JP2014142777A - Touch panel input operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel input operation device which can perform illumination display, while achieving reduction in thickness by reducing the number of components and can improve assembly workability as well.SOLUTION: The touch panel input operation device includes a touch panel member 110 including a touch sensor part used for an input operation and made of a translucent material, an upper holder 120 holding the upper side of the touch panel member 110, a lower holder 130 holding the lower side of the touch panel member 110 and comprising a light guide member, a case body 140 arranged behind the lower holder 130, a light source 150 introducing light into the lower holder 130, a press switch 160 arranged between the lower holder 130 and the case body 140 and operated in response to the pressing operation of the operation surface of the touch panel member 110, to output a pressing signal for fixing the input of the touch sensor part, and a circuit board 170 on which the press switch 160 and the light source 150 are mounted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel input operation device.

  As a conventional touch panel input operation device for a vehicle, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. This vehicle touch panel input operation device is provided with an input device including a touch pad for receiving a touch operation from a user on a steering wheel of the vehicle, and, for example, an operation for scrolling a car navigation device according to the touch operation, an audio A vehicle touch panel input operation device for operating an in-vehicle electronic device such as a device volume setting or music selection selection display from a list is disclosed.

By the way, since the light source for night illumination was not provided regarding the touch pad used in the touch panel input operation device for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1, the touch area is illuminated when used in a dark place such as at night. In some cases, the display area of the touch area cannot be visually recognized, and erroneous input may occur.
The applicant of the present application has proposed in Patent Document 2 as a solution to such problems. As this touch panel input operation device, as a means to illuminate the display part of the touch panel from the back, the touch panel sheet is made transparent or semi-transparent so that light can be transmitted, and part of the design of the panel sheet can transmit light It is applied by printing or painting with permeable ink or the like. Furthermore, by making it convex or concave with respect to the periphery of the operation unit, the position of the operation unit on the operation panel or the touch panel sheet is clarified, and the operability with respect to the touch operation is improved.

JP 2009-298285 A JP 2012-190406 A

  By the way, the capacitance type touch panel input operation device described in Patent Document 2 and the like has a frame for protecting the touch panel member on the surface side of the touch panel member having an operation surface with which an object to be detected contacts. A light guide member for illuminating a display portion provided on the touch panel member is disposed on the back side of the touch panel member, and a light source such as an LED is provided at the side end of the light guide member. It arrange | positions and is provided so that a touch panel member may be protected by the lower side holder which hold | maintains a touch panel member, a light guide member, and a light source from the back side. A case body is arranged behind the lower holder, and a circuit board is accommodated between the lower holder and the case body. The circuit board is responsive to the operation of pressing the operation surface of the touch panel member. And the press switch which outputs the press signal which determines the input of a touch sensor is mounted. In addition, the circuit board is provided with a connector that is electrically connected to the wiring pattern of the flexible pudding wiring board formed by being laid out from the electrode portion provided on the touch panel member, and is also drawn from the light source (LED) for illumination. The connector etc. which electrically connect with the edge part side of the made flexible pudding wiring board are provided. In addition, reflection sheets and diffusion sheets for brightly and uniformly illuminating the display unit provided on the touch panel member with light rays from the light source via the light guide member are arranged before and after the light guide member. Therefore, there is a problem that the thickness of the input operation device tends to be thick and bulky, and the assembling work is troublesome and the cost is likely to be high.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to achieve illumination display while achieving thinning by reducing the number of parts, and assembling workability Is to provide a touch panel input operation device that can be made better than the conventional one.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has an operation surface in contact with a detected object that performs an input operation, and senses a position where the detected object comes into contact with the operating surface and outputs a signal. A touch panel member made of a transparent material provided with a touch sensor unit (a plurality of electrode units) for output, an upper holder having an opening that holds the upper side of the touch panel member and opens the operation surface, and the touch panel member The lower holder made of a light guide member disposed behind the touch panel member and holding the lower side of the touch panel member, the case body arranged behind the lower holder, and the lower holder made of the light guide member Is disposed between the light source for introducing the light source, the lower holder, and the case body, and moves in response to the pressing operation of the operation surface of the touch panel member, and is input to the touch sensor unit. A push switch that outputs a pressure signal to determine a circuit board for mounting the said push switch source, a touch panel input operating device, characterized in that it comprises an. By configuring in this way, it is possible to reduce ancillary parts by reducing the number of individually provided light guide members for illumination, making the assembly work easier, and the overall thickness of the touch panel input operation device. In addition, since the display portion of the touch panel member can be brightly illuminated and displayed, the operation of the touch panel can be performed satisfactorily.

