JPWO2015194446A1 - Touch panel and input operation terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The touch panel (40) includes pressure sensors (41, 42) and a plate member (45). As for a plate member (45), one main surface is an operation surface, and distortion arises by the press of the said operation surface. The pressure sensors (41, 42) have a configuration in which detection electrode substrates (405) facing each other so as to sandwich the piezoelectric film (403) are laminated on both main surface sides of the piezoelectric film (403). The pressure sensors (41, 42) are mounted on both sides of the plate member (45) across the first straight line that divides the operation surface of the plate member (45) into two.

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel that detects a pressing operation on an operation surface by an operator, and an input operation terminal using the touch panel.

  Conventionally, various types of touch panels have been devised for detecting a pressing operation on an operation surface by an operator. Examples of the touch panel include a capacitance method, a thermal resistance method, a piezoelectric acoustic method, an infrared sensor method, and the like. In addition to the pressing position on the operation surface, a touch detection sensor is separately provided on the touch panel that detects the pressing force.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a touch panel in which matrix-like electrodes are formed on opposite main surfaces of a flat piezoelectric sheet.

  Patent Document 2 describes a touch panel in which a plurality of a pair of opposed electrodes are discretely provided on both opposed main surfaces of a piezoelectric sheet.

  In both Patent Documents 1 and 2, both main surfaces of the piezoelectric sheet are arranged to face the display surface of the display, and one main surface of the piezoelectric sheet (the main surface located on the opposite side of the display surface) is placed on the operator. It is the structure made into the operation surface by.

  An input operation device using a touch panel can be incorporated as an input device not only in a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal but also in a large machine such as a ticket vending machine or ATM.

JP 2006-163618 A JP 2011-253517 A

  However, the touch panels described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a configuration in which an electrode is provided on a piezoelectric sheet facing the display surface of the display device, and thus the transparency of the operation surface is reduced. That is, the touch panels described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 reduce the visibility of the operator with respect to the image displayed on the display surface of the display.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing a reduction in the visibility of an image displayed on a display surface of a display and detecting a pressing force in addition to a pressing position on an operation surface.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  In the touch panel according to the present invention, one main surface is an operation surface, and the piezoelectric film is sandwiched between the operation input member that is distorted by pressing the operation surface and both main surface sides of the piezoelectric film. When the opposing conductors for detection are stacked, the pressure sensor is provided. The pressure sensors are mounted on both sides of the operation input member across the first straight line that divides the operation surface into two.

  In this configuration, sufficient transparency can be obtained by forming the operation input member by using, for example, a flat plate of glass or PET (polyethyleneterephthalate). Therefore, when the main surface of the operation input member is disposed to face the display surface of the display device, the operator's visibility with respect to the image displayed on the display surface of the display device can be sufficiently ensured.

  Further, the pressure sensor can be attached to the operation input member while being shifted to a position facing the outer periphery of the display surface of the display, a position not facing the display surface, or the like. Therefore, the visibility of the operator with respect to the image displayed on the display surface of the display device is not lowered by the press sensor attached to the operation input member.

  Further, the piezoelectric film of the pressure sensor is distorted along with the distortion of the operation input member caused by the pressing of the operation surface. The operation input member is distorted according to the pressing force of the operation surface. In addition, the piezoelectric film generates a charge corresponding to the amount of strain. Therefore, the pressing force on the operation surface of the operation input member can be detected by detecting the charge amount (power generation amount) generated by the pressure sensor (piezoelectric film).

  Further, by using the amount of electric charge (power generation amount) generated by two pressure sensors (piezoelectric films) mounted on both sides of the operation input member across the first straight line, it is orthogonal to the first straight line. It is possible to detect the pressing position in the direction to perform. That is, the pressed position can be detected by one-dimensional coordinates in the direction orthogonal to the first straight line on the operation surface.

