JPS6145546Y2 - - 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, insulating layer 2
A plurality of y-electrode lines y ₁ -y _n are provided on the lower surface side of the y-electrode X ₁ - y n extending in a direction perpendicular to the X-electrodes X 1 -X _o (x direction). The Y electrode lines y ₁ to y _n are provided on the same plane as the X electrodes X ₁ to _{X o} (m
xn) Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} are electrically connected via the insulating layer 2 by through-hole plating (see TH in FIG. 1). For this reason, the above y
When a scanning signal is externally applied to the electrode lines y ₁ to _{y n} , the signal is directly transmitted to each of the Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} . This Y electrode Y ₁₁ ~ _{Y n}
To explain the configuration of _o in more detail by taking the electrode line yi as an example, each X electrode X ₁ to
A plurality of rectangular Y electrodes are formed in correspondence with each of the X electrodes at a slight interval from the X electrodes X ₁ to _{X o .}
Yi ₁ ~ Yi _o is equipped. Each Y electrode Yi ₁ ~ Yi _o
has substantially the same width as the X electrodes X ₁ to _{X o} and is formed to have a predetermined length. and,
These Y electrodes Yi ₁ to Yi _o are connected to the Y electrode wires by through-hole plating TH provided in the center.
electrode connected to yi and related to the same y-coordinate i
The same scanning signal is applied to Yi ₁ to Yi _o . The Y electrodes Yi ₁ to _{Yi o} are the Y electrodes Yi ₁ to Yi of the corresponding X electrodes X ₁ to X _o , as described later.
A set of x, _y coordinates ( _{1 ,} i), ( _{2 ,} i), ( ₃ ,
i), . . . The other Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} are configured in exactly the same way, so that each X electrode X ₁
~ _Xo , a plurality of m Y electrodes _Y11 ~ _Yno are arranged at adjacent positions throughout the x direction, and a coordinate matrix from coordinates ( ₁ , ₁ ) to (n, m) is constructed. Ru.

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 the shape of a rectangular plate having a predetermined size, spanning the entire Y electrode Yij and the corresponding X electrode portion Xij. The area of electrode Fij is the input area. That is, the float electrode Fij is individually capacitively coupled to the X electrode Yij and the X electrode portion Xij via the insulating layer 3, so that the X electrode
When a scanning signal is applied to the X electrode portion Xij via Xj or to the Y electrode Yij via the y electrode line yi, a signal voltage of approximately the same level is induced over the entire area of the float electrode Fij. It is becoming more and more common. Furthermore, since the Y electrode Yij and the X electrode portion Xij, which face the float electrode Fij, are formed so that the area is the same, even when either the xy scanning signal is applied, the area is induced in the float electrode Fij. The signal level will be the same. Therefore, in the upper part 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 ~ _{F n}
As shown in FIG. 2, a protective insulating layer 5 is further provided on the upper side of _{the o} . They are integrated by an adhesive sheet (not shown). Then, an information sheet 6 (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 7 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,
Specified coordinate information is generated by contact with the detection pen 7, and information can be input by performing predetermined code conversion.

However, in the case of such conventional technology,
Since the X, Y electrodes, the float electrode, and the y electrode line for transmitting the scanning symbol to the Y electrode are all arranged on different surfaces with an insulating layer in between,
The tablet has a multi-layered structure, which requires time and effort to manufacture, and has the drawbacks of high costs.

The present invention was devised in view of the drawbacks of the prior art described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a capacitively coupled tablet that is easy to manufacture and inexpensive by simplifying the tablet structure.

The present invention has a plurality of X electrodes extending in the y direction, and a plurality of X electrodes are provided on the same plane as the X electrodes, close to each X electrode, and extending in the entire direction of extension of the X electrodes. A float electrode is provided above each Y electrode and an X electrode portion corresponding to the Y electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and the Y electrodes are connected at the same Y coordinate. multiple y electrode wires,
The above objective is achieved by disposing the float electrode on the same surface as the float electrode.

