JP2010183941A - Input display device for household electrical appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input display device having a comfortable and reliable sense of operation in which a capacitive touch switch and a mechanical switch coexist. <P>SOLUTION: In the input display device for a household electrical appliance which is reliable and comfortable, when a capacitive switch to be a touch key is operated, a drive motor 27 and a buzzer 28 are driven, a tactile equal to a sense of click when operating the mechanical switch is achieved, and a sense of incongruity in operating the touch key and the mechanical key is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of an input display device that instructs operation of a home appliance and displays an operation status.

  FIG. 6 shows a structure of a dishwasher / dryer as an example of home appliances currently on the market. A housing 101 has an object storage section 102 for storing tableware, a cooking container, etc. Pressurized water is ejected from the nozzle 104 to wash the tableware in the object storage section 102. Moreover, the tableware which wash | cleaned is dried with the heater (not shown) in the to-be-cleaned object storage part 102. FIG. The instruction of cleaning and drying is performed by a button group 106 installed in the operation unit 105, and the signal is transmitted to the controller 108 by the cable group 107, and the controller 108 is transmitted to the pump 103 by the cable group 109, and cleaning is performed. It is started, and it is transmitted to the heater to start drying.

In addition, as an input button, there is also an operation button like an operation unit of a remote control device without a protrusion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-353917 A

  However, regarding the arrangement of the buttons installed in the operation section of the conventional dishwasher / dryer, there has been a demand for realizing a clean appearance by eliminating the protrusion. However, on the other hand, not only a dishwasher / dryer, but a household appliance drives a heater and a motor, so a large current flows. Accordingly, it has been demanded to surely control the current, that is, to ensure reliability as well as to ensure design. However, the operation unit with a clean design with no protrusion, on the other hand, could not be recognized by the operator when the button was pressed, and could be an input means with poor operability due to troublesome operation.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a driving power source, a button group for instructing a plurality of inputs, electrostatic switch means for specifying an input from the button group based on a change in capacitance, and opening / closing of the contact by pressing Mechanical switch means specified from the state change and vibration means driven by the output of the electrostatic switch means.

  In this way, by adopting a capacitance type button group that identifies a pressed button from a change in capacitance, the display unit can be thinly configured, and a clean design can be realized. On the other hand, a button group having a mechanical switch contact is installed in the button group for instructing control of a large current, so that the reliability of the device can be improved, and the vibration means is driven when inputting the electrostatic switch. Therefore, the user can surely feel that the switch has been pressed, and can contribute to the realization of an input display device for home appliances that achieves both comfortable operability and design.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a power source for driving, a button group for instructing a plurality of inputs, an electrostatic switch means for identifying an input from the button group from a change in electrostatic capacity, and a change from an open / closed state of a contact by pressing And a vibration means driven by the output of the electrostatic switch means, and a pressed button is detected from the change in capacitance, so that the display unit can be made thin and static. When the electric switch is pressed, vibration is felt at the fingertip by the vibration of the vibration means, and the same operational feeling as when the mechanical switch means is operated can be realized.

  According to a second invention, in particular, in the first invention, the electrostatic switch means is a touch sense IC that recognizes a change in capacitance and outputs a signal, and has a small number of components and a simple configuration. A touch button can be configured.

  In the third invention, particularly in the first to second inventions, the vibration means is installed in the vicinity of the input portion of the electrostatic switch means, and the mechanical switch is operated by the vicinity of the touched button shaking. The operation feeling is improved and the reliability and comfort of operation are improved.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the second to third aspects of the invention, the vibration means is driven by the output of the touch sense IC. Since the vibration means can be driven by the same output as the input detection signal, the overall configuration is simplified. be able to.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a power source for driving, a button group for instructing a plurality of inputs, an electrostatic switch means for identifying an input from the button group from a change in electrostatic capacity, and a change from an open / closed state of a contact by pressing And a vibration means driven by the output of the electrostatic switch means, and both the vibration means and the buzzer means are driven by the output of the electrostatic switch means. When the mechanical switch means is operated, only the buzzer means is driven. When the electrostatic switch is input, the vibration and buzzer are used to detect the input. When the mechanical switch is input, there is a feeling of operation. It is intended to make the operational feeling uniform by sensing and different types of switches.

