JPH0228168B2 - TATEGATAZAHYONYURYOKUSOCHI - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention is useful when inputting position information, items displayed on a panel, handwritten characters, figures, etc. into electronic devices such as word processors and personal computers. The present invention relates to a pressure detection type coordinate input device to be used, and more specifically, to improving the reliability of such a coordinate input device.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, personal computers, word processors, and the like have become widespread in everyday life, and keyboards are widely used to input data and the like into these devices. This keyboard is provided with a large number of keys on which various characters are displayed, and an operator inputs data by pressing and operating these keys.

However, the keys on this keyboard are not normally arranged in a regular alphabetical order, but are arranged irregularly depending on the frequency of use, so a certain degree of skill is required to operate them. and
It was also impossible to input figures and the like.

Therefore, a coordinate input device has been proposed so that even beginners can easily perform this operation, that is, they can read and input characters written by hand as they are, and can also input figures and the like. This coordinate input device consists of a face plate with pressure detectors installed at the four corners of the back side, etc. When characters, figures, etc. are drawn on the face plate, output signals are output to each pressure detector according to the characters, figures, etc. The coordinate position of the pressed point on the face plate is detected, and data such as characters and figures can be input into a personal computer or the like.

By the way, in the case of this coordinate input device, if the table on which the coordinate input device is installed, such as a desk, is touched with your hand or for some other reason, the table shakes and vibrates, this vibration will cause the pressure sensor to This may cause unnecessary electrical signals to be input. especially,
For coordinate input devices of the type that are installed with the face plate upright (hereinafter referred to as vertical coordinate input devices),
When drawing characters, figures, etc. on the face plate, the direction of force applied to the face plate is approximately perpendicular to gravity (hereinafter referred to as the horizontal direction), but if the weight of the face plate is not supported well, the face plate's own weight will cause There is a risk that vibrations in the horizontal direction will occur, causing malfunctions such as unnecessary electrical signals being input.

For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG.
The four corners of the face plate c are fitted into the mounting brackets b attached to the top and bottom of both sides to support and fix it from the horizontal direction, and the pressure detector d is attached near the part of the face plate c that is attached with the mounting brackets b. Proposed.

[Problem to be solved]

However, in the case of the vertical coordinate input device with the face plate c attached in this way, as shown in FIG. , because the weight of the face plate c strongly presses the bottom e of the mounting bracket b, even if the face plate c is pressed in the horizontal direction, the pressure sensor d on the lower side
Pressure propagation is weak and input errors are likely to occur.

As described above, in the conventional type of vertical coordinate input device, it is difficult to properly support the weight of the face plate and to effectively extract only the horizontal pressing force against the face plate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable vertical coordinate input device that does not malfunction due to unnecessary vibrations in the direction of gravity and does not cause input errors.

[Means for solving problems]

That is, in order to input coordinates, the present invention provides a vertical coordinate input device in which a face plate with a pressure sensor attached to the back side is installed, and a substantially U-shaped support member having an elastic force is attached to the left and right sides of the face plate. In addition to fitting both sides, the central part side of the support member is supported/supported by an outer frame, etc.
The weight of the face plate is supported horizontally at one place on the left and right through the support member.
Since the base plate is fixed, there is no fear that force in the direction of gravity will act on the lower part of the face plate and restrict the displacement movement in the horizontal direction, and the pressing force along the horizontal direction can be accurately output to the pressure detector. On the other hand, the support member elastically absorbs the vertical movement along the direction of gravity, thereby preventing the occurrence of unnecessary horizontal vibrations, etc., thereby preventing the occurrence of malfunctions. In addition, there are no input errors and reliability is improved.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a vertical coordinate input device according to the present invention attached to a personal computer using a mounting bracket. A support member 4 having an engaging portion 3 on the side and back surface, and a face plate 6 disposed between the outer frame 1 and the CRT 5 by the support member 4.
It is composed of etc.

The outer frame 1 is attached to the front side of the casing body 1, and, as shown in FIG. 2, has a large opening in the center so that the operator can see the screen of the CRT 5 from the outside through the face plate 6. There is.
A pair of fittings 2 are attached to the inner wall surfaces of both ends of the outer frame 1.

