JP4549411B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device mounted on an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a PDA.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an input device for inputting numbers or instructing directions is installed in an operation unit such as an audio device or a mobile phone. In this type of input device, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like, the left-right direction of the “direction key” is associated with the left-right direction of the display unit screen. That is, an operation key (operation unit) arranged in the left-right direction is assigned to a process represented by an icon indicating the left or right side of the display screen.

  However, the more functional electronic devices, the more operation items are provided, and it is necessary to reliably realize the various operation items. For this reason, touch panel type input devices have been developed along with recent technological advances. Unlike a push button switch, a touch panel type input device does not need to be pressed strongly because it reads the movement of a finger lightly touching the touch panel and converts the movement into a signal.

  Furthermore, in order to realize high functionality of portable electronic devices, there is a demand for an input device that can easily move a screen by touching a finger along a touch panel continuously. To satisfy such requirements, there is an operation plate that is arranged on the inner surface side of the slide key and that forms a dish-shaped inclined surface that expands toward the slide key around the center axis of the slide key, and the operation plate It is made of an elastic material having a countersink-shaped concave portion on the upper surface on which is mounted and held, and a convex portion having a cylindrical cross section on the lower surface corresponding to the position of the dish-shaped inner peripheral surface of the concave portion. And the operation of the slide key causes the inclined surface in the operation direction to be pressed by the slide key, and the pressing causes the dish-shaped inner peripheral surface of the sheet to be pressed via the operation plate, so that the convex portion is There is known an input device configured to press a pressure-sensitive member disposed below a convex portion (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Since the input device of Patent Document 2 uses a pressure-sensitive member, the operation direction and the operation amount can be detected by pressing.

JP 2003-174495 A (Claims etc.) JP 2003-99188 A (Claims etc.)

  By the way, there is a problem that a user who has used an input device having a “direction key” for many years cannot feel a click when using the touch panel type input device, and feels uncomfortable in the operation of the electronic device.

  Also, in the case of the input device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the pressing convex portion made of an elastic material such as rubber comes into contact with the pressure-sensitive member disposed below the pressing convex portion by the pressing operation. Is done. For this reason, similarly to the touch panel type input device described above, there is a problem that when the operator performs an input operation, the pressure for deforming the pressing convex portion is large and the operability is not good.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can reduce the pressing force and is excellent in operability.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input device including a substrate and a keytop member disposed above the substrate, wherein the keytop member includes at least an operation panel having an operation surface; A conductive member made of a conductive elastic body fixed on the back surface of the operation panel so as to protrude toward the substrate side, and a sensor portion is provided on the substrate so as to face at least a part of the conductive member. As an input device , the operation panel is provided with a recess that is recessed from the back surface of the operation panel to the front surface and that pushes the conductive member toward the operation panel at a position facing the conductive member. Yes.

  By setting it as such an input device, while functioning as an input device provided with the multi-directional detection function, it becomes an input device which can reduce a pressing force when performing multi-directional detection. That is, when the input device is operated by lightly pressing the operation panel when the input device is operated, the conductive member made of one or more conductive elastic bodies on the back side of the pressed portion is pushed down. The conductive member is in contact with the conductive pattern constituting the sensor unit. Then, conduction between the electrodes of the sensor unit is made by the conductive member. Further, when pressed down strongly, the conductive member is deformed and gets into the recess of the operation panel, increasing the contact area to the sensor unit. The CPU of the input device measures the change in the voltage amount or the resistance value that occurs in response to the change in the contact area of the one or more sensor units obtained by this series of operations. Direction and pressing force can be detected. Compared with a structure in which no concave portion is formed, the load for performing the operation is reduced, so that the operability can be improved.

  In addition to the above-described invention, another invention is an input device in which the concave portion has a deepest deepest portion closer to the radially outer side of the operation panel than the in-plane center of the concave portion.

  When operating the input device, a larger load is applied to the outside of the operation panel. By setting it as such a recessed part, an electroconductive member is easy to be caught in the part where the load of the outer side is large in a recessed part.