  According to claim 2, in the touch panel input operation device according to claim 1, the lower holder is inserted into the lower holder at a position facing the surface of the lower holder opposite to the light source. A reflecting surface for guiding and guiding light is formed. With this configuration, it becomes possible to satisfactorily guide light from the light source through the reflective surface into the medium of the lower holder that also serves as a relatively thin light guide member. The display portion can be brightly transmitted and illuminated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel input operation device according to the first or second aspect, a diffusion sheet is disposed between the touch panel member and the lower holder. . With this configuration, the light from the light source can be guided so that the light entering the medium of the lower holder is evenly diffused to the touch panel member side by the diffusion sheet. Transmitted illumination.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel input operation device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the pressing switch is disposed at a central portion of the touch panel member, and the lower holder and the case are arranged. A stroke setting part for approaching and moving away from the other of the lower holder and the case body is provided at an appropriate position on one peripheral edge of the body. By configuring in this way, the touch switch that responds according to the pressing operation of the operation surface of the touch panel member and outputs a pressing signal that determines the input of the touch sensor unit (pressing operation by the contact of the electrode unit) is provided on the touch panel. By installing it at the center of the member, the number of parts can be reduced and the operability of the push switch can be improved, and the stroke is set at one peripheral part of the lower holder and the case body. By providing the portion, it is possible to satisfactorily set the pressing stroke in the entire area of the operation surface operated by the pressing force, and it is possible to perform a stable operation without damaging the pressing switch.

  Further, in claim 5, in the touch panel input operation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, between the lower holder and the case body, the press switch and the lower holder An elastic member for keeping the interval at a predetermined position is provided. With this configuration, the return operation after the pressing operation of the touch panel member can be stably returned to a predetermined position by the elastic member.

  In the present invention, there is provided a touch sensor unit (a plurality of electrode units) that has an operation surface that is in contact with a detection object that performs an input operation, and that detects a position where the detection object is in contact with the operation surface and outputs a signal. A touch panel member made of a transparent material, an upper holder having an opening for holding the upper side of the touch panel member and opening the operation surface, and a lower side of the touch panel member disposed behind the touch panel member A lower holder made of a light guide member for holding the light, a case body arranged behind the lower holder, a light source for guiding light to the lower holder made of the light guide member, the lower holder, and the A pressure switch that is arranged between the case body and moves in response to the pressing operation of the operation surface of the touch panel member, and outputs a pressure signal that determines the input of the touch sensor unit. When a circuit board for mounting the said push switch source, a touch panel input operating device, characterized in that it comprises an. By configuring in this way, it is possible to reduce ancillary parts by reducing the number of individually provided light guide members for illumination, making the assembly work easier, and the overall thickness of the touch panel input operation device. In addition, since the display portion of the touch panel member can be brightly illuminated and displayed, the operation of the touch panel can be performed satisfactorily, thereby achieving the intended purpose. Can do.

1 is a configuration diagram of a system including a touch panel input operation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram of the driver's seat side vicinity in the vehicle of the motor vehicle in which a touch-panel input operation device is mounted. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the touch panel input operation device. FIG. 4 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the main part in the first embodiment in which a touch panel input operation device is provided at a grip part of a steering wheel of a vehicle. FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a touch panel member that is a contact operation unit of the touch panel input operation device. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part in which a touch panel member of the touch panel input operation device is partially enlarged. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state before a coating film (design part) provided on the front surface side of the touch panel member of FIG. 6 is applied. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a left portion of the touch panel member in the touch panel input operation device is pressed. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the center portion of the touch panel member in the touch panel input operation device is pressed.

  Hereinafter, an input operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the touch panel input operation device according to the first embodiment is an input operation device 100 mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. When a user (usually a driver) of the vehicle 1 operates the input operation device 100, the control device 1000 causes the in-vehicle electronic device 20 to perform various operations according to the operation.

