JP2021192160A - Touch panel input device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a touch panel input device that can determine a touch position even when an abnormality occurs in an electrode wire.SOLUTION: A touch panel input device 100 comprises: a touch surface 21; a plurality of first electrode wires HL1-HLM; a plurality of second electrode wires VL1-VLM; a drive circuit 31; a receiving circuit 32; and a touch detection unit 39. The drive circuit 31 inputs a drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode wires HL1-HLM. The receiving circuit 32 detects an output signal for each of the plurality of second electrode wires VL1-VLM. The drive circuit 31 can input a first drive signal and a second drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode wires HL1-HLM. The first drive signal is input from first ends P11-P1M. The second drive signal is input from second ends P21-P2M.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a touch panel input device.

The touch panel input device described in Patent Document 1 includes a touch panel, an AC signal source, an inductance element, and a detection circuit. The touch panel has an electrode wire. The electrode wire has a first electrode wire and a second electrode wire. The AC signal source inputs the AC signal to the first electrode line. The inductance element is electrically connected in series between the AC signal source and the first electrode wire. The detection circuit detects the change in capacitance between the first electrode line and the second electrode line when the object to be detected touches the touch panel by at least the change in the signal output from the second electrode line.

International Publication No. 2013/06289

However, when an abnormality such as a disconnection occurs in the electrode wire, even if the area around the abnormal electrode wire in the touch panel where the abnormality occurs is touch-operated, no signal flows to the abnormal electrode wire, so that the touch position is determined. It may not be done. As a result, erroneous determination of the touch position may occur in the region around the abnormal electrode wire.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel input device capable of determining a touch position even when an abnormality occurs in an electrode wire.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the touch panel input device includes a touch surface, a plurality of first electrode wires, a plurality of second electrode wires, a drive circuit, a receiving circuit, and a touch detection unit. .. The plurality of first electrode wires are arranged so as to extend from the first end portion of the touch surface toward the second end portion facing in the first direction. The plurality of second electrode lines extend from the third end of the touch surface toward the fourth end facing in the second direction, and intersect the plurality of first electrode lines at a plurality of intersections. Is placed. The drive circuit inputs a drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode wires. The receiving circuit detects an output signal for each of the plurality of second electrode lines. The touch detection unit detects a touch on the touch surface based on a change in the output signal detected by the receiving circuit due to a change in capacitance at the intersection. The drive circuit can input a first drive signal and a second drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode wires. The first drive signal is input from the first end side. The second drive signal is input from the second end side.

The touch panel input device of the present invention can determine the touch position even when an abnormality occurs in the electrode wire.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the touch panel input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the touch panel provided in the touch panel input device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the schematic structure of the touch panel. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the touch panel input device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the touch panel input device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description is not repeated.

[First Embodiment]
The touch panel input device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel input device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the touch panel 20 provided in the touch panel input device 100. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the touch panel 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the touch panel input device 100 includes a display 10, a touch panel 20, and a touch position determination circuit 30.

The display 10 has a display panel (for example, a liquid crystal panel) for displaying an image. The touch panel input device 100 does not have to include the display 10, and may at least include the touch panel 20 and the touch position determination circuit 30. That is, the touch panel input device 100 may have at least a touch panel function, and may not have an image display function for displaying an image on the touch panel 20.

The touch panel 20 has a touch surface 21, a plurality of first electrode wires, a plurality of second electrode wires, and a plurality of capacitances. The plurality of first electrode lines include the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM (Ach). The plurality of second electrode lines include the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM (Bch). The plurality of capacitances include capacitances C11 to capacitance CMM.

The touch surface 21 accepts a touch operation. The touch surface 21 may be, for example, the touch surface of an electronic blackboard, or the touch surface of a terminal such as a smartphone and a tablet PC (Personal Computer).

