JP4573890B2 - INPUT DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE INPUT DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device and an electronic apparatus using the input device.

  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. As one type of the input device, a direction instruction key having a push button switch structure is known. However, recently, touch panel type input devices have appeared. Since the touch panel type input device reads the movement of a finger lightly touching the touch panel and converts it into a signal, it is not necessary to press the finger strongly with a finger unlike a push button switch.

Furthermore, in recent years, there is a control disk that can be moved easily by touching a finger along the touch panel continuously by adopting an annular touch panel configuration as an input device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 2003-500849 (Claims)

  By the way, a user who has used a cross key having a push button switch structure for many years may feel uncomfortable with the operation of the control disk without a click feeling.

  Further, since the control disk described in Patent Document 1 performs a process of determining the pressed position from the pressed position based on a predetermined calculation formula, a determination error is likely to occur compared to a simple on / off push button switch.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, that is, to provide an input device that eliminates the disadvantages of a control disk while taking advantage of the goodness of the control disk.

In order to achieve such an object, an operation panel having an operation surface, a substrate disposed opposite to a flat portion of the operation panel, and a conductive elastic body fixed to the operation panel are disposed on the substrate. Opposed to the sensor unit and the pressing element fixed to the operation panel, and based on the operation center of the operation panel, a pressed member installed on the substrate so that the center of the sensor unit does not overlap in the radial direction; And the operation panel is circular, annular, or a part of a circle or a ring, and the sensor unit is disposed on a circle of a first circle having the same center as the center of the operation panel. Is an input device comprising at least one disc spring-like member disposed on a circle of a second circle having the same center as the center of the operation panel and having a diameter larger than that of the first circle . .

  By setting it as such an input device, it becomes an input device which functions as an annular control disk and can also be operated as a direction indicating key having a push button function.

  With such an input device, it functions as a control disk that reads the movement of a finger that touches the operation panel lightly, and a push button function is arranged on the outer periphery of the operation panel, making it easy to operate as a push button switch. Become.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, a plurality of sensor portions and conductive elastic bodies are arranged at equiangular intervals at a first interval in the circumferential direction. It is assumed that a plurality of equiangular intervals are arranged at a second interval in the direction, and the arrangement positions of the sensor portion and the conductive elastic body are positions where the arrangement positions of the pressed member and the pressing element do not overlap in the radial direction. Yes.

  By using such an input device, the accuracy as a control disk is improved, and it is easy to operate as a push button switch.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the gap between the pressing element and the member to be pressed is larger than the gap between the conductive elastic body and the sensor unit.

  By using such an input device, the operation of the sensor unit is prioritized over the operation of the pressed member, and the goodness of the control disk is utilized. On the other hand, when the light is touched as the control disk, the pressed member is kept in the OFF state, so that it is possible to provide an input device in which the pressed member is unlikely to malfunction.

  Further, in another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the sensor unit and the conductive elastic body are arranged on the circumference having a diameter of 5 mm or more and each center is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees, and the pressed portion is arranged. The member and the pressing element are arranged on a circle having a diameter of 10 mm or more, with each center being arranged at an angle of 90 degrees, and the sensor part and the pressed member closest to the sensor part are: It is assumed that each center forms an angle of 20 to 25 degrees in the circumferential direction with respect to the operation center.

  By setting it as such an input device, a sensor part and a to-be-pressed member can be arrange | positioned efficiently on a board | substrate, and size reduction is attained.

  In another invention, based on the input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a determination unit that determines an operated content based on a signal from the input device, and a determination by the determination unit The electronic apparatus includes an execution unit that executes the operation content and a display unit that displays the content to be executed.

  By setting it as such an electronic device, it becomes an electronic device provided with the input device which has both the function as a highly accurate control disk and the function as a direction indication key which is easy to operate.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an input device that eliminates the disadvantages of the control disk while taking advantage of the goodness of the control disk.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment as viewed from the operation surface side.

