JP2012038050A - Information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

In an information terminal, an information terminal that accepts input of pointing information and key information is miniaturized.
In an information terminal, when a touch operation is performed, the capacitance of an electrode sheet changes. Based on the amount of the change, the keyboard input mode and the pointing input mode are switched. When the amount of change in the capacitance of the electrode sheet 200 exceeds the first value, the keyboard input mode is set and key information is generated. When the amount of change is equal to or less than the first value and exceeds the second value, the pointing input mode is set and pointing information is generated.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an information terminal, and more particularly to an information terminal that accepts input of pointing information and key information.

  Conventionally, there are many information terminals that accept input of key information from a keyboard on which a plurality of keys are arranged and input of pointing information from a pointing device. Such an information terminal has a keyboard and a pointing device. For example, a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) includes a keyboard and a touch pad as a pointing device.

  As such information terminals are increasingly miniaturized due to market needs, miniaturization of keyboards and touchpads is also required. However, there is a limit to downsizing these because of operability problems.

Conventionally, various techniques have been disclosed for touch pads in information terminals.
For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-065730), by using a highly sensitive capacitive sensor as a touch pad, in addition to inputting a two-dimensional coordinate, an object to be detected in space. A mobile communication terminal device is disclosed that can input the position of the three as three-dimensional coordinates.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-257374 discloses a virtual key arrangement on a display device, and changes a virtual key to be selected when a sliding operation is performed on the touchpad. A technique for recognizing that a determination operation has been performed on a selected virtual key when an operation for increasing the pressing force on the touch pad is performed is disclosed.

JP 2008-0665730 A JP 2008-257374 A

  However, although Patent Document 1 is characterized by processing of input information for the touch pad, handling of the input information for the touch pad has not been considered in relation to the keyboard. Further, although Patent Document 2 relates to a selection operation and a determination operation for a virtual key displayed on a display device, determining a key to be input by an operation on a touch pad from a virtual key displayed on the display device The operation of inputting keys arranged on a normal keyboard is much more complicated. From this point, even in Patent Document 2, the input information to the touch pad is considered in relation to the keyboard. It could not be said that it was handled.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to reduce the size of an information terminal that accepts input of pointing information and key information in the information terminal.

  An information terminal according to the present invention includes a sheet-like electrode whose capacitance changes based on the proximity of a conductor, first detection means for detecting the amount of change in capacitance in the sheet-like electrode, and sheet-like And a key input mechanism having a plurality of keys stacked on the electrode, wherein the keys are arranged on the surface stacked on the sheet-like electrode, and one of the keys is pressed in the stacking direction. Based on the second detection means for detecting this and the amount of change detected by the first detection means, the pointing information, which is the operation position information on the surface of the sheet-like electrode on which the key input mechanism is stacked, is generated. And input information generating means for generating key information, which is information indicating that the key detected to be pressed is input based on the detection output of the second detecting means.

  In the information terminal of the present invention, the input information generating means generates only the key information when the amount of change detected by the first detecting means exceeds the first value, and is detected by the first detecting means. When the amount of change is equal to or less than the first value and exceeds the second value smaller than the first value, it is preferable to generate only the pointing information.

  In the information terminal of the present invention, the second detecting means detects that each key is pressed when the key is pressed with a force of a predetermined magnitude or more in the stacking direction, and the sheet-like The electrode is preferably configured such that the amount of change in capacitance exceeds the first value when pressed by a force greater than a predetermined magnitude.

  In the information terminal of the present invention, the key input mechanism includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a support that supports the first conductor with a spacing from the second conductor in the stacking direction. The supporting body is preferably made of a plastic material and is deformed so that the first conductor comes into contact with the second conductor by being pressed with a force of a predetermined size or more in the stacking direction.

  According to the above configuration, when a user operates a stacked sheet-like electrode and a key input mechanism, key input information is generated when a key of the key input mechanism is pressed, Information on the operation position is generated according to the operation position.

