JPH03282921A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a projection or a cut on a card unnecessary by identifying the card from the result of detection of electrostatic capacity generated by opposing electrodes having inherent arrangement on the rear face of the card to electrode pairs arranged on a body at the time of inserting the card. CONSTITUTION:A detection base 5 is arranged under a transparent touch panel 2 through a spacer 4 as a lower layer and the base 5 is arranged over a fixed plate 7 through a sponge 6. The panel 2 is constituted of arranging vertical and horizontal lines through a pressure sensitive film consisting of a transparent conductor so that their intersecting parts act as a contact switch and connected to a control part through a terminal 2a. On the other hand, plural pairs of electrodes 8a, 8b are formed on the base 5 with a prescribed arrangement and these electrodes 8a, 8b are covered with a protection film. When the rear face electrodes 3a of the card 3 are opposed to the electrode pairs 8a, 8b formed on the base 5 through the protection film, electrostatic capacity occurs. Since the card can be identified from the detected result of the electrostatic capacity, the formation of a projection or a cut on the card can be made unnecessary and the card can be surely identified.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for selectively touching, on a transparent touch panel, pictures or characters drawn on a card that is selectively inserted under the transparent touch panel. Regarding input devices for inputting instruction information, such as language learning machines, electronic notebooks, and personal computers.

It is applicable to word processors, remote control devices for home appliances, etc.

[Conventional technology]

In general, such input devices identify the card inserted under the transparent touch panel and read the necessary information from memory based on the type of card and the key code corresponding to the touch position on the touch panel. I keep giving instructions such as letting them come out.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, protrusions were provided in a part of the periphery of each usable card in a different number or arrangement for each card, and push-type switches were installed on the input device main body side corresponding to all the positions where protrusions could be formed on the card. There are some devices that identify the inserted card by the number and combination of switches turned on by the protrusions of the inserted card (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 173520/1983).

In addition, as a mere identification means, a different number or arrangement of notches may be formed for each card on a part of the periphery of the card, and press-type notches may be formed on the input device main body side corresponding to all the positions where the card notches can be formed. In some cases, when a card is inserted into a switch film, the card is identified by the number and combination of switches that fit into the notch and are not pressed (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 39468/1983).

The above detection switches were wired in a matrix to reduce the number of signal lines connected to the CPU's I10 port to reduce costs, and a photo sensor was installed instead of a mechanical switch as the detection switch. There were some things.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, if an identification code is formed by notches or protrusions for each card that can be used as described above, as the number of cards increases, it becomes difficult to form it on the limited tip part, and There is also the problem that the protrusions and notches that have been formed may become deformed or damaged, causing erroneous recognition.

In addition, there is also the problem that the cost is high because a large number of switches and sensors must be arranged to correspond to the maximum number of notches and protrusions that can be formed on the card.

Additionally, if the detection switches are wired in a matrix and scanned, a stray current may flow when multiple switches are turned on at the same time, making it impossible to accurately detect the turned-on switch.This stray current can be prevented. Therefore, if a diode is provided, the cost will increase, and if each switch is wired one by one to the I10 port of the CPU, the number of I10 ports to be used will naturally increase.

This invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably identify each of a plurality of cards inserted into the above-mentioned input device at low cost. do.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, this invention selectively inserts one of a plurality of cards with pictures and texts drawn on the underside of a transparent touch panel, and some of the pictures and texts on the card become transparent. In an input device for inputting instruction information selected by being touched on a touch panel, electrodes for identification are formed on the back surface of each of the plurality of cards in a unique arrangement for each card, and a transparent touch panel is provided. A pair of electrodes is formed in a predetermined arrangement at a position facing the back surface of the card on the main body side when the card is inserted.

A detection circuit detects the difference in capacitance between each pair of electrodes depending on whether or not there is an identification electrode at a position facing each pair of electrodes when the card is inserted, and the card is inserted based on the detection results of the detection circuit. A card identification means for identifying the card is provided.

[For production]

In the input device according to the present invention, when a card is inserted, a detection circuit detects the difference in capacitance that occurs when a pair of electrodes on the main body side and an electrode formed in a unique arrangement on the back side of the card face each other, and detects the difference in capacitance. Since the card identification means identifies the card from the result, there is no need to form protrusions or notches on the card, and identification electrodes can be easily formed on the back surface of the card even if the number of electrodes is large.

Further, even if the detection circuit is made common to each pair of electrodes and scans them sequentially, the detection circuit is hardly affected by stray current, and reliable identification is possible with an inexpensive configuration.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of an input device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 with a card inserted after assembly.

