JPH04342008A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a touch panel which is provided with a parallel push-down function and is excellent in operability without making its external size large and without making the circuit configuration of a control system complicated. CONSTITUTION:The touch panel 1 is divided into an ordinary key area part 4 which is pushed down usually singly and a parallel push-down key area part 6 which is pushed down simultaneously with the ordinary key area part 4. Then, by providing an electrode 5b which can be shared by both the key area parts 4, 6 and can be controlled and switched between both the key area parts 4, 6, even if a display item part corresponding to an ordinary key and the display item part corresponding to a parallel push-down key are pushed at a time, signals from two display item parts are taken out from each key area parts 4, 6.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a touch panel.
In particular, it relates to a touch panel for inputting information by directly touching the operator.

0002

[Technical Background] Conventionally, keyboards have often been used as information input devices for computers and the like. However, in recent years, liquid crystal display elements (LCDs) have replaced keyboards.
) is used to display a predetermined item. A transmissive touch panel (hereinafter simply referred to as a touch panel) is placed on the display surface of a display device, and when the part of the touch panel corresponding to this display item is pressed, the display item is displayed. Information input devices that allow information to be input are also in widespread use.

[0003] These touch panels include a transparent electrode contact type, an infrared matrix type, and a capacitance type, depending on the detection method and circuit type. Among these, the transparent electrode contact type is made by overlapping two transparent polyester sheets each with a conductive wire etched into it.One sheet has an electrode running in the X direction, and the other sheet has an electrode running in the Y direction. Electrodes running in the direction are arranged. The electrodes of each sheet are connected by a resistive film, and the two sheets are stacked facing each other with the resistive films separated. Also, when you press the front sheet toward the back sheet with your finger or pen, the two sheets come into contact through the resistive film, and the X-Y coordinates of this contact point are transmitted to the host processor. It is now processed.

0004

[Prior Art] Transparent electrode contact type touch panels can be roughly divided into analog type touch panels as shown in FIG. 5, digital type touch panels as shown in FIG. 6, and digital type touch panels as shown in FIG. It is classified as an analog/digital mixed type touch panel. The configurations of conventional examples of each of these types of touch panels will be described below.

First, in FIG. 5, an analog type touch panel 101 has electrodes 104 running in the X direction on both ends of a resistive film 103 formed on one sheet 102.
a, 104b, and the other sheet 105
Electrodes 107a and 107b running in the Y direction are formed on both ends of the resistive film 106 formed above, and both sheets 10
2,105 resistive films 103 and 106 are stacked facing each other and separated from each other. When the portion on one sheet 102 is pushed down toward the other sheet 105 and the resistive films 103 and 106 come into contact with each other, the resistance at the point of contact increases with the lead wires 108, 109, 1.
10 and 111 to determine the X-Y coordinates. In this analog type, the pressed position is not specified, so it is often used when it is desired to set the button at any position and any size on the display surface of the display device.

Next, in FIG. 6, a digital type touch panel 201 has an electrode 204 on one end side.
A plurality of resistive film lines 203 (13 in this example) are formed in parallel on one sheet 202, and a resistive film line 206, which also has an electrode 207 at one end and runs in the X direction, is formed on the other sheet 202. on the sheet 205 (in this example, 6
The resistive film wires 203 and 206 of both sheets 202 and 205 are arranged in a matrix and overlapped. Further, in this digital type touch panel 201, whereas the analog type touch panel 101 shown in FIG. 209 is provided, this lead wire 208
, 209 are required as many as the resistive film lines 203 and 206.

When the portion on one sheet 202 is pushed toward the other sheet 205, the resistive film line 203 and the resistive film line 206 intersect at the corresponding portion.
The electrode 204 of the resistive film wire 203 in contact with
A signal is extracted from between the electrode 207 of the resistive film line 206 and the X-Y coordinates are determined. In this digital type touch panel 201, the resistive film wire 2
03 and the resistive film line 206 intersect and are electrically connected, the pressed portion is specified. Therefore, it is used when the position on the display surface of a display device can be fixed.

