JPS585949A - Fluorescent display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To compact the whole display device, make a display part and a switch part close to one another, and realize both prevention of any mis-operation and improvement of the operational performance of the device by providing an encircling case with touch-switch electrodes and a touch part, and switching and controlling the display of a fluorescent display tube part by detecting the electric change developed between the said touch-switch electrodes. CONSTITUTION:When a finger (F) touches a touch part (T), the finger (F) works as a dielectric, and the electrostatic capacity of a switch electrode part 8 changes. As the result, the capacity balance between the switch electrode part 8 and a condenser (C) is broken, pulse voltages applied to the input terminals of a comparing circuit 15 become different, and output is given from the circuit 15. Next, a display controlling part 16 gives a lighting electric potential to a given anode 4a according to the output signal of the circuit 15, and the anode 4a corresponding to the above switch electrode part 8 is lit. Therefore, a displayed function is realized by sending a switch signal to the controlling parts of various kinds of electric and electronic apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fluorescent display device equipped with a touch switch section.

Fluorescent display tubes display images by causing electrons emitted from a heated filament-shaped cathode to collide with an anode that has a phosphor coated on its top surface, and they emit bright colors and can be driven at low voltages. It has advantages such as low power consumption, and is often used as a display part of various electronic and electrical devices.

By the way, when configuring a fluorescent display tube as a display section, an input device such as a keyboard and a control device for creating drive signals to be applied to the electrodes to be displayed are required, and the entire display device cannot be used as a device. It required a small amount of space to incorporate. In particular, due to its structure, fluorescent display tubes require space for arranging each electrode or wiring space for lead wires, so it is difficult to place keyboard switches and their control devices very close to the display tube. It was often difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
Electrodes and a touch part of a touch switch are formed in a part of the envelope constituting the fluorescent display tube part, and electrical changes between the electrode parts are detected to switch and control the display of the fluorescent display tube part. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent display device in which the overall structure of the display device is made compact, and the display portion and the switch are placed close to each other, thereby preventing erroneous operations and improving operability.

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to illustrated embodiments.

1 is a front view showing a fluorescent display tube section of a device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a switch control circuit section, and FIG. The figure is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the entire device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a fluorescent display tube section. This fluorescent display tube section 1 has an envelope 3 in which a display window section 2 is formed, and this envelope 3 has a pattern display section 4. The front plate 7 is composed of a substrate 5 to be formed, a side plate 6 erected on the outer peripheral edge of the substrate 5, and a front plate 7 attached to the substrate 5 in an overlapping manner with the side plate 6 in between. is the display window portion in which the touch switch detection portion S is formed. That is, the inner wall surface of the front plate 7 is coated with a Nesa film to form a transparent switch electrode section 8, and this switch electrode section 8 has a common electrode 8a,
It is composed of this common electrode 8a and a plurality of opposing electrodes 8b separated by an insulating section 9, and the outer wall surface 7a of the envelope facing the switch electrode 8 is used as a touch section T. Also, the interior is kept in a high vacuum state. Above envelope 3
Inside, there is an anode 4a on which a phosphor layer constituting the pattern display section 4 is adhered, a plurality of control electrodes 1O stretched across the anode 4a so as to cover the upper surface of the anode 4a, and a control electrode 1O. Filament-shaped cathode 1 stretched above the electrode IO
1 is enclosed, and each electrode 4a, 10.11 is connected to a lead terminal 12.12.1 that protrudes outward from the envelope 3.
It is electrically connected to each of...

Reference numerals 13a and 13b are connection tongues for electrically connecting the switch electrode section 8, and the connection tongue 13a connects the control electrode l to the support of the control electrode 1°, for example, as shown in FIG.
O is constituted by a cut-and-raised tongue piece formed to be electrically insulated, one end of which contacts each counter electrode 8b,
The other ends are individually led out to lead terminals 12 via wiring conductors (not shown).

