JP4286114B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device including different types of input means, and more particularly to an input device that can be compactly arranged without impairing the operability of each input means.

  What is shown in the following Patent Document 1 is an input device in which a capacitance type input unit and a contact type input unit having a dome-shaped reversing plate on the back side of the input unit are provided in an overlapping manner.

  In this input device, each input means is used by being incorporated in a numeric keypad portion of a mobile phone, and an input instruction section made up of numerals and symbols is formed on the operation surface of the surface. By pressing the input instruction unit, a click feeling is given by the reversing plate and the switch output is turned on. Coordinates can be input by sliding the input instruction unit with a finger or the like along the operation surface.

The following Patent Document 2 is an input means provided in a keyboard device. In this input means, two electrode substrates and one spacer substrate are integrally formed by a single sheet, and the electrodes are opposed to each other above and below the spacer substrate by stacking the substrates in a predetermined order. Thus, the electrode substrates are stacked. Patent Document 3 below is the same as Patent Document 2, and an input means in which a plurality of contacts are arranged is configured by bending an integrally formed sheet-like substrate.
JP 2002-123363 A JP-A-4-155719 JP 58-152729 A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 2 and 3, a sheet-like substrate is integrally formed with one sheet, bent, and overlapped with each other so that positioning of each sheet can be facilitated. However, the input means having such a structure is effective in terms of thinning and positioning. However, when another type of input means, for example, a detection means for inputting coordinates is mounted, a separate unit is further added. In addition, it is necessary to provide at a position that does not overlap the input means. This makes it difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus.

  Then, what is shown to the said patent document 1 is proposed. For this purpose, the apparatus is miniaturized by stacking different types of input means, ie, contact type input means and capacitance type input means. However, if the capacitive input means is applied to the operation part including the numeric keypad of a mobile phone, the receiver part during a call is placed on the ear and the microphone part is located on the mouth side, so the operation surface of the input means is inevitable It faces the surface of the face, and the skin is in contact with or very close to the operation surface. As a result, in the capacitive type, the displacement of the electric charge is detected and there is a risk of causing a malfunction.

  Further, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a pressure-sensitive input means is proposed instead of the capacitance type. However, the contact-type input means and the pressure-sensitive input means are formed of separate members, which increases the number of parts, makes it difficult to adjust the positioning of the input means, and increases the manufacturing cost.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is equipped with different input means, so that the apparatus can be miniaturized, each input means can be operated reliably, and it can be manufactured at low cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can be used.

The present invention provides an operation surface provided with a plurality of input instruction units , a first input means having a plurality of first input points whose switch output is switched by a pressing operation of the operation surface, and the operation surface. and a second input means having a second input point of the plurality of switch output is switched by the pressing operation of the operating surface provided between the first input means,
The number of the second input points of the second input means is greater than the number of the first input points of the first input means , and the first input points are positions facing the input instruction section. The second input point is provided at both a position overlapping the first input point and a position not overlapping the first input point;
Said second input point, the first Ri der enables switching operation at a lower pressure than the input point, the second by operating the input point can coordinate input operation, the input instruction unit It is possible to operate the first input point by pressing .

  The input device according to the present invention can be operated based on the input instruction unit by pressing the first input unit based on the input instruction unit. For example, if the input device is mounted on a mobile phone, the operation key includes a numeric keypad. Input operation becomes possible. Further, the second input means enables the coordinate input by sliding operation along the operation surface of the input instruction unit, for example, the selection operation of the menu displayed on the screen, the scroll operation of the display screen, and the like. . By forming each input means with a contact type having an input point, it is not affected by the displacement of electric charges as in the electrostatic capacity type, so that it does not malfunction and both input means are securely connected. It can be operated.

  For example, an upper sheet substrate, a common sheet substrate, and a lower sheet substrate, and a plurality of contacts are provided between the upper sheet substrate and the common sheet substrate, and between the common sheet substrate and the lower sheet substrate. The second input unit is configured between the upper sheet substrate and the common sheet substrate, and the first input unit is configured between the common sheet substrate and the lower sheet substrate.

  In this structure, by forming the sheets integrally and reducing the number of sheets, each sheet can be easily positioned, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, the upper sheet substrate and the common sheet substrate, and the common sheet substrate and the lower sheet substrate may be connected by a connection substrate, respectively, so that each of the sheet substrates is a continuous sheet shape. Further, when the common sheet substrate is used as a reference, the connection substrates are bent in opposite directions so that the lower sheet substrate is stacked on one side of the common sheet substrate and the upper sheet substrate is stacked on the other side. it can. With such a structure, different input means can be stacked.

