JPH0887620A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the thin and light input device with which a sure input is enabled while such problem as an errorneous input or being left uninputted is eliminated. CONSTITUTION: In the case of an input operation by an operator (omitted in the figure) to a resistant film type touch panel input part 2, the operator can physically sense the pressing of the resistant film type touch panel input part 2 by responding to it as reaction due to the elastic force of an elastic packing 6. Therefore, when that reaction is sensed just weakly, the operator can sense that the pressing is weak so that the input error of no input, even with the intention of input, can be eliminated. Moreover, when the pressure is not stronger than the elastic force of the elastic packing 6, the input is not accepted by the operation of a microswitch 8 of a second switch so that the wrong input can be eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional input device is, for example, a station name input unit of a commuter pass issuing device, which is a flat panel display unit such as an LCD (liquid crystal display device) for displaying a station name. A resistive film type touch panel input unit for inputting data of the display unit by touching correspondingly, LC
A support base for controlling a resistive touch panel input on a screen of a display unit such as a D (liquid crystal display device), a bracket for fixing the display unit and the resistive touch panel input unit, a display unit and a resistive touch panel input unit. Holding plate to fix,
The main part was composed of a packing located between the display part and the resistive film type touch panel input part and the pressing plate to stabilize the fixation, an outer casing and the like.

Therefore, there is an advantage that the display panel / touch panel input section, which is the main part thereof, can be formed to be extremely thin and lightweight as compared with a conventional push button type input device or the like.

[0004]

The touch panel used in the input section of the conventional flat panel type input device performs input by a resistive film method.

In this resistance film method, for example, in order to detect a touch, electrodes formed of transparent resistance films having a predetermined resistance value are arranged in a grid pattern on two polyester sheets.

Usually, the polyester sheets are remote and have no electrical continuity.

When a desired point on the polyester sheet is pressed with a finger, the electrodes corresponding to the pressed part among the many electrodes intersecting between the opposite sheets come into contact with each other, and they are It conducts electricity. This contact point is detected and its coordinates are sent to the processor.

At this time, since the gap between the two polyester sheets is about 0.2 mm, it is almost unknown from the operator's macro point of view that the contact is present, but at the time of conduction, the pressing portion is slightly depressed. Conversely, in order to make it conductive, it is necessary to press the desired portion with a force that is more than a slight depression.

Further, in the case where the conducting wire is defective in disconnection, there is a case where electrical conduction is not established even if a desired point is pressed and the indefinite opposing electrodes are in contact with each other.

It is difficult for an operator, especially a person who uses the input device for the first time, to grasp the feeling of the pressing force well.
For example, when used as an input device such as a ticket vending machine or a commuter ticket issuing machine for transportation such as railways, or a cash dispenser, the operation cannot be performed as the user desires, and the operation is temporarily interrupted or erroneously operated. There were various problems when a person inputs and operates.

In particular, from the standpoint of the use of the operator, even when he / she intends to press and input a desired part when performing an input operation, the direct response action from the input device to the finger is almost discriminated. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to realize at the time of input whether or not the input has been made surely.

For this reason, there has been a problem that the unskilled operator has such an erroneous operation as described above and an uncomfortable feeling that the operation is frustrating because the desired input is difficult.

For an operator who is familiar with the operation, he or she intends to input it in the usual manner, but due to the slight weakness of the pressing force, it is not actually input electrically and is not input. There was also a problem that it was possible to detect an input error and leave it as it was.

It is conceivable that the input device as described above can be suitably used as a device for inputting control data to a flight control device of an aircraft, for example, because it can be formed to be extremely thin and lightweight.

However, in such a case, the difficulty or uncertainty of the input operation easily causes a data input error, and it is easy to leave it undetected. There is even a risk that the aircraft will be controlled to fly, resulting in a serious accident due to incorrect control.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to enable accurate and easy input and whether or not the input operation is actually surely executed. The operator can surely confirm whether or not the input is actually performed electrically, and the input is also fed back to the operator. When touching or touching (such as pressing so-called), such erroneous input is not executed, so that the input is executed only when the operator is surely consciously inputting it. An object of the present invention is to provide a thin and lightweight input device capable of performing reliable input, which solves the problem of inputting or leaving uninputted data.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An input device of the present invention comprises a display unit for displaying data on a screen, and an operator pressing a desired position in response to the data displayed on the screen of the display unit. A touch panel in which a plurality of switches are arranged so that a switch corresponding to the position is in a connected state, and a flat panel-shaped transparent touch panel arranged on the screen of the display unit; and the screen of the display unit. Is disposed on the main surface on the back side, contracts with mechanical elasticity when pressed with a force equal to or greater than a predetermined force, and returns to the original state with mechanical elasticity when the pressing force is lost; A support base that supports the display unit disposed above with a gap through the elastic body, and a gap formed between the display unit and the support base formed by the elastic body, The body shrinks by the pressure The second switch, which is in a conductive state due to the change in the gap accompanying it and which is in a released state when the pressing force is lost, and the switch of the touch panel are in a connected state, and the second switch is in a connected state. Only when the pressing of the operator on the touch panel is detected as an input, and when one of the switch of the touch panel and the second switch is not in the connected state, the pressing of the operator on the touch panel is an input. And a circuit for canceling without detecting.