  In addition, if a configuration in which additional pressure sensors are mounted on both sides of the operation input member across the second straight line orthogonal to the first straight line, the pressed position is detected by two-dimensional coordinates on the operation surface. can do. The two-dimensional coordinates are a coordinate system having the first straight line and the second straight line as axes.

  In addition, if the pressure sensor has a shape that is longer than the size of the operation screen and extends in the longitudinal direction, it is possible to detect the pressure on most of the operation screen. On the other hand, when the press sensor extends in the longitudinal direction with a length less than the size of the operation screen, the area where the press sensor cannot detect the press does not overlap the area where the press target is displayed on the operation screen. If the pressure sensor is arranged so as to overlap the area where the object is not displayed, it is possible to detect the pressure in at least the most area where the object to be pressed is displayed on the operation screen.

  Moreover, the input operation terminal which can detect a pressing force and a press position can be comprised by using the electric power generation amount of a press sensor as an input, and providing the calculating part which performs a predetermined calculation process.

  Further, when the operation input member has a rectangular operation surface, it is preferable that a pressure sensor is mounted along the outer periphery of the main surface of the operation input member. If it does in this way, distortion of the member for operation input generated by press of an operation surface can be efficiently transmitted to a press sensor (piezoelectric film) (distortion of a piezoelectric film can be enlarged).

  The press sensor is mounted on the other main surface facing the operation surface of the operation input member.

  The piezoelectric film may be composed of polylactic acid or the like stretched in a uniaxial direction. In this case, it is preferable that the extending direction of the piezoelectric film has an acute angle of about 45 ° with the first straight line.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a reduction in the visibility of the image displayed on the display surface of the display and to detect the pressing force in addition to the pressing position on the operation surface.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of an input operation terminal provided with a touch panel. It is the schematic which shows the external appearance of an input operation terminal provided with a touch panel. It is a schematic plan view showing a touch panel. 4A is a cross-sectional view in the AA direction shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view in the BB direction shown in FIG. FIG. 5A is a side view of the pressure sensor, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of the pressure sensor. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a measurement procedure according to a pressing position in the Y-axis direction, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a measurement result. 7A and 7B are schematic plan views showing a touch panel according to another example. 8A and 8B are schematic plan views showing a touch panel according to another example.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of an input operation terminal including a touch panel according to this example. The input operation terminal 1 according to this example includes a control unit 2, a display unit 3, and a sensor unit 4. The control unit 2 controls the operation of each unit of the input operation terminal 1 main body. Moreover, the control part 2 has the structure corresponded to the calculating part said by this invention. The display unit 3 includes a display 31 and a display control unit 32. In the display unit 3, the display control unit 32 controls screen display on the display device 31 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 2. The display 31 is preferably a thin display using liquid crystal, organic EL (Electro Luminescence) or the like from the viewpoint of miniaturization of the input operation terminal 1 main body. The sensor unit 4 includes pressure sensors 41 to 44. Details of the pressure sensors 41 to 44 will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of the input operation terminal according to this example. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a touch panel used in the input operation terminal according to this example. 4A is a cross-sectional view in the AA direction shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view in the BB direction shown in FIG. The housing 10 of the input operation terminal 1 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIG. The housing 10 has a shape having a rectangular opening on the upper surface in FIG. A control board 20 is attached in the housing 10. On the control board 20, a circuit related to the control unit 2 and a circuit related to the display control unit 32 are formed.

  A display 31 is attached in the housing 10. The display 31 displays an operation screen 49 that accepts a touch operation or a press operation on the display surface. The display 31 is located between the control board 20 and the opening surface on the top surface of the housing 10. The display surface of the display 31 faces the opening surface on the upper surface of the housing 10. The display surface of the display device 31 and the operation screen 49 are approximately the same size as the opening surface of the upper surface of the housing 10 (the vertical and horizontal lengths are approximately the same). The display 31 is attached to the housing 10 so that the center of the display surface coincides with the center of the opening surface on the top surface of the housing 10.