Each of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM and the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM is arranged on the back side of the touch surface 21. The first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM extend from the first end P11 to P1M of the touch surface 21 toward the second end P21 to P2M of the touch surface 21 along the first direction. , Are arranged parallel to each other along the first direction. The second ends P21 to P2M face the first ends P11 to P1M in the first direction. In this embodiment, the first end portions P11 to P1M are located on the right side of the touch surface 21. Further, the second end portions P21 to P2M are located on the left side of the touch surface 21. The second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM is a second electrode line perpendicular to the first direction from the third end P31 to P3M of the touch surface 21 toward the fourth end P41 to P4M of the touch surface 21. It extends along two directions and is arranged parallel to each other along the second direction. The third end portions P31 to P3M face the fourth end portions P41 to P4M in the second direction. In the present embodiment, the third end portions P31 to P3M are located above the touch surface 21. Further, the fourth end portions P41 to P4M are located below the touch surface 21. The second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM are arranged so as to intersect the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM at a plurality of intersections D11 to DMM. Capacitance C11 to capacitance CMM are formed at the intersection D11 to the intersection DMM of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM and the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM, respectively.

Hereinafter, the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM may be referred to as a first electrode line group H, and the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM may be referred to as a second electrode line group V. Further, the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM and the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM may be collectively referred to as an electrode line. Further, the intersection points D11 to the intersection DMM may be collectively referred to as an intersection.

The touch panel 20 including the first electrode line group H and the second electrode line group V is attached and fixed to the display 10 or a protective glass (not shown). The second electrode line group V is arranged closer to the display 10 than the first electrode line group H. The first electrode wire group H may be arranged closer to the display 10 than the second electrode wire group V. Actually, a PET film is provided between the first electrode line group H, the second electrode line group V, and the display 10, but it is omitted in the description of FIG.

The touch position determination circuit 30 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor element (CPU, memory, etc.), a resistor, a capacitor, a coil, or the like. The touch position determination circuit 30 has a capacitance C11 formed at the intersection D11 to the intersection DMM between the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM and the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM on the touch panel 20. ~ The distribution of the value of the capacitance CMM is detected, and the touch position representing the touched position on the touch surface 21 is determined.

When the touch operation is performed on the touch surface 21, the capacitance of the intersections of the intersections D11 to DMM located around the place where the touch operation is performed changes. As a result, the touch position determination circuit 30 determines the touch position on the touch surface 21 based on the change in capacitance.

The touch position determination circuit 30 includes a drive circuit 31, a reception circuit 32, an AD converter 33, a timing generator 34, a detection unit 35, a recording unit 38, and a touch position determination unit 39. The touch position determination unit 39 corresponds to an example of the “touch detection unit”.

The drive circuit 31 includes a first drive circuit 311 and a second drive circuit 312. The first drive circuit 311 corresponds to an example of the "first drive signal generation circuit". Further, the second drive circuit 312 corresponds to an example of the "second drive signal generation circuit". The drive circuit 31 is connected to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM. Specifically, the first drive circuit 311 is connected to the first end P11 to P1M side of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM via the drive lines DL11 to DL1M. Further, the second drive circuit 312 is connected to the second end P21 to P2M side of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM via the drive lines DL21 to DL2M. Therefore, the drive circuit 31 can input the first drive signal and the second drive signal to each of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM. The first drive signal is input from the first end P11 to P1M side. The second drive signal is input from the second end P21 to P2M side. That is, the drive circuit 31 can input drive signals from both the left and right sides. The drive circuit 31 generates a drive signal by applying a voltage to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM, and inputs the drive signal to each of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM. .. Specifically, the first drive circuit 311 generates a first drive signal. Then, the first drive circuit 311 inputs the first drive signal to each of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM via the drive lines DL11 to DL1M. Further, the second drive circuit 312 generates a second drive signal. Then, the second drive circuit 312 inputs the second drive signal to each of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM via the drive lines DL21 to DL2M.

