JP2023087292A - Operation panel and touch input device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an operation panel and a touch input device capable of simplifying the structure for attaching a touch sensor to a panel portion.SOLUTION: An operation panel 7 includes a panel portion 9 whose surface is an operation surface 4 for a touch operation, and a sheet-like touch sensor 10 that detects the touch operation on the panel portion 9 on the basis of a change in capacitance. The operation panel 7 includes a fixing portion 25 for fixing the touch sensor 10 to the panel portion 9. The fixing portion 25 is formed by deforming a part of the panel portion 9, and fixes the touch sensor 10 to the back surface of the panel portion 9 by engagement of projections 26.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

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

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a touch-operated operation device having a touch sensor sheet attached to the inner surface of an operation panel is well known (see Patent Document 1, for example). A panel sheet on which switch functions and designs are printed is attached to the outer surface or inner surface of the operation panel. The switch functions and designs are illuminated by the light of the light source (backlight). For this reason, the touch sensor sheet is transparent or translucent so as to transmit light emitted from the light source through the light diffusion plate.

JP 2010-179735 A

The touch sensor sheet is attached to the inner surface of the operation panel by, for example, tape. However, when air bubbles are mixed in the tape bonded surface, the touch detection sensitivity is deteriorated. Therefore, in order to prevent the generation of air bubbles, there is a problem that a complicated work process such as bonding under vacuum is required. Furthermore, since the tape needs to transmit the light from the light source, there is also the problem of having to use an expensive optical double-sided tape with high transmittance and strong adhesion.

An operation panel for solving the above-mentioned problems is provided with a panel portion whose surface is an operation surface for touch operation, and a sheet-like touch sensor that detects a touch operation on the panel portion by a change in capacitance. A fixing portion is formed by deforming a part of the panel portion and fixes the touch sensor to the back surface of the panel portion by engagement of projections.

A touch input device that solves the above problems includes a panel unit whose surface is an operation surface for touch operation, a sheet-like touch sensor that detects a touch operation on the panel unit by a change in capacitance, and detection of the touch sensor. and a control unit that executes operation determination of a touch operation based on a signal, formed by deforming a part of the panel portion, and the touch sensor is moved to the panel portion by engagement of a protrusion. It has a fixing part that is fixed to the back surface of the

According to the present invention, the structure for attaching the touch sensor to the panel section can be simplified.

1 is a perspective view of a driver's seat provided with a touch input device of one embodiment; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device; FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a specific example of setting the touch sensor on the panel section; It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of press working in a cross section. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of press working in a cross section. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of press working in a cross section.

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
[Overview of Arrangement of Touch Input Device 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, a center console 3 of a vehicle 2 is provided with a touch input device 1 used for operating onboard equipment. The touch input device 1 is of an electrostatic sensor type that detects touch operations based on changes in capacitance. The in-vehicle equipment includes, for example, an air conditioner that air-conditions the interior of the vehicle, a car audio system that outputs sound to the interior of the vehicle, and a car navigation system that guides users to their destination. A touch operation includes, for example, touching or approaching the operation surface 4 .

[Overview of Configuration of Touch Input Device 1]
As shown in FIG. 2 , the touch input device 1 includes an operation panel 7 that accepts user's touch operations, and a control unit 8 that controls the operation of the touch input device 1 . The operation panel 7 includes a panel portion 9 whose surface is an operation surface 4 for touch operation, and a sheet-like touch sensor 10 that detects a touch operation on the panel portion 9 based on changes in capacitance.

Control unit 8 preferably includes an electrostatic detection module (not shown) mounted on substrate 11 . The detection module is preferably an IC (Integrated Circuit), for example. The detection module executes operation determination of the touch operation based on the output of the touch sensor 10 (sensor main body 12). Then, the detection module outputs the determination result of the touch operation to an external ECU.

[Configuration of Panel Unit 9]
The panel section 9 includes a panel base material 15 forming a main body portion of the panel section 9 and a coating layer 17 forming a display object 16 indicating the operation function of touch operation on the operation surface 4 . The panel base material 15 is preferably made of resin. The panel base material 15 is preferably transparent or translucent so that the light from the light source 18 provided on the substrate 11 of the control unit 8 can pass therethrough.

