JPWO2012114768A1 - Electronics - Google Patents

Abstract

A flat plate-like vibrating member 22 having a touch action surface 22a on which a touch operation is applied, and a vibrating unit 23 that vibrates the vibration member 22 by acting on a surface 22b opposite to the touch action surface 22a of the vibration member 22. And a support member 10 that extends away from the vibration member 22 and a film-like member 21 that holds the space between the support member 10 and the touch action surface 22a of the vibration member 22 in a watertight manner, The film-like member 21 has a narrowed portion 21 a formed between at least a part of the periphery of the member to be vibrated 22 between the member to be vibrated 22 and the support member 10.

Description

Cross-reference of related applications

  This application claims the priority of the Japan patent application 2011-38386 for which it applied on February 24, 2011, The whole indication of this previous application is taken in here for reference.

  The present invention relates to an electronic device that is touch-operated.

  Currently, touch panels and touch pads are widely used as input devices for electronic devices. In such an input device, when an operator operates a touch panel, a touch pad, or the like, a device that feeds back a feeling of operation to an operator's fingertip or the like by vibrating the touch panel or the touch pad has been proposed (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the electronic device (display device) described in Patent Document 1 includes a display monitor 100, a panel fixing frame 210, a touch panel 400, and a cover 500. This electronic device is configured by assembling each component such as the touch panel 400 to the display monitor 100.

  The display monitor 100 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD), and has a rectangular and flat shape as a whole. The display monitor 100 displays, for example, objects such as keys and buttons or various information on the display surface according to control by a control device (not shown). On the display surface of the display monitor 100, the touch panel 400 having the same size as that of the monitor 100 is assembled.

  The touch panel 400 is configured such that, for example, a matrix-like switch circuit is formed on a transparent resin plate, and when the panel surface is touched by an operator's fingertip or the like, a detection signal corresponding to the touch position is output to the control device. Has been. That is, the operator can input various information corresponding to the display to the electronic device by operating the panel 400 according to the display on the display monitor 100 displayed through the touch panel 400.

  In this electronic device, piezoelectric elements (piezo elements) 420 are attached along two opposing sides on the back surface side of the touch panel 400. When the touch panel 400 detects contact by the operator, the electronic device gives a drive signal (voltage) to the piezoelectric element 420 from the control device. Thereby, the piezoelectric element 420 can expand and contract to generate vibration on the operation surface of the touch panel 400. That is, the touch panel 400 vibrates with the above operation, so that the operator can obtain an operational feeling.

  The touch panel 400 is assembled to the display monitor 100 via the panel fixing frame 210. The panel fixing frame 210 is formed of a hard resin material such as ABS, so that the entire panel fixing frame 210 has rigidity.

  The panel fixing frame 210 is assembled with holders 220 that hold the touch panel 400 at its four corners. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a state where one of the four holders 220 is attached to the corner of the touch panel 400. Each holder 220 is formed with a slit-like insertion portion 360 into which a corner portion of the touch panel 400 can be inserted. As shown in FIG. 7, a fixing hole 320 for fixing the holder 220 is provided on the peripheral side surface of the panel fixing frame 210 near the end of each side surface. Then, the hooks 340a formed on the holder 220 shown in FIG. 8 are inserted into the fixing holes 320 shown in FIG. 7, so that each of the holders 220 fixes the touch panel 400 to the panel fixing frame 210.

  As described above, when the four corners of the touch panel 400 are inserted into the respective holders 220, the respective holders 220 hold the touch panel 400 from the outside at the four corners and also from both sides in the thickness direction. Therefore, the electronic device described in Patent Document 1 can be arranged such that the touch panel 400 is fixed.

  Each of the holders 220 is integrally formed of a material having a smaller elastic coefficient than that of the panel fixing frame 210, for example, a silicon-based resin or rubber. As described above, the holder 220 is configured to be elastically deformable so that the touch panel 400 can vibrate while stably holding the touch panel 400. Note that a gap that allows displacement of the touch panel 400 in the thickness direction is secured between the touch panel 400 and the display monitor 100. For this reason, when the piezoelectric element 420 vibrates, the displacement of the touch panel 400 in the thickness direction accompanying the vibration is possible.

  Therefore, since the electronic device described in Patent Document 1 is configured not to greatly disturb the vibration when the touch panel 400 is vibrated, the operational feeling due to the vibration of the touch panel 400 can be ensured satisfactorily. .