  The first input means may be provided with an operation feeling generating means for generating a click feeling when the input instruction unit is operated. Thereby, since a click feeling is obtained when the first input means is pressed, the operator can be surely recognized that the operation has been performed.

  Further, a top sheet provided with the input instruction portion is provided on the surface of the upper sheet substrate, and protrusions are individually provided on the back surface of the top sheet at positions facing the contacts of the second input means. It is preferable that By providing the protrusions, it is possible to reliably operate each contact where the contacts are densely arranged.

  The present invention can ensure the input operation of both input means even if different types of input means are arranged one above the other. Further, since the electrode substrates constituting both the input means can be integrated, positioning can be facilitated and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the input device, FIG. 3 is a development view of each sheet substrate, and FIG. 4 is a line 4-4 in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 10 </ b> A of the present embodiment includes a top sheet 11 and a detection substrate 12. The input device 10A is an example of the numeric keypad portion of a cellular phone. However, the input device 10A is not limited to this, and is incorporated in a remote control of various electric appliances such as a television and audio, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a game controller, a pointing device, and the like. Can be used in

  The surface sheet 11 is made of a synthetic resin and is formed in a square plate shape, and an input instruction portion 11a with characters such as numbers and symbols is formed on the surface as an operation surface by printing or the like. In FIG. 1, a circle indicated by an alternate long and short dash line surrounding each input instruction unit 11 a indicates a boundary portion of each input instruction unit 11 a, but a circular line at the boundary portion is actually a line of the input instruction unit 11 a. It may be formed around.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the detection substrate 20 includes a lower sheet substrate 21, a common sheet substrate 22, and an upper sheet substrate 23. Each of the sheet substrates 21, 22, and 23 is formed in a film shape from a synthetic resin material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or polyimide.

  A conductive pattern 21A is formed on the upper surface (the surface on the Z1 side) of the lower sheet substrate 21. In this conductive pattern 21A, a total of 18 lower conductors 21a formed in a circular or rectangular shape with a conductive member such as silver foil or copper foil are formed in three pieces in the X direction and six pieces in the Y direction. . A conductive pattern 22A is formed on the lower surface (surface on the Z2 side) of the common sheet substrate 22, and the conductive pattern 22A has a total of 18 circular or rectangular upper conductors 22a as described above. .

  An electrode pattern 22 </ b> B is formed on the upper surface side of the common sheet substrate 22. In this electrode pattern 22B, a total of 30 lower electrodes 22b formed of a conductive member such as silver foil or copper foil in a circular shape or a rectangular shape are formed, with five in the X direction and six in the Y direction. An electrode pattern 23A is formed on the lower surface of the upper sheet substrate 23. Similarly to the electrode pattern 22B, the electrode pattern 23A is formed in a total of 30 pieces of five upper electrodes 23a in the X direction and six in the Y direction. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the edge on the Y2 side of the lower sheet substrate 21 and the edge on the Y2 side of the common sheet substrate 22 are connected by a connection substrate 31 having a constant width, and the Y1 side of the common sheet substrate 22 is connected to the Y1 side. The edge portion and the edge portion on the Y1 side of the upper sheet substrate 23 are connected by a connection substrate 32 having a constant width dimension. However, the length dimensions of the connection substrates 31 and 32 can be changed as appropriate, and the connection boards 31 and 32 may be formed of a single piece or a plurality of pieces.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the sheet substrates 21, 22, and 23 are unfolded. In this state, conductive patterns 21 </ b> A and 22 </ b> A are formed on the same surface on the upper surface side of the lower sheet substrate 21 and the common sheet substrate 22. In addition, electrode patterns 22B and 23A are formed on the same surface on the lower surface side of the common sheet substrate 22 and the upper sheet substrate 23, respectively.

