WO2015093287A1

WO2015093287A1 - Input device

Info

Publication number: WO2015093287A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/081921
Authority: WO
Inventors: 裕介清水; 良真吉岡; 内藤　俊樹
Original assignee: 日東電工株式会社
Priority date: 2013-12-17
Filing date: 2014-12-03
Publication date: 2015-06-25
Also published as: TW201531909A; JP2015135656A; KR20160098200A

Abstract

This invention provides an input device whereby information such as inputted text can be erased. Said input device is provided with the following: a tetragonal sheet-shaped optical waveguide (W) comprising a grid-forming core (2) sandwiched between a tetragonal sheet-shaped bottom cladding layer (1) and top cladding layer (3); a light-emitting element (4) connected to one end face of the core (2) of the optical waveguide (W); and a light-receiving element (5) connected to another end face of said core (2). The section of the surface of the top cladding layer (3) corresponding to the section where the grid-forming core (2) is constitutes an input region. From pressure applied by a tip input section of an input body and a tip eraser section of an eraser body having different thicknesses, input information and erasure information are recognized from the difference in thickness. Previously inputted information corresponding to a position within the input region where pressure is applied by the tip eraser section of the eraser body is recognized as erasure information and erased.

Description

Input device

The present invention relates to an input device provided with an optical position detecting means.

Conventionally, an input system including an input device including a pressure-sensitive touch panel and a display connected to the input device has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). When a character or the like is input on the pressure-sensitive touch panel of the input device with a pen, the pressure-sensitive touch panel detects the pressure position of the pen tip and outputs it to the display. Etc. are displayed.

On the other hand, a position sensor that optically detects the pressed position has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this, a plurality of cores serving as optical paths are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the peripheral portions of the cores are covered with a clad to form a sheet, and light from the light emitting element is incident on one end surface of each of the cores, The light transmitted through each core is detected by the light receiving element at the other end surface of each core. When a part of the surface of the sheet-like position sensor is pressed with a finger or the like, the core of the pressed portion is deformed, and the light detection level at the light receiving element from the core of the pressed portion is reduced. Therefore, the pressing position can be detected.

JP 2006-172230 A JP-A-8-234895

However, the input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not include means for deleting information such as input characters. For this reason, if there is an error, etc., the error cannot be erased, and it is only possible to input a double line, a cross, etc. so as to overlap the error displayed on the display and display it on the display. Absent. If a double line or a cross is displayed on the display, it looks bad. Even if the input device of Patent Document 1 is replaced with the position sensor of Patent Document 2, the same applies.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an input device capable of erasing information such as inputted characters.

In order to achieve the above object, an input device of the present invention includes a sheet-like optical waveguide in which a plurality of linear cores formed in a lattice shape are sandwiched between a sheet-like underclad layer and an overclad layer, and the optical waveguide. A light emitting element connected to one end face of the core of the waveguide; and a light receiving element connected to the other end face of the core, and the light emitted by the light emitting element passes through the core of the optical waveguide, and The surface portion of the over clad layer corresponding to the lattice-shaped core portion of the optical waveguide is used as an input region, and the pressing portion by the tip input portion of the input body in the input region is determined by the light receiving element by the pressing. An input device that identifies input information based on attenuation of received light intensity, wherein the input information is pressed by a tip eraser of an eraser having a thickness different from that of the tip input portion of the input body. Ri, a configuration that includes information erasing means for erasing by recognized as erasure information.

That is, in the input device of the present invention, when a character or the like is written with an input body such as a writing instrument in the input area, the input area is pressed by the tip input portion (tip portion of the writing instrument) of the input body. At the pressed portion, the optical waveguide is deformed, and the light propagation amount of the core at the pressed portion is reduced. For this reason, the light receiving element senses the attenuation of the received light intensity from the core of the pressing portion, and thereby the pressing portion (characters written by the input body, etc.) is specified. In addition, the input device of the present invention allows the information such as the inputted characters to be recognized as erasure information by pressing the tip erasing portion of the erasing body such as an eraser having a different thickness from the tip input portion of the input body. Information erasing means for erasing is provided. The difference in thickness is determined by the number of cores detected by the light receiving element and whose light propagation amount is reduced by pressing. Therefore, as the information erasing means, for example, when a thickness less than a predetermined reference width (thickness of the tip of the writing instrument) is detected by pressing with the tip of the writing instrument or the like, the pressed location is recognized as input information. If a thickness greater than the above reference width is detected by pressing with the tip of an eraser or the like (the thickness of the tip of an eraser or the like), the input information corresponding to the pressed location is recognized as erasure information. Program to erase. In the input device in which such information erasing means (program) is incorporated, when a thickness less than a predetermined reference width is sensed, the pressed portion is recognized and input as input information, and a thickness greater than the reference width is input. When this is sensed, the input information corresponding to the pressed location is recognized as erase information and erased. Contrary to the above, when the tip of a writing instrument or the like is thick and the tip of an eraser or the like is thin, it can be dealt with by setting a program contrary to the above.