The mounting bracket 2 is made of a material having a certain strength, and is firmly attached to the outer frame 1 so as to be able to sufficiently withstand the weight of the face plate 6.
As shown in FIG. 3, this mounting bracket 2 has a protrusion 2a formed on the center side, which fits into the fitting part 3 of the support member 4 and allows the support member to 4, the face plate 6 is fixed in the direction of gravity.

The support member 4 is in the form of a leaf spring having an elastic body so as to be able to shift the face plate 6 along the horizontal direction, and supports the face plate 6 at one point from the horizontal direction at the center of both sides of the face plate 6. It is made of a material with high strength and is formed into a substantially U-shape. The fitting portion 3 of the support member 4 is formed with an insertion hole that exactly matches the size of the protrusion 2a of the mounting bracket 2, so that the support member 4 is fitted and fixed into the mounting bracket 2 without loosening. It is becoming more and more common.

The face plate 6 is pressed by the operator to draw characters, figures, etc., or to select desired data from among the data displayed on the CRT5 screen, and in this embodiment, It is made of transparent rectangular glass or the like so that the CRT5 screen can be seen from the outside through this face plate 6. Pressure detectors 8 made of strain gauges, piezoelectric elements, etc. are attached to the four corners of the back side of this face plate 6. The lower part 6a (see Fig. 4) also accurately shifts and moves in response to the horizontal pressing force without being affected by the force, propagates the pressing force to the pressure detector 8, and eliminates unnecessary gravity. For vibration in the direction, support member 4 and mounting bracket 2
etc., to absorb this and prevent malfunctions from occurring. In addition, when attaching this face plate 6 to the outer frame 1, fit the support members 4 from both left and right sides of this face plate 6, and attach the fitting member 3 while sliding this support member 4 in the left and right direction along the face plate 6. It is designed to fit into the protrusion 2a of the metal fitting 2.

Therefore, if the vertical coordinate input device according to this embodiment is used, the support member 4 supporting the face plate 6 will be aligned with the outer frame 1.
Since it is supported and fixed to the mounting bracket 2 and absorbs vibrations in the direction of gravity, there is no risk of malfunction even if the stand (not shown) on which the personal computer is mounted vibrates unnecessarily. Further, if the vertical coordinate input device according to this embodiment is used, the face plate 6 is moved by the support member 4 to the right and left center portions of the face plate 6, respectively.
Since the support member 4 is supported and fixed at a point and is formed of an elastic body so that only the pressing force can be effectively taken out in the horizontal direction, the propagation of the pressing force at the lower part of the plate surface 6 is weak, leading to input errors. There is no such fear, and highly accurate coordinate position detection can be performed reliably.

Further, if the coordinate input device according to this embodiment is used, the support member 4 fitted into the face plate 6 can be moved to the face plate 6.
It can be easily attached to the outer frame 1 by sliding it laterally along.

In the vertical coordinate input device of the present invention, the means for attaching the face plate to the outer frame etc. is not particularly limited to the above-mentioned method. Of course, it is also possible to attach it to an outer frame or the like.

〔effect〕

As described above, when the vertical coordinate input device according to the present invention is used, the face plate is fixed to the outer frame, etc. at the center of both left and right ends via the support member, and the support member is offset in the horizontal direction. Since it is made of a movable elastic material, it can protect the face plate from vibrations in the direction of gravity, and in response to horizontal pressing force, the lower part of the face plate also reliably shifts, allowing the pressure to be detected. Input errors are prevented from being transmitted to the device, and malfunctions due to unnecessary vibrations in the direction of gravity do not occur, significantly improving accuracy and reliability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a vertical coordinate input device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the operation of attaching an elastic support member to a mounting bracket according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the effect of the pressing force on the face plate according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the elastic support member and the mounting bracket. FIG. The explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5. 1... Outer frame, 2... Mounting bracket, 3... Fitting part,
4... Support member, 5... CRT, 6... Face plate, 8
...Pressure detector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a vertical coordinate input device in which a face plate with a pressure detector is installed on the back side for inputting coordinates, a substantially U-shaped supporting member having an elastic force is attached to the face plate. A vertical coordinate input device, characterized in that the support member is fitted on both left and right sides, and the center portion of the support member is supported and fixed to an outer frame or the like.