The receiving circuit 32 is connected to the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM via the sense lines SL1 to SLM. The receiving circuit 32 detects an output signal for each of the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM. The receiving circuit 32 detects the output signal from the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM, and thereby detects the linear sum of the charges corresponding to each capacitance (capacitance C11 to each of the capacitance CMM). Information (capacitance information) indicating Then, the receiving circuit 32 transmits the read capacitance information to the AD converter 33. As a result, the AD converter 33 acquires the capacitance information.

The AD converter 33 AD-converts the capacitance information acquired from the receiving circuit 32 and transmits it to the detection unit 35. As a result, the detection unit 35 acquires the AD-converted capacitance information.

The timing generator 34 generates a signal that regulates the operation of the drive circuit 31, a signal that regulates the operation of the reception circuit 32, and a signal that regulates the operation of the AD converter 33, and generates the drive circuit 31 and the reception circuit 32. , And to the AD converter 33.

The detection unit 35 calculates the capacitance distribution on the touch surface 21 based on the capacitance information acquired from the AD converter 33 and the code sequence. That is, the detection unit 35 is formed by a plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM) and a plurality of second electrode lines (second electrode line VL1 to second electrode line VLM). A detection value (change in capacitance) based on a change in capacitance (capacity C11 to capacitance CMM) at each intersection (at each of intersections D11 to DMM) is detected.

The detection unit 35 transmits the detected value (information indicating the capacitance distribution) to the touch position determination unit 39. As a result, the touch position determination unit 39 acquires the detection value of the detection unit 35.

The recording unit 38 records the determination condition. The determination condition indicates information used by the touch position determination unit 39 to determine the touch position on the touch surface 21.

The touch position determination unit 39 is electrically connected to the reception circuit 32 via the AD converter 33 and the detection unit 35. The touch position determination unit 39 detects a touch on the touch surface 21 based on the change in the output signal detected by the receiving circuit 32 due to the change in capacitance at the intersection D11 to the intersection DMM. For example, the touch position determination unit 39 has a touch surface 21 based on the distribution of detected values with respect to the coordinates of a plurality of intersections (intersection points D11 to DMM) detected by the detection unit 35 and the determination conditions recorded in the recording unit 38. To determine the touch position in.

For example, the drive circuit 31 may perform the first process and the second process at the same time. The first process is a process in which the drive circuit 31 inputs a first drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM). Specifically, in the first process, the first drive circuit 311 is first for each of the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM) via the drive lines DL11 to DL1M. This is the process of inputting a drive signal. The second process is a process in which the drive circuit 31 inputs a second drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM). Specifically, in the second process, the second drive circuit 312 is second to each of the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM) via the drive lines DL21 to DL2M. This is the process of inputting a drive signal.

By performing the first process and the second process at the same time by the drive circuit 31, the first end P11 to P1M side of the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM) A drive signal is input from the second end P21 to P2M side. That is, drive signals are input from both sides to the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM). Therefore, when the drive line (drive line DL11 to DL1M or drive line DL21 to DL2M) is disconnected at either the first end P11 to P1M side or the second end P21 to P2M side. However, a drive signal can be input to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM. As a result, the touch position can be determined even when an abnormality (for example, disconnection) occurs in the power line.

The drive circuit 31 may alternately perform the first process and the second process. By alternately performing the first process and the second process by the drive circuit 31, the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM) have first end portions P11 to P1M. The drive signal is input from either the side or the second end P21 to P2M side. Therefore, when the drive line (drive line DL11 to DL1M or drive line DL21 to DL2M) is disconnected at either the first end P11 to P1M side or the second end P21 to P2M side. However, the drive signal can be input to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM by performing the first process or the second process. As a result, the touch position can be determined even when an abnormality (for example, disconnection) occurs in the power line.