  The electronic apparatus 1 is provided with an input device 100, a push button switch, and the like according to one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, on the operation surface of the electronic device 1, the key top 2 serving as a push button switch and the operation panel 3 of the input device 100 are arranged. The operation panel 3 has an annular shape, and a key top 2 and other push button switches are arranged in an inner portion surrounded by the annular operation panel 3.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the input device 100 according to the present embodiment, showing an enlarged cross section when cut along the line AA in FIG. 1 and viewed in the arrow direction of the line AA. . FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a cross section taken along the CC line having an angle θ of 22.5 ° formed with the AA line shown in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow of the CC line. It is an expanded sectional view shown.

  An elastic sheet 20 is affixed to the side opposite to the operation surface of the key top 2 and the operation panel 3 (hereinafter, the operation surface side is referred to as the front surface and the surface opposite to the operation surface is referred to as the back surface). A presser 11 is formed on the back surface of the elastic sheet 20 on the back surface of the key top 2 and the back surface portion of the operation panel 3. Hereinafter, when referring to the presser 11 on the back surface portion of the key top 2, it is referred to as a presser 11a. Moreover, when referring to the presser 11 on the back surface portion of the operation panel 3, it is referred to as a presser 11b. And when referring to both the presser 11a and the presser 11b, it shall call the presser 11. In addition, a conductive elastic body 21 is formed on the back surface of the elastic sheet 20 on the back surface portion of the operation panel 3 at a position to be described later that does not overlap the presser 11b.

  Further, a substrate 30 is provided facing the elastic sheet 20. On the surface of the substrate 30 facing the elastic sheet 20, a sensor unit 23, a fixed contact 13 as the pressed member 10, and a disc spring-like member 12 that covers the fixed contact 13 are provided. The disc spring-like member 12 and the presser 11 are provided so as to face each other at a distance F, and the conductive elastic body 21 and the sensor unit 23 are provided so as to face each other at a distance G. . In the present embodiment, the distance F is, for example, 0.2 to 0.35 mm, and the distance G is 0.2 to 0.3 mm.

  The key top 2 and the operation panel 3 are members made of resin, metal, or a composite thereof, and may be a single molded body or a molded body formed of a plurality of layers. When the key top 2 and the operation panel 3 composed of a plurality of layers are adopted, the key top 2 and the operation panel 3 are preferably members whose surfaces are covered with a resin sheet, and even if the covering region is only a part, There may be. The resin key top 2 and operation panel 3 according to the present embodiment are made of polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin, polypropylene resin, vinyl chloride resin, polystyrene resin, methacrylic resin, polysulfone. Each resin such as a resin, a polyester resin, or a polyamide resin can be used, but a particularly preferable resin is a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin.

  In the present embodiment, as the operation panel 3, for example, an annular panel 3 having a thickness of about 1 mm having a flat portion having an outer circumference diameter of about 20 mm and an inner circumference diameter of about 7 mm is preferably used. it can. Further, for the purpose of facilitating the ringing operation with the finger along the operation panel 3, 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 3 thicker than the portion other than the outer periphery so that the position of the operation panel 3 can be recognized by finger touch.

  The key top 2 and the operation panel 3 are fixed to the elastic sheet 20. Specifically, the key top 2 and the operation panel 3 are bonded to the elastic sheet 20 via an adhesive layer 40 (see FIG. 6) provided on the back surfaces of the key top 2 and the operation panel 3. The material of the elastic sheet 20 is preferably a soft material that can be deformed when pressed from above. Specifically, the elastic sheet 20 having a thickness of about 10 μm to about 200 μm and a Shore A hardness of 20 to 90 is particularly suitable. Examples of such an elastic sheet 20 include a sheet made of urethane resin, thermoplastic elastomer, silicone rubber, natural rubber, or the like. Among these materials, it is more preferable to use a sheet made of a urethane elastomer having high durability. Furthermore, the elastic sheet 20 may be decorated. The elastic sheet 20 may have a high light transmittance. When the elastic sheet 20 having a high light transmittance is employed, since the outer periphery of the key top 2 and the operation panel 3 can be illuminated by illuminating from the back side of the elastic sheet 20, the key top 2 and the operation panel 3 can be illuminated even in the dark. The position becomes easy to understand.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the region B indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 when the substrate 30 is viewed from the front side, and is a view seen through the disc spring-like member 12 covering the fixed contact 13. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the back side portion of the operation panel 3 when viewed from the back side of the elastic sheet 20.