  A touch panel 40 shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the opening surface of the upper surface of the housing 10 so as to close the opening surface. The touch panel 40 constitutes the sensor unit 4 described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the touch panel 40 includes a plate member 45 and four pressure sensors 41 to 44. The plate member 45 is attached with its main surface facing the opening surface of the upper surface of the housing 10. In FIG. 3, a rectangular area indicated by a broken line is an opening surface on the upper surface of the housing 10. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the main surface of the plate member 45 is larger than the opening surface of the top surface of the housing 10 (longitudinal and lateral lengths are long). Further, the shape of the main surface of the plate member 45 is rectangular as shown in FIG. The touch panel 40 is attached to the housing 10 such that the center of the main surface of the plate member 45 is aligned with the center of the opening surface of the upper surface of the housing 10. The touch panel 40 is located inside the housing 10 and attached with an adhesive. The adhesive is applied to a location where the touch panel 40 and the housing 10 are in contact with each other outside the opening surface on the upper surface of the housing 10. Therefore, one main surface of the plate member 45 is exposed to the outside through the opening surface of the upper surface of the housing 10.

  The plate member 45 is made of a material having good permeability and a certain degree of rigidity. The plate member 45 is formed of, for example, a flat plate of glass or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Therefore, the operator can see the display surface of the display 31 through the plate member 45 of the touch panel 40 that closes the opening surface of the upper surface of the housing 10. Therefore, when the display 31 displays an operation screen 49 that accepts a touch operation or a press operation on the display surface, the operator views the operation screen 49 through the operation surface of the touch panel 40 and touches the touch panel 40 with a touch operation or a press. Can be operated. Here, the plate member 45 corresponds to the operation input member referred to in the present invention. Further, the plate member 45 has a surface (one main surface of the plate member 45) exposed to the outside through the opening surface of the upper surface of the housing 10 corresponding to the operation surface referred to in the present invention.

  Further, the touch panel 40 has four pressure sensors 41 to 44 mounted on the other main surface facing the operation surface of the plate member 45. The four pressure sensors 41 to 44 are attached along each side of the plate member 45. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the four pressure sensors 41 to 44 are along the outside of the position facing the opening surface of the housing 10 and the display surface of the display 31, that is, along the outside of the operation screen 49. It is installed. Therefore, the press sensors 41 to 44 do not enter the visual field of the operator who views the display surface of the display 31 through the plate member 45. That is, the press sensors 41 to 44 do not reduce the visibility of the image displayed on the display surface of the display 31. Further, the X axis and the Y axis shown in FIG. 3 are axes orthogonal to each other on the operation surface of the plate member 45, one of which corresponds to the first straight line referred to in the present invention, and the other corresponds to the second straight line referred to in the present invention. Corresponds to the straight line. In this example, the position of the operation surface of the plate member 45 is represented by an XY coordinate system (two-dimensional coordinate system) with the center of the operation surface as the origin.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the press sensors 41 and 42 are mounted symmetrically about the X axis. Similarly, the pressure sensors 43 and 44 are mounted symmetrically with respect to the Y axis. The pressure sensors 41 and 42 are a pair of sensors for detecting the pressing position of the operation surface of the plate member 45 in the Y-axis direction, and the pressure sensors 43 and 44 are the pressure of the operation surface of the plate member 45 in the X-axis direction. It is a pair of sensors for detecting a position.

  More specifically, here, the pressure sensor 41 and the pressure sensor 42 are arranged to face each other in the Y-axis direction with the operation screen 49 interposed therebetween. The pressure sensor 41 and the pressure sensor 42 each have a strip shape extending in the X-axis direction as the longitudinal direction, and the dimension in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is the same as the dimension of the operation screen 49 in the same direction (or Larger dimensions). Further, the pressure sensor 43 and the pressure sensor 44 are disposed so as to face each other in the X-axis direction with the operation screen 49 interposed therebetween. The pressure sensor 43 and the pressure sensor 44 each have a strip shape extending in the Y-axis direction as the longitudinal direction, and the dimension in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) is the same as the dimension of the operation screen 49 in the same direction (or Larger dimensions).