Further, when the operator presses a desired position corresponding to the data displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel and the data displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, the switch corresponding to the position is connected. In the resistive film type touch panel input section in which a plurality of switches are arranged, a flat panel-shaped transparent resistive film type touch panel arranged on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel and the screen of the liquid crystal display panel are At least one of packing, rubber bush, and spring material that is arranged on the main surface on the back side and contracts with mechanical elasticity when pressed with a force equal to or greater than a predetermined force and returns to its original state with mechanical elasticity when the pressing force is lost. One elastic body, a support base for supporting the display unit, in which the resistive touch panel is arranged on the screen, with a gap between the elastic body, and the elastic body Is formed in a gap between the liquid crystal display panel and the support base, and when the elastic body contracts by the pressing, the change in the gap accompanying it is detected to be in a conductive state and released when the pressing is lost. The second switch formed by using at least one of the micro switch and the pressure sensor in the state and the switch of the resistive film type touch panel are in the connected state, and the second switch is in the connected state only. The operator's press on the resistive touch panel is detected as an input, and when one of the switch of the resistive touch panel and the second switch is not in the connected state, the operator's press on the touch panel is an input. And a circuit for canceling without detecting.

Further, a liquid crystal display panel for displaying the station name,
A resistive film type touch panel input in which a plurality of switches are arranged so that when the operator presses a desired position in accordance with the data displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, the switch corresponding to the position is connected. And a flat panel-shaped transparent resistive film type touch panel arranged on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, and the screen of the liquid crystal display panel is arranged on the main surface on the back side, and a force of a predetermined force or more. When it is pressed with, the elastic film contracts with mechanical elasticity, and when the pressing force is lost, it returns to its original state with mechanical elasticity. At least one elastic member of packing, rubber bush, and spring material, and the resistive film type touch panel displays the screen. Between a support base that supports the display unit disposed above with a gap with the elastic body interposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the support base formed by the elastic body. When at least one of the micro switch and the pressure sensor, which is arranged at the position where the elastic body contracts by the pressing, detects a change in the gap accompanying it and becomes a conductive state and is released when the pressing is lost. Only when the second switch and the switch of the resistive film type touch panel are in the connected state, and the second switch is in the connected state, the pressing of the operator on the resistive film type touch panel is detected as an input. And a circuit for canceling a press of the operator on the touch panel without detecting it as an input when one of the switch of the resistive film type touch panel and the second switch is not connected, The resistive touch panel is pressed during the input operation by the operator on the resistive touch panel. That the resistance film type touch panel responds to the operator as a reaction by the elastic force of the elastic body, and only when the operator presses at least the predetermined pressing force or more. Is an input device used for a commuter pass issuing device that accepts an input to.

The elasticity of the elastic body is so elastic that the input operation can be realized ergonomically based on the pressing force of the operator's finger or input pen.
Is desirable. In other words, it can be said that the operation feeling of the push button used in the conventional push button type input device is intentionally realized in this flat panel touch panel.

However, in the present invention, the operation feeling is such that the input operation can be realized ergonomically, but the device size and device weight of the conventional push-button input device are large. Needless to say, the thin and lightweight features of the flat panel touch panel can be fully utilized.

[0022]

According to the present invention, as described above, the fact that the resistive touch panel is pressed by the operator when the input operation is performed on the resistive touch panel is physically performed on the operator by the elastic force of the elastic body. It can be perceived in response as a reaction.

Therefore, when the recoil is only weakly sensed, the operator can sense that the pressing of his / her input operation is weak as an input, and therefore the operator does not intend to input it. It is possible to eliminate input mistakes such as leaving the input state.

Since the operator does not sense that the input has been made by the pressing, the operator can immediately detect the input operation by the feeling of a finger or the like. Therefore, the reliable input operation can be immediately repeated at the time of the input operation.

In addition, since the input operation to the resistive touch panel is electrically accepted as an input only when the operator presses the touch panel with a pressing force of at least a predetermined pressing force or more, for example, the touch panel is erroneously unintentionally touched. It is possible to prevent erroneous input when touching (such as when pressing so-called).

