WO2015170606A1

WO2015170606A1 - Information display system

Info

Publication number: WO2015170606A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/062468
Authority: WO
Inventors: 裕介清水; 良真吉岡
Original assignee: 日東電工株式会社
Priority date: 2014-05-08
Filing date: 2015-04-24
Publication date: 2015-11-12
Also published as: TW201546687A; JP2015215668A

Abstract

This information display system is provided with an input device which does not require a dedicated input pen and which does not detect unwanted parts such as the little finger of the hand holding the input body or the base part of said finger when inputting character information or other information with an input body such as a pen. This information display system comprises a personal computer (P) having a display (D), and an input device (A) which can input, with an input body (10) such as a pen, new information to be added to information displayed in the display (D) and which outputs said information to the personal computer (P). The input device (A) is provided with a sheet-form optical waveguide (W) which comprises a lattice-form core (2) held between a sheet-form undercladding layer and overcladding layer, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the core (2) is set to greater than the modulus of elasticity of the undercladding layer and the modulus of elasticity of the overcladding layer. Further, intersections in the lattice-form core (2) are interrupted by gaps in at least one of the intersecting directions so are discontinuous.

Description

Information display system

The present invention relates to an information display system in which new information is added to a document displayed on a display using an input device and displayed.

In presentations and meetings, information such as materials stored in advance in an information storage medium such as a USB memory is displayed on a display such as a liquid crystal panel using a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”). Explanations are given for the displayed materials. In the description, a pointing device (see, for example, Patent Document 1) is used as an input device in order to add new information such as characters, diagrams, and marks to the displayed material.

The pointing device includes a dedicated pen and a dedicated board, and information such as characters is input by moving the dedicated pen on the dedicated board. That is, the locus of the tip of the dedicated pen on the dedicated board (input information such as characters) can be detected using electromagnetic induction, and the locus can be output as a signal to the personal computer and displayed on the display. It has become. As described above, the pointing device can input characters, figures, marks, and the like by an intuitive operation.

JP 2004-206613 A

However, since the pointing device requires a dedicated pen and a dedicated board, when a large number of people use the dedicated board in a meeting or the like, turn one dedicated pen in order or use a dedicated pen. Many need to be prepared.

Therefore, the present applicant has already proposed and applied for an input device that does not require a dedicated pen and a dedicated board while allowing input by intuitive operation of characters and the like (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-155697). . The input device includes a rectangular frame-shaped optical waveguide, and light is allowed to run in a lattice pattern in the hollow portion inside the rectangular frame shape. In this state, when a character or the like is input to the hollow portion with an input body such as a pen, the pen tip shields the light running in the grid shape, and the position of the pen tip is detected from the light shielding position. The displayed characters can be displayed on the display. As described above, since a character or the like input due to light shielding of the pen tip is detected, a dedicated pen and a dedicated board can be dispensed with.

However, in the input device, when the little finger of the hand having an input body such as a pen or the base part (the little finger ball) of the input device enters the hollow part, the hand part also shields the lattice-like light. Therefore, it may be determined that the information is input and displayed on the display. The display of the hand part is unnecessary.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and does not use the light shielding as described above, but uses a change in the light propagation of the core based on the writing pressure by an input body such as a pen applied to the optical waveguide. When inputting information such as characters with an input body such as a pen, unnecessary parts such as the little finger of the hand holding the input body and the base part thereof are not detected. An object of the present invention is to provide an information display system provided with the input device.

