JP5118666B2 - TOUCH PAD INPUT DEVICE WITH ANTENNA AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING THE DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a touchpad input device with an antenna, and an electronic apparatus equipped with the device.

  The touch pad input device is mounted on an electronic device such as a laptop personal computer (laptop computer). In a laptop computer, a main body having a keyboard and a display are connected by a hinge. In this main body, a touch pad input device is disposed on the front side of the keyboard.

In the laptop computer, a shield member is provided inside the housing of the main body. The shield member is provided so as to cover the electronic device inside the main body, and suppresses the emission or incidence of unwanted electromagnetic waves (EMI countermeasures).
However, the housing and the shield member of the main body are provided with an opening for arranging the touch pad input device, and the face sheet of the touch pad input device is exposed at the opening to form a sensing surface.

  As a touch pad input device, Patent Document 1 proposes a touch pad module with an antenna. In this touchpad module, it is considered that communication with the outside becomes possible through the antenna by arranging the antenna in the opening of the shield member.

  Specifically, in the touchpad module disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, the antenna is provided on the printed circuit board of the touchpad. It is also contemplated that the antenna can be placed in a separate flexible layer between or adjacent to the layers used for the touchpad array itself.

JP-T-2002-539517 (paragraph numbers 0006, 0014, 0033 and FIG. 3 etc.)

Generally, the touch pad module has a grid-like electrode and a planar ground electrode arranged below the grid-like electrode as position detection electrodes. As suggested in Patent Document 1, when an antenna is disposed under a planar ground electrode, electromagnetic waves generated by the antenna are reflected or absorbed by the planar ground electrode. Further, the electromagnetic wave generated by the external device is also reflected or absorbed by the planar ground electrode.
For this reason, when the antenna is disposed below the planar ground electrode, communication with an external device is difficult.

  The present invention has been made based on the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touchpad input with an antenna that realizes stable communication with an external device while the antenna is disposed under an electrode for position detection of the touchpad. An apparatus and an electronic device equipped with the apparatus are provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following solutions.

  First Solution: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touchpad input device with an antenna having a sensing surface that is exposed at an opening provided in a shield member that shields radiation noise in an electronic device. A ground electrode provided along the sensing surface and constituting a plurality of measurement regions for measuring capacitance, and a ground electrode along the electrode group on the opposite side of the sensing surface And an antenna for communicating with an external device along the ground electrode layer on the side opposite to the electrode group, and the ground electrode has a plurality of openings. A touchpad input device is provided.

  According to the touchpad input device with an antenna of the first solving means, part of the electromagnetic wave generated by the antenna and the electromagnetic wave generated by the external device passes through the opening of the ground electrode. For this reason, communication between the antenna and the external device is realized.

  Second Solution: Preferably, the electrode group is disposed in a first layer along the sensing surface, and includes a first drive electrode made of a plurality of conductors extending in a first direction, and the first layer. A second drive electrode made of a plurality of conductors respectively extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, in the first layer, in the second layer, Alternatively, the detection electrode is arranged in a third layer parallel to the first layer and the second layer, and constitutes the measurement region in cooperation with each of the conductors of the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode. A region of the ground electrode layer projected in the stacking direction of the sensing surface, the electrode group, and the ground electrode layer is a first region, and the second drive electrode is the stacked layer A region in the ground electrode layer projected in the direction is a second region, and the detection electrode is in front When a region in the ground electrode layer projected in the stacking direction is a third region, each opening of the ground electrode is located in a region other than the first region, the second region, and the third region. In addition, at least a part of a region in the ground electrode layer on which the antenna is projected in the stacking direction is located in the opening.

According to the second solution, at least a part of the antenna is shielded by the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the detection electrode, and the detection electrode in the stacking direction of the sensing surface, the electrode group, and the ground electrode layer. Absent.
For this reason, more stable communication is realized between the antenna and the external device.