The coating layer 17 is arranged on the surface of the panel base material 15 . The display object 16 is preferably a mark of a switch function, for example. The paint layer 17 has a first paint layer 17 a that forms the color of the display object 16 and a second paint layer 17 b that shapes the display object 16 . The first coating layer 17a is preferably transparent or translucent so that the light emitted from the light source 18 can pass therethrough. The second coating layer 17b is made of, for example, a light-impermeable material, and has a notch 19 shaped like the display object 16 . In the case of this example, the display object 16 is composed of a part of the first coating layer 17a arranged in the notch 19 of the second coating layer 17b. The second coating layer 17b is preferably colored (for example, black or gray), for example.

As shown in FIG. 3, the panel base material 15 is formed in a box shape with one side open. As described above, the panel base material 15 of this example has a flat top wall 22 and a plurality of side walls 23 erected from four sides of the quadrangular top wall 22 . A coating layer 17 is arranged on the upper surface of the upper wall 22 of the panel base material 15 .

[Configuration of fixed portion 25]
As shown in FIG. 2 , the operation panel 7 has a fixing portion 25 that fixes the touch sensor 10 to the back surface of the panel portion 9 . The fixing portion 25 is formed by deforming a part of the panel portion 9 , and fixes the touch sensor 10 to the rear surface of the panel portion 9 by engaging the protrusions 26 . In this example, the fixing portion 25 has a shaft portion 28 that is inserted through a hole 27 provided in the touch sensor 10 , and a protrusion 26 provided at the tip of the shaft portion 28 is engaged with the touch sensor 10 . , the touch sensor 10 is fixed to the panel section 9 . A plurality of (in this example, four) fixing portions 25 are provided.

The touch sensor 10 has a sensor body 12 that detects a touch operation and wiring 30 that outputs the capacitance detected by the sensor body 12 . The touch sensor 10 has, for example, a transparent or translucent sensor body 12 . Thus, the sensor body 12 is optically transmissive so that the display object 16 can be illuminated by light from behind. The fixing portion 25 fixes the sensor main body 12 to the panel portion 9 . The wiring 30 is, for example, an FFC (flexible flat cable). The wiring 30 is connected to a connector 31 provided on the substrate 11 .

As shown in FIG. 3, a total of four fixing portions 25 are provided so as to be arranged at four corners of the square sensor body 12 . Also, the holes 27 of the sensor body 12 are arranged at the four corners of the sensor body 12 . Thus, the sensor main body 12 is fixed to the panel section 9 by the fixing sections 25 at four corners.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the protrusion 26 is formed by deforming the tip of the shaft portion 28 by a pressing method. The tip of the shaft portion 28 is processed by a press device 33 arranged on the production line for the operation panel 7 . The pressing device 33 is preferably a device that deforms the shape of the tip of the shaft portion 28 by, for example, hot pressing.

[Action]
Next, the operation of the operation panel 7 (touch input device 1) of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3 , temporary attachment of the touch sensor 10 to the panel section 9 is performed. Specifically, the touch sensor 10 is set on the panel portion 9 by inserting the projecting shaft portion 28 provided on the back surface of the panel portion 9 into the hole 27 of the sensor main body 12 . Note that the shaft portion 28 before processing has a boss shape. Temporary attachment of the touch sensor 10 may be either automatic using a device or manual by an operator.

As shown in FIG. 4 , after the touch sensor 10 is set on the shaft portion 28 , the tip of the shaft portion 28 is processed by the pressing device 33 . Specifically, when the press device 33 is a hot press device, the press device 33 is pressed against the tip of the shaft portion 28, and the tip of the shaft portion 28 is softened and deformed by the heat press of the press device 33, and pressure is applied. do.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the tip of the shaft portion 28 is hot-pressed by the pressing device 33, the tip of the shaft portion 28 is deformed and crushed. As a result, the crushed portion becomes the protrusion 26 and the touch sensor 10 is fixed to the operation panel 7 . When the protrusions 26 are formed by hot pressing, the protrusions 26 are formed such that the upper surfaces of the protrusions 26 are evenly spread flat. Moreover, the protrusion 26 has a substantially disk shape with a diameter larger than that of the shaft portion 28 .