  The pressed member 10 a and the pressed member 10 b are provided in the input device 100 according to the present embodiment, and are also provided in the key top 2 disposed in the central portion of the input device 100. In the input device 100, the pressed member 10 a is provided in the central opening of the annular operation panel 3. On the other hand, the pressed member 10b has, for example, an angle X (see FIG. 5: switch member 10b) in the circumferential direction on the second circle 15 having a diameter of about 16 mm with respect to the operation center L of the operation panel 3. Are provided at four locations so as to form an angle of 90 degrees. In addition, in this specification, when referring to both the pressed member 10a and the pressed member 10b, it is called the pressed member 10.

  The pressed member 10 includes a fixed contact 13, a conductive portion 14, and a disc spring-like member 12 disposed on the substrate 30 side. Moreover, it is preferable that the presser 11 b and the pressed member 10 b provided on the back surface portion of the operation panel 3 are provided on the outer peripheral side of the operation panel 3. That is, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the first circle 25 has a smaller diameter than the second circle 15 and is provided inside. This is because when a circular or annular cross key is provided, the user tends to press the outermost side in the indicated direction. However, when the diameter of the operation panel 3 is 18 mm or less, it is preferable that the first circle 25 and the second circle 15 have the same arc. This is because the operation panel 3 having a diameter of 18 mm or less has a small circumference, and the user tends to draw an arc using the outer peripheral side of the operation panel 3. If the pressing element 11b and the pressed member 10b are provided in a portion that is easy to press, the pressed member 10b is pressed from directly above the pressed member 10b, so that the switch can be accurately turned on or off.

  The presser 11 is provided on the back surface of the elastic sheet 20 and on the back surface portion of the key top 2 or the operation panel 3 in order to contact the fixed contact 13 and the disc spring-like member 12 covering the fixed contact 13. The pressing element 11 may be formed by integrally molding the elastic sheet 20 into a shape having the pressing element 11, or may be fixed to the elastic sheet 20 with an adhesive or the like.

  The fixed contact 13 and the conductive portion 14 included in the pressed member 10 are conductive portions provided on the substrate 30. Specifically, it is formed of a conductor such as a copper foil on a substrate impregnated with an insulating resin.

  The disc spring-like member 12 included in the pressed member 10 has a dome shape, and its outer edge is connected to the conductive portion 14 so as to cover the fixed contact 13. The disc spring member 12 serves as a movable contact for connecting / disconnecting the fixed contact 13 and the conductive portion 14. The disc spring-like member 12 in the present embodiment has a thickness of about 0.025 mm and a diameter of 4 mm to 5 mm, for example. Moreover, the movable distance of the disc spring-like member 12 in the present embodiment, that is, when the disc spring-like member 12 is pressed in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the disc spring-like member 12 with a load of 1.0 to 3.0 N. Further, the distance that the dome apex of the disc spring-like member 12 can be displaced is 0.10 to 0.25 mm. However, the disc spring-like member 12 is not limited to being made of metal, and may be formed of a polyester dome or conductive resin obtained by conducting conductive printing on a PET resin molded on a reverse ridge. Further, for example, an elliptical disc spring member 12 having a short side of 3 mm and a long side of 4 mm may be used. In addition, when the disc spring-like member 12 is made of metal, a feeling of clicking is further generated and a good operation feeling can be obtained.