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

In the figure, an insulating layer 4 is provided on a base 1 formed in a planar shape, and a plurality of X electrodes X ₁ extending in the y direction are provided on the lower surface side of the insulating layer 4. ~
X _o are installed in parallel at predetermined intervals. Further, on the lower surface side of the insulating layer 4, each of the electrodes X ₁
A plurality of m rectangular Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} are arranged and equipped at a slight interval from the X electrodes X ₁ to _{X o in} the entire extending direction. . Each of the Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} has approximately the same width as the X electrodes X ₁ to X _o , and is formed to have a predetermined length. Each Y electrode configured in this way, for example, Y electrode Yij, is paired with an X electrode portion Xij near the Y electrode Yij of the corresponding X electrode Xj, and coordinates (i, j) are set. It has the function of forming an input area. The other Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} are configured in exactly the same manner, thereby forming a coordinate matrix of coordinates (1, 1) to (n, m).

On the upper surface side of the insulating layer 4, each Y electrode Y ₁₁ to _{Y n}
Y electrode lines y ₁ to _{y n} are arranged for transmitting scanning signals to _the y electrodes y 1 to y n . That is, on the upper surface of the insulating layer 4, a plurality of y electrode wires y ₁ to y _n are provided extending in parallel at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the X electrodes X ₁ to _{X o} (x direction). . Each of the y electrode lines y ₁ to y _n is formed into a thin wire shape, and the Y
The electrodes Y ₁₁ to Y _1o , Y ₂₁ to _{Y 2o} , . . . Y _n1 to _{Y no} are arranged at positions crossing the center of each Y electrode Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} . And each of these y electrode lines y ₁ to y _n has
The Y electrodes _Y11 to _Y1o , _Y21 to _Y2o ,... _Yn1 to _Yno
are electrically connected via the insulating layer 4 by through-hole plating TH. Therefore, when a scanning signal is externally applied to the Y electrode lines y ₁ to _{y n} , the signal is directly transmitted to each of the Y electrodes Y ₁₁ to _{Y no} .

Above the X electrode portion formed in this way and the Y electrode paired therewith, a float electrode portion is provided on the upper surface side of the insulating layer 4, that is, on the same surface as the y electrode line.
F ₁₁ to F _no are provided. Of these, to explain the float electrode portion Fij, in FIG. 2, the Y electrode Yij and the corresponding X electrode portion Xij
A float electrode Fij formed in the shape of a rectangular plate having a predetermined size and commonly spanning the upper half of each of the
Similarly, a float electrode Fij2 formed in the same shape as the float electrode Fij1 is disposed so as to straddle the lower half of the Y electrode Yij and the X electrode portion Xij. The areas of the Y electrode Yij and the X electrode portion Xij facing the float electrode Fij1 or Fij2 are set to be equal. These float electrodes Fij1, Fij2
is electrically suspended from the X electrode portion Xij and the Y electrode Yij by the insulating layer 4, and the float electrodes Fij1 and 2 sandwich the Y electrode line yi with a small distance from each other. It is arranged like this. And these two float electrodes Fij1
and 2 and the area between the float electrodes Fij1 and 2 constitute a float electrode section Fij, and the entire area of this float electrode section Fij constitutes an input area.

That is, the float electrodes Fij1 and 2 constituting the float electrode part Fij are connected to the Y electrodes via the insulating layer 4.
Since it is capacitively coupled to both Yij and the X electrode section Xij, a scanning signal is applied to the X electrode section Xij via the X electrode Xj or to the Y electrode via the y electrode line yi.
When a scanning signal is applied to Yij, a voltage of substantially the same level is induced across each of the float electrodes Fij1 and Fij2. Further, between the float electrodes Fij1 and 2, when a scanning signal is applied to the Y electrode Yij, a voltage is also generated on the y electrode line yi, while on the other hand, when a scanning signal is applied to the X electrode portion Xij, Since the spacing between the float electrodes Fij1 and Fij2 is narrow, the voltage level does not drop much;
Further, since the size of the conductive member of the detection pen 7 is formed to be sufficiently larger than the interval between the float electrodes Fij1 and 2, the entire area of the float electrode portion Fij described above can function as an input area. The other float electrode portions F ₁₁ to _{F no} are configured in exactly the same manner.