  Thereby, when a user operates with respect to the said laminated body, the information terminal can produce | generate pointing information and key information based on the said operation.

  Therefore, a device that receives input of pointing information and a device that receives key information can be arranged in an overlapping manner, and the information terminal can be downsized.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the information terminal which is 1 implementation of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the internal structure of the 2nd housing of the information terminal of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the key input mechanism of the information terminal of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the key input mechanism of the information terminal of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the electrode sheet | seat of the information terminal of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the hardware constitutions of the information terminal of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the information input in the pointing input mode by the information terminal of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the information input in the keyboard input mode by the information terminal of FIG. It is a flowchart of the input information generation process performed in the information terminal of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the processing content of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the input mode of information in the modification of the information terminal of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the X electrode layer of the information terminal of FIG. 1, and a Y electrode layer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the information terminal of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[1. Schematic configuration of information terminal]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the information terminal 100.

  The information terminal 100 includes a first housing 1 and a second housing 2. The first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are connected to each other so as to be foldable by a predetermined shaft (not shown). The information terminal 100 does not necessarily include a plurality of housings configured to be foldable. You may be comprised from the single housing.

  The first housing 1 includes a display unit 30. The display unit 30 is configured by a liquid crystal display device, for example. The display unit 30 includes a document on a network such as a web page, an address book stored in the information terminal 100, a mail creation screen by a mailer executed on the information terminal 100, an editing screen by a document creation application, a drawing application It is possible to display various information such as an image creation screen by, a browsing screen in a browsing application for image data and video data.

  The second housing 2 is provided with an operation area 20, and a key group 21 </ b> A, a left key 21 </ b> B, and a right key 21 </ b> C are provided in the operation area 20. The key group 21A includes 19 operation buttons. The left key 21B and the right key 21C are operation buttons, respectively. The operation area 20 is an area in which an electrode sheet 200 described later is built.

[2. Information terminal internal structure]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the internal structure of the second casing 2 of the information terminal 100.

  In the second housing 2, the key operation unit 500, the key input unit 400, and the electrode sheet 200 are sequentially stacked.

  The key operation unit 500 includes a plurality of keys 501 to 505. Each of the keys 501 to 505 corresponds to an operation button included in the key group 21 </ b> A or an operation button constituting the left key 21 </ b> B or the right key 21. The keys 501 to 505 of the key operation unit 500 protrude on the surface of the second casing 2. However, the keys 501 to 505 of the key operation unit 500 may be configured so that the surface thereof is flush with the other parts of the second casing 2, that is, without a step. When the keys 501 to 505 are pressed in the downward direction of the figure (the key operation unit 500, the key input unit 400, and the electrode sheet 200 stacking direction) with a predetermined force or more, the bottom surface of the key 501 to 505 is the key input unit. 400 abuts. Thereby, in the information terminal 100, input information of each key is generated. In the present embodiment, a key input mechanism 600 is configured by the key operation unit 500 and the key input unit 400.

[3. Configuration of key input mechanism]
FIG. 3A shows an enlarged view of a portion corresponding to the key 501 of the key input mechanism 600. Referring to FIG. 3A, the key 501 has a carbon 501A pattern printed on the bottom surface thereof, and is supported by the support unit 501B so as to be separated from the key input unit 400 in the stacking direction. Yes. The support portion 501B is made of a plastic material (for example, a synthetic resin such as a polyurethane resin, rubber, or the like).
A wiring pattern 401 made of a conductive material is printed on a portion of the key input unit 400 facing the carbon 501A. FIG. 3B is a top view of the key input unit 400 shown in FIG. The wiring pattern 401 is electrically connected to an input information detection unit 410 described later by a printed wiring 400A. Corresponding to the key 501, two wiring patterns 401 are formed in the key input unit 400. Portions other than the portion where the wiring pattern 401 is formed of the key input unit 400 are made of an insulator. In the state shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the two wiring patterns 401 are not electrically connected.

