JPH021623Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a touch-type input device that detects the position touched by a finger on a touch pad, touch screen, etc. and uses it as operation input information.
It aims to improve operability by detecting position information and operation strength.

<Prior Art> A multi-contact type push-button switch shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a switch that uses finger operation intensity as information.

In the multi-contact push button switch shown in Fig. 1, when push button B is lightly pressed with a finger in the direction of arrow A, the first stage switch SW1 is first turned on, and the switch SW1 is turned on. ,
Next, when you press the push button with your finger, the second switch SW2 will be activated, as shown by the dotted line.
As a result, two switches SW1 and SW2 are made, and these two switches are turned on. In this way, by providing not only two stages but a plurality of stages of switches, it is possible to obtain information corresponding to the force with which the finger presses the switch, that is, the operating strength of the finger, using the plurality of switches.

However, since this multi-contact type push button switch is a mechanical switch, the configuration becomes complicated when multiple stages of switches are provided, and because of the complicated configuration, it is not suitable for touch pads and touch screens.

In addition, operation time monitoring type switches can be cited as switches used in touchpads, touchscreens, and the like.

An operation time monitoring type switch counts the time the switch is set, and when a certain period of time has elapsed and the switch is set, the next switch is turned on, and when a certain period of time has passed, the next switch is turned on. This is the on state.

This operation time monitoring type switch does not depend on the pressing force of the finger, but operates on the basis of the time the switch is set, so it is not possible to obtain information corresponding to the operation strength of the finger.

<Purpose of the invention> In view of the above-mentioned points, the purpose of the invention is to provide a touch-type input device that is used for touch pads, touch screens, etc., and is capable of detecting finger operation strength as well as switch position information. be.

<Configuration of the invention> The configuration of the touch type input device according to the invention is as follows.

In other words, two parallel
a sheet-like resistor; a sheet-like detection electrode provided in parallel between the two sheet-like resistors;
a constant voltage power supply circuit that supplies a constant voltage to the two sheet-like resistors, and a voltage that detects the voltage in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction on the sheet-like detection electrode that changes depending on the position of the finger touch. a detector, a current detector that detects currents in the x-axis direction and y-axis direction on the two sheet-like resistors that change depending on the strength of the finger touch, the sheet-like detection electrode, and the two sheet-like resistors; This is a touch-type input device that includes a control circuit that controls the timing of detecting voltage and current in the x-axis direction or y-axis direction of the sheet-like resistor.

<Example> Before explaining the embodiment of the present invention, the principle of the present invention will be explained using FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, 1 is a sheet-like resistor, one end of which is connected to a constant voltage source 3, and 2 is a sheet-like detection electrode, one end of which is connected to the output terminal o.
1, connected to o2.

FIG. 2a shows a sheet resistor being pressed with a finger, and FIG. 2b shows a redrawn circuit diagram of this state.

When a finger is pressed against a desired position on the sheet-like resistor 1, the sheet-like resistor 1 and the sheet-like detection electrode 2 come into contact, and as shown in FIG. 2b, the sheet-like resistor 1 and the sheet-like detection electrode 2 is short-circuited at positions a and b, and the resistance value R increases according to this contact area.
changes.

The output terminal o that appears due to this change in resistance value
Since there is a correspondence between the voltage value of 1, o2 and the contact area between the sheet-like resistor 1 and the sheet-like detection electrode 2,
From this, the position information of the finger touch can be obtained, and since the value of the current flowing through the resistor R increases or decreases depending on the strength of the finger touch, information about the strength of the finger touch can be obtained from this.

Furthermore, when you press the sheet resistor 1 strongly with your finger, the sheet resistor 1 and the sheet detection electrode 2
The contact area increases, and the resistor R is short-circuited at positions c and d shown by the dotted line, its resistance value changes, and in this state, the changed current and voltage values are detected and position information and strength information are obtained. Obtainable.

FIG. 3 shows a specific circuit diagram of the touch type input device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3, 1x is a sheet-shaped resistor that detects operation information in the x-axis direction, and 1y is a sheet-shaped resistor that detects operation information in the y-axis direction. It is connected to the current detection resistor 4 and the constant voltage power supply circuit 3 via the switch SW1, and is supplied with a constant voltage. The current flowing through this current detection resistor 4 is amplified as a voltage by a resistor current value amplifier 5, converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 6, and then transmitted via a switch SW2 to an x current value output circuit 7x or x by the y current value output circuit 7y
It is output to the current value register or y current value register. On the other hand, the voltage generated at the detection electrode 2 is
It is amplified by the voltage amplifier 8, converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter 9, and outputted to the x address output circuit 10x or the y address output circuit 10y via the switch SW3. In addition, switch SW
1, SW2, SW3 are timing control circuit 11
controlled by.

