JP3331386B2 - Capacitive sensor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a capacitance type sensor used as a moving operation section of a cursor displayed on a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a sensor which can be used as a moving operation section of a cursor displayed on a display, a sensor as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has been developed in-house, and an application (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-102464) has been filed. )are doing. This sensor has been developed for the purpose of reducing the bulk and increasing the displacement of the input shaft portion. As shown in the figure, the input shaft portion 10 is disposed on the upper surface side and the electrode portion C is disposed on the lower surface side. The substrate 1 disposed and the electrode portions Cx +, disposed opposite to and parallel to the substrate 1 and disposed at an angle of 90 ° on the upper surface side.
When the substrate 1 having Cx−, Cy +, Cy− and the substrate 1 are translated from the origin position where the opposing areas of the electrode portion C and the electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, Cy− are the same, Accordingly, the electrode section C and each electrode section Cx +, C
The configuration is such that each capacitance between x−, Cy +, and Cy− changes. Further, in this sensor, each capacitance between the electrode portion C and each of the electrode portions Cx +, Cx-, Cy +, Cy- is represented by voltages Vx +, Vx-, Vy, respectively.
+, Vy-.

Therefore, when the substrate 1 is pressed and moved via the input shaft 10, the input shaft 10 in the pressed direction is moved.
The amount of movement (corresponding to the pressing force) can be taken out as a voltage output. When this sensor is used as a moving operation unit of a cursor displayed on a display, it is sufficient to incorporate the sensor so that only the upper end of the input shaft 10 protrudes from the upper wall of the keyboard KB as shown in FIG. The magnitude of the moving speed of the cursor may be determined by the magnitude of the voltage output due to the change in the facing area between C and each of the electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, Cy−.

However, when this sensor is used as a cursor operation unit as described above, the cursor cannot be stopped unless the substrate 1 is completely moved to the origin position with respect to the substrate 2, and the operability is reduced. There is a problem that it is not very good.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a capacitance sensor excellent in operability which can easily stop a cursor displayed on a display.

[0006]

A capacitance type sensor according to the present invention is disposed in parallel and opposed to each other. One of the substrates is movable in parallel with respect to the other. And electrode portions Cx +, Cx-, Cy +, C disposed at 90 ° angular intervals on the opposing surface of the substrate 2.
y-, and an input section J provided on one of the substrates 1 and 2, and the electrode section C and the electrode sections Cx +, Cx
When one of the substrates 1 and 2 is moved in parallel with respect to the other from the origin position in which the areas opposed to −, Cy + and Cy− are the same, the electrode portion C and In the capacitance type sensor in which each capacitance between the electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, Cy− changes, one of the substrates 1 and 2 is slightly shifted from the origin position with respect to the other. The outer periphery of the electrode part C is the electrode part Cx
+, Cx-, Cy +, and Cy- are entirely surrounded in plan view. The capacitive sensor according to the present invention includes a substrate 1 made of a conductive material, a substrate 2 disposed in parallel with and facing the substrate 1, and a 90 ° angle between the substrate 2 and the facing surface of the substrate 2. Electrodes Cx +, Cx arranged at intervals
-, Cy +, Cy-, and an input section J provided on one of the substrates 1 and 2, and the substrate 1 and each electrode section C
When one of the substrates 1 and 2 is moved in parallel with respect to the other from the origin position where the opposing areas to x +, Cx−, Cy + and Cy− are the same, the substrate corresponds to the size of the opposing area. 1 and each of the electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, Cy−, in a capacitance type sensor in which each of the capacitances changes, one of the substrates 1 and 2 is positioned relative to the other from the origin position. Even if there is a slight shift, the outer contour of the substrate 1 surrounds the entire electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, Cy− in plan view.

[0007]

The present invention operates as follows. In this sensor, even if one of the substrates 1 and 2 is not completely at the origin position with respect to the other, that is, even if it slightly deviates from the origin position, the electrode portion C (substrate 1) and the electrode portions Cx + and Cx− , C
Since the opposing areas of y + and Cy− are the same, the respective capacitances between the electrode portion C and the respective electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy + and Cy− are the same. Therefore, when this sensor is used as a moving operation unit of a cursor displayed on the display, the cursor can be stopped even when one of the substrates 1 and 2 is not completely at the origin position with respect to the other.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings shown as embodiments. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a capacitance type sensor of the present invention is mounted on a keyboard KB and an input shaft 10 serving as an operation unit is connected to the keyboard K.
B is projected from a circular opening h provided on the upper wall of B, so that the cursor displayed on the display can be moved by operating the input shaft unit 10. In this embodiment, the size of the opening h is set so that the moving range of the input shaft 10 is about ± 10 mm in the XY directions.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the capacitance-type sensor comprises a substrate 1 having an input shaft 10, a substrate 2 disposed in parallel with the substrate 1, and Electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, Cy− provided at 90 ° intervals about the center of the opposing surface of the substrate 2, And an electronic device 3 disposed on the lower surface.