(Configuration of vehicle 1)
As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 includes a steering 10 and an in-vehicle electronic device 20.

  The steering 10 is a part of the steering device of the vehicle 1 and includes a main body 11 and a steering wheel 12.

  The main body 11 is a spoke connected to a steering shaft (not shown) of the vehicle 1 and includes an input operation device 100 on the right side. The main body 11 is formed with a mounting hole (not shown) that matches the shape of the input operation device 100. By attaching the input operation device 100 to the attachment hole, only an operation surface described later of the input operation device 100 is exposed.

  The steering wheel 12 is attached to the main body 11 and is a grip member of a ring-shaped handle that is gripped when the driver steers the vehicle 1.

The in-vehicle electronic device 20 is an audio device, a car navigation device, or the like, and is electrically connected to a control unit 200 described later, and operates according to a control signal received from the control unit 200.
The on-vehicle electronic device 20 displays an image corresponding to the operation of the display unit 21.

(Configuration of control device 1000)
The control device 1000 includes an input operation device 100, a control unit 200, and a storage unit 300.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the input operation device 100 includes a touch panel member 110, an upper holder 120 having an opening 121 that holds the upper side of the touch panel member 110 and opens the operation surface of the touch panel member 110, and behind the touch panel member 110. Light is applied to the lower holder 130 that is disposed and made of a light guide member that holds the lower side of the touch panel member 110, the case body 140 that is arranged behind the lower holder 130, and the lower holder 130 that is made of a light guide member. It is arranged between the light source 150 to be introduced, the lower holder 130 and the case body 140, and responds in response to the pressing operation of the operation surface of the touch panel member 110, and outputs a pressing signal for determining the input of the touch sensor described later. A pressure switch 160, a circuit board 170 on which the pressure switch 160 and the light source 150 are mounted, and a lower side An elastic member 180 for keeping the distance between the pressing switch 160 and the lower holder 130 between the rudder 130 and the case body 140 at a predetermined size, and for the lower holder 130 to approach and separate from the case body 140. A stroke setting unit 190 for setting a stroke.

  By the way, the touch panel member 110 is controlled under the control of the control unit 200 to be described later when the user performs an operation of tracing a predetermined locus on the operation surface with a thumb or the like (hereinafter referred to as a gesture operation). The touch pad device detects the position where the thumb touches the operation surface, and the first sheet-like member 111 made of a transparent material as a surface cover and the detected object such as the thumb come into contact with the operation surface. A second sheet-like member 112 made of a transparent material provided with a sensor for detecting a position is laminated and integrated.

  Further, in the touch panel member 110 in the present embodiment, a spacer 113 made of a transparent resin material for protection is disposed behind the sheet-like members 111 and 112, and in the present embodiment, the back of the spacer 113, that is, A diffusion sheet 114 is disposed between the touch panel member 110 and the lower holder 130.

  In this case, the spacer 113 is located on the back surface side of the second sheet-like member 112 and is matched with the shape of the touch panel member 110 including the first sheet-like member 111 and the second sheet-like member 112 that are integrally formed. It is a member that is formed and holds these shapes when a pressure is applied from the front side of the touch panel member 110 by a user operation. If the strength of the touch panel member 110 is sufficient, the spacer 113 may not be disposed.

  The first sheet-like member 111 that is a surface cover that constitutes a part of the touch panel member 110 provided in the input operation device 100 is formed of a sheet-like member from a transparent insulating material such as acrylic resin, and performs a gesture operation. When an operation is performed, an operation surface touched by a user's finger or the like is provided.

  In addition, the operation surface of the first sheet-like member 111 in the first embodiment has irregularities, whereby a step is formed on this operation surface. Such an operation surface is composed of a three-dimensional shape portion 111 </ b> D that is an uneven portion including a flat portion 111 a, a raised portion 111 b, and a hollow portion 111 c.

  In addition, the second sheet-like member 112 in the present embodiment is integrally formed with the first sheet-like member 111 by drawing processing such as pressure forming, whereby the touch panel member 110 is formed.

    By being integrally formed in this way, the first sheet-like member 111 and the second sheet-like member 112 become a single sheet as the touch panel member 110, and the raised portion 111b and the depressed portion 111c that the operation surface has. A stepped shape such as is formed by a bent portion of the single sheet.