The operation of the touch type input device of the present invention constructed as described above will be explained using the time chart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, A is the timing control circuit 11.
When the clock pulses are supplied to the switches SW1, SW2, and SW3, the switches are switched to the x side when they are at the "H" level, and to the y side when they are at the "L" level.

Assume now that the i output of the timing control circuit 11 is at the "H" level and each switch is switched to the x side. The resistance value of the sheet-shaped resistor 1x in the x direction changes depending on the strength of the finger touching the sheet, and the current flowing through the current detection resistor 4 changes. The voltage due to this changed current is transferred to the resistor current amplifier 5.
The amplified value is then amplified by the A/
The D converter 6 converts it into a digital signal shown in E. Furthermore, the current value converted to this digital signal is transferred to the switch SW2 which is switched to the x side.
The x current value output circuit 7x outputs the current value at the rising edge of the pulse shown in C of the timing control circuit 11 via the x current value output circuit 7x. This output is shown below.

Further, the voltage value of the sheet-like detection electrode 2, which changes depending on the position touched by the finger, is amplified by the voltage amplifier 8, and is sent to the A/D converter 9 by the output pulse from the timing control circuit 11. Therefore, it is converted into the digital signal shown in F, and is outputted from the x address output circuit 10x via the switch SW3.

Next, when the clock pulse of the timing control circuit 10 shown in A goes to the "L" level, the switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 are switched to the y side.
The operation at this time is to switch SW1, SW2, SW
3 is on the x side, and at the rising edge of the pulse shown in D of the timing control circuit 10, the y current value output circuit 7y and the y address output circuit 10y output the current value shown in H and the current value shown in N, respectively. Output address output.

In this way, a current value as finger touch strength information and a voltage value as position information are output.

Furthermore, when pressed strongly, the sheet-like resistor 1x,
The resistance value of 1y changes, and in the same way as the above operation,
The intensity information can be detected as a current value, and the position information can be detected as a voltage value.

<Other Examples> Another example in which the present invention is implemented is shown in FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the resistors in the x and y directions are composed of one sheet-like resistor 1, and detection electrodes 2 are arranged opposite to each other.

In this example, diode circuits dx1 to dxn and diode circuit dy1 conduct when touched with a finger.
Change the number of ~dyn by changing the switches s1 and s2 to set the current value and voltage value in the x direction and y direction to two values.
By determining from the out terminal, intensity information in the x and y directions is obtained, and by determining the center of the conductive diode, position information is obtained.

<Effects of the invention> As mentioned above, since the strength information and position information of the finger touch are detected based on the current value information and voltage value information in the x and y directions, respectively, even if a large area is pressed by mistake, It is possible to eliminate operation inputs that can cause malfunctions, etc. It is possible to know the operation force based on the strength of the finger touch, and it is possible to process according to human sensations according to the amount of operation.
The effect is that the sensitivity can be adjusted depending on the pad area depending on the application and the situation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram of a multi-contact switch, Figure 2a
2b is a diagram showing the principle of the invention, FIG. 2b is a circuit diagram representing the principle of the invention, FIG. FIG. 5 is a time chart of a touch-type input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram of a touch-type input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 1, 1x, 1y... sheet resistor, 2... detection electrode, 3... constant voltage circuit, 4... current detection resistor, 5... resistance value current amplifier, 6, 9... analog digital converter, 7x, 7y... Current value output circuit, 8... Voltage amplifier, 10x, 10y... Address output circuit, 11... Timing control circuit,
SW1, SW2, SW3, s1, s2...switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] two parallel sheet-like resistors provided in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction; a sheet-like detection electrode provided in parallel between the two sheet-like resistors;
a constant voltage power supply circuit that supplies a constant voltage to the sheet-shaped resistor, and a voltage detector that detects the voltage in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction on the sheet-shaped detection electrode that changes depending on the position of the finger touch. a current detector that detects currents in the x-axis direction and y-axis direction on the two sheet-like resistors that change depending on the strength of the finger touch; the sheet-like detection electrode and the two sheets; A touch-type input device comprising a control circuit that controls the timing of detecting voltage and current in the x-axis direction or y-axis direction of a shaped resistor.