A protective insulating layer 5 is provided above these float electrode portions _F11 to _Fno , and on top of this a key segment KS corresponding to the input area is further provided.
The information sheet 5 on which the information sheet 5 is formed is placed thereon. Each insulating layer is integrated with an adhesive sheet (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a tablet 10 configured in this way.
FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram for driving the motor and inputting coordinates. X electrode of the tablet ₁₀
~X _o , Y electrode Y ₁₁ ~ _{Y no} have x electrode lines, respectively.
Scanning signals are sequentially applied from an X decoder/driver 11 and a Y decoder/driver 12 via x 1 _to x _o and _y electrode lines y ₁ to y _o . 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, all the float electrode parts Fij, F ₂ j,...F _n facing this X electrode Xj
A voltage is induced at j. Therefore, when the detection pen 7 is in contact with any one of the key segments KS at coordinates (j, ₁ ) to (j, m), the scanning signal can be detected. 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, register 1
By latching the numerical data of 6 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 7 can be extracted.

Separately, when a scanning signal is applied from the Y decoder/driver 12 to the Y electrodes Yi ₁ to _{Yi o} via the y electrode line yi, all of the Y electrodes facing the Y electrodes Yi ₁ to _{Yi o} A voltage is induced in the float electrode portions Fi ₁ to Fi _o . Therefore, the detection pen 7 has the coordinates ( ₁ ,
i) When the key segment KS related to any one of ( _o , i) is in contact, the y-coordinate data i related to the key segment KS specified by the detection pen 7 is extracted in exactly the same manner as described above. be able to. No matter which key segment KS on the information sheet 5 is specified by the detection pen 7, scanning signals are sequentially applied to the X and Y electrodes, so the x and y coordinate data are output in exactly the same manner as described above, Information can be input by converting the code.

According to this embodiment, the y-electrode wire can be arranged without providing an independent insulating layer, and since the y-electrode wire is arranged within the input area, it is also possible to reduce the size of the tablet. be. In addition, since the float electrode part forming one input area is divided into two float electrodes, the level drop part at the end of the electrode is relatively small, and therefore the periphery of the input area is reduced. It is possible to induce almost the same signal level at the end portions as at the inside.

In the above embodiment, the case where the y-electrode line is arranged within the input area is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this in any way, and the y-electrode line may be arranged between the input areas. Good too. Regarding the Y electrodes, instead of providing one Y electrode for each input area, as shown in Figure 5, a Y electrode section YA is provided that spans two input areas adjacent in the x direction. The left half and right half of the Y electrode portion YA divided at the center may be configured to be used as the Y electrodes Yij and Yij+ ₁ of the two input areas. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in addition to having the same effects as the first embodiment, it is possible to simplify the connection between the Y electrode line and the Y electrode.

In the above embodiment, the electrodes and electrode wires are fixed in the X direction and the Y direction for convenience, but technically the same is true even if the X direction and the Y direction are set in reverse. This point also applies to the contents of the claims for utility model registration.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a capacitively coupled tablet that has a significantly simplified tablet structure, is easy to manufacture, and is inexpensive.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a tablet according to the prior art, FIG. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a tablet according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a general block diagram of the tablet input device, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tablet showing another embodiment. X ₁ ~ _{X o ...} X electrode _{, X 11 -}
~ _yn ...y electrode wire, _F11 ~ _Fno ...float electrode section, 4...insulating layer, 10...tablet.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A plurality of X electrodes extending in the y direction, and on the same plane as the X electrodes, adjacent to each X electrode.
A plurality of Y electrodes are provided over the entire extending direction of the electrodes, and a float electrode is provided facing each other with an insulating layer above each Y electrode and the X electrode portion corresponding to the Y electrode. A capacitively coupled tablet characterized in that a plurality of y-electrode lines connecting the y-electrodes at the same y-coordinate are arranged on the same surface as the float electrode. (2) The capacitive coupling tablet according to claim 1, wherein the Y electrode line is arranged at a position where the float electrode is divided into two parts with a slight interval between them.