  When the key 501 is pressed downward in the stacking direction from the state shown in FIG. 3A, the support portion 501B is bent as shown in FIG. 4A, and the bottom surface of the key 501 contacts the wiring pattern 401. Touch. As a result, as schematically shown in FIG. 4B, the two wiring patterns 401 are electrically connected by the carbon 501A. The input information detection unit 410 determines whether or not the key 501 has been pressed based on the change in the conductive state in the wiring pattern 401. If the key is pressed, the input information detection unit 410 generates key input information corresponding to the key 501. . The generated information is passed to an application executed by the control unit 50 described later. Thereby, in the application, processing reflecting the key input information is executed.

  In the key input mechanism 600, each key (button) has a configuration as described with respect to the key 501.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the key operation unit 500 is provided with a plurality of keys (some of which are shown as keys 501 to 505) having the same configuration as the key 501, and the key input unit 400. A plurality of wiring patterns (a part of which is shown as wiring patterns 401 to 405) having the same configuration as the wiring pattern 401 corresponding to each key is printed. On the bottom surface of each key, carbon (a part of which is shown as keys 501A to 505A) is printed in the same manner as the carbon 501A of the key 501.

[4. Configuration of electrode sheet]
FIG. 5A shows a detailed configuration of the electrode sheet 200. In the electrode sheet 200, the noise protection sheet 201, the glass 202 which is an insulator, and the electrode layer 203 are laminated | stacked in order. A predetermined voltage is applied to the electrode layer 203. In the information terminal 100, a detection unit 205 that detects the capacitance of the electrode layer 203 is provided. The detection unit 205 is included in the input information detection unit 210. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the user's finger F approaches the surface of the electrode sheet 200, the capacitance in the electrode layer 203 changes. By detecting the change amount by the detection unit 205, the position on the plane on which the key input unit 400 is stacked in the electrode sheet 200 is identified (operation position).

  Specifically, the electrode layer 203 includes an X electrode layer 2031 for specifying the operation position in the X direction of the electrode layer 203 and a Y electrode layer 2032 for specifying the operation position in the Y direction. Composed. FIG. 12A schematically illustrates the configuration of the X electrode layer 2031, and FIG. 12B schematically illustrates the configuration of the Y electrode layer 2032.

  Referring to FIG. 12A, in the X electrode layer 2031, a plurality of X electrodes 2031 A, 2031 B,... 2031 X, ... 2031 N are arranged in the X direction of the electrode layer 203.

  Referring to FIG. 12B, in Y electrode layer 2032, a plurality of Y electrodes 2032A, 2032B,... 2032Y,.

  In the initial state of the mobile terminal 100, a predetermined voltage is applied to each of the X electrodes 2031A, 2031B,... 2031X, ... 2031N and the Y electrodes 2032A, 2032B,. When the operation position of the finger F with respect to the electrode layer 203 is on the X electrode 2031X in the X direction and on the Y electrode 2032Y in the Y direction, the potentials of the X electrode 2031X and the Y electrode 2032Y change. In the portable terminal 100, the detection unit 205 detects a potential difference between each of the X electrodes 2031A, 2031B, ... 2031X, ... 2031N and each of the Y electrodes 2032A, 2032B, ... 2032Y, ... 2032M. Then, the set of the X electrode and the Y electrode in which the potential difference has changed is specified. Based on the information of the specified set, the control unit 50 specifies the position of the X electrode of the set in the X direction, specifies the position of the Y electrode of the set in the Y direction, and thereby in the electrode layer 203 Specify the operation position.

  Information for converting each of the X electrodes 2031A, 2031B,... 2031X,... 2031N to the position in the X direction, and each of the Y electrodes 2032A, 2032B,. The information for this is memorize | stored in the 2nd conversion information storage part 62 mentioned later.