  Therefore, by bending the connection substrates 31 and 32 in the state shown in FIG. 2 and overlapping the sheet substrates 21, 22, and 23, the conductive pattern 21A and the conductive pattern 22A face each other, and the electrode pattern 22B and the electrode pattern 23A And face each other.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, since any of the connection substrates 31 and 32 are connected to each other at the edge in the Y direction of the sheet substrates 21, 22, and 23, when the sheet substrates 21, 22, and 23 are stacked. In addition, since the relative displacement in the X direction can be reduced, the positioning process can be facilitated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a spacer substrate 24 is provided between the lower sheet substrate 21 and the common sheet substrate 22, and a spacer substrate 25 is provided between the common sheet substrate 22 and the upper sheet substrate 23. Is provided. The spacer substrates 24 and 25 are both made of synthetic resin such as PET or polyimide, and the spacer substrate 24 is formed with a total of 18 circular through holes 24a, 3 in the X direction and 6 in the Y direction. The spacer substrate 25 is formed with a total of 30 circular through holes 25a, 5 in the X direction and 6 in the Y direction.

The sheet substrates 21, 22, 23 and the spacer substrates 24, 25 are overlapped as shown in FIG. 4 and the surfaces facing each other are fixed with an adhesive or the like. Thus, the lower sheet substrate 21, the spacer substrate 24, and the common sheet substrate 22 constitute the first input means 20A of the present invention, and the common sheet substrate 22, the spacer substrate 25, and the upper sheet substrate 23 constitute the first input means 20A. Two input means 20B are configured. The first input means 20A has 18 contacts, and the second input means 20B has 30 contacts. Each contact point in the input means 20A, 20B is an input point in the present invention. Thus, the arrangement density of the contacts of the second input means 20B is set higher than the arrangement density of the contacts of the first input means 20A.

  The spacer substrates 24 and 25 are not limited to sheets made of synthetic resin, and may be formed by forming an adhesive layer in which a plurality of through holes are formed.

  In the input device 10 </ b> A, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a strip-shaped lead-out portion 26 having a predetermined width is formed integrally with the lower sheet substrate 21. In the lower sheet substrate 21, as shown in the figure, an extraction electrode 21 b such as a copper foil is formed on each lower conductor 21 a so as to extend to the extraction portion 26. 2 and 3 show only a part of the lower conductors 21a. However, the other lower conductors 21a, the upper conductors 22a and the lower electrodes 22b of the common sheet substrate 22, and the upper sheet substrate 23 are not shown. A similar extraction electrode is formed on each upper electrode 23 a and is extracted to the extraction portion 26.

  In this way, the sheet substrates 21 and 22 and the connection substrates 31 and 32 are formed in a continuous sheet shape, and one of the contacts of both the input means 20A and 20B is formed on the common sheet substrate 22 with a common sheet. ing. For this reason, since both the input means 20A and 20B can be comprised as one component, a manufacturing process can be simplified.

  A top sheet 11 is superimposed on the upper surface of the detection substrate 20. As shown in FIG. 2, a pressing protrusion 11b is formed on the back surface of the top sheet 11, and this pressing protrusion 11b is formed in a convex shape with a synthetic resin material. In FIG. Six pressing projections 11b are formed in six rows in the Y direction to form a total of 30 pressing projections 11b. In the present embodiment, each pressing protrusion 11b is formed on a film 13 made of synthetic resin, and is fixed to the lower surface of the top sheet 11 with an adhesive or the like. The pressing protrusion 11b may be formed directly on the back surface of the top sheet 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the first input means 20A, the lower conductor 21a and the upper conductor 22a form contacts S1, S2, S3. In the second input means 20B, contacts S4, S5, S6, S7, and S8 are formed by the lower electrode 22b and the upper electrode 23a. At this time, the contact point S4 on the X1 side, the contact point S8 on the X2 side, and the contact point S6 on the center are set so that the contacts S1, S2, and S3 in the first input means 20A overlap vertically. The contacts S5 and S7 of the second input means 20B are located between the contacts S1 and S2 of the first input means 20A and between the contacts S2 and S3.

  Note that although FIG. 4 illustrates some of the columns in FIG. 1, other columns are formed in the same manner as in FIG. 4. Thus, the number of contacts in the second input means 20B is formed more densely than the number of contacts in the first input means 20A.

  When the top sheet 11 is stacked on the upper surface of the upper sheet substrate 23, the pressing protrusions 11b provided on the top sheet 11 individually face the contacts S4, S5, S6, S7, and S8.

  In the input device 10A, since the second input means 20B is disposed closer to the top sheet 11 than the first input means 20A, an operation for turning on the outputs of the contacts S4 to S8 of the second input means 20B is performed. The force can be made smaller than the operating force that turns on the outputs of the contacts S1 to S3 of the first input means 20A. For example, the first input means 20A is operated with an operating force (pressing force) of 1.47 N (Newton), and the second input means 20B is operated with a light operating force (low pressing force) of 0.196 N. It is preferable to set to operate.