In order to achieve the above object, an information display system of the present invention is an information display system comprising a personal computer having a display for displaying information and a position sensor (A) below, which is displayed on the display. New information to be added to the information is input by moving the tip input portion of the input body on the surface of the sheet-shaped optical waveguide of the position sensor, and the movement locus is output to the personal computer as new information. Take.
(A) A sheet-like optical waveguide having a plurality of linear cores formed in a lattice shape, an under cladding layer that supports the cores, and an over cladding layer that covers the cores, and one end surface of the core The movement locus of the tip input portion of the input body on the surface of the sheet-shaped optical waveguide is changed by the amount of light propagation of the core changed by the movement, the light emitting element to be connected, the light receiving element connected to the other end surface of the core A position sensor having a moving locus specifying means for specifying, wherein at least one direction where a part or all of the lattice-like intersection formed by the plurality of linear cores intersects is divided by a gap. The sheet is formed at discontinuous intersections, and the elastic modulus of the core is set to be larger than the elastic modulus of the under-cladding layer and the elastic modulus of the over-cladding layer, and the sheet A pressing state by the tip input section in the surface of the optical waveguide, the deformation ratio of the cross-section of the pressing direction of the core, a position sensor adapted to be smaller than the deformation rate of the cross-section of the over-cladding layer and the under-cladding layer.

In the present invention, the “deformation rate” refers to the ratio of the amount of change of each thickness during pressing to the thickness of the core, over cladding layer and under cladding layer before pressing in the pressing direction. The “movement” of the tip input unit includes a case where the movement distance is 0 (zero), and the “movement locus” in that case is a point.

In the sheet-like optical waveguide, a part or all of the lattice-like intersection formed by the plurality of linear cores is formed as a discontinuous intersection in a state where at least one intersecting direction is divided by a gap. The cross loss of light can be reduced. The present inventors have obtained such knowledge.

The information display system according to the present invention includes a sheet-like optical waveguide in which a plurality of linear cores are arranged and formed in a lattice shape as a means for detecting a movement locus of a tip input unit (a pen tip or the like) of an input body (a pen or the like). The input device provided is used. That is, the movement trajectory of the tip input portion of the input body on the surface of the sheet-like optical waveguide is specified by the amount of light propagation of the core changed by the movement. Therefore, a dedicated pen is not required for input, and a pen used for normal writing or a simple elongated rod-like object that does not generate ink can be used as the input body. In the sheet-like optical waveguide, the elastic modulus of the core is set larger than the elastic modulus of the under cladding layer and the elastic modulus of the over cladding layer. Therefore, when the surface of the over clad layer of the sheet-like optical waveguide is pressed, the deformation rate of the cross section of the core in the pressing direction is smaller than the deformation rate of the cross section of the over clad layer and the under clad layer. The cross-sectional area of the core is maintained. Then, when information such as characters is input by moving the tip input portion of the input body on the surface of the sheet-shaped optical waveguide, the bending state of the core is input to the tip of the input body at the pressed portion by the tip input portion. As a result, the light leaks (scatters) from the core, and at the pressed part of the hand part holding the input body, the bending of the core becomes gentle along the hand. It is possible to prevent leakage (scattering). Therefore, in the core pressed by the tip input part such as the pen tip, the detection level (light reception amount) of the light in the light receiving element is reduced, and in the core pressed by the hand part having the input body, the detection level is It can be prevented from decreasing. Then, the position (coordinates) of the tip input portion such as the pen tip can be detected by the movement locus specifying means from the decrease in the detection level of the light, and the part of the hand where the detection level does not decrease is pressed. Since it becomes the same as a non-existing state, it can be prevented from being detected. In addition, part or all of the lattice-like intersection formed by the core is formed as a discontinuous intersection in a state in which at least one intersecting direction is divided by a gap, thereby reducing the light intersection loss. be able to. Therefore, the detection sensitivity of the position of the tip of the pen tip or the like can be increased. As a result, it is possible to detect only the movement trajectory (information such as input characters) of the tip input unit such as the pen tip and display it in addition to the information displayed on the display.

