WO2019069729A1

WO2019069729A1 - Electronic apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2019069729A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/035252
Authority: WO
Inventors: 一昭南; 英和加納
Original assignee: 株式会社村田製作所
Priority date: 2017-10-02
Filing date: 2018-09-25
Publication date: 2019-04-11
Also published as: JP7016876B2; JPWO2019069729A1; CN210324138U

Abstract

This electronic apparatus is provided with: a foldable housing (102); a press sensor (1); a state detection unit (21) that detects whether the housing (102) is in a folded state or not; and a processing unit (22), which processes a signal as a first operation, said signal having been generated by the press sensor (1), when a piezoelectric film (10) receives a pressing operation in the cases where the state detection unit (21) detects a state wherein the housing (102) is not folded, and which processes a signal as a second operation, said signal having been generated by the press sensor (1), when the piezoelectric film (10) receives a pressing operation in the cases where the state detection unit detects a state wherein the housing (102) is folded.

Description

Electronics

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a foldable electronic device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a foldable smart phone.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,348,362

In terminals such as smartphones described in Patent Document 1, there is a demand for downsizing and thinning of the terminals themselves and enlargement of displays. In this case, it is difficult to arrange the mechanical switch in the housing of the smartphone. For this reason, specifications for operating with a touch panel of a display are increasing instead of arranging mechanical switches.

Here, assuming that all mechanical switches are operated on the touch panel of the display, it is necessary to open the terminal each time the operation is made and to make the display operable. For this reason, it is difficult to operate with one hand or the like, and since the display on the display is activated each time the terminal is opened, power consumption may be increased.

Therefore, an object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can be operated in a folded state and can reduce power consumption.

An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a foldable housing, a pressure sensor, a state detection unit, and a processing unit. The pressure sensor includes a piezoelectric film, a first electrode disposed on a first major surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode disposed on a second major surface of the piezoelectric film so as to face the first electrode. And. The state detection unit detects whether the housing is in a folded state. The processing unit processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a first operation when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation when the state detecting unit detects the unfolded state of the housing. A signal generated by the pressing sensor is processed as a second operation when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation when the state detection unit detects the folded state of the housing.

In this configuration, the state detection unit can detect whether the housing is in the folded state. When the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation in a state where the housing is not folded, the processing unit processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a first operation. Thus, the electronic device can be operated in a state where the housing is open. On the other hand, when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation in a state where the housing is folded, the processing unit processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a second operation. Accordingly, the electronic device can be operated from the outside without opening the housing in a folded state, and power consumption generated when the housing is opened can be suppressed. Further, since the electronic device performs signal processing in accordance with the open / close state of the housing, the electronic device can receive an operation in accordance with each state.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to operate in a folded state and to reduce power consumption.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one state in which the electronic device according to the first embodiment is opened, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of one state in which the electronic device according to the first embodiment is folded. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional conceptual diagram for explaining the electronic device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of a pressure sensor used in the electronic device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view thereof. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a piezoelectric film according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining a use state of the electronic device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining an electronic device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining an electronic device according to the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one state in which the electronic device according to the first embodiment is opened, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of one state in which the electronic device according to the first embodiment is folded. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II shown in FIG. 1 (A). Note that the electronic devices illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to this and can be appropriately changed in accordance with the specification. Moreover, in each drawing, wiring etc. are abbreviate | omitted on account of description.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the electronic device 100 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 102 whose upper surface is open. In FIG. 1A, the electronic device 100 is bent in a slightly closing direction, but the electronic device 100 can also be used in a flat state or a reverse bent state.

The electronic device 100 includes a flat surface panel 103 disposed to seal the opening of the top surface of the housing 102. The front panel 103 functions as an operation surface on which the user performs a touch operation using a finger or a pen. In the following description, the width direction (lateral direction) of the housing 102 is taken as the X direction, the length direction (longitudinal direction) is taken as the Y direction, and the thickness direction is taken as the Z direction.