Another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the recess has a deepest portion of the recess in the radially outer side of the center thereof from the operation panel, the operation from the deepest portion to the center edge of the operating panel The input device is provided with a greater inclination with respect to the surface of the operation panel from the deepest part to the edge opposite to the center of the operation panel than the inclination with respect to the surface of the panel .

  For this reason, in such a recessed part, a conductive member tends to be caught in a part where the load on the outside is large. As a result, operability can be improved.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the operation panel is circular or annular, and the deepest portion of the recess is formed on the circumference of the first circle having the same center as the center of the operation panel. The center of the conductive member is an input device arranged on the circumference of the second circle inside the first circle. An annular operation panel is a central key top disposed in the middle of the operation panel. A circular operation panel means that a central key top is not arranged in the middle of the operation panel.

  By setting it as such an input device, the accuracy as a touch panel becomes good and it becomes easy to operate as an input device having a multi-directional detection function.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the conductive elastic body is an input device made of conductive rubber. For this reason, the multi-directional detection function and the definite input function can be efficiently performed by pressing.

  In this specification, the “key top member” refers to a presser that is disposed above a substrate constituting the input device and formed not only at the center key top and the operation panel but also below the center key top and the operation panel. It is an aggregate for pressing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an input device that can reduce the pressing force and is excellent in operability.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an input device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described below.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device 1 including an input device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the operation surface side. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the region A indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 when the substrate 20 is viewed from the front side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the region A indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 when the back side of the key top member 10 is viewed from below.

  The electronic device 1 is provided with a push button switch in addition to the input device 100. Therefore, on the operation surface of the electronic device 1, a plurality of key tops 2 constituting a push button switch and an operation panel 13 constituting a key top member 10 are arranged. The operation panel 13 has an annular shape, and a central key top 12 is disposed in an inner portion surrounded by the annular operation panel 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a sensor unit 30, a switch unit 40, and a central operation unit 50 are provided on the substrate 20 constituting the input device 100. The central operation unit 50 includes a fixed contact 52 and a conductive disc spring member 55. The disc spring member 55 has a dome shape and is formed so as to cover the fixed contact 52. The switch unit 40 includes a fixed contact 41 and a conductive disc spring member 42. The disc spring member 42 has a dome shape and is formed so as to cover the fixed contact 41. The sensor unit 30 is configured by a conductive pattern 45 having a form in which a pair of comb-like electrodes are engaged with each other without being in contact with each other. The sensor unit 30 is provided at a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction on a circle 18 having a diameter X with the center operation unit 50 as the center. For example, the sensor units 30 may be provided at four equal positions on the circle 18 at a predetermined angle of 90 degrees. Moreover, the switch part 40 is arrange | positioned so that it may not overlap with the sensor part 30 between the sensor parts 30 adjacent to the circumference 18 on the circle 18 with the same diameter X, respectively. In particular, it is more preferable to provide an angle of 45 degrees in the circumferential direction from the adjacent sensor unit 30 with the center of the center operation unit 50 as a reference. By disposing the sensor unit 30 and the switch unit 40 at the above-described positions, an erroneous operation is unlikely to occur and the input device 100 that efficiently performs the multi-directional detection function is obtained. However, it is not limited to the above-described arrangement position, and may be arranged in other forms.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a conductive member 14, a pressing member 15, and a central pressing member 11 are provided on the back side of the elastic sheet constituting the key top member 10. The conductive member 14, the pressing element 15, and the center pressing element 11 are arranged to face the sensor unit 30, the switch unit 40, and the center operation unit 50 arranged on the substrate 20 so as not to overlap each other.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross section taken along the line BB in the region A indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line C-C in the region A indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an elastic sheet 25 is attached to the back side of the center key top 12 and the operation panel 13. A center presser 11 is formed on the back surface of the elastic sheet 25 at a position corresponding to the center key top 12. The operation panel 13 is provided with a recess 17 from the back surface to the front surface of the operation panel 13. The concave portion 17 has a deepest portion (hereinafter, referred to as “vertex”) 19 on the outer side from the center, and the operation panel from the apex 19 rather than the inclination from the apex 19 to the edge on the center side of the operation panel 13. 13 has a substantially conical shape with a steep inclination to the edge opposite to the center. However, the shape of the recessed part 17 is not limited to the above-mentioned form, You may change into various shapes as needed. For example, the vertex 19 may be located above the center of the opening bottom of the recess 17. Further, it is preferable that the projected area of the concave portion 17 on the horizontal plane is larger than the area of the conductive member 14 in contact with the elastic sheet 25. Note that the size of the concave portion 17 may be appropriately adjusted according to the thickness of the elastic sheet 25 and the area of the conductive member 14 in contact with the elastic sheet 25. Thereby, the effect of operation load reduction can be improved. Further, the edge of the recess 17 closest to the center of the operation panel 13 coincides with the edge of the inner side of the conductive member 14, or the inner edge of the conductive member 14 is closest to the center of the operation panel 13 of the recess 17. It is preferable to be located inside the edge. For this reason, the elastic sheet 25 near the apex 19 of the recess 17 is deformed so as to mainly enter the recess 17. As a result, the entire elastic sheet 25 below the entire recess 17 is not deformed, and a stable electrical change is easily obtained.