It is explanatory drawing which shows typically one Embodiment of the information display system of this invention. It is a top view which shows typically the input device which comprises the said information display system. (A) is an enlarged plan view schematically showing an intersection of lattice-shaped cores in the input device, and (b) is an enlarged schematic view of a cross section of a central portion of the input device. It is an expanded sectional view shown. (A) is an enlarged plan view schematically showing a light path in a continuous intersection, and (b) is an enlarged plan view schematically showing a light path in a discontinuous intersection. (A) is sectional drawing which shows typically the state of the sheet-like optical waveguide of the said input device pressed by the input body, (b) is a schematic diagram of the state of the said sheet-like optical waveguide pressed by the hand. FIG. (A)-(e) is an enlarged plan view which shows typically the modification of 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 shows an embodiment of the information display system of the present invention. The information display system of this embodiment can input new information to be added to the information displayed on the personal computer P having the display D and the display D with the input body 10 such as a pen, and the input information is input to the personal computer P. And an input device A for outputting. In this embodiment, the input information is transmitted from the input device A to the personal computer P by a connection cable C such as a USB cable. For this purpose, the personal computer P and the input device A are connected by the connection cable C. Connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the input device A has a rectangular sheet-like optical waveguide W having a lattice-like core 2 and one end face of the linear core 2 constituting the lattice-like core 2. , A light receiving element 5 connected to the other end face of the linear core 2, a CPU (central processing unit) (not shown) for controlling the input device A, and the light emitting element 4 And a circuit board 6 on which the light receiving element 5 is mounted. In this embodiment, the sheet-like optical waveguide W and the circuit board 6 are provided on the surface of a rigid plate 7 such as a resin plate or a metal plate. In this embodiment, the power necessary for the light emitting element 4 and the CPU is supplied from the personal computer P via the connection cable C (see FIG. 1). The light emitted from the light emitting element 4 passes through the core 2 and is received by the light receiving element 5. In FIG. 2, 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. 2, the number of cores 2 is omitted. Furthermore, the arrow in FIG. 2 indicates the direction in which the light travels.

In this embodiment, each of the intersecting portions of the lattice-like core 2 in the sheet-like optical waveguide W is crossed by gaps G as shown in a plan view in FIG. Divided and discontinuous. The width d of the gap G exceeds 0 (zero) (if the gap G is formed) and is usually set to 20 μm or less. In the sheet-like optical waveguide W, the lattice-like core 2 is supported by the sheet-like under clad layer 1 and covered with the sheet-like over clad layer 3 as shown in a sectional view in FIG. It is formed in the state. In this embodiment, the gap G is formed of a material for forming the over clad layer 3.

Thus, in the lattice-like core 2 described above, if the intersection is discontinuous, the light crossing loss can be reduced. That is, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), in an intersection where all four intersecting directions are continuous, if one of the intersecting directions [upward in FIG. 4 (a)] is focused, 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 2a is large [2 in FIG. (See dotted arrow). Such light transmission also occurs in a direction opposite to the above intersecting direction (downward in FIG. 4A). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the intersecting one direction [upward in FIG. 4B] 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. 4 (a) has a smaller reflection angle at the interface, so that it is reflected at the interface without passing through and continues to travel through the core 2 [FIG. 4 (b), see the two-dot chain line arrow]. Such reflection of light also occurs in the direction opposite to the above intersecting direction (downward in FIG. 4B). For this reason, as described above, when the crossing portion is discontinuous, the light crossing loss can be reduced.

In the sheet-like optical waveguide W, the elastic modulus of the core 2 is set to be larger than the elastic modulus of the under cladding layer 1 and the elastic modulus of the over cladding layer 3. Thereby, when the surface of the said sheet-like optical waveguide W is pressed, the deformation rate of the cross section of the core 2 of the pressing direction becomes smaller than the deformation rate of the cross section of the over clad layer 3 and the under clad layer 1. It has become.