  The flat surface portion 111a of the touch panel member 110 is a flat portion of the first sheet-like member 111 that is a surface cover.

  The raised portion 111b is a portion that rises so as to rise from the flat surface portion 111a in the front side direction. At this time, the operation surface is formed as a raised portion 111b made of unevenness that forms a contour portion serving as an operation index of the operation surface. From the front side, it can be seen that a plurality of raised portions 111b formed in an arc shape are arranged at a predetermined interval so as to substantially surround the circle. As shown in FIG. 3, “front side” refers to the upper side in the figure with respect to the input operation device 100, and “back side” refers to the opposite side.

  The recessed portion 111c is located at the approximate center of the operation surface and is a recessed portion so as to sink in the back side direction from the flat surface portion 111a, and is formed on the inner side of the raised portion 111b arranged in a circular shape.

  The planar portion 111a, the raised portion 111b, and the recessed portion 111c are formed so that their cross-sectional shapes are smoothly connected to each other so as not to hinder the user's gesture operation.

  In addition, the design portion D made of a coating layer provided on the touch panel member 110 has a display color layer made of transmissive ink such as white on the surface side of the operation surface of the first sheet-like member 111. A ground color layer made of, for example, black light-shielding ink is provided as the opaque design portion D2 on the surface side of the touch panel member 110 excluding the region of the transparent design portion D1 due to the display color layer. It has been subjected.

  In this case, in this embodiment, the design portion D by the coating layer composed of the display color layer and the ground color layer is applied to the surface side of the operation surface of the first sheet-like member 111 by coating, and the raised portion By partially removing the ground color layer (impermeable design portion D2) located at 111b and the ground color layer (impermeable design portion D2) adjacent to the raised portion 111b by means of laser processing or the like The display color layer is exposed to form a transparent design portion D1. (In the present embodiment, four transparent design portions D1 each having an arrow shape are formed at four depressions 111c, and a transparent design D1 having a circle indicating the center position of the depression 111c is formed.)

  The second sheet-like member 112 is a transparent sheet member having a touch sensor portion 1120 including a plurality of electrode portions P1 and P2 for detecting the position of a detection target such as a finger, and is a surface cover. The first sheet-like member 111 is provided on the back side.

  The second sheet-like member 112 includes a layer having a first sensor array 1120a composed of a plurality of electrode portions P1 for detecting the position of the detection target in the X-axis direction (lateral direction), and the Y-axis direction ( A layer having a second sensor array 1120b composed of a plurality of electrode portions P2 for detecting the position of the detection object in the vertical direction) is schematically configured. By combining the first sensor row 1120a and the second sensor row 1120b, the second sheet-like member 112 results in a plurality of electrode portions P1 in the X-axis direction and a plurality of electrode portions in the Y-axis direction. Since P2 is arranged in a matrix, the shape of the touch panel member 110 made of a sheet-like member is formed in a rectangular shape.

  On the end side of each sensor row 1120a, 1120b provided on the touch panel member 110, the electrode portion P1 located on the end side of the sensor row 1120a in the X-axis direction is connected via a conductive terminal portion Ta. Each lead line w1 is drawn out, and the lead line w2 is drawn out through the conductive terminal portion Tb at the electrode part P2 located on the end side of the sensor row 1120b in the Y-axis direction. Each of the lead wires w1 and w2 is covered with a flexible sheet made of an insulating material and is electrically routed and wired, and the end of the flexible sheet guided by the drawer is connected to a circuit board via a connector. The circuit board is further connected so as to be electrically connected from the circuit board to the control unit 200.

  The upper holder 120 has an opening 121 that holds the upper side of the touch panel member 110 and opens the operation surface of the touch panel member 110, and is provided with a side wall 122 that covers the side surface of the touch panel member 110. A locking window 123 for engaging and holding a part of the lower holder 130 described later is formed at an appropriate position of 122.

  The lower holder 130 is disposed behind the touch panel member 110 and is formed of a light guide member made of a synthetic resin material that holds the lower side of the touch panel member 110. The touch panel member 110 is mounted on the upper surface side of the lower holder 130. A recessed portion 131 is provided for placement, and an engaging claw portion 133 that engages with the locking window portion 123 of the upper holder 120 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the peripheral wall portion 132 surrounding the recessed portion 131.