The substrate 1 is made of a circular synthetic resin plate as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The input shaft 10 provided at the center of the upper surface of the substrate 1 is mounted on the keyboard KB. 0-10mm from upper wall of keyboard KB
It is set to protrude to the extent. In the center of the lower surface of the substrate 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an electrode portion C formed by printing copper (or a conductive material) in a circular shape (or by etching or plating) is provided. However, the outer periphery of the electrode portion C is formed by electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, and Cy− described later.
It is set larger than the whole.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the substrate 2 is formed of a circular synthetic resin plate having a diameter larger than that of the substrate 1 and has a concave portion 20 having a circular shape in a plan view at the center of the upper surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, on the bottom surface of the concave portion 20, an electrode portion Cx + formed by dividing a circle into four at a position opposed to the electrode portion C and subjected to copper printing (copper etching or copper plating may be used). , Cx−, Cy +, Cy−.

As shown in FIG. 1, the substrates 1 and 2 are provided in such a manner that the substrate 1 is placed on the substrate 2 and the substrate 1 returns to the origin position (external force does not act on the input shaft 10). Sometimes, the center of the substrate 1 is returned to a position corresponding to the center of the substrate 2 by a spring or the like), and the substrate 1 is slightly shifted from the origin position or the origin position as shown by a solid line or a two-dot chain line in FIG. The outer periphery of the electrode portion C surrounds the entire electrode portions Cx +, Cx-, Cy +, and Cy- even when in the position.

The electronic device 3 includes an electrode portion C and each electrode portion Cx.
+, Cx−, Cy +, Cy−, and the respective opposing areas (the shaded areas in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5) and the corresponding capacitances can be converted into voltages Vx +, Vx−, Vy +, Vy−, respectively. There are things. In this embodiment, the translation amount of the input shaft 10 in the XX direction is [(Vx +)-(Vx
−)], The translation amount of the input shaft unit 10 in the YY direction is converted to [(Vy +) − (Vy−)], and the cursor movement speed is determined by the voltage value ( The amount of movement is not necessarily proportional to the voltage.) That is,
Since the capacitance type sensor is configured as described above, the input shaft 10 is operated with a finger to translate the substrate 1 to the right in the X-X direction with respect to the substrate 2 (the electrode C at this time). FIG. 4 shows the positional relationship between the electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, and Cy−), and the output voltage is (Vx +).
− (Vx −)> 0, and the cursor is [(Vx +) −
(Vx-)] at a speed corresponding to the absolute value of (Vx-)]. Conversely, when the object is translated to the left in the XX direction, the output voltage is (Vx +)-(Vx-) <0.
And the cursor moves to the left at a speed corresponding to the absolute value of [(Vx +)-(Vx-)]. As shown in FIG. 5, the same applies to the case where the substrate 1 is moved in parallel with the substrate 2 in the YY direction by operating the input shaft unit 10 with a finger, as in the case of the XX direction.

Since the capacitance type sensor of this embodiment is configured as described above, it has the following advantages. In other words, in this sensor, the input shaft unit 10 translates up to ± 10 mm at a maximum due to the operating force applied thereto, so that the amount of movement is considerably larger than that of a sensor of the type in which the input shaft unit is tilted. Part 10
The operation feeling of is large, and fine adjustment of the moving direction and moving speed of the cursor displayed on the display is easy.

Further, as described in the operation section, the substrate 1
Is not completely at the origin position with respect to the substrate 2, that is, even if it is a position slightly deviated from the origin position as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the electrode section C and each of the electrode sections Cx +, Cx-, Cy
The cursors are stopped even if the substrate 1 is slightly deviated from the origin position with respect to the substrate 2 since the areas facing + and Cy- are the same.

As shown in FIG. 6, the electrode portions Cx +, Cx-, Cy are used as the electrode portions on the substrate 2 side in this embodiment.
The electrode portions Cx + ', Cx-', Cy around +, Cy-
+ ′ And Cy− ′, and the electrode portion Cx + and the electrode portion Cx are provided.
+ ′, Electrode part Cx− and electrode part Cx− ′, electrode part Cy + and electrode part Cy + ′, electrode part Cy− and electrode part C
and y- 'may be employed. (Embodiment 2) This embodiment has basically the same configuration as that of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, but has a more practical structure than the sensor of the above-mentioned embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the capacitance type sensor will be described with reference to FIG.

