KR101141655B1 - A signal input device and Electronic equipment using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a signal input device capable of inputting various input signals and an electronic device using the same. The present invention is a PCB (PCB) for implementing various functions, a plurality of LEDs (LED) electrically connected to the PCB, and individually installed, installed on top of the LED, to check the light emitted from the LED A signal input device including a display window, and an intermediate member configured to transmit an input signal input to the display window by contact with an external device to the PCB, and simultaneously emit light emitted from the LED to a portion of the display window. To provide.

According to the present invention, by inputting an electrical signal based on the capacitance, the thickness of the electronic device becomes thin, and there is an effect that the electrical signal can be input in various forms.

Description

A signal input device and Electronic equipment using the same

1 is a view showing the configuration of a portable terminal according to the prior art.

2 is a perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of a signal input device according to the present invention;

3 is a cross-sectional view of II of FIG. 2;

4A to 4E are state diagrams illustrating an input form of an input signal.

5 is a perspective view schematically showing another embodiment of a signal input device according to the present invention;

Figure 6a is a view showing an embodiment of the arrangement of the LED provided in the signal input device according to the present invention.

Figure 6b is a view showing another embodiment of the arrangement of the LED provided in the signal input device according to the present invention.

7 is a view showing another embodiment of a signal input device according to the present invention and an electronic device using the same.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

100: PCB 200: intermediate member

210: LED receiver 300: LED

400: display window 410: LED home

700: display device

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to a signal input device capable of inputting various input signals and an electronic device using the same.

In general, electronic devices include a variety of equipment including display devices, communication devices, and the like, which perform various functions based on electrical signals. In order to perform the functions, an electrical signal must be applied to the electronic device from the outside through a signal input device, and a control device provided inside the electronic device controls the electronic device based on the electrical signal.

Hereinafter, a structure for inputting an electrical signal in a portable terminal will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

Conventional portable terminals have a terminal body 20, a terminal folder 10 for opening and closing the terminal body 20, and a hinge portion 30 to rotate the terminal folder 10 with respect to the terminal body 20. And a battery 50 for supplying power.

The terminal folder 10 includes a speaker 11 for receiving sound information, a display unit 13 for displaying various kinds of information, and a folder case 15 for forming an appearance of the terminal folder.

The terminal body 20 includes a main board 29 for performing various functions, a keypad 25 having a button 25a for inputting a command, and a main body case 21 for forming an external appearance of the terminal body. 23 and an adhesive sheet 27 installed between the keypad 25 and the main board 29.

The main board 29 includes various elements 29c for performing a function of a terminal, an electrode 29b for operating the elements, and a main frame 29a on which the elements and electrodes are installed. .

The adhesive sheet 27 includes a dome switch 27b corresponding to the electrode, an insertion hole 27c corresponding to the elements, and a sheet frame 27a forming a body of the adhesive sheet 27. do.

The dome switch 27b has a hemispherical shape and protrudes upward from the seat frame 27a. Here, when the user presses the button 25a, the button 25a presses the dome switch 27b, and the dome switch 27b is in contact with the electrode 29b to perform an input of a main board. Signal is generated.

When the corresponding input signal is input, the controller (not shown) of the portable terminal interprets the control command based on the input signal. Thereafter, the controller reads the driving program corresponding to the control command using the interpreted control command to execute the necessary function.

However, the above-described prior art has the following problems.

First, in a conventional portable terminal, a command is input using a dome switch of a keypad. Since input devices including the dome switch have a predetermined thickness, there is a problem in that the overall thickness of the portable terminal cannot be made thin.

Second, in the conventional electronic device, the light emitted from the LED is irradiated onto the upper front surface of the keypad, thereby increasing the capacity of the current and the size of the LED allowed for the LED and increasing the power consumption of the LED.

Third, in the conventional electronic device, the user inputs a command by pressing a button according to a predetermined pattern, which is inconvenient that the user cannot freely input the form.

In order to solve the above problems of the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a signal input device and an electronic device using the same that can reduce the overall thickness of the system to which the input signal is input.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a signal input device capable of irradiating LED light only to a specific region desired by a user, and an electronic device using the same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a signal input device capable of inputting an electrical signal in various formats and an electronic device using the same.