  A substrate 20 is provided to face the elastic sheet 25. A sensor unit 30 and a central operation unit 50 are provided on the surface of the substrate 20 facing the elastic sheet 25. The sensor unit 30 is configured by a conductive pattern 45 having a form in which a pair of comb-like electrodes are engaged with each other without being in contact with each other. The central operation unit 50 includes a fixed contact 52 and a conductive disc spring member 55, and the conductive disc spring member 55 has a dome shape and is formed so as to cover the fixed contact 52. In addition, the sensor unit 30 and the conductive member 14 immediately below the recess 17 are provided to face each other with the elastic sheet 25 interposed therebetween. The center presser 11 and the center operation part 50 are provided facing each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a switch unit 40 is provided on the surface of the substrate 20 that faces the elastic sheet 25. The switch unit 40 includes a fixed contact 41 and a conductive disc spring member 42. The disc spring member 42 has a dome shape and is formed so as to cover the fixed contact 41. Unlike the configuration of the operation panel 13 as shown in FIG. 4, the concave portion 17 is not provided on the back surface of the portion of the operation panel 13 that faces the switch portion 40. Further, the pressing element 15 and the switch unit 40 are provided to face each other.

  The central key top 12 is a member made of resin, metal, or a composite thereof, regardless of whether it is a single molded body or a molded body composed of a plurality of layers. When the center key top 12 composed of a plurality of layers is employed, the center key top 12 is preferably a member whose surface is covered with a resin sheet, and the cover region may be a part or all of the member. As the material of the central key top 12, each resin such as polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin, polypropylene resin, vinyl chloride resin, polystyrene resin, methacrylic resin, polysulfone resin, polyester resin or polyamide resin is used. Although it can be used, a particularly preferred resin is a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin.

  In the present embodiment, as the operation panel 13, for example, an annular panel having a thickness of about 1 mm, a diameter of the outer circumference circle of about 20 mm, and a diameter of the inner circumference circle of about 7 mm can be suitably used. Further, for the purpose of facilitating the ringing along the operation panel 13 with fingers, for example, concentric grooves may be formed at intervals of about 0.2 mm. Further, an annular edge may be formed by making the thickness of the outer peripheral portion of the operation panel 13 thicker than the portion other than the outer periphery so that the position of the operation panel 13 can be recognized by touch. The operation panel 13 is a member made of the same resin material or rubber-like elastic body as the above-described center key top 12. A specific rubber-like elastic material is formed of a thermosetting elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer. Examples of the thermosetting elastomer include silicone rubber, isoprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, and natural rubber. As the thermoplastic elastomer, those such as styrene, ester, urethane, olefin, amide, butadiene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, fluororubber, isoprene, and chlorinated polyethylene can be employed. Among these, silicone rubber is particularly preferable in consideration of environment resistance, processability, flexibility, and the like. However, the rubber-like elastic body described above is merely an example, and other rubber-like elastic bodies may be adopted. Note that a mixture of two or more kinds of rubber-like elastic bodies may be employed.

