JPS58111735A - Portable information collecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized portable information collecting device functioning, in particular, as a depth meter, by prviding a transparent electroconductive film on a light-transmitting member such as a cover glass pane and an optical indication panel, and by detecting an external pressure from the change in the physical quantity of the transparent electroconductive film, such as the electric resistance and capacity thereof. CONSTITUTION:A transparent electroconductive film 4, constituted by doping SnO2 into In2O3, is formed in the shape of a concentric circle or a comb on the back surface 1 of cover glass of a wrist watch, for instance, by an evaporation method or the like, and is connected to a detecting circuit by lead wires 5 and 6. Thereby an external pressure is detected from the change in the electric resistance of the film 4 caused when the pressure is applied on the cover glass. For another example, tranparent electroconductive films 4' and 4'' are arranged alternately in the shape of a concentric circle, and the pressure is detected from the change in the electric capacity of the films 4' and 4''. This detection value is indicated with a bar in a liquid-crystal indication panel, or by other methods. In this way, a small-sized and precise portable information device, such as the wrist watch serving also as a depth meter, can be manufactured with ease.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable information device having a function of detecting atmospheric pressure, particularly water pressure as a water depth meter. is strong (desired).

Pressure sensors used in conventional water depth gauges include:
There are two methods: converting water pressure into mechanical displacement using bellows or Bourdon tubes, and transmitting that displacement to the contact point, and mechanical displacement generated when water pressure is received by bellows or diaphragms), inductance, capacitance, etc. There are mainly two types of methods: converting the signal into an electrical signal and processing the result electrically. However, these methods have a complicated structure, are large in size, and are expensive. It also had fatal drawbacks for portable use, such as the need for a pressure inlet and a pressure detection chamber, and the need to have a waterproof function. Ma-z
, Bi (forming a resistance region on a silicon diaphragm,
An s4 pressure sensor that uses changes in piezoresistance has been proposed.
ing. This eliminates the disadvantages of conventional pressure sensors that use many mechanical parts, such as being small and inexpensive, but due to manufacturing variations and the large temperature dependence of s7, P powder has not reached a practical level for the following reasons: it requires a compensation circuit, its adjustment is very troublesome, and S7 is very sensitive to water containing ions.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the water depth gauge (pressure sensor) and to accommodate the depth gauge (pressure sensor) in a portable information device such as an electronic wristwatch or a business card-sized electronic device.

That is, the present invention has a structure in which a light-transmitting member such as a cover glass or an optical display panel substrate of the above-mentioned portable information device is provided with a function for detecting atmospheric pressure (particularly water pressure), and pressure detection is one of the functions. The purpose of this project is to provide a portable information device with the following features.

Portable information devices with waterproof functionality, especially wristwatches, have a strong structure and are also large in size, so it is necessary to add a new pressure detection function (a device that houses a pressure sensor). However, since translucent members such as cover glasses and optical front panel substrates are located on the front of wristwatches, it is necessary to provide pressure detection functions to these translucent members. After considering this idea based on a new idea, we found that: - It responds sensitively to changes in pressure because it comes into contact with the atmosphere.

- Sensitivity can be increased because the area of the pressure detection part can be made the same as that of a light-transmitting member such as a cover glass.

■The structure is simple and can be controlled.

■There is no space required for the pressure detection section.

■Since the cover glass has a detection function, waterproof construction is easy.

It has been found that significant advantages such as these can be obtained.

Now, as a result of various studies in order to provide a pressure detection function to a translucent member, a transparent conductive film was placed on a completely translucent member, and electrical properties such as the transparent conductivity due to pressure and the resistance and capacitance of the film were determined. It has been found that a method of measuring pressure cracks by detecting changes in can be achieved without impairing the above-mentioned advantages of providing a pressure detection function to a translucent member.

Suitable transparent conductive films include semiconductor thin films such as Elfin, TL103e, and N* Oa-8n” Tomi (TO), as well as polyester and conductive films in which a 4-electrode film is formed on the surface of the film. , S, O, and 01 Mit, nB'J semiconductors without dopant doping result in fairly high conductivity due to the shallow donor level resulting from the stoichiometric composition. Since the absorption edge is in the ultraviolet region, it is almost transparent in the visible region, and the transmission loss is mainly due to reflection on the film surface.In particular, the To film in which 8% O as a dopant is added to the It is well known that one can obtain something that is electrically and optically superior.

These cover glasses can be easily attached to any light-transmitting member by chemical methods (OVD method, spray method, etc.) and physical methods (vacuum evaporation method, sputtering method, etc.).
Since planar microfabrication is possible using lithography technology, even complex shapes can be easily formed. Therefore, it is clear that there is no problem in disposing a transparent conductive film in order to provide a pressure detection function to a light-transmitting member, as long as it is technically easy. In addition, the transparent conductive film is made of polyester and has indium C oxide on the surface of the film.
It is coated with a compound thin film such as t'L*Os), a thin metal film such as gold, or a mesh-like metal such as luminium (AI). Since a film is used for the substrate, it is possible to increase the area and make production continuous (lower costs), making it suitable for use in large-scale portable information devices. .

