JPS61292832A - Output unit for equipment - 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 the Invention The present invention relates to an input device using a capacitance method used in various types of equipment.

Conventional technology Conventionally, input devices using capacitive touch switches use dielectric materials such as tempered glass for the input section, making it easy to create a structure that prevents the intrusion of dust and water droplets. Yes, and it is becoming more popular due to its increased reliability.

Hereinafter, a conventional input device using a capacitance method will be explained with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 3, 1 is a flat panel made of a dielectric material such as tempered glass, 2 is a driving electrode, and 3 is a sensing electrode. It is placed on the back.

4 is a drive circuit that generates alternating current or pulse voltage, etc., and is connected to the drive electrode 2. 5 is a detection circuit;
It is connected to the sensing electrode 3. Reference numeral 6 denotes a touch electrode for detecting touch by the user, which is constructed by depositing or firing a conductive material such as tin oxide on the surface of the flat panel 1, and when the user touches this touch electrode with a finger. Become.

The operation of the input device configured as above will be explained. First, when the user touches the touch electrode 6 with a finger, the capacitance with the ground changes, and the output from the drive circuit 4 is bypassed to the ground via the touch electrode 6 and the user, and the input to the detection circuit 5 is Change. The detection circuit 5 detects the change in the signal due to the change in capacitance, and accepts the user's settings.

FIG. 4 shows another conventional example of an input device using a capacitance method, which is the case without the touch electrode 6 shown in FIG. 1a is a flannel made of dielectric material, and its shape has a convex portion 1b from which a part of the flannel is protruding. 2a is a driving electrode, and 3a is a sensing electrode. is L-shaped, and the touch panel 1a
are arranged on the convex portion 1b and are insulated from each other. 4 is a drive circuit, and 5 is a detection circuit, which are the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 3.

The operation of the input device configured as above will be explained. First, if the user does not touch the surface of the touch panel 1a facing the convex portion 1b, capacitance is generated between the drive electrode 2a and the sensing electrode 3a via the touch panel 1a.

When the user touches the surface of the touch panel 1a opposite to the convex portion 1b on the back surface, the output of the drive electrode 2a is bypassed through the touch panel 1a and the user, and the capacitance with the ground changes, causing detection. When the input to the circuit 6 changes, the change in capacitance is detected by the detection circuit 6, and the user's settings are accepted.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The method of providing touch electrodes on the surface of the touch panel (the surface that the user can touch with his/her fingers) as shown in FIG. Since the touch electrodes are vapor-deposited or fired, the process is complicated, and if the surface is rubbed (cleaned) with a detergent containing polishing sand (cleanser, etc.), minute scratches may occur on the touch panel and the touch electrodes may be cut off. There is a risk of

Further, the method of eliminating the touch electrode and providing a convex portion 1b on the touch panel as shown in FIG. 4 is effective as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems. However, there is a protrusion on the touch panel.
It is necessary to form the drive electrode and the detection electrode into an L-shape, which is arranged on the convex portion 1b on the back surface of the touch panel. Furthermore, when the touch electrode is arranged on the surface of the touch panel as in the conventional example shown in FIG.
The capacitance between the touch electrode and the ground changes via the user. However, in the conventional example shown in Figure 3, the touch electrodes are not placed on the surface of the touch panel (the surface that can be touched by the user), so both the driving electrode and the sensing electrode placed on the back side of the touch panel are connected through the touch panel. If the touch panel and the user do not touch the touch panel at the same time, changes in capacitance between the touch panel and the ground cannot be detected.As a result, the area where the user should touch the touch panel (touch area) becomes narrower. there were. Another method is to provide comb-shaped driving electrodes and sensing electrodes on the surface of a flat panel, but since the electrodes are on the surface, there is still a risk that the electrodes will peel off or be cut.

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and the structure and shape of the drive electrode and detection electrode can ensure a wide touch area. As a result, an input device with improved usability and reliability can be provided.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes with a predetermined gap on the back surface of a flat panel made of a dielectric material. The driving electrodes are arranged alternately, and the driving electrodes are electrically connected to each other, and the sensing electrodes are electrically connected to each other, and this configuration forms a touch area for detecting input.

Effect With the above configuration, when the user touches the touch area on the flat panel with a finger, the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes arranged alternately on the back surface of the flat panel are separated by a predetermined gap. Since the user's finger touches at least the adjacent driving electrode and sensing electrode through the flat panel, the user's settings can be detected within the touch area. I can do it. As a result, it is no longer necessary to arrange a conductive electrode as a touch electrode on the touch side of the flat panel as a touch area.
There is no need to provide a convex portion or the like on the touch panel or to process the driving electrodes and sensing electrodes into an L-shape or the like. Therefore, settings can be easily made by the user, and usability and reliability can be improved.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a flat panel of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the back side. In Figure 1, 1
2b is a plurality of drive electrodes; 3b is a plurality of detection electrodes that detect the output from the drive electrode 2b via the flat panel 1; Reference numeral 4 indicates a drive circuit for applying an alternating current voltage or pulsed voltage to the drive electrode 2b, and reference numeral 6 indicates a detection circuit that determines whether a user has touched a predetermined position on the flat panel 1 based on input from the detection electrode 3b. It is a circuit. A is a conductive pattern that electrically connects each drive electrode or each detection electrode;
9 is a signal line that electrically connects between the drive electrode 2b and the drive circuit 4 and between the detection electrode 3b and the detection circuit 6, and 9 is a touch area that can detect the touch of the user.