In order to achieve the object as described above, the present invention is a PCB (PCB) for implementing a variety of functions, electrically connected to the PCB, a plurality of LEDs that are individually operated, is installed on top of the LED A display window for checking the light emitted from the LED, and an input signal input to the display window by contact with the outside to the PC, and at the same time, the light emitted from the LED is irradiated to a part of the display window. To provide a signal input device including an intermediate member and a position detecting sensor for detecting a contact position in contact with the display window from the outside.

The input signal may be static electricity generated by contact with a human body.

The signal input device may further include a control device for controlling the operation of the LED by recognizing the capacitance of the static electricity according to the position of the display window in contact with the human body.

The intermediate member may be installed between the display window and the PCB, and may be installed to surround at least a portion of the side surface of the LED.

The intermediate member has a number corresponding to the LED, it is preferably electrically separated from each other.

The intermediate member may include an LED receiving portion in which at least a portion of the LED is accommodated.

The intermediate member may include a plate having an LED hole providing a space in which the LED is accommodated, and a signal transmitting member for transferring static electricity generated from the display window to the PCB.

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The plurality of LEDs may be electrically separated from each other, and the plurality of LEDs may be disposed in a predetermined geometric shape under the display window.

In addition, the present invention is a PCB (PCB) for implementing a variety of functions, a plurality of LEDs (LED) electrically connected and individually operated with the PCB, installed on top of the LED to check the light emitted from the LED A signal input device including a display window, and an intermediate member configured to transmit an input signal input to the display window by contact with an external device to the PCB, and simultaneously emit light emitted from the LED to a portion of the display window. And a display device displaying information corresponding to an input signal input to the signal input device.

The LED and the intermediate member provided in the signal input device may be installed at the edge of the display device.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a signal input device and an electronic device using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 and 3, the signal input device according to the present invention includes a PCB 100 (PCB; Printed Circuit Board) for implementing various functions, and an LED 300 electrically connected to the PCB 100 ( Light Emitting Diode (LED), a display window 400 for checking light emitted from the LED 300, and an intermediate member 200 installed between the PCB 100 and the display window 400.

In addition, the signal input device further includes a control device (not shown) for controlling the operation of the LED 300 by recognizing the amount of static electricity generated by the contact according to the position of the display window 400 in contact with the outside. do.

Here, the input signal recognized by the control device by contacting the display window with the outside may be generated by static electricity due to contact with a person, but is generated by contact with a signal generating member capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal. May be Of course, the signal generating member may be any device capable of generating an electrical signal.

The PC 100 is provided with elements for controlling various functions of the signal input device. In addition, the PCB 100 may be installed in a lower panel (not shown) forming an outer shape of the signal input device. The light emitting diodes of the devices, that is, the LED 300 corresponds to an object which emits light when an electric signal is applied.

The LED 300 is controlled by a control device provided in the PCB 100 or electrically connected to the PCB 100. In addition, the LED 300 is composed of a plurality of LEDs that are operated separately, the plurality of LEDs 300 are installed on the upper portion of the PCB 100 at regular intervals.

The display window 400 forms an appearance of the signal input device and is positioned above the LED 300. An LED groove 410 is provided at a portion of the lower portion of the display window 400 corresponding to the position of the LED. The LED groove 410 serves to keep the LED 300, which may protrude to the upper portion of the intermediate member, without being in contact with the display window 400.

The display window 400 may be made of a transparent material so that the light emitted from the LED 300 is exposed to the outside. Of course, the display window 400 may be made of a transparent material only in an area to which light is irradiated.

Specifically, various markings including letters, pictures, symbols, etc., which are recognized by a user, are imprinted on the outer surface or the inner surface of the display window 400, and the light generated from the LED 300 is located on the markings. It can only be investigated by area. It is the role of the intermediate member 200 to be described later to allow the light of the LED 300 to be irradiated only to a specific region of the display window 400.

The intermediate member 200 is positioned between the display window 400 and the PCB 100 like the LED 300. The intermediate member 200 transmits the static electricity generated in the display window 400 to the PCB 100 by contact with the outside, and simultaneously emits light to the display window 400 only near a region where the LED 300 emits light. It serves to ensure that this is investigated.

The intermediate member 200 is installed to surround the side of the LED 300 in order to irradiate light to a specific area of the display window. Therefore, the light generated from the LED is irradiated only to the display window located above the LED 300.