  Further, in the electrode layer 203 of the electrode sheet 200, the capacitance varies depending on the magnitude of the operated force, that is, the magnitude of the force applied in the stacking direction by the touch operation on the operation area 20. In the present embodiment, pointing information corresponding to the operation position on the electrode sheet 200 is generated when the amount of change in capacitance exceeds a certain value and is equal to or less than a specific value. The pointing information is information that identifies which position of the electrode sheet 200 has been operated. On the other hand, when the amount of change in capacitance exceeds a specific value, the pointing information is not generated assuming that the key input operation is performed on the key input mechanism 600.

[5. Hardware configuration of information terminal]
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of the information terminal 100.

  Referring to FIG. 6, information terminal 100 includes a control unit 50 that controls the operation of the information terminal 100 as a whole, an antenna 81 for transmitting / receiving data, and a signal process when transmitting / receiving data by the antenna 81. A communication control unit 80 that performs the above, a storage unit 60 that includes a storage device such as a flash memory, a display unit 30, a display control unit 31 that controls display contents on the display unit 30, a microphone 52 that receives voice input, and a voice output It includes a speaker 51, a sound output control unit 51 </ b> A that controls sound output from the speaker 51, a sound input control unit 52 </ b> A that processes sound input to the microphone 52 and sends the sound to the control unit 50, and a camera 91. The control unit 50 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 50 has a built-in timer 50A.

  The information terminal 100 further includes an input information detection unit 210 in the electrode sheet 200 and an input information detection unit 410 that detects the conduction state of the wiring pattern 401 corresponding to each key of the key input unit 400.

  The storage unit 60 includes a first conversion information storage unit 61, a second conversion information storage unit 62, a data storage unit 63, and a program storage unit 64. The first conversion information storage unit 61 stores information for converting key information generated by an operation on the key input mechanism 600 into information input to the application executed by the control unit 50. For example, when a key in the key group 21A is pressed with a force greater than a predetermined magnitude, the input information detection unit 410 detects that the pair of wiring patterns 401 corresponding to the key is in a conductive state. To do. The key information is information indicating which one of a plurality of keys provided in the second casing 2 has been operated. The first conversion information storage unit 61 stores information for converting information that the pair of wiring patterns 401 is in a conductive state into key information. As described above, the second conversion information storage unit 62 converts the information about the combination of the X electrode and the Y electrode whose potential difference detected by the detection unit 205 of the input information detection unit 210 is changed into pointing information. Remember. The data storage unit 63 stores various kinds of information such as setting values and databases necessary for processing executed by the control unit 50. The program storage unit 64 stores a program executed by the arithmetic device of the control unit 50.

[6. Information input at the information terminal]
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the relationship between the operation content and the information terminal 100 when the user operates the touch area 20 with the finger F approaching (touching).

  In the example of FIG. 7, the finger F is in the order of arrows A <b> 71, A <b> 72, A <b> 73, A <b> 74 on the operation area 20 (directly touching the operation area 20 or constant on the electrode sheet 200) A case is shown in which a distance within a range in which the amount of change in capacitance exceeding the value can be detected (at a distance separated from the operation area 20) is moved.

  In this case, key input in the operation area 20 is not detected. This is because no key is pressed by the force necessary to bring the pair of wiring patterns 401 into a conductive state, as described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. .

  In this case, the input information detection unit 410 detects the history of the pair of the X electrode and the Y electrode whose potential difference has changed in the electrode layer 203 due to the movement of the finger F. And the control part 50 produces | generates the pointing information which is the log | history of the position where operation was performed with respect to the operation area 20, using the said log | history and the information memorize | stored in the 2nd conversion information storage part 62. FIG. When the control unit 50 is executing a drawing application, the generated pointing information is sent to the application, so that the application generates information constituting the line drawing AR corresponding to the locus of the arrows A71 to A74, and The line drawing AR is displayed on the display unit 30. Note that PT1 in FIG. 7 is a pointer indicating the latest input position of the pointing device information.

  8A to 8C show the relationship between the operation content and information input to the information terminal 100 when the user presses the key in the operation area 20 with a force greater than a predetermined size. FIG. 8A and 8B show key operations on the operation area 20, and in FIG. 8C, the display unit is operated by the key operations shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The content displayed at 30 is shown.

