JP4049703B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a position input mode for detecting a position where an operating body such as a finger or an input pen approaches or touches an input location indicated by the display unit, and a key input mode for detecting that the display unit is individually pressed. It is related with the input device which enabled it to be performed on the same operation surface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An input device such as a mobile phone is provided with a push button type input means, and can perform various operations such as input of a telephone number and start and end of a call.
[0003]
Recently, the Internet connection environment using mobile phones has been increasing, and various services have been provided by mobile phones. As a result, various menus are displayed on the display of the mobile phone, and menu selection operations are frequently performed.
[0004]
When selecting a menu with a conventional input device, a push type or stick type input means indicating a direction is provided in addition to the push button type input means provided on the mobile phone, and the menu can be selected. The position is moved.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-123363 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional input device described above has a problem in that the operability is impaired because the push button type input operation and the menu selection input operation are performed by different input means. Further, in the conventional input device, the direction in which the menu is moved is limited to the up and down direction and the left and right direction, so that it is difficult to perform quick menu selection. The present invention solves the above-described problem, and has the same operation surface as a key input mode for pressing a predetermined input location and a position input mode for performing a cursor movement operation such as menu selection without impairing operability. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device that can be performed as described above.
[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to provide an input device that allows a user to reliably experience a click feeling that allows an operator to recognize that a switch operation has been performed.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a display sheet having at least one display unit, a contact electrode provided to face the display unit, and a space part that covers the periphery of the contact electrode and is pressed by the display sheet. A capacitance formed between the reversing member that is brought into contact with the contact electrode and the reversing member when the operating body approaches or comes into contact with the display sheet, And a position detecting means for detecting the position of the head.
[0009]
In the input device of the present invention, when an operating body such as a finger or an input pen is brought into contact with or brought close to any of the reversing members provided on the lower surface of the display sheet, the capacitance of the reversing member changes. The position input mode is possible. Further, when the display unit provided on the surface of the display sheet is pressed, the reversing member comes into contact with the electrode, so that key input is possible. As described above, since the position information and the key input operation can be input on the same operation surface, it is possible to provide an input device with excellent operability.
[0010]
For example, the reversing member can be composed of a dome-shaped metal contact switch.
[0011]
In the above means, since the reversing member has an appropriate pressing reaction force, a crisp click feeling can be given to the operator at every operation. Therefore, it is possible to make the operator recognize that the key input has been performed reliably.
[0012]
In addition, the position detection unit includes a clock signal generation unit that generates a clock signal, and a change in capacity between the reversing member and the operation body when the operation body approaches or contacts the surface of the display sheet. delay means for providing a rise of the delayed clock signal, based on the clock signal does not pass through said delay means, a delay signal generating means for generating a signal corresponding to the delay amount of the delay is given, depending on the amount of delay A / D conversion means for A / D converting the received signal; and selection means for selecting a signal corresponding to the delay amount output for each of the inverting members at a predetermined timing and outputting the signal to the A / D conversion means; , Has.
[0013]
Since the above means can detect the change in the capacitance of each reversing member, it can detect the position information of the operating body placed at an arbitrary position on the display sheet.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 is a perspective view showing an input device as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, A is a position input mode before operation, and B is a key during operation. Indicates the input mode. 3 is a block diagram showing the outline of the configuration of the input device, FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram showing the outline of the position detecting means, FIG. 5 shows signals in each part of the circuit diagram of FIG. 4, and A is a clock signal A clock signal which is an output of the generating means, B is an output signal of the signal delay means, C is an output signal (logical product) of the AND circuit, and D is an output signal of the smoothing means.
[0015]
An input device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an image of a mobile phone, and a display panel 4 as a display unit and an input unit are mounted on a case 3. The display panel 4 is a monochrome or color liquid crystal panel or EL panel.
