JP5484121B2 - Touch panel device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a motor touch panel device.

  In recent years, touch panel devices have become widespread as station ticket machines, car navigation systems, and input devices for mobile phones. Typical methods for touch panels include resistive film type, capacitance type, and optical sensor type. In any type, the touch panel is located above the image display device and passes through a transparent touch panel. Thus, the information of the image display device is visually supplied to the operator. By touching the surface of the touch panel disposed above the image display device, the operator can obtain the same effect as if the user had pressed an actual button and entered information into the computer.

  However, in such a touch panel device, when a touch panel is touched by an operator, a strong repulsion feeling (click feeling) such as pressing a button is not fed back, so that the user cannot recognize that the button has been pressed by touch. was there.

  In recent years, a touch panel device equipped with a technique called force feedback that feeds back a feeling of pressing a button to an operator by tactile sensation has been advanced. As an example of force feedback technology, a piezoelectric element is attached to the surface of the touch panel, and when the operator touches the operation surface of the touch panel, the piezoelectric element is expanded and deformed by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element, and the touch panel is moved by the deformation. A method of vibrating is proposed.

  For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, such a touch panel device includes a touch panel and a piezoelectric element attached to the touch panel. When an input operation of the touch panel is detected, a driving voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element. In addition, in a structure in which the touch panel is vibrated by expanding and contracting the piezoelectric element to give a feeling of input operation, a pair of elongated strip-shaped piezoelectric elements shorter than the length of one side in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular touch panel are fixed, and a pair of piezoelectric elements is fixed. Devices that are fixed along one side in the length direction from the vicinity of the diagonal position of a rectangular touch panel are known.

JP 2005-222326 A

  In such a touch panel device, when the operator touches the operation surface of the touch panel, it is necessary to vibrate the touch panel substantially over the entire surface in order to obtain a sense of pressing in the entire area of the touch panel (click feeling). For that purpose, the arrangement position of the piezoelectric element bonded to the touch panel and the driving voltage of the piezoelectric element are important.

In Patent Document 1, only the four corners of the touch panel are fixed to the image display device, and a touch panel supporting structure that easily vibrates is formed. Then, a pair of piezoelectric elements having a length shorter than the length of one side in the length direction of the touch panel is provided. They are arranged diagonally in the length direction of the touch panel. In such a touch panel device, upon application of a signal of the natural frequency near the touch panel, the touch panel as possible out to obtain easily large vibration because the resonance.

However, in the touch panel device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since only the four corners of the touch panel are fixed to the image display device, there is a problem that dust enters from an unfixed portion between the touch panel and the screen display device. It was. In contrast, although the dustproof be fixed to the entire periphery of the touch panel, which in has a problem that the vibration by the piezoelectric elements interfere et be. In particular, the four corners of the operation area of the touch panel are firmly fixed, and there is a problem that vibration due to the piezoelectric element is easily hindered.

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel device that can reduce the possibility of vibrations being weakened at the corners of an operation area while reducing the possibility of a decrease in dustproofness .

The touch panel device of the present invention includes a motor touch panel, a processing unit, the processing device is housed together with the touch panel is retained stationary, the case having an operation window for touch the touch panel, the touch panel comprising a strip-shaped piezoelectric element bonded to the lower surface, and the said operation window of the case that the bare rectangular operation area of the touch panel, the piezoelectric element, the operation area of the touch panel an outer a touch panel device which is contact wear along the long side of the operating region, in plan view, a portion surrounding the operation area and the piezoelectric elements of the touch panel, along the entire circumference together is fixed to the case, when a virtual line obtained by extending the short side of the operating region in plan view with a short side extension, the piezoelectric element, the Characterized in that it is bonded across the edge extension.

When a piezoelectric element is bonded to a touch panel, a piezoelectric element that expands and contracts when applied with a voltage and a touch panel that does not deform itself are bonded to each other, so that the expansion and contraction vibration of the piezoelectric element is converted into bending vibration of the touch panel. . This bending vibration is generated with respect to the length direction of the operation area of the touch panel to which the piezoelectric element is bonded. When there is a portion where the piezoelectric element does not exist in the length direction of the operation region, for example, when there is no piezoelectric element at the four corners of the operation region, the deformation amount of the touch panel becomes small at the four corners of the operation region. and Mau. In particular, when a portion located around the operating window of the touch panel is fixed to the case along the entire circumference tend to vibration at the four corners of the operation area is reduced.