  In the example of FIGS. 8A and 8B, the user's finger presses the key 503 in the direction of arrow A81 with a force greater than the predetermined magnitude, moves in the direction of arrow A82, and then moves to arrow A83. The key 505 is pressed in the direction with a force greater than the predetermined size. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, a finger pressing the key 503 is indicated by a finger F1, and a finger pressing the key 505 is indicated by a finger F2.

  When the key 503 is pressed in the direction of the arrow A81, the carbon 503A printed on the bottom surface of the key 503 comes into contact with the key input unit 400. As a result, a pair of wiring patterns 403 printed on the key input unit 400 corresponding to the key 503 are brought into contact with each other, and these are made conductive. Note that the wiring patterns 403 are printed so as to be paired on the key input unit 400, similarly to the wiring pattern 401 of FIG. 4B, and the pairs are printed so as not to be conductive. In FIG. 8B, the operated key is highlighted in the key group 21A with hatching.

  FIG. 8C shows an example of a display screen on the display unit 30. The display screen is an example of a document editing screen when a document creation application is executed on the information terminal 100. In the editing screen, the input character string and the cursor 30A are displayed.

  In the information terminal 100, when the key 503 is pressed and the pair of the wiring patterns 403 is brought into conduction, information indicating that the key 503 has been operated is generated based on that. When the information is sent to a running application, the application converts the information into information for document editing such as character information. Based on the information generated by the conversion, the edit screen displayed on the display unit 30 is appropriately updated. For example, when the information generated by the conversion is character information, the editing screen is updated so that a character corresponding to the character information is added.

[7. Input information generation process]
As described above, the information terminal 100 is operated such that a key in the operation area 20 is pressed to generate key information corresponding to the key, and the user's finger moves on the operation area 20. To generate pointing information. A process (input information generation process) executed by the control unit 50 when generating such information will be described with reference to FIG. 9 which is a flowchart of the process.

  Referring to FIG. 9, in the input information generation process, control unit 50 first reads the capacitance value of electrode layer 203 detected by detection unit 205 in step S10, and advances the process to step S20. Here, the capacitance value is, for example, the total amount of change in capacitance detected by the detection unit 205.

  In step S20, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the difference between the capacitance value read in step S10 and the capacitance value in the steady state exceeds Y1, and if it does not exceed, proceeds to step S10. The process is returned, and if it is determined that it has exceeded, the process proceeds to step S30. Here, the capacitance value at the steady state is the total amount of the capacitance value of the electrode layer 203 measured in a state where there is no conductor other than the components of the information terminal 100 in the vicinity of the electrode layer 203. For example, the value is detected at the time of factory shipment and stored in the data storage unit 63.

  In step S30, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the difference between the capacitance value read in step S10 and the static capacitance value in the steady state exceeds Y2, and if it determines that it exceeds, the process proceeds to step S40. If it is determined that Y2 or less, the process proceeds to step S70. Y2 is larger than Y1.

  In step S40, the control unit 50 sets the keyboard input mode and advances the process to step S50. The keyboard input mode is a mode in which key information is generated and pointing information is not generated.

  In step S50, the control unit 50 generates key information as described above, and uses the conversion information stored in the first conversion information storage unit 61 to convert the key information to information such as character information (character code). And the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, the control unit 50 reflects the information such as the character information generated in step S50 in the control of the application being executed, such as the display content on the display unit 30, and returns the process to step S10.

  In step S70, the control unit 50 sets the pointing input mode, and proceeds to step S80. The pointing input mode is a mode in which pointing information is generated and key information is not generated.

  In step S80, the control unit 50 generates the pointing information as described above, and the position operated on the electrode sheet 200 (operation area 20) using the conversion information stored in the second conversion information storage unit 62. Is generated, and the process proceeds to step S90. Here, the operated position may be an operated point or a locus of a plurality of points operated continuously.

