JPS6145545Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a capacitively coupled tablet, and more particularly to a capacitively coupled tablet whose structure is simplified.

A capacitively coupled tablet input device has a tablet on which a plurality of X electrodes and Y electrodes are laid, and scan signals applied to each electrode of the tablet are
A signal is detected by a detection pen that is capacitively coupled when it comes into contact with the tablet, and the designated coordinates of the detection pen are specified from this detection timing, and information such as characters is input using this, and the operation is easy. It is one of the information input devices that has been widely used in recent years because it is simple and allows the settings of information items to be changed freely. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of this capacitively coupled tablet input device with the tablet portion of the prior art partially omitted. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a tablet base formed into a flat plate, and a flat insulating layer 2 on which signal scanning electrodes are provided is provided on the base 1. A plurality of X electrodes extending in the y direction are provided on the upper surface side of the insulating layer 2.
The electrodes X ₁ to _{X o} are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals, and a scanning signal is sequentially applied to each of the electrodes X ₁ to _{X o} from the outside. On the other hand, on the lower surface side of the insulating layer 2, a plurality of y electrode wires y ₁ to y _n are provided extending in a direction perpendicular to the X electrodes X ₁ to X _o (x direction). The y electrode lines y ₁ to _{y n} have the above-mentioned
Provided on the same plane as the electrodes X ₁ to X _o (m×
n) Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} are connected via the insulating layer 2,
It is electrically connected by through-hole plating (see TH in Figure 1). Therefore, when a scanning signal is applied to the y electrode lines y ₁ to y _n from the outside,
Signals are transmitted directly to each of the Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} . To explain the configuration of the Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} in more detail by taking the electrode line yi as an example, the X electrodes X 1 are placed on the y electrode line yi corresponding to each of the X electrodes X ₁ to X _{o .} ~X _o and a plurality of rectangular Y electrodes Yi ₁ ~Yi _o formed at small intervals.
is equipped. Each of the Y electrodes Yi ₁ to Yi _o is
It has approximately the same width as the electrodes X ₁ to _{X o} and is formed to have a predetermined length. And these Y
The electrodes Yi ₁ to _{Yi o} are connected to the y electrode line yi by a through-hole plating TH provided in the center, and the electrodes Yi ₁ to Yi _o related to the same y coordinate i are subjected to the same scanning. A signal is now applied.
As described later, the Y electrodes Yi ₁ to Yi _o are paired with X electrode portions Xi ₁ to _{Xi o} near the Y electrodes Yi ₁ to _{Yi o} among the corresponding X electrodes X ₁ to X _o , respectively. 1 set of x,
An input area representing y coordinates ( ₁ , i), ( ₂ , i), ( ₃ , i), . . . is formed. The other Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} are configured in exactly the same way, and thus, each of the X electrodes X ₁ to _{X o} has a plurality of m Y electrodes Y at adjacent positions throughout the x direction. ₁₁ ~ Y _no is placed, coordinates ( ₁ , ₁ ) ~
A coordinate matrix up to (n, m) is constructed.

Above the X and Y electrodes formed in this way, there is a floating electrode floating electrically through the insulating layer 3.
Equipped with F ₁₁ ~F _no . This float electrode
Among F ₁₁ to _{F no} , for example, the float electrode Fij is formed in a rectangular branch shape having a predetermined size spanning the entire Y electrode Yij and the corresponding X electrode portion Xij, and this float electrode The area of Fij is the input area. That is, since the float electrode Fij is individually capacitively coupled to each of the Y electrode Yij and the X electrode portion Xij via the insulating layer 3, a scanning signal is added to the X electrode portion Xij via the X electrode Xj. Alternatively, when a scanning signal is applied to the Y electrode Yij via the Y electrode line yi, a signal voltage of approximately the same level is induced throughout the float electrode Fij. Also, Y facing the float electrode Fij
Since the electrode Yij and the X electrode portion Xij are formed to have the same area, the signal level induced in the float electrode Fij is the same regardless of whether an x or y scanning signal is applied. Therefore, in the upper portion of the float electrode Fij, it is possible to detect both x and y scanning signals, thereby forming an input area for each coordinate.
The other float electrodes F ₁₁ to _{F no} are configured in exactly the same manner. These float electrodes F ₁₁ ~
As shown in FIG. 2, a protective insulating layer 4 is further provided above the F _no . They are integrated by an adhesive sheet (not shown). Then, an information sheet 5 (see FIG. 2) having key segments KS provided for each input area corresponding to the float electrodes _F11 to _Fno is placed on the tablet thus formed. key segments from the top of this information sheet.
A detection pen 6 with a conductive member at the tip is inside the KS.
(See FIG. 4), the conductive member and the float electrode Fij are capacitively coupled, and a signal induced in the float electrode Fij by application of a scanning signal can be detected. Based on this detection signal, coordinate information specified by the contact of the detection pen 6 is generated,
Information can be input by performing predetermined code conversion.