  The elastic sheet 25 fixes the center key top 12, the operation panel 13, and the conductive member 14 at predetermined positions. Specifically, the elastic sheet 25 is bonded via an adhesive layer (not shown) provided on the back surface portions of the central key top 12, the operation panel 13, and the conductive member 14. The material of the elastic sheet 25 is preferably a soft material that can be deformed when pressed from above. Specifically, an elastic sheet 25 having a thickness of 10 to 200 μm and a Shore A hardness of 20 to 90 is particularly suitable. Examples of such an elastic sheet 25 include a sheet made of urethane resin, thermoplastic elastomer, silicone rubber, natural rubber, or the like. Furthermore, the elastic sheet 25 may be decorated. The elastic sheet 25 may have a high light transmittance. When the elastic sheet 25 having high light transmittance is adopted, the outer periphery of the central key top 12 and the operation panel 13 can be illuminated by illuminating from the back side of the elastic sheet 25. The position of the panel 13 becomes easy to understand.

  In the present embodiment, the fixed contact 52 included in the central operation unit 50 is a conductive portion provided on the substrate 20. Specifically, it is formed of a conductor such as a copper foil on a substrate impregnated with an insulating resin. In addition, as the conductive disc spring member 55 in the present embodiment, a metal disc spring member 55 can be suitably used. However, the conductive disc spring member 55 is not limited to metal, and may be formed of a conductive resin or the like. In addition, when the conductive disc spring member 55 is made of metal, the click feeling is further improved, and a good operation feeling can be obtained.

  The conductive elastic body used for the conductive member 14 constituting the input device 100 is an elastic body that is easily deformed by touching the surface of the operation panel 13 with a finger. A rubber or elastomer in which a certain carbon black or the like is dispersed is preferable.

  Next, how to use the input device 100 and its operation will be described.

  6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a region D indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 4, (A) shows a state where no load is applied to the pressing position E of the operation panel 13, and (B) shows an operation panel 13. A state where a load is applied to the pressing position E is shown.

  From the state shown in FIG. 6A, when a finger is put on the pressing position E of the operation panel 13 of the target input device 100 and pressure is lightly applied, one or a plurality of conductive elasticity on the back side of the pressed portion. The conductive member 14 made of a body is pushed down, and the conductive member 14 comes into contact with the conductive pattern 45 constituting the sensor unit 30. Then, the electrodes of the sensor unit 30 are short-circuited by the conductive member 14. When pressed down further, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), the conductive member 14 is greatly deformed together with the elastic sheet 25 and gets into the concave portion 17 of the operation panel 13 while increasing the contact area with the sensor unit 30. To do. When operating the input device 100, there is a tendency to touch and operate the outside of the operation panel 13. The concave portion 17 has a vertex 19 on the outer side from the center, and the slope 19 extends from the vertex 19 to the edge opposite to the center of the operation panel 13 rather than the slope from the vertex 19 to the edge on the center side of the operation panel 13. It has a shape with a steep slope. For this reason, in the recessed part 17, the electrically-conductive member 14 and the elastic sheet 25 can be easily carried in the part where the load of the outer side is large, and operativity can be improved. In addition, when the central processing unit (not shown) inside the apparatus detects a change in voltage or resistance value that occurs in accordance with a change in the contact area of the conductive pattern 45, the input device 100 can detect the key touched by the finger. The direction and pressing force can be grasped. A central processing unit (not shown) inside the input device 100 measures a change in voltage or resistance value that occurs in response to a change in the contact area of one or more sensor units 30 obtained by this series of operations. The input device 100 can grasp the direction of the key touched by the finger and the pressing force. That is, the locus can be easily detected by placing a finger along the operation panel 13 and tracing it in a ring shape. As a result, it is possible to scroll the operation surface of the electronic device 1 by turning the finger, and it is also possible to move the cursor in the operation surface as a multidirectional key. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the switch unit 40 in this embodiment is used as a four-way key in combination with the presser 15. By pressing the conductive disc spring member 42 with the presser 15, the disc spring member 42 is buckled, a clear click feeling is transmitted to the operator, and the disc spring member 42 contacts the fixed contact 41. It is recognized that the button has been pressed by connecting the 41 electrodes by the disc spring member 42. As a result, if all the operation methods are controlled by software according to the operation mode, various operations can be performed by properly using the sensor unit 30 and the switch unit 40 constituting the input device 100 according to the application.