In the input device A having such a configuration, a portion corresponding to the lattice-shaped core 2 is an input region. And the input of information to the input device A by the input body 10 (see FIG. 1) such as a pen is performed so that characters and the like are written on the surface of the over clad layer 3 of the sheet-like optical waveguide W in the input region. This is done by moving the tip input portion (pen nib etc.) 10a (see FIG. 1) of the input body 10 on the surface of the over clad layer 3. That is, as shown in cross-sectional views in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the input body 10 such as a pen held in the hand 20 is formed on the surface of the over clad layer 3 of the sheet-like optical waveguide W of the input device A. When information such as characters is written and entered, the pressing portion by the tip input portion 10a such as a pen tip (see FIG. 5A) is also pressed by the little finger of the hand 20, its base portion (little finger ball), etc. 5 (b)] also, in the cross section in the pressing direction, the over-cladding layer 3 having a low elastic modulus is deformed so that the core 2 having a high elastic modulus maintains the cross-sectional area while the tip input portion 10a and Along the part of the hand 20, it bends so as to sink into the undercladding layer 1 having a low elastic modulus.

And in the press part by the front-end | tip input part 10a, as shown to Fig.5 (a), since the front-end | tip input part 10a is sharp, the bending condition of the core 2 becomes abrupt and the light from the core 2 is light. Leakage (scattering) occurs [see the two-dot chain arrow in FIG. 5A]. On the other hand, in the pressing portion by the hand 20 having the input body 10, as shown in FIG. 5B, the hand 20 is considerably larger and rounder than the tip input portion 10a. The bending becomes gradual and the light leakage (scattering) does not occur (the light travels without leaking through the core 2) (see the two-dot chain arrow in FIG. 5B). Therefore, the detection level of light at the light receiving element 5 is lowered in the core 2 pressed by the tip input portion 10a, and the detection level is not lowered in the core 2 pressed by the hand 20 having the input body 10. can do. The position (coordinates) of the tip input portion 10a can be detected from the decrease in the light detection level. The portion of the hand 20 whose detection level does not decrease is the same as the state where it is not pressed, and thus is not detected.

At this time, as described above, since the lattice-like intersection formed by the core 2 is formed as a discontinuous intersection, the light intersection loss is reduced. The detection sensitivity of the position of the tip input unit 10a such as the pen tip is high.

Therefore, the CPU of the input device A incorporates a program (movement locus specifying means) for specifying the movement locus of the tip input section 10a from the decrease in the light detection level at the light receiving element 5. That is, the input device A is a position sensor that detects the position of the tip input unit (pen tip etc.) 10a of the input body (pen etc.) 10 used for inputting information. Data indicating the movement locus of the distal end input portion 10a of the input body 10 is output to the personal computer P via the connection cable C, and is appropriately imaged by the personal computer P. The movement locus is displayed on the display D. It is displayed.

As described above, in the information display system, in the input device A, a plurality of linear cores 2 are in a lattice pattern as means for detecting the movement trajectory of the tip input unit (pen tip etc.) 10a of the input body (pen etc.) 10. Since a sheet-like optical waveguide W arranged and formed in the above is used, a dedicated pen is not required for input, and a pen used for normal writing or a simple elongated rod-like object that does not produce ink is used as the input body 10. Can do. Therefore, there is no inconvenience even if the input device A is used by many people.

Further, in the sheet-like optical waveguide W, since the elastic modulus of the core 2 is set to be larger than the elastic modulus of the under cladding layer 1 and the elastic modulus of the over cladding layer 3, the hand 20 holding the input body 10 is a sheet. Even when the optical waveguide W is pressed, only the position of the tip input portion 10a can be detected and the portion of the hand 20 can be prevented from being detected as described above. In addition, since the intersections of the lattice-like cores 2 are formed as discontinuous intersections, it is possible to reduce the cross loss of light and increase the detection sensitivity of the position of the tip input unit 10a such as the pen tip. Can do.

Furthermore, at the time of input to the input device A, since the portion of the sheet-like optical waveguide W pressed by the tip input portion 10a of the input body 10 is deformed as described above, it is possible to input with a feeling close to paper, The writing taste is good.