  In addition, a switch pressing portion 134 that protrudes and faces the pressing switch 160 is provided at a central portion on the bottom surface side of the lower holder 130, and the push button portion of the pressing switch 160 is protected around the switch pressing portion 134. A protective wall 135 is formed to project toward the circuit board 170 side. In addition, a light receiving portion 136 is provided at an appropriate position on the bottom edge of the lower holder 130 at a position facing the light source 150, and the lower holder is placed on the upper surface side of the lower holder 130 located directly above the light receiving portion 136. A reflecting surface 137 for guiding and guiding light into 130 is formed.

  The case body 140 is disposed behind the lower holder 130, and the circuit board 170 is fixedly held on the upper surface side of the case body 140, and the light source 150 and the pressure switch 160 are mounted on the surface side of the circuit board 170. It is provided as follows.

  Between the lower holder 130 and the case body 140, an elastic member 180 comprising a coil spring 181 for keeping the distance between the pressing switch 160 and the lower holder 130 at a predetermined dimension, and the lower holder with respect to the case body 140 A stroke setting unit 190 is provided for setting a stroke for the 130 to approach and separate. In the present embodiment, the stroke setting portion 190 is formed by a screw fixing member 191, and the screw fixing member 191 that is the stroke setting portion 190 is rotated through a screw hole portion 138 provided behind the lower holder 130. Tightened and fixed.

  At this time, the stroke setting unit 190 formed of a fixing member 191 using a screw is fixed by rotating from the bottom surface side of the case body 140 toward the back of the lower holder 130 through the insertion hole 141 provided in the case body 140. The case body 140 is held by the head portion 191a of the fixing member 191 by a screw which is the stroke setting portion 190, and the upper surface side of the case body 140 by the screwing position of the fixing member 191 made of this screw. And a distance between the lower holder 130 and the rear side of the lower holder 130 are set, and thereby a stroke for the lower holder 130 to approach and separate from the case body 140 is set. When pressing with a fingertip, the straw is fastened and fixed to the lower holder 130 Setting unit 190 along the insertion hole 141 in which a (fixed member 191 by a screw) to the case body 140 can be guided guide.

  At the time of this pressing operation, the return operation of the touch panel member 110 can be returned to a predetermined position by the elastic member 180 formed of the coil spring 181. The predetermined position can be maintained by urging.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, when a detection object such as a finger touches the first sheet-like member 111 that is the front surface cover of the touch panel member 110, a plurality of electrode portions P1 and P1 located on the back surface side thereof. The capacitance between the touch sensor unit 1120 made of P2 and the detected object changes. Since the control unit 200 and the touch sensor unit 1120 including the electrode units P1 and P2 are electrically connected, the control unit 200 changes the capacitance of the electrode units P1 and P2 in the touch sensor unit 1120. Can be detected. The control unit 200 calculates an input coordinate value (X, Y) indicating the contact position of the detection target based on the change in capacitance. The input coordinate value is a coordinate value in the XY coordinate system in each touch sensor unit 1120 set in advance on the operation surface. The input coordinate value is the X coordinate assigned to the center of gravity position of the distribution of the change in capacitance in the X direction (for example, the position of the touch sensor unit 1120 where the capacitance is higher than a certain threshold value and the largest), It is represented by the Y coordinate assigned to the center of gravity position (for example, the position of the touch sensor unit 1120 where the capacitance is higher than a certain threshold value and the largest) in the Y direction. The control unit 200 calculates the input coordinate value (X, Y) by calculating the X coordinate and the Y coordinate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and executes an operation program stored in the storage unit 300 to perform various processes and controls. At least a part of the control unit 200 is configured by various dedicated circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

  The storage unit 300 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, and the like, and includes a work area of a CPU that configures the control unit 200, a program area that stores an operation program executed by the CPU, and data It functions as an area.

  The program area stores an operation program such as a program for executing the in-vehicle electronic device control process.

  In the data area, as shown in FIG. 1, a gesture dictionary G, corresponding motion data C, a set value Q that is a predetermined value of the gesture feature amount, and the like are stored in advance.