Furthermore, in FIG. 7, an analog/digital mixed type touch panel 301 has one sheet 3.
Electrodes 305a and 305b run in the X direction at both ends of each of the two resistive films 303 and 304 formed on 02.
and 306a, 306b, and a divided resistive film 309 (
In this example, electrodes 310a, 310b and 311 running in the Y direction are formed on one side of the sheet (divided into 6), respectively, and resistive films 303 and 308 (analog touch panel) and 304 and 309 (digital touch panel) of both sheets 302 and 307 are formed. They are made by stacking them facing each other, separated from each other.

This analog/digital mixed type touch panel 301 has more lead wires than the analog type touch panel shown in FIG. It is possible to realize a double press function that was impossible to achieve with a touch panel alone. When the analog touch panel section on one sheet 302 is pushed toward the analog touch panel section on the other sheet 307, the resistive films 303 and 308 come into contact with each other, and the resistance at the point of contact increases with the lead wires 312, 313, 316,
317 to determine the X-Y coordinates.

Furthermore, when the digital touch panel section on one sheet 302 is pushed toward the digital touch panel section on the other sheet 307, the resistive film 304 and the divided resistive film 309 come into contact at the corresponding part. Then, signals are taken out from the lead wires 314, 315, 318,
The X-Y coordinates can now be determined. In this analog/digital mixed type touch panel, the analog touch panel section can be set at any position and size on the display surface of the display device, and the digital touch panel section can be set at any size on the display surface of the display device. Used when the position can be fixed.

[0011]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, among the various types of touch panels mentioned above, the analog type touch panel 101 has problems with other keys such as the "shift" key and "expansion" key, which are frequently used on keyboard switches. It cannot be used in a state where it has a simultaneous pressing function such as pressing two parts at the same time to input a key. In other words, analog type touch panel 1
In 01, when two display item parts are pressed at the same time, the two places on the same resistive film 103 and 106 touch at the same time, so a parallel circuit of resistors is formed on the same touch panel 101. This is because this combined resistance is recognized as the resistance of one display item.

[0012] Therefore, in order to realize a function similar to the double-press function of keyboard switches, for example, if you want to input the capital letter "A", first press "
If you first press the display item part corresponding to the ``Shift'' key or the ``Extend'' key once to instruct capital letter input, then press the display item part corresponding to the lowercase letter ``a'' to modify it, the uppercase letter will be input. "A" can be entered. Conversely, in order to return to the original state of inputting lowercase letters, it is necessary to press again the display item portion for canceling the double press function to return to the lowercase letter input state. For this reason, there have been problems such as poor operability and complicated software processing for implementation.

[0013] Also, a digital type touch panel 20
In 1, a plurality of independent resistive film lines 203 and 206 are assembled in a matrix, and the resistance at the pressed position can be taken out individually, so it is relatively easy to provide a simultaneous pressing function. It is. However, it is necessary to draw out the lead wires 208 and 209 by the number of resistive film wires 203 and 206, which causes the problem that the external size becomes large. At the same time, the number of drive lines and reading lines that match the matrix shape increases, making the circuit configuration of the touch panel control system more complex, and the key positions are also fixed, resulting in problems such as a lack of versatility. .

On the other hand, the analog/digital mixed type touch panel 301 has an independent analog touch panel section and a digital touch panel section, so by assigning the digital touch panel section as a simultaneous press key, it is possible to provide a simultaneous press function. , it is easier to operate than an analog type touch panel, and software processing is also easier. In addition, since there are fewer lead wires than in a digital touch panel, the circuit configuration of the control system of the touch panel can be simplified and it is more versatile.