[0016]
The input means is provided with a display sheet 5 on the uppermost layer and an insulating counter substrate 6 below the display sheet 5. The display sheet 5 is a thin sheet made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like, and can be bent and deformed in a direction perpendicular to the surface. On the display sheet 5, a plurality of display portions 5a on which characters, figures, symbols, or the like are printed or transferred are formed.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of support electrodes 7 formed in a ring shape are provided on the surface of the counter substrate 6. Each support electrode 7 is formed at a position facing the display portion 5 a of the display sheet 5, and a contact electrode 9 is provided at the center thereof. The support electrode 7 and the contact electrode 9 are electrically insulated.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of wiring patterns 7 a are formed on the counter substrate 6, and are wired to the respective support electrodes 7. In FIG. 1, the wiring pattern 7 a is formed only on a part of the support electrodes 7 for convenience of drawing, but is originally formed on all the support electrodes 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the contact electrode 9 is led out to the lower surface (Z2 direction in the drawing) of the counter substrate 6 through a through hole formed in the counter substrate 6. Then, it is drawn out of the counter substrate 6 by a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the counter substrate 6.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality (12 in FIG. 1) of dome-shaped (or also called diaphragm-shaped) metal reversing members 10 (individually 10a, 10b, ... indicated by 10 l). The base of the reversing member 10 is fixed to the surface of the support electrode 7 by means such as soldering. The contact electrode 9 is provided at a central portion inside the reversing member 10, and its periphery is covered with the reversing member 10. The reversing member 10 has conductivity and is electrically connected to the support electrode 7. However, as shown in FIG. 2A, a space 8 is provided between the lower surface of the dome-shaped reversing member 10 and the contact electrode 9, and the contact electrode 9 and the reversing member 10 are insulated from each other. It is in.
[0020]
The reversing member 10 is, for example, a metal contact switch formed by punching a thin metal plate (for example, a stainless steel plate) with a precision processing press, and can perform a crisp click operation.
[0021]
In the above description, the display portions 5a, the reversing members 10, and the contact electrodes 9 are all provided so as to face each other. The contact electrode 9 and the reversing member 10 have a function as the switch input means 11.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, the input device 1 is provided with a control unit 21. The control unit 21 is connected to the display panel 4, the position detection unit 30, and the switch input unit 11, and is further connected to a transmission unit 22, a reception unit 23, a storage unit 24, and the like.
[0023]
The transmission unit 22 and the reception unit 23 transmit and receive audio signals and data signals to and from an external base station. The storage unit 24 stores telephone number data, various setting data, display data to be displayed on the display panel 4, and the like.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 4, the position detection means 30 includes a clock signal generation means (oscillation circuit) 31, a signal delay means 32, a delay signal generation means 33, an A / D conversion means 34, and the like. The signal delay means 32, the delay signal generation means 33, and the A / D conversion means 34 are provided in a number corresponding to the reversing member 10.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 5A, the clock signal generation means 31 continuously outputs a regular pulsed clock signal CK having a predetermined frequency and voltage. The signal delay unit 32 includes a resistor R connected between each reversing member 10 and the clock signal generation unit 31.
[0026]
In a state where the clock signal CK is applied to the reversing member 10, when an operating body 50 such as an operator's finger or an input pen approaches or contacts the surface of the display sheet 5 of the input device 1 as shown in FIG. 2A. Since the operating body 50 becomes a ground potential, a capacitance C is formed between the operating body 50 and any of the reversing members 10 facing the operating body 50.
[0027]
The delay signal generating means 33 is formed by an AND circuit 33A and a smoothing means 33B comprising a resistor r and a capacitor C1 provided at the subsequent stage. A clock signal CK (clock signal that does not pass through the signal delay means 32) that is the output of the clock signal generation means 31 is input to one input section 33b of each AND circuit 33A, and the signal is input to the other input section 33a. The output via the delay means 32 is input, and the output of the AND circuit 33A is input to the resistor r of the smoothing means 33B.
[0028]
The output of the smoothing means 33B is connected to the input part of the A / D conversion means 34 provided in the subsequent stage.
[0029]
The A / D conversion means 34 has, for example, an 8-bit conversion capability, converts the output voltage Vo of the smoothing means 33B into an 8-bit digital signal at a predetermined sampling period, and converts this into the input device 1. The information is sent to the control unit 21 provided.
[0030]
The control unit 21 is mainly composed of a CPU, and adjusts the conversion timing in the A / D conversion means 34. Further, the control unit 21 calculates position information of the operating body 50 that has approached or contacted the display sheet 5 from the digital signal D, and controls the position of the cursor on the display panel 4 based on the data. Also do.
[0031]
Hereinafter, the operation of the input device will be described.
(Operation in position input mode)
First, the control unit 21 drives the clock signal generation unit 31 and supplies the clock signal CK shown in FIG. 5A to each signal delay unit 32 and one input unit 33b of the AND circuit 33A.
[0032]
Next, when the operating body 50 approaches or contacts the surface of the display sheet 5, a capacitance C is formed between the operating body 50 and the reversing member 10 facing the operating body 50.