In the touch panel device of the present invention, in the dust-proof structure in which the part located around the operation window of the touch panel is fixed to the case over the entire periphery , the piezoelectric element is configured to protrude outward from the long side of the operation region. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the vibration is weakened not only at the center of the touch panel but also at the corner of the operation area.

According to the touch panel device of the present invention, in the dust-proof structure in which the portion located around the operation window of the touch panel is fixed to the case over the entire periphery , the piezoelectric element is configured to protrude outward from the long side of the operation region. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the vibration is weakened not only at the center of the touch panel but also at the corners of the operation area.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the touchscreen apparatus of this form. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the positional relationship of the piezoelectric element in a touch panel, an operation area | region, and a gasket material. It is sectional drawing of the touchscreen apparatus of this form, (a) is sectional drawing in the length direction of a touchscreen apparatus, (b) is sectional drawing in the width direction of a touchscreen apparatus. It is sectional drawing in the length direction of a piezoelectric element, (a) is before voltage application, (b) is after voltage application. (A)-(i) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the 1st drive method of a touch-panel apparatus. (A)-(g) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the 2nd drive method of a touch-panel apparatus. (A) is a figure which shows the time response of the displacement in a 1st drive method, (a) is a figure which shows the time response of the displacement in a 2nd drive method. The drive voltage waveform to a piezoelectric element is shown, (a) is a 1st drive voltage waveform, (b) (c) is a 2nd drive voltage waveform. It is sectional drawing in the length direction of a unimorph type piezoelectric element, (a) is before voltage application, (b) is after voltage application. (A)-(e) is a figure which shows the relationship between the adhesion position and displacement amount of a piezoelectric element.

  1 to 3 are exploded perspective views showing the configuration of the touch panel device. The touch panel device includes a band-shaped piezoelectric element 1, a touch panel 2 having the piezoelectric element 1 attached to the back surface, a case 3 in which the touch panel 2 is accommodated, an outer peripheral upper surface of the touch panel 2, and an inner surface of an upper lid 3 a of the case 3. It is comprised with the rectangular annular gasket material 4 arrange | positioned. In the case 3, an image display device 5 disposed on the back surface side of the touch panel 2 at a predetermined interval and a processing device such as a computer (not shown) connected to the touch panel 2 and the image display device 5. For example, a mobile phone and a car navigation system are configured.

  The piezoelectric element 1 is bonded to the surface of the touch panel 2 on the image display device 5 side via an adhesive layer 7. The adhesive layer 7 is formed of an adhesive and a double-sided tape. As the adhesive, an epoxy adhesive, a cyano adhesive, or the like having a sufficiently high hardness after curing is used.

  That is, a touch panel 2, an image display device 5, and a processing device (not shown) are accommodated in a case 3 composed of an upper lid 3 a and a container 3 b, and the touch panel 2 is connected to the inner surface of the upper lid 3 a via an annular gasket material 4. The image display device 5 is supported and fixed to a step portion formed on the inner wall surface of the container 3b, whereby the touch panel 2 and the image display device 5 are accommodated in the case 3 at a predetermined interval. Yes.

  The touch panel 2 is formed using a transparent material so that the image display device 5 can be viewed from the outside. Therefore, the touch panel 2 is made of a plastic substrate such as acrylic or polycarbonate, or a glass substrate. The touch panel 2 is fixed around the entire periphery by an annular gasket material 4 in order to ensure the dustproof property that dust from the outside does not enter the inside. Therefore, it is desirable that the gasket material 4 is formed of a low-repulsive material that can easily deform the touch panel 2, and for example, urethane foam is used.