Third solving means: Preferably, the antenna is formed in close contact with the antenna substrate.
According to the touchpad input device with an antenna of the third solving means, since the antenna is formed in close contact with the antenna substrate, the antenna is reliably supported, and deformation of the antenna is prevented.

Fourth solving means: Preferably, the circuit board on which an electric element for detecting a change in capacitance of the measurement region is mounted is provided, and the sensing surface, the electrode group, and the ground electrode layer are stacked in the stacking direction. Thus, the antenna is located between the ground electrode layer and the circuit board.
According to the touchpad input device with an antenna of the fourth solving means, even if the circuit board is provided, the circuit board does not block between the antenna and the external device, and between the antenna and the external device. Communication is realized.

Fifth Solution: Preferably, a magnetic member is provided at a position farther from the sensing surface than the antenna in the stacking direction, and the magnetic member has electrical insulation and constitutes the shield member. It has higher magnetic permeability than metal.
According to the touchpad input device with an antenna of the fifth solving means, since the magnetic flux generated by the antenna is guided to the inside of the magnetic member, the number of magnetic fluxes passing through the shield member can be reduced. On the other hand, since the magnetic member has electrical insulation, even if magnetic flux passes through the magnetic member, generation of eddy current is suppressed.
As a result, according to the touchpad input device with an antenna, more stable communication is realized between the antenna and the external device.

Sixth solving means: Preferably, the thickness of the magnetic member between the electrode group and the sensing surface is 0.5 mm or less, and the real part of the relative permeability of the magnetic member is 10 or more.
According to the touch pad input device with an antenna of the sixth solving means, since the thickness of the magnetic member is 0.5 mm or less, the enlargement of the touch pad input device with the antenna is prevented even if the magnetic member is provided. .
On the other hand, even if the thickness of the magnetic member is 0.5 mm or less, since the value of the real part of the magnetic permeability is 10 or more, the magnetic flux is guided to the inside of the magnetic member, and the number of magnetic fluxes passing through the shield member is It is definitely reduced.
As a result, according to the touchpad input device with an antenna, more stable communication is realized between the antenna and the external device.

Seventh Solution: As another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including the touchpad input device with an antenna according to any one of the solutions 1 to 6.
In the electronic device of the seventh solving means, communication with the external device is realized by the touchpad input device with an antenna, and cooperation with the external device is achieved.

According to the touchpad input device with an antenna of the present invention, even when the antenna is farther from the sensing surface than the detection electrode, the detection electrode has the opening, so that communication with the external device is realized.
In the electronic device of the present invention, communication with an external device is realized by a touchpad input device with an antenna, and cooperation with the external device is achieved.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the personal computer carrying the touchpad input device of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic fragmentary sectional view which follows the II-II line | wire of FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic appearance of a touch pad input device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the touch pad input device of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a ground electrode layer in FIG. 4. It is a top view of the antenna layer in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the ground electrode layer of FIG. 4 overlaid on the antenna layer of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the touchpad input device with an antenna of FIG. 3 at the position of the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric circuit in the personal computer of FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a laptop personal computer (electronic device) 11 equipped with a touchpad input device 10 with an antenna according to the first embodiment. The computer 11 has a main body 12 and a display 14, and the main body 12 and the display 14 are coupled via a hinge. The display 14 reversibly stands (opens) with respect to the main body 12 by being rotated about the hinge as a fulcrum from a state of being superimposed on the main body 12 that is normally placed flat (closed state).

  The display 14 has a display housing 16 made of, for example, resin. The display housing 16 has a flat box shape and has a size substantially equal to, for example, A4 paper. Although the display housing 16 has a surface (inner surface) that faces the main body 12 when in the closed state, an opening is formed on the inner surface of the display housing 16 over substantially the entire area. For example, a liquid crystal panel 18 is exposed in the opening 16 a of the display housing 16.