Here, on the display D of the personal computer P, information such as materials used for explanation in presentations and meetings is generally displayed. When information such as characters is input to the input device A as described above, the display D is displayed in a state where the information such as characters input by the input device A is superimposed on the information such as the material. The In order to make this display possible, software (program) for converting the coordinates of the input area of the input device A into the coordinates of the screen of the display D and displaying characters or the like input by the input device A on the display D is the above personal computer. P is incorporated. The information such as the material is usually stored in advance in an information storage medium such as a hard disk in the personal computer P or an external USB memory, and is output from the information storage medium. The information displayed on the display D in which the information such as the material is overlapped with the information such as the characters input by the input device A can be stored in the information storage medium. The personal computer P means not only a general personal computer but also devices such as a smartphone and a tablet terminal having the same functions as the personal computer.

When the pressure applied by the tip input portion 10a of the input body 10 is released (the tip input portion 10a moves or input such as writing ends), the under cladding layer 1, the core 2, and the over cladding layer 3 returns to the original state (see FIG. 3B) by its restoring force. The submerged depth L of the core 2 into the under cladding layer 1 is preferably up to 2000 μm. If the sinking depth L exceeds 2000 μm, the under cladding layer 1, the core 2, and the over cladding layer 3 may not return to the original state, or the sheet-like optical waveguide W may be cracked.

Here, the elastic modulus and the like of the core 2, the under cladding layer 1 and the over cladding layer 3 will be described in more detail.

The elastic modulus of the core 2 is preferably in the range of 1 GPa to 10 GPa, more preferably in the range of 2 GPa to 5 GPa. If the elastic modulus of the core 2 is too low, the cross-sectional area of the core 2 may not be maintained (the core 2 may be crushed) by the pressure of the tip input portion 10a due to the shape of the tip input portion 10a such as a pen tip. There is a possibility that the position of the input unit 10a cannot be detected properly. On the other hand, if the elastic modulus of the core 2 is too high, the bending of the core 2 due to the pressure of the tip input portion 10a may be a gentle bend without being a sharp bend along the tip input portion 10a. Therefore, light leakage (scattering) from the core 2 does not occur, and the light detection level at the light receiving element 5 does not decrease, so that the position of the tip input portion 10a may not be detected properly. The dimensions of the core 2 are set, for example, within a range of 5 to 100 μm in thickness and within a range of 5 to 500 μm in width.

The elastic modulus of the over clad layer 3 is preferably in the range of 0.1 MPa to less than 10 GPa, more preferably in the range of 1 MPa to less than 5 GPa. If the elastic modulus of the over clad layer 3 is too low, the over clad layer 3 may be damaged due to the shape of the tip input portion 10a such as a pen tip due to the pressure of the tip input portion 10a. May not be able to be protected. On the other hand, when the elastic modulus of the over clad layer 3 is too high, the over clad layer 3 is not deformed so as to be crushed even by the pressure of the tip input portion 10a or the hand 20, thereby causing the core 2 to be crushed and the tip input portion 10a. May not be detected properly. The thickness of the over clad layer 3 is set within a range of 1 to 200 μm, for example.

The elastic modulus of the under cladding layer 1 is preferably in the range of 0.1 MPa to 1 GPa, more preferably in the range of 1 MPa to 100 MPa. If the elastic modulus of the underclad layer 1 is too low, the underclad layer 1 is too soft, and after being pressed by the tip input portion 10a such as a pen tip, the underclad layer 1 does not return to its original state, and input may not be performed continuously. is there. On the other hand, if the elastic modulus of the underclad layer 1 is too high, the underclad layer 1 will not be deformed so as to be crushed even by the pressure of the tip input portion 10a or the hand 20, thereby causing the core 2 to be crushed and the tip input portion 10a. May not be detected properly. Note that the thickness of the under-cladding layer 1 is set within a range of 20 to 2000 μm, for example.

