KR20000032896A - Noncontact type key input sensing apparatus and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A noncontact type key input sensing apparatus is provided which senses and judges a key input intended to operate with a lighting by sensing the approach of a finger, and performs the function of the corresponding key. CONSTITUTION: A noncontact type key input sensing apparatus includes: an approach sensing part(202,203) sensing that a finger approaches to a key switch group; a lighting part(204) which executes a back lighting as to the whole key switch group to give the convenience to operate and also performs a single lighting to a specific key intended to operate; and a control part(201) which controls the approach and key lighting to light the whole key switch group first by controlling the lighting part when the approach of the finger is sensed by the approach sensing part, and then to perform the single lighting as to the corresponding key by judging the operation intension as to the specific key.

Description

Non-contact key input sensing device and method

The present invention detects and determines the human body, in particular the proximity of the finger in the device that detects the key input, such as electrical, electronic, communication devices, such as the function of the key to detect and determine the key input with the intention to operate the lighting and the corresponding key The present invention relates to a non-contact key input sensing device and a non-contact key input sensing method for performing a function of controlling the same.

The present invention can be used as an application field, for example, a television receiver, a video cassette tape recorder, an audio device, and the like, and the operation of the manual operation keyswitch group normally located on the front panel of the device can be performed only by the proximity of a finger. The present invention relates to a non-contact key input sensing device and a non-contact key input sensing method capable of detecting and determining, and illuminating a specific key having a corresponding key switch group and operation intention.

Conventionally, for example, in the case of a television receiver, not only a remote control key but also a key switch group that can be directly operated by a user is provided with function keys such as channel up / down, volume control, and power on / off on the front panel of the device. The case is customary.

Such a key switch device is composed of a Tact switch or a Touch switch.

In the case of the tact switch, the mechanical switch contact is operated by applying a physical force so that the corresponding key function is performed. Therefore, it is inconvenient to use the touch switch with sufficient pressure.

In the case of the touch switch, the key input is made only by light contact, which is more sensationally superior and convenient than the tact switch.

1 shows a circuit configuration of such a touch switch type key input device. The microcomputer 101 outputs the kisscan signal KEY OUT to the buffers Q1, R3, and R4, and the user touches the touch panel TS. Upon contact, a leak current component flows to the human body so that the leak current is detected by the sensing circuits Q1, R1, and R2, and the detected touch signal overlaps the buffer output to form a waveform shaping circuit 102. The noise component is removed and then input to the microcomputer 101 as a key input signal KEY IN, thereby recognizing a key input and performing a corresponding function operation.

However, in the case of such a touch key switch, a weak current flows from the device to the user, so when operating with wet hands, a lot of current flows, and according to the constitution, an electric shock (light electric shock, etc.) is felt. There was a problem of causing an unpleasant feeling or an exclusive psychology of key manipulation, and a touch sensitivity of the finger depending on the area of the finger.

In addition, in the case of the tact switch or the touch switch, when lighting is turned off at night and watching television, there is no illumination, so it is difficult to perform an accurate key operation, and there is a high fear of incorrect operation of an unwanted key.

On the other hand, in order to improve this point, there is a case in which the backlight switch is provided in the keyswitch group, that is, the key panel. However, even in such a case, the background lighting always illuminates the keyswitch group, so that the background lighting is disturbed to the viewing of the TV screen. There is a problem that acts as a factor.

The present invention detects and determines the human body, in particular the proximity of the finger in the device that detects the key input, such as electrical, electronic, communication devices, such as the function of the key to detect and determine the key input with the intention to operate the lighting and the corresponding key It provides a non-contact key input sensing device and a non-contact key input sensing method for controlling the function of.

In addition, the present invention emits infrared rays corresponding to each key position, and receives infrared rays reflected when the finger is close to detect the approach of the finger to perform illumination for the entire key switch group to easily operate the desired key When the finger is closer to the key with manipulation intention, the infrared reception signal corresponding to the key position is sensed to determine the key with manipulation intention in the group of key switches, and The present invention provides a non-contact key input sensing device and a non-contact key input sensing method capable of accurately identifying and manipulating keys with manipulation intention by performing lighting only.

1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional touch key input detection control device

2 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a non-contact key input sensing device of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart of a non-contact key input sensing device of the present invention.