  In the pressed member 10 configured as described above, when the key top 2 or the operation panel 3 is pressed, the presser 11 presses the disc spring-like member 12. The disc spring-like member 12 is buckled by this pressing force (usually approximately 1.0 to 3.0 N). The fixed contact 13 and the conductive portion 14 are connected by the buckled disc spring-like member 12, and the fixed contact 13 becomes conductive. When the pressing of the key top 2 or the operation panel 3 is released, the disc spring-like member 12 returns. As a result, the fixed contact 13 and the conduction portion 14 connected by the disc spring-like member 12 are disconnected, and the fixed contact 13 is in a non-conduction state.

  The conductive elastic body 21 is a hemispherical conductive elastic body with a diameter of 2.5 mm that protrudes from the elastic sheet 20 toward the sensor unit 23. When the diameter of the hemispherical conductive elastic body 21 is 2 mm or more, the resistance value does not change suddenly with respect to the pressing, which is preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that the distance (henceforth the height of the conductive elastic body 21) which the electroconductive elastic body 21 protrudes from the elastic sheet 20 is larger than the movable distance of the above-mentioned disc spring-shaped member 12. FIG. The conductive elastic body 21 is an elastic body that can be easily deformed by touching the surface of the operation panel 3 with a finger. For example, a rubber having a Shore hardness of about 50 to 90 degrees including a carbon material or the like is used. Elastomers are preferred. By using the conductive elastic body 12 having a Shore hardness of 50 to 90 degrees, when the user slides his / her finger on the operation panel 3, the operation panel 3 does not sink too much. The sensor unit 23 can detect the pressure generated when the user's finger slides on the operation panel 3.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the conductive elastic body 21 has an angle Y in the circumferential direction on the first circle 25 having a diameter of about 10 mm with reference to the operation center L of the operation panel 3 (see FIG. 5: The angle between the centers of the conductive elastic bodies 21 is 45 degrees, and is provided at eight locations. Moreover, it is preferable that the center of the conductive elastic body 21 does not overlap with the pressed member 10b provided on the first circle 25 located outside the second circle 15 in the radial direction. For example, the conductive elastic body 21 has an angle Z (see FIG. 5: the center of the conductive elastic body 21) in the circumferential direction from the closest pressed member 10b with the operation center L of the operation panel 3 as a reference. The angle between the pressed member 10b and the center of the pressed member 10b is 22.5 degrees. By disposing the conductive elastic body 21 at such a position, the conductive elastic body 21 is unlikely to become an obstacle when the operation panel 3 is pushed in. Therefore, the user can press the pressed member on the outer periphery of the operation panel 3. It is easy to push 10b. In addition, the input device 100 is less likely to malfunction and has a better click feeling.

  The sensor unit 23 is a conductive portion formed on the substrate 30 as with the fixed contact 13. In addition, the sensor unit 23 is formed in a state in which a pair of comb-like electrodes are engaged with each other without being in contact with each other within a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the conductive elastic body 21. The sensor unit 23 is provided to face the conductive elastic body 21. When the sensor unit 23 touches the operation panel 3 with a finger, one or more conductive elastic bodies 21 on the back side of the touched part are pushed down, and the conductive elastic body 21 touches the sensor unit 23. Then, the electrodes of the sensor unit 23 are short-circuited by the conductive elastic body 21. When the conductive elastic body 21 is further pressed, the contact area of the conductive elastic body 21 to the sensor unit 23 increases. When the central processing unit (not shown) inside the input device 100 measures the change in the amount of current or the resistance value generated according to the change in the contact area of the one or more sensor units 23, the input device 100 The direction in which the finger is touching and the pressing strength can be grasped.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged enlarged cross-sectional view of a region D indicated by a broken line in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a region E indicated by a broken line in FIG.