  As described above, in the input device 100, the multi-directional detection function is efficiently realized with the locus of contact, and the depression 17 is formed, so that the pressing force is small and easy to operate.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the input device 100 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a manufacturing process of the input device 100.

  First, the board | substrate 20 with which the sensor part 30, the switch part 40, and the center operation part 50 are arrange | positioned is formed (step S101). In this embodiment, the sensor unit 30 is composed of a conductive pattern 45 having a state in which a pair of comb-shaped electrodes are engaged with each other without being in contact with each other. By arranging the conductive pattern 45 on the substrate 20, the sensor unit 30 is formed. The switch unit 40 includes a fixed contact 41 and a conductive disc spring member 42. The disc spring member 42 has a dome shape and is formed so as to cover the fixed contact 41. The central operation unit 50 includes a fixed contact 52 and a conductive disc spring member 55. After the fixed contact 52 is disposed on the substrate 20, the dome-shaped conductive disc spring member 55 is a fixed contact. 52 is formed so as to cover 52. As the board | substrate 20, the printed circuit board in which the predetermined wiring pattern was formed can be used suitably. As an arrangement method of the conductive disc spring member 55, for example, the conductive disc spring member 42 is bonded to the substrate 20 by placing the conductive disc spring members 42 and 55 on the adhesive surface of the adhesive sheet. , 55 are fixed.

  Subsequent to step S101, the operation panel 13 having the recess 17 is formed (step S102). In this embodiment, the step of forming the concave portion 17 is preferably performed by using the molding die to manufacture the operation panel 13 having the concave portion 17 by the injection molding method, but is not particularly limited. For example, you may form the recessed part 17 by cutting the operation panel shape | molded previously. Further, it is preferable that the projected area of the concave portion 17 on the horizontal plane is larger than the area of the conductive member 14 in contact with the elastic sheet 25. Note that the size of the recess 17 may be appropriately adjusted according to the thickness of the elastic sheet 25 and the area of the conductive member 14 in contact with the elastic sheet 25. For example, when the thickness of the elastic sheet 25 is 0.2 mm, the diameter of the circular projection of the concave portion 17 in the horizontal plane is 0.2 mm larger than the conductive member 14 having a diameter of 3 mm and is 3.2 mm. Thereby, the effect of operation load reduction can be improved. The diameter of the circular projection is particularly preferably 4.2 mm or less. When the thickness is 4.2 mm or less, a sufficient load can be applied to the conductive member 14, and a natural change in load during operation can be more effectively converted into a signal. The depth of the recess 17 is preferably smaller than the height of the conductive member 14. Thereby, all the conductive members 14 do not enter the recesses 17, and the conductive members 14 can reliably contact the sensor unit 30, and a favorable operation can be obtained. Moreover, you may form the identification part which shows a function in the surface of the operation panel 17 by processing methods, such as a laser etching or a hairline. A transparent resin coating layer may be attached to the surface of the operation panel 17 by a method such as coating (spraying) or painting. Resin paints such as acrylic, epoxy, vinyl ether, oxetane, and unsaturated polyester can be suitably used as the type of resin paint as the transparent resin coating layer. Particularly, a resin paint having high hardness is used. Is more preferable. However, the above-mentioned resin paint is only an example, and other resin paints may be adopted.

  Subsequent to step S102, the elastic sheet 25 on which the conductive member 14, the presser 15 and the central presser 11 are arranged is formed (step S103). Specifically, at the positions facing the sensor unit 30, the switch unit 40, and the center operation unit 50 on the back surface of the pre-formed elastic sheet 25, the pre-formed conductive member 14, the presser 15 and the center press, respectively. Each child 11 is pasted with an adhesive. As a result, an elastic sheet 25 on which the conductive member 14, the pressing element 15, and the central pressing element 11 are arranged is obtained. Next, the operation panel 13 having the concave portion 17 obtained in step S102 described above is attached to the surface of the elastic sheet 25 with an adhesive (step S104). Finally, it is superimposed on the substrate 20 prepared in step S101 (step S105).