4 is a signal waveform diagram of each circuit part of the non-contact key input sensing device of the present invention.

Non-contact key input sensing device of the present invention; A key input device provided with a key switch for operating a device, the key input device recognizing the key operation to perform a corresponding function, the proximity sensing means for detecting the proximity to the key switch according to the user's key operation intention; And a lighting means for illuminating a key during the proximity detection, and a control means for recognizing a corresponding key input during the proximity detection and controlling the lighting means. .

In particular, the present invention is a device having a plurality of keyswitch, the lighting means is a lighting means for performing a selective illumination for all of a plurality of keys or a specific key, the control means is a group of keyswitch from the signal detected by the proximity sensing means When accessing the control panel, the lighting means is controlled to perform illumination of the entire key and to illuminate only a specific key when recognition of the specific key is made.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a device having a plurality of keyswitch, the proximity sensing means; Infrared output means for emitting infrared light at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of keys, and infrared receiving means for detecting that the infrared light output from the infrared output means is reflected from the object approaching the key.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a device having a plurality of keyswitch, the proximity sensing means; Infrared output means for sequentially emitting infrared rays from the position corresponding to each of the plurality of keys, and infrared detection means for detecting that the infrared rays output from the infrared output means reflected from the object close to the key, the control means silver; A non-contact key input sensing device, characterized in that it controls the lighting means by recognizing the approach and specific key input from the infrared signal level detected by the infrared detecting means in response to the key output timing of the infrared rays sequentially output from the infrared output means. to be.

In another aspect, the present invention the lighting means in the device having a plurality of keyswitch; Light emitting means for irradiating a background light for each key at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of keys, and on / off the entire light emitting means under the control of the control means or on / off only for a specific light emitting means It is a non-contact key input sensing device comprising a drive means for.

The key input detection method by the contactless key input detection device of the present invention configured as described above; In a device having a plurality of keyswitches, a process of detecting an object approaching the keyswitch for key operation, and illuminating the entire keyswitch group during the proximity detection, and determining whether the proximity to a specific key is selected from the keyswitch group. And a process of determining, when the proximity to the specific key is detected, the corresponding key is recognized as a key having an intention of operation, performing only lighting on the specific key, and controlling the device using the corresponding key function. Input detection method.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described the present invention in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a non-contact key input sensing device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a key input sensing method, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing signal waveforms observed in each circuit of FIG.

First, referring to FIG. 2, a circuit configuration of an embodiment of a non-contact key input sensing device according to the present invention is controlled by a microcomputer 201 and the microcomputer 201 as control means for key input recognition and lighting control. An infrared transmitter 202 for outputting a signal, an infrared receiver 203 for receiving an infrared signal output from the infrared transmitter 203 from a human body, in particular a finger, and inputting it to the microcomputer 201, and the microcomputer ( A background lighting circuit 204 for performing key lighting under the control of 201 and a buzzer circuit 205 for outputting a buzz signal according to a key operation under the control of the microcomputer 204. In the embodiment of the present invention, the key input recognition and the illumination for each key are controlled for nine key switches.

The infrared transmitter 202 serves as proximity sensing means; The shift register (SQ) is a scanning means for sequentially outputting the scanning signal by the transistor Q0 driven by the clock CLOCK of the microcomputer 201 and the sub clock SUB CLOCK and the clear signal CLEAR of the microcomputer 201. 206 and the transistors Q1-Q9 and the transistors Q1-Q9 as infrared light emitting drive means which are sequentially switched and driven by the outputs OUT1-OUT9 of the shift register 206, respectively. Infrared light emitting diodes IRD1-IRD9 are constituted as infrared light emitting means for outputting infrared rays at positions corresponding to each key.

The infrared receiver 203 is a proximity sensing means; An infrared light receiving diode IRD10, a first amplifier 207 and a second amplifier 209 for amplifying a signal received by the infrared light receiving diode IRD10 in two stages as infrared light receiving means for receiving infrared rays; A first waveform shaping circuit 208 for inputting an infrared reception signal from which the output of the first amplifier 207 is waveform-shaped to remove noise as a first key input signal KEY-IN1 to the microcomputer 201, and the second A second waveform shaping circuit 209 for waveform-shaping the output of the amplifier 209 and removing noise to the microcomputer 201 as a second key input signal KEY-IN2; It comprises a variable resistor (VR1, VR2) for setting the gain.