  An annular gasket material 4 is disposed between the touch panel 2 and the upper lid 3a of the case 3, and the touch panel device is sealed with the gasket material 4, and between the touch panel 2 and the image display device 5, and other devices. The case 3 housed in a dust-proof structure prevents dust from entering. The gasket material 4 is bonded between the outer periphery of the upper surface of the touch panel 2 and the inner surface of the upper lid 3a of the case 3 with an adhesive, a double-sided tape or the like.

  In addition, a rectangular operation window 3a1 for touching the touch panel 2 with a finger is formed on the upper lid 3a, and the touch panel 2 is exposed to the outside through the operation window 3a1 except for its outer peripheral portion. A rectangular central surface of the touch panel 2 exposed to the outside from the operation window 3a1 is defined as an operation region 2a. The operation area 2 a is formed inside the annular gasket material 4. The operator can realize a necessary function by pressing (touching) the touch panel 2 at a position corresponding to the button or the like of the image display device 5 shown in the operation area 2a.

  That is, the touch panel device is configured such that when the touch panel 2 is pressed with a finger, position information obtained by a resistance film type, a capacitance type, an optical sensor type, or the like is input to a processing device such as a computer. . Information on the image display device 5 is visually fed back to the operator via the transparent touch panel 2. By touching a predetermined position of the operation area 2a of the touch panel 2 disposed above the image display device 5, the operator can obtain the same effect as if the user had pressed an actual button to input information to the computer. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 2, two piezoelectric elements 1 are formed outside the operation area 2a of the touch panel 2 and along two long sides 2a1 of the operation area 2a. Reference numeral 2a2 indicates the two short sides of the operation area 2a. The piezoelectric element 1 is formed so as to protrude outward by L from both sides of the long side 2a1 of the operation region 2a.

  In other words, the two piezoelectric elements 1 are provided close to each other along the lower long side 2a1, and the left end of the left piezoelectric element 1 protrudes by L to the left of the lower long side 2a1. The right end of the right piezoelectric element 1 protrudes to the right by L from the lower long side 2a1. Similarly, two piezoelectric elements 1 are provided close to each other along the upper long side 2a1, and the left end of the left piezoelectric element 1 protrudes to the left of the upper long side 2a1. The right end of the piezoelectric element 1 protrudes to the right from the upper long side 2a1. The piezoelectric element 1 is bonded to the outside of the operation area 2a of the touch panel 2, and is configured so as not to be seen from the outside by the upper lid 3a.

  In other words, the two piezoelectric elements 1 are bonded to the touch panel 2 so as to form a line at a predetermined interval m in the length direction of the piezoelectric element 1 along the long side 2a1 of the operation region 2a.

  In this embodiment, since the piezoelectric element 1 is configured to protrude by L outside the long side 2a1 of the operation area 2a, sufficient click feeling is provided not only at the center of the touch panel 2 but also at the four corners of the operation area 2a. Can be given to the operator.

  In this embodiment, the case where two piezoelectric elements 1 are formed along each of the two long sides 2a1 of the operation region 2a has been described. However, if the long side 2a1 of the operation region 2a is short, the piezoelectric element 1 It is desirable that the number is one and that both ends protrude outward from the long side 2a1 of the operation area 2a. In this case, the amount of deformation can be increased, and the operator can feel a strong click feeling.

In FIG. 1, the entire touch panel 2 exposed in the operation window 3a1 is defined as the operation area 2a. However, a part of the touch panel 2 exposed in the operation window 3a1 is opaque, for example, exposed in the operation window 3a1. The outer peripheral part of the touch panel 2 is opaque, the central part is transparent to be the operation area 2a, and the information of the image display device 5 can be confirmed from the transparent central operation area,
Of course, the touch may be performed only in the operation area at the center.

  FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the band-like piezoelectric element 1 in the length direction. In FIG. 4, the strip-shaped piezoelectric element 1 has a laminated structure. Since the driving voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 1 can be reduced by using the laminated structure, the voltage of the device can be reduced. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 10a denotes the piezoelectric layer 1, reference numerals 11 and 12 denote external electrodes, reference numerals 13a and 13b denote internal electrodes, and reference numerals 14a and 14b denote end face electrodes.