The main body 12 has a flat box-shaped resin main housing 20.
The upper wall of the main housing 20 facing the display 14 in the closed state is provided with an opening 20a on the back side, that is, on the hinge side when viewed toward the liquid crystal panel 18, and a keyboard 21 is provided in the opening 20a. Has been placed. The size of the upper wall of the main housing 20 is substantially the same as the inner surface of the display housing 16.

In addition, an opening 20 b is formed in the upper wall of the main housing 20 at the center in front of the keyboard 21. The face sheet 22 of the touchpad input device with an antenna is exposed in the opening 20b.
Further, an opening 20c is formed on the upper wall of the main housing 20 in front of the opening 20b, and two buttons 24a and 24b are exposed side by side in the width direction of the main housing 20 in the opening 20c.
In addition, the area | region of the both sides of opening 20b, 20c in the upper wall of the main housing 20 functions as a palm rest.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 and shows a partial cross section of the main body 12.
A metal shield member 26 is provided inside the main housing 20. The shield member 26 has a substantially box shape that is slightly smaller than the main housing 20, and substantially the entire area is covered by the main housing 20 except for the area where the keyboard 21, the face sheet 22, and the buttons 24 a and 24 b are exposed.

  An opening 26 a is formed on the upper wall of the shield member 26 corresponding to the position of the opening 20 b of the main housing 20. A bottom plate 27 slightly larger than the opening 26a is disposed inside the shield member 26 so as to correspond to the opening 26a. The bottom plate 27a has conductivity, and the bottom plate 27a and the upper wall of the shield member 26 are mechanically and electrically connected by, for example, a plurality of conductive connection members 27b.

The bottom plate 27 a is disposed so as to close the opening 26 a of the shield member 26, but the bottom plate 27 a is separated from the upper wall of the shield member 26. For this reason, the bottom plate 27a and the connection member 27b form a recess 27 continuous with the opening 26a, and the touchpad input device 10 with an antenna is disposed in the recess 27.
The number of connection members 27b is four, for example.

[Touchpad input device with antenna]
The touchpad input device with an antenna 10 includes a printed circuit board 28 having wiring (not shown) having an appropriate pattern, and the printed circuit board 28 is fixed in the recess 27 by a support member (not shown).

The printed circuit board 28 is disposed substantially parallel to the upper wall of the main housing 20. Electrical elements such as LSI chips 30a and 30b are mounted on the bottom surface of the recess 27, that is, the bottom surface of the printed circuit board 28 facing the bottom plate 27a.
A laminated body 31 including the face sheet 22 is fixed to the upper surface of the printed circuit board located on the opening 20b side.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic appearance of the touchpad input device 10 with an antenna. The printed circuit board 28 has a rectangular shape equivalent to the laminated body 31, and the laminated body 31 is fixed to one surface of the printed circuit board 28. The stacked body 31 is connected to an electrical element mounted on the other surface of the printed circuit board 28.

  The electric element mounted on the printed circuit board 28 is connected to a mother board (not shown) disposed inside the shield member 26 via an input / output terminal.

[Laminate]
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the touch pad input device 10 with the antenna in an exploded manner.
The laminated body 31 includes a magnetic layer 32, an antenna layer 33, a ground electrode layer 34, a Y drive electrode layer 36, an X drive electrode layer 38, and the face sheet 22 in this order from the printed circuit board 28 side. The magnetic layer 32, the antenna layer 33, the ground electrode layer 34, the Y drive electrode layer 36, the X drive electrode layer 38, and the face sheet 22 are in close contact with each other by an adhesive or the like.