JP 2010-44497 A

  However, the electronic device described in Patent Document 1 is assumed to be, for example, a display device of an in-vehicle navigation system, and no dust-proof measures and waterproof measures are taken for the electronic device itself. For example, when the electronic device shown in FIG. 7 is assembled, the touch panel 400 is attached to the panel fixing frame 210 while being inserted into the insertion portion 360 of the elastic material holder 220, that is, via the holder 220. This is because if the touch panel 400 is firmly fixed to the panel fixing frame 210, the touch panel 400 is not displaced in the thickness direction when the piezoelectric element 420 vibrates, and the touch panel 400 cannot be vibrated satisfactorily. Because. Therefore, a gap is formed between the touch panel 400 and the panel fixing frame 210, and it is assumed that dust and moisture enter from the gap.

  As a dust-proof measure in the electronic device described in Patent Document 1, for example, a member such as a dust-proof cushion may be inserted between the touch panel 400 and the panel fixing frame 210. However, even if such a dustproof cushion is made of a material that can be compressed to some extent, it takes up a physical space where the touch panel vibrates by the thickness after compression. Therefore, in such a structure, the amplitude when the touch panel vibrates cannot be earned.

  Further, as a waterproof measure in the electronic device described in Patent Document 1, for example, a measure of fixing between the touch panel 400 and a member covering the periphery of the touch panel 400 with a waterproof tape can be considered. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the cover 500 is further attached to the combination of the touch panel 400 and the display monitor 100 via the panel fixing frame 210, the cover 500 and the touch panel 400 are fixed with waterproof tape. It is assumed that In this way, since the gap between the cover 500 and the touch panel 400 can be filled, it is possible to prevent water from entering from the outside.

  However, if the cover 500 and the touch panel 400 are fixed with waterproof tape in this way, the amplitude when the touch panel 400 vibrates cannot be gained, and the amplitude when the touch panel 400 is vibrated is suppressed. It will be.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention made in view of such circumstances is to provide an electronic device in which vibration attenuation of a member to be vibrated is reduced as much as possible and dust and waterproof measures are taken.

An electronic device according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object,
A plate-like vibrating member having a touch action surface on which a touch operation acts;
A vibrating portion that acts on a surface of the vibrating member opposite to the touch acting surface to vibrate the vibrating member;
A support member extending away from the member to be vibrated to the periphery;
A film-like member that holds water tightly between the support member and the touch acting surface of the vibrating member,
The film-like member has a narrowed portion formed in at least a part of the periphery of the vibrating member between the vibrating member and the support member.
It is characterized by this.

In the electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention,
The vibrating member is made of a transparent member, and a capacitive panel is disposed on a surface opposite to the touch action surface, spaced from the opposite surface.
It is characterized by this.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the electronic device which reduced the attenuation of the vibration of the to-be-vibrated member as much as possible, and took a dustproof and waterproof measure.

1 is an external perspective view of an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which decomposed | disassembled the electronic device of FIG. 1 and was seen from the back surface side. It is the perspective view which looked at the bezel of Drawing 1 from the back side. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the electronic device of FIG. 1. It is the perspective view which decomposed | disassembled the electronic device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and was seen from the back surface side. FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device of FIG. 5. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the conventional electronic device. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. 7.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining an electronic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an electronic device. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 as seen from the back side. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the bezel of FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 taken along line IV-IV.

  As shown in FIG. 1, electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 10 and a bezel 20 in appearance. Although the case 10 is shown as one case in the illustrated example, the case 10 may be configured by integrally combining an upper case and a lower case. In this case, between the upper housing and the lower housing, in a state where they are integrally combined, for example, a known sealing structure with a rubber packing is used, for example, appropriate dustproof and waterproof measures. It is assumed that The housing 10 is preferably made of, for example, a resin that can withstand a certain degree of impact.

  The bezel 20 is mounted in a watertight manner around the top of the housing 10 with the housing 10 as a support member. The bezel 20 includes a transparent window region 20a that can be input by touching (touching) an operator's finger, stylus pen, or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as “contact object”), and other opaque frame regions 20b. Have

  As shown in FIG. 2, a display unit 30 and a contact object detection panel 40 are built in the housing 10. The display unit 30 displays various objects such as push button switches used by the operator for input operations as images. The display unit 30 is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic EL display panel, electronic paper, or the like.