  The piezoelectric layer 1 is formed of, for example, piezoelectric ceramics such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and the external electrodes 11 and 12 and the end face electrodes 14a and 14b are formed by thick film printing or vapor deposition.

  The external electrode 11 and the internal electrode 13a are connected via the end surface electrode 14a. On the other hand, the external electrode 12 and the internal electrode 13b are connected via the end face electrode 14b. The piezoelectric layer 10a of the piezoelectric element 1 is an active layer that is all polarized and contracts. Then, by applying an electric field in the same direction as the polarization direction to the piezoelectric layer 10a from the state in which no voltage is applied as shown in FIG. 4A, the band-like piezoelectric element 1 is obtained as shown in FIG. 4B. Shrink in the length direction.

  First and second driving methods of the touch panel device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 illustrates a first driving method of the touch panel. 5 and 6, a case where one band-like piezoelectric element 1 is bonded in the length direction of the operation area 2 a of the touch panel 2 will be described for easy understanding. 5 and 6, the black arrow indicates the deformation direction of the piezoelectric element, and the white arrow indicates the deformation direction of the touch panel. The amount of deformation of the piezoelectric element 1 and the touch panel 2 is indicated by the length of the arrow.

  In this first driving method, the piezoelectric element 1 is driven by applying a voltage as shown in FIG. As a result, the band-shaped piezoelectric element 1 is contracted in the length direction from the normal state of FIG. 5A to FIGS. 5B and 5C. Since the touch panel 2 restrains the piezoelectric element 1, the touch panel 2 is deformed so as to protrude upward (operator side). In FIG. 5C, the touch panel is deformed so as to be the most convex on the upper surface side, and then returns to the original state of FIG. 5E through the state of FIG.

  Next, a voltage having a phase opposite to that in FIGS. 5B and 5C is applied to the piezoelectric element 1, and the touch panel 2 restrains the piezoelectric element 1 by extending the piezoelectric element 1 in the length direction. 5 (f) and FIG. 5 (g), the touch panel 2 is deformed so as to protrude downward (on the image display device 5 side). After the touch panel is deformed so as to be the most convex on the lower surface side in FIG. 5G, the original state of FIG. 5I is obtained through the state of FIG. 5H.

  A second driving method of the touch panel device will be described with reference to FIG. In this second driving method, for example, a voltage as shown in FIG. 8B is applied from FIG. 6A in the normal state, and FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, and FIG. ), The touch panel 2 is greatly deformed so as to be convex toward the operator side by contracting the band-shaped piezoelectric element 1 in the length direction. Thereafter, the states of FIG. 6E and FIG. 6F are obtained, the voltage application is stopped, and the original state of FIG. 6G is obtained. In this case, since the touch panel 2 is deformed so as to be largely convex toward the operator, the operator can feel a click feeling more easily than the first driving method of FIG.

FIG. 7 shows the deformation of the central point A of the touch panel 2 in terms of time response. FIG. 7A shows a modification by the first driving method, and FIG. 7B shows a modification by the second driving method. The amplitude (displacement amount X) and the deformation time t are the same. On the other hand, the amount of displacement seen from the operator side is X / 2 in the first driving method, whereas it is X in the second driving method, which is twice as large as the first driving method. As a result, a sufficient click feeling can be given to the operator.

  An example of the driving voltage waveform to the piezoelectric element in the first and second driving methods is shown in FIG. FIG. 8A shows the drive voltage waveform of the first drive method, and FIG. 8B shows the drive voltage waveform of the second drive method. The offset voltage is obtained by delaying the phase of the sine wave by 90 degrees. It is added. Only the signal of the fundamental wave is provided, and the operator can obtain a smooth touch feeling. FIG. 8C shows a driving voltage waveform of the second driving method, which has a triangular wave shape, and the signal is instantaneously switched. Therefore, the operator can obtain a sharp touch feeling.