  When the finger is not touching the operation panel 3, the distance G between the presser 11 b and the disc spring-like member 12 is larger than the distance F between the conductive elastic body 21 and the sensor unit 23. When the distance G is larger than the distance F, when the finger touches the operation panel 3, first, the conductive elastic body 21 touches the substrate 30 and can start to function as a control disk. Further, since the pressed member 10b is easily kept in the OFF state in a state where the finger is lightly touched, it is possible to provide an input device in which malfunction of the pressed member 10b hardly occurs. That is, the pressed member 10b is pressed only when the operation panel 3 is pushed more strongly.

  As described above, in the input device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a push button switch that provides a click feeling while taking advantage of the goodness of the annular control disk. In addition, it is possible to perform up / down / left / right four-way moving operation using the push button switch as a direction instruction key.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the input device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a manufacturing process of input device 100 according to the present embodiment.

  First, the board | substrate 30 with which the sensor part 23, the stationary contact 13, and the electroconductive part 14 are formed is prepared, and the disk spring-like member 12 is formed on the board | substrate 30 (step S101). In step S101, a substrate 30 on which predetermined wiring is formed as the sensor unit 23, the fixed contact 13, and the conductive unit 14 is prepared. A disc spring-like member 12 is formed on the printed board. In the state where the disc spring-like member 12 is disposed, the disc spring-like member 12 is suitably fixed by the adhesive sheet being in close contact with the substrate 30 so as to cover the disc spring-like member 12.

  Further, the operation panel 3 and the key top 2 are attached to one side of the elastic sheet 20 with an adhesive in a separate process during or before and after the disc spring-like member 12 is formed on the substrate 30. (Step S201). And the presser 11 is affixed on the back surface of the elastic sheet 20 with an adhesive (step S202). Then, the conductive elastic body 21 is attached to the operation panel 3 on the back side of the elastic sheet 20 with an adhesive (step S203). And it superimposes with the board | substrate 30 prepared in step S101, and installs in the housing | casing of the electronic device 1. FIG.

  The operation panel 3 and the key top 2 can be bonded to the urethane sheet with an adhesive, or may be bonded by interposing an adhesive layer such as a double-sided tape, or by heat sealing. Also, steps S201 to S203 may not be in the order described above. For example, the order may be changed as appropriate, such as the reverse order or the step S202 being performed first.

  The preferred examples of the input device 100 and the electronic apparatus 1 using the input device 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various modifications are made. It can be implemented in the form.

  For example, in the present embodiment, a diameter, an angle, a distance, and the like are specifically described. However, the present invention is not limited to these numerical values, and other values may be used. For example, each parameter can be changed by changing the size of the operation panel 3. Moreover, the conductive elastic body 21, the sensor part 23, the pressed member 10b, and the pressing part 11b do not necessarily have to be arranged at equal intervals. Each numerical value described in this specification is not limited to the numerical value, and includes an error or tolerance. For example, the angle Z is set to 22.5 degrees, but if this angle is in the range of 20 to 25 degrees, it is preferable in terms of space saving. Further, this angle may be set to 0 degrees or other values.

  In FIG. 4, the center of the pressed part 10 b and the center of the sensor part 23 do not overlap in the radial direction with reference to the center L, but the outer periphery of the pressed part 10 b and the outer periphery of the sensor part 23. Is overlapping in the radial direction. However, this radial overlap may be completely eliminated. That is, it is more preferable that the outer periphery of the pressed part 10b and the outer periphery of the sensor part 23 are arranged so as not to overlap in the radial direction with the center L as a reference. As shown in FIG. 5, the presser 11b and the conductive elastic body 21 are arranged and shaped so as not to overlap at all in the radial direction, which is preferable. Although it does not overlap in the direction, it may be arranged so that the outer periphery slightly overlaps in the radial direction. Or FIG. 9 shows the modification of arrangement | positioning on the board | substrate of the to-be-pressed part 10b and the sensor part 23. FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the center of the presser 11b and the center of the conductive elastic body 21 may be arranged on the same circumference.