  Note that the pressure sensors 41 and 42 and the pressure sensors 43 and 44 may not be provided symmetrically to each other. Specifically, the press sensors 41 and 42 and the press sensors 43 and 44 may be displaced in the longitudinal direction, or may have different longitudinal dimensions. However, it is preferable that the pressure sensors 41 to 44 have the same configuration in a side view as shown below. Hereinafter, the pressure sensors 41 to 44 are collectively referred to as a pressure sensor 400.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the pressure sensor. FIG. 5A is a side view, and FIG. 5B is a plan view. The pressure sensor 400 has a configuration in which a detection electrode substrate 401, a double-sided adhesive tape 402, a piezoelectric film 403, a double-sided adhesive tape 404, a detection electrode substrate 405, and a double-sided adhesive tape 406 are laminated in this order.

  The detection electrode substrate 401 and the detection electrode substrate 405 are configured to have at least a pair of signal electrodes and a ground electrode as detection electrodes. The detection electrode substrate 401 and the detection electrode substrate 405 are configured by forming an electrode film to be a detection electrode on an insulating substrate made of polyimide, PET, or glass epoxy resin, or a single conductive tape to be a detection electrode. Or can be configured as Specifically, when the detection electrode substrate 401 and the detection electrode substrate 405 are configured to include an insulating substrate, a ground surface is formed on the main surface of the insulating substrate constituting the detection electrode substrate 401 on the piezoelectric film 403 side. An electrode may be provided, and a signal electrode may be provided on the main surface of the insulating substrate constituting the detection electrode substrate 405 on the piezoelectric film 403 side. Conversely, a signal electrode is provided on the main surface of the insulating substrate constituting the detection electrode substrate 401 on the piezoelectric film 403 side, and a ground electrode is provided on the main surface of the insulating substrate constituting the detection electrode substrate 405 on the piezoelectric film 403 side. You may comprise so that an electrode may be provided. In addition, a ground electrode is provided on the main surface of the insulating substrate constituting the detection electrode substrate 401 on the piezoelectric film 403 side, and the main surface of the insulating substrate constituting the detection electrode substrate 405 on the piezoelectric film 403 side. It is also possible to improve the noise resistance by providing a signal electrode and providing a ground electrode on the other main surface of the insulating substrate on which the signal electrode is provided. The piezoelectric film 403 is made of polylactic acid (PLA), more specifically, L-type polylactic acid (PLLA) or D-type polylactic acid (PDLA). Hereinafter, the case where the piezoelectric film 403 is made of PLLA will be described as a representative, but the same applies to the case where the piezoelectric film 403 is made of PDLA. The piezoelectric film 403 is referred to as the length (the length in the left-right direction (hereinafter referred to as the longitudinal direction) in FIG. 5) LLp and the width (the vertical direction in FIG. 5B (hereinafter referred to as the short direction). ) Length)) It consists of a long flat membrane with a short LSp. The orientation direction of the molecules of the piezoelectric film 403 is 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the piezoelectric film 403. In other words, the uniaxial stretching direction 500 of the piezoelectric film 403 shown in FIG. 5B forms approximately 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the piezoelectric film 403. Here, the uniaxial stretching direction 500 of the piezoelectric film 403 is most preferably 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the piezoelectric film 403, but practically within a range of 45 ± 10 °. Can be used without problems.

  Here, the characteristics of PLLA forming the piezoelectric film 403 will be described.