The background lighting circuit 204 as lighting means; The output of the port expansion IC 211 and the port expansion IC 211 as light emitting driving means for receiving the serial data clock SCL and the serial data SDA of the microcomputer 201 and outputting the light emitting driving signal as a multiplexer. Transistors Q11-Q19 that are switched on or off, and a plurality of light emitting diodes LD11-LD19 which are driven by the transistors Q11-Q19 and emit light corresponding to the respective keys. do.

The buzzer circuit 205 is; An oscillator 212 for generating a signal having a predetermined frequency by the buzzer driving signal BUZZ output from the microcomputer 201, a buzzer BZ1 driven by the output of the oscillator 212, and a buzzer driving transistor Q10. It is composed of

In FIG. 2, reference numeral R0-R21 denotes a resistor, C0 denotes a capacitor, and Vcc denotes a power source.

In the non-contact key input sensing device of the present invention configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, when the microcomputer 201 receives the second key input signal KEY-IN2, the background lighting circuit 204 is driven to operate the key. When the illumination of the whole is turned on, and then the input of the first key input signal KEY-IN1 is judged and the first key input signal KEY-IN1 is not input, it is determined that the user has withdrawn the intention to operate the key. Turn off the lights.

When the first key input signal KEY-IN1 is input, the backlight device 204 drives the background lighting circuit 204 to illuminate a specific key, performs a function of the recognized key, and at this time, the buzzer driving signal BUZZ. The buzzer circuit 205 outputs a buzzer sound corresponding to the key input to inform the user of the key operation fact.

The non-contact key input sensing action of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the waveform diagrams of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 as follows.

The microcomputer 201 transmits a modulated signal of the infrared light emitting diodes IRD1 to IRD9 to prevent malfunction due to external optical noise, and transmits the transistor Q0 at a clock clock of 1 kHz, that is, 1 kHz. ).

In addition, the microcomputer 201 supplies a sub clock SUB CLOCK having a 10 ms period as shown in FIG. 4B to the clock of the shift register 206 and a clear signal CLEAR every 90 ms as shown in FIG. 4C. It is controlled to clear the shift register 206 in a 90ms period by supplying.

Then, the shift register 206 sequentially outputs OUT1-OUT9 square waves having a duty ratio of 50% in a 10 ms period, and the transistors Q1-Q9 are sequentially driven by this signal.

That is, the transistors Q1-Q9 are turned on during the period in which the outputs OUT1-OUT9 of the shift register 206 are at a high level to drive the respective infrared light emitting diodes IRD1-IRD9. Since it is switched to 1kHz, the infrared signal modulated at 1kHz is sequentially output from each infrared light emitting diode.

In this way, while the infrared signal is output, the user moves his or her finger close to the keyswitch for key operation.

Infrared light reflected by the proximity of a finger is received by the infrared light-emitting diode IRD10 as shown in FIG. 4 (d), and the received signal is a two-stage amplifier of the first amplifier 207 and the second amplifier 209. Amplified through

However, when the finger first approaches the group of keyswitch, the reflected light is weak so that the signal that has passed through the second amplifier 209, that is, the two-stage amplified signal will be much larger than the output of the first amplifier 207. The signal amplified by the second amplifier 209 is waveform-shaped as a noise canceling and pulse signal in the second waveform shaping circuit 210, and is then used as a second key input signal KEY-IN2 as shown in FIG. 201).

In this way, the sensitivity of how to perform illumination when the user's hand approaches can be determined by adjusting the variable resistors VR1 and VR2 that set the gain of the amplifier.

When the second key input signal KEY-IN2 is input to the microcomputer 201, the microcomputer 201 determines that the user is gradually approaching the finger switch group for the key operation and drives the background lighting circuit 204. To illuminate the entire key.

That is, the microcomputer 201 outputs on-data for the entire light emitting diodes LD11-LD19 to the port expansion IC 211 through the serial data clock SCL and the serial data SDA lines, and the data is port extended. All of the output terminals OUT11-OUT19 of the IC 211 are output at a high level.