  In the present embodiment, the conductive elastic body 21 and the sensor unit 23 are provided at eight locations, respectively. However, the operation panel 3, the pressed member 10 b, the presser 11 b, the conductive elastic body 21, and the sensor unit 23 are provided. Depending on the thickness and size, it may be 7 or less, or 9 or more. When the conductive elastic body 21 and the sensor portion 23 are provided in fewer than eight places, the three or more places can sufficiently function as a control disk. Similarly, the pressed member 10b and the pressing element 11b are provided at four locations, respectively, but may be provided at any number of locations. Further, the key top 2 positioned at the center of the operation panel 3 may be plural instead of one.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the sensor part 23 shall have a comb-shaped electrode pattern, it is not restricted to such a shape. For example, the sensor unit 23 having a concentric pattern may be used, or another shape may be used. Alternatively, a sensor that measures the amount of compression of the conductive elastic body by electrostatic capacity may be used. In addition, by using a conductive elastic body whose conductivity is improved by compression or a conductive elastic body whose current resistance value is changed by compression, the pressure applied to the conductive elastic body is reduced. You may make it the system which measures.

  In the present embodiment, the distance G is greater than the distance F. However, it is not limited to such a form. The distance G may be the same as the distance F, or the distance G may be smaller than the distance F. However, when the distance G is greater than the distance F, the pressed member 10b and the pressing element 11b do not contact before the conductive elastic body 21 touches the substrate 30. Therefore, the pressed member 10b and the pressing member 11b do not become an obstacle, and the operation panel 3 is not easily pushed toward the substrate 30. Therefore, when the distance G is larger than the distance F, the contact amount of the conductive elastic body 21 to the substrate 30 can be changed by a slight load difference. That is, the control disk can detect a slight difference in load applied to the operation panel 3.

  In this embodiment, the input device 100 functions as both a push button switch and a control disk. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, it may function only as a push button switch, or may function only as a control disk. Furthermore, the electronic device 1 may be configured such that the user can select whether to function only as a push button switch, function only as a control disk, or function as a push button switch or a control disk.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the keytop 2, the operation panel 3, and the elastic sheet 20 were bonded together with the adhesive agent, things other than an adhesive agent may be used. For example, it may be bonded with a double-sided tape, or may be bonded by thermal fusion or the like. Further, the flat portions of the key top 2 and the operation panel 3 facing the elastic sheet 20 do not need to be fixed to the elastic sheet 20 over the entire surface. For example, the space between the adjacent key tops 2 or the outer periphery of the operation panel 3 may not be adhered to the elastic sheet 20.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the shape of the electroconductive elastic body 21 shall be a hemisphere, it is not restricted to such a form. For example, a convex object or protrusion having a curvature radius of about 2 to 25 mm at the tip may be used. Further, by appropriately adjusting the hardness, tip shape, or distance F from the substrate 30 of the conductive elastic body 21, it is possible to adjust the operational stability and the operational feeling.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the sticking process (step S202) of the presser 11 does not necessarily need to be performed. In such a case, it is preferable that step S202 be a step of attaching a key sheet to which the shape of the presser 11 has been previously applied. Further, the formation of the elastic sheet 20 on each member may be performed in one step by insert molding, outsert molding or the like.

  Further, the input device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a push button switch on the inner side of the annular operation panel 3, that is, the inner portion surrounded by the operation panel 3, but the push button switch is not essential. . That is, an input member other than the push button switch may be provided adjacent to the control disk. Or it is good also as the input device 100 which has only the part which functions as a control disk.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although it is set as the cyclic | annular operation panel 3, 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.

  Next, examples of the present invention will be described.

(Sample preparation method)
First, a crosslinking agent C8 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added to and kneaded with silicone rubber compound KE951 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) containing 50 parts by weight of ketjen black as a conductive member. The kneaded unvulcanized conductive rubber was heat-molded with a press to form a conductive elastic body 21 having a diameter of 2.5 mm, a height of 0.2 mm, a radius of curvature of the tip of 25 mm, and a hardness of 70. .