The input device of the present invention includes information erasing means for recognizing and erasing input information in the input area as erasure information by pressing by a tip erasing portion of an erasing body having a thickness different from that of the tip input portion of the input body. Therefore, when the input area is pressed by the tip erasing portion of the erasing body having a thickness different from that of the tip input portion of the input body used for input, the information erasing means causes the input information corresponding to the pressed portion to be input. It can be recognized as erase information and erased.

In particular, when the tip eraser of the eraser is thicker than the tip input part of the input body, the tip of the eraser generally used as the eraser is generally used as the input body. Since it is thicker than the tip of the writing instrument being used, information can be input and deleted using the input device of the present invention with a general sense.

An embodiment of the input device of the present invention is shown typically, (a) is the top view, and (b) is the principal section expanded sectional view. (A) is a graph which shows the light reception intensity | strength in the light receiving element of the said input device of a normal state, (b) is a graph which shows the state which pressed the input area | region. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flowchart of the input and deletion in the said input device. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows typically the manufacturing method of the optical waveguide which comprises the said input device. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the modification of the said optical waveguide typically. (A) to (f) are enlarged plan views schematically showing a crossing form of lattice-like cores in the input device. (A), (b) is an enlarged plan view which shows typically the course of the light in the cross | intersection part of the said grid | lattice-like core.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view showing an embodiment of the input device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (b) is an enlarged view of the cross section of the central portion thereof. The input device according to this embodiment includes a rectangular sheet-shaped optical waveguide W in which a lattice-shaped core 2 is sandwiched between a rectangular sheet-shaped underclad layer 1 and an overclad layer 3, and the lattice-shaped core 2. A light emitting element 4 connected to one end face of the linear core 2 and a light receiving element 5 connected to the other end face of the linear core 2. The light emitted from the light emitting element 4 passes through the core 2 and is received by the light receiving element 5. Further, the surface portion of the over clad layer 3 corresponding to the lattice-like core 2 is an input region. In FIG. 1A, the core 2 is indicated by a chain line, and the thickness of the chain line indicates the thickness of the core 2. In FIG. 1A, the number of cores 2 is omitted. Moreover, the arrow of Fig.1 (a) has shown the direction where light travels.

Further, the input device includes a circuit board E on which the light emitting element 4 and the light receiving element 5 are mounted. The circuit board E includes a light emitting element 4 and a light receiving element 5, a CPU (central processing unit) (not shown) for controlling the input device, and an output module for outputting input information and erasure information in the input area. Not shown), storage means (memory) (not shown) for storing the information, a battery (not shown) serving as a power source for the light emitting element 4 and the CPU, and the like are mounted.

Then, the CPU specifies the pressed portion from the attenuation of the light receiving intensity at the light receiving element 5 and determines the thickness of the pressed portion (the thickness of the object that has pressed the input area) from the number of the attenuated cores. ) Is included in the information identification program. Further, the CPU has a built-in information input program for recognizing and inputting a pressing portion having a thickness less than a predetermined reference width as input information, and corresponding to a pressing portion having a thickness greater than the reference width. An information erasure program (information erasure means) for recognizing input information to be erased as information to be erased is incorporated.

In this embodiment, the sheet-like optical waveguide W has a lattice-like core 2 embedded in the surface portion of the sheet-like underclad layer 1 as shown in a sectional view in FIG. Thus, the surface of the under cladding layer 1 and the top surface of the core 2 are formed flush with each other, and the sheet-like over cladding layer 3 is covered with the surface of the under cladding layer 1 and the top surface of the core 2. Is formed. Since the optical waveguide W having such a structure can make the over clad layer 3 have a uniform thickness, it is easy to detect the pressing portion by the tip of the writing instrument in the input region. In the case of the optical waveguide W having the above structure, the thickness of each layer is, for example, in the range of 10 to 500 μm for the under cladding layer 1, in the range of 5 to 100 μm for the

core

2, and 1 to 1 for the over cladding layer 3. It is set within the range of 200 μm.