  In step S90, the control unit 50 reflects the position information generated in step S80 in the control of the application being executed, and returns the process to step S10.

  According to the input information generation process described above, the magnitude of the force pressed against the operation area 20 is such that the amount of change in the capacitance of the electrode sheet 200 is greater than Y1 and less than or equal to Y2. In some cases, the pointing input mode is entered. When the magnitude of the force is such that the amount of change in capacitance exceeds Y2, the keyboard input mode is entered. The constant value mentioned in the column of “4. Configuration of electrode sheet” corresponds to Y1, and the specific value corresponds to Y2.

Such mode switching will be described more specifically with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 shows the amount of change in the capacitance of the electrode sheet for a plurality of operations on the operation area 20. Specifically, FIG. 10 shows the amount of change in capacitance for the five operations indicated by a to e. In addition, the horizontal axis of FIG. 10 is a time change. That is, FIG. 10 means that the operation is performed in the order of a, b, c, d, and e.

  The amount of change in capacitance due to the operations of a, b, and d exceeds Y1, but is Y2 or less. Therefore, the control unit 50 is set to the pointing input mode by these operations, and generates pointing information. Specifically, the pointing information is generated based on the information specifying the pair of the X electrode and the Y electrode whose potential difference has changed by each operation and the information stored in the second conversion information storage unit 62.

  The amount of change in capacitance due to the operations of c and e exceeds Y2. Therefore, the control unit 50 is set to the keyboard input mode by these operations and generates key information. Specifically, there is information specifying which key in the operation area 20 is operated based on which wiring pattern among the plurality of wiring patterns included in the key input unit 400 is conducted by each operation. Generated. Information for converting the wiring pattern into information for specifying the key in the operation area 20 is stored in the first conversion information storage unit 61.

  In the input information generation process, the control unit 50 basically operates in the pointing input mode, and may be configured to operate in the keyboard input mode as an interrupt process when a change amount exceeding Y2 is detected. Then, the control unit 50 generates key information based on the change amount operation exceeding Y2, and then returns the process to step S10 to return to the pointing input mode.

  When the change amount of the capacitance is Y1 or less, the control unit 50 generates neither key information nor pointing information.

[8. Modifications etc.]
In the present embodiment described above, the reference values Y1 and Y2 are used to switch between the keyboard input mode and the pointing input mode based on the amount of change in capacitance of the electrode sheet 200 (electrode layer 203). By switching the mode in this manner, even when the user touches the same position with respect to the operation area 20, the keyboard input mode and the pointing input mode can be set in an easy manner in which the magnitude of the touching force is adjusted. Can be switched. Thus, the input mode can be switched by changing the operation mode easily for the user while stacking a device for inputting keyboard information and a device for inputting pointing information to reduce the size of the terminal.

  The electrode sheet 200 is configured such that the capacitance changes by Y2 or more when the key 501 is pressed with a force greater than the magnitude of bending the support portion 501B so that the carbon 501A contacts the wiring pattern 401. It is preferred that Thereby, when the key 501 or the like is pressed, the keyboard input mode is surely set.

  In addition, when Y2 is set to the above value, it is conceivable to perform mode switching by another method. For example, the mode may be switched from the keyboard input mode to the pointing input mode when the left key 21B is pressed, and the mode may be switched from the pointing input mode to the keyboard input mode when the right key 21C is pressed.

  In the pointing input mode, the control unit 50 includes, as pointing information, information specifying a position (hereinafter referred to as “position specifying information”) and information determining the specified position (hereinafter referred to as “decision information”). In the case of generation, there are some examples of the method for generating the determination information.

  As a first example, the control unit 50 detects a key operation on the left key 21B (or the right key 21C), that is, detects that the key is pressed with a force greater than or equal to a predetermined magnitude. The determination information is generated.