  In the sixth invention, particularly in the fifth invention, the vibration means and the buzzer means are both driven by the output signal of the touch sense IC, so that the entire configuration can be simplified.

  In the seventh invention, particularly in the first to sixth inventions, a plurality of vibration means are installed at locations corresponding to the respective input portions of the electrostatic switch means, and the touched location vibrates. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately determine the place where the button is pressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an input display device 1 for home appliances according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A part of a sheet 2 made of a flexible resin having a surface thickness of about 0.5 mm is shown. The peeled state is shown. On the sheet 2, a group of buttons for instructing an operation according to the function of the electric appliance is displayed by printing. In FIG. 1, a timer button 3 for inputting a time, which is a function of the dishwasher, and a drying button 4 for instructing drying. A washing button 5 for instructing a dish washing method, a start button 6 for instructing start of use of the device, and an on / off button 7 for instructing stop of use of the device are displayed. The sheet 2 is attached to the surface of the transparent resin plate 8 having a thickness of about 1 to 3 mm. Under the transparent resin plate 8, a printed circuit board 9 on which electrical components are placed is installed. On the printed circuit board 9, conductive electrodes 11 and mechanical switches 12 and 13 are installed corresponding to the printing positions of the respective buttons (the electrodes corresponding to the timer button 3 and the drying button 4 are shown in the figure). Not shown). Here, in order to operate the mechanical switches 12, 13, a place corresponding to the mechanical switches 12, 13 of the transparent resin plate 8 is perforated, and the mechanical switch is operated by the start button 6 and the on / off button 7. 12 and 13 can be operated. When the finger 14 approaches the washing button 5 in this configuration, the capacitance 15 between the washing button 5 and the electrode 11 changes.
The change in capacitance is detected by the touch sensing IC 16 that is a button specifying means, and a signal that the washing button 5 has been pressed is sent to the microcomputer 17 that is a button discrimination display means. The microcomputer C17 transmits a serial signal corresponding to the washing button 5 to the infrared LEDs 18 and 19, and also transmits a lighting signal to the washing display LED 20-1, so that the washing display LED 20-1 is lit. The lighting of the LED 20-1 for washing display can be confirmed through the hole 21 of the sheet 2.

  When the finger 14 approaches the drying button 4, the capacitance between the drying button 4 and an electrode (not shown) changes. The change in capacitance is detected by the touch sense IC 16 and a signal indicating that the drying button 4 has been pressed is sent to the microcomputer 17. The microcomputer C17 transmits a serial signal corresponding to the drying button 4 to the infrared LEDs 18 and 19, and also transmits a lighting signal to the drying display LED 20-4 (not shown), and the drying display LED 20-4 is lit.

  When the finger 14 approaches the timer button 3, the capacitance between the timer button 3 and an electrode (not shown) changes. The change in capacitance is detected by the touch sense IC 16 and a signal indicating that the timer button 3 has been pressed is sent to the microcomputer 17. The microcomputer C17 transmits a serial signal corresponding to the timer button 3 to the infrared LEDs 18 and 19, and also transmits a lighting signal to a timer display LED 20-5 (not shown), so that the timer display LED 20-5 is lit.

  An infrared signal emitted from the LED 18 is received by the infrared light receiving element 22 on the device side. When the start button 6 is pressed, the contact of the mechanical switch 12 is closed, and when the on / off button 7 is pressed, the contact of the mechanical switch 13 is closed, the signal is processed by the microcomputer 17, and the serial signal corresponding to each button is sent to the infrared signal. It transmits to LED18,19. When the start button 6 is selected, a lighting signal is also transmitted to the start display LED 20-2 to light the start display LED 20-3. When the on / off button 7 is pressed, a lighting signal is also transmitted to the on / off display LED 20-3 to light the on / off display LED 20-3.

