JP5251081B2 - Switching device and information device using the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a switch for generating a command by pressing operation, a switching device arranged through the Jo Tokoro gap.

  As a device in which push button switches for generating a first command and a second command are arranged in parallel, there is, for example, a portable personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 1 shown in FIG. The PC 1 includes a keyboard 2 that performs key input, a liquid crystal panel 3 that displays character information input by the keyboard 2, a touch panel 4 that moves a cursor displayed on the liquid crystal panel 3 with a finger, and the opposite of the keyboard 2 along the touch panel 4. On the side, for example, a confirmation button 5 for confirming the designated position of the cursor as the first command and a cancel button 6 for canceling the confirmed position of the cursor as the second command are provided. The PC 1 has a space for putting a wrist on the keyboard 2 for input. In the figure, the space 7 is equipped with a hard disk drive (not shown), and the space 8 is loaded with an optical disk drive 10 for recording and reproducing the optical disk 9. Has been. The first command and the second command described above vary depending on the application software, such as a menu selection button and a menu button. However, unless otherwise specified in this specification, the first command and the second command are determined as a cursor confirmation button. A cancel button for canceling the cursor position will be described as an example.

  FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged perspective views of the main part of the PC 1 in which the periphery of the touch panel 4, the confirm button 5 and the cancel button 6 is enlarged. As shown in FIG. 8, the cursor on the liquid crystal panel 3 is moved to a desired position on the touch panel 4, and when the cursor is moved to the desired position on the liquid crystal panel 3, the confirmation button 5 is used for confirmation. The cursor designation position determined by the position can be canceled with the cancel button 6 as shown in FIG. 9, and the cursor can be moved again. In this way, the cursor can be determined at a desired position by tracing the touch panel 4 with a finger, and when the cursor is changed to another position, the cursor can be moved by pressing the cancel button 6.

  However, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in the configuration in which the confirm button 5 and the cancel button 6 are provided adjacent to each other, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the confirm button 5 and the cancel button 6 are erroneously pressed simultaneously. Sometimes. When pressed simultaneously, the cursor moved to a desired position on the touch panel 4 is instantaneously moved to a completely different position. For example, when one button is a menu confirmation button and the other button is a menu selection button, an incorrect menu is displayed. There exists a subject that it is inferior to operativity, such as being selected.

  In order to improve this operability, as shown in FIG. 11, a confirm button 15 for confirming the cursor moved on the touch panel 14 at a predetermined position and a cancel button 16 for canceling the cursor position confirmed with the confirm button 15 are provided. A configuration in which the touch panel 14 is disposed along one side of the touch panel 14 via a gap 19 has also been proposed. If the width of the gap portion 19 along one side constituting the touch panel 14 is made longer than, for example, the width of the index finger tracing the touch panel 14, the problem shown in FIG. 10 can be almost completely solved. In the figure, 17 and 18 are spaces, respectively, and a hard disk drive and an optical disk drive as needed are mounted in the spaces 17 and 18.

Further, there is Patent Document 1 shown in FIG. 12 as a configuration in which a gap is provided between the confirmation button and the cancel button. That is, the PC 21 shown in the figure displays the character information input with the keyboard 22 on the liquid crystal panel 23, the touch panel 24 for moving the cursor displayed on the liquid crystal panel 23, and the confirm button 25 for confirming the designated position of the cursor. , a cancel button 2 6 cancel the designation position of the cursor is, the touch panel 24 is arranged through a gap along one side constituting a comprises a button / wheel 27 having a button function and wheel function in the gap portion . By assigning a specific function to the button / wheel 27 provided so as to protrude from between the confirmation button 25 and the cancel button 26, the portability is not impaired, and the operability for GUI of application software icons, windows, etc. is improved. The effect that can be performed is disclosed.
JP 2000-155645 A

  In recent years, as shown in FIG. 7, a hard disk drive is standardly installed in the space 7 as shown in FIG. 7, and there are models in which the optical disk drive 10 is installed in the space 8, and there is also a demand for a reduction in size and weight. Not only type PCs but also B5 type PCs are widespread. If a B5 type PC is provided with a gap portion 19 that prevents both the confirmation button 15 and the cancel button 16 from being pressed as shown in FIG. 11, the width of the gap portion 19 must be shortened. The width of the gap portion 19 as described above is shorter than the width of the index finger or the like tracing the touch panel 14, and the problem caused by pressing both cannot be solved.