Here, the above-mentioned reference width of the thickness of the pressed portion for determining whether the input information or the erasure information (thickness of the object that has pressed the input area) is similar to that of general input and erasure. It is preferable to set to about 3 mm from a viewpoint which can be performed. For example, as an input body such as a writing instrument, the thickness (width) of a tip portion (tip input portion) is 0.1 mm or more and less than 3 mm, and as an eraser such as an eraser, the tip portion (tip erase portion) is thick. The thickness (width) is preferably 3 mm or more and less than 50 mm. In this case, the formation pitch of the core 2 is preferably 2 mm or less. If the formation pitch exceeds 2 mm, the thickness of the pressing portion is due to the tip portion of the writing instrument (tip input portion of the input body) or the tip portion of the eraser ( There is a possibility that it cannot be determined whether the pressed portion is input information or erasure information. The reference width is preferably set to the thickness (width) of the tip of the input body such as a writing instrument to be used. For example, when using a pole pen, the width (diameter) of the ball at the tip, a pencil or a mechanical pencil When using, it is preferable to set the core width (diameter).

Next, an example of an input method using the input device will be described.

In the input device in which the input area is not pressed (not input), the light receiving intensity from each core 2 in the light receiving element 5 is normally as shown in a graph in FIG. In addition, the horizontal side portion (X axis) and the vertical side portion (Y axis) on the light receiving side show substantially constant strength. Here, each core 2 is connected to each pixel of the light receiving portion of the light receiving element 5 in the parallel order.

In this state, when a character or the like is input to the input area, for example, with a writing tool having a tip portion that does not satisfy the reference width, the input region is pressed by the tip portion of the writing tool. The optical waveguide W is deformed at the pressed portion, and the light propagation amount of the core 2 at the pressed portion is reduced due to the deformation. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the light receiving intensity at the light receiving element 5 from the core 2 passing through the pressed portion is attenuated. When the attenuation rate of light reception intensity (the rate at which the light reception intensity attenuates) exceeds a predetermined set value A set in advance, the information on the CPU specifies the pressing location (coordinates), and The thickness of the pressed portion (the thickness of the tip of the writing instrument) is specified. The thickness is specified based on the number of pixels (spectral width) T _X and T _Y of the attenuated portion in the set value A. Since the pressing is due to the tip of the writing instrument, it is sensed that the thickness of the pressing portion is less than the reference width, and the pressing portion (coordinates) is input by the information input program of the CPU. Recognized and input as information.

When the pressing by the writing instrument is released (input is completed), the under clad layer 1, the core 2 and the over clad layer 3 are restored to their original state by their own restoring force (see FIG. 1B). Return to.

Next, an example of a method for erasing information input as described above will be described.

When erasing at least a part of the input information, for example, the input portion in the input area is rubbed with an eraser having a tip portion not less than the reference width. Thereby, the rubbed portion is pressed. The pressing location (coordinates) and the thickness of the pressing location (the thickness of the tip of the eraser) are specified by the attenuation of the light receiving intensity at the light receiving element 5 as in the case of the input. Since the pressing is caused by the tip of the eraser, the thickness of the pressing portion is sensed to be equal to or larger than the reference width, and the information already input corresponding to the pressing portion is detected by the information erasing program of the CPU. Is recognized and erased as erasure information.

Here, the set value A of the attenuation factor is preferably in the range of 5 to 15%. When the set value A of the attenuation rate is set to less than 5%, even a slight pressure unintended for input by a fingertip or the like holding the input device tends to exceed the set value A, and the pressure may be detected. . When the set value A of the attenuation rate is set to a value exceeding 15%, normal pressing with an eraser having a thick tip tends to reach the set value A, and information may not be erased properly. That is, when the set value A of the attenuation rate is out of the above range, there is a possibility that information cannot be properly input or deleted. In this embodiment, the set value A in the above range is set to a low value from the viewpoint of easily detecting a press due to a different tip thickness.

In this way, the input device can erase not only the information but also at least a part of the input information. An example of the flowchart in this case is as shown in FIG.

The input device is preferably connected to a display by wire or wirelessly, and the input information and the erasure information are output and displayed on the display. Examples of the display include a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display. The display may be a display provided in a computer such as a notebook personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone. As described above, when the input device is connected to a computer in a wired manner, the power required for the input device can be supplied from the computer. Therefore, even if the power supply is not mounted on the circuit board E of the input device. Good.

Furthermore, information such as documents may be displayed on the display, and in this state, information such as characters may be input or deleted in the input area of the input device as described above. Thereby, the information such as the characters input or erased by the input device is displayed on the display in a state where the information such as the material is superimposed. The displayed contents may be stored in an information storage medium such as a hard disk in the computer or an external USB memory.