[Y drive electrode layer]
The Y drive electrode layer 36 is formed integrally with the substantially square film substrate (Y drive electrode substrate) 36a, the lattice-shaped Y drive electrode 36b formed integrally with the film substrate 36a, and the film substrate 36a. It comprises a comb-shaped detection electrode 36c. The Y drive electrode 36b and the detection electrode 36c are distributed over substantially the entire area of one surface of the film substrate 36a while being arranged so as to mesh with each other.
Specifically, the Y drive electrode 36 b is configured by a plurality of conductive bands parallel to each other, and the conductive bands extend in the depth direction of the main body 12 of the personal computer 11. They are separated from each other at regular intervals in the width direction.
The detection electrode 36c includes a plurality of conductive bands parallel to each other and one conductive band that connects one end of these bands to each other. Similarly to the plurality of conductive bands of the Y drive electrode 36b, the plurality of conductive bands of the detection electrode 36c also extend in the depth direction of the main body 12 of the personal computer 11, and extend in the width direction of the main body 12 of the personal computer 11. Are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. The plurality of conductive bands of the detection electrode 36c are arranged between the plurality of conductive bands of the Y drive electrode 36b.

[X drive electrode layer]
The X drive electrode layer 38 includes a substantially rectangular film substrate (X drive electrode substrate) 38a and a lattice-shaped X drive electrode 38b formed integrally with the film substrate 38a. The X drive electrodes 38b are distributed over substantially the entire area of one surface of the film substrate 38a. Specifically, the X drive electrode 38 b is configured by a plurality of conductive bands parallel to each other, and the conductive bands extend in the width direction of the main body 12 of the personal computer 11, respectively. They are separated from each other at regular intervals in the depth direction.

[Ground electrode layer]
The ground electrode layer 34 includes a substantially square film substrate (ground substrate) 34a and a ground electrode 34b formed integrally with the film substrate 34a.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the ground electrode 34b has a mesh shape in which the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b are combined. That is, the ground electrode 34b has the same shape as the plurality of bands of the detection electrode 36c and the Y drive electrode 36b, respectively, and a plurality of conductive bands arranged in the same manner as the bands of the detection electrode 36c and the Y drive electrode 36b. 39a and a plurality of conductive bands 39b each having the same shape as the plurality of bands of the X drive electrode 38 and arranged in the same manner as the band of the X drive electrode 38b.

  Since the bands 39a and 39b are on the same plane, they intersect with each other integrally to form a plurality of intersecting portions 39c arranged periodically in the depth direction and the width direction of the main body 12. The gap between the bands 39a and 39b forms a plurality of rectangular windows (openings) 39d in which no conductor exists in the ground electrode layer 34. The openings 39d are also periodically arranged in the depth direction and the width direction of the main body 12 according to the period of the band of the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the band of the X drive electrode 38b.

Therefore, the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b are orthogonal to each other so as to form a mesh shape when viewed in the stacking direction. The ground electrode 34b overlaps the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b.
In the present embodiment, as a preferred mode, the X drive electrode 38b is projected onto the ground electrode layer 34 in the stacking direction, the Y drive electrode 36b is projected onto the ground electrode layer 34 in the stacking direction, and detection. An opening 39d is formed in a region other than the region where the electrode 36c is projected onto the ground electrode layer 34 in the stacking direction.
The detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b constitute an electrode group for detecting the position of an object such as a fingertip that contacts the surface of the face sheet 22.

[Antenna layer]
The antenna layer 33 includes a substantially square film substrate (antenna substrate) 33a and an antenna 33b formed integrally with the film substrate 33a.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the antenna layer 33, and the antenna 33b is composed of a conductor band extending in a predetermined pattern. The width of the conductor is, for example, in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.00 mm. The antenna 33b is preferably a magnetically coupled loop antenna extending in a spiral shape along the outer edge of the film substrate 33a, and the number of turns of the loop antenna is preferably two or more.
In addition, although metals, such as aluminum and copper, can be used as a conductor, you may use electroconductive oxides, such as ITO (indium tin oxide).