Examples of the material for forming the core 2, the under cladding layer 1 and the over cladding layer 3 include photosensitive resin, thermosetting resin, and the like, and the sheet-like optical waveguide W is manufactured by a manufacturing method corresponding to the forming material. Can do. The refractive index of the core 2 is set larger than the refractive indexes of the under cladding layer 1 and the over cladding layer 3. The elastic modulus and refractive index can be adjusted by, for example, selecting the type of each forming material and adjusting the composition ratio. Note that a rubber sheet may be used as the undercladding layer 1 and the cores 2 may be formed in a lattice shape on the rubber sheet.

Further, an elastic layer such as a rubber layer may be provided on the back surface of the under cladding layer 1 (between the under cladding layer 1 and the rigid plate 7). In this case, even if 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 is originally made of a material having a weak restoring force, the elastic layer Using the elastic force, the weak restoring force is assisted, and after the pressing by the tip input portion 10a of the input body 10 is released, the original state can be restored.

Furthermore, a plurality of input devices A may be used. In this case, use by a plurality of persons becomes easy. In this case, the information displayed on the display D may be color-coded by the input device A so that the information input from which input device A can be known. Further, a plurality of input devices A may be distributed to a plurality of places (such as a venue) and a presentation or a meeting may be performed simultaneously at the plurality of places. In this case, the personal computer P at one location is the host personal computer P, the personal computer P at another location is the relay personal computer P, and the personal computers P are communicably connected.

Further, as described above, in order to detect only the position of the tip input unit 10a such as the pen tip and not to detect the hand 20 having the input body 10 such as a pen, a pressing portion by the tip input unit 10a is used. The amount of light leakage (scattering) due to the sharp bending of the core 2 is important. Therefore, for example, the ratio A (= R / T) between the radius of curvature R (unit: μm) of the tip input portion 10a such as a pen tip and the thickness T (unit: μm) of the core 2 is used, and the core 2 and under When the refractive index difference Δ between the cladding layer 1 and the over cladding layer 3 is defined, the maximum value Δmax of the refractive index difference Δ is expressed by the following equation (1). That is, if the refractive index difference Δ is larger than the maximum value Δmax, even if the tip input portion 10a is pressed, the amount of light leakage (scattering) is small and the light detection level at the light receiving element 5 is not sufficiently lowered. Therefore, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the position of the tip input portion 10a and the position of the hand 20.

On the other hand, the minimum value Δmin of the refractive index difference Δ is expressed by the following equation (2). That is, when the refractive index difference Δ is smaller than the minimum value Δmin, light leakage (scattering) occurs even in the pressed portion by the hand 20, and it is difficult to distinguish the position of the tip input portion 10a from the position of the hand 20. Become.

Therefore, the refractive index difference Δ is preferably set between the minimum value Δmin and the maximum value Δmax. Here, for example, the radius of curvature R (unit: μm) of the tip input portion 10a is in the range of 100 to 1000, the thickness T (unit: μm) of the core 2 is in the range of 10 to 100, and the ratio A is 1 to 1. If it is in the range of 100, the refractive index difference Δ is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁻³ to 7.95 × 10 ⁻² . When the ratio A exceeds 100, the minimum value Δmin is set to 1.0 × 10 ⁻³ (constant).

In the above embodiment, the crossing portion of the lattice-like core 2 is a discontinuous crossing (see FIG. 3A) in which all four intersecting directions are discontinuous (see FIG. 3A). It may be an intersection. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), only one intersecting direction may be divided by the gap G to be discontinuous, or as shown in FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c), The two intersecting directions (FIG. 6 (b) is the two opposing directions, FIG. 6 (c) is the two adjacent directions) may be discontinuous, or as shown in FIG. 6 (d) The three directions may be discontinuous. Further, two or more kinds of the discontinuous intersection shown in FIG. 3 (a) and FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (d) and a continuous intersection in which all four intersecting directions are continuous [see FIG. 6 (e)]. It is good also as the grid | lattice form provided with no intersection.

