JP3971079B2 - Input device and detection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an input device used in, for example, a personal computer or a remote controller and a detection device used in, for example, an accelerometer, and more particularly to an input device and a detection device based on a change in capacitance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In various industries such as the automobile industry, electrical industry, mechanical industry, civil engineering industry, etc., as an input device and a detection device (hereinafter referred to as an input device) for inputting and detecting physical quantities such as force, temperature correction, etc. Since there is no need, various input devices using changes in capacitance have been proposed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this type of conventional input device cannot distinguish between the horizontal (X, Y direction) force applied to the operation unit and the vertical (Z direction) force. It has the disadvantage of poor accuracy.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide an input device and a detection device that eliminate such drawbacks of the prior art and have high input accuracy (detection accuracy) and good handling properties.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the first means of the present invention comprises:
An electrode made of the first electrode described later for example for sensing the vertical direction of the input to the central portion of the surface, each divided into a plurality of example an electrode made of the second to fifth electrode described later for sensing the horizontal direction of the input to the outer periphery A printed wiring board having divided electrodes provided as
Arranged on the printed wiring board, the outer peripheral portion is fixed to the printed wiring board, and is opposed to the divided electrode while maintaining a predetermined interval, at least the opposed portion to the divided electrode has conductivity, An elastic body made of rubber or elastomer in which a thin portion is provided at a central portion facing an electrode that senses an input in the vertical direction, and an accommodation recess is formed on the thin portion;
A slider having a hole formed in the central portion thereof to be fitted around the head of the elastic body ;
A hard pressing body housed in the housing recess of the elastic body;
A central portion mounted on the slider and facing the pressing body is provided with a key top capable of moving in the vertical direction,
The outer periphery of the key top and the slider are prevented from moving in the vertical direction, and only allowed to move in the horizontal direction.
The connecting portion between the head of the elastic body and the hole of the slider is covered with the key top,
When the key top is moved in the horizontal direction, the elastic body is deformed via the slider, and the distance between the conductive portion of the elastic body and the electrode for detecting the input in the horizontal direction is changed, and the center portion of the key top is pressed. Then, the thin part of the elastic body is deformed through the pressing body, and the distance between the thin part and the electrode for sensing the input in the vertical direction is changed.
The second means of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first means, tension applying means such as an annular protrusion, a notch part, an inclined part or the like for applying tension to the elastic body is provided. .
[0006]
According to a third means of the present invention, in the first means, a flange portion provided on the outer periphery of the slider is sandwiched between the bracket and the upper bent portion of the housing so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. It is what.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a sectional view of the input device, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the input device, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the input device, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an elastic body used in the input device, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the printed wiring board.
[0008]
The input device includes a key top 1, a slider 2, a housing 3 made of a metal plate, a bracket 4 made of a metal plate, a pressing body 5, an elastic body 6, a support body 7 made of a synthetic resin molding, and a printed wiring board 8. It is configured.
[0009]
The key top 1 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer into a shape as shown in FIG. 1, and an input operation surface 9 that is greatly recessed in an arc shape is formed at the center of the upper surface. As shown in FIG. 1, the center portion is thinner than the outer peripheral portion, and a protruding portion 10 that can move up and down protrudes downward, and the lower end outer peripheral wall 11 is externally fitted to the slider 2.
[0010]
The slider 2 is formed of a hard synthetic resin molded body, and a hole 12 is formed in the center portion so as to be fitted around the head of the elastic body 6. A connecting portion between the slider 2 and the elastic body 6 is mounted on the slider 2. Covered with key top 1. A flange portion 13 provided on the outer periphery of the slider 2 is slidably sandwiched between the bracket 4 and the upper end bent portion 14 of the housing 3. Accordingly, the slider 2 is arranged so as to be movable in the horizontal direction (X, Y direction), the key top 1 is movable in the horizontal direction (X, Y direction) together with the slider 2, and the central portion (projecting portion 10) is in the vertical direction. It is movable in the (Z direction).
[0011]
The elastic body 6 includes a relatively thick non-conductive elastic body 6a and a conductive elastic body 6b disposed on the lower side of the elastic body 6a. It is united by means. As shown in FIG. 4, a housing recess 15 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pressing body 5 is provided at the center of the elastic body 6 a, and a thin portion 16 is formed at the bottom of the housing recess 15, so The body 5 is accommodated so as to be movable up and down. The pressing body 5 is made of a hard material such as hard synthetic resin or metal and has a cylindrical shape.
[0012]
The conductive elastic body 6b is made of a conductive fine particle such as silver or carbon black dispersed and held in an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. An annular protrusion 17 having a diameter slightly larger than the thin portion 16 protrudes downward. The annular protrusion 17 protrudes slightly below the outer peripheral portion 18 of the conductive elastic body 6b.