In the case of configuration provided projecting buttons / wheel 27 shown in FIG. 12 the gap, upon contact finger buttons / wheel 27 by mistake when tracing the touch panel 24, the functions assigned is activated, the For example, there is a problem of pressing the cancel button 25 each time.

  The present invention has been made to overcome the above-described problems, and includes both a first switch that generates a first command and a second switch that generates a second command different from the first command. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switching device that can solve the pressing problem with a simple configuration.

The switching device of the present invention that solves the problem is loosely fitted in the first through hole provided in the housing, and the first switching unit generates the first command when the head is pressed. 1 switch, and a second switch that is loosely fitted in a second through hole provided in the housing, and the second switching unit generates a second command when the head is pressed. . The head of the first switch and the head of the second switch protrude from the housing surface. A gap is provided between the first switch and the second switch. A protrusion that protrudes from the surface of the housing is provided in the gap. The protrusion protrudes from the head of the first switch and the head of the second switch. On the surface of the housing, a panel unit is provided that can operate an instruction unit for instructing a command generation location for generating a first command or a second command by an operator operating the surface with a finger. The panel portion is disposed on one side of the protruding portion in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the first switch and the second switch. A fingerprint recognition unit for recognizing an operator's fingerprint is provided on the surface of the casing. The fingerprint recognition unit is disposed on the other side of the protrusion in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the first switch and the second switch. The fingerprint recognition unit is arranged in a direction to recognize the fingerprint of the finger that is slid from the protruding portion side. The fingerprint recognition part is formed in a recess whose periphery is recessed from the protruding part. The protrusion and the recess are arranged close to each other.

By adopting the above configuration, the switching device of the present invention can suppress the operation of pressing both the first switch and the second switch even if it is small, and therefore the first switch and the second switch. Can be reliably pressed independently, and the first command and the second command can be accurately generated.

The best embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a main part of an embodiment of the switching device according to the present invention. In the figure, 101 is a first switch that generates a first command, 102 is a second switch that generates a second command, and 103 is in the gap between the first switch 101 and the second switch 102. A protruding portion protruding from the first switch 101 and the second switch 102, a housing 104 integrated with the protruding portion 103, and a housing 105 for loosely fitting the first switch 101 and the second switch 102 respectively. It is a through hole provided in the body 104. The first switch 101 and the second switch 102 are push-button switches that generate a first command and a second command when pressed toward the through hole 105 provided in the housing 104. The first command and the second command are generated respectively. Although not illustrated in the details of construction of the switch, is composed of a head pressing, a switching unit for generating a command, the head is engaged with the plate member to loosely fit the through hole 105.

In the switching device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the surface of the protrusion 103 protrudes from the surface of the first switch 101 and the surface of the second switch 102 by a distance h. Further, the first switch 101 and second switch 102 their respective surface protrudes from the housing 104 surface by a distance i. Each of the first switch 101 and the second switch 102 generates a first command and a second command when pressed with a finger of a hand. In Figure 2, presses the first switch 101 from the protrusion 103 surface as an example the first h from distance before pressing h until the switch 101 surface '(where, h'> h) until, the 1 shows a state in which one command is generated.

Even if the finger is displaced toward the second switch 102 when the first switch 101 is pressed, the protrusion 103 and the housing 104 are integrated, so that the protrusion 103 moves to the second switch 102. The movement of the finger is suppressed, and the first switch 101 and the second switch 102 are not pressed simultaneously. Accordingly, the first switch 101 also can be selectively pressed only the second switch 102. Note that when the pressing force is released from the state where the first switch 101 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the surface of the first switch 101 returns to the original distance i from the surface of the housing 104.

As described above, in the switching device of this embodiment, the protrusion 103 and the housing 104 are integrated, and the distance between the surface of the first switch 101 and the second switch 102 before being pressed and the surface of the housing. Since the distance between the protrusion 103 and the surface of the housing protrudes by a distance h rather than i, even if the finger pressing the first switch 101 tries to shift to the second switch 102 side, since the protruding portion 103 protrudes from the second switch 102 surface, it is possible to suppress the pressing force to the second switch 102 is marked pressurized.