  FIG. 7 shows the ground electrode layer 34 together with the antenna layer 33 by a one-dot chain line. As shown in FIG. 7, when viewed in a plan view, the antenna 33b extends across the bands 39a and 39b of the ground electrode 34b so as to pass through the plurality of openings 39d, and most of the antenna 33b is open. It passes through the part 39d. That is, when viewed in a plan view, the shape and arrangement of each of the antenna 33b and the ground electrode 34b are determined so that most of the antenna 33b passes through the opening 39d.

  FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the multilayer body 31 and the printed circuit board 28 taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the cross section of the band 39a of the ground electrode 34b is, for example, a quadrangle, and the cross sections of the bands constituting the band 39b of the ground electrode 34b, the antenna 33b, the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b. Is also a quadrangle, for example. The bands 39a and 39b of the ground electrode 34b and the bands of the antenna 33b, the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b can be formed using a printing technique.

[Magnetic layer]
The magnetic layer 32 has, for example, a rectangular thin plate shape. The real part μ ′ of the relative permeability (complex relative permeability) of the magnetic layer 32 is higher than that of the shield member 26, and is preferably 10 or more. The thickness t of the magnetic layer 32 is preferably 0.5 mm or less. Furthermore, the magnetic layer 32 has electrical insulation.

As such a magnetic layer 32, a material in which a soft magnetic powder such as Sendust or Permalloy is hardened with a binder can be used.
The film substrates 33a, 34a, 36a, and 38a, the magnetic layer 32, and the face sheet 22 have substantially the same size and are overlapped so that the four corners are aligned and along each other. The stacking direction of the film substrates 33a, 34a, 36a, 38a, the magnetic layer 32, and the face sheet 22 coincides with the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the main body 12.

[Circuit configuration]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic electric circuit of the personal computer 11 including the touch pad input device 10 with an antenna.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50 and a memory 52 are mounted on the mother board of the personal computer 11. The CPU 50 is connected to a hard disk 56 disposed inside the shield member 26 via a disk controller 54 that is also mounted on the mother board.

  When the personal computer 11 is turned on, the CPU 50 starts up a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and an operating system stored in the hard disk 56, and then executes application software in accordance with an instruction from the operator.

  The CPU 50 is connected to the liquid crystal panel 18 via a display controller 58 mounted on the mother board, and the liquid crystal panel 18 displays an input / output screen of the BIOS, operating system, and application software.

  Further, the CPU 50 is connected to the keyboard 21 via the keyboard controller 60 mounted on the mother board, and performs a predetermined operation on the operating system or application software in response to pressing of each button of the keyboard 21 by the operator. Execute.

In addition, the CPU 50 is connected to the antenna-attached touch pad input device 10 via the touch pad controller 62 mounted on the mother board.
Specifically, the antenna-attached touch pad input device 10 includes a position detection circuit 64 connected to the X drive electrode 38b, the Y drive electrode 36b, the detection electrode 36c, and the ground electrode 34b. The position detection circuit 64 detects a change in capacitance between the X drive electrode 38b and the Y drive electrode 36b and the detection electrode 36c while scanning the voltage applied to the X drive electrode 38b and the Y drive electrode 36b. Then, the position detection circuit 64 detects the contact position of the fingertip or the like on the face sheet 22 based on the change in capacitance.

Scanning the voltage means sequentially applying a voltage to a plurality of conductor bands of the X drive electrode 38b, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the detection electrode 36c.
Accordingly, when viewed instantaneously, of the conductor bands of the X drive electrode 38b and the Y drive electrode 36b, one conductor band to which a voltage is applied and the detection electrode 36c cooperate to constitute one measurement region. To do.

In a longer time range, a plurality of measurement regions are distributed along the face sheet 22 by sequentially applying voltages to all conductor bands of the X drive electrode 38b, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the detection electrode 36c. It will be allowed.
Note that the measurement region also includes a region of the sensing surface located on the conductor band of the X drive electrode 38b, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the detection electrode 36c.
A signal related to the contact position detected by the position detection circuit 64 is input to the touchpad controller 62 via the interface 66.

