JP4931616B2 - Input aid - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input auxiliary tool for touch input operation on a touch panel type input device for input to a processing device such as a computer.

  One of coordinate input devices for various information processing devices such as computers is a touch panel type input device (also referred to as a flat input panel, a flat input pad, or a flat input mouse). The touch panel type input device includes a transparent or opaque touch panel surface having a function as a coordinate input device, and a display unit that is provided behind the touch panel surface and displays an image in the direction of the touch panel surface. The user can input coordinates to the computer by pressing on the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device with a finger, stylus, pen, etc., and browse the screen displayed by the display means via the touch panel. Is also possible.

  According to the touch panel type input device, unlike a pointing device such as a mouse by relative coordinate input, it is possible to easily input absolute coordinates, so that it is possible to realize an operation suitable for more human senses. it can. Currently, touch panel type input devices are mobile computers, tablet computers, game machines, personal digital assistants such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), digital cameras, mobile phones, PHS, bank ATMs, ticket vending machines and automatic check machines. For example, the information processing apparatus is often used in a small or thin information processing apparatus whose volume is limited in the apparatus main body, an information processing apparatus having an opportunity to be used by a wide range of users, and the like.

  Moreover, there exists an input auxiliary tool aiming at making touch input operation of the above-mentioned touch panel type input device easy (for example, refer to patent documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-104925 JP-A-11-134103

  For example, when a tablet computer is used, if a touch input operation is performed using the attached stylus pen, one hand is occupied by the stylus pen. For this reason, if you have a tablet computer with your other hand, you will not have the freedom of both hands. If a tablet computer is used on a desk in order to avoid this, the portability which is the biggest advantage of a tablet computer will be impaired.

  Further, when the input operation to the tablet computer is realized by a finger instead of the stylus pen, the above-mentioned situation of “both hands are blocked” can be avoided, but the input operation as fine as when the stylus pen is used is difficult. Especially in tablet computers, assuming that the input operation is performed with the palm of the hand on the touch panel surface, the input load is set higher to prevent erroneous input that may occur due to the presence of the palm placed on the touch panel surface. ing. For this reason, an input operation with only a fingertip is actually difficult, and it is necessary to perform an input operation with a fingernail, for example.

  Furthermore, in the above-described conventional input auxiliary tool for facilitating the touch input operation of the touch panel type input device, it is necessary to input with the finger held hollow, It is difficult to get a sense of distance between them.

  Accordingly, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an input auxiliary tool that facilitates a touch input operation on a touch panel type input device and that does not cause an erroneous input.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an input auxiliary tool for touch input operation on a touch panel type input device has a mounting portion to be attached to a finger and a contact surface that can contact the touch panel type input device. And a support unit fixed to the mounting unit, and an input unit having an operation surface that can be pressed by a finger mounted on the mounting unit and fixed to the support unit so as to bend.

  The input unit is a support unit except that the tip of the input unit contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device only when the operation surface is pressed by a finger, while the operation surface is pressed by the finger. When the contact surface is in contact with the touch panel type input device, the distal end portion of the input unit is positioned with a space with respect to the touch panel surface and does not contact the touch panel surface.

  Further, in the present invention, the area of the contact surface where the support portion can contact the touch panel type input device is sufficiently larger than the area where the tip portion of the input portion contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device. To do.

  According to the present invention, since the input auxiliary tool attached to the finger is used while being placed on the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device, the position of the finger viewed from the touch panel surface (that is, the vertical height of the touch panel surface) is stable. The touch input operation can be easily performed. In addition, since the area of the contact surface where the support portion of the input assist device according to the present invention contacts the touch panel type input device is sufficiently larger than the area where the input portion contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device, the support portion Even if the contact surface is in contact with the touch panel surface, the location is not recognized as a touch operation position, and therefore no erroneous input occurs.

  FIG. 1 is a side view of an input aid according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, components having the same reference numerals in different drawings mean components having the same functions. FIG. 2 is a top view of the input assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of the input assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the input assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an input assisting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the input assisting tool 1 for touch input operation on the touch panel type input device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a mounting part 11, a support part 12, and an input part 13. The support part 12 is fixed to the mounting part 11. In addition, you may fix the mounting part 11 and the support part 12 so that bending is possible. The input unit 13 is fixed to the support unit 12 so as to be able to bend. The input assisting tool 1 is used by placing the contact surface 21 of the support portion 12 on a touch panel surface of a touch panel type input device or a casing surrounding the touch panel surface.

