JPH05265631A - Coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a coordinate input device provided with an input switch capable of obtaining high resolution by using inexpensive A/D converters and simply detecting the existence of short-circuit between adjacent stripe-like electrodes. CONSTITUTION:The coordinate input device provided with the input switch formed of plural stripe-like transparent electrodes 11A to 14A, 15A to 18A is crosses shape on the surfaces of respective counter panel bases 1, 2 and to be used for detecting the coordinates of an input position by the contact of both electrodes based upon depressing operation has an input switch constituted of alternately connecting plural resistors 11 to 14, 15 to 18 oppositely arranged close on both the ends of the stripe-like transparent electrodes 11A to 14A, 15A to 18A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention arranges an input switch on a display body such as various display devices or display objects, and inputs a coordinate to detect an arbitrary position of the display body by pressing the input switch. Regarding the device, in particular, by connecting a plurality of stripe-shaped transparent electrodes formed in the input switch to a plurality of resistors arranged facing each other in the vicinity of both ends thereof,
The present invention relates to a coordinate input device in which an inexpensive A / D converter can be used to configure an input means with high resolution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a coordinate input device of this kind used for detecting an arbitrary position of a display body is composed of two transparent opposing panels made of appropriate plastic films or the like. One end of each of the base materials 1 and 2 has a common electrode 1A, 2
A large number of striped electrodes 1B and 2B made of transparent conductive members corresponding to the X direction and the Y direction, which are typically represented by AB and CD connected to A, are arranged so as to intersect each other. An input switch is provided, and a voltage for coordinate detection can be applied between these many striped electrodes by switching elements 3, 4 and 5, 6 such as transistors.

In such a coordinate input device, the CPU 9 which controls the reading of the input positions in both the X and Y directions,
A control signal for determining whether to apply a voltage between the electrodes A-B in the X direction or the electrodes C-D in the Y direction is generated, and this signal is output via the input / output I / O unit 10. Meanwhile, it also generates a control signal for setting the detection electrode to either the X or Y direction electrode.

The detected voltage from each electrode is input to the A / D converter 7 via an amplifier and a gate as needed, and the measured potential by pressing the input switch is passed through the A / D converter 7. It is input to the CPU 9. The memory 8 stores in advance the relationship between each position of the input switch in the X and Y directions and the output voltage, and the CPU 9 compares the stored potential with the measured potential to determine the input position coordinates in the X and Y directions. , Input / output I / O
The position data is output through the unit 10.

The operation of such a coordinate input device will be briefly described. First, a voltage is applied between the electrodes A and B in the X direction to wait for a pressing operation on the input switch, and when the pressing is confirmed, the X direction is confirmed. Is read, the measured potential at that time is compared with the stored potential of the memory 8 to determine the position in the X direction of the pressed position, and in the case of the position determination process in the Y direction, electrode A- The voltage between B is cut off and electrodes C-D
The same method as described above is applied by applying a detection voltage between them.

[0006]

In the coordinate input device as described above, when it is necessary to construct a device having a high resolution, for example, an A / D having a 10-bit capability with a 1024 resolution is used.
Requires a converter and 11 for 2048 resolution
A high resolution A / D converter corresponding to the required resolution must be used, for example, a bit capacity A / D converter must be used. However, such a high-resolution A / D converter is generally expensive, and since the elements of the detection circuit must be used accordingly, there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus is increased.

On the other hand, when a high-resolution input switch is constructed, there is a possibility that the degree of short between adjacent striped electrodes will frequently occur, but it is not possible to find such short points. It's extremely difficult. Further, in the case of such a high-resolution input switch structure, the interval between adjacent striped electrodes becomes narrower, so the resistance between the adjacent striped electrodes in the resistors commonly connected to these striped electrodes is reduced. Since the change in the value is small and the resistance value of the striped electrode itself for position detection is affected, there is a problem that an incorrect coordinate position different from the input position is detected.