In this input device 1, a detection substrate 5 is provided below a transparent touch panel 2 from the top side with a spacer 4 interposed therebetween, and is placed on a fixed plate 7 with a sponge 6 interposed therebetween.

The transparent touch panel 2 is formed by forming a pattern of vertical lines and horizontal lines on a transparent plate such as an acrylic plate using a transparent conductor through a pressure-sensitive conductive film, and the parts where the lines intersect each other function as contact switches. Each line is connected to a control section (not shown) via a terminal 2a.

In the detection substrate 5, a circuit 8 is formed on a flexible base material by printing or etching, and on the circuit 8, six pairs of electrodes 8a and 8b are formed in a predetermined arrangement in this example. There is a protective film and M! on the entire surface. A resist 9 is printed or laminated as an Ae film.

All pairs of electrodes 8a on this circuit 8.

Of the electrodes 8b, two electrodes 8a and three electrodes 8b are connected in common, respectively, and are connected to a card test portion (not shown) via terminals 5a formed on the substrate.

The spacer 4 is a U-shaped member that forms a space between the transparent touch panel 2 and the detection board 5 that allows the card 3 to be accommodated, and is open on the side where the card 3 is inserted.

The sponge 6 is a member having elasticity such as urethane resin, and has an appropriate thickness and plays the role of pushing up the detection board 5 with a necessary pressure so that the detection board 5 comes into uniform contact with the back surface of the card.

On the other hand, the card 3 is made of paper or resin, etc., and on its surface there are pictures, letters, etc. drawn at positions corresponding to the contact switches on the transparent touch panel 2, and on the back side, there is conductivity in a unique arrangement for each card. An identification electrode 3a made of a conductive material such as paste is provided.

The electrode 3a is formed at a position facing either of the pair of electrodes 8a + 8b on the main body side when the card 3 is inserted under the transparent touch panel 2, and is covered with a protective film and A resist 10 forming an insulating film is printed or laminated.

When this card 3 is inserted into the lower side of the transparent touch panel 2 in a predetermined orientation with the surface with pictures, letters, etc. drawn on it facing up,
The upper surface of the detection substrate 5 pushed up by the sponge 6 and the back surface of the card 3 are brought into close contact, and each electrode 3a on the back surface of the card 3 is connected to a pair of electrodes 8a, 8 at corresponding positions on the detection substrate 5.
b and facing each other.

In addition, the surface of the card 3 is brought into close contact with the transparent touch panel 2 by pushing up the sponge 6, and when the top side of the transparent touch panel 2 is touched, the contact switch at that position is turned on and the picture or text on the card 3 is selectively indicated. It becomes possible to do so.

Next, card identification will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by frame C in FIG. 2.

In this way, when the pair of electrodes 8a+8b on the detection substrate 5 and the electrode 3a on the back surface of the card 3 face each other with the resist 9°10 in between, a capacitor is formed between the electrodes 8a and 3a, and between the electrodes 5a and 8b. A certain capacitance is generated, and as shown in the equivalent circuit diagram in FIG. 4, two capacitors c1 and 02 are connected in series between electrodes 8a and 8b.
The capacitance between electrodes 8a + 8b is ClC2/ (CI +
C2), and if C11=02, it becomes C1/2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of electrodes 8a on the detection substrate 5
, 8b, if there is no electrode 3a on the back surface of the card 3 at a position facing electrodes 8a and 8b, a capacitor will be formed between the electrodes 8a and 8b on the detection board 5, and a capacitance will be generated therebetween, but this capacitance is as described above. The capacitance between the electrodes 88 and 8b is much smaller than the capacitance between the electrodes 88 and 8b when the electrode 3a of the card 3 is located opposite the pair of electrodes 8a and 8b on the detection substrate 5.

Therefore, each pair of electrodes 8 a + 8 b on the detection substrate 5
By detecting this difference in capacitance, the type of card can be determined.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card checking section of this input device.

This card detection section includes, in addition to the aforementioned detection board 5, a rectangular wave generation circuit 11, an amplifier circuit 12. It consists of a rectifier circuit 13 and a comparison/discrimination circuit 14, and inputs the detection results to a card identification section 15.

First, when the rectangular wave generating circuit 11 generates a rectangular wave pulse voltage and sequentially applies it to the electrode 8a side of each pair of electrodes on the detection board 5, if a resistor is connected between the other electrode 8b side and the ground. , a differential pulse waveform signal is sequentially output to the electrode 8b side (see FIG. 4).