Next, a method for manufacturing the optical waveguide W will be described. Examples of the forming material of the under cladding layer 1, the core 2 and the over cladding layer 3 constituting the optical waveguide W include a photosensitive resin, a thermosetting resin, and the like, and the optical waveguide W is manufactured by a manufacturing method corresponding to the forming material. Can be produced. That is, first, as shown in FIG. 4A, the over clad layer 3 is formed into a sheet having a uniform thickness. Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the core 2 is formed in a predetermined pattern on the upper surface of the over clad layer 3 in a protruding state. Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the under cladding layer 1 is formed on the upper surface of the over cladding layer 3 so as to cover the core 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, the obtained structure is turned upside down so that the under cladding layer 1 is on the lower side and the over cladding layer 3 is on the upper side. In this way, the optical waveguide W is obtained. The refractive index of the core 2 is set to be larger than the refractive indexes of the under cladding layer 1 and the over cladding layer 3. The refractive index can be adjusted by, for example, selecting the type of each forming material and adjusting the composition ratio.

In the above embodiment, the tip eraser of the eraser such as an eraser is thicker than the tip input part of the input member such as a writing instrument. In this case, the CPU program is changed so that the thicker one is recognized as input information and the thinner one is recognized as erasure information. In this way, for example, a thick line can be input, and the thick line can be erased and displayed with a thin line.

In the above embodiment, 3 mm is given as an example of the reference width for determining whether the information is input information or erasure information. However, the value of the reference width may be set as appropriate according to the embodiment.

And in the said embodiment, although the writing instrument and the eraser were used as a thing from which the thickness of a front-end | tip part differs, they differ in the thickness of a front-end | tip part, and the input area of the optical waveguide W as mentioned above Any other combination may be used as long as it can detect the pressing at. For example, a combination of a writing instrument and a person's fingertip, or a combination of two simple bars having different thicknesses may be used.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the cross-sectional structure of the optical waveguide W shall be what was shown in FIG.1 (b), other may be sufficient, for example, as shown in sectional drawing in FIG. A structure in which a core 2 protrudes on the surface of the under cladding layer 1 in a predetermined pattern, and the over cladding layer 3 is formed on the surface of the under cladding layer 1 with the core 2 covered. It is good.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an elastic layer such as a rubber layer may be provided on the lower surface of the under cladding layer 1 as necessary. In this case, the restoring force of the under-cladding layer 1, the core 2 and the over-cladding layer 3 is weak, or the under-cladding layer 1, the core 2 and the over-cladding layer 3 are originally made of a material having a weak restoring force. However, the weak restoring force can be assisted using the elastic force of the elastic layer, and after the pressing of the pressing portion is released, the original state can be restored.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, each cross | intersection part of the grid | lattice-like core 2 is normally formed in the state where all the four directions which cross | intersect are continuous, as shown to an enlarged plan view in Fig.6 (a). Others are acceptable. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, only one intersecting direction may be divided by the gap G and discontinuous. The gap G is formed of a material for forming the under cladding layer 1 or the over cladding layer 3. The width d of the gap G exceeds 0 (zero), and is usually set to 20 μm or less. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, two intersecting directions (two directions facing each other in FIG. 6C and two adjacent directions in FIG. 6D) are discontinuous. As shown in FIG. 6 (e), the three intersecting directions may be discontinuous, or as shown in FIG. 6 (f), all the four intersecting directions may be discontinuous. It may be discontinuous. Furthermore, a lattice shape including two or more kinds of intersections among the intersections shown in FIGS. That is, in the present invention, the “lattice shape” formed by the plurality of linear cores 2 means that a part or all of the intersections are formed as described above.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 6B to 6F, if at least one crossing direction is discontinuous, the light crossing loss can be reduced. That is, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), in an intersection where all four intersecting directions are continuous, if one of the intersecting directions (upward in FIG. 7 (a)) is noted, the light incident on the intersection Part of the light reaches the wall surface 2a of the core 2 orthogonal to the core 2 through which the light has traveled, and is transmitted through the core 2 because the reflection angle at the wall surface is large [two points in FIG. (See chain line arrow). Such transmission of light also occurs in the direction opposite to the above (downward in FIG. 7A). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, when one intersecting direction (the upward direction in FIG. 7B) is discontinuous by the gap G, the interface between the gap G and the core 2 is Part of the light that is formed and passes through the core 2 in FIG. 7A is reflected at the interface without passing through the core 2 because the reflection angle at the interface is small, and continues to travel through the core 2 [FIG. 7 (b), see the two-dot chain line arrow]. From this, as described above, if at least one intersecting direction is discontinuous, the light crossing loss can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to increase the detection sensitivity of the pressed portion by the tip portion of the writing instrument or the like.

Next, examples will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the examples.