[0008]

According to the present invention, therefore, there is no need to use a high-resolution A / D converter or the like, and a method is devised between the striped electrode of the input switch and the resistor to be connected to it. A high-resolution coordinate input device is provided while using an inexpensive A / D converter.

Further, according to the present invention, even when the striped electrodes of the input switch corresponding to high resolution are formed, in relation to each striped electrode and the resistor to be connected thereto, the adjacent striped electrodes are connected. The present invention provides a method of configuring an input switch for a coordinate input device that can easily detect short formation.

Therefore, in the present invention, an input switch having a plurality of stripe-shaped transparent electrodes formed in a cross shape on the surface of the opposite panel substrate is provided, and the coordinates of the input position are detected by the contact of both electrodes by the pressing operation. In the coordinate input device of
The plurality of stripe-shaped transparent electrodes are alternately connected to a plurality of resistors which are arranged opposite to each other in the vicinity of both ends thereof.

[0011]

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual exploded perspective view of an input switch suitable for a coordinate input device constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals 1 and 2 show a sheet-shaped pressure-sensitive anisotropic conductive rubber 30. The above-mentioned transparent panel base material is disposed so as to face each other, and one transparent panel base material 1 is provided with two pairs of resistors 11, 14 and 12, 13 facing each other at both ends. For example, Y _A is shown in 12, 13, and 14 as shown in the figure.
Direction, a transparent striped electrode 11A corresponding to the Y direction, a similar transparent striped electrode 12A corresponding to the Y _B direction, and Y
_The transparent striped electrode 13A corresponding to the _C direction and the transparent striped electrode 14A corresponding to the Y _D direction are 4
It is connected every other book.

That is, one end of each transparent striped electrode 11A is commonly connected to the resistor 11, and each transparent striped electrode 12 is connected to the other resistors 12, 13 and 14.
The ends of A, 13A, and 14A are also commonly connected to form a double comb-shaped electrode arrangement.

On the other transparent panel substrate 2, two pairs of resistors 15 facing each other are formed by the same method as described above.
18 and 16, 17, each of these resistors 15, 1
6, 17, 18 have transparent stripe electrodes 15A corresponding to the X _A direction, transparent stripe electrodes 16A corresponding to the X _B direction, and transparent stripe electrodes 17 A corresponding to the X _C direction, as described above. , X _D direction is connected to every four transparent stripe electrodes 18A.

Then, these both transparent panel base materials 1, 2
Are arranged so that the transparent striped electrodes face each other in a direction intersecting with each other to form coordinate position sensor portions in the X and Y directions, respectively.

According to the configuration of the input switch as described above,
The respective transparent stripe electrodes in the X and Y directions are the nth, n + 1th, n + 2nd, and n + 3
Since the n-th (n = 1 ... N, N is the number of electrodes connected to the resistor) are connected to the corresponding two pairs of resistors, the short-circuit between the adjacent striped electrodes is performed. The presence or absence of formation can be easily determined.

For example, in a state where a required voltage is applied to the n-th stripe-shaped electrode 14A on one transparent panel substrate 1 through the common connection resistor 14, the n + 1-th, n + 2nd, and n + 3-th Striped electrode 11
Resistors 11, 1 to which A, 13A, 12A are connected
The voltages appearing at 3 and 12 were measured, and if there was a short at any one of the stripe electrodes 14A and 11A, the voltage would not appear due to conduction. Further, in the case of a non-defective product having no shorts, a voltage appears, so that the proper formation state of both stripe electrodes can be easily inspected.

This can be similarly performed for each of the striped electrodes 15A, 16A, 17A, 18A on the other transparent panel substrate 2, so that the quality of the input switch can be reliably determined. Further, this point is particularly advantageous when it is necessary to form the intervals of the transparent striped electrodes narrowly and finely in order to enhance the resolution.

