operation finger that may occur when another adjacent operation switch 5 is operated. False detection such as detecting a finger can be suppressed in advance. Moreover, if it is the recessed part 50 depressed from the operation surface 10, there is little possibility that a hand, a fingertip, etc. will enter by the operation | movement which the operation side does not intend.
On the other hand, for the operating side, the recess 50 can be a target when operating. If there is an operation target, variations in the operation position can be reduced, and the fingertip of the operation can be reliably guided toward the recess 50 with high position accuracy.

Thus, the remote control 1 of this example is an operation input device having excellent characteristics that can guide the operation toward the recess 50 of the operation switch 5 with high reliability and can detect the operation with high reliability.
In this example, the second electrode 32 is disposed around the first electrode 31 as shown in FIG. 5A. Instead, the first electrode is used as shown in FIG. 5B. Alternatively, the second electrodes 32 may be discretely disposed so as to surround the first electrode 31, or the second electrodes 32 may be disposed opposite to each other so as to sandwich the first electrode 31 as shown in FIG. In addition, illustration of the recessed part 50 is abbreviate | omitted in the same figure.

  Moreover, it can replace with the 2nd electrode 32 of this example, and can also employ | adopt the 2nd electrode 32 which excluded the collar-shaped edge part 322 (refer FIG. 2) like Fig.6 (a). Furthermore, in this example, the second electrode 32 is disposed over the entire area in the depth direction on the inner peripheral surface 52 of the recess 50. Instead, as shown in FIG. You may restrict | limit the arrangement | positioning range of 32 to a part of depth direction of the internal peripheral surface 52. FIG. Furthermore, instead of the dent 50 of this example, a dent 50 having a constant circular cross section may be employed as shown in FIG. In this case, the cylindrical second electrode 32 can be employed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, adjacent operation switches 5 may be arranged close to each other, and the second electrode 32 of each operation switch 5 may be integrally formed. FIG. 7A shows an example in which the second electrode 32 is connected via a brim-shaped edge 322. FIGS. 7B and 7C are examples in which the operation switch 5 of FIG. 6A or 6C is arranged close to each other and the second electrode 32 of the adjacent operation switch 5 is externally connected and integrated. is there.

In addition, although this example is an example regarding the remote control 1 for operating the toilet bowl with a shower function, the operation target may be a hot water supply device, an air conditioning facility, a water supply device, or the like. Furthermore, it is possible to incorporate the operation input device of this example into a device to be operated.
Moreover, although the operation input device of this example is the remote control 1 including the six operation switches 5A to 5F, the operation input device including only one operation switch may be used. Furthermore, an operation input device having only one operation switch may be incorporated in an operation target such as a faucet. It can be used as a faucet water stop switch or a switch for adjusting the flow rate or temperature. The number of such operation input devices incorporated into a faucet or the like may be one or plural. It is also possible to incorporate an operation input device in which a necessary number of operation switches are provided in advance into a faucet or the like as a unit.

(Example 2)
This example is an example in which a lenticular sheet (three-dimensional display means) 4 that displays an operation mark 400 that is three-dimensionally lifted from the bottom 51 of the dent 50 and is viewed based on the first embodiment is added. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.
The lenticular sheet 4 of this example is disposed on the bottom 51 of the recess 50 as shown in FIG. The first electrode 31 is disposed on the back side of the lenticular sheet 4.

  The lenticular sheet 4 is a sheet-like member that presents a viewer with a virtual image that rises three-dimensionally and is viewed. The lenticular sheet 4 has a two-layer structure of a lenticular lens 41 and a 3D image sheet 42. The 3D image sheet 42 is an image sheet in which a 3D image of the original picture of the operation mark 400 is printed on the surface of a transparent sheet. In the 3D image sheet 42, strip-shaped left image areas 421 on which left-eye images are printed and strip-shaped right image areas 422 on which right-eye images are printed are alternately arranged.

  The lenticular lens 41 is a transparent sheet in which a plurality of ridge-shaped convex portions 411 covering a set of the left image area 421 and the right image area 422 are provided for each set of the areas 421 and 422. Each of the hook-shaped convex portions 411 has a lens function that forms an image for the left eye of the 3D image sheet 42 on the retina of the left eye of the viewer and an image for the right eye on the retina of the right eye. ing.

  When the 3D image sheet 42 is viewed through the lenticular lens 41, the right-eye image is visually recognized by the viewer's right eye, and the left-eye image is visually recognized by the left eye. In the 3D image sheet 42 of this example, a stereo image that produces a so-called stereoscopic effect is set as the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye, and the operation mark 400 that appears three-dimensionally can be viewed. . In this example, as shown in FIG. 9, the degree of the stereoscopic display effect is set so that the operation mark 400 appears to appear in the opening 55 of the recess 50 of each operation switch 5.