Therefore, at this time, all of the transistors Q11-Q19 are turned on so that the light emitting diodes LD11-LD19 at positions where the corresponding illumination is performed for each key are all turned on, so that the entire key switch group is illuminated.

Therefore, the user can easily operate the specific key desired by the user under the illumination of the whole group of the keyswitch, and will bring the finger closer to the specific key according to the operation intention.

For example, if you have the intention to operate key 3 out of 9 keyswitch, your finger will be closer to key 3.

Then, the infrared signal level received by the infrared light-receiving diode IRD10 by the fingers closer to each other is increased, which is amplified by the first amplifier 207 and waveform-shaped by the first waveform shaping circuit 208. The first key input signal KEY-IN1 as shown in (f) is input to the microcomputer 201.

When the first key input signal KEY-IN1 is input, the microcomputer 201 compares the output timing of the sub clock SUB CLOCK with the input timing of the key input signal KEY-IN1, and then selects one of the nine keys. It is determined whether the user has approached with the intention to operate the controller.

In FIG. 4, since the operation intention is applied to the third key, the first key input signal KEY-IN1 having the greatest level at the driving timing of the LED for the third key will be input to the microcomputer 201.

As a result of determining the operation intention of the third key, the microcomputer 201 inputs serial data SDA as the ON data of the LED 3 light emitting diode LD13, and the port expansion IC 211 is input by the data. The transistor Q13 drives the transistor Q13 for a predetermined time with only the output OUT13 at a high level.

Then, only the light emitting diode LD13 is turned on so that only the third key is illuminated.

At this time, the microcomputer 201 performs a function on the third key determined that the user has an intention of operation.

On the other hand, as described above, by determining which key is selected in the microcomputer 201 to control the corresponding function and to visually confirm that only the key is selected to the user, while visually confirming, and outputs the buzzer driving signal (BUZZ) oscillator An oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency is generated at 212, and the transistor Q10 drives the buzzer BZ1 with the oscillation signal, thereby giving an audible recognition effect.

When the user keeps touching the specific key, the microcomputer 201 repeats the above-described signal discrimination process. Therefore, it is determined that the key is kept pressed, so that the function of the continuous key (for example, the volume is increased). Or volume reduction).

The present invention is convenient because the user can directly operate the function of the device even by the user's finger access, that is, non-contact, and the automatic operation is made even in a dark place at night, so that the key operation can be made easier. Visual and auditory effects can recognize manipulation.

Claims (4)

In the key input device is provided with a key switch for operating the device, the device recognizes the key operation to perform the corresponding function, Proximity sensing means for detecting proximity to the key switch according to the user's key operation intention, lighting means for illuminating the key at the proximity detection, and recognizes the corresponding key input at the proximity detection Non-contact key input sensing device, characterized in that it comprises a control means for controlling the lighting means. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the device having a plurality of keyswitches, the lighting means is a lighting means for performing selective illumination of all of a plurality of keys or a specific key, and the control means kisses from a signal detected by the proximity sensing means. The contactless key input sensing device, characterized in that when the access to the position group performs the illumination for the entire key and the illumination means to perform only the illumination for the specific key when the recognition of the specific key is made. A microcomputer that performs key input recognition and lighting control, scan means for outputting a sequential drive signal for key proximity sensing under the control of the microcomputer, and sequentially receives infrared drive signals received from the sequential drive signal output from the scan means. A plurality of infrared light emitting means and infrared light emitting driving means corresponding to each of the plurality of keys, infrared light receiving means for detecting that the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting means is reflected from a human body, in particular a finger, and the infrared light receiving means Signal processing means for amplifying and waveform-receiving a received signal and inputting it to the microcomputer, light emitting means for performing illumination according to a plurality of keys under the control of the microcomputer, and the light emitting means under the control of the microcomputer; Light emitting driving means for turning on the light emitting means corresponding to the specific key recognition Contactless key input sensing device, characterized in that configured to include. In a device having a plurality of keyswitches, a process of detecting an object approaching the keyswitch for key operation, and illuminating the entire keyswitch group during the proximity detection, and determining whether the proximity to a specific key is selected from the keyswitch group. And a process of determining, when the proximity to the specific key is detected, the corresponding key is recognized as a key having an intention of operation, performing only lighting on the specific key, and controlling the device using the corresponding key function. Input detection method.