  The contact object detection panel 40 is supported by the display unit 30, the housing 10, or a support member (not shown) fixed to the housing 10, and is disposed on the display surface side of the display unit 30. In the present embodiment, the contact object detection panel 40 is a capacitive panel.

  Next, the bezel 20 will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bezel 20 includes a film-like member 21 and a flat plate-like vibrating member 22. The film-like member 21 is made of, for example, a transparent resin. As shown in FIG. 1, the film-like member 21 includes a transparent window region 20a in which an input operation can be performed, and an opaque frame region 20b in which an opaque printing process is performed on the back side of the region excluding the transparent window region 20a. And are formed. Thereby, the film-like member 21 functions as a bezel. The film-like member 21 has a U-shaped drawn portion 21a protruding to the back side by drawing along the outline of a region corresponding to the rectangular display area of the display unit 30 on the outer peripheral side of the transparent window region 20a. Is formed in a frame shape. Further, the film-like member 21 is provided with an adhesive portion 21b for the housing 10 on the outer back surface of the aperture portion 21a. 2 and 3, the adhesive portion 21b of the film-like member 21 is shown by hatching.

  The vibrating member 22 is made of a rectangular transparent member such as a molded plate or a cutting plate material. The vibrating member 22 is bonded to the inner side of the region surrounded by the narrowed portion 21a on the back surface side of the film-like member 21 with a transparent double-sided adhesive tape, an adhesive, or the like. And the to-be-vibrated member 22 functions as a touch action surface where the surface 22a adhere | attached on the film-like member 21 acts on a touch operation. A piezoelectric element 23 and a height-holding elastic member 24 are attached to the vibration member 22 on the surface 22b opposite to the touch action surface 22a.

  The piezoelectric element 23 expands and contracts in the length direction, for example, and is bonded to the vibrating member 22 with a double-sided adhesive tape, an adhesive, or the like. In the present embodiment, four piezoelectric elements 23 are bonded in the vicinity of each side of the vibrating member 22 along the side. Note that the four piezoelectric elements 23 are not visible from the outside due to the opaque frame region 20 b of the film-like member 21.

  In the four piezoelectric elements 23, for example, one of the two opposing piezoelectric elements constitutes a driving unit, and the other two opposing piezoelectric elements constitute a load detecting unit. Then, when the voltage output based on the pressing load from the piezoelectric element constituting the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined standard for presenting a tactile sensation, a touch operation is performed on the vibration target member 22 by a control unit (not shown). The piezoelectric element that constitutes the vibration unit is driven. Thereby, the piezoelectric element which comprises a vibration part expands-contracts in the longitudinal direction, and vibrates the to-be-vibrated member 22, and presents a tactile sensation with respect to the contact thing which has touched the transparent window area | region 20a.

  Here, when the output voltage based on the pressing load from the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined standard for presenting tactile sensation may be when the output voltage reaches a reference value for presenting tactile sensation, It may be when the output voltage exceeds a reference value that provides tactile sensation, or may be when a reference value that provides tactile sensation is detected from the output voltage.

  The elastic members 24 for holding the height are in contact with or adhered to the contact object detection panel 40 to position the vibration member 22 with respect to the contact object detection panel 40. Bonded and retained. The elastic member 24 for holding the height prevents the vibration member 22 from contacting the contact object detection panel 40 during vibration.

  For example, the film-like member 21 having the diaphragm 21 a is bonded to the vibrating member 22 in a state where the piezoelectric element 23 and the height-holding elastic member 24 are bonded. The film-like member 21 is bonded to the casing 10 at the surrounding bonding portion 21b in a state where the vibration-receiving member 22 is positioned on the contact object detection panel 40. As a result, the bezel 20 is mounted in a watertight manner around the housing 10. 4 illustrates a case where the housing 10 and the adhesive portion 21b of the film-like member 21 are water-tightly bonded with a double-sided adhesive tape 25 for waterproofing.

  As described above, in the electronic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the flat transparent member 22 to be vibrated and the casing 10 extending away from the member to be vibrated around the film 10 are in the form of a film. The member 21 is kept watertight. Further, in the film-like member 21, a U-shaped drawn portion 21 a by drawing is formed in a frame shape around the vibrated member 22 between the vibrated member 22 and the housing 10. The vibrating member 22 is held so as to be easily displaceable with respect to the film-like member 21.