  As a second example, in the electrode sheet 200, there is a method using the fact that the capacitance changes even when the number of operated positions changes. Specifically, the control unit 50 generates the determination information in response to detecting that the number of operation positions with respect to the operation area 20 has changed. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the control unit 50 responds to the movement trajectory while the user moves the operation position with the single finger F <b> 1 within the operation area 20. The position designation information is generated. Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, the control is performed in accordance with the fact that F2 has further touched the operation area 20, that is, the number of operation positions with respect to the electrode sheet 200 has changed from 1 to 2. The unit 50 generates the determination information. Note that the control unit 50 changes the number of operation positions with respect to the electrode sheet 200 to the change in the number of pairs of X electrodes and Y electrodes whose potential difference has been detected, which is detected by the input information detection unit 210 (detection unit 205). Can be detected based on.

  In the present embodiment, the information terminal 100 is configured such that the key input mechanism 600 is stacked on the electrode sheet 200 and is operated by the user from the key input mechanism 600 side. It is not limited. The electrode sheet 200 may be stacked on the key input mechanism 600, and the user may operate from the electrode sheet 200 side.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the second casing 2 is configured to include the key input mechanism 600 and the electrode sheet 200, and the first casing 1 is configured to include the display unit 30, It is not limited to such a configuration. The display unit 30 may be further stacked on the electrode sheet 200 and the key input mechanism 600 that are stacked. That is, the information terminal may be configured as a touch panel using the electrode sheet 200 and the key input mechanism 600 as operation units. When the operation unit is configured with a touch panel, a pulse voltage is applied to the touch panel. Then, the capacitance value of the touch panel is detected, and it is detected that there has been a touch operation on the touch panel based on a change in the pulse waveform to be detected (a delay in the rise of the pulse signal). .

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st housing | casing, 2nd housing | casing, 20 operation area, 21A key group, 21B left key, 21C right key, 30 display part, 30A cursor, 31 display control part, 50 control part, 50A timer, 60 memory | storage part, 61 1st conversion information storage part, 62 2nd conversion information storage part, 63 data storage part, 64 program storage part, 80 communication control part, 81 antenna, 100 information terminal, 200 electrode sheet, 201 noise protection sheet, 202 glass, 203 electrode layer, 205 detection unit, 210, 410 input information detection unit, 400 key input unit, 400A printed wiring, 401-405 wiring pattern, 500 key operation unit, 501-505 key, 501A-505A carbon, 501B support unit, 600 Key input mechanism, 2031 X electrode layer, 2032 Y electrode layer.

Claims (4)

A sheet-like electrode whose capacitance changes based on the approach of the conductor;
First detection means for detecting a change in capacitance of the sheet-like electrode;
A key input mechanism stacked on the sheet-like electrode and having a plurality of keys;
In the key input mechanism, a plurality of keys are arranged on the surface laminated on the sheet-like electrode,
Second detection means for detecting that any of the keys is pressed in the stacking direction;
Based on the amount of change detected by the first detection means, generates pointing information, which is information on an operation position on the surface of the sheet-like electrode on which the key input mechanism is laminated, and the second An information terminal further comprising: input information generating means for generating key information which is information indicating that the key detected to be pressed is input based on the detection output of the detecting means.   The input information generation means generates only the key information when the change amount detected by the first detection means exceeds a first value, and the change amount detected by the first detection means The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein only the pointing information is generated when the second value is less than or equal to 1 and exceeds a second value smaller than the first value. The second detection means detects that each of the keys is pressed when the keys are pressed in the stacking direction with a force of a predetermined magnitude or more,
The information according to claim 2, wherein the sheet-like electrode is configured such that, when the sheet-like electrode is pressed with a force equal to or greater than the predetermined size, an amount of change in capacitance thereof exceeds the first value. Terminal. The key input mechanism includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a support that supports the first conductor with a spacing from the second conductor in the stacking direction,
The said support body consists of a plastic material, and it deform | transforms so that a said 1st conductor may contact | abut to a said 2nd conductor by pressing with the force more than predetermined magnitude | size in the said lamination direction. The described information terminal.

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