The operation of detecting the coordinate input by the input switch having the above construction will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the switching elements 3A and 4A, 3B and 4B, 3C and 4C and 3D and 4D.
As described above, the corresponding switching elements are sequentially turned on and it is determined whether or not the input switch is pressed. If the input switch is pressed, only the switching elements 3A and 4A are turned on and the voltage in the Y _A direction is reset. -By
The 8-bit A / D converter 7 is converted into coordinates 0 to 255, for example. In this example, the Y _A direction is a set of n + 1th transparent striped electrodes 11A, so that the coordinates are 4m + 1 when the output of the A / D converter 7 is m.

Next, switching elements 3B and 4 are also provided.
With only B turned on, the voltage in the Y _B direction is read and A
/ D conversion is performed to convert the coordinates to, for example, 0 to 255. Since the Y + _B direction is a set of n + 3th transparent striped electrodes 12A, the coordinates in this case are the output of the A / D converter 7 n.
Then, it becomes 4n + 3.

Thus, the coordinate position in the Y direction is divided into twice as an assembly of even-numbered and odd-numbered transparent stripe electrodes, and the inexpensive 8-bit A / D converter 7 is used in this example. It can be converted into coordinates 0 to 1023.

Similarly, regarding the position coordinate in the X direction, first, only the switching elements 5A and 6A are turned on, and the X coordinate is set.
The potential in the _A direction is read, then the switching element 5
B and 6B, 5C and 6C and 5D and 6D X _B corresponding to the sequentially turning on the switching element as, X _C and X _D direction potential respectively re - converted to de to each coordinate.

The coordinates in the X direction are also calculated as 4i + 1 with respect to the coordinates i in the X _A direction, which is an assembly of the n + 1th transparent striped electrodes 15A, and similarly, an assembly of the nth transparent striped electrodes 18A. By performing the calculation of 4j on the coordinate j in the X _D direction,
The coordinates of 1023 can be detected.

[0023]

Since the coordinate input device according to the present invention is configured to alternately connect the transparent striped electrodes in the X and Y directions in the input switch to a plurality of pairs of resistors, respectively. Since the coordinate in each direction can be converted by dividing it into, for example, 4 groups, A /
A coordinate input device having a required resolution can be constructed at low cost by using the D converter.

Even when a high-resolution input switch is constructed, it is possible to easily and surely process the judgment of the quality such as the presence / absence of a short between each transparent stripe electrode by utilizing each pair of resistors. Therefore, a highly reliable coordinate input device can be provided.

An inexpensive A / D converter can be obtained by arbitrarily increasing the number of resistor pairs facing each other in the input switch and connecting transparent stripe electrodes to these resistor pairs in a sequentially alternating manner. Also, the coordinate input device having a higher resolution can be easily configured while using the conventional resistive element.

In the case of a high-resolution input switch, the distance between adjacent transparent striped electrodes is also made narrower and finer accordingly, so that in the conventional structure the influence of the resistance value of the striped electrodes themselves is affected. However, in the present invention, X and Y may be detected.
As a result, the stripe-shaped electrodes belonging to the same group in each direction are arranged at an interval of, for example, at least four times the conventional one, so that the influence of the resistance value of the stripe-shaped electrodes themselves can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual exploded perspective configuration diagram of an input switch for a coordinate input device configured according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a conceptual circuit configuration diagram of a coordinate input device according to the present invention using the input switch of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual exploded perspective configuration diagram of an input switch used in a coordinate input device having a conventional structure.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual circuit configuration diagram of a coordinate input device using the input switch of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transparent panel base material 2 Transparent panel base material 11-18 Resistor 11A-18A Transparent striped electrode 30 Pressure-sensitive anisotropic conductive rubber

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A coordinate input device for detecting the coordinates of an input position by providing an input switch having a plurality of stripe-shaped transparent electrodes formed in an intersecting shape on the surface of a base material of a counter panel, and detecting the coordinates of the input position by the contact of both electrodes by a pressing operation. In the coordinate input device, the plurality of stripe-shaped transparent electrodes are alternately connected to a plurality of resistors which are arranged opposite to each other in the vicinity of both ends thereof.