  In the above configuration, when a contact object is touched on the transparent window region 20a of the bezel 20, the film-like member 21, the vibration member 22, and the air layer between the vibration member 22 and the contact object detection panel 40 are used. The contact position with respect to the contact object detection panel 40 is detected by the capacitive contact object detection panel 40. Thereby, the contact position with respect to the image (object) displayed on the display unit 30 is detected by a control unit (not shown). Further, when a contact object is touched on the transparent window region 20a, the touch operation is applied to the touch action surface 22a of the vibration member 22, and the vibration member 22 is displaced, and the displacement constitutes the piezoelectric element constituting the load detection unit. A voltage based on the pressing load generated by the touch operation is output from the element 23.

  Then, when the output voltage based on the pressing load from the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion for presenting a tactile sensation, it is determined that a touch operation has been performed on the member to be vibrated 22, and the piezoelectric component constituting the vibration unit The element 23 is driven by a drive signal (vibration pattern) corresponding to the touch-operated object. Thereby, the piezoelectric element 23 which comprises a vibration part carries out the curved vibration of the to-be-vibrated member 22, and presents tactile sensation with respect to the contact thing which has touched the transparent window area | region 20a.

  Here, the film-like member 21 to which the member to be oscillated 22 is attached has a squeezed portion 21 a that is squeezed and protrudes in a U shape on the back side of the film-like member 21 around the oscillated member 22. doing. Therefore, when the vibrating member 22 is curved and vibrated, the shape of the diaphragm portion 21a is easily deformed following the vibration displacement of the vibrating member 22. Thereby, the to-be-vibrated member 22 can vibrate, without suppressing an amplitude.

  Thus, according to the electronic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, in the configuration in which the vibration member 22 is curved and vibrated by the piezoelectric element 23, the vibration member 22 is reliably dust-proofed and waterproofed by the film-like member 21, In addition, the diaphragm 21a can reduce the vibration of the vibrating member 22 as much as possible, and the vibrating member 22 can be held in the housing 10. In addition, since the capacitive contact object detection panel 40 vibrates the vibrating member 22 on the bezel 20 side, the positional relationship between the display unit 30 and the contact object detection panel 40 can always be constant. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the detection error of the contact position by the contact object detection panel 40 can be prevented. Moreover, since the aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part 21a is formed in frame shape so that the transparent window area | region 20a of the film-like member 21 which comprises the bezel 20 may be enclosed, the design effect is also acquired.

(Second Embodiment)
5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining an electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device as seen from the back side. FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view similar to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the electronic device 2 according to the present embodiment, in the electronic device 1 according to the first embodiment, four height-holding elastic members 24 that position the vibrating member 22 with respect to the contact object detection panel 40. Is omitted. Further, the frame-shaped drawn portion 21a of the film-like member 21 protrudes toward the contact object detection panel 40 and is drawn into a concave shape having a flat bottom. And the flat bottom part of this aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part 21a is adhere | attached over the peripheral edge of the surface of the contact thing detection panel 40 via a double-sided adhesive tape, an adhesive agent, etc. FIG. 6 illustrates the case where the diaphragm 21 a is bonded to the contact object detection panel 40 with the double-sided adhesive tape 26. Thereby, the to-be-vibrated member 22 is located with respect to the contact object detection panel 40, and is comprised so that it may not contact | abut to the contact object detection panel 40 at the time of a vibration. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, when the vibrating member 22 vibrates, the film-like member 21 is deformed so that the inner peripheral wall of the concave throttle portion 21 a follows the vibration of the vibrating member 22. Thereby, the to-be-vibrated member 22 can vibrate, without suppressing an amplitude. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In the present embodiment, the diaphragm 21a formed on the film-like member 21 is also used as the position of the vibration member 22 with respect to the contact object detection panel 40, so that it is compared with the case of the first embodiment. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the aperture 21 a is adhered over the periphery of the surface of the contact object detection panel 40, dust generated inside the housing 10 enters the gap between the member to be vibrated 22 and the contact object detection panel 40. Intrusion can be prevented. Accordingly, an image displayed on the display unit 30 over a long period of time can be provided to the operator without degrading the image quality.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to the said embodiment, Many deformation | transformation or a change is possible. For example, the transparent window region 20a of the bezel 20 may be formed by cutting out a corresponding portion of the film-like member 21 as an opening. In this case, the contact object comes into direct contact with the touch action surface 22a of the vibrating member 22. Further, the support member of the film-like member 21 is not limited to the housing 10, and may be another member that is directly or indirectly fixed to the housing 10. Further, the diaphragm 21 a formed on the film-like member 21 may be formed to extend to a part of the periphery of the member to be vibrated 22, and the shape of the diaphragm is deformed following the vibration of the member to be vibrated 22. Thus, any shape can be used as long as the vibration of the member to be vibrated 22 is not reduced.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the contact detection panel 40 can be abbreviate | omitted and the to-be-vibrated member 22 can also be used as a touch panel. In this case, for the touch panel, a known type such as a resistive film type, a capacitance type, or an optical type can be used. Note that it is not essential for the touch object to physically touch the touch panel in order for the touch panel to detect contact with the touch object. For example, when the touch panel is optical, the touch panel detects a position where infrared rays on the touch panel are blocked by the contact object, and thus it is not necessary for the contact object to touch the touch panel.