The electronic device 100 is entirely formed of a flexible material. As shown in FIG. 1B, in the first embodiment, the electronic device 100 can be folded with the X direction as a bending line. That is, the electronic device 100 can be opened and closed or wound. In the folded state of electronic device 100, back surface 105 is exposed to the front.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device 100 includes the display unit 104, the pressure sensor 1, the state detection unit 21, and the processing unit 22 inside the housing 102. The pressure sensor 1 and the display unit 104 are stacked in this order from the inside to the outside of the housing 102. The display unit 104 is formed on the surface of the front panel 103 inside the housing 102. The pressure sensor 1 and the display unit 104 may be arranged in the opposite manner. In this case, the pressure sensor 1 is formed of a light transmitting material.

When the user performs a touch operation on the front panel 103 using a finger or a pen, a pressing force is transmitted to the pressing sensor 1 through the front panel 103 and the display unit 104. Although described in detail later, the pressure sensor 1 outputs a potential corresponding to the pressure applied by the operation received by the front panel 103.

The state detection unit 21 detects whether the housing 102 is in a folded state. The processing unit 22 processes the signal generated by the pressure sensor 1 according to the state detected by the state detection unit 21.

FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of a pressure sensor used in the electronic device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view thereof. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a piezoelectric film according to the first embodiment. As shown to FIG. 3 (A) and FIG. 3 (B), the press sensor 1 is provided with the piezoelectric film 10, the 1st electrode 11, and the 2nd electrode 12. As shown in FIG. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, illustrations other than the piezoelectric film 10, the first electrode 11, and the second electrode 12 are omitted.

The piezoelectric film 10 has a first major surface 14 and a second major surface 15. The first electrode 11 has a flat film shape, and is formed in a rectangular shape like the piezoelectric film 10 in a plan view. The first electrode 11 is provided on the first major surface 14 of the piezoelectric film 10. The second electrode 12 is a flat film and is provided on the second major surface 15 of the piezoelectric film 10. The number and shape of the piezoelectric film 10, the first electrode 11, and the second electrode 12 can be appropriately changed according to the specification.

As shown in FIG. 3B, in the pressure sensor 1, at least one of the first electrode 11 or the second electrode 12 completely overlaps the piezoelectric film 10 in a top view, or is positioned inward in the surface direction from the piezoelectric film 10. It is good to be doing. Thereby, the short circuit in the end of the 1st electrode 11 and the 2nd electrode 12 can be controlled.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the piezoelectric film 10. The piezoelectric film 10 may be a film formed of a chiral polymer. In the first embodiment, polylactic acid (PLA), particularly L-type polylactic acid (PLLA) is used as the chiral polymer. PLLA consisting of a chiral polymer has a helical structure in the main chain. PLLA is uniaxially stretched to have piezoelectricity when molecules are oriented. The uniaxially stretched PLLA generates a voltage when the flat surface of the piezoelectric film 10 is pressed. At this time, the amount of voltage generated depends on the amount of displacement in which the flat surface is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the flat surface depending on the amount of pressure.

In the first embodiment, the uniaxial stretching direction of the piezoelectric film 10 (PLLA) is a direction forming an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the Y direction and the Z direction as shown by an arrow 901 in FIG. 4. The 45 degrees include an angle including, for example, 45 degrees ± 10 degrees. Thereby, a voltage is generated by pressing the piezoelectric film 10.

PLLA does not need to be subjected to poling treatment like other polymers such as PVDF and piezoelectric ceramics, because PLLA produces piezoelectricity by orientation processing of molecules by drawing or the like. That is, the piezoelectricity of PLLA which does not belong to the ferroelectric is not expressed by the polarization of ions as in the case of a ferroelectric such as PVDF or PZT but is derived from a helical structure which is a characteristic structure of a molecule. is there. For this reason, PLLA does not have pyroelectricity that occurs with other ferroelectric piezoelectric materials. Since there is no pyroelectricity, the pressure sensor 3 can be formed thin because it is not affected by the temperature or frictional heat of the user's finger. Furthermore, although PVDF and the like show variations in the piezoelectric constant over time, and in some cases the piezoelectric constant may significantly decrease, the piezoelectric constant of PLLA is extremely stable over time. Therefore, displacement due to pressing can be detected with high sensitivity without being affected by the surrounding environment.