For example, when light is irradiated only to the first region 421 where the mark "menu" is located, only the LED positioned below the first region 421 emits light, and the mark where the mark "Send" is located. When light is irradiated only to the second region 423, only the LED positioned below the second region 423 emits light. The light of the LED 300 is irradiated. The same applies to the case of the third region 425 having the mark "◁" for the left movement and the fourth region 427 with the mark "OK" for the confirmation.

 In addition, the intermediate member 200 has a number corresponding to the LED 300, and is electrically separated from each other. This is to prevent crosstalk of the electrostatic capacitance transmitted from the display window 400 to the PCB 100 through the intermediate member 200.

In addition, the intermediate member 200 may include an LED accommodating part 210 in which at least a portion of the LED is accommodated. The LED receiving portion 210 may be in the form of a hole formed in the center of the intermediate member, it may be a hole of a burst form in one side direction of the intermediate member 200.

In addition, the shape of the intermediate member 200 is not limited to a specific shape. It has a thin plate shape, and the shape of the plate may have any shape such as a polygon including a circle. In addition, the intermediate member 200 is preferably formed thinner than the installation height of the LED 300, which is to thin the overall thickness of the signal input device.

In addition, the intermediate member 200 is formed of a material capable of transmitting an electrical signal, which is to transfer the static electricity generated by contact with the outside from the display window 400 to the PCB 100.

The control device includes a capacitance measuring unit (not shown) for measuring capacitance and a controller (not shown) for controlling the LED 300 based on the information measured by the capacitance measuring unit. Of course, the control device may have an amplifier for amplifying the current discharged from the display window.

The control method for controlling the corresponding LED 300 based on the capacitance may be implemented in various ways. For example, the control unit may operate the LED 300 by measuring the capacitance at a specific position when the contact is made twice in a specific position in the display window 400. In addition, when the contact time passes a predetermined reference time in consideration of the time of contact with the outside at a specific position of the display window 400, the LED 300 may be operated by measuring the capacitance at the corresponding position. .

In addition, the control device has previously stored information related to the operation of the LCD with respect to the contact position when a part of the object or person in contact with the display window is moved in contact with the display window.

4A to 4B, a state in which an input signal is applied using the signal input device according to the present invention will be described.

The LEDs 300 installed between the display window and the PCB are electrically separated from each other, and the same number of the intermediate members 200 surrounding at least a portion of the LEDs is paired with each of the LEDs 300. In the present embodiment, the LED 300 is installed in a 5 * 7 matrix, but may have an arbitrary matrix, that is, N * M matrix (N, M is an integer).

On the other hand, when a part of a human body, for example, a finger, touches the display window, the control device provided in the PCB obtains a predetermined electrical signal by measuring the capacitance at the contacted point, and corresponds to the electrical signal. LED 300 is to be activated.

4A illustrates the LED 300 that emits light when the finger touches the upper left side of the display window. Specifically, when the LED 300 has a matrix having a 5 * 7 matrix, the LEDs 311 positioned at 1 * 1 and the LEDs 312 positioned at 1 * 2 are emitted to emit light of the LEDs. Therefore, among the marks imprinted on the display window (see 400 of FIG. 2), the light of the LED 300 is irradiated only to the first region 421 where the mark “menu” is located.

In FIG. 4B, when the finger touches the lower left portion of the display window, light of the LED 300 is irradiated only to the second region 423 where the “Send” mark is located. Similarly, in FIG. 4C, when the finger touches the left center of the display window, the light of the LED 300 is irradiated only to the third region 425 having the mark "◁" which indicates the left movement. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4D, the light of the LED 300 is irradiated only to the fourth region 427 having the "OK" sign indicating confirmation when the finger touches the center portion of the display window.

Of course, a method of inputting a signal by a controller includes a two-touch method that recognizes when the display window touches a human finger twice or a time delay method that recognizes a signal based on a contact time. Can be.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4E, when the human finger slides in contact with the surface of the display window, the control device recognizes the contact start point and the contact end point of the finger and the display window and recognizes the direction of the contact so that the contact is made. Emits the LED associated with the location.

Of course, not only the LED in the area where the finger is moved in contact with the light is emitted. That is, the control device may emit light of the LED 300 positioned below the specific region away from the contact position of the display window based on information related to the contact between the finger and the display window. For example, when the finger is moved to the left while the upper left portion of the display window is in contact with the display window, the LED under the upper left portion of the display window is not activated, but the third area having the symbol "◁" in the display window (Fig. The LED under 425 of 2 may emit light.