[0033]
Therefore, the time constant CR of the signal delay means 32 defined by the product of the resistance R and the capacitance C is maximum between any of the reversing members 10 facing the operating body 50, and the other reversing members. The minimum state is maintained between 10. For this reason, the output of the signal delay means 32 is the signal Sa as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5B when the time constant CR is maximum facing the operating body 50, and when the time constant CR is minimum, the output of FIG. The signal Sb is as shown by the solid line.
[0034]
The logical product of the clock signal CK and the signal Sa in the state where the operating body 50 faces the reversing member 10, that is, the output of the AND circuit 33A is a pulse waveform with a short pulse width (pulse width = ta) as shown by a dotted line in FIG. It becomes. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5D, the output voltage Vo of the smoothing means 33B corresponding to this becomes the minimum voltage value Va.
[0035]
On the other hand, the logical product of the clock signal CK and the signal Sb in a state where the operating body 50 does not face the reversing member 10, that is, the output of the AND circuit 33A has a long pulse width as shown by a solid line in FIG. 5C (pulse width = tb). It becomes a pulse waveform. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5D, the output voltage Vo of the smoothing means 33B corresponding to this becomes the maximum voltage value Vb. Note that. Here, the threshold SL of the H level and the L level in the AND circuit 33A is Vcc / 2, which is half of the power supply voltage Vcc.
[0036]
That is, when the operating body 50 approaches the reversing member 10, the output voltage Vo of the smoothing means 33B decreases, and when the operating body 50 moves away from the reversing member 10, the output voltage Vo of the smoothing means 33B increases. By comparing Vo, it is possible to detect which is the reversing member 10 facing the operating body 50.
[0037]
Therefore, the control unit 21 compares the data acquired via each A / D conversion means 34, so that the operation body 50 starts from the data indicating the minimum value, that is, the position of the reversing member 10 where the output voltage Vo indicates the minimum value. It is possible to detect the position information.
[0038]
The data (digital signal) converted by each A / D conversion means 34 is held in the storage unit 24, and the control unit 21 can read out the data as necessary.
[0039]
Further, for example, when the operating body 50 approaches or contacts the point A between the display “1” and the display “2” of the display unit 5a shown in FIG. 1, the operating body 50 and the reversing member 10a and the above-mentioned Capacitance C is formed between the operating body 50 and the reversing member 10b. Accordingly, the output voltages Vo of the smoothing means 33B corresponding to the reversing members 10a and 10b are reduced, and the output voltage Vo of the smoothing means 33B corresponding to the other reversing members 10 is maintained at the maximum voltage value Vb.
[0040]
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, when the operating body 50 approaches or comes into contact with the region B between the displays “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4”, the operating body 50 and the operating body Capacitance C is formed between the reversing members 10a, 10b, 10d and 10e closest to 50, respectively. Accordingly, each output voltage Vo of the smoothing means 33B corresponding to the reversing members 10a, 10b, 10d and 10e is reduced, and each output voltage Vo of the smoothing means 33B corresponding to the other reversing members 10 is the maximum voltage value Vb. Is maintained.
[0041]
Therefore, the control unit 21 can acquire the position information of the operating tool 50 by analyzing each data for each output voltage Vo of each smoothing means 33B acquired via each A / D conversion means 34. is there. That is, even when the operating body 50 does not completely face each reversing member 10. Position information of the operating body 50 can be detected.
[0042]
Further, for example, it is assumed that the operating body 50 is first facing the display “2” of the display unit 5a shown in FIG. When the operating body 50 is moved along the Y direction as “2” → display “5” → display “8” → display “0”, the capacitance C of the reversing member 10 corresponding to these is changed. It changes one after another in this order. Therefore, the control unit 21 scans each data output from each A / D conversion means 34 according to the change in each capacitance C at a predetermined time interval, thereby changing the moving direction of the operating body 50. It is possible to detect. It goes without saying that movement in the display “0” → display “2” direction and movement in the X direction can also be detected in the same manner. In this case, the operation body 50 may be moved in any of the rows and columns formed by the display unit 5a. Further, for example, it is also possible to detect the moving direction of the operating tool 50 when it is moved in an oblique direction such as display “1” → display “5” → display “9”.
[0043]
The position information of the operation member 50 acquired in this way is used as application software data stored in the storage unit 24, and is used for cursor movement operations such as menu selection in the display panel 4, for example. be able to.