However, in such conventional technology, each input area is configured to be equipped with a separate Y electrode, so especially in a tablet that uses a large number of information items such as kanji, the Y electrode and the y electrode line are connected to each other. The connection process is time-consuming and costly, and it is difficult to adjust the compatibility between the electrode components, which may lead to a decrease in the reliability of the entire device.

The purpose of the present invention is to
By simplifying the electrode structure, a capacitively coupled tablet that is easy to manufacture, inexpensive, and highly reliable can be provided.

The present invention attempts to achieve the above object by integrally forming a Y electrode across two float electrodes adjacent in the x direction.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. In the drawings, the same components as in the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, a plurality of y electrode wires y ₁ to y _n are provided extending in the x direction at predetermined intervals on the lower surface side of the insulating layer 2. Each of the y electrode lines y ₁ to y _n is provided with a plurality of electrodes at predetermined intervals along the electrode lines y ₁ to y _n on the upper surface side of the insulating layer 2 corresponding to each of the electrode lines y ₁ to y _n . Square-shaped Y electrodes YA ₁₁ to YA _np are connected. A plurality of m of these Y electrodes YA ₁₁ to YA _np are lined up in a straight line in the y direction to form electrode rows Q ₁ to Q _p , and each electrode row Q ₁ to _{Q p} is arranged at a predetermined interval as shown in FIG. They are arranged vertically.
On the upper surface side of the insulating layer 2, there are X electrodes extending in the y direction with a slight interval from the electrode rows Q ₁ to Q _p .
X ₁ to X _o form a set of two, and the electrode rows Q ₁ to Q _p
It is arranged to sandwich the. in particular,
For example, the electrode array Q _p has X electrodes X ₂ p (=X _o ) and X ₂ p _-1
(=X _o-1 ). Among the Y electrodes YA ₁₁ to _{YA np} , for example, two rectangular Y electrode portions Yij having approximately the same width as the X electrodes X ₁ to _{X o} from near the center line to the left and right ends of the Y electrode YAil. _-1 , Yij (= ₂ l)
And among the corresponding X electrodes Xj _-1 and Xj, the corresponding Y
Electrode portion Yij _-1 , X electrode portion Xij _-1 near Yij,
Xij are arranged in pairs to form input areas each representing a set of coordinates (j _-1 , i), (j, i). The other Y electrodes YA ₁₁ to YA _np are configured in exactly the same way, and thus the coordinates (i, ₁ ) are maintained over the entire surface of the tablet 10.
A coordinate matrix of up to (n, m) is formed.

The Y electrodes YA ₁₁ to YA _np are connected to the same Y electrode by a through-hole plating TH provided in the center thereof.
The y electrode lines y ₁ to _{y n} are arranged for each electrode group forming the coordinates.
are connected to each other, and a predetermined scanning signal is applied to each of them.