[Formation material of under clad layer and over clad layer]
Component a: 75 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, YL7410).
Component b: 25 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, JER1007).
Component c: 2 parts by weight of a photoacid generator (manufactured by Sun Apro, CPI101A).
By mixing these components a to c, materials for forming the under cladding layer and the over cladding layer were prepared.

[Core forming material]
Component d: 75 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (manufactured by Daicel Corporation, EHPE3150).
Component e: 25 parts by weight of epoxy resin (KI-3000-4, manufactured by Tohto Kasei Co., Ltd.)
Component f: 1 part by weight of a photoacid generator (manufactured by ADEKA, SP170).
Component g: 50 parts by weight of ethyl lactate (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., solvent).
A core forming material was prepared by mixing these components d to g.

[Production of optical waveguide]
First, an over clad layer was formed on the surface of a glass substrate by spin coating using the above-mentioned over clad layer forming material. The over clad layer had a thickness of 25 μm and an elastic modulus of 3 MPa. The elastic modulus was measured using a viscoelasticity measuring device (TA instruments Japan Inc., RSA3).

Next, a lattice-like core was formed on the surface of the over clad layer by photolithography using the core forming material. The core had a width of 30 μm, a thickness of 50 μm, and an elastic modulus of 2 GPa.

Next, an under clad layer was formed on the upper surface of the over clad layer by spin coating using the under clad layer forming material so as to cover the core. The under cladding layer had a thickness of 300 μm and an elastic modulus of 3 MPa.

Then, the over clad layer was peeled off from the glass substrate. Next, the under cladding layer was bonded to the surface of the aluminum plate via an adhesive. In this manner, an optical waveguide [see FIG. 1B] was produced on the surface of the aluminum plate via an adhesive.

[Production of input device]
Light-emitting element (Optowell, XH85-S0603-2s), light-receiving element (Hamamatsu Photonics, s10226), CPU for controlling the input device (Microchip, dsPIC33FJ128MC706), wireless output module, memory, lithium ion battery ( 3.7V) etc. were produced. Then, the light emitting element was connected to one end face of the core of the optical waveguide, and the light receiving element was connected to the other end face of the core. The program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 was incorporated into the CPU. Thus, the input device of the example was manufactured.

[Operation check of input device]
A personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) was prepared. The personal computer incorporates software (program) that converts the coordinates of the input area of the input device into the coordinates of the display screen of the personal computer, and displays characters and the like input by the input device on the display. . Then, the set value of the attenuation rate as a reference for specifying the pressed portion was set to 15%, and the reference width for judging whether the input information or the erasure information was set to 3 mm. Further, the personal computer is provided with receiving means so as to receive radio waves (information) from the wireless output module of the input device, and the personal computer and the input device are connected so as to be able to transmit information wirelessly.

And a character was written in the input area of the input device with a pen (thickness of the tip 1 mm). As a result, the character was displayed on the display. Next, the input portion in the input area was rubbed with an eraser (thickness of tip portion 5 mm). As a result, on the display, the inputted character portion corresponding to the rubbed portion disappeared.

In the above example, the same result as in the above example was obtained even when the set value of the attenuation rate serving as a reference for specifying the pressed location was changed to 5% and 10%.

Moreover, in the said Example, although the optical waveguide was what was shown by sectional drawing in FIG.1 (b), even if an optical waveguide is shown by sectional drawing in FIG. 5, the evaluation result which shows the same tendency as the said Example was gotten.

In the above embodiments, specific forms in the present invention have been described. However, the above embodiments are merely examples and are not construed as limiting. Various modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are contemplated to be within the scope of this invention.

The input device of the present invention can be used not only to input information such as characters but also to erase at least a part of the input information.

W Optical waveguide 1 Under clad layer 2 Core 3 Over clad layer 4 Light emitting element 5 Light receiving element

Claims

A sheet-like optical waveguide having a plurality of linear cores formed in a lattice shape sandwiched between a sheet-like under-cladding layer and an over-cladding layer; a light-emitting element connected to one end surface of the core of the optical waveguide; and A light receiving element connected to the other end surface of the core, and the light emitted by the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element through the core of the optical waveguide and corresponds to the lattice-shaped core portion of the optical waveguide In this input device, the surface area of the over clad layer to be input is used as an input area, and the pressing position by the tip input section of the input body in the input area is specified as input information by the attenuation of the light receiving intensity at the light receiving element due to the pressing. Information erased by causing the input erased information to be recognized as erase information by being pressed by the tip eraser of the eraser having a thickness different from that of the tip input portion of the input body. Input apparatus characterized by comprising a stage.
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the leading end erasing portion of the erasing body is thicker than the leading end input portion of the input body.