  In order to adjust the operating force in the first input means 20A and the second input means 20B, the thickness dimensions of the spacer substrates 24, 25 are changed, or the opening diameters of the through holes 24a, 25a are changed. It is possible by adjusting. That is, by increasing the thickness of the substrate or reducing the size of the opening diameter, the operating force until turning on can be increased.

  Next, the operation of the input device of the present invention will be described. In the input device 10A, a button input mode in which the input operation of the first input unit 20A can be performed and a coordinate input mode in which the input operation of the second input unit 20B can be performed are automatically performed by a control unit (not shown). It is set to be switchable.

  When the button input mode is set, any one of the input instruction units 11a shown in FIG. 1, for example, the button “0” is pushed down with a large pressing force in the Z2 direction. The pressing protrusion 11b is pushed down. The upper sheet substrate 23 and the common sheet substrate 22 are pressed while being deformed by the pressing force at this time, and the upper conductor 22 a formed on the common sheet substrate 22 is formed on the lower sheet substrate 21. In contact with 21a, the output of the contact S2 is switched on. Similarly, the output of the contact S3 is switched on when the “*” input instruction unit 11a is pressed down, and the output of the contact S1 is output when the “#” input instruction unit 11a is pressed down. Switched on. The other input instruction unit 11a is also operated in the same manner as described above.

  When the coordinate input mode is set, for example, from the X1 side to the X2 side, an operation (sliding operation) is performed while sliding the top sheet 11 on which the input instruction unit 11a is formed with a low pressing force. When moved linearly, the upper sheet substrate 23 is bent and deformed in order from the X1 side to the X2 side by the pressing protrusion 11b. By the deformation operation at this time, the upper electrode 23a of the upper sheet substrate 23 comes into contact with the lower electrode 22b of the common sheet substrate 24, and the output is turned on in order from the contact S4 to the contact S8. However, a setting in which a plurality of adjacent contacts are simultaneously switched on may be used. By detecting this output switching operation by a control unit (not shown), it is detected that the surface sheet 11 has moved from the X1 side toward the X2 side.

  For example, when using as a mobile phone, when using the call function, the button input mode is set, and input based on the display of the input instruction unit 11a of the front sheet 11 is possible, and input of a telephone number or address book is enabled. Editing of this becomes possible. When a menu screen composed of a plurality of icons or the like is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone, the coordinate input mode is set, and the icon selection position changes based on the direction of movement on the operation surface. In addition, when a text such as an e-mail is displayed on the screen, a screen feed operation or the like can be performed by moving the operation surface up and down (Y direction).

  However, the button input mode and the coordinate input mode do not necessarily have to be controlled to be selected as one mode, and both modes may be controlled to be activated simultaneously. For example, when a sentence is input by e-mail or a character is input by editing an address book, each input instructing unit 11a is assigned “a” line, “ka” line,. When the line is operated, “ka”, “ki”,... Can be selected by depressing the center of the input instruction unit 11a with a large pressing force, and the edge of the input instruction unit 11a is lightened. It may be controlled so that “ga”, “gi”,. In addition, when the input instruction unit 11a on the “a” line is operated, control is performed so that lowercase letters “a”, “i”,... Can be selected by operating the edge of the input instruction unit 11a. May be. The above-described control may be configured only by the second input unit.

  FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the input device of the present invention. An input device 10B shown in FIG. 5 has a first input means 20C and a second input means 20D, and an operation feeling generating means for generating a click feeling is mounted on the first input means 20C. The configuration is the same as that of the input device 10A except that this operation feeling generating means is mounted. In the following, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the first input means 20C of the input device 10B, a conductor 21c is provided on the lower sheet substrate 21 at a position facing the input instruction section 11a, and a reversing plate 27 is provided so as to cover each conductor 21c. Is provided. This inversion plate 27 is an operation feeling generating means in the present invention. The inversion plate 27 is a metal plate formed in a dome shape, and is located in a through hole 24a of a spacer substrate 24 formed between the lower sheet substrate 21 and the common sheet substrate 22, and the conductor 21c and the inversion plate 27 are arranged in a state of being separated from each other by a predetermined distance.

  Although not shown in the figure, a conductive lead electrode is connected to a part of the reversing plate 27 and extends to the lead portion 26. Similarly to the above, the conductor 21c is connected to the extraction electrode and extends to the extraction portion 26.