  FIG. 9 shows a unimorph type piezoelectric element 20. In the piezoelectric element 20 shown in FIG. 9, the internal electrode 13 c is not connected to the end face electrodes 14 a and 14 b and the external electrodes 11 and 12. The piezoelectric layer 10b formed on the outermost side of the piezoelectric element 20 is an inactive layer that is not polarized and does not contract because an electric field is not applied even when a voltage is applied to the external electrodes 11 and 12 during the polarization process. ing. Here, by applying an electric field to the piezoelectric layer 10a in the same direction as the polarization direction from the state where no voltage is applied as shown in FIG. 9A, the piezoelectric layer 10a contracts in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, since the non-piezoelectric layer 10b does not contract, the piezoelectric layer 10a is restrained. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9B, the piezoelectric element 20 bends so that the piezoelectric layer 10b side is convex. In FIG. 9, the external electrode 12 formed on the piezoelectric layer 10 b is bonded to the touch panel 2 via the adhesive layer 7 in FIGS. 1 to 3. Here, since the piezoelectric layer 10b exists in the piezoelectric element 20, the contraction vibration of the piezoelectric element 20 is converted into an upward deflection vibration, and the touch panel 2 to which the piezoelectric element 20 is bonded becomes convex upward. It becomes easy to bend.

  1 to 3, when the piezoelectric element 1 of FIG. 4 and the piezoelectric element 20 of FIG. 9 are bonded, an adhesive is desirable as the adhesive layer 7 in order to increase the displacement of the touch panel. When the piezoelectric element and the touch panel are connected with a highly adhesive double-sided tape or the like, the double-sided tape may absorb expansion and contraction, and the bending vibration of the touch panel tends to be weakened. By firmly fixing the piezoelectric element and the touch panel with an adhesive, the displacement due to the bending vibration of the touch panel can be increased, and a click feeling can be given to the operator.

  The effect was confirmed about the drive method of a touch panel apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, the strip-shaped piezoelectric elements 20 as shown in FIG. 9A are respectively provided in the length direction of the touch panel 2 made of a transparent film having a thickness of 1.5 mm, a length of 105 mm, and a width of 46 mm. Two pieces were adhered with an adhesive. The piezoelectric element 20 had 13 active layers and 2 inactive layers, and the piezoelectric element 20 was fabricated so that the capacitance of one piezoelectric element 20 was 1.2 μF. The dimensions of the piezoelectric element 20 were 2.6 mm in width and 40 mm in length.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the piezoelectric element 20 protrudes outside the long side 2a1 by L = 6 mm along the long side 2a1 of the operation region 2a formed by the long side 2a1 of 71 mm and the short side 2a2 of 35 mm. Thus, a bonded touch panel device was produced (FIG. 10A). As a comparative example, as shown in FIG. 10B, a touch panel device in which the piezoelectric element 20 was bonded along the long side 2a1 of the operation region 2a together with the end of the long side 2a1 was manufactured. Furthermore, as a comparative example, as shown in FIG. 10C, a touch panel device was manufactured in which the piezoelectric element 20 was bonded along the long side 2a1 of the operation region 2a so as to be inside the end of the long side 2a1. . In this case, the piezoelectric element 20 was bonded along the pair of short sides 2a2. Further, as a comparative example, as shown in FIG. 10 (d), three piezoelectric elements 20 are bonded along the long side 2a1 of the operation region 2a, respectively, and the outer two are connected to the end of the long side 2a1. In addition, a touch panel device bonded so as to protrude L = 6 mm to the outside was produced.

  A porous elastic body (PORON of Inoac Corporation) was bonded to the entire outer periphery of the touch panel 2 with a double-sided tape (G9000) as the gasket material 4, and the gasket material 4 was bonded to the case 3 with a double-sided tape (G9000). The voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 20 was 45V0P (zero to peak) as shown in FIG. The signal application time was 5 milliseconds. In the case where a touch panel device as shown in FIG. 10A is manufactured and the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 20 is 45 Vpp (peak to peak) as shown in FIG. ).

  The waveform was generated by the function generator WF1943 of the NF circuit design block, Inc., amplified by a MESTEC piezo driver M-2131, and applied to the piezoelectric element 20. On the other hand, the displacement of the operation area 2a of the touch panel 2 is obtained by converting the velocity signal of the Doppler vibrometer LV-1710 into digital data with a Tektronix oscilloscope TDS3014 and performing approximate trapezoidal integration on a computer. It described in FIG. 10 (a)-(e).