  The operation panel 13, the conductive member 14, the presser 15 and the center presser 11 can be bonded to the elastic sheet 25 with an adhesive, or an adhesive layer such as a double-sided tape is interposed, or by heat fusion or the like. It may be glued. Moreover, it is preferable to integrally mold the elastic sheet 25, the pressing element 15 and the central pressing element 11 in one step using the same material. In this case, first, a molding die capable of forming the shapes of the presser 15 and the center presser 11 is prepared. Next, the conductive member 14 is disposed. Further, as the elastic material, for example, an elastic sheet 25 in which silicone rubber is placed in a molding die, molded by heat compression and cured, and the conductive member 14, the pressing element 15, and the central pressing element 11 are integrated is provided. can get. Thereby, a manufacturing process can be simplified.

(Other embodiments)
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the region A indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 when the back side of the operation panel 13 having another embodiment is viewed from below. FIG. 9 is a view showing the concave portion 17 disposed on the back side of the conductive member 14 in the region F indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 8. 10 and 11 are drawings showing a recess 17 having another embodiment arranged on the back side of the conductive member 14 in a region F indicated by a dotted line in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the conductive member 14, the pressing element 15, and the central pressing element 11 are provided on the back side of the elastic sheet 25 constituting the key top member 10. The conductive member 14, the pressing element 15, and the center pressing element 11 are arranged to face the sensor unit 30, the switch unit 40, and the center operation unit 50 arranged on the substrate 20 so as not to overlap each other. The operation panel 13 is provided with a recess 17 from the back surface to the front surface of the operation panel 13. The concave portion 17 has a vertex 19 having a depth of 0.2 mm from the position corresponding to the center of the conductive member 14 to the outer side in the radial direction of the operation panel 13 to the bottom surface of the operation panel 13, and supports the conductive member 14. The intersection 16a of the line portion 16 for forming the portion is formed at about 90 degrees. In addition, a support part overlaps with the projection area of the electrically-conductive member 14 in a horizontal surface. Moreover, it inclines radially downward from the intersection 16a (arrow H direction downward inclination). On the other hand, the radially outer side of the operation panel 13 from the apex 19 is steeply descending in the direction of arrow J. The steep slope is steeper than the slope in the direction of arrow H. Further, the valleys from the respective line portions 16 toward the apex 19 are inclined downward. However, the shape of the line portion 16 for bending the conductive member 14 is not limited to the above-described form, and may be changed to various shapes as necessary. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the line portion 16 may be formed concentrically from the center of the operation panel 13, and the projection shape of the recess 17 on the horizontal plane is an arc from the center of the operation panel 13. You may form in the shape which drew. In addition, it is preferable that the size and shape of the concave portion 17 are appropriately adjusted according to the thickness of the elastic sheet 25 and the area of the conductive member 14 in contact with the elastic sheet 25. Thereby, the effect of operation load reduction can be improved.

  The preferred embodiment of the input device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modifications.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the diameter or angle related to the shape of the input device 100 may be appropriately changed as necessary. For example, parameters such as diameter and angle can be changed by changing the size of the operation panel 13. Further, the concave portion 17, the conductive member 14, the pressing member 15, the sensor unit 30, and the switch unit 40 of the operation panel 13 are not necessarily arranged at equal intervals.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the conductive member 14 and the pressing element 15 are provided at four locations, respectively, and a total of eight locations, and the sensor unit 30 and the switch unit 40 are provided at four locations, respectively, for a total of eight locations. 13, a total of 7 or less may be sufficient according to the magnitude | size etc. of the electrically-conductive member 14, the presser 15, the sensor part 30, and the switch part 40, and 9 or more may be sufficient. When providing fewer than eight locations, providing three or more locations can sufficiently function as a touch panel.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the switch unit 40 is not arranged in the circumferential direction on the circle 18 with the diameter X, and only the sensor unit 30 is provided, and the outer side than the circle 18 with the diameter X. Alternatively, the switch unit 40 may be provided in the inner circumferential direction. Further, the central key top 12 positioned at the center of the operation panel 13 may not be arranged, and the number may be plural instead of one. Further, the shape or position of the recess 17 may be appropriately changed according to the shape and thickness of the operation panel 13, the shape of the conductive member 14, the arrangement position of the sensor unit 30, or the like.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the conductive pattern 45 which comprises the sensor part 30 shall have a comb-tooth-shaped electrode pattern, it is not restricted to such a shape. For example, it may have a concentric pattern or other shapes. Moreover, you may use the sensor which measures the compression amount of a conductive elastic body with an electrostatic capacitance. Further, by using a conductive elastic body whose conductivity is improved by being compressed or a conductive elastic body whose current resistance value is changed by being compressed, the pressure applied to the conductive elastic body is reduced. You may make it the system which measures.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although it is set as the cyclic | annular operation panel 13, it is not restricted to cyclic | annular. For example, only a part of the ring may be used. Alternatively, any form such as a circle, a cross, a straight line, a triangle, a polygon having four or more squares, a curve, or an ellipse may be used. However, in the case of an annular shape, the input device 100 can be configured to continue to operate without stopping finger movement.