5, another embodiment of a signal input device according to the present invention will be described.

The signal input device includes a PCB 100, an intermediate member 2000, an LED 300, and a display window 400 like the signal input device of the above-described embodiment. However, unlike the above-described embodiment, the intermediate member 2000 according to the present embodiment forms one plate rather than being separately separated.

In detail, the intermediate member 2000 may include a plate 2100 having an LED hole 2110 that provides a space in which the LED is accommodated, and transfer the static electricity generated from the display window 400 to the PCB 100. It includes a transmission member 2200 for.

The plate 2100 is made of a material capable of transmitting electrical signals, and the transmitting member 2200 is made of a material capable of transmitting electrical signals. That is, the plate 2100 serves to guide the light generated from the LED to a specific area of the display window 400, and the transfer member 2200 receives the static electricity generated by the user's contact with the display window 400. The display window 400 serves as a passage to transfer to the PCB (100).

The transfer member 2200 may be provided in the form of a lead wire attached to the inner surface of the LED hole 2110, or may be provided in the form of a conductor having a thin plate shape coupled to the inner surface of the LED hole 2110. Could be.

6A and 6B, another embodiment of a signal input device according to the present invention will be described.

The LEDs provided in the signal input device are provided between the display window and the PCB as in the above-described embodiment (see Fig. 2). However, the LED according to the present embodiment has a different arrangement from the above-described embodiment. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the LEDs 300 may be arranged in a row or crosswise as shown in FIG. 6B.

Specifically, the LEDs of FIG. 6A include seven LEDs, that is, a first LED 3311, a second LED 3312, a third LED 3333, a fourth LED 3314, a fifth LED 3315, and a sixth LED. The LEDs 3316 and the seventh LEDs 3317 are arranged horizontally in a row. In addition, near any of the LEDs, a position detecting sensor capable of detecting the position of the contact, that is, the first position detecting sensor 511, the second position detecting sensor 512, and the third position detecting sensor 513 It is provided. Of course, a position detection sensor may be provided for each LED.

Of course, the arrangement of the LED is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The arrangement of LEDs may have any geometric shape. For example, the array of LEDs may be arranged in a vertical line, and may have any shape such as a circle, an ellipse, a concentric circle, a polygon, and the like.

Meanwhile, the position detection sensors 511, 512, and 153 detect which position of the display window the user touches based on the static electricity generated when the user makes contact with the display window. Of course, the position detection sensors 511, 512, 513 may detect a contact position by detecting heat or pressure without using a capacitance.

In the present embodiment, the position detection sensor is the first position detection sensor 511 installed near the first LED 300, the second position detection sensor 512 installed near the fourth LED 300, the first 7 includes a third position sensor 513 installed near the LED (300). The position detection sensors are electrically connected to a control device (not shown), and the control device can control the entire LED based on the information of the position detection sensors.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, when the user slides the finger in contact with the surface of the display window on which the first LEDs 3311 to 533 3317 are positioned, that is, scrolls, the position detection is performed. The sensors detect the contact position where the user contacts the display window, and based on this, the control device includes a first LED 3311, a second LED 3312, a third LED 3313, a fourth LED 3314, and a third LED. 5 LED 3315 is to be emitted. Of course, even if the contact position is an area of the display window in which the first LED 5311 to the fifth LED 3315 are located, the control device may emit other LEDs.

In addition, the control device may not only control the operation of the LED, but also generate an electrical input signal based on the contact position of the user, and may control the function of the PCB based on the input signal. The function of the PCB may be displayed on a display device such as an LCD.

Referring to FIG. 6B, the LEDs according to the present exemplary embodiment are arranged in a cross shape, and a position detecting sensor is installed near some of the LEDs.

Specifically, the position detecting sensor is the upper position detecting sensor 521 installed near the upper end LED 3327, the left position detecting sensor 524 installed near the left end LED 3335 and the right end. The lower position installed near the right position detection sensor 525 installed near the LED 3333, the center position sensor 522 installed near the center LED 3334, and the lower end LED 3331. Position detection sensor 523 is included. Of course, as in the above-described embodiment, the position detecting sensors may be installed in each LED.