In the remote controller 1 of the present example, a toilet with a shower function can be operated by a non-contact operation with respect to the operation mark 400 that is substantially flush with the operation surface 10 and visually observed. According to the remote controller 1, it is possible to realize almost the same operational feeling as a conventional remote controller that performs a touch operation on the smooth operation surface 10 by a non-contact operation.
Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Note that the amount of floating may be such that the operation mark 400 is stereoscopically displayed inside the recess 50, or the operation mark 400 is stereoscopically displayed so as to slightly protrude from the recess 50. good.
In this example, the lenticular lens 41 is used to realize stereoscopic display of the operation mark 400. However, as a stereoscopic display method, instead of the lenticular method of this example, left and right using slits, liquid crystals, or the like are used. Other stereoscopic display methods such as a parallax barrier (parallax barrier) method that enables stereoscopic display so that different images can be seen, a holographic method that enables stereoscopic display using a hologram, and a microlens array are adopted. You can also.

(Example 3)
This example is an example in which the shape of the recess 50 constituting the operation switch 5 is changed based on the remote controller of the first embodiment. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the remote control 1 of this example, as shown in FIG. 10, operation switches 5A to 5E are arranged on the operation surface 10 corresponding to the upper side surface thereof. The depression 50 having a square cross section of each of the operation switches 5A to 5E is open to the operation surface 10, and the inner peripheral surface on the front surface 11 side of the remote control is missing.

  In the operation switches 5A to 5E, a first electrode 31 is disposed along a bottom surface 51 that is parallel to the operation surface 10 as shown in an enlarged view in a broken-line circle in FIG. The second electrode 32 is disposed along three inner peripheral surfaces 52 facing the recess 50, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section so as to surround the recess 50. In the enlarged view in the broken line circle, in order to facilitate understanding of the electrode structure, the outer shape of the remote controller 1 is indicated by a broken line, and the electrodes 31 and 32 are indicated by solid lines.

Each of the operation switches 5A to 5E of the remote control 1 of this example may be operated by bringing a fingertip or the like closer from the upper side of the operation surface 10 toward the recessed portion 50, or on the front surface 11 side where the inner peripheral surface is interrupted. It is also possible to operate by inserting a finger toward the recess 50 from the side.
Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the adjacent operation switches 5 can be arranged close to each other. At this time, the second electrode 32 disposed inside the inner peripheral wall 520 that partitions the adjacent recesses 50 may be shared between the adjacent operation switches 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the shape of the recessed portion 50 of this example may be changed as shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows an example in which the opening shape on the operation surface 10 is a semicircular shape, and FIG. 4B shows an example in which the shape is a triangular shape. 11 and 12, the external shape of the remote controller 1 is indicated by a broken line and the electrodes 31 and 32 are indicated by solid lines, as in the enlarged view in the broken circle in FIG. Further, the operation mark as in the second embodiment may be displayed in three dimensions. In this case, in addition to the operation mark that is substantially flush with the operation surface 10, the operation mark that is substantially flush with the front surface 11 may be three-dimensionally displayed.

Example 4
In this example, the arrangement of the operation switches 5A to 5C is changed based on the remote controller of the first embodiment. The contents will be described with reference to FIG.
In the remote control 1 of the present example, a groove-shaped recess 50 is formed on the operation surface 10 that is a front surface on the toilet room side. The recess 50 having a semicircular cross section extends over the entire region in the lateral direction and opens at the side of the remote controller 1 at both ends thereof. In the remote controller 1 of this example, the operation switches 5A to 5C are formed by using the recess 50.

  On the bottom 51 of the recess 50, the first electrodes 31 are arranged at three substantially equal intervals in the groove direction. Further, a second electrode 32 having a semicircular cross section, such as a curved flat plate, is disposed along the inner peripheral surface 52 of the recess 50. The second electrode 32 has three round holes 320 for avoiding the area where the first electrode 31 is disposed.

Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.
In addition, as a cross-sectional shape of the recessed part 50, it may replace with the semicircle of this example, and may be triangular shape, trapezoid shape, square shape, etc.

  As mentioned above, although the specific example of this invention was demonstrated in detail like Examples 1-4, these specific examples are only disclosing the example of the technique included by a claim. Needless to say, the scope of the claims should not be construed as limited by the configuration, numerical values, or the like of the specific examples. The scope of the claims includes techniques obtained by variously modifying or changing the specific examples using known techniques, knowledge of those skilled in the art, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Remote control (operation input device), 10 ... Operation surface, 2 ... Control board, 21 ... Detection part, 22 ... Control part, 3 ... Capacitance sensor, 31 ... 1st electrode, 32 ... 2nd electrode, 38 ... Infrared transmitter, 4 ... lenticular sheet (three-dimensional display means), 400 ... operation mark, 5 ... operation switch, 50 ... dent, 51 ... bottom, 52 ... inner peripheral surface, 55 ... opening

Claims (3)

An operation input device including an operation switch having a capacitance sensor for detecting an operation,
The capacitance sensor includes a first electrode disposed at the bottom of a recess provided to be recessed from the operation surface;
A second electrode disposed around the first electrode so as to include at least a portion disposed along an inner peripheral surface of the recess,
An operation input device in which a surface area of the first electrode facing the recess is smaller than a surface area of the second electrode facing the operation surface and the recess. In Claim 1, it is provided with a plurality of the operation switches,
An operation input device in which a part of the second electrode is shared between at least any two operation switches, or the second electrodes corresponding to at least any two operation switches are integrally formed.   3. The operation input device according to claim 1, further comprising a three-dimensional display unit that three-dimensionally displays an operation mark that is lifted from the bottom of the dent and viewed.

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