  The mounting part 11 is for mounting the input auxiliary tool 1 on a finger. In the embodiment of the present invention, the mounting portion 11 has a ring shape into which a finger can be inserted. As this modified example, a bag-like mounting portion that wraps a finger may be used.

  In addition, in order to enable the mounting portion 11 to be mounted on fingers of any thickness, the mounting portion 11 has a variable structure in which the inner diameter of the ring shape is variable according to the thickness of the finger to be inserted. It is preferable to have. In the embodiment of the present invention, the variable structure is the slit 24. As a modified example, the mounting portion 11 may be made of an elastic member such as rubber, and this may be the variable structure.

  The support part 12 has the contact surface 21 which can contact a touchscreen type input device. The contact surface 21 is preferably planar. The area of the contact surface 21 where the support unit 12 contacts the touch panel type input device is sufficiently larger than the area where the tip 23 of the input unit 13 contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device. In general, in touch panel type input devices, the pitch of the dot spacers near the touch panel surface is narrowed to prevent erroneous input by the palm placed on the touch panel surface. However, the area of the contact surface 21 of the support portion 12 of the input assisting tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is larger than the area where the tip 23 of the input portion 13 contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device. By making it sufficiently large, even if the contact surface 21 comes into contact with the touch panel surface, the touch location of the contact surface 21 is not recognized as a touch operation position by the touch panel type input device. Absent. As described above, since the support unit 12 is fixed to the mounting unit 11, the finger mounted on the mounting unit 11 is positioned by the support unit 12 on the position of the finger viewed from the touch panel surface (that is, the height in the vertical direction of the touch panel surface). ) Can be kept stable, and a touch input operation can be easily performed.

  Since the input assisting tool 1 is used such that the contact surface 21 of the support portion 12 slides on the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device or a casing surrounding the touch panel surface, the contact surface 21 of the support portion 12 is It consists of a slippery member. For example, it is composed of polyacetal, fluororesin, high molecular polyethylene or the like. As this modification, the support part 12 may have a dirt wiping part for cleaning the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device on the contact surface 21 that contacts the touch panel type input device. The dirt wiping portion may be formed of a member formed by weaving ultra-fine fibers, whereby the input auxiliary tool 1 can be wiped cleanly by simply using the input auxiliary tool 1 on the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device. be able to. A cleaning liquid may be further soaked into the dirt wiping portion. Note that the dirt wiping portion may be replaceable in consideration of the case where the dirt wiping effect is weakened.

  The input unit 13 has an operation surface 22 that can be pressed by a finger mounted on the mounting unit 11. The input unit 13 touches the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device while the front end 23 of the input unit 13 is touched by the finger only when the operation surface 22 is pressed by the finger as illustrated. When the contact surface 21 of the support portion 12 is in contact with the touch panel type input device, the distal end portion 23 of the input portion 13 is positioned with a space from the touch panel surface. Has a non-contacting structure. As described above, the input unit 13 and the support unit 12 are fixed to be able to bend. As can be seen from FIG. 1, in the embodiment of the present invention, the input unit 13 has an arch shape, and the input unit 13 is only pressed when the operation surface 22 is pressed by a finger mounted on the mounting unit 11. The input 13 is preferably made of a member having spring elasticity so that the distal end portion 23 contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device.

  The area where the tip 23 of the input unit 13 contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device is made sufficiently smaller than the area of the contact surface 21 of the support unit 12. In addition, since it is also considered that the front-end | tip part 23 of the input part 13 will be worn out by long-term use of the input auxiliary tool 1, the front-end | tip part 23 of the input part 13 is comprised by the chip | tip thing which can be replaced | exchanged. Also good.

  At least the input unit 13 is made of a transparent or translucent member. Thereby, the image displayed on the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device can also be seen, and the input auxiliary tool 1 can be easily used. In addition, you may comprise the input auxiliary tool 1 whole including the mounting part 11 and the support part 12 with a transparent or semi-transparent member.