In the present embodiment, the entire surface of the face sheet 22 is exposed at the opening 20b, and the position detection circuit 64 can detect the contact position of an object such as a fingertip on the entire surface of the face sheet 22. For this reason, in this specification, the whole surface of the face sheet 22 is also referred to as a sensing surface.
Although the position detection circuit 64 and the interface 66 are configured by electric elements such as an LSI chip 30a mounted on a printed circuit board, in FIG. 4, an X drive electrode 38b, a Y drive electrode 36b, a detection electrode 36c, and Wiring for connecting the ground electrode 34b and the position detection circuit 64 is omitted.

  The CPU 50 changes the position of the cursor displayed on the liquid crystal panel 18 by the operating system in accordance with the change in the contact position of the fingertip on the face sheet 22.

  The buttons 24a and 24b are also connected to the CPU 50 via the interface 66 and the touch pad controller 62. For example, if the position of the fingertip is changed on the face sheet 22 while one of the buttons 24a is pressed, a predetermined value on the liquid crystal panel 18 is displayed. The display area is selected and highlighted. When the button 24a is continuously pressed twice, the command selected according to the cursor position is executed. Further, by pressing the other button 24b, for example, a menu screen is displayed.

On the other hand, referring also to FIG. 5, for example, the outer end of the antenna 33 b is grounded, and the inner end of the antenna 33 b is connected to the matching circuit 70 via a capacitor 69. The capacitor 69 and the matching circuit 70 are configured by an electrical element such as an LSI chip 30b that is mounted on the printed circuit board 28 and different from the electrical element for the position detection circuit 64.
In FIG. 4, the wiring for connecting the antenna 33b and the capacitor 69 is omitted.

The matching circuit 70 is connected to the CPU 50 via a transmission / reception circuit 72 and a wireless controller 74 mounted on the mother board. The CPU 50 operates the wireless controller 74, the transmission / reception circuit 72, the matching circuit 70, and the antenna 33b by, for example, resident application software, and performs communication with the outside continuously or intermittently.
The transmission / reception circuit 72 may be mounted on the printed circuit board 28 of the touch pad input device 10 with an antenna instead of the mother board.

  In the present embodiment, the antenna 33b is a magnetic field type loop antenna for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). When the operator holds the RFID tag (non-contact IC card) over the face sheet 22, communication using a 13.56 MHz frequency band (short wave: HF band) is performed between the RFID tag and the antenna 33b.

  For example, the antenna 33b is used for ID authentication for confirming whether or not the personal computer 11 is authorized to use. In this case, as soon as the personal computer 11 is turned on, power is supplied to the wireless controller 74, the transmission / reception circuit 72, the matching circuit 70, and the antenna 33b so that communication for ID authentication is performed. Is preferred.

  According to the touchpad input device with an antenna 10 of the first embodiment described above, a part of the electromagnetic wave generated by the antenna 33b and the electromagnetic wave generated by the RFID tag as an external device passes through the opening 39d of the ground electrode 34b. pass. For this reason, communication between the antenna 33b and the external device is realized.

According to the touchpad input device with an antenna 10 of the first embodiment, at least a part of the antenna 33b is driven in the stacking direction of the X drive electrode layer 38, the Y drive electrode layer 36, and the ground electrode layer 34. The conductive band of the electrode 38b and the Y drive electrode 36b, the detection electrode 36, and the ground electrode 34b are not shielded.
For this reason, more stable communication is realized between the antenna 33b and the external device.

  Further, according to the touchpad input device with antenna 10 of the first embodiment, since the antenna 33b is formed in close contact with the film substrate 33a for the antenna 33b, the antenna 33b is securely supported, and the antenna 33b is deformed. Is prevented.

  Furthermore, according to the touchpad input device with an antenna 10 of the first embodiment, even if the printed circuit board 28 is provided, the antenna 33b and the external device are not blocked by the printed circuit board 28. Communication between 33b and the external device is realized.