  Moreover, 100 parts by weight of silicone rubber compound KE951U and 1 part by weight of cross-linking agent C8 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) were blended and kneaded as an elastic sheet 20 at a ratio of 1 part by weight.

  Next, a molding die having a concave portion in which the molded conductive elastic body 21 is disposed on the first circle 25 and the presser 11b is formed on the second circle 15 is prepared and molded. The conductive elastic body 21 was placed in a molding die. Unvulcanized rubber was then placed and heated and pressurized at 180 ° C. for 3 minutes. In this way, the conductive elastic body 21 and the presser 11b were integrally insert-molded on the elastic sheet 20 made of silicone rubber.

  Next, a disk-shaped operation panel 3 having an outer diameter of 20 mm and an inner diameter of 7 mm is applied to the surface of the elastic sheet 20 where the presser 11b and the conductive elastic body 21 are not formed with a double-sided tape (manufactured by Nitto Denko). Pasted. A double-sided tape (Nitto Denko # 5002) has a surface having a silicone adhesive on the elastic sheet 20 side and a surface having an acrylic adhesive on the operation panel 3 side.

  Next, a metal disc spring-like member 12 having a diameter of 4 mm, an operation load necessary to start the operation of 1.8 N, and a movable distance of 0.18 mm was prepared. Then, the disc spring-like member 12 was provided on the second circle 15 of the printed board serving as the board 30. The metal disc spring-like member 12 was provided so as to straddle the fixed contact 13, and was connected and fixed to the conductive portions 14 provided on both sides of the fixed contact 13. For fixing the disc spring-like member 12, a polyethylene terephthalate sheet having an adhesive layer with a substrate thickness of 0.025 mm was used. The input device 100 in which the pressing member 11b and the metal disc spring-like member 12 of the elastic sheet 20 to which the operation panel 3 was attached face each other was produced. An example in which the distance F of the gap between the presser 11b and the metal disc spring-like member 12 was changed, and an example in which the diameters of the first circle 15 and the second circle 25 were changed, were prepared. The operational feeling and malfunction status of the input device 100 according to the example were evaluated. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

(Criteria)
The operational feeling and malfunction status of the input device 100 were evaluated according to the following criteria.
◎ ... Easy to operate as a push button switch or a control disk, and there is no malfunction.
... There is a sense of incongruity when used as a pushbutton switch or as a control disk, but there is no malfunction.
Δ: Malfunction occurs when used as a pushbutton switch or as a control disk.

  The first circle is 9.8 mm, and the second circle is 15.4 mm (that is, the first circle is outside the second circle). Evaluated. In the fifth embodiment in which the distance G and the distance F are the same, the input device 100 has many malfunctions. On the other hand, in the input devices of Examples 1 to 4 in which the distance G is larger than the distance F, the input device 100 operates favorably.

  In particular, Example 1 and Example 2 in which the distance G is within 0.3 mm are input devices 100 with a good operational feeling both when operated as a control disk and when operated as a pushbutton switch. It was. Specifically, when operating as a control disk, it is only necessary to touch lightly. On the other hand, when operating as a push button switch, the input device 100 provides a click feeling.

  The distance difference between the distance G and the distance F of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, since the distance G is larger than that of the first embodiment, the distance F is larger than that of the input device 100 of the other embodiments. Therefore, since the gap between the pressing element 11b arranged on the back surface of the operation panel 3 and the metal disc spring-like member 21 is too large, it is necessary to move the operation panel up and down more greatly in order to push the pressed member 10b. was there. Therefore, the input device 100 can feel the operation for pushing the pressed member 10b heavy.

  In the input device 100 according to the third embodiment in which the distance G is 0.35 mm and the distance F is 0.2 mm, which is the same as the other embodiments, the presser 11b disposed on the back surface of the operation panel 3 and a metal disc spring Since the gap with the shaped member 21 is too large, the operation panel 3 needs to be largely moved up and down in order to push the pressed member 10b. Therefore, the input device 100 is felt so that the operation for pushing the pressed member 10b is felt heavy.