As shown in FIG. 6, the pressing device 33 is separated from the shaft portion 28 after the shaft portion 28 is crushed by the hot press. Through the above steps, the operation panel 7 having the touch sensor 10 attached to the panel portion 9 is manufactured.

In the case of this example, the touch sensor 10 is fixed to the panel portion 9 by fitting the sheet-like touch sensor 10 into the boss-shaped shaft portion 28 and crushing the tip of the shaft portion 28 by pressing (hot pressing). In this way, it is possible to attach the touch sensor 10 to the panel section 9 with a structure that does not use a tape material (for example, optical double-sided tape). Therefore, the work of vacuuming which is necessary when fixing with a tape material becomes unnecessary, so that the manufacturing can be simplified accordingly. In addition, it is possible to reduce the cost by improving the manufacturing cycle time.

[effect]
According to the operation panel 7 (touch input device 1) of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The operation panel 7 includes a panel portion 9 whose surface is the operation surface 4 for touch operations, and a sheet-like touch sensor 10 that detects touch operations on the panel portion 9 based on changes in capacitance. . The operation panel 7 has a fixing portion 25 that fixes the touch sensor 10 to the panel portion 9 . The fixing portion 25 is formed by deforming a part of the panel portion 9 , and fixes the touch sensor 10 to the rear surface of the panel portion 9 by engaging the protrusions 26 .

According to the configuration of this example, it is possible to attach and fix the touch sensor 10 to the panel section 9 without using a tape (for example, an optical double-sided tape). By the way, in the case of a fixing method using a tape, if air bubbles or the like are present on the bonding surface of the tape, the touch sensitivity is lowered, so a complicated work process of bonding under vacuum is required. On the other hand, in the case of this example, the touch sensor 10 can be attached and fixed to the panel section 9 by a simple method of engaging the projection 26 of the panel section 9 with the touch sensor 10 . Therefore, the structure for attaching the touch sensor 10 to the panel section 9 can be simplified.

(2) The fixed part 25 has a shaft part 28 that is inserted through a hole 27 provided in the touch sensor 10. By engaging the projection 26 provided at the tip of the shaft part 28 with the touch sensor 10, The touch sensor 10 is fixed to the panel section 9 . According to this configuration, since the shaft portion 28 of the panel portion 9 is passed through the hole 27 of the touch sensor 10 and the projection 26 at the tip of the shaft portion 28 is engaged with the touch sensor 10, the touch sensor 10 is firmly attached to the panel portion 9. can be fixed.

(3) The projection 26 is formed by deforming the tip of the shaft portion 28 by a pressing method. According to this configuration, the protrusion 26 can be provided at the tip of the shaft portion 28 by a simple method of deforming the tip of the shaft portion 28 by pressing.

(4) A plurality of fixing portions 25 are provided. According to this configuration, the touch sensor 10 can be firmly fixed to the panel portion 9 by the plurality of fixing portions 25 .
(5) The touch sensor 10 has a sensor body 12 that detects touch operations, and wiring 30 that outputs the capacitance detected by the sensor body 12 . The fixing portion 25 fixes the sensor main body 12 to the panel portion 9 . According to this configuration, the sensor main body 12 can be fixed to the panel section 9 and the wiring 30 extending from the sensor main body 12 can be electrically connected to a location different from the panel section 9 .

(6) The panel section 9 has a display object 16 that indicates the operation function of touch operation on the operation surface 4 . The sensor body 12 is light transmissive so that the display object 16 can be illuminated by light emitted from the light source 18 . According to this configuration, the operation function of the touch operation can be immediately grasped by the display object 16, and the touch operation can be hardly mistaken. In addition, since the display object 16 can be illuminated, the display object 16 can be easily seen at night. The above contributes to an improvement in operability.

[Modification]
In addition, this embodiment can be changed and implemented as follows. This embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.