If the electrode 3a is located at a position facing the electrodes 8a and 8b, the capacitance between the electrodes 8a and 8b will be large as described above, so the width of the differential pulse to be output will be widened. After being amplified by the amplifier circuit 12 and made into only positive pulses by the rectifier circuit 13, the pulse width exceeding the reference value becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value in the comparison/determination circuit 14, so that the output becomes a high level it Htz.

However, when there is no electrode 3a, the electrode 8a.

Since the capacitance between 8b and 8b is extremely small, the width of the output differential pulse is extremely small, and the pulse width exceeding the reference value does not exceed the predetermined value in the comparison/discrimination circuit 14, so the output goes to low level "L". Become.

Each pair of electrodes on the detection board 5 is sequentially scanned and the discrimination signal from the comparison discrimination circuit 14 is sent to the card identification section 15.
If the combination of discrimination signals is input to card 3,
Since this corresponds to the identification code, the inserted card can be identified.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 1, the pair of electrodes 8 on the detection substrate 5
If a and 8b are connected in a matrix and scanned sequentially, stray current may flow to adjacent pairs of electrodes, but in that case, a series circuit with more than twice as many capacitors as between the target electrodes (the capacitance is reduced to 1/2 or less), the detected differential waveform is extremely small, and there is no risk of misjudgment.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing an example of an electronic learning machine to which the input device according to the present invention is applied.

This electronic learning machine includes a transparent touch panel 2 on the top surface of a main body 20, and the above-mentioned detection board 5 below the transparent touch panel 2, and allows a card 3 to be inserted in the direction of the arrow from a card insertion slot 20a.

Furthermore, an LCD display section 21 displays characters having meanings related to the characters corresponding to the input specified by the transparent touch panel 2. A select switch 22 for selecting the type of output audio and display, and a power switch 23. LED lamp 24 to display the power ON status. Contrast adjustment knob 25 on the LCD display section 21. A volume knob 26 for adjusting the volume from the side speaker 27 is provided.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this electronic learning machine.

This electronic learning machine includes, in a main body 20, an audio/display data storage section 31, a card detection section 32, a microcomputer-based control section 30 that controls the entire device, and a speech synthesis section 33.

The transparent touch panel 2 is the contact part 2 of the select switch 22
2a, and vertical lines C0M1 to C0M3 and horizontal lines 5EG are formed on a transparent plate such as an acrylic plate.
1 to 5EG4 are patterned using a transparent conductor through a pressure-sensitive conductive film, and the portions where the lines intersect with each other (circled and enlarged) serve as contacts (switches) SW.

Each line is connected to a control unit 30, and when any contact SW becomes conductive (ON) due to touch pressure by scanning of the control unit 30, it is detected.

Of these, lines COMI to C0M3 and line 5EG2
The contact points at the nine intersections with ~5EG4 are the contact points of the transparent touch panel 2, and are turned on when touched from the outside with a pen or finger. Also, C0M1 to C0M3 and line 5EG
The contact points at the three intersections with I are the contact points of the contact portion 22a of the select switch 22, and when the select knob of the select switch 22 is at the position 1, 2, or 3, the select knob is pressed and turned ON.

In this embodiment, the data types are "1: name data", r2: color data J, r3. There are three types of operation data, and the select knob of the select switch 22 is 1. ．． 2. It shall be selected when it is in position 3.

The audio/display data storage section 31 is a memory (ROM or R
AM), and stores a plurality of types of audio data and display data representing attributes related to each of the pictures, characters, etc. on all the cards that can be inserted, including the card 3.

As explained with reference to FIG. 6, the card detection unit 32
The board 5 detects the presence or absence of the identification electrode 3a on the back of the card 3.
The discrimination is made based on the difference in capacitance generated between the six pairs of electrodes 9a and 8b provided on the card, and the discrimination result is input to the control section 30 which also has the function of the card identification section 15 shown in FIG.

The speech synthesis section 33 synthesizes a speech signal using the speech data sent from the control section 30, outputs it to the speaker 27, and generates speech related to the picture or character touched on the card 3.

Next, processing by the control unit 30 of this electronic learning machine will be explained.

When the power switch 23 in FIG. 7 is turned on, the LED lamp 24 lights up and the device is activated, and the control section 30 initializes the LCD display section 21 and the voice synthesis section 33.

Next, it is checked whether or not the card 3 is inserted. If the card 3 is not inserted, the process waits until the card 3 is inserted. If it is inserted, the card detection section 32
The card is identified based on the determination result of the capacitance for each pair of electrodes, and the process of scanning each contact on the transparent touch panel 2 is continued until a valid contact is turned on.