In the above embodiment, information transmission from the input device A to the personal computer P is performed by the connection cable C, but may be performed wirelessly. In that case, since the power required for the input device A is not supplied from the personal computer P via the connection cable C, the input device A is provided with a power source such as a battery.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rigid plate 7 is provided to support the sheet-like optical waveguide W. However, the rigid plate 7 may not be provided. In that case, the input is performed in a state where the sheet-like optical waveguide W of the input device A is placed on a hard flat table such as a table.

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

[Formation material of over clad layer]
Component a: 30 parts by weight of epoxy resin (Epogosei PT, manufactured by Yokkaichi Gosei Co., Ltd.)
Ingredient b: 70 weight part of epoxy resins (the Daicel company make, EHPE3150).
Component c: 4 parts by weight of a photoacid generator (manufactured by Sun Apro, CPI 200K).
Component d: 100 parts by weight of ethyl lactate (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries).
By mixing these components a to d, an over clad layer forming material was prepared.

[Core forming material]
Component e: 80 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (manufactured by Daicel, EHPE3150).
Component f: 20 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd., YDCN700-10).
Component g: 1 part by weight of a photoacid generator (made by ADEKA, SP170).
Component h: 50 parts by weight of ethyl lactate (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.)
A core forming material was prepared by mixing these components e to h.

[Formation material of under cladding layer]
Component i: 75 parts by weight of epoxy resin (Epogosei PT, manufactured by Yokkaichi Gosei Co., Ltd.)
Component j: 25 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, JER1007).
Component k: 4 parts by weight of a photoacid generator (manufactured by San Apro, CPI 200K).
Component l: 50 parts by weight of ethyl lactate (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries).
By mixing these components i to l, a material for forming the underclad layer was prepared.

[Production of sheet-shaped optical waveguide]
An over clad layer was formed on the surface of the glass substrate by spin coating using the over clad layer forming material. The over cladding layer had a thickness of 5 μm, an elastic modulus of 1.2 GPa, and a refractive index of 1.503.

Next, a lattice-like core was formed on the surface of the over clad layer by photolithography using the core forming material. Each of the lattice-like intersections is a discontinuous intersection in which all four intersecting directions are separated by a gap and are discontinuous [see FIG. 3 (a)]. The width of the gap was 10 μm. The core had a thickness of 30 μm, the core width of the lattice portion was 100 μm, the pitch was 600 μm, the elastic modulus was 3 GPa, and the refractive index was 1.523.

Next, an under clad layer was formed on the surface of the over clad layer by spin coating using the under clad layer forming material so as to cover the core. The thickness of the under cladding layer (thickness from the surface of the over cladding layer) was 200 μm, the elastic modulus was 3 MPa, and the refractive index was 1.503.

And what stuck the double-sided tape (thickness 25 micrometers) on the single side | surface of the board | substrate (thickness 1mm) made from PET was prepared. Next, the other adhesive surface of the double-sided tape was attached to the surface of the under cladding layer, and in this state, the over cladding layer was peeled from the glass substrate.

[Comparative example]
[Formation material of over clad layer]
Component m: 40 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (Epogosei PT, manufactured by Yokkaichi Gosei Co., Ltd.).
Component n: 60 parts by weight of epoxy resin (Daicel, 2021P).
Component o: 4 weight part of photo-acid generators (made by ADEKA, SP170).
By mixing these components m to o, an over clad layer forming material was prepared.

[Core forming material]
Component p: 30 parts by weight of epoxy resin (Epogosei PT, manufactured by Yokkaichi Gosei Co., Ltd.)
Component q: 70 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (manufactured by DIC, EXA-4816).
Component r: 4 weight part of photo-acid generators (made by ADEKA, SP170).
The core forming material was prepared by mixing these components p to r.

[Formation material of under cladding layer]
Component s: 40 parts by weight of epoxy resin (Epogosei PT, manufactured by Yokkaichi Gosei Co., Ltd.)
Component t: 60 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (Daicel, 2021P).
Component u: 4 weight part of photo-acid generators (made by ADEKA, SP170).
By mixing these components s to u, a material for forming the under cladding layer was prepared.