However, as mentioned above, since the analog touch panel section and the digital touch panel section are independent, an independent touch panel control circuit and independent software processing are required for each touch panel section.
There was a problem in that extra time was required for touch panel control. In addition, an opaque lead wire 317 (Fig. 7
Since it is necessary to pull out the touch panel, the area that can be used as a touch panel decreases, and furthermore, there are problems in that visibility deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a touch panel with excellent operability that has a double-press function without increasing the external size of the touch panel or complicating the circuit configuration of the control system. The purpose is to provide

[0017]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has two resistive sheets on which resistive films are formed, and when the resistive sheets are not pressed down, both resistive films are in contact with each other. In a touch panel having two resistive sheets arranged opposite to each other to prevent the resistive film from being exposed to A first resistive film region consisting of a pair of electrodes arranged along the side edges, a resistive film between the pair of electrodes, and a first resistive film region between one of the pair of electrodes and the other side end of the resistive film. A second resistive film region made of a resistive film is provided, and the other resistive sheet has a resistive film region facing the first resistive film region, and a resistive film region of the one resistive sheet in the resistive film region. A pair of electrodes arranged along both side edges perpendicular to the electrodes, a resistive film group facing the second resistive film region and divided into a plurality of parts, and a resistive film group arranged at each end of the resistive film group. The structure includes a group of electrodes.

[0018]

[Function] In one resistor sheet, the area consisting of the resistive film between the pair of electrodes is used as the analog signal detection section, and the area consisting of the resistive film between one electrode and the other side end is used as the digital signal detection section. On the other resistive sheet, an analog touch panel is formed by arranging a pair of electrodes along both side edges of the area facing the analog signal detection section, and the resistive film facing the digital signal detection section is divided into multiple parts. , and by arranging electrodes at the ends of each of the divided resistive film groups, a digital touch panel is formed.

That is, it is divided into a normal key area that is normally pressed alone and a jointly pressed key area that is pressed at the same time as this normal key area. By providing a possible electrode, even if the display item part corresponding to a normal key and the display item part corresponding to a joint press key are pressed at the same time, the signals from the two display item parts can be taken out from each key area at the same time. This can be handled separately. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously press a display item portion corresponding to a normal key and a display item portion corresponding to a joint press key in a short software processing time. In addition, even if the touch panel is divided into two key areas, only two lead wires are needed on the analog type key area side, and even if the touch panel is divided into two key areas, the number of lead wires will increase dramatically. It does not become large in size.

[0020]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a touch panel according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control system in an information input device using the touch panel shown in FIG. First, in FIG. 1, when a part of the touch panel 1 corresponding to an item corresponding to a normal key is pressed down with a finger or a pen, this will cause the control circuit section 2 shown in FIG.
The information is converted into data within 8 and transmitted to a host processor (not shown) for processing.

The touch panel 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a transparent electrode contact type, and is formed based on two insulating sheets 2 and 3 made of transparent polyester sheets or the like. On the lower surface of one sheet 2, a pair of electrodes 5a, 5b for the normal key area section 4 is provided.
In addition, the electrode for the joint press key area 6 is normally shared with one electrode 5b for the key area, but the electrodes 5a and 5b are printed and wired independently and provided running in the X direction. . Additionally, a joint press key area 6 is provided between the pair of electrodes 5a and 5b, and between one electrode 5b and the opposite side of the electrode 5a.
For example, resistive films 7 and 8 are formed between the ends of the electrodes 5a and 5b by applying conductive paint, respectively, and the resistive films 7 are electrically connected to the electrodes 5a and 5b. Further, lead wires 9a and 9b are led out from each electrode 5a and 5b, respectively.

On the other hand, on the upper surface of the other sheet 3, a pair of electrodes 10a, 10b for the normal key area 4 are provided.
The electrodes 11a to 11f of the multiple divided key press area portions 6a to 6f are printed and wired to run in the Y direction and are provided independently. In addition, a pair of electrodes 1
Resistive films 12, 13a to 13f are respectively formed between 0a and 10b and in the joint press key area parts 6a to 6f including electrodes 11a to 11f by applying conductive paint, for example. 12 with electrodes 10a and 10b
Further, lead wires 14a, 14b and 15a-15f are led out from each electrode 10a, 10b, 11a-11f, respectively.