  Here, a magnet 23 is attached to the back of the printed circuit board 9 so that the device can hold the input display device 1 with a magnetic force. In addition, a plug 24 for supplying power for operating the input display device 1 is attached, and the plug 24 is fitted to an outlet 25 attached to the device to supply power to the input display device 1.

  Further, when a signal is sent from the touch sense IC 16 to the vibration motor 27 which is a vibration means through the driver IC 26 and the electrostatic switch buttons of the timer button 3, the drying button 4 and the washing button 5 are pressed, an input display is performed. The entire apparatus 1 vibrates, and it can be actually felt that the key is input. Further, a signal is sent from the microcomputer 17 to the buzzer 28, and the buzzer 28 sounds when a key is touched. Here, when the mechanical switches 12 and 13 are pressed, the movement of the buttons can be sensed, so that the buzzer 28 only sounds without causing vibration.

  As described above, a thin operation unit can be realized by the configuration using the touch sense IC 16. Here, since the touch sense IC 16 operates by detecting a change in capacitance, the touch sense IC 16 can be configured thinner than a switch having a mechanical contact configuration. However, the noise immunity is inferior to that of a mechanical contact. Sometimes it is possible. Accordingly, it is possible to employ a mechanical switch where it is determined that more reliability is required, such as application of electric power to the heater or turning on / off of the power source. However, if the durability and reliability of the touch sense IC 16 are supported, it is possible to realize a thin operation unit by making all the buttons capacitive. For touch type keys, input is confirmed by vibration and buzzer ringing, and for mechanical type keys, input is confirmed by touching the movement of the button and buzzer ringing, realizing comfortable operability. it can.

  FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of the input display device 1 for home appliances according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  3A and 3B are signals output from the microcomputer 17 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a timing chart of scan signals, and FIG. 3B is a timing chart of LED display signals.

  FIG. 4 is a timing chart of output signals of the touch sense IC 16 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

  A periodic rectangular wave having a peak value of 5V and a width of 5 milliseconds shown in FIG. 3 is output from the C2 to C0 terminals of the microcomputer 17, and display and input are performed in synchronization with the scan signal.

  Here, when the touch sense IC 16 detects that the finger 14 has touched the wash button 5, the Out1 terminal in FIG. 4 becomes LOW level, and the gate of the P-type MOSFET transistor 30 becomes LOW level. The drain and the source 30 are electrically connected, and the signal from the C1 port that is the output port of the microcomputer 17 is transmitted to the A1 port that is the input port. Since the output port is C1 and the input port is A1, the microcomputer determines that the selected button is the wash button 5. When the output port C0 is output, the B1 port of FIG. 4B, which is the LED display signal, is set to the LOW level, thereby causing the washing display LED 20-1 to flow and light.

  When the drying button 4 and the timer button 3 are pressed, the button selected by the combination of the output port and the input port is discriminated in the same manner as the washing button 5 is discriminated. When the start button 6 and the on / off button 7 are pressed with the finger 14 on the mechanical switches 12 and 13, a scan signal is transmitted from the output port to the input port, and the button is discriminated. In addition, the LED corresponding to each button is selected, and lighting / extinguishing control (dynamic lighting) is performed according to the scan signal, and it appears to the human eye that the corresponding LED is continuously lit.

  Further, the output of the Out1, Terminal2, and Out3 terminals of the touch sense IC 16 becomes the input of the logic IC 33 that is a three-input NAND circuit. If any of the terminals becomes LOW, that is, the timer button 3, the dry button 4, and the wash button. When any one of 5 is pressed, the output of the logic IC 33 becomes HIGH, the vibration motor 27 is operated via the driver IC 26, and the finger 14 feels vibration.

  Here, another driver IC 34 is also connected to the output terminal of the logic IC 33 and drives the buzzer 35. The buzzer can be sounded through the microcomputer 17, but when the electrostatic switch button is pressed, the touch sense IC 16 can generate vibration and sound at the same time. It is possible to reduce the work burden of 17 jobs.