The piezoelectric film 10 may be made of a film formed of a ferroelectric substance in which ions such as PVDF or PZT subjected to poling treatment are polarized instead of PLLA.

As the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 formed on both main surfaces of the piezoelectric film 10, metal-based electrodes such as aluminum and copper can be used. When the electrode is required to be transparent, the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 can be made of a highly transparent material such as ITO or PEDOT. By providing such a first electrode 11 and a second electrode 12, the charge generated by the piezoelectric film 10 can be acquired as a voltage, and a pressing amount detection signal of a voltage value according to the pressing amount can be output to the outside .

The state detection unit 21 detects whether the housing 102 is in a folded state. That is, the state detection unit 21 detects whether the piezoelectric film 10 provided in the pressure sensor 1 is in a folded state.

When the state detection unit 21 detects an unfolded state of the housing 102, when the piezoelectric film 10 receives a pressing operation, the processing unit 22 processes a signal generated by the pressing sensor 1 as a first operation. . On the other hand, when the state detection unit 21 detects the folded state of the housing 102, when the piezoelectric film 10 receives the pressing operation, the processing unit 22 processes the signal generated by the pressing sensor 1 as the second operation. Do. The folded state of the housing 102 and the processing performed by the processing unit 22 will be described in detail below.

5 (A) to 5 (C) are schematic cross sections for explaining the use state of the electronic device 100. FIG. FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the pressure sensor 1 in a state where the electronic device 100 is not folded. FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view of electronic device 100 in a state where electronic device 100 is folded in half along line II in FIG. 5A. FIG. 5C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device 100 in a state where a part of the electronic device 100 is folded along the line III in FIG. 5A. 5 (A) to 5 (C), for convenience of explanation, only a part of the housing 102 and the pressure sensor 1 are shown, and the other configuration is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the electronic device 100 is in the unfolded state, that is, in the state where the electronic device 100 is opened, and for example, the front panel 103 is exposed to the surface as shown in FIG. It is in the state of doing. In the state in which the electronic device 100 is opened, almost no force is applied to the piezoelectric film 10 of the pressure sensor 1, so there is no place that is greatly expanded and contracted. In this state, even if any position of the pressure sensor 1 receives a pressing operation, the pressure sensor 1 outputs a normal output. Thus, the state detection unit 21 detects that the housing 102 is in the open state.

When the user performs a touch operation on the electronic device 100 from the front panel 103 side of the electronic device 100 as shown by an arrow 501 in FIG. 5A in a state where the electronic device 100 is not folded, the front panel 103 and display The pressing force is transmitted to the pressing sensor 1 through the portion 104. A pressing force is applied to the pressing sensor 1 in the negative direction of the Z axis. The pressure sensor 1 outputs a charge according to the received pressure. The processing unit 22 processes a signal generated by the pressure sensor 1 as a first operation. The first operation indicates, for example, handling as a signal input from the front panel 103 side. In this case, the processing unit 22 outputs the signal generated by the pressure sensor 1 as it is without changing it. Thus, the electronic device 100 can be operated with the housing 102 opened.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, a state in which the electronic device 100 is folded in half along the line II will be described. In a state where electronic device 100 is folded in half, it is folded with housing 102 on the outside and pressure sensor 1 on the inside. The piezoelectric film 10 of the pressure sensor 1 is largely curved in the vicinity of the line II. Further, in this state, the front panel 103 and the display unit 104 can not be viewed from the front.

In the state where electronic device 100 is folded in half, as shown by arrow 502 in FIG. 5B, when the curved portion of piezoelectric film 10 receives a pressing operation, pressing sensor 1 has flat piezoelectric film 10. Output different from the case. Thereby, the state detection unit 21 detects that the housing 102 is in a folded state. It is also possible to form the periphery of the curved portion of the housing 102 with a material having a certain degree of hardness. In this case, in a state where electronic device 100 is folded, a force is applied to the inside simultaneously while housing 102 is bent. Therefore, since the curved portion of the housing 102 pushes the piezoelectric film 10, the state detection unit 21 detects that the housing 102 is in a folded state without the curved portion of the piezoelectric film 10 receiving a pressing operation from the outside. be able to.