  The gesture dictionary G is data necessary for recognizing a gesture operation being performed, and includes a plurality of patterns indicating trajectory features drawn by the gesture operation. The pattern indicating the feature of the gesture operation is composed of a combination of each component of the gesture feature amount. In the present embodiment, this pattern is a pattern indicating the feature of “a gesture operation based on a raised portion”.

  The corresponding operation data C is data of a control signal that causes the in-vehicle electronic device 20 to execute a predetermined operation. There are a plurality of corresponding action data C, each of which is associated with a plurality of patterns included in the gesture dictionary G. For example, in the pattern indicating the feature of the arc-shaped gesture operation along the raised portion 111b, the command data for transmitting the volume control signal for causing the in-vehicle electronic device 20 to change the audio volume is associated as the corresponding operation data C. And stored in advance in the data area.

  The setting value Q is data of a predetermined value of the gesture feature amount, and is data serving as a trigger for transmitting a control signal to the in-vehicle electronic device 20. The setting value Q is associated with each of a plurality of patterns included in the gesture dictionary G. That is, there are a plurality of setting values Q. Here, the gesture feature quantity selected as a comparison target with the set value Q is, for example, the length of a trajectory in a trajectory in which a plurality of input coordinate values are connected by a straight line in time series.

About operation | movement of the control apparatus 1000, the gesture dictionary G, corresponding | compatible action data C, the setting value Q, and each role are described briefly.
1) The gesture dictionary G is used for recognizing to which pattern a predetermined gesture operation belongs (that is, what kind of gesture operation).
2) The corresponding operation data C is used to determine what control signal is transmitted to the in-vehicle electronic device 20 according to the gesture operation recognized based on the gesture dictionary G.
3) The set value Q is used to determine what value the gesture feature value related to the recognized gesture operation reaches when the control signal based on the corresponding action data C is transmitted.

  Each data stored in the storage unit 300 is appropriately stored as a default value or by a user's own operation using a known data registration method.

  When the user performs an operation of pressing the operation surface of the touch panel member 110 of the touch panel input operation device 100 (hereinafter referred to as a pressing operation), the pressing switch 160 is pressed by the lower holder 130 and a predetermined input signal is transmitted to the control unit 200. Sent by. The pressing operation is performed when control different from control by gesture operation on the operation surface of the input operation device 100 is executed.

  In the touch panel input operation device 100 according to the present embodiment, when the operation of pressing down the operation surface of the touch panel member 110 of the touch panel input operation device 100 is performed in addition to the control by the respective gesture operations, the case body 140 is removed by the stroke setting unit 190. In addition to being held, the dimensional interval between the upper surface side of the case body 140 and the rear side (lower surface side) of the lower holder 130 is set according to the screwing position of the fixing member 191 made of screws. A stroke for the lower holder 130 to approach and separate is set. When the operation surface of the touch panel member 110 is pressed with a fingertip, a stroke setting unit 190 (fixing member using a screw) provided in the lower holder 130 is set. 191) is provided in the case body 140. Along 41 can be guided guide, it can be well pressed.

  Further, FIG. 8 shows a case where the operation surface portion of the touch panel member 110 to be pressed with the fingertip is pressed on the left side where the touch panel member 110 deviates from the center of the touch panel member 110, and the raised portion 111b portion located on the left side is an insulator of the pressing operation Stroke setting consisting of a screw located on the right side of the lower holder 130, which corresponds to the point of force (E) in principle, corresponds to the point of action (L) in which the lower holder 130 for pressing the push switch 160 is operated. The touch panel member 110 is pressed using the portion 190 (fixing member 191 using a screw) as a fulcrum (F).

  Moreover, when the center part (dent part 111c) location of the operation surface of the touch panel member 110 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 9, the recess part 111c location of the operation surface of the touch panel member 110 is a power point in the pressing operation ( E), and 130 points on the lower holder that presses the pressing switch 160 located directly below in the pressing direction become the action point (L). Therefore, in the case where the central portion (the depressed portion 111c) of the operation surface of the touch panel member 110 is pressed and operated, the lower holder 130 is pushed down in a parallel state as it is based on the case body 140. A fixing member 191 with a screw, which is a stroke setting portion 190 provided in the lower holder 130, is pressed against the case body 140, and the case body 140 is moved by the stroke of the shaft portion of the fixing member 191 with the pressed screw. On the other hand, a stroke amount for the touch panel member 110 and the lower holder 130 to approach and separate is set, and the pressing switch 160 is pressed.