In this capacitance type sensor, as shown in FIG. 1, a holding plate 6 having an opening h 'is screwed to the substrate 2 to form a receiving portion K, and the substrate 1 is placed in the receiving portion K. The input shaft 10 is configured to be housed and the tip of the input shaft 10 to protrude from the opening h. Then, the Teflon coating TC is applied to each of the electrode portion C of the substrate 1 and the electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, Cy− of the substrate 2 so as to slidably contact both Teflon coating TC surfaces. Therefore, the parallel movement of the input shaft unit 10 by the finger becomes smooth.

In the above-described embodiment, the input section J described in the section of the means has a shaft shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the input section J may be a concave section. in short,
The input unit J only needs to be able to transmit the operating force and other external forces to the substrate 1. Further, if the substrate 1 is made of a conductive material and the substrate 1 itself functions as an electrode portion, there is no need to provide the electrode portion C. In this case, the size of the substrate 1 is slightly shifted from the origin position. Electrode portions Cx +, Cx
What is necessary is just to set so that the whole-, Cy +, Cy- can be surrounded in plan view.

Further, in place of the above embodiment, the electrode portions Cx +, Cx-, Cy +, Cy- may be provided on the substrate 1 side, and the electrode portion C may be provided on the substrate 2 side. The electrode portions Cx +, Cx−, Cy +, Cy− may be provided on the side, and the substrate 2 may be made of a conductive material. In the above embodiment, the input portion J described in the section of the means is a shaft body, but the input portion J is not limited to this, and may be a concave portion or a flat portion (in the case of a flat portion, the entire upper surface of the substrate 1 becomes the input portion). . In short, the input unit J is connected to the substrate 2
What is necessary is just to be the structure which can translate the board | substrate 1 with respect to this.

[0020]

According to the description in the column of operation, a capacitive sensor having excellent operability, which can easily stop the cursor displayed on the display, can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view when an electrostatic capacity sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a keyboard as an operation unit for moving a cursor displayed on a display.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the capacitance type sensor.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state of an electrode portion of the upper substrate and an electrode portion of the lower substrate when the upper substrate of the capacitive sensor is at an origin position or a position slightly shifted from the origin position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the electrode section of the upper substrate has moved in the XX direction from the state of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state where the electrode section of the upper substrate has moved in the YY direction from the state of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another capacitance type sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a capacitive sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art capacitive sensor.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing electrode portions of an upper substrate and a lower substrate of a prior art capacitive sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 J Input part C electrode part Cx + electrode part Cx- electrode part Cy + electrode part Cy- electrode part 1 substrate 2 substrate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/02-3/027 G06F 3/033 G01D 5/24-5/241 G01L 1 / 14,9 / 12 G01B 7/00-7/34 G01P 15/125 H01H 13/00-13/76 H01H 36/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Substrates (1) and (2) which are disposed in parallel and which are movable in parallel with respect to the other, and an electrode part (C) which is provided on the opposing surface of the substrate (1) One of the electrodes (Cx +), (Cx-), (Cy +), and (Cy-) disposed at 90 ° intervals on the opposing surface of the substrate (2); and the substrate (1) or (2). And an electrode section (C) and each electrode section (Cx +).
When one of the substrates (1) and (2) is moved in parallel with respect to the other from the origin position where the opposing area with (Cx −) (Cy +) (Cy−) is the same, the size of the opposing area (C) and each electrode part (Cx +) (Cx-) corresponding to
In the capacitance type sensor in which each capacitance between (Cy +) and (Cy−) is changed, the substrate (1)
Even if one of (2) is slightly deviated from the origin position with respect to the other, the outer periphery of the electrode portion (C) is not
A capacitance-type sensor which surrounds the entirety of x-) (Cy +) (Cy-) in plan view. 2. A substrate (1) made of a material having conductivity, a substrate (2) disposed in parallel with the substrate (1), and 90 ° on a facing surface of the substrate (2). Electrodes (Cx +) (Cx-) (Cy +) (C
y-) and an input portion (J) provided on one of the substrates (1) and (2), and the substrate (1) and each electrode portion (Cx +) (Cx-) (Cy +) ( When one of the substrates (1) and (2) is moved in parallel with respect to the other from the origin position where the area of opposition to Cy-) is the same, the substrate (1) corresponds to the size of the area of opposition. And each electrode part (Cx +)
In the capacitance type sensor in which each capacitance between (Cx−), (Cy +) and (Cy−) is changed,
Even if one of the substrates (1) and (2) is slightly deviated from the origin position with respect to the other, the outer contour of the substrate (1) is not
+) (Cx −) (Cy +) (Cy−) is a capacitive sensor which surrounds the whole in plan view.