Further, in this case, if the fluorescent display tube section 1 is driven by a static method, the control electrode IO is configured to be always given a constant positive potential with respect to the cathode 11. , the connecting tongue piece 13a is formed of a cut-and-raised tongue piece that is electrically integrated with the control electrode 10, and the IJ-do terminal 12 of the control electrode 1o is also used as a lead terminal of the counter electrode 8b. You can also do that.

The other common electrode 8a is electrically connected to the lead terminal 12 by a connecting piece 13b that is directly connected to the lead terminal 12.

The common electrode 8a and the counter electrode 8b of the switch electrode section 8 are connected to a switch control circuit section 17 shown in FIG. ing. That is, the switch control circuit section 17 includes a pulse generator 14, a comparator circuit 15, and a capacitor C connected between one input side of the comparator circuit 15 and the pulse generator 14.
A switch electrode section 8 is connected between the pulse generator 14 and the other input side of the comparison circuit 15.

Common electrode 8a of the switch electrode section 8 on the front plate 7
Since the electrode 8b and the counter electrode 8b face each other with a gap of the insulating portion 9, a capacitance exists between the two electrodes, forming a kind of capacitor. Therefore, a capacitor C having a capacitance equivalent to the capacitance of the switch electrode section 8 when nothing is touched on the touch section T is connected to one input side of the comparison circuit 15 and the pulse generator I4. The configuration is such that the connection is made between the two. The output side of the switch control circuit section 17 is connected to a display control section 16 that controls the current applied to the four anodes and the control electrode 10 in the fluorescent display tube section 1, as shown in FIG. A display input serving as display data for the pattern display section 4 is added to the display control section 16 .

Next, the operation of the device configured as described above will be explained.

When the operator's finger F touches the touch portion T, the finger F acts as a dielectric, and the capacitance of the switch electrode portion 8 changes. As a result, the capacitance between the switch electrode section 8 and the capacitor C is unbalanced, and a difference occurs between the pulse voltages applied to both input terminals of the comparator circuit 15.
You can get the output from In response to the output signal of the comparison circuit 15, the display control section 16 applies a lighting potential to a predetermined anode 4a, and the anode 4a corresponding to the switch electrode section 8 is lit. Therefore, the function of the operated switch is displayed and can be distinguished from other switches. At the same time, a switch signal is sent to a control section of various electronic/electrical equipment (not shown) in which this display device is incorporated, and the displayed functions, such as turning the power on and off, starting a motor, etc., are realized.

Note that the above-mentioned touch switch detection section S can be formed by a printing method, a vapor deposition method, etc., and thus can have an arbitrary design.

Next, a second embodiment of the device according to the invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same parts as in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this second embodiment, a pattern display section 4 and a light source section 20 as a switch light source are formed on a substrate 5, and the light source section 20 has a phosphor layer on its upper surface similarly to the pattern display section 4. Although it is composed of an anode, it may also be composed of a small pipe or the like. In addition, in this embodiment, since the fluorescent display tube part 1 that displays time and frequency is used as an example, the pattern display part 4 is formed with an 8-shaped number display pattern and a symbol display pattern such as frequency. ing. On the other hand, the touch switch detection part S formed on the front plate 7 includes a switch electrode part 8 formed on the outer wall surface of the front plate 7 and a cover on the switch electrode part 8, as shown in FIG. It is composed of a dielectric layer 21 and a top plate 22 superimposed on this dielectric layer 21, and a switch function is written on the surface of this top plate 22, and a touch part T is formed.
It is said that

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment in which a switch electrode part 8 is constructed by sandwiching a front plate 7, and a first electrode 30 made of a transparent conductive film is provided on the inner wall surface of the front plate 7. A second electrode 31 made of a transparent conductive film is formed on the outer wall surface opposite to the second electrode 31 . Furthermore, a phosphor layer 32 is applied to this first electrode 30, and the phosphor layer 32 provides an indication of the switching function.