These two sheets 2, 3 are arranged so that the resistive films 7, 8 and the resistive films 12, 13a to 13f are separated from each other and face each other, and are provided with dot spacers (not shown in the figure) to prevent them from coming into contact with each other. They are stacked face-to-face in a hollow state to form a single sheet. Then,
A normal key area 4 and a pressed key area 6 which are electrically connected to each other are formed in the same sheet, and in this sheet-like state are displayed on a display surface (not shown) constituting an information input device (not shown). Placed. Also, on the display screen, as shown in FIG. 3, display items (SHIFT, A, B, C, D in this embodiment) 18, 19, 2
0.21, 22 can be seen through the touch panel 1, and display items 19 to 22 indicated by symbols A, B, C, and D, which are normally operated independently, correspond to the normal key area section 4. , display items 19 to 2 indicated by symbols A, B, C, and D
A display item 18 indicated by the symbol SHIFT that is pressed at the same time as 2 corresponds to the simultaneous press key area 6.

In this touch panel 1, as shown in FIG.
, D (the part indicated by display item 19 in the case of FIG. 4) is selected and pressed with the finger 16, etc., and the pressed display item 19 is displayed in FIG. A portion on one sheet 2 corresponding to the portion contacts a portion on the other sheet 3 via the resistive films 7 and 12,
The X-Y coordinate signal of this contact point is the lead wire 9a, 9b.
, 14a, 14b, and are input to the control circuit section 23 of FIG. 2 and processed. Furthermore, if the part of the display item 19 indicated by the symbol SHIFT displayed in the pressed key area 6 is simultaneously pressed with another finger 17, the part of the display item 19 that corresponds to the pressed part of the display item 19 will be pressed. The portion on the sheet 2 is coated with the resistive film 8, 13a-1 on the portion on the other sheet 3.
3f, and the X-Y coordinate signal of this contact point is input to the control circuit section 23 of FIG. 2 through the lead wires 9b, 15a to 15f, and is processed.

The control circuit section 23 in FIG. 2 includes a sense section 24, an A/D conversion section 25, and an A/D conversion section 25, which have a digital sense section 24a and an analog sense section 24b in the same circuit.
It is composed of an N/OFF determination circuit 26, a detection section 27, a control section 28, and a drive section 29.

Next, the overall operation of the information input device using the touch panel configured as described above is shown in FIGS.
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Now, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the fingers 16 and 17 simultaneously press down the display item 19 and the display item 18 that can be seen on the touch panel 1. In this case, the control unit 28 in the control circuit unit 23 constantly monitors the sense unit 24, which is composed of the digital sense unit 24a and the analog sense unit 24b, which share the lead wire 5b, and displays the display items 18 and 19. The operation for detecting the indicated coordinates starts from the time when is pressed.

Then, the control section 28 first controls the drive section 2.
A command is output to 9 to sequentially drive the pressed key areas 6a to 6f. The drive section 29 is driven according to this command. Next, the control unit 28 controls the digital sense unit 24
A command is issued from the lead wire 5b to read the signal from the pressed key area 6, and the digital sense unit 24a
reads the signal according to the command and sends the signal to the next stage ON/OFF determination circuit section 26. Also, ON/OFF
The determination circuit section 26 uses this signal to determine whether or not the display item section is pressed based on a command from the control section 28, and sends the result to the detection section 27.

Then, in this detection section 27, the control section 28
In response to the command, the instruction item value of the jointly pressed key area section 6 is calculated from the detection result, and this is sent to the control section 28. Then, the control unit 28 checks again whether or not this item value still exists in the concurrently pressed key area 6, and if the display item 19 still exists while being pressed, stores this data in a memory (not shown) within the control unit 28. On the other hand, if the display item 19 has already been released and the item value is not within the double-press key area 6,
It is assumed that there is no instruction by pressing display item 19.