As described above, as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the drive circuit 31 transmits the first drive signal and the second drive signal to each of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM. You can enter it. The first drive signal is input from the first end P11 to P1M side. The second drive signal is input from the second end P21 to P2M side. That is, the drive circuit 31 can input drive signals from both sides. In general, disconnection is likely to occur at the connection portion between the drive circuit 31 and the first electrode wire HL1 to the first electrode wire HLM. That is, it tends to occur at the end of the touch surface 21. Since the drive circuit 31 can input drive signals from both sides, the drive line (drive line DL11 to DL1M or Even when the drive line DL21 to DL2M) is disconnected, the drive signal can be input to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM. As a result, the touch position can be determined even when an abnormality (for example, disconnection) occurs in the power line.

[Second Embodiment]
The touch panel input device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the touch panel input device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel input device 100 according to the second embodiment is different from the touch panel input device 100 according to the first embodiment in that the drive circuit 31 includes a common drive circuit 316 and a connection switching circuit 317. Hereinafter, the points that the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drive circuit 31 includes a common drive circuit 316 and a connection switching circuit 317. The common drive circuit 316 corresponds to an example of the "common drive signal generation circuit".

The common drive circuit 316 generates a first drive signal and a second drive signal. In the first embodiment, the touch panel input device 100 has two drive circuits, but in the present embodiment, the touch panel input device 100 has one drive circuit.

The connection switching circuit 317 switches the connection destination of the common drive circuit 316 between the first end P11 to P1M side of the plurality of first electrode lines HL1 to the first electrode line HLM and the second end P21 to P2M side. .. Therefore, one drive circuit can input a drive signal to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the circuit scale.

Further, also in this embodiment, the drive circuit 31 can input the first drive signal and the second drive signal to each of the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the touch position can be determined even when a disconnection occurs as in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
The touch panel input device 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the touch panel input device 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel input device 100 according to the third embodiment is different from the touch panel input device 100 according to the first embodiment in that the touch position determination circuit 30 further includes an abnormal state detection unit 36 and a drive signal determination unit 37. Hereinafter, the points that the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the touch position determination circuit 30 includes a drive circuit 31, a reception circuit 32, an AD converter 33, a timing generator 34, a detection unit 35, a recording unit 38, and a touch position determination unit 39. In addition to the above, it further includes an abnormal state detection unit 36 and a drive signal determination unit 37. The abnormal state detection unit 36 corresponds to an example of the “abnormality detection unit”.

The abnormality state detection unit 36 detects an abnormality in a plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM). The abnormal state detection unit 36 detects an abnormal state of a plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM) based on the detection value acquired from the detection unit 35. The abnormal state indicates that the electrode wire cannot transmit a signal normally due to the disconnection of the electrode wire or the like. In the abnormality state detection unit 36, the abnormal occurrence positions of the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM) are on the first end P11 to P1M side and the second end P21 to P2M. Identify which side of the side is.

The drive signal determination unit 37 is a drive signal to be input to each of the plurality of first electrode lines (first electrode line HL1 to first electrode line HLM) based on the detection result of the abnormal state detection unit 36. It is determined whether to input the 1-drive signal or the 2nd drive signal. Specifically, the drive signal determination unit 37 is opposite to the side specified as the abnormality occurrence position by the abnormality state detection unit 36 of the first end portions P11 to P1M side and the second end portions P21 to P2M side. Determine the drive signal so that the drive signal is input from the side. For example, when the abnormal state detection unit 36 identifies that an abnormality (for example, disconnection) has occurred on the first end P11 to P1M side, the drive signal determination unit 37 may use the second end P21 to P2M. Determine the drive signal so that the drive signal is input from the side. On the other hand, when the abnormality state detection unit 36 identifies that an abnormality (for example, disconnection) has occurred on the second end P21 to P2M side, the drive signal determination unit 37 uses the first end P11 to P1M. Determine the drive signal so that the drive signal is input from the side.