  Along with this depression operation, the push button portion of the push switch 160 is pushed by the lower holder 130, and a predetermined input signal is transmitted to the control unit 200 and confirmed.

  When the pressing operation is released, the lower holder 130 that has been pressed through the coil spring 181 that is the respective elastic member 180 is released, and the pressing force to the elastic member 180 is released, so that the lower holder 130 is restored to its original position. Return to the position.

  As described above, all the areas of the operation surface provided on the touch panel member 110, that is, all the locations on the operation surface provided on the touch panel member 110 to be pressed with the fingertips become the force points (E) in the pressing operation, and the press switch 132. Can be pressed through the lower holder 130, whereby the input operation of the touch panel member 110 can be performed satisfactorily, and the pressing operation can be performed without selecting the position where the operation surface is pressed. Therefore, the operation of the push switch 160 can be performed stably.

  Accordingly, in the region excluding the central portion of the operation surface provided on the touch panel member 110, it corresponds to a power point (E) in terms of the lever principle in the pressing operation, and the lower holder 130 place for pressing the pressing switch 160 is the lever. This corresponds to the point of action (L) in terms of the principle. At this time, the stroke setting unit 190 can move in the pressing direction of the touch panel member 110, and when at least one point of the stroke setting unit 190 moves in the pressing direction, the stroke setting unit other than one point of the stroke setting unit 190 Since at least one point 190 is provided as a fulcrum (F) of the lever, the pressing switch 160 is pressed through the lower holder 130 in the area of the operation surface provided on the touch panel member 110. Thus, the input operation of the touch panel member 110 can be performed satisfactorily, and the pressing operation can be performed without selecting the pressing position of the operation surface, and the operation of the pressing switch 160 is stabilized. Can be done automatically.

  Moreover, since the recessed part 131 for mounting the touch panel member 110 is provided on the upper surface side of the lower holder 130, the touch panel member 110 can be easily set, and the upper holder 120 is attached to the touch panel member 110. The touch panel member 110 can be easily moved up and down by engaging the engaging claw portion 133 provided in the lower holder 130 and the locking window portion 123 provided in the upper holder 120 by being set to overlap each other. The holders 120 and 130 can be assembled and held while being covered.

  Further, by forming the lower holder 130 with a light guide member made of a synthetic resin material, light from the light source 150 is guided from the light receiving portion 136 to the reflecting surface 137, and the lower holder 130 is passed through the reflecting surface 137. By guiding the light into the medium, the transparent design portion D1 having an arrow shape provided on the operation surface of the touch panel member 110 is transmitted and illuminated. At this time, since the diffusion sheet 114 disposed between the lower holder 130 and the touch panel member 110 can be guided so as to be evenly diffused to the touch panel member 110 side, the transparent design portion D1 that is a display portion location. Can be uniformly transmitted.

  At this time, the lower holder 130 is reflected to guide and guide light into the medium of the lower holder 130 at a position (upper surface side) facing the surface of the lower holder 130 facing the light source 150. By forming the surface 137, it is possible to satisfactorily guide light from the light source 150 through the reflecting surface 137 into the medium of the lower holder 130 that also serves as a relatively thin light guide member. The transmissive design portion D1, which is the display portion portion of the touch panel member 110, can be brightly transmitted and illuminated, and by reducing the number of light guide members provided individually for illumination, ancillary parts are also reduced. This also has the advantage of being easy to perform assembly work.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lower holder 130 that also serves as a light-transmitting light guide member for transmitting and illuminating the transmissive design portion D1 disposed behind the touch panel member 110 is made of a colorless and transparent synthetic resin. However, depending on the case, it may be possible to illuminate the transmissive design portion D1 with an illumination color such as orange, or to illuminate it with other colors. May be.