PLLA consists of a chiral polymer. PLLA has a helical structure in the main chain. In PLLA, molecules are oriented in a uniaxially stretched direction, and have piezoelectricity due to the orientation of the molecules. The uniaxially stretched PLA generates electric charges due to distortion in the piezoelectric film 403. Here, the distortion generated in the piezoelectric film 403 means that the piezoelectric film 403 extends in a predetermined direction. At this time, the generated charge amount is determined by the strain amount of the piezoelectric film 403. The piezoelectric constant of uniaxially stretched PLLA belongs to a very high class among polymers. For example, the piezoelectric strain constant _{d 14} of the PLLA, stretching conditions, heat treatment conditions, high as 10~20pC / N can be obtained by arranging the conditions blending such additives.

  The stretching ratio of the piezoelectric film 403 is preferably about 3 to 8 times. By performing a heat treatment after stretching, crystallization of the extended chain crystal of polylactic acid is promoted and the piezoelectric constant is improved. In the case of biaxial stretching, the same effect as that of uniaxial stretching can be obtained by varying the stretching ratio of each axis. For example, when a certain direction is taken as an X-axis, 8 times in that direction, and 2 times in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to that axis, the piezoelectric constant is about 4 times in the X-axis direction, Almost the same effect can be obtained. A film that is simply uniaxially stretched easily tears along the direction of the stretch axis, and thus the strength can be increased somewhat by performing biaxial stretching as described above.

  In addition, PLLA generates piezoelectricity by molecular orientation processing such as stretching, and therefore, it is not necessary to perform poling processing unlike other polymers such as PVDF and piezoelectric ceramics. That is, the piezoelectricity of PLLA that does not belong to ferroelectrics is not generated by the polarization of ions like ferroelectrics such as PVDF and PZT, but is derived from a helical structure that is a characteristic structure of molecules. is there. For this reason, the pyroelectricity generated in other ferroelectric piezoelectric materials does not occur in PLLA. Further, PVDF or the like shows a change in piezoelectric constant over time, and in some cases, the piezoelectric constant may be significantly reduced, but the piezoelectric constant of PLLA is extremely stable over time. Therefore, the output charge amount is not affected by the surrounding environment.

  The detection electrode substrate 401 is formed on substantially the entire surface of one flat plate surface (one main surface) of the piezoelectric film 403. The detection electrode substrate 405 is formed on substantially the entire surface of the other flat plate surface (the other main surface) of the piezoelectric film 403. An electronic component 405 a is mounted on the detection electrode substrate 405. The electronic component 405a constitutes a circuit that detects and outputs a potential difference between a pair of signal electrodes and a ground electrode provided on the detection electrode substrate 401 and the detection electrode substrate 405.

  The double-sided adhesive tape 402 is an adhesive member that is positioned between the detection electrode substrate 401 and the piezoelectric film 403 and adheres the detection electrode substrate 401 and the piezoelectric film 403. The double-sided adhesive tape 404 is an adhesive member that is positioned between the detection electrode substrate 405 and the piezoelectric film 403 and adheres the detection electrode substrate 405 and the piezoelectric film 403. Further, the double-sided adhesive tape 406 is an adhesive member that adheres the pressure sensor 400 to the plate member 45. The double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes 402, 404, and 406 may be made of a pressure-sensitive adhesive that bonds two adjacent layers.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the press sensors 41 to 44 are located outside the opening surface of the top surface of the housing 10, so that even if the permeability is low, it is displayed on the display surface of the display 31. The visibility of the image is not reduced. Therefore, the detection electrode substrates 401 and 405 are made of organic electrodes mainly composed of polythiophene or polyaniline, inorganic electrodes such as ITO, ZnO, silver nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and graphene in order to form a highly transmissive conductor pattern. Since it does not have to be used, it can be made inexpensive.