Incidentally, the protruding distance h of the first switch 101 and second protrusion 103 from the switch 10 2 is longer simultaneous operation of the first switch 101 and second switch 102 is easily suppressed, so long If too much, the operability of the first switch 101 or the second switch 102 may be hindered. In the case of pressing with the finger, if the user presses both the first switch 101 and the second switch 102 in consideration , a step can be felt even if the distance h is about 0.2 mm, for example, and the erroneous operation is suppressed. Therefore, erroneous operation can be reliably eliminated at 0.5 mm or more.

Further, in the present embodiment it was a case where the distance between the distance and the second switch 102 surface and the housing 104 surfaces of the first switch 101 surface and the housing 104 surfaces are equal, may be different. If they are different, the effect can be obtained if the distance between the surface of the switch and the surface of the protrusion, which is long from the surface of the housing 104, is 0.2 mm or more as described above.

Another embodiment of the switching device described above will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, 201 is a first switch that generates a first command, 202 is a second switch that generates a second command, and 203 is a gap in the arrangement direction of the first switch 201 and the second switch 202. to a projecting portion provided by projecting than the first switch 201 and second switch 202. The first switch 201 surface and a second switch 202 surface protrusions 203 surface from each protrudes by a distance j. 204 is a housing, 205 is a through-hole provided in the housing 204 that penetrates the first switch 201 and the second switch 202 provided in the housing 204 , and 206 is a touch panel that moves the cursor by tracing with a finger. . That is, the touch panel 206 is provided on one of the housings 204 with respect to a line orthogonal to the surface on the first switch 201 side of the protruding portion 203 and the surface on the second switch side of the protruding portion 203. Also in this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the distance between the surface of the first switch 201 and the surface of the protrusion 203 is the same as the distance between the surface of the second switch 202 and the surface of the protrusion 203 , and the distance is j In this case, it may be different.

When the cursor is moved to a desired position by tracing the touch panel 206, when the first switch 201 is pressed toward the housing 204, the cursor position of the first command is fixed and the state shown in FIG. 3 is changed to the state shown in FIG. When the second switch 202 is pressed toward the housing 204, the cursor position confirmation is canceled by the second command. Even in this embodiment, since the protrusion 203 is integrated with the housing 204, even when the protrusion 203 is inadvertently touched when the switching operation of the first switch 201 or the second switch 202 is executed. since the projecting portion 203 is not moving relative to the pressing operation, pressing operation of only the switch desired by the user can be performed reliably. That is, when the user requires the first command, for example , the first switch 201 can be pressed even if the finger is erroneously moved.

As a specific example of the above embodiment, an example in which the switching device of the present invention is applied to a PC 301 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, 302 is a keyboard for inputting character information to the PC 301, 303 is a liquid crystal panel for displaying characters input by the keyboard 302, a cursor described later, and the like, and 304 is a finger to move the cursor on the liquid crystal panel 303. A moving touch panel, 305 is a confirm button for confirming the cursor at the position after moving to a desired position on the touch panel 304, 306 is a cancel button for canceling the position determined by the confirm button 305, and 307 is a confirm button 305. 308 is a hard disk drive (not shown), 309 is an optical disk that transmits and receives information of the PC 301, 310 is a lid part of an optical disk drive that records and reproduces information signals on the optical disk 309, 311 Is the user who uses PC301 Fingerprint portion of an example of a specific bio reaction detecting, housing 312 and 313 PC 301, 314 is an input circuit of the keyboard 302, 315 is a main circuit for performing control of PC 301. Incidentally, to form a space that described in FIG. 7 with the lid portion 310 which houses part and lid which houses a hard disk drive 308.

  By tracing the touch panel 304 with a finger, the user can position the cursor on the liquid crystal panel 303 to a desired position and press the cursor confirmation button 305 to confirm the cursor position as the first command. When it is desired to change the cursor position, the cursor position can be moved on the touch panel 304 by pressing a cancel button 306. Also in this embodiment, since the protruding portion 307 is provided as in the previous embodiment, the touch panel 304 is used when performing an operation of pressing the confirm button 301 or an operation of pressing the cancel button 302 to determine the cursor position. When the tracing hand is moved to the confirm button 301 or the cancel button 302, it is possible to suppress an erroneous operation in which both the confirm button 301 and the cancel button 302 are inadvertently touched and pressed.

