JPS5933071Y2 - input device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to an input device used in a display device such as a CRT for a computer terminal, and in particular a touch type input device that detects the pressed position when the panel surface is pressed with a pressure pen or the like. 0 Conventionally, this type of device includes an electrode contact type that constitutes a membrane switch, an optical matrix type that combines a light source and an optical sensor to detect the coordinates of an obstacle in the optical path, and a touch pressure detection type. Various methods have been proposed, such as the pressure method, which detects coordinates, and the surface acoustic wave method, which detects coordinates from the propagation time of surface waves on the panel surface.

Among these, the electrode contact type has a simpler structure and lower cost than other types.

However, conventional electrode contact type coordinate input devices are
Because this is a membrane type keyboard switch that uses a transparent plastic film made by vapor-depositing or sputtering a metal thin film such as In2O3 or a metal oxide thin film such as In2O3 over a predetermined area, contact resistance tends to be high and mechanical It has the drawbacks of low yield and short life due to its weak physical properties.

In addition, there are thin film electrodes in which conductive metal fine powder is dispersed in a synthetic resin, but the degree of dispersion of the metal powder is not uniform, and accurate coordinate detection may not be possible, and the strength is also reduced. It wasn't enough.

The present invention was developed in view of the shortcomings mentioned in E. The purpose of this invention is to provide an input device that has a simple configuration, low cost, high mechanical strength, and can perform accurate coordinate detection. A resistive layer is formed almost uniformly on sheet E, a plurality of terminal leads are connected to both ends of the resistive layer, and conductors are placed facing each other on the ridges of the resistive layer, and there is a gap between the resistive layer and the conductor. The conductor is covered with an insulating protective sheet, and the coordinate position is detected from the electric potential at the contact point between the conductor and the resistance layer. That is.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention with four parts of an insulating gel material, a conductor, and an insulating protective sheet removed.

The embodiment shows an input device for a two-axis display device that detects coordinates in the X-Y axis direction, and includes two resistive layers made of a conductive paint suitably mixed with carbon or other conductive material on a substantially square insulating sheet if:. It is applied uniformly, and each end of the resistance layer 2 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is connected to a terminal lead 4 provided at the terminal lead-out portion 3 of the insulating sheet 1.

This terminal lead 4 is connected in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction as shown in the figure.
A plurality of terminal leads 4.4 are arranged evenly in the axial direction, and a constant voltage is applied between mutually opposing terminal leads 4.4 extending in each direction.

Furthermore, the terminal leads 4 here are each connected to a diode 5.
The current direction is determined in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which an insulating sheet 1 coated with the resistance layer 2 is fixed on a rigid substrate 6, and the material of the resistance layer 2 is an electrical insulator made of silicon, epoxy resin, etc. The conductor 8 provided on the second insulating sheet 9 is placed through the gel material 7, and the conductor 8 is made of a flexible material such as polyurethane. It is covered with an insulating protection sheet 10 having a property.

The insulating sheets 1 and 9 are made of polyimide film, polyester film, etc., and the resistive layer 2 is integrated with the insulating sheets 1 by applying a paint containing powder such as carbon mixed with synthetic resin. The conductor 8 is formed by depositing a conductive metal such as Ag or Cu on the lower surface of the second insulating sheet 9.

It is formed by applying a conductive material such as carbon or the like.

In such an input device, when a predetermined voltage is applied between the opposing terminal leads 4 in the X-axis direction of FIG. When one point P is pressed, the conductor 8 is pressed downward, the gel-like substance 7 near the point P is scattered around, and the resistance layer 2 and the conductor 8 come into contact with each other.

As a result, the potential of the suppression point P in the X-axis direction is detected, and the X coordinate is recognized.

Similarly, terminal leads 4 facing each other in the Y-axis direction,
If a predetermined voltage is applied between 4 and 4, the pressed point P by the suppressing member will also be detected as a potential in the Y-axis direction, and the pressed point will be recognized in both the X and Y axis coordinates.

In this embodiment, the potentials in the X-axis and Y-axis directions are detected by applying voltages to the ends of one resistive layer 2 from two directions.

Therefore, the voltage applied in both axial directions is constantly scanned in a very short period of time, so that the coordinates in both axial directions during - times of pressing operations can be detected.

A diode 5 connected to the terminal lead 4 prevents current backflow during the scanning.

Further, in the embodiment, a thin film of vapor-deposited metal or conductive paint is used as the conductor 8, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to these, and for example, a wire mesh made of thin conductive metal wires can also be used.

Furthermore, although an insulation protection sheet 10 made of a separate member is placed on the top of the second insulation sheet 9, this is not necessarily necessary and may be integrated.

As explained in detail in the embodiments, the present invention is to form a resistive layer almost uniformly on an insulating sheet h, connect a plurality of terminal leads to both ends of the resistive layer, and conductors are placed facing each other, a flowable and deformable insulating powder material is interposed between the resistance layer and the conductor, the conductor is covered with an insulation protection sheet, and the conductor and the resistance layer are The coordinates are detected from the potential of the contact position.

Therefore, it is possible to create an input device with a simple configuration, low cost, and excellent durability, and because a gel-like substance is interposed between the conductor and the resistance layer, it can withstand repeated pressing operations. The return force is not likely to deteriorate even when the device is used, and a constant operating feeling can always be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are all diagrams showing embodiments of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view with a part of the upper part of the input device such as the gel material and the second insulating sheet removed, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the input device. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the operation of the input device. 1...Insulating sheet, 2...Resistance layer, 4
...Terminal lead, 7 ... Gel-like substance, 8 ... Conductor, 10 ... Insulation protection sheet.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A resistive layer is formed almost uniformly on an insulating sheet h, a plurality of terminal leads are connected to both ends of the resistive layer, and conductors are placed facing each other on the hills of the resistive layer, so that the resistance layer and the conductor are connected to each other. A flowable and deformable insulating gel-like substance is interposed between the conductors and the conductor is covered with an insulating protective sheet, and the coordinate position is detected from the electric potential at the contact position between the conductor and the resistance layer. Characteristic input device.