  When the operator presses an arbitrary point on the operation screen 49 on the operation surface of the plate member 45, the plate member 45 is bent, and this bending is transmitted to the press sensors 41 to 44, and the piezoelectric of each of the press sensors 41 to 44 is deformed. The conductive film 403 extends in the longitudinal direction and the short direction. As a result, the piezoelectric film 403 is distorted in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, and charges corresponding to the distortion are generated. This electric charge is detected by the detection electrode substrates 401 and 405, and a voltage corresponding to the amount of electric charge detected by the electronic component 405a is output to the outside. At this time, the charge amount is determined by the strain amount of the piezoelectric film 403 as described above. Further, the amount of strain of the piezoelectric film 403 is determined by the amount of bending of the plate member 45 transmitted through the plate member 45, and the amount of bending is determined by the pressing force on the operation surface. Therefore, by measuring the voltage value obtained from the pressure sensors 41 to 44, it is possible to detect the pressing force with respect to pressing on almost all points on the operation screen 49 on the operation surface of the plate member 45.

For example, the pressing force F is calculated by the product of the sum S (= V1 + V2 + V3 + V4) of the voltage values obtained from the pressing sensors 41 to 44 and a predetermined proportionality constant γ. Pressing force F = γ × S
It can be calculated by This calculation is performed by the control unit 2.

  Further, by using the ratio of the voltage values obtained from the press sensors 41 and 42, the press position in the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 3 can be detected. Further, by using the ratio of the voltage values obtained from the pressing sensors 43 and 44, the pressing position in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 3 can be detected.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a measurement result according to the pressing position in the Y-axis direction. In FIG. 6, the center of the operation surface of the plate member 45 is the origin O, the pressure sensor 41 side is positive, and the pressure sensor 42 side is negative. The horizontal axis in FIG. 6B is the Y coordinate of the pressed position shown in FIG. The vertical axis of FIG. 6 (B), the value of Log ₁₀ (V1 / V2). However, V1 is the output voltage of the press sensor 41, and V2 is the output voltage of the press sensor 42. FIG. 6B shows the three lines (lines A, B, and C) parallel to the Y axis set on the operation surface of the plate member 45 shown in FIG. and the Y coordinate of the pressed position, a measured result indicating a relationship between the value of Log ₁₀ (V1 / V2).

As is clear from FIG. 6B, when the Y coordinate of the pressed position is within the range of −40 mm to +40 mm in all of the lines A, B, and C, the value of Log ₁₀ (V1 / V2) is substantially linear. Can be confirmed. Therefore, the Y coordinate of the pressing position can be detected using the ratio (V1 / V2) of the output voltages of the pressing sensors 41 and 42. Also, from this, the X coordinate of the pressing position can be detected using the ratio (V4 / V3) of the pressing sensors 43 and 44. However, V3 is an output voltage of the press sensor 43, and V4 is an output voltage of the press sensor 44. The center of the operation surface of the plate member 45 is the origin O, the pressure sensor 44 side is positive, and the pressure sensor 43 side is negative.

  Specifically, the X and Y coordinates indicating the pressed position on the operation surface of the plate member 45 can be calculated by the following calculation.

Y coordinate of pressed position = α x Log ₁₀ (V1 / V2)
X coordinate of pressed position = β × Log ₁₀ (V4 / V3)
α and β are predetermined constants. This calculation is performed by the control unit 2.

  Thus, the input operation terminal 1 according to this example can suppress a decrease in the visibility of the image displayed on the display surface of the display device 31. The input operation terminal 1 can detect a pressing force in addition to the pressing position on the operation surface of the plate member 45.

  In addition, when the input operation terminal 1 detects the pressing position of the plate member 45 of the touch panel 40 only in one of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, two pressing sensors corresponding to the axial direction for detecting the pressing position. May be attached to the plate member 45. In other words, the two pressing sensors corresponding to the axial direction in which the pressing position is not detected need not be attached to the plate member 45.