  The present invention can be used for various input devices. In particular, it is suitable as an input device for electronic equipment.

It is the perspective view which looked at the input device concerning an embodiment of the invention from the operation side. It is a top view when the board | substrate is seen from the front side about the area | region A shown with the dashed-dotted line of FIG. It is a top view when the back side of an operation panel is seen from the lower part about field A shown with a dashed-dotted line of Drawing 1. It is an expanded sectional view which expands and shows the cross section of the BB line of the area | region A shown with the dashed-dotted line of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which expands and shows the cross section of CC line of the area | region A shown with the dashed-dotted line of FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a region D indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 4, where (A) shows a state where no load is applied to the pressing position E of the operation panel, and (B) shows a load applied to the pressing position E of the operation panel. It is a figure which shows the state which applied. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the manufacturing process of the input device which concerns on this Embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a region A indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 when the back side of an operation panel having another embodiment is viewed from below. It is drawing which shows the recessed part arrange | positioned at the back side of the electrically-conductive member of the area | region F shown with the dotted line of FIG. It is drawing which shows the recessed part which has another embodiment arrange | positioned at the back side of the electrically-conductive member of the area | region F shown by the dotted line of FIG. It is drawing which shows the recessed part which has another embodiment arrange | positioned at the back side of the electrically-conductive member of the area | region F shown by the dotted line of FIG. It is a top view when the board | substrate is seen from the front side which has another embodiment about the area | region A shown with the dashed-dotted line of FIG. It is a top view when the board | substrate is seen from the front side which has another embodiment about the area | region A shown with the dashed-dotted line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device 10 Key top member 11 Center presser 12 Center key top 13 Operation panel 14 Conductive member 15 Presser 16 Line part 17 Recessed part 19 Apex (deepest part)
20 Substrate 25 Elastic sheet 30 Sensor unit 40 Switch unit 41 Fixed contact 42 Belleville spring member 45 Conductive pattern 50 Center operation unit 52 Fixed contact 55 Belleville spring member 100 Input device

Claims (5)

An input device comprising a substrate and a key top member disposed above the substrate,
The key top member includes at least an operation panel having an operation surface, and a conductive member made of a conductive elastic body fixed to the back surface of the operation panel so as to protrude toward the substrate side.
A sensor unit is provided on the substrate so as to face at least a part of the conductive member,
The operation panel is provided with a recess that is recessed from the back surface of the operation panel toward the front surface and that pushes the conductive member toward the operation panel at a position facing the conductive member . An input device characterized by.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion has a shape having a deepest deepest portion closer to a radially outer side of the operation panel than an in-plane center of the concave portion. The recess has a deepest portion of the recess closer to the outer side in the radial direction of the operation panel than the center thereof, and more than an inclination with respect to the surface of the operation panel from the deepest portion to an edge on the center side of the operation panel . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein an inclination with respect to the surface of the operation panel from the deepest portion to an edge opposite to the center of the operation panel is provided . The operation panel is circular or annular,
The deepest portion in the recess is formed on the circumference of a first circle having the same center as the center of the operation panel,
4. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the center of the conductive member is arranged on a circumference of a second circle inside the first circle. 5.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive elastic body is a conductive rubber.

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