FIGS. 10A to 10E show the amount of displacement at each position of the operation area 2a of the touch panel 20 when a driving voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 20 of the touch panel device, and the length of the operation area 2a. A total of 15 locations, that is, 5 locations that are uniform in the direction and 3 locations that are uniform in the width direction, are measured and the magnitude of the displacement of the entire operation area 2a is displayed in a distributed manner. The magnitude of the displacement is level 1 to 20 μm. Level 2: 20.1-40 μm, Level 3: 40.1-60 μm, Level 4: 60.1-80 μm, Level 5: 80.1-100 μm, Level 6: 100.1-120 μm Yes.

  10A, in the present embodiment protruding outward from the long side 2a1 of the operation area 2a, the displacement amount of each position in the operation area 2a of the touch panel 3 when two sets (four) of the piezoelectric elements 20 are arranged. Shows that a large displacement of level 3 to 6 is obtained.

  On the other hand, from FIG. 10B, when the piezoelectric element 20 is not protruded from the long side 2a1 of the operation region 2a and is positioned at the same position as the end of the long side 2a1, the displacement amount of each position in the operation region 2a of the touch panel 3 is The level is 2 to 6, and it can be seen that the displacement amount is small in the vicinity of the four corners of the operation area 2a of the touch panel 3 with respect to FIG.

  From FIG. 10C, when one set (two sheets) of piezoelectric elements 20 in the length direction and one pair (two sheets) in the width direction are arranged, the displacement amount of each position in the operation area 2a of the touch panel 3 is as follows. It is Level 2-4, and it turns out that a displacement amount is small with respect to Fig.10 (a) which is this form.

  Furthermore, from FIG. 10D, when the length of the piezoelectric element 20 is shortened and the number of piezoelectric elements to be bonded is increased, the displacement of each position in the operation area 2a of the touch panel 3 is level 1-2. It can be seen that the displacement of the touch panel 3 is reduced. This is because the displacement generating force of each one of the piezoelectric elements is reduced, and as a result, the displacement of the entire touch panel is reduced.

  Further, when a voltage of 45 Vpp (peak to peak) as shown in FIG. 8 (a) is applied to the touch panel device as shown in FIG. 10 (a) from FIG. 10 (e), FIG. ) As a whole, the displacement amount becomes smaller at levels 2 to 5, but the displacement amounts at the four corners of the operation area 2a are only slightly lower than the central portion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 20: Piezoelectric element 2: Touch panel 2a: Operation area 2a1: Long side 2a2: Short side 3: Case 3a: Upper lid 3a1: Operation window 3b: Container 4: Gasket material 5: Image display device 7: Adhesive layer 10a: Active Piezoelectric layer 10b to be a layer: Piezoelectric layer 11 to be an inactive layer, 12: External electrodes 13a, 13b, 13c: Internal electrodes 14a, 14b: End face electrodes

Claims (2)

And other touch panel,
A processing device;
The touch panel is housed together with the processing device is retained stationary, the case having an operation window for touch the touch panel,
Anda strip of piezoelectric element bonded to the lower surface of the touch panel,
The said operation window of the case that the bare rectangular operation area of the touch panel, the piezoelectric element, is an outer contact wear along the long side of the operating region of the operation region of the touch panel Touch panel device,
In plan view, the portion of the touch panel that surrounds the operation region and the piezoelectric element is fixed to the case over the entire periphery ,
When a virtual line that extends the short side of the operation area in plan view is a short side extension line,
The touch panel device , wherein the piezoelectric element is bonded across the short side extension line . A plurality of the piezoelectric elements are provided along the long side on one side,
Among the short side extension lines, when a virtual line extending the short side on one side is a first short side extension line, and a virtual line extending the short side on the other side is a second short side extension line,
One of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is located across the first short side extension line,
The other piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is located across the second short side extension line,
The distance from the first short side extension line to one end of the one piezoelectric element is the same as the distance from the second short side extension line to the other end of the other piezoelectric element. The touch panel device according to 1.

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