Above the X and Y electrodes thus formed, rectangular branch-shaped float electrodes F ₁₁ to F _no are provided which are electrically floating via the insulating layer 3. Of these,
For example, the float electrode Fij is the Y electrode portion Yij
and the corresponding X electrode portion Xij, and are formed so that the areas of the X electrode portion Xij and the Y electrode portion Yij facing the float electrode Fij are equal. The area of this float electrode Fij constitutes an input area. Two float electrodes Fij _-1 and Fij provided on the same Y electrode YAil are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, and the through-hole plating TH of the Y electrode YAil connects these float electrodes Fij _-1 and Fij, and is formed so that the level of the induced voltage of the float electrodes Fij _-1 and Fij does not decrease due to the through-hole plating TH portion. Other float electrodes F ₁₁ ~
F _no is formed in exactly the same way. A protective insulating layer 4 is provided above these float electrodes F ₁₁ to _{F no} , and an information sheet 5 on which key segments KS corresponding to the input areas are further placed is placed. It's becoming like that. The other constituent parts are formed in exactly the same manner as in the prior art described above.

FIG. 4 shows a tablet 10 configured in this way.
FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram for driving the motor and inputting coordinates. X electrode X ₁ of the tablet 10 ~
_Xo . The Y electrodes YA ₁₁ to YA _np are _connected to an _{X decoder} /
Driver 11. A sequential scanning signal is applied from a Y decoder/driver 12. This X, Y decoder/driver 11 or 12 has a function of converting the count value of the counter sent from the control section 13 and sending a scanning signal to the x or y electrode line corresponding to the count value. Now the X electrode is connected from the X decoder/driver 11 to the x electrode line xj.
When a scanning signal is applied to Xj, a voltage is induced in all the float electrodes F ₁ j, F ₂ j, . . . Fmj facing this X electrode Xj. Therefore, when the detection pen 6 is in contact with one of the key segments KS at coordinates (j, ₁ ) to (j, m), the scanning signal can be detected from the capacitive coupling with the float electrode. Can be done. This detection signal is amplified by an amplifier 14, then passed through a waveform shaping circuit 15 and output as a pulse signal. On the other hand, the count value of the control section 13 is sent to the register 16 at any time. Therefore, by latching the numerical data in the register 16 with the output pulse of the waveform shaping circuit 15, the x-coordinate data j related to the key segment KS specified by the detection pen 6 can be extracted.

Separately, when a scanning signal is applied from the Y decoder/driver 12 to the Y electrodes YAi ₁ to YAip via the y electrode line yi, these Y electrode portions Yi ₁ to Yi _o
A voltage is induced in all the float electrodes Fi ₁ to Fin facing each other. Therefore, when the detection pen 6 is in contact with the key segment KS related to any of the coordinates ( ₁ , i) to (n, i), the key segment KS specified by the detection pen 6 is The y-coordinate data i related to the key segment KS can be extracted. No matter which key segment KS on the information sheet 5 is specified by the detection pen 6, scanning signals are sequentially applied to the X and Y electrodes, so the x and y coordinate data is output in exactly the same manner as described above. Information can be input by converting the code.

In the above embodiments, the case where the Y electrode is square is illustrated, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and may be circular, for example. Further, a shielding ground electrode may be provided between the float electrodes.

As described above, according to the present invention, a tablet can be constructed by simply providing one Y electrode for two input areas, which not only makes manufacturing easier and cheaper, but also reduces the cost of the device. It is also possible to improve credibility.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a conventional tablet, FIG. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a tablet according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. FIG. 4 is an overall block diagram of the tablet input device. X ₁ ~ _Xo ...X electrode, _X11 ~Xmn...X electrode part, _Y11 ~ _{Y no} , _YA11 ~YA _np ...Y electrode, _{y1 ~} y
_n ...Y electrode wire, F ₁₁ ~F _no ...Float electrode, 2
...Insulating layer, 10...Tablet.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A plurality of X electrodes extending in the y direction, and
A plurality of Y electrodes are provided on the same plane as the electrodes, close to each X electrode over the entire extending direction of the X electrode, and each Y electrode and the X electrode corresponding to the Y electrode are provided.
A float electrode is provided opposite to the electrode portion, and
In a capacitively coupled tablet having a plurality of Y electrode lines connecting the Y electrodes at the same Y coordinate via an insulating layer, the Y electrodes are connected to two adjacent Y electrode lines in the x direction.
A capacitively coupled tablet characterized in that the tablet is integrally formed over two of the float electrodes.