The present invention will be specifically explained below by way of Examples.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and schematically shows the structure of a light-transmitting member (cover glass) of a portable information device such as a wristwatch. 1 is a cover glass, and 2 is a case. The main body, 3, is a gasket that functions to maintain airtightness between the cover glass 1 and the case 2. (The waterproof structure of an actual wristwatch, etc., is quite complicated, but the gist of the present invention is to 4 is a transparent conductive film, which is composed of a semiconductor thin film such as In or 03, a transparent conductive film, etc., and the details are as described above.5,6 is a transparent conductive film and an electronic circuit F+ [not shown]
This is the lead that connects the When this portable information device is submerged underwater, the cover glass 1 is bent in a direction perpendicular to its surface due to water pressure depending on the depth of the water. For that purpose, the conductive film 4
distortion will occur. Since there is clearly a one-to-one correspondence between the water depth, that is, the water pressure, and the relationship of the cover glass 1, that is, the amount of strain that occurs in the conductive film 4, the amount of strain that occurs in the conductive film is converted into a physical quantity of the sacred place. This allows the depth of the water to be measured. This situation is shown in Figure 2.

Now, resistance and capacitance are simple physical quantities to be detected. As described above, since transparent conductive films are easy to form and can be made with high accuracy even in complex shapes, it is possible to form a film in a shape that allows for highly sensitive detection of resistance and capacitance. When a transparent conductive film is placed on a circular □ cover glass, the strain caused in the transparent conductive film due to pressure can be expressed as contour lines as shown in FIG. Here, 1 is a transparent member and 10 is a contour line of strain. By utilizing this fact, detection sensitivity can be increased. Examples of conductive film shapes are shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. 1 indicates a circular cover glass, and 5.6 indicates a lead. FIG. 4 shows a transparent conductive film 4 formed concentrically 1rL.
Example t, Fig. 5, shows a transparent conductive conductor, with the groove 4 formed in the shape of a comb.
An example is shown in which the change in resistance of the transparent conductive film is detected with respect to the strain occurring in the cover glass shown in FIG. 8rLO used for transparent conductive film, Yako? L!
OA, conductive film, etc. are materials whose resistance changes considerably depending on strain, so they are ideal as materials for pressure sensing. Figure 6 shows a transparent conductor with 41.4 degrees arranged concentrically and the change in capacitance between n41 and 4'' used to detect pressure. Figure 7 summarizes the relationship between pressure, resistance, and capacitance. I have shown it here.

As described above, according to the present invention, a translucent member can easily be provided with a pressure detection function. Moreover, the light-transmitting member and the transparent conductive film can be manufactured using conventional techniques, and there is a great advantage that only a simple electronic circuit for processing electrical signals in response to pressure is newly required.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a digital watch as a portable information device according to the present invention. A transparent conductive film (the area surrounded by a dotted line) 4 is arranged on the back surface of the cover glass 1 of the watch 4.The liquid crystal display panel 21 is provided with a barge rough indicating the water depth. For example, it is clear that even if a full pressure detection function is added, there will be no problem at all in terms of design or structure, especially in terms of waterproof function.

As described above, by disposing a transparent conductive film on the light-transmitting member of the portable information device according to the present invention, a pressure detection function can be easily added, making it possible to make a water depth meter portable, which has been particularly desired in recent years. It became. It also has a completely new structure as it uses a transparent material that has a waterproof structure. Its value is high because it has the great advantage of requiring a manufacturing process.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an embodiment of the portable information device of the present invention, and is a sectional view of a pressure detection section. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between water depth and physical quantities for detailed explanation of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a translucent member for explaining the present invention in detail. Figures 4, 5, and 6 show embodiments of the portable information device of the present invention, and Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of the pressure detection section, is for explaining the JiX principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between water depth, resistance, and capacity. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the portable information device of the present invention. 10. Translucent member 2°. Body: 3°. Patsukin 4.
4', 4',. Transparent conductive films 5, 6. , Lead and above Applicant Daini Seikosha Co., Ltd. 10-Flute/m 42 Flute U n □. Staff 4#J ♀5 figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] (υ A portable device characterized by arranging a transparent conductive film on a light-transmitting member such as a cover glass or an optical display panel, and detecting external pressure by a change in the physical quantity of the transparent conductive film. Information equipment. (2) Is the transparent conductive film a semiconductor thin film such as N*OS?
Alternatively, the portable information device according to claim (1) is a conductive film in which a polymer film is coated with a semiconductor thin film or a metal thin film. (3) The portable information device according to claim (1), wherein the physical quantity corresponding to external pressure is resistance or capacitance.