  In addition, the PC 301 is a small PC such as a B5 type PC, and the hard disk drive 308 is provided as a standard, and a multifunction peripheral device such as an optical disk drive is mounted, so that a free space is provided in the housing. A fingerprint authentication unit 311 that is difficult to secure on a plane and protects security must be provided close to the opposite side of the touch panel 304 with respect to the arrangement direction of the confirmation button 305 and the cancel button 306. Further, since fingerprint authentication of the same user is highly likely to be detected as an error, the fingerprint authentication unit 311 is preferably installed at a location where it can easily slide with the user's finger.

Therefore, when fingerprint authentication is performed by tracing the fingerprint authentication unit 311 with a finger in this configuration, the finger touches the confirmation button 5 and the cancel button 6 at the same time in the conventional configuration with reference to FIG. in many generates a trouble is coming Succoth, also in reference to the conventional alternative arrangement to Figure 12, again by the button / wheel 27 provided to protrude between the confirm button 25 and cancel button 26 touched by a finger PC21 A problem that frequently occurs in the startup operation of the PC 301 can be solved by the configuration including the protruding portion 307 of the present invention, and the trouble in the startup operation of the PC 301 can be eliminated.

  That is, when a finger touches the fingerprint authentication unit 311, the finger is slid from the confirmation button 305 and cancel button 306 side toward the fingerprint authentication unit 311, but as shown in FIG. By abutting, the finger touches the confirmation button 305 and the cancel button 306 to press both switches, and the problem of impairing operability can be overcome. Further, even when the PC 301 is being used, another finger tracing the touch panel 304 may inadvertently touch the confirm button 301 or the cancel button 302 to cause a malfunction, and may result from pressing the confirm button 301 and the cancel button 302 at the same time. The problem of the malfunction to be performed can be suppressed by providing the protruding portion 307.

  In the above-described embodiment, the touch panel has a rectangular shape, and the first switch (confirmation switch) and the second switch (cancel switch) have been described as being configured along the rectangular shape of the touch panel, but the touch panel has a rectangular shape. For example, if a circular shape is adopted, the area occupied by the touch panel can be reduced. In the case of a circular touch panel, the first switch and the second switch are formed along the circumference. Of course, you may.

According to the present invention, a button selected by a user can be reliably operated in each of a first button that generates a first command and a second button that generates a second command different from the first command. since it, the electronic device for arranging selection button in parallel, especially useful Oite in small electronic devices.

The principal part perspective view which shows the structure of one Embodiment in the switching apparatus of this invention. The principal part perspective view which shows the structure of the switch operating state in the embodiment The principal part perspective view which shows the structure of other embodiment in the switching apparatus of this invention. The principal part perspective view which shows the structure of the switch operating state in the embodiment The perspective view which shows the structure of one Embodiment in the information apparatus of this invention. Main part sectional drawing in the same embodiment The perspective view which shows the structure of the conventional information apparatus. Perspective view of essential part around switch applied to the information device The principal part perspective view which shows the switch operation state around the switch Perspective view of main part showing malfunction of switch around the switch The principal part perspective view which shows another structure around the switch applied to the conventional information apparatus. Perspective view of another conventional information device

101 1st switch 102 2nd switch 103 Protrusion part 104 Case 105 Through-hole

Claims (2)

A first switch that is loosely fitted in a first through-hole provided in the housing, and the first switching unit generates a first command by pressing the head;
A second switch that is loosely fitted in a second through-hole provided in the housing and the second switching unit generates a second command when the head is pressed;
The head of the first switch and the head of the second switch protrude from the housing surface,
A gap is provided between the first switch and the second switch,
The gap is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes from the surface of the housing,
The protruding portion is a switching device characterized by protruding from the head of the first switch and the head of the second switch,
A panel unit capable of operating an instruction unit for instructing a command generation place for generating the first command or the second command by an operator operating the surface with a finger on the housing surface,
The panel portion is disposed on one side of the protruding portion in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the first switch and the second switch,
Provided with a fingerprint recognition unit for recognizing an operator's fingerprint on the housing surface,
The fingerprint recognition unit is disposed on the other side of the protrusion in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the first switch and the second switch,
The fingerprint recognition unit is arranged in a direction for recognizing a fingerprint of a finger slid from the protruding portion side,
The fingerprint recognition part is formed in a recessed part whose periphery is recessed from the protruding part, and the protruding part and the recessed part are arranged close to each other,
Switching device. Input means provided on the surface of the housing for inputting information by key operation;
A display unit for displaying the information input by the input unit;
An information device comprising the switching device according to claim 1 .

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