Further, since it is set so that if an input operation is performed with a pressing force of a predetermined pressing force or more, it is surely electrically received as an input (input is executed), for example, a pressing force of a predetermined pressing force or more is pressed. If the touch panel switch at the pressed position had a disconnection failure when an input operation was performed with, it may be an input error (not entered) caused by the switch on the touch panel. The operator can immediately determine.

As described above, in the input device of the present invention, the input operation is ergonomically felt in terms of operation feeling.
It can be said that this is a thin and lightweight input device that enables reliable input operations.

[0028]

Embodiments of the input device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As an example of applying the input device of the present invention,
An overall view of the commuter pass issuing device is shown in FIG.

The operator touches the station name displayed in the station name input section 101 with his / her finger or an input pen to input data while sitting on a chair, and performs other data input operation, etc. Have commuter tickets issued. At this time, the touch input operation is smoothly performed by the input device according to the present invention.

The mechanical structure of the input device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (schematic diagram of assembly image) and FIG. 3 (cross-sectional diagram).

The station name input section 101, which is an embodiment of the input device of the present invention, corresponds to the display of the liquid crystal display panel section 1 and the liquid crystal display panel section 1 for displaying the station name. A touch panel input unit 2 for inputting, a circuit board 3 on which a circuit for controlling display and touch panel input and switch input is formed, a bracket 4 for fixing the liquid crystal display panel unit 1, a metal for fixing the liquid crystal display panel unit 1, A supporting base (holding plate) 5 made of a sheet metal or the like, a packing 6 which is an elastic body located between the liquid crystal display panel section 1 and the supporting base 5 and which stabilizes fixing, an outer casing 7, for example, a micro switch A main part of the micro switch 8 is a second switch. These are assembled as shown in FIGS.

Next, the operation of the input device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 (microswitch operation diagram) described above, using a microswitch as the microswitch 8 as an example.

When an operator (not shown) pushes the touch panel input unit 2, the touch panel input unit 2 and the liquid crystal display panel unit 1 are pushed together because they are integrated, but they are supported by the support base 5 and the packing 6. ing. Here, since the packing 6 uses an elastic body such as a rubber material, it acts as a cushion and expands and contracts.

That is, when the touch panel input section 2 is pushed by the operator, the touch panel input section 2 and the liquid crystal display panel section 1 are pushed while receiving a reaction due to the elasticity of the packing 6 and proceed to the inner side in the figure. Then, along with this, the microswitch 8 is also pressed at the same time.

Needless to say, the micro switch 8 is in the off state before the input operation is performed (FIG. 4).
(1)).

When an input operation is performed with a force greater than a predetermined pressing force, the touch panel input unit 2 and the liquid crystal display panel unit 1 are pushed forward and are switched on by a predetermined distance forward (see FIG. )).

If the thickness of the packing 6 at the most contracted position is set to be larger than the limit height of the micro switch 8 that should not be pushed any more, the micro switch 8 will not be damaged by this series of operations ( Figure 4
(4)).

After the switch is turned on, when the operator releases the finger or the input pen from the touch panel input section 2 and the liquid crystal display panel section 1, the elastic force of the packing 6 pushes it back.
Return to the original position. At this time, the micro switch 8 also returns to the original off state (FIG. 4 (3)).

Regarding the electrical operation, the second
It is assumed that the micro switch 8 is used as the switch of FIG.

The touch panel input section 2 accepts the point as an input signal if it is touched with a certain strength, but is made on the circuit board 3 which is a control means for accepting the input unless the operator turns on the micro switch 8 at the same time. The signal cannot be delivered to the embedded circuit.
In order to turn on the microswitch 8, the touch panel input unit 2 and the liquid crystal display panel unit 1 have to perform the input operation by the above-mentioned predetermined pressing force.

Here, as a function of the control unit circuit built in the circuit board 3, the switch of the touch panel input unit 2 is pressed to be turned on, and the micro switch 8 which is the second switch is turned on. Only when the touch panel input unit 2 is pressed, the switch ON of the touch panel input unit 2 and the switch ON of the micro switch 8 which is the second switch are ANDed so that the input operation by pressing the touch panel input unit 2 is accepted as an input. Such a circuit configuration may be used. Since various concrete aspects of the circuit configuration itself that ANDs two such independent switches can be inferred from common sense in the relevant technical field, the functional characteristics of the circuit configuration will be described in the present embodiment as described above. Stop at.

After the switch is turned on, once the signal is input, the input of the touch panel input section 2 is in the off state until the next signal is input, and the micro switch 8 is operated by the mechanical pressing operation described above. When the touch panel input unit 2 and the liquid crystal display panel unit 1 return to their original positions, they return to the off state.

As described above, according to the input device of the present invention, reliable input can be executed.