Furthermore, according to the touchpad input device with an antenna 10 of the first embodiment, since the magnetic flux generated by the antenna 33b is guided to the inside of the magnetic layer 32, the number of magnetic fluxes passing through the shield member 26 is reduced. On the other hand, since the magnetic layer 32 has electrical insulation, even if magnetic flux passes through the magnetic layer 32, generation of eddy current is suppressed.
As a result, according to the touchpad input device with an antenna, more stable communication is realized between the antenna 33b and the external device.

Further, according to the touchpad input device with an antenna 10 of the first embodiment, since the thickness t of the magnetic layer 32 is 0.5 mm or less, the large touchpad input device with an antenna is provided even if the magnetic layer 32 is provided. Is prevented.
On the other hand, even if the thickness t of the magnetic layer 32 is 0.5 mm or less, since the value of the real part μ ′ of the magnetic permeability is 10 or more, the magnetic flux is guided to the inside of the magnetic layer 32 and the shield member 26 is The number of magnetic fluxes passing through is reliably reduced.
As a result, according to the touchpad input device 10 with an antenna, more stable communication is realized between the antenna 33b and the external device.

  In the personal computer 11 equipped with the touchpad input device with antenna 10, communication with an external device is realized by the touchpad input device with antenna 10 and cooperation with the external device is achieved.

The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above, and various modifications are possible.
For example, the antenna 33b, the ground electrode 34b, the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b are formed on separate film substrates 33a, 34a, 36a, and 38a. You may form in. Alternatively, the antenna 33b, the ground electrode 34b, the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b may be integrally formed on the multilayer printed circuit board using a multilayer printed circuit board.
That is, the antenna layer 33, the ground electrode layer 34b, the Y drive electrode layer 36, and the X drive electrode layer 38 include at least the antenna 33b, the ground electrode 34b, the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b. The configuration of the substrate that supports the antenna 33b, the ground electrode 34b, the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b is not particularly limited.
Furthermore, the detection electrode 36c is omitted, and when the voltage is applied to the X drive electrode 38b, the Y drive electrode 36b is used as the detection electrode, and conversely, when the voltage is applied to the Y drive electrode 36b, the X drive electrode 38b may be used as a detection electrode.

  In the first embodiment, as a preferred mode, the ground electrode 34b has a mesh shape such that the detection electrode 36c, the Y drive electrode 36b, and the X drive electrode 38b are combined. Is not limited to a mesh shape. That is, the shape of the ground electrode 34b may be any shape as long as it has an opening for not shielding the antenna 33b.

  In other words, the region where the X drive electrode 38b is projected onto the ground electrode layer 34 in the stacking direction, the region where the Y drive electrode 36 is projected onto the ground electrode layer 34 in the stacking direction, or the detection electrode 36c is stacked in the stacking direction. In the region projected on the ground electrode layer 34, an opening 39d may be formed.

In the first embodiment, as a preferred mode, when the antenna is projected onto the ground electrode layer 34 in the stacking direction, most of the projection of the antenna 33b is located in the opening 39d. It does not have to be located.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the contact position of the fingertip or the like is detected by orthogonal coordinates, but the electrode group may be configured to be detected by polar coordinates.
The number of turns of the antenna 33b is not limited to two.
The antenna 33b may be formed by winding a conducting wire having a circular or elliptical cross section, or may be directly fixed to the printed circuit board 28 or the ground electrode layer 34 without the film substrate 33a. .

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the sensing surface is formed by the face sheet 22, but the sensing surface may be formed by the X drive electrode layer 38 or the like by omitting the face sheet 22.