[0013]
The outer peripheral portion 18 of the elastic body 6 (conductive elastic body 6b) is fixed and positioned on the printed wiring board 8 by adhesion or the like, and the annular protrusion 17 of the conductive elastic body 6b is pressed against the upper surface of the printed wiring board 8 to be conductive. The space 19 is held between the elastic body 6b and the printed wiring board 8 in a state where tension is applied.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 5 on the upper surface of the hard printed wiring board 8 made of glass-epoxy resin or the like, the first electrode 20a is at the center, the second electrode 20b, the third electrode 20c, the fourth electrode 20d, The electrode 20e is divided and formed, and a ground electrode 20f is provided on the outer periphery thereof. As shown in FIG. 6, the top of each electrode 20 is covered with a flexible insulating film 21 for maintaining a distance, and the second to fifth electrodes 20b. The areas of ˜20e are equal. In FIG. 1, the electrode 20 and the insulating film 21 are omitted to simplify the drawing.
[0015]
Although an application example of the input device will be described later, in the present embodiment, the second electrode 20b is a cursor on the display upward, the third electrode 20c is leftward, the fourth electrode 20d is leftward, and the fifth electrode 20e is an electrode for stepping in the right direction, and the second electrode 20b to the fifth electrode 20e are for input in the horizontal direction (X, Y direction). The first electrode 20a is an electrode used when checking the input direction described above, and is used for input in the vertical direction (Z direction).
[0016]
A conductive pattern 22 having a predetermined shape is provided on the lower surface of the printed wiring board 8, and each electrode 20 is electrically connected to the conductive pattern 22 through a through hole 23. An electronic component such as an IC chip 24 is mounted on the conductive pattern 22, a flexible printed wiring board 25 is connected to one end of the conductive pattern 22, and the other end of the flexible printed wiring board 25 is an input / output interface (not shown) of the device used. )It is connected to the.
[0017]
The operation of this input device will be described. In a standby state (initial state) in which no force is applied to the key top 1, the distance between the conductive elastic body 6b and the electrodes 20b to 20e on the printed wiring board 8 is equal, and therefore the conductive elastic body 6b and each electrode 20b. The capacitance between ~ 20e is also equal. In addition, since the conductive elastic body 6b is in a tensioned state, the pressing body 5 in the housing recess 15 of the elastic body 6a is lifted by the tension of the conductive elastic body 6b and comes into contact with or close to the protruding portion 10. In addition, a predetermined distance 19 is maintained between the central portion of the conductive elastic body 6b and the first electrode 20a.
[0018]
As described above, since the flange portion 13 of the slider 2 integrated with the key top 1 by the fitting is sandwiched between the bracket 4 and the upper end bent portion 14 of the housing 3, the outer peripheral portion of the key top 1 ( The slider 2) is prevented from moving in the vertical direction (Z direction) and is only allowed to move in the horizontal direction (X, Y direction).
[0019]
When the key top 1 is moved to the left side in FIG. 1, for example, the movement is transmitted to the elastic body 6 via the slider 2, and the elastic body 6 is elastically deformed. With the deformation, the conductive elastic body 6b and the second electrode 20b. , And the change in capacitance on the second electrode 20b side is electrically detected, and now it can be detected that the key top 1 has input a signal for moving the cursor to the left. .
[0020]
When the key top 1 is moved to the right side in FIG. 1, for example, the movement is transmitted to the elastic body 6 via the slider 2, and the elastic body 6 is elastically deformed, and with the deformation, the conductive elastic body 6b and the fifth electrode 20e. And the change in the capacitance on the fifth electrode 20e side is electrically detected, and it can be detected that a signal for moving the cursor to the right by the key top 1 is input. .
[0021]
Further, when the central portion of the key top 1 (in the protruding portion 10) is pressed down in the vertical direction (Z direction) with the fingertip, the central portion of the conductive elastic body 6b is directly pressed by the pressing body 5, and the first electrode 13a and Is narrower than the initial state, and a change in capacitance is electrically detected to input a signal. When the operating force on the key top 1 is released, the key top 1, the slider 2, the pressing body 5, the elastic body 6 and the like are restored to the initial standby state by the restoring force of the elastic body 6.
[0022]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the elastic body 6 used in the second embodiment. The difference from the elastic body 6 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that the thin body 16 is provided on the elastic body 6a. Instead, a hole penetrating the elastic body 6a is formed, and the accommodation recess 15 is formed by closing the lower end opening of the hole with the central portion of the conductive elastic body 6b.
[0023]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the elastic body 6 used in the third embodiment. The entire elastic body 6 is composed of a conductive elastic body 6b, and an accommodation recess 15 and a thin portion 16 are formed at the center. In this example, the annular protrusion 17 is not provided on the elastic body 6 side, and an annular protrusion 26 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the thin portion 16 is formed on the printed wiring board 8 side. The height of the annular protrusion 26 is designed to be slightly higher than the inner step of the outer peripheral portion 18 of the conductive elastic body 6b. When the apparatus is assembled, the annular protrusion 26 is pressed against the lower surface of the conductive elastic body 6b and is suitable for the conductive elastic body 6b. Tension is applied.
[0024]
Forming the annular protrusion 26 on the printed wiring board 8 side in this way is also applicable to the first and second embodiments.