  In the touch panel 40, the plate member 45 has a rectangular shape in the above example, but may have a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or the like. For example, when the plate member 45 is circular, the pressure sensors 41 to 44 may be attached to the plate member 45 as shown in FIG. When the plate member 45 has an elliptical shape, the pressure sensors 41 to 44 may be attached to the plate member 45 as shown in FIG. In FIGS. 7A and 7B. A region indicated by a broken line is an opening surface of the upper surface of the housing 10 of the input operation terminal 1. That is, the shape of the opening surface on the upper surface of the housing 10 may be matched with the shape of the plate member 45 of the touch panel 40. In this case, the screen of the display 31 may have a rectangular shape as in the above-described example, or may have a circular shape or an oval shape that matches the shape of the plate member 45 of the touch panel 40.

  In the above example, the pressure sensors 41 to 44 are mounted on the main surface of the touch panel 40 opposite to the operation surface of the plate member 45, but may be mounted on the operation surface of the plate member 45 of the touch panel 40.

  In the above example, the touch panel 40 is located inside the housing 10, but may be attached to the upper surface of the housing 10.

  Moreover, you may utilize the input operation terminal concerning said example for apparatuses, such as a tablet-type terminal and a smart phone. In this case, the control unit 2 executes processing according to the detected pressing position of the operation surface of the plate member 45.

  Further, in the above example, the press sensors 41 to 44 have a strip shape extending in the longitudinal direction beyond the size of the operation screen 49 in the same direction, but the longitudinal dimensions of the press sensors 41 to 44 are as follows. It may be less than the size of the operation screen 49 in the same direction. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example in which the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the press sensor is less than the dimension of the operation screen in the same direction.

  A touch panel 40P illustrated in FIG. 8 includes press sensors 41P to 44P. The pressure sensor 41P and the pressure sensor 42P are arranged to face each other in the Y-axis direction with the operation screen 49 interposed therebetween. The pressure sensor 41P and the pressure sensor 42P each have a strip shape extending in the X-axis direction as the longitudinal direction, and the dimension in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is less than the dimension of the operation screen 49 in the same direction. Further, the pressure sensor 43P and the pressure sensor 44P are arranged to face each other in the X-axis direction with the operation screen 49 interposed therebetween. Each of the press sensor 43P and the press sensor 44P has a strip shape extending in the Y-axis direction as a longitudinal direction, and the dimension in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) is less than the dimension of the operation screen 49 in the same direction.

  When the pressure sensors 41P to 44P are thus made smaller than the size of the operation screen 49, as shown in FIG. 8A, the longitudinal ends of the pressure sensors 41P to 44P are adjacent to each other. The area outside the connecting line segment tends to be a non-pressing area 93 that cannot be normally detected even if pressed. Specifically, when the pressure non-detection region 93 is pressed, charges having the opposite polarity to normal are generated in some of the pressure sensors 41P to 44P, and the output is inverted. For this reason, when the press non-detection area 93 is pressed, accurate press detection becomes difficult.

  In view of this, in the touch panel 40P, the size and arrangement of the press non-detection region 93 are adjusted to the size and arrangement that have little influence on the operation of the operation screen 49 by adjusting the longitudinal dimensions and arrangement of the press sensors 41P to 44P. It is adjusted.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8B, the standard operation screen 49 includes a first image area 91 in which symbols such as icons and widgets to be touched and pressed, and a touch. And a second image region 92 on which symbols indicating state information such as a status bar that is not an operation or pressing operation target are displayed. Therefore, if the above-described press non-detection area 93 overlaps the first image area 91 where icons and widgets are displayed, a part of the icons and widgets cannot be pressed, and an operation for the operator is performed. The problem is reduced. Therefore, in the touch panel 40P, the press non-detection area 93 is not overlapped with the first image area 91 but only in the second image area 92 by adjusting the longitudinal dimension and arrangement of the press sensors 41P to 44P. It is trying to overlap. As a result, even if the non-pressing detection area 93 overlaps the second image area 92 on which a status bar or the like is displayed, these are not objects to be pressed, so that the operator can experience a decrease in operability or uncertainties. The touch panel 40P can be pressed without feeling an increase in performance.