  The sections indicated by (a), (b), and (c) in FIG. 4 are sections in which vibration and ringing are performed.

  In FIG. 3B, when the output of B1 becomes LOW at the timing when C1 in FIG. 3A is output, the timer LED 20-5 is turned on, and B0 becomes LOW at the timing when C2 is output. Thus, the signal state when the LED 20-1 for washing display is lit is shown.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, button determination is performed by opening and closing the intersection of the scan signal and the input signal on the electric circuit for both the capacitance switch and the mechanical switch. Therefore, in the embodiment, the combination of two mechanical switches and three capacitance switches has been described. However, any combination of five switches can be realized and the design can be realized. And combinations according to design philosophy are possible.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the input display device 1 for home appliances according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Here, vibration motors 36, 37, 38 are installed under the timer button 3, the drying button 4, and the washing button 5, and when the respective buttons are pressed, the latest vibration motor vibrates. Rather than feel the vibration of the input display device 1 as a whole by a vibration motor installed at one place, the touched location is configured to vibrate, so that it is possible to more reliably detect which button is touched.

  As described above, the input display device of the home appliance having a configuration in which the input of the capacitance switch is detected by the combination of the capacitance switch and the mechanical switch using the touch sense IC according to the present invention is a dishwasher / dryer It can be used not only for home appliances such as, but also widely as an input display device for control equipment.

1 is a configuration diagram of an input display device 1 for home appliances according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an electric circuit diagram of an input display device for home appliances according to a first embodiment of the present invention; (A) Timing chart of the scan signal of the signal output from the microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention (b) Timing chart of the LED display signal of the signal output from the microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention Timing chart of output signal of touch sense IC 16 according to the first embodiment of the present invention The block diagram of the input display apparatus of the household appliances in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention Cross-sectional view of a conventional dishwasher / dryer

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input display apparatus 2 Sheet | seat 3 Timer button 4 Drying button 5 Washing button 6 Start button 7 On / off button 9 Printed circuit board 11 Electrode 12, 13 Mechanical switch 16 Touch sense IC (button specific means)
17 Microcomputer (button discrimination display means)
20-1 LED for washing display
20-2 Start display LED
20-3 On / off display LED
20-4 LED for dry display
20-5 LED for timer display
26, 34 Driver IC
27, 36, 37, 38 Vibration motor (vibration means)
28, 35 Buzzer 30, 31, 32 P-type MOSFET transistor 33 Logic IC

Claims (7)

A power source for driving, a button group for instructing a plurality of inputs, an electrostatic switch means for specifying an input from the button group from a change in electrostatic capacity, and a mechanical switch means for specifying from an open / closed state change of a contact by pressing And an input display device for home appliances having vibration means driven by the output of the electrostatic switch means. 2. An input display device for home appliances according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic switch means is a touch sense IC that recognizes a change in capacitance and outputs a signal. 3. The input display device for home appliances according to claim 1, wherein the vibration means is installed in the vicinity of the input portion of the electrostatic switch means. 4. The home appliance input display device according to claim 2, wherein the vibration means is driven by an output signal of the touch sense IC. A power source for driving, a button group for instructing a plurality of inputs, an electrostatic switch means for specifying an input from the button group from a change in electrostatic capacity, and a mechanical switch means for specifying from an open / closed state change of a contact by pressing And a buzzer means driven at the time of inputting the button group and a vibration means driven by the output of the electrostatic switch means, and both the vibration means and the buzzer means are driven by the output of the electrostatic switch means, Home appliance input display device that drives only the buzzer means when the automatic switch means operates. 6. The home appliance input display device according to claim 5, wherein the vibration means and the buzzer means are driven by an output signal of the touch sense IC. The input display device for home appliances according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of vibration means are installed at locations corresponding to respective input portions of the plurality of electrostatic switch means.