Next, the control section 28 issues commands to drive the drive section 29 and the normal key area section 4 of the touch panel 1, respectively. Further, the control section 28 issues a command to switch the signal reading to the analog sensing section 24b. The analog sense unit 24b follows this command, and in this case, the A/D
The signal is sent to the conversion section 25. Furthermore, the A/D conversion section 25 converts this signal into a digital value according to a command from the control section 28 and sends it to the detection section 27 . The detection unit 27 is the control unit 2
8, the designated coordinate values of the normal key area section 4 are calculated and sent to the control section 28. Upon receiving the coordinate value, the control unit 28 confirms again whether or not the coordinate value still exists within the normal key area section 4 .

After that, if there is data indicating that the part corresponding to display item 18 is being pressed, the part corresponding to display item 19 (or 20, 21, 22) is modified by the part corresponding to display item 18. Converts display items (usually if the codes A, B, C, and D in the key area section 4 are uppercase letters, the displayed items to be modified are lowercase letters a, b, c, and d) and sends the data to the host device. do. Thereafter, as shown by diagonal lines in FIG. 4, the display items 19 and 20 are displayed in reverse video to make the operator aware that the double press function has been executed. In addition, in this case, if the original display is restored when the fingers 16 and 17 are released, the operator can easily confirm that it is possible to input the next instruction, and the operator can smoothly proceed to the next operation. I can move.

[0031] Therefore, according to this touch panel,
Lead wires 9a, 9b, 14a, 14b, 15a to 15f
Since there are fewer electrodes, it can be made smaller, and by sharing the electrodes in the analog and digital areas, the area that can be used as a touch panel increases.The control circuit section 23 is made independent and does not become complicated, and the software processing time is reduced. It is possible to obtain a device that is small in size and has good operability and visibility.

Although the present invention has been explained using the above embodiment, it is of course not limited to the structure of this embodiment.
Various changes in design may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, a structure using a transparent electrode contact type touch panel has been described, but an opaque type other than this may also be used.

[0033]

Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, the touch panel according to the present invention has a normal key area that is normally pressed alone, and a joint press key area that is pressed at the same time as the normal key area. Since the two key areas are electrically connected to each other and used by switching,
Even if the display item part corresponding to a normal key and the display item part corresponding to a double-press key are pressed at the same time, the signals from the two display item parts are taken out from each key area at the same time and are processed separately. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously press the display item part corresponding to a normal key and the display item part corresponding to a joint press key.
Improves operability.

Furthermore, since the key area is usually formed of an analog type touch panel, even if the touch panel is divided into two key areas, only two lead wires are required on the analog type key area side. To improve operability and visibility without increasing the number of lead wires and increasing the size, or making the circuit configuration independent or complicated, even if it is divided into two key areas. Can be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a touch panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information input device using a touch panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a display screen including a touch panel.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of touch panel operation.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing a conventional example of an analog type touch panel.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing a conventional example of a digital type touch panel.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a conventional example of an analog/digital mixed type touch panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Touch panel 2, 3 Resistance sheet 4 Normal key area 5a, 5b, 10a, 10b, 11a to 11f Electrode 6 Pressed key area 7, 8, 12 Resistive film 9a, 9b, 14a, 14b, 15a to 15f Lead wire 18-22 Display item 23 Control circuit section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device comprising two resistive sheets on which resistive films are formed, and in which the two resistive sheets are arranged facing each other so that the resistive films do not come into contact with each other when the resistive sheets are not pressed down. In the touch panel, one of the two resistive sheets has a pair of resistive sheets arranged parallel to one end of the resistive film so as to divide the resistive film and along the one end. a first resistive film region consisting of a resistive film between one of the pair of electrodes and the other end of the resistive film; and a second resistive film region comprising a resistive film between one of the pair of electrodes and the other end of the resistive film. and the other resistive sheet has a resistive film region facing the first resistive film region;
A pair of electrodes arranged along both side edges of the resistive film region perpendicular to the pair of electrodes of the one resistive sheet, and a resistive film group facing the second resistive film region and divided into a plurality of parts. and a group of electrodes arranged at each end of the group of resistive films.