When the state detection unit 21 detects that the electronic device 100 is folded in half, the processing unit 22 processes a signal generated by the pressure sensor 1 as a second operation. For example, as illustrated by an arrow 503 in FIG. 5B in a state where electronic device 100 is folded in half, when housing 102 receives a pressing operation, pressure sensor 1 receives Z axis via housing 102. The pressing force is applied in the negative direction of. At this time, the processing unit 22 detects only the pressing force that the pressing sensor 1 receives from the housing 102 side. That is, the second operation indicates that, for example, a signal generated by the pressure sensor 1 is treated as a signal input from the housing 102 side. In this case, the processing unit 22 outputs a signal generated by the pressure sensor 1, for example, by inverting the generated charges in the positive and negative directions. Moreover, it is also possible to treat a signal generated when a pressing force is applied from the pressing sensor 1 side to the housing 102 side by the pressing operation from the outside as zero. Accordingly, the electronic device 100 can be operated from the outside without opening the housing 102 in a folded state. As described above, by changing the processing of the signal generated by the pressure sensor 1 according to the open / close state of the housing 102, the electronic device 100 can receive an operation according to each state. In addition, it is possible to suppress power consumption used for display of the display portion 104 which occurs in a state where the housing 102 is opened.

Next, a state where a part of the electronic device 100 is folded along the line III as illustrated in FIG. 5C will be described. In this state, a description similar to that in the state where electronic device 100 is folded in half will be omitted. The piezoelectric film 10 of the pressure sensor 1 is largely curved near the line III. Further, in this state, the front panel 103 and the display unit 104 are in a state where they can be partially viewed from the front.

As shown in FIG. 5C, in a state where a part of the electronic device 100 is folded along the line III, the curved portion of the piezoelectric film 10 receives the pressing operation as shown by the arrow 504 in FIG. 5C. In this case, the pressure sensor 1 outputs different from when the piezoelectric film 10 is flat. Thereby, the state detection unit 21 detects that the housing 102 is in a folded state. In the pressure sensor 1, the piezoelectric film 10, the first electrode 11, or the second electrode 12 may be arranged in a plurality in a divided manner along the Y-axis direction. In this case, since the output is detected for each of the piezoelectric films 10 at the folded portion, the folded portion can be detected.

When the state detection unit 21 detects that the electronic device 100 is folded, the processing unit 22 processes a signal generated by the pressure sensor 1 as a second operation. For example, as illustrated by an arrow 505 in FIG. 5C in a state in which a part of the electronic device 100 is folded, when the pressing operation is received by the housing 102, the pressing sensor 1 Z via the housing 102. A pressing force is applied in the negative direction of the shaft. At this time, the processing unit 22 detects only the pressing force that the pressing sensor 1 receives from the housing 102 side. Accordingly, the electronic device 100 can be operated in a state where a part of the housing 102 is folded. Further, in this case, the electronic device 100 can be operated by applying a pressing operation to the housing 102 while visually recognizing a part of the display portion 104 of the housing 102. Note that the state in which a part of the electronic device 100 is folded is not limited to this, and the ratio of the display unit 104 that can be visually recognized from the table can be changed according to the use state, such as a relatively wide or narrow ratio. It is. This makes it possible to cope with cases where the operation is complicated and a wide operation range is required, and cases where a relatively narrow operation range is sufficient with a simple operation.

6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining an electronic device according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the description of the same configuration as the electronic device 100 according to the first embodiment will be omitted.

As shown to FIG. 6 (A) and FIG. 6 (B), the electronic device 200 which concerns on 2nd embodiment is the structure curved at the line II. In the electronic device 200, the pressure sensor 1 is disposed at least at a curved portion of the housing 102. The electronic device 200 includes, as the display unit 104, an organic EL display provided with a pressure detection function.