In the present embodiment, the drive signal determination unit 37 is the side of the first end portions P11 to P1M side and the second end portions P21 to P2M side specified as the abnormality occurrence position by the abnormality state detection unit 36. Determine the drive signal so that the drive signal is input from the opposite side. Therefore, the drive signal can be input from the drive line where no abnormality has occurred. As a result, the touch position can be determined even when the disconnection occurs.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 5). However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention (for example, (1)). In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the plurality of components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. In order to make the drawings easier to understand, each component is schematically shown, and the number of each component shown may differ from the actual one due to the convenience of drawing. Further, each component shown in the above embodiment is an example, and is not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without substantially deviating from the effect of the present invention.

(1) In the first to third embodiments, the touch panel input device 100 inputs a drive signal to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM, and from the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM. Output signal of. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The touch panel input device 100 inputs a drive signal to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM, detects an output signal from the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM, and a second electrode line VL1. -The process of inputting a drive signal to the second electrode line VLM and detecting the output signal from the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM may be performed alternately. In this case, it is preferable that the drive signal can be input from both sides of the second electrode line VL1 to the second electrode line VLM in addition to the first electrode line HL1 to the first electrode line HLM.

The present invention can be used in the field of touch panel input devices.

21 Touch surface 31 Drive circuit 32 Reception circuit 36 Abnormal state detection unit (abnormality detection unit)
37 Drive signal determination unit 39 Touch position determination unit (touch detection unit)
100 Touch panel input device 311 1st drive circuit (1st drive signal generation circuit)
312 2nd drive circuit (2nd drive signal generation circuit)
316 common drive circuit (common drive signal generation circuit)
317 Connection switching circuit HL1 to HLM 1st electrode line VL1 to VLM 2nd electrode line P11 to P1M 1st end P21 to P2M 2nd end P31 to P3M 3rd end P41 to P4M 4th end

Claims (7)

Touch surface and
A plurality of first electrode wires extending from the first end of the touch surface toward the second end facing in the first direction, and
A plurality of second electrodes extending from the third end of the touch surface toward the fourth end facing in the second direction and intersecting the plurality of first electrode lines at a plurality of intersections. Electrode line and
A drive circuit that inputs a drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode wires, and a drive circuit.
A receiving circuit that detects an output signal for each of the plurality of second electrode lines,
A touch detection unit that detects a touch on the touch surface based on a change in the output signal detected by the receiving circuit due to a change in capacitance at the intersection.
Equipped with
The drive circuit has a first drive signal input from the first end side and a second drive signal input from the second end side for each of the plurality of first electrode wires. A touch panel input device that can input and. The drive circuit
A first drive signal generation circuit connected to the first end side of the plurality of first electrode wires and generating the first drive signal,
A second drive signal generation circuit connected to the second end side of the plurality of first electrode wires and generating the second drive signal, and a second drive signal generation circuit.
The touch panel input device according to claim 1. The drive circuit
A common drive signal generation circuit that generates the first drive signal and the second drive signal,
A connection switching circuit that switches the connection destination of the common drive signal generation circuit between the first end side and the second end side of the plurality of first electrode wires.
The touch panel input device according to claim 1. The first process in which the drive circuit inputs the first drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode wires, and the second drive signal in which the drive circuit inputs the first drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode wires. The touch electrode input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second process of inputting the above is alternately performed. The first process in which the drive circuit inputs the first drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode lines, and the second drive signal in which the drive circuit inputs the first drive signal to each of the plurality of first electrode lines. The touch panel input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second process of inputting is performed at the same time. An abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in the plurality of first electrode wires, and
Based on the detection result of the abnormality detection unit, it is determined whether to input the first drive signal or the second drive signal as the drive signal to be input to each of the plurality of first electrode lines. Drive signal determination unit and
The touch panel input device according to claim 1, further comprising. The abnormality detecting unit identifies which side of the first end side and the second end side the abnormality occurrence position of the plurality of first electrode wires is.
The drive signal is input to the drive signal determination unit from the side of the first end side and the second end side opposite to the side specified as the abnormality occurrence position by the abnormality detection unit. The touch panel input device according to claim 6, wherein the drive signal is determined.

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