  Further, when the vibrating member 22 is a touch panel, the touch panel and the display unit can be further integrated. As an example of a device in which both functions of the touch panel and the display unit are integrated as described above, a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements such as photodiodes are regularly mixed in a pixel electrode group in a matrix arrangement of a liquid crystal panel. Things can be mentioned. This device displays an image with a liquid crystal panel structure, while reflecting the light of the backlight for liquid crystal display with the tip of a pen that touches the desired position on the panel surface, and the reflected light is reflected by peripheral photoelectric conversion elements. The touch position can be detected by receiving the light.

  Further, the present invention can be configured such that the object is directly printed with ink or the like on the touch surface of the contact object detection panel 40 without providing the display unit 30. Furthermore, when the signal based on the pressing load to the vibrating member 22 is obtained without providing the display unit 30 and the contact object detection panel 40 and the signal satisfies a predetermined standard for presenting a tactile sensation, the vibrating member It can also comprise so that 22 may be vibrated.

  In addition, the load detection unit is not limited to the piezoelectric element, and may be configured using a strain gauge sensor. In addition, the load detection unit can be configured without using a strain gauge sensor or a piezoelectric element. For example, in the case of the above-described embodiment, a signal based on a load can be obtained from a change in output signal based on a change in capacitance obtained from the capacitance-type contact object detection panel 40. . Further, when the vibrating member 22 is a touch panel, a load detection unit can be configured according to a contact detection method on the touch panel. For example, in the case of the resistance film method, a signal based on a load can be obtained from a change in an output signal based on a resistance change due to a contact area. Further, in the case of the electrostatic capacity method, a signal based on a load can be obtained from a change in output signal based on a change in electrostatic capacity, as described above.

  Further, the vibration unit can be configured using an arbitrary number of piezoelectric elements. For example, the vibrating portion can be configured by providing a transparent piezoelectric element on the entire surface of the vibrating member 22. Moreover, when using a piezoelectric element, a vibration part and a load detection part can also be comprised by sharing a piezoelectric element by utilizing the reverse effect and the positive effect. Further, the vibration unit is not limited to the piezoelectric element, and may be configured using an eccentric motor.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Electronic device 10 Case 20 Bezel 20a Transparent window area | region 20b Opaque frame area | region 21 Film-like member 21a Diaphragm | restriction part 21b Adhesion part 22 Vibrated member 22a Touch action surface 22b Opposite surface 23 Piezoelectric element 24 Height holding elastic member 25 , 26 Double-sided adhesive tape 30 Display 40 Contact object detection panel

Claims (2)

A plate-like vibrating member having a touch action surface on which a touch operation acts;
A vibrating portion that acts on a surface of the vibrating member opposite to the touch acting surface to vibrate the vibrating member;
A support member extending away from the member to be vibrated to the periphery;
A film-like member that holds water tightly between the support member and the touch acting surface of the vibrating member,
The film-like member has a narrowed portion formed in at least a part of the periphery of the vibrating member between the vibrating member and the support member.
An electronic device characterized by that. The vibrating member is made of a transparent member, and a capacitive panel is disposed on a surface opposite to the touch action surface, spaced from the opposite surface.
The electronic device according to claim 1.

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