  In the input device 10B, when the input instruction portion 11a of the top sheet 11 is pressed in the Z2 direction when the button input mode is set, the upper sheet substrate 23 and the common sheet substrate 22 are pressed by the pressing protrusion 11b. Is done. By this operation, the center of the convex portion of the reversing plate 27 is deformed into a concave shape, so that a click feeling is given to the operator. Further, the reversing plate 27 is deformed into a concave shape, so that the reversing plate 27 and the conductor 21c come into contact with each other, and the switch output is turned on. By generating a click feeling, the operator can be surely given the recognition that the button has been pressed. In addition, the operational feel can be improved.

  Note that the configuration of the first input means for generating the click feeling is not limited to the structure shown in FIG. 5, and for example, in the structure shown in FIG. 4, between the upper conductor 22a and the lower electrode 22b. Further, a gap may be formed, and the reversing plate 27 may be interposed in the gap.

  Further, the change of the pressing force may be detected by the second input means 20B and 20D. That is, the change in the pressing force may be detected by changing the contact area between the lower electrode 22b and the upper electrode 23a according to the pressing force and changing the resistance value based on the change in the area. . If the change in the pressing force can be detected in this way, the menu selection position can be changed according to the operation direction by sliding on the top sheet 11 in the menu selection on the menu screen of the mobile phone. The menu of the selected position can be determined by pressing more strongly at the selected position or by tapping operation.

  In addition, a circular groove or a circular protrusion may be formed along the one-dot chain line circle shown in FIG. 1 so that the boundary of the input instruction unit 11a becomes clear on the operation surface of the surface sheet 11. Good.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of one Embodiment of the input device of this invention, The exploded perspective view of the input device of the present invention, A perspective view when each sheet substrate is unfolded, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the input device of this invention,

Explanation of symbols

10 (10A, 10B) Input device 11 Top sheet 11a Input instruction section 12 Detection substrate 11b Press projections 20A, 20C First input means 20B, 20D Second input means 21 Lower sheet substrate 21a Lower conductor 22 Common sheet substrate 22a Upper conductor 22b Lower electrode 23 Upper sheet substrate 23a Upper electrodes 24 and 25 Spacer substrates 24a and 25a Through hole 26 Lead part 27 Reversing plate

Claims (8)

An operation surface provided with a plurality of input instruction units , a first input means having a plurality of first input points at which switch output is switched by a pressing operation of the operation surface , the operation surface, and the first and a second input means having a second input point of the plurality of switch output is switched by the pressing operation of the operating surface provided between the input means,
The number of the second input points of the second input means is greater than the number of the first input points of the first input means , and the first input points are positions facing the input instruction section. The second input point is provided at both a position overlapping the first input point and a position not overlapping the first input point;
Said second input point, the first Ri der enables switching operation at a lower pressure than the input point, the second by operating the input point can coordinate input operation, the input instruction unit An input device, wherein the first input point can be operated by pressing . From the upper sheet substrate and the common sheet substrate and the lower sheet substrate and the upper stacked in this order, between the upper sheet substrate and the common sheet substrate, and between said common sheet substrate and the lower sheet substrate, a plurality of respectively and contact is provided, wherein the second input point with the contact between the upper sheet substrate and the common sheet substrate is formed, said having the contact between the common sheet substrate and the lower sheet substrate The input device according to claim 1, wherein the first input point is configured. The input according to claim 2, wherein the upper sheet substrate and the common sheet substrate, and the common sheet substrate and the lower sheet substrate are respectively connected by a connection substrate, and each of the sheet substrates is formed by a series of sheets. apparatus. Said common sheet wherein each connection board when referenced to the substrate is bent opposite to each other, the lower sheet substrate on one side of said common sheet substrate, according to claim 3 in which the upper sheet substrate on the other side are overlapped The input device described. Wherein the first input point, the input device according to any one of the claims 1 provided operation feeling generating means for generating the click feeling when the input instruction section is operated 4. The top sheet | seat which forms the said operation surface which has the said input instruction | indication part is provided, The processus | protrusion is each provided in the position facing the said 2nd input point on the back surface of the said top sheet. The input device according to any one of 5 . The mode of performing coordinate input by the operation of the second input point and the button input mode of operating the first input point by pressing the input instruction unit can be switched. The input device described in 1. The mode for inputting coordinates by the operation of the second input point and the button input mode for operating the first input point by pressing the input instruction section can be simultaneously performed. The input device according to any one of the above.

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