JPS61118923A - Input switch mechanism for electronic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an input switch mechanism using a solar cell in electronic equipment.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional switch mechanisms include mechanical contact systems, electromagnetic switches such as reed switches and Hall effect switches, and resistance-type and capacitance-variable touch switches in which a transparent electrode plate is provided on a glass surface.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Mechanical contact systems are easily affected by surrounding dust and have problems with their lifespans against repeated inputs. Furthermore, in order to have a waterproof structure, it is necessary to make the switch difficult to slide against water pressure, which poses operational problems.

In addition, electromagnetic switches have limitations in terms of structure and FiL consumption.

Furthermore, resistance type and capacitance change type touch switches are difficult to use due to reliability issues such as external noise, the influence of static electricity, and electrode breakage due to floors.

[Means for solving problems]

The input mechanism of the present invention includes a solar cell substrate, an amorphous silicon layer, electrodes arranged in rows and columns above and below the amorphous silicon layer, and a thick FF formed by forming the amorphous silicon layers in the rows and columns. It is characterized by the use of

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a plan view and a perspective view of a solar cell for an input switch mechanism according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a solar cell substrate made of a transparent plate made of glass, plastic, or the like. A transparent lower electrode 2 is formed on this solar cell substrate 1 by dividing it into rows, and an upper electrode 4 is formed thereon by dividing it into columns. A P-type or NIP-type amorphous silicon layer 5 is formed sandwiched between the upper electrode 4 and constitutes a solar cell for a switch mechanism. In such a configuration, there are no lower electrodes.

Upper i! In this figure, the upper electrodes are arranged in columns and the lower electrodes are arranged in rows. Of course, you can also stand in a row. Further, the solar cell substrate can be a conductive substrate such as stainless steel or an opaque substrate by applying the method shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit of FIG. 1.

Input switches using such solar cells 4All! The structure is
When the amorphous silicon portion is irradiated with a source, electrical energy is output due to the photovoltaic effect, and a voltage is generated between each electrode. When external light is blocked by a finger, etc., the output between the upper and lower electrodes at the intersection of the amorphous silicon layers is 'L''
This output can be used to configure a switch, which can configure many switch mechanisms at the same time, and even if the output level of one switch is weak, it can be determined.
Each switch can also be made smaller, and many switches can be placed in the same space.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the input switch mechanism of the present invention is used in electronic devices such as calculators and watches.The input section has switches arranged in a matrix, and the display section has display pixels arranged in a matrix. However, in electronic devices that are arranged so that the matrix-like switches and matrix-like display pixels pseudo-match, characters (numbers, alphabets, symbols) can be drawn by tracing the switch made of solar cells with a finger or a pen. , kanji, katakana, etc.) on the display unit.

In the figure, the output voltage of a solar cell 5 is detected by a voltage detection circuit 6. For example, when the solar cell 5 is touched with a finger, the output voltage of the solar cell 5 decreases, and the output of the voltage detection circuit 6 becomes @L.On the other hand, when the solar cell 5 is not covered, the output of the voltage detection circuit 6 becomes "@L". T1''. In order to detect the voltage of all the solar cells 5, the switch scan circuit 7
Select the switches one by one. The output signal of the voltage detection circuit 6 for each switch is stored in the switch memory 9 by the control circuit 8. Furthermore, the stored contents are outputted from the control circuit 8 to the driver 10 and displayed on the display device 11.

As a result, by tracing the thick @battery 5 with your finger,
It becomes possible to display characters on the display device based on the traced pattern.

Further, FIG. 5 is a block diagram when pattern recognition is performed in FIG. 4 to display characters on a display device. In the figure, the comparison circuit 12 receives the output signal from the voltage detection circuit 6, compares it with a character pattern signal predetermined in the character pattern storage circuit 15, determines what character it corresponds to, and controls the matched character pattern signal. Output to circuit 14. The control circuit 14 stores the received character pattern signal in the memory 15 and at the same time outputs the display dry/<-10.
I'll output it to

FIG. 5 shows an example in which a solar cell 16 for an input switch mechanism according to the present invention is placed in an electronic device such as a calculator, and characters are displayed on a display device 17 by tracing the solar cell 16 with a finger or the like.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a case 19 in which the solar cell 18 for an input switch mechanism of the present invention is incorporated into an electronic device such as a watch.
．． Windshield glass 20. Liquid crystal display panel 21. Windshield glass 2
The thick battery 18 has a plurality of switches, and when traced with a pen or finger to block the light, it functions as a switch, and the clock or control the operation of
By adopting the configuration shown in FIG. 4, characters can be displayed with light.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6.

In the figure, the solar cell 18 is placed under the windshield,
Together with the liquid crystal display panel 21, the guide frame 22 is guided by a guide frame 22 having holes for the parting part of the liquid crystal display panel and holes so that light can shine on the switch effective part of the solar cell. The output from the solar cell 18 is input to the circuit through a circuit board 24 on which the circuit is mounted using a conductive elastic material 23.
.

In this way, the switch mechanism is not exposed to the outside, and unlike mechanical switch mechanisms, there are no moving parts. It can operate in any environment as long as it has the original source, and solar cells can be easily incorporated into electronic devices.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As in the present invention, by using a thick @ battery configured in a matrix shape in the switch mechanism, (1) the moving part is not exposed to the outside like a mechanical switch, so the switch is strong in repeated durability; can be provided.

(2) By placing it under the windshield, it can be configured as a touch switch, and compared to resistive or electrostatic touch switches, it is not affected by electromagnetic noise and will not be destroyed by static electricity. Also, since there is no need for wiring on the top of the windshield, there is no chance of wire breakage due to scratches.

(3) Many switches can be configured at the same time, and by combining them with a display device having matrix-like elements and pixels,
Complex input such as characters is possible.

(4) Solar cells have low power because they generate their own electricity.

(5) It is an inexpensive switch that requires only a small solar cell.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) are diagrams showing a solar cell for an input switch mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 1. 3 and 4 are block diagrams of electronic equipment using the input switch mechanism of the present invention. FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are diagrams showing electronic equipment using the input switch mechanism of the present invention. In the figure, 1...Solar cell substrate 2...Lower electrode 5...Amorphous silicon layer 4...
This is the upper electrode. that's all

Claims (1)

[Claims] A multi-channel input switch mechanism composed of solar cells, the input switch mechanism includes a solar cell substrate, an amorphous silicon layer, electrodes arranged in rows and columns above and below the amorphous silicon layer, and electrodes arranged in rows and columns above and below the amorphous silicon layer. An input switch mechanism for electronic equipment consisting of solar cells with an amorphous silicon layer formed at their intersections.