  Thus, in the touch panel of the present invention, it is preferable to adjust the size and arrangement in the longitudinal direction of each press sensor so as to make the position and size of the press non-detection region appropriate. However, here, the case where the second image area 92 on which a status bar or the like is displayed is provided only on one side of the first image area 91 on which an icon or the like is provided as an operation screen (user interface) is illustrated. By adjusting the operation screen side, such as adopting an operation screen in which the second image region 92 is provided on both sides of the first image region 91, the second screen region in which no pressing operation target is provided, You may make it overlap on a press non-detection area | region.

  In the case of a touch panel mounted on a relatively small device having a screen size of about 4 to 7 inches such as a smartphone, if the longitudinal dimension of the pressure sensor is about 85% of the operation screen, the touch panel The size and arrangement of the non-detection area is limited to an area smaller than the size of the finger near the four corners of the operation screen. Therefore, in such a case, there is no problem even if there is a press non-detection area on the operation screen.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input operation terminal 2 ... Control part 3 ... Display part 4 ... Sensor part 10 ... Case 20 ... Control board 31 ... Display device 32 ... Display control part 40 ... Touch panel 41-44, 400 ... Press sensor 45 ... Plate member 401 405 ... Electrode substrate for detection 402, 404, 406 ... Double-sided adhesive tape 403 ... Piezoelectric film 405a ... Electronic component

Claims (10)

One main surface is an operation surface, and an operation input member that is distorted by pressing of the operation surface;
A pressure sensor and a detection sensor laminated on both main surface sides of the piezoelectric film so as to sandwich the piezoelectric film are provided,
The touch sensor is a touch panel mounted on both sides of the operation input member across a first straight line that divides the operation surface into two. One main surface is an operation surface, and an operation input member that is distorted by pressing of the operation surface;
A pressure sensor and a detection sensor laminated on both main surface sides of the piezoelectric film so as to sandwich the piezoelectric film are provided,
The pressure sensor is mounted on both sides of the operation input member across a first straight line that divides the operation surface into two, and sandwiches a second straight line that is orthogonal to the first straight line A touch panel mounted on both sides of the operation input member. A touch panel for displaying an operation screen through the operation surface,
The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the press sensor extends in a longitudinal direction with a length equal to or longer than a dimension of the operation screen. A touch panel for displaying an operation screen through the operation surface,
The pressure sensor extends in the longitudinal direction with a length less than the dimension of the operation screen,
The operation screen includes a first screen area in which a pressing object is displayed and a second screen area in which the pressing object is not displayed,
The pressure sensor has a pressure non-detection region that does not detect pressure on the operation surface,
3. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the non-pressing detection areas overlaps the second screen area without overlapping the first screen area. The operation input member has a rectangular operation surface.
The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the press sensor is mounted along an outer periphery of a main surface of the operation input member.   The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the press sensor is attached to the other main surface of the operation input member that faces the operation surface.   The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric film is polylactic acid stretched in a uniaxial direction.   The touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the piezoelectric film has an acute angle of approximately 45 ° formed between an extending direction of the piezoelectric film and the first straight line. A touch panel according to claim 1;
The operation surface of the operation input member in a direction orthogonal to the first straight line based on the amount of power generated by two pressure sensors mounted on both sides of the operation input member across the first straight line An input operation terminal comprising: a calculation unit that calculates the pressed position of The touch panel according to claim 2;
The operation of the operation input member in a direction orthogonal to the first straight line based on the power generation amount of the two pressure sensors mounted on both sides of the operation input member across the first straight line In addition to calculating the pressing position of the surface, in the direction orthogonal to the second straight line based on the power generation amount of the two pressure sensors mounted on both sides of the operation input member across the second straight line An input operation terminal comprising: a calculation unit that calculates a pressed position of the operation surface of the operation input member.

Images