In order to further improve the feeling of use, the input unit 13 determines the approximate position of the contact point of the tip 23 of the input unit 13 to the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device when the operation surface 22 is pressed by a finger. You may have the mark (icon) 25 which shows. The mark 25 is formed by printing at an appropriate position of the input unit 13 or by sticking a seal. In the illustrated example, the mark 25 has a thick arrow pattern. However, the mark 25 is not limited to this. For example, the approximate position of the input unit 13 such as a circle mark, a square mark, and a triangle mark can be specified to some extent. I just need it.

  FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example of using the input assisting tool according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a top view showing an example of using the input assisting tool according to the embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the input assisting tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is used by inserting the finger 30 into the mounting portion 11 and placing the contact surface 21 of the support portion 12 on the touch panel surface 50 of the touch panel type input device. When a touch operation is performed on the touch panel surface, the finger 30 is pressed down on the contact surface 22 of the input unit 13 in the direction of the arrow 40 in the drawing, and the tip 23 of the input unit 13 is brought into contact with the touch panel surface 50.

  The finger wearing the input assisting tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of a tablet computer or a game machine, the main body is gripped with both hands, and the touch panel surface is often operated with the thumbs of both hands. In such a case, the input assisting tool 1 is attached to the thumb. Then, the touch input operation can be easily performed without erroneous input.

The present invention can be applied to an input auxiliary tool for touch input operation on a touch panel type input device for input to a processing device such as a computer. The touch panel type input device, the method of the depression detection, resistive, capacitive, electromagnetic induction method, but is classified into an ultrasonic system, an input aid according to the invention is a touch panel type input device of the resistive type Can also be used.

  According to the present invention, since the input auxiliary tool attached to the finger is used while being placed on the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device, the position of the finger viewed from the touch panel surface (that is, the vertical height of the touch panel surface) is stable. The touch input operation can be easily performed. In addition, since the area of the contact surface where the support portion of the input assist device according to the present invention contacts the touch panel type input device is sufficiently larger than the area where the input portion contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device, the support portion Even if the contact surface is in contact with the touch panel surface, the location is not recognized as a touch operation position, and therefore no erroneous input occurs.

It is a side view of the input auxiliary tool by the Example of this invention. It is a top view of the input auxiliary tool by the Example of this invention. It is a front view of the input auxiliary tool by the Example of this invention. It is a rear view of the input assistance tool by the Example of this invention. It is a perspective view of the input auxiliary tool by the Example of this invention. It is a side view which shows the usage example of the input assistance tool by the Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows the usage example of the input auxiliary tool by the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input assist tool 11 Mounting part 12 Support part 13 Input part 21 Contact surface 22 Operation surface 23 Tip part 24 Slit 25 Mark

Claims (7)

An input auxiliary tool for touch input operation on a touch panel type input device,
A wearing part to be worn on the finger;
A support portion having a contact surface capable of contacting a touch panel type input device, and fixed to the mounting portion;
An input unit having an operation surface that can be pressed by a finger mounted on the mounting unit and fixed to the support unit so as to be able to bend;
With
The input unit is configured such that the tip of the input unit is in contact with the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device only when the operation surface is pressed, while the support unit includes the support unit except when the operation surface is pressed. the tip portion of the input portion when the contact surface is in contact with the touch panel type input device, have a structure that does not contact the touch panel surface is located with a space on the touch panel surface,
The area of the contact surface where the support part contacts the touch panel type input device is sufficiently larger than the area where the tip of the input unit contacts the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device. Ingredients.   The input assisting tool according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion and the support portion are fixed to be able to bend.   The input assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion has a ring shape into which a finger can be inserted. The input assisting device according to claim 3 , wherein the mounting portion has a variable structure in which an inner diameter of the ring shape is variable according to a thickness of a finger to be inserted.   The input support tool according to claim 1, wherein the support part has a dirt wiping part for cleaning the touch panel surface of the touch panel type input device on the contact surface that comes into contact with the touch panel type input device.   The input aid according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is made of a transparent or translucent member. The input assisting tool according to claim 6 , wherein the input unit has a mark indicating an approximate position of a contact point of the input unit to a touch panel surface of a touch panel type input device when the operation surface is pressed by a finger.

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