  In the input device 100 of the fourth embodiment, the distance difference between the distance G and the distance F is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the distance G is larger than that of the first embodiment. As a result, the distance F in the input device 100 of the fourth embodiment is larger than that of the input devices 100 of the other embodiments. Therefore, the operation feeling was heavy when operating as a control disk. This is because the operation panel 3 sinks greatly when operated as a control disk because the distance (distance F) until the conductive elastic body 21 reaches the substrate is large.

  The input device 100 according to the sixth embodiment operates as the input device 100 in which the first circle is 15 mm and the second circle is 8.5 mm, that is, the first circle is inside the second circle. evaluated. When the first circle is inside the second circle, the input device 100 with many malfunctions is obtained even when the distance G is greater than the distance F and the distance G is within 0.3 mm. It was. Therefore, the input device 100 is felt so that the operation for pushing the pressed member 10b is felt heavy.

  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 electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the operation surface side. It is an expanded sectional view which expands and shows the cross section cut | disconnected by the AA line in FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which expands and shows the cross section cut | disconnected by the CC line | wire in FIG. It is a top view when the board | substrate is seen from the front side about the area | region B of FIG. It is the figure which looked at the back side part of the operation panel about the area | region B of FIG. 1, and is a top view when a surface of an elastic sheet is seen from the back surface side of an elastic sheet (a presser is abbreviate | omitted). It is an expanded sectional view which expands and shows the cross section of the area | region shown by D of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which expands and shows the cross section of the area | region shown by E of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the manufacturing process of the input device which concerns on this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the modification of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device 3 Operation panel 10 Pressed member 10a Pressed member 10b Pressed member 11 Presser (pressing member)
11a Presser 11b Presser 12 Belleville spring-like member (part of pressed member)
13 Fixed contact (part of pressed member)
14 Conductive part (part of pressed member)
21 Conductive elastic body 23 Sensor part L Operation center F Between the presser and the pressed member G Between the conductive elastic body and the sensor part

Claims (5)

An operation panel having an operation surface;
A substrate disposed to face the flat portion of the operation panel;
A sensor unit installed on the substrate so as to face the conductive elastic body fixed to the operation panel;
A pressed member that is placed on the substrate so as to face the pressing element fixed to the operation panel, and with the operation center of the operation panel as a reference, so that the center of the sensor unit does not overlap in the radial direction,
And having a,
The operation panel is a circle, a ring, or a circle or a part of a ring.
The sensor unit is arranged on a circle of a first circle having the same center as the center of the operation panel, the pressed member has the same center as the center of the operation panel, and the first Comprising at least one disc spring-like member disposed on a circle of a second circle having a diameter larger than the circle,
An input device characterized by that. The sensor unit and the conductive elastic body are arranged at equiangular intervals at a first interval in the circumferential direction,
A plurality of the pressed member and the pressing element are arranged at equiangular intervals at a second interval in the circumferential direction,
Position of the conductive elastic body and the sensor unit, the characterized in that it is a position that does not overlap in the radial direction to the position of the pressed member said pushing element, the input apparatus according to claim 1. Between the pressing element and the pressed member,
And the conductive elastic body, being greater than the gap between the sensor unit, the input device according to claim 1 or claim 2. The sensor part and the conductive elastic body are each arranged on a circle having a diameter of 5 mm or more, and each center is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees.
Each of the pressed member and the pressing element is arranged on a circle having a diameter of 10 mm or more, and each center is arranged at an angle of 90 degrees.
The sensor part and the pressed member closest to the sensor part are characterized in that each center forms an angle of 20 to 25 degrees in the circumferential direction with the operation center as a reference. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A determination unit that determines the operated content based on a signal from the input device;
An execution unit for executing the operation content based on the determination of the determination unit;
An electronic device comprising: a display unit that displays content to be executed.

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