  In the first embodiment, the magnetic layer 32 has a quadrangular shape, but may have another shape as long as the number of magnetic fluxes passing through the shield member 26 can be reduced. For example, the magnetic layer 39 may have a square shape along the antenna 40b.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the magnetic layer 32 is located between the printed circuit board 28 and the ground electrode layer 34, but the magnetic layer 32 is formed at the bottom of the recess 27 of the printed circuit board 28 and the shield member 26. It may be located between the wall 27b. That is, the magnetic layer 32 may be between the antenna 33 b and the bottom wall 27 b of the recess 27.

The touch pad input device with antenna 10 preferably includes the magnetic layer 32, but the magnetic layer 32 may be omitted.
Finally, the touchpad input device with an antenna of the present invention has been described as an example embodied in a laptop personal computer, but it can also be applied to mobile electronic devices such as PDAs and mobile phones. Of course.

10 Touchpad input device with antenna 11 Personal computer (electronic equipment)
12 Main body 14 Display 18 Liquid crystal panel 20 Main housing 20b Opening 21 Keyboard 22 Face sheet (sensing surface)
26 Shield member 26a Opening 27 Recess 27a Bottom plate 27b Connection member 28 Printed circuit board 33 Magnetic layer (magnetic member)
34 Ground electrode layer (third layer)
34a Film substrate 34b Ground electrode 36 Y drive electrode layer (second layer)
36a Film substrate 36b Y drive electrode (second drive electrode, electrode group)
36c Detection electrode (electrode group)
38 X drive electrode layer (first layer)
38a Film substrate 38b X drive electrode (first drive electrode, electrode group)
33 Antenna layer 33a Film substrate (antenna substrate)
33b Antenna 39a Ground electrode strip 39b Ground electrode strip 39c Intersection 39d Opening

Claims (6)

A touchpad input device with an antenna having a sensing surface exposed at an opening provided in a shield member that shields radiation noise in an electronic device,
A group of electrodes provided along the sensing surface and constituting a plurality of measurement regions for measuring capacitance;
A ground electrode layer including a ground electrode along the electrode group on the opposite side of the sensing surface;
Along with the ground electrode layer on the opposite side of the electrode group, comprising an antenna for communicating with an external device,
The ground electrode have a plurality of openings,
The electrode group includes:
A first drive electrode disposed in a first layer along the sensing surface and made of a plurality of conductors each extending in a first direction;
A second drive electrode made of a plurality of conductors disposed in a second layer along the first layer and extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;
Each of the conductors of the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode is disposed in the first layer, in the second layer, or in a third layer parallel to the first layer and the second layer. A detection electrode that cooperates to form the measurement region,
The region of the ground electrode layer projected in the stacking direction of the sensing surface, the electrode group, and the ground electrode layer is defined as a first region, and the second drive electrode is projected in the stacking direction. When the region in the ground electrode layer is a second region and the region in the ground electrode layer on which the detection electrode is projected in the stacking direction is a third region,
Each opening of the ground electrode is located in a region other than the first region, the second region, and the third region,
The touch pad input device with an antenna , wherein at least a part of a region in the ground electrode layer on which the antenna is projected in the stacking direction is located in the opening . In the touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 1,
The antenna touchpad input device, wherein the antenna is formed in close contact with an antenna substrate . In the touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 1 or 2,
A circuit board on which an electrical element for detecting a change in capacitance of the measurement region is mounted;
The touch pad input device with an antenna , wherein the antenna is located between the ground electrode layer and the circuit board in the stacking direction of the sensing surface, the electrode group, and the ground electrode layer . In the touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 3 ,
When viewed in the stacking direction, a magnetic member is provided at a position farther from the sensing surface than the antenna, and the magnetic member has electrical insulation and higher magnetic permeability than the metal constituting the shield member. A touchpad input device with an antenna. In the touchpad input device with an antenna according to claim 4,
The thickness of the magnetic member in the stacking direction is at 0.5mm or less, the real part is a touch pad input device with an antenna, characterized in der Rukoto 10 or more relative magnetic permeability of said magnetic member. Electronic apparatus, characterized in that with a touch pad input device with an antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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