The present invention is particularly effective when a beginner who does not understand the touch input feels to operate the touch panel, or when the touch panel itself is out of order due to breakage of a conducting wire or the like and it is found.

[0046]

As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and accurately perform an input operation, and it is determined whether or not the input operation is actually surely executed. Can be sensuously grasped, and if the input execution is not actually performed electrically, it is also fed back to the operator, and, for example, the fingertip accidentally touches the input device (so-called push In such a case, such erroneous input is not executed, and the input is executed only when the operator is surely aware of it. It is possible to provide a thin and lightweight input device capable of performing reliable input, which also solves the above problem.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall view of a commuter pass issuing device as an example to which an input device is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of an assembly image of the structure of the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation of a micro switch 8 as a second switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an input operation from the resistive film type touch panel in the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an input device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Liquid crystal display panel 2 ... Touch panel input 3 ... Circuit board 4 ... Bracket 5 ... Supporting base 6 ... Packing 7 ... Housing 8 ... Micro switch 101 ……… Station name input section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A display unit for displaying data on a screen, and when an operator presses a desired position corresponding to the data displayed on the screen of the display unit, a switch corresponding to the position is brought into a connected state. A flat panel-shaped transparent touch panel arranged on the screen of the display unit, which is a touch panel in which a plurality of switches are arranged, and the screen of the display unit is arranged on the main surface on the back side and has a predetermined size. An elastic body that contracts with mechanical elasticity when pressed with a force greater than the force, and returns to the original state with mechanical elasticity when the pressing force is lost, the display unit in which the touch panel is arranged on the screen, A support base that has a gap through an elastic body and a gap between the display unit and the support base formed by the elastic body are arranged. To change the gap The second switch, which is in a conductive state and is in a released state when the pressing force is lost, and the switch of the touch panel are in a connected state, and only when the second switch is in a connected state, the operator's A circuit that detects a press on the touch panel as an input, and cancels the press on the touch panel by the operator without detecting it as an input when either one of the switch on the touch panel and the second switch is not in a connected state. An input device comprising: 2. A liquid crystal display panel for displaying data, and when an operator presses a desired position corresponding to the data displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, a switch corresponding to the position is brought into a connected state. In the resistive film type touch panel input section in which a plurality of switches are arranged, the flat panel type transparent resistive film type touch panel arranged on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, and the screen of the liquid crystal display panel are At least one of packing, rubber bush, and spring material that is arranged on the main surface on the back side and contracts with mechanical elasticity when pressed with a force equal to or greater than a predetermined force and returns to its original state with mechanical elasticity when the pressing force is lost. One elastic body, a support base that supports the display unit in which the resistive touch panel is arranged on the screen with a gap interposed between the elastic body and the elastic body, Is formed in the gap between the liquid crystal display panel and the supporting base formed by the above, and when the elastic body contracts by the pressing, the change in the gap accompanying it is detected to be in a conductive state and released when the pressing is lost. Only when the second switch using at least one of the micro switch and the pressure sensor in the state and the switch of the resistive film type touch panel is in the connection state and the second switch is in the connection state, The operator's press on the resistive touch panel is detected as an input, and when one of the switch of the resistive touch panel and the second switch is not connected, the operator's press on the touch panel is input. And a circuit for canceling without detecting. 3. A liquid crystal display panel for displaying a station name, and when an operator presses a desired position corresponding to data displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, a switch corresponding to the position is brought into a connected state. In the resistive film type touch panel input section in which a plurality of switches are arranged, the flat panel type transparent resistive film type touch panel arranged on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, and the screen of the liquid crystal display panel are At least one of packing, rubber bush, and spring material that is arranged on the main surface on the back side and contracts with mechanical elasticity when pressed with a force equal to or greater than a predetermined force and returns to its original state with mechanical elasticity when the pressing force is lost. One elastic body, a support base for supporting the display unit, in which the resistive touch panel is arranged on the screen, with a gap between the elastic body, and the elastic body. It is arranged in a gap between the formed liquid crystal display panel and the support base, and when the elastic body contracts by the pressing, the change in the gap accompanying it is detected to be in a conductive state and released when the pressing is lost. And a second switch using at least one of a micro switch and a pressure sensor, and the switch of the resistive film type touch panel is in a connected state, and the second switch is in a connected state only, The operator's press on the resistive touch panel is detected as an input, and when one of the switch of the resistive touch panel and the second switch is not in the connected state, the operator's press on the touch panel is an input. And a circuit for canceling without detecting. When the touch panel is pressed by the user during the input operation, it responds to the operator as a reaction by the elastic force of the elastic body, and at least the predetermined pressing force is applied. An input device used for a commuter pass issuing device that accepts an input to the resistive film touch panel only when the operator presses it.