As shown in FIG. 6A, in the state where the housing 102 is open, the state detection unit 21 detects that the housing 102 is open. In this case, the processing unit 22 outputs the pressing force applied to the organic EL display as shown by the arrow 601 in FIG. 6A as it is. That is, the processing unit 22 processes the signal generated by the display unit 104 as a first operation.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the case 102 receives a pressing operation as shown by the arrow 602 in FIG. The detection unit 21 detects that the housing 102 is in a folded state. In this case, the processing unit 22 processes the pressing force applied to the organic EL display as a second operation without outputting it as it is. For example, as indicated by an arrow 603 in FIG. 6B, when the housing 102 receives a pressing operation, the processing unit 22 sets the pressing force applied to the organic EL display as the pressing force operated on the housing 102. Process and output. Thus, the electronic device 200 can receive an operation according to each state by changing the processing of the pressing force applied to the organic EL display according to the open / close state of the housing 102.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining an electronic device according to the third embodiment. The electronic device 300 according to the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except that the electronic apparatus 300 includes the sub display 71. Therefore, in the third embodiment, only differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the description will not be repeated.

As shown in FIG. 7, the electronic device 300 further includes a sub display 71 on the back surface 105. In the state where electronic device 300 is folded, when housing 102 receives a pressing operation, state detection unit 21 detects that housing 102 is in a folded state. In this case, the electronic device 300 displays the sub display 71. It is possible to operate options such as operation keys displayed on the sub display 71. In addition, at this time, the display unit 104 side inside the housing 102 can suppress power consumption by turning off the display. Thus, the electronic device 300 can receive an operation according to each state by processing the signal so as to detect the pressing force applied to each display according to the open / close state of the housing 102. it can.

In the electronic device according to the present embodiment, the pressure sensor can also detect a plurality of pressure patterns in a folded state. For example, when the pressing sensor detects two pressing operations in succession, the sound reproduction is detected, and when the three pressing operations is detected in succession, the stop of the sound is detected, and the long pressing is detected following one pressing operation. It becomes possible to operate the electronic device according to the variation of the operation, such as the increase of the reproduction volume. In addition, when operating with the pressing pattern, it is not necessary to provide or display a specific button or the like on the electronic device.

In the electronic device according to the present embodiment, it is also possible to issue a warning when the pressing sensor receives a pressing operation with a force more than necessary. For example, there are cases where an alarm sound is emitted or an electronic device is vibrated. Thereby, the electronic device can be prevented from being damaged by receiving an excessive force.

In the electronic device according to the present embodiment, the pressure sensor is one, but a plurality of pressure sensors can be provided. In this case, by arranging the pressure sensors in a matrix or in parallel to the operation surface of the electronic device, it is possible to process the signal according to the place where the pressing operation is received. For example, the reproduction volume of sound can be changed depending on the direction, or the reproduction speed of sound can be changed.

Finally, the description of the embodiments is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated not by the embodiments described above but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention includes the scope equivalent to the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Press sensor 10 ... Piezoelectric film 11 ... 1st electrode 12 ... 2nd electrode 14 ... 1st main surface 15 ... 2nd main surface 21 ... State detection part 22 ... Processing

part

100, 200, 300 ... Electronic device 102 ... Case body

Claims

A foldable housing,
A piezoelectric film, a first electrode disposed on a first principal surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode disposed on the second principal surface of the piezoelectric film so as to face the first electrode A pressure sensor,
A state detection unit that detects whether or not the housing is in a folded state;
When the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation when the status detection unit detects the unfolded state of the housing, the signal generated by the pressing sensor is processed as a first operation, and the status detection A processing unit configured to process a signal generated by the pressing sensor as a second operation when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation when the unit detects the folded state of the housing;
An electronic device comprising the
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is disposed on at least a curved portion of the housing.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is disposed inside when the housing is folded.
The display device further includes a display unit disposed inside when the housing is folded,
The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor is disposed so as to overlap the display unit.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pressure sensor is transparent.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pressure sensor detects a plurality of pressure patterns.