Reference numeral 10 is a thin film insulator such as a resin sheet made of polyester, etc., and is fixed to the back surface of the flat panel 1 by a method such as a sheet or adhesive. In addition, the drive electrode 2b1 detection electrode s
b, the conductive pattern 7 and the signal line 8 are fixed on the surface of the thin film insulator 9 by a method such as adhesion.

Then, as shown in the figure, the driving electrode 2b and the sensing electrode 3b
are arranged alternately, and each of the drive electrodes 2b is connected with a conductive pattern 7 to form a substantially E-shape or a combination shape of a substantially E-shape, and each of the detection electrodes 3b is connected with a conductive pattern 7. By doing so, a substantially H-shape or a substantially H-shaped combination shape is formed, and the touch area 9 is formed. Further, the area of the sensing electrode 3 is formed to be at least larger than the area of the driving electrode 4. The gap between the driving electrode 2b and the sensing electrode 3b is such that when a user touches the touch area on the surface of the flat panel 1, at least the driving electrode 2b and the sensing electrode 3b are simultaneously connected through the flat panel 1. The structure is so close that you can almost touch it.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an input device using the flat panel 1 as seen from the touch surface. The flat panel 1 has a plurality of touch switches 11. The area that is effective as the touch switch 11 (that can accept a user's touch) is clearly defined on the surface of the flat panel 1 by means such as printing. Each of the touch switches 11 is mounted on the back surface of the opposing flat panel.
A driving electrode 2b and a sensing electrode 3b having a shape shown in FIG. 1 corresponding to the shape shown in FIG. Furthermore, the touch area 9 in FIG. 1 and the effective area of the touch switch 11 in FIG. 2 coincide. Note that if the display on the back side of the flat panel 1 can be checked from the front side, it is also possible to eliminate the display on the front side.

The operation of the input device configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, when the touch switch 11 is not touched in FIG. A or FIG. Capacitance is generated, and as a result, a potential corresponding to the capacitance is generated on the sensing electrode 3b.

On the other hand, when the user touches the touch switch 11, within the area of the touch switch 11 (touch area), the user always touches the drive electrode 2b and the sensing electrode 3b at the same time via the flat panel 1. . Therefore, the electrostatic capacitance with the ground changes, and the voltage is bypassed to the ground via the drive electrode 2 and the user, and the potential of the sensing electrode 3b changes. Therefore, the detection circuit 6 detects changes in the signal (potential) before the user touches it and the signal (potential) when the user touches it, and accepts the user's settings.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of driving electrodes 2b and a plurality of sensing electrodes 3b are arranged alternately, and the driving electrodes 2b are electrically connected to each other, and the sensing electrodes 3b are electrically connected to each other. After connecting to the touch switch 11 area ( As long as the touch area (touch area) is touched, the user's settings can be reliably detected, and the area of the touch switch 11 can be easily expanded without the need for a conductive electrode as a touch area on the surface of the flat panel.

In addition, since the flat panel 1 is used as a touch panel, there is no need to process the touch panel itself, and there is no need for touch electrodes provided on the surface of the flat panel as in conventional examples, so there is no need to worry about wear resistance etc. This improves usability and reliability.

In this embodiment, the electrodes are formed on the thin film insulator 1o, but they may be placed directly on the back surface of the flat panel 1, or they may be placed on a flexible printed circuit board whose base material is an insulator such as a resin sheet. The electrode structure shown in FIG. 1 may be patterned by a technique such as etching.

Further, the driving electrodes 2b and the sensing electrodes 3b are arranged alternately,
If each of the driving electrodes 2b is electrically connected and each of the sensing electrodes 3b is electrically connected, the shape is approximately E-shaped.
It is not limited to approximately H type.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention arranges a plurality of drive electrodes and detection electrodes alternately with a predetermined gap, electrically connects each drive electrode to each other, and electrically connects each detection electrode to each other. By providing the connected electrode within the touch area on the back surface of the flat panel made of dielectric material, the user can reliably make settings within the touch area. Further, since the driving electrode and the sensing electrode are arranged on the back surface of the flat panel, no processing of the panel itself is required. In addition, a sufficient touch area can be secured on the side of the flat panel that is touched by the user without placing touch electrodes as a touch area, and malfunctions caused by disconnection of electrodes can be prevented during long-term use. As a result, usability and reliability can be improved, which has great effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from the back side of a flat panel, FIG. 2 is a plan view of an input device using the flat panel viewed from the front side, and FIG. , and FIG. 4 are cross-sectional views of different conventional input devices. 1...Flat panel, 2b...Drive electrode, 3b...Detection electrode, 4...Drive circuit,
5...Detection circuit. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person 2nd
Figure II ---Tana switch fight pehe 9 fight 1 mo trout poor

Claims (1)

[Claims] An input device for equipment in which a plurality of driving electrodes and sensing electrodes are alternately arranged with a predetermined gap in a touch area on the back surface of a flat panel made of a dielectric material.