- Attachment of the touch sensor 10 is not limited to being implemented with respect to the panel base material 15 after the coating layer 17 was provided. For example, the touch sensor 10 may be attached to the panel base material 15 before the coating layer 17 is provided.

- The method of processing the fixing portion 25 is not limited to hot pressing, and other methods such as vibration pressing may be used.
- The fixing portion 25 is not limited to a structure in which the shaft portion 28 is passed through the hole 27 of the touch sensor 10 and engaged with the projection 26 . The fixed part 25 may have a structure in which the edge of the sensor main body 12 is hooked from the outside with a nail and fixed to the panel base material 15, for example.

- The shape of the protrusion 26 is not limited to a substantially disk-like shape having a diameter larger than that of the shaft portion 28 . For example, the shape of the protrusion 26 may be square when viewed from the axial direction of the shaft portion 28, or may be bilaterally asymmetrical when viewed from the side.

- The number of fixing portions 25 is not limited to four. For example, if it is fixed at three points, it is possible to maintain a certain degree of fixing strength, so the number of fixing portions 25 may be three. Of course, the number of fixing portions 25 may be five or more.

- The shape of the sensor main body 12 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be changed to another shape such as a perfect circle or an ellipse.
- A plurality of touch sensors 10 may be attached to the panel substrate 15 . That is, when the touch input device 1 has a plurality of switch functions, a plurality of touch sensors 10 may be provided accordingly.

- The touch input device 1 is not limited to being arranged on the center console 3, and may be arranged on other locations such as the spokes of the steering wheel, the center cluster, and the inner wall of the door.

- The coating layer 17 is not limited to two layers, and may be only one layer.
- The panel part 9 is not limited to the structure having the panel base material 15 and the coating layer 17 , and may have a structure having only the panel base material 15 .

- The touch input device 1 may be either a touch panel or a touch pad.
- The touch input device 1 may have a configuration in which the display object 16 is omitted.
- The light source 18 may be omitted from the touch input device 1 . That is, the touch input device 1 does not have to have the light-up function. In this case, the sensor main body 12 does not need to be a transparent or translucent member.

- The touch input device 1 may be used not only for in-vehicle use but also for other devices and systems.
- Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to examples, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to such examples or structures. The present disclosure also includes various modifications and modifications within the equivalent range. In addition, various combinations and configurations, as well as other combinations and configurations, including single elements, more, or less, are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Touch input device 4... Operation surface 7... Operation panel 8... Control unit 9... Panel part 10... Touch sensor 12... Sensor main body 16... Display object 18... Light source 25... Fixed part , 26... Protrusion, 27... Hole, 28... Shaft, 30... Wiring.

Claims (7)

An operation panel comprising a panel portion having a surface as an operation surface for touch operation, and a sheet-like touch sensor that detects a touch operation on the panel portion by a change in capacitance,
An operation panel comprising a fixing portion formed by deforming a part of the panel portion and fixing the touch sensor to the rear surface of the panel portion by engagement of projections. The fixing portion has a shaft portion that is inserted through a hole provided in the touch sensor, and by engaging the protrusion provided at the tip of the shaft portion with the touch sensor, the touch sensor is held in the above-mentioned position. The operation panel according to claim 1, which is fixed to the panel section. 3. The operation panel according to claim 2, wherein the projection is formed by deforming the tip of the shaft portion by a press method. The operation panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of fixing portions are provided. The touch sensor has a sensor body that detects a touch operation and wiring that outputs the capacitance detected by the sensor body,
The operation panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fixing portion fixes the sensor main body to the panel portion. The panel unit has a display object that indicates an operation function of a touch operation on the operation surface,
6. The operation panel according to claim 5, wherein said sensor main body has a light transmissive property so that said display object can be illuminated by light emitted from a light source. A panel portion having a surface as an operation surface for touch operation, a sheet-like touch sensor that detects a touch operation on the panel portion by a change in capacitance, and a touch operation determination is performed based on the output of the touch sensor. A touch input device comprising a control unit,
A touch input device comprising: a fixing portion formed by deforming a part of the panel portion and fixing the touch sensor to the back surface of the panel portion by engagement of projections.

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