[0044]
(Operation as key input mode)
In the middle of the operation in the position input mode, as shown in FIG. 2B, when any one of the display portions 5a is pressed in the Z2 direction in the drawing, the display sheet 5 is bent and deformed to be recessed. The reversing member 10 is reversed by the pushing force at this time, and as a result, a pressing reaction force is generated in the reversing member 10. This pressing reaction force is transmitted to the operator's finger as a click feeling, so that the operator can be surely pressed. At the same time, the back surface (lower surface) of the dome portion of the reversing member 10 is set in a conductive state in contact with the contact electrode 9. Therefore, since only the contact electrode 9 (contact electrode 9 provided at the center in FIG. 2B) in contact with the reversing member 10 is set to the predetermined voltage, the display unit 5a is operated by the control unit 21. Can be detected. That is, key input can be performed using the reversing member 10.
[0045]
When the pushing force of the operating body 50 is released, the dome portion is separated from the contact electrode 9 and re-inverted upward in the figure, so that the reversing member 10 is returned to the original non-conductive state shown in FIG. 2A.
[0046]
Switching information indicating that the reversing member 10 and the contact electrode 9 are electrically connected and the state of the switch input means 11 has been switched is notified to the control unit 21. The control unit 21 takes in the switching information of the switch input means 11 as input information for key input operation, and displays, for example, numbers and symbols corresponding to the keys on the display panel 4. That is, by performing key input, it is possible to directly input a numerical value, a symbol, or the like that the operator wants to input to a mobile phone or the like.
[0047]
Thus, in the input device 1, since the position input mode and the key input mode can be performed on the same operation surface, the operability can be improved. In addition, as described above, it is not necessary to switch from the position input mode to the key input mode, and it is possible to make a direct transition. Although omitted in the above description, it is also possible to shift directly from the key input mode to the position input mode contrary to the above. Therefore, also in this respect, it is possible to provide the input device 1 with excellent operability that does not place a burden on the operator.
[0048]
However, this does not exclude selectively switching the mode setting. For example, when one of the display units 5a is pushed by the operating body 50 and the control unit 21 detects that this has been continued for a predetermined time or more, the mode can be switched.
[0049]
In the above embodiment, the case where the reversing member 10 is a metal contact switch has been described. However, the reversing member is formed of a synthetic resin having excellent flexibility, and a metal thin film is provided on the lower surface thereof. It may be what you did.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the key input operation and the position input operation can be performed on the same operation surface (display sheet).
[0051]
Further, since the reversing member is pressed during key operation, a crisp click feeling can be given to the operator.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an input device of the present invention,
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, where A is a position input mode before operation, B is a key input mode during operation,
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the input device;
FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an outline of position detection means;
5 shows signals in respective parts of the circuit diagram of FIG. 4, wherein A is a clock signal that is an output of the clock signal generation means, B is an output signal of the signal delay means, and C is an output signal of the AND circuit (logical product) ), D is the output signal of the smoothing means,
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input device 4 Display panel 5 Display sheet 5a Display part 6 Opposite substrate 7 Support electrode 8 Space part 9 Contact electrode 10, 10a-10l Inversion member 11 Switch input means 21 Control part 30 Position detection means 31 Clock signal generation means 32 Signal delay Means 33 Delay signal generation means 34 A / D conversion means 50 Operating body (finger or input pen)
C capacitance

Claims (3)

When a display sheet provided with at least one display unit, a contact electrode provided facing the display unit, and the periphery of the contact electrode is covered through a space and the display sheet is pressed A capacitance formed between the reversing member brought into contact with the contact electrode and the reversing member when the operating body approaches or comes into contact with the display sheet to detect the position of the operating body. And an input device characterized by comprising: The input device according to claim 1, wherein the reversing member is a dome-shaped metal contact switch. The position detecting means includes a clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal and the clock signal according to a change in capacity between the reversing member and the operating body when the operating body approaches or contacts the surface of the display sheet. delay means for giving a rising delay to, based on the clock signal does not pass through said delay means, a delay signal generating means for generating a signal corresponding to the delay amount given delay, a signal corresponding to the delay amount A / D conversion means for A / D converting the signal, and selection means for selecting a signal corresponding to the delay amount output for each reversing member at a predetermined timing and outputting the signal to the A / D conversion means. The input device according to claim 1 or 2.

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