[Production of sheet-shaped optical waveguide]
In the same manner as in the above example, a sheet-like optical waveguide having the same dimensions was produced. However, the elastic modulus was 1 GPa for the over clad layer, 25 MPa for the core, and 1 GPa for the under clad layer. The refractive index was 1.504 for the over clad layer, 1.532 for the core, and 1.504 for the under clad layer.

[Production of input device]
A light emitting element (Optowell, XH85-S0603-2s) is connected to one end face of the core of each of the sheet-like optical waveguides of the above examples and comparative examples, and a light receiving element (Hamamatsu Photonics, s10226) was connected, and a circuit including the light emitting element, the light receiving element, a CPU for controlling the input device, and the like was provided, and the input devices of the example and the comparative example were manufactured.

[Production of information display system]
A personal computer with a display was prepared and connected to the input device with a connection cable to produce an information display system. The personal computer incorporates software (program) for converting the coordinates of the input area of the input device into the coordinates of the screen of the display and displaying characters or the like input by the input device on the display.

[Operation check of information display system]
A USB memory storing information such as documents was prepared, and the storage information of the USB memory was displayed on the display using the personal computer. In this state, the input person held the ballpoint pen (the radius of curvature of the pen tip 350 μm) in his hand and entered characters in the input area of the input device.

As a result, in the information display system using the input device of the example, only the input characters were displayed in a state where they were superimposed on the information such as the materials displayed on the display. On the other hand, in the information display system using the input device of the comparative example, not only the entered characters but also the hand part with the ballpoint pen is superimposed on the information such as the material displayed on the display, It was displayed.

In addition, the same result as described above was obtained even when the same input as described above was used instead of the above ballpoint pen by using a simple rod (tip radius of curvature 550 μm).

From these results, it can be seen that the input device of the embodiment can detect only the input information and can detect unnecessary information even if the input body is changed.

In addition, the same tendency as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained even if each of the intersecting portions of the lattice-like core is a discontinuous intersection (see FIGS. 6A to 6D) in which the intersecting directions 1 to 3 are discontinuous. The result which shows was obtained. Furthermore, a discontinuous intersection in which 1 to 4 intersecting directions are discontinuous (see FIGS. 3A and 6A to 6D) and a continuous intersection in which all four intersecting directions are continuous [ As shown in FIG. 6 (e)], a result showing a tendency similar to that in the above-described example was obtained even in a lattice shape having two or more types of intersections.

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 information display system of the present invention can be used for writing and displaying new information on materials displayed on a display using an input device in presentations and meetings.

A Input device D Display P Personal computer W Sheet-shaped optical waveguide 2 Core 10 Input body

Claims

A personal computer having a display for displaying information;
An information display system comprising the following position sensor (A),
New information to be added to the information displayed on the display is input by the movement of the tip input portion of the input body on the surface of the sheet-shaped optical waveguide of the position sensor, and the personal computer is used with the movement locus as new information. An information display system characterized by being output to.
(A) a sheet-like optical waveguide having a plurality of linear cores formed in a lattice shape, an under cladding layer that supports the cores, and an over cladding layer that covers the cores;
A light emitting element connected to one end face of the core;
A light receiving element connected to the other end surface of the core;
A position sensor comprising a movement locus specifying means for specifying the movement locus of the tip input portion of the input body on the surface of the sheet-shaped optical waveguide by the amount of light propagation of the core changed by the movement,
A part or all of the lattice-like intersection formed by the plurality of linear cores is formed as a discontinuous intersection in a state where at least one intersecting direction is divided by a gap,
The elastic modulus of the core is set to be larger than the elastic modulus of the under cladding layer and the elastic modulus of the over cladding layer, and the core in the pressing direction is pressed by the tip input portion on the surface of the sheet-like optical waveguide. A position sensor in which the deformation rate of the cross section of the under clad layer is smaller than the deformation rate of the cross sections of the over cladding layer and the under cladding layer.