In addition, the position detection sensors are electrically connected to a control device provided in the signal input device, the control device controls the operation of the LED based on the information of the position detection sensors. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the user moves a finger from the display window area where the lower end LED 3331 is located to the display window area where the center LED 3334 is located, the lower position detection sensor ( 3321 and the central position sensor 3332 detects the contact position of the user. Then, the control device receives the information of the position detection sensors to generate an input signal corresponding to the information or to control the LED. That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, the control device emits the corresponding LED located along the moving direction of the user's finger.

Of course, if the user continuously moves the finger from the display window area where the lower end LED 3321 is located to the area where the left end LED 3335 is located, through the display window area where the central LED 3334 is located, The position sensors detect the contact position of the user. Then, the control device controls the LEDs of the specific area, that is, the area pre-stored in the control device so as to correspond to the information, based on the information of the position detection sensors.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a signal input device according to the present invention and an electronic device using the same will be described.

The electronic device includes a signal input device for inputting a signal and a display device 700 for displaying information according to an input signal input to the signal input device.

In detail, the electronic device includes a display device 700 for displaying information, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a first internal frame 810 on which the display device 700 is installed, and the display device. The PCB 100 is installed at the edge of the second, the second internal frame 820 for installing the PCB 100, the LED 300 is installed on the upper portion of the PCB 100, the intermediate member is accommodated ( 200, and a display window 400 to which the light of the LED is irradiated.

In addition, the edge of the display device is provided in the outer frame 600 which forms a part of the external shape of the electronic device. In addition, the outer frame 600 is installed to have a form surrounding the display window 400, the coupling member 900 for coupling the display window and the intermediate member between the display window 400 and the intermediate member 200. ) May be installed. The coupling member 900 may be an adhesive or a tape of a conductive material.

The PCB 100, the intermediate member 200, the LED 300, the display window 400, the control device (not shown) and the like are substantially the same as the above-described embodiments. Therefore, detailed descriptions related to the structure and operation of the signal input device will be omitted. However, the signal input device is installed in the shape of 'ㅁ' on the edge of the display device 700. In addition, the position measuring sensors 530 for detecting the contact position of the user and the display window in the vicinity of the LED may be installed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

Effects of the electronic device according to the present invention as described in detail above are as follows.

First, according to the present invention, the intermediate member connecting the input signal generated by the contact with the outside is installed to surround at least a part of the LED has the advantage that the thickness of the input device is reduced.

Secondly, according to the present invention, an input signal is obtained by contact with the outside, thereby providing an input signal in various input formats.

Third, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the power consumption can be reduced by only emitting a specific LED according to the result of contact with the outside.

Fourth, according to the present invention, a plurality of LEDs are individually controlled, and the user's recognition of the input signal is convenient by allowing the LED light to be irradiated only to a specific area of the display window.

Fifth, according to the present invention, by inputting the input signal based on the electrostatic capacitance by the user's contact there is an advantage that can input the input signal in a variety of formats.

Claims (11)

PCB for implementing various functions; A plurality of LEDs electrically connected to the PCB and individually operated; A display window installed at an upper portion of the LED and configured to check light emitted from the LED; An intermediate member configured to transmit an input signal input to the display window by contact with an external device to the PCB and to simultaneously emit light emitted from the LED to a portion of the display window; And Signal input device comprising a position sensor for detecting a contact position in contact with the display window from the outside. The method of claim 1, The input signal is a signal input device, characterized in that the static electricity generated by the contact with the human body. 3. The method of claim 2, And a controller configured to control the operation of the LED by recognizing the electrostatic capacity according to the position of the display window in contact with the human body. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The intermediate member is installed between the display window and the PCB, and at least a portion of the side of the LED signal input device, characterized in that. 5. The method of claim 4, The intermediate member has a number corresponding to the LED, the signal input device, characterized in that electrically separated from each other. The method of claim 5, The intermediate member is a signal input device including an LED receiving portion that is accommodated at least a portion of the LED. 5. The method of claim 4, The intermediate member may include a plate having an LED hole for providing a space in which the LED is accommodated, and a signal transmitting member for transferring static electricity generated from the display window to the PCB. delete The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The plurality of LEDs are electrically separated and the signal input device, characterized in that arranged in a predetermined geometric shape below the display window. A signal input device according to claim 4; And a display device displaying information corresponding to an input signal input to the signal input device. The method of claim 10, The LED and the intermediate member provided in the signal input device is installed on the edge of the display device.

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