  Further, the design portion D is applied to the surface side of the operation surface of the first sheet-like member 111 by means such as painting, but the design is made to the surface side of the operation surface of the first sheet-like member 111 by means such as printing. The part D may be formed, and may be applied to the back surface of the sheet-like member 111 by printing or painting. The display form of the transparent design part D1 of the design part D is also an arrow. It is not limited to the shape, and may be formed in an arbitrary shape such as an arc-shaped transmission design portion D1, and illumination luminance such as a transmitted light amount may be arbitrarily set.

  In the above-described embodiment, the coil spring 181 is used as the elastic member 180 for keeping the distance between the pressing switch 160 and the lower holder 130 at a predetermined position. An arm piece may be provided, and the elastic arm piece may be formed so as to keep the distance between the pressing switch 160 and the lower holder 130 at a predetermined position, or an elastic member such as a synthetic rubber may be provided. good.

  In the embodiment described above, the stroke setting portion 190 is formed by the fixing member 191 made of a screw. However, the shaft portion is provided integrally from the case body 140 or the lower holder 130, and is provided on this shaft portion. The stroke amount may be set at the stepped portion.

  In the present invention, the touch panel input operation device has been described by taking a vehicle such as an automobile as an example of a vehicle on which the input operation device 100 is mounted. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be mounted on a ship or an agricultural machine. This is possible, and is particularly suitable for a touch panel input operation device capable of transmitting illumination.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle 10 ... Steering 11 ... Main-body part 12 ... Steering wheel 20 ... In-vehicle electronic device 21 ... Display part 100 ... Input operation device 110 ... Touch panel member 111 ... 1st sheet-like member (surface cover)
111a ... Plane portion 111b ... Raised portion 111c ... Depressed portion 111D ... Solid shape portion 112 ... Second sheet-like member 1120 ... Touch sensor portion 1120a ... First sensor row 1120b ... Second sensor row 113 ... Spacer 114 ... Diffusion Sheet 120 ... Upper holder 121 ... Opening 122 ... Side wall part 123 ... Locking window part 130 ... Lower holder 131 ... Recessed part 132 ... Peripheral wall part 133 ... Engaging claw part 134 ... Switch pressing part 135 ... Protection wall 136 ... Light receiving part 137 ... Reflecting surface 138 ... Screw hole part 140 ... Case body 141 ... Insertion hole 150 ... Light source (LED)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 160 ... Press switch 170 ... Circuit board 180 ... Elastic member 181 ... Coil spring 190 ... Stroke setting part 191 ... Fixing member with a screw 191a ... Head 200 ... Control part 300 ... Memory | storage part 1000 ... Control apparatus D ... Design part D1 ... Transmission Design part D2 ... Impervious design part P1 ... Electrode part (transparent electrode part)
P2 ... Electrode part (permeable electrode part)

Claims (5)

A touch panel made of a transparent material having an operation surface that is in contact with a detection target body that performs an input operation, and provided with a touch sensor unit that senses a position where the detection target body is in contact with the operation surface and outputs a signal. A lower side comprising a member, an upper holder having an opening for holding the upper side of the touch panel member and opening the operation surface, and a light guide member disposed behind the touch panel member and holding the lower side of the touch panel member A holder, a case body disposed behind the lower holder, a light source for guiding light to the lower holder made of the light guide member, and disposed between the lower holder and the case body, A press switch that responds in response to a pressing operation of the operation surface of the touch panel member and outputs a pressing signal for determining an input of the touch sensor unit; the pressing switch; Touch panel input operating device and characterized in that it comprises a circuit board for mounting the source, the.

The lower holder is formed with a reflective surface for guiding and guiding light into the lower holder at a location facing the surface of the lower holder facing the light source. The touch panel input operation device according to claim 1.

The touch panel input operation device according to claim 1, wherein a diffusion sheet is disposed between the touch panel member and the lower holder.

The pressing switch is arranged at a position of the center of the touch panel member, and is moved away from the other of the lower holder and the case body at an appropriate position on one peripheral edge of the lower holder and the case body. The touch panel input operation device according to claim 1, further comprising a stroke setting unit for performing the operation.

The elastic member for maintaining the space | interval of the said press switch and the said lower holder in a predetermined position between the said lower holder and the said case body is arrange | positioned. 5. The touch panel input operation device according to any one of 4 above.

Images