Further, as the fluorescent display tube section 1, a front-emission type fluorescent display tube may be used, in which the anode conductor is formed of a transparent conductive film and light emission is observed through the phosphor layer, the anode conductor, and the substrate. In this case, the light source section for irradiating the operated touch switch detection section S has the first and second electrodes 30 and 31 made of a transparent conductive film, as shown in FIG. The phosphor layer 32 may be deposited in a predetermined shape, and the first electrode 3° may be used as an anode to form a light source.

In addition, the touch switch detection section S and the switch control circuit section 1
7 is not limited to the pulse voltage attenuation method described above, and methods based on operating principles such as a hum detection method, a skin resistance detection method, an oscillation start method, an oscillation stop method, etc. can be used.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the electrode part and the touch part of the touch switch are formed in a part of the envelope constituting the entire fluorescent display tube part, and electrical changes between the electrode parts are detected. ,
Since the display on the fluorescent display tube section is configured to switch and control, there is no need for a space to access the switch, which has the effect of making the entire display device more compact, and also makes it possible to easily separate the display section and the switch. Since they can be placed close to each other, there is no risk of erroneous operation, and the operability is greatly improved.

Furthermore, in the present invention, if the anode in the display tube is used as a light source for the touch switch detection section, it can be used as an illuminated switch that illuminates the operated switch, eliminating the need to prepare a special light source and reducing the overall cost of the device. This has the effect of reducing the amount of water used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a fluorescent display tube section according to a first embodiment of the fluorescent display device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a switch control circuit section. Circuit diagram shown,
Fig. 4 is a Glock diagram showing the electrical configuration of the entire device, Fig. 5 is a partially cutaway exploded perspective view of the fluorescent display tube section of the second embodiment, and Fig. 6 is the third embodiment. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a switch electrode part and a touch part as an example, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a switch electrode part and a touch part according to a fourth embodiment. . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Fluorescent display tube part, 2... Display window part, 3... Envelope, 4a... Anode, 8... Switch electrode part 1.1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Cathode, 17... Switch control circuit part, 20...
- Anode as a light source section that irradiates the detection section, 21... Insulating layer as a dielectric layer, S... Touch switch detection section, T... Touch section. Patent Applicant Futaba Electronics Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Noriyuki Nishi Figure 1 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) It has an envelope in which a translucent display window is formed in at least a portion, and the electrons emitted from the heated cathode are transferred to the anode with a phosphor layer coated on the top surface. In a fluorescent display device that obtains a display by selectively colliding light and emitting light, a touch switch detection section is formed in a part of the envelope, and the touch switch detection section includes at least a switch electrode section and the switch electrode. or a touch part provided on the switch electrode part through a dielectric layer, and detects electrical changes in the switch electrode due to an operator's touch with the touch part to generate a switch signal. What is claimed is: 1. A fluorescent display device comprising: a switch control circuit unit forming a switch control circuit unit; and a display at the water gutter unit is switched and controlled by an output of the switch control circuit unit. (2) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the touch switch detection section is formed in a translucent display window section of the envelope, and the touch switch detection section is irradiated with a light-emitting anode. Optical display device. (3) The switch electrode section is composed of a pair of transparent electrodes attached to the inner wall surface of the envelope, and the outer wall surface of the envelope itself that faces the pair of transparent electrodes serves as a touch section. A fluorescent display device according to claim 1 or 2. (4) The switch electrode section is composed of a pair of electrodes deposited on the outer wall surface of the envelope, an insulating layer serving as a dielectric layer is laminated on the pair of electrodes, and the insulating layer The fluorescent display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fluorescent display device has a touch portion. (5) The touch switch detection section includes a first electrode formed on the inner wall surface of the envelope, and a second electrode formed on the outer wall surface of the envelope opposite to the first electrode. This second
3. The fluorescent display device according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer covering the electrode, and the insulating layer serves as a touch portion. (6) The fluorescent display device according to claim 5, wherein a phosphor layer is deposited on the first electrode.