When a valid contact is touched and turns on, the select number of the select switch 22 is detected, and if the select number is "1", name data is selected, if it is "2", color data is selected, and if it is "3", it is activated. Select data.

Then, the audio data and display data of the type indicated by the selection number in the information corresponding to the identified card 6 are read from the audio/display data storage section 31, sent to the audio synthesis section 33 and the LCD display section 21, and displayed on the card 3. A display related to the touched picture is displayed and a sound is generated.

After that, the process ends when the power is turned off, but when the power is turned off,
If it remains N, the process returns to the card 3 insertion confirmation process and the above-described operation is repeated.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a picture drawn on the card 3.

On the top surface of the card 3 shown in the figure, there are, for example, a picture 28 of a car, a picture 29 of an airplane, etc. at positions corresponding to the intersections of the lines COMI to C0M3 of the transparent touch panel 2 and the lines 5EG2 to 5EG4, which are indicated by dashed lines. It is depicted.

Then, the audio/display data storage unit 31 stores, for example, three types of data "name data" as shown in the following table as audio and display data related to the automobile.

1 color data" and "operation data" are each select switch number "1" of the select switch 22.

They are stored corresponding to "2" and "3".

Similarly, three types of data are stored for airplane pictures 29, etc. When this card 3 is set in the main body 20 of the electronic learning machine shown in FIG. 7 and the power is turned on, this card 3 is first identified.

Next, when the select switch 22 is set to "1", for example, and the car picture 28 on the card 3 is touched with a finger, the contact point at the intersection of the line C0M3 and the line 5EG2 is turned ON and detected. The type of audio data and display data for select number "1" are read out from a plurality of data related to the car corresponding to the position,
"Kuruma" is pronounced audibly from the speaker 27, and "Kuruma" is displayed in hiragana on the LCD display section 21.

In the above-described embodiment, the type of audio and display to be outputted is changed by a select switch, but the control unit 30 may be configured to automatically change the type in order.
Alternatively, a random number generator may be used to randomly switch.

Card 3 is for early childhood education and foreign language learning.

Various types can be arbitrarily created depending on the purpose, such as for games.

For example, for each picture on a learning card, you can
It is also possible to selectively display the pronunciation and spelling of words in different languages such as French, which is convenient for multilingual learning.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the input device according to the present invention is
Detects the presence or absence of identification electrodes formed on the back of the card,
Since cards are identified by their unique arrangement, it is possible to identify a large number of cards at a lower cost than by detecting notches and protrusions on cards using a large number of switches and sensors.

Furthermore, since the presence or absence of an electrode on the back of the card is determined based on the difference in capacitance generated between a pair of electrodes at opposing positions on the main body side, power consumption is low and identification can be made reliably.

Therefore, if this input device is applied to language learning machines, electronic notebooks, personal computers, word processors, remote control devices for home appliances, etc., it becomes possible to make these devices lightweight and thin at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the input device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1 with a card inserted after assembly, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the input device according to the present invention. An enlarged cross-sectional view of the part surrounded by frame C in the figure, FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram between the pair of electrodes 8a and 8b in FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card detection section of the input device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the electronic learning machine, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a card used in the electronic learning machine of FIG. 7. 1... Input device 2... Transparent touch panel 3
...Card 3a...Identification electrode 4...
・Spacer 5...Detection board 6...Sponge 7...Fixing plate 8...Circuit 8a
, 8b...Pair electrode 9.10...Resist 11...Square wave generation circuit 12...Amplification circuit 1
3... Rectifier circuit 14... Comparison/discrimination circuit 15... Card identification section 20... Electronic learning machine 20a... Card insertion slot 21... LCD display section 22... Select switch 27. ... Speaker 30 ... Control section (also has the function of card identification section) 3
2... Card detection section 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Q Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device equipped with a transparent touch panel, into which one of a plurality of cards with pictures and letters drawn on the lower side is selectively inserted, and some of the pictures and letters on the card are inserted. In an input device that inputs instruction information selected from the transparent touch panel by being selectively touched on the transparent touch panel, each card is identified by a unique arrangement on the back side of each of the plurality of cards. forming a pair of electrodes at a predetermined arrangement at a position facing the back surface of the card on the side of the main body equipped with the transparent touch panel when the card is inserted; a detection circuit that detects the difference in capacitance between each pair of electrodes depending on whether or not the identification electrode is located at a position opposite to the electrode of the inserted card; An input device comprising a card identification means for identifying a card.