[0025]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the input device according to the fourth embodiment, and a notched part 27 having an inclination or a roundness is provided on the entire outer periphery of the lower surface of the elastic body 6. When this elastic body 6 is assembled in the apparatus, the cutout portion 27 is crushed by the pressing force at the time of assembly (not shown in the state of being crushed in order to clearly show the cutout portion 27). Tension (stress) is generated inside.
[0026]
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of the input device according to the fifth embodiment. A wide-angle inclined portion 28 having a diameter gradually increasing upward is formed on the entire outer periphery of the upper surface of the elastic body 6. For example, a pressing member 40 such as a bracket 4 is provided with a expanding portion 40 bent in a V shape, for example, in order to expand the inclined portion 28 radially outward. Tension (stress) is generated in the elastic body 6 by expanding the inclined portion 28 radially outward by the pressing of the expanding portion 40.
[0027]
FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are diagrams showing a first application example of the input device, showing an example applied to a mobile personal computer or a notebook personal computer. The personal computer 29 includes a personal computer main body 31 having a number of keyboard switches 30 and a display unit. The lid member 33 has a lid member 33, and the lid member 33 is rotatably attached to the personal computer main body 31. The input device 34 described above is attached to the end of the lid member 33 as an input pointer. In this example, the input device 34 is provided on the lid member 33, but it can also be provided on the personal computer main body 31.
[0028]
FIG. 11 shows the operating state of the input device 34. The cursor on the display unit 32 can be arbitrarily set by holding the portion of the input device 34 between the thumb 35 and another finger 36 and moving the thumb 35 up, down, left and right. Can move to.
[0029]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a second application example of the input device. For example, the input device is applied to a remote controller such as a home mobile personal computer or a notebook personal computer. A switch 38, a scroll dial 39, and the like are attached. In this example, a remote controller for a personal computer has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a remote controller of another device.
[0030]
Although applied to a personal computer in the above-described example, it can be applied to various fields such as other electric devices, in-vehicle devices, various measuring devices, and medical devices.
[0031]
In each of the above embodiments, five types of divided electrodes, the first to fifth electrodes, are used, but the number of divided electrodes may be smaller or larger.
[0032]
In each of the above embodiments, the case of the input device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the detection body can be moved to a portion corresponding to the key top or slider of the input device (for example, slidable or pivotable). The sensor is moved by the acting force (force, magnetic force, wind force, etc.) from the detected object, the elastic body is deformed by the moving force, and the deformation is detected as a change in capacitance. It is applicable also to the detection apparatus which does.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention (first means) according to claim 1 and claim 5 is configured as described above, and includes a slider that can move only in the horizontal direction, a key top that can move in the vertical direction, and a pressing body. Since the input in the horizontal direction and the input in the vertical direction are clearly separated and the pressing body is hard, an input device and a detection device with high input accuracy (detection accuracy) and good handling properties are provided. be able to.
Further, since the connecting portion between the elastic body and the slider is covered with the key top, there is a feature that the operation reliability can be improved without dust or the like adhering to or entering the connecting portion.
[0034]
According to the second and sixth aspects of the present invention (second means), since the tension applying means for applying tension to the elastic body is provided, it is possible to input even with a very small force, and input accuracy (detection). Accuracy) can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the input device.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the input device.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an elastic body used in the input device.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a printed wiring board used for the input device.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the printed wiring board.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an elastic body used in a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an elastic body used in a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of an input device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a personal computer using the input device according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 12 is a partial side view showing an operation state of the input device on the personal computer.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a remote controller using the input device according to the embodiment of the invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keytop 2 Slider 3 Housing 4 Bracket 5 Press body 6 Elastic body 6a Elastic body main body 6b Conductive elastic body 7 Support body 8 Printed wiring board 9 Input operation surface 10 Protruding part 11 Lower end outer peripheral part 12 Hole 13 Flange part 14 Upper end folding Curved portion 15 Containing recess 16 Thin portion 17, 26 Annular protrusion 18 Outer peripheral portion 19 Distance 20 Electrodes 20a to 20e First to fifth electrodes 27 Notch portion 28 Inclined portion 34 Input device

Claims (7)

An electrode for sensing the vertical direction of the input to the central portion of the surface, a printed wiring board with a split electrode provided in each divided into a plurality of electrodes for sensing the horizontal direction of the input on the outer periphery thereof,
Arranged on the printed wiring board, the outer peripheral portion is fixed to the printed wiring board, and is opposed to the divided electrode while maintaining a predetermined interval, at least the opposed portion to the divided electrode has conductivity, An elastic body made of rubber or elastomer in which a thin portion is provided in a central portion facing an electrode that senses an input in the vertical direction, and an accommodation recess is formed on the thin portion;
A slider having a hole formed in the central portion thereof to be fitted around the head of the elastic body ;
A hard pressing body housed in the housing recess of the elastic body;
A central portion mounted on the slider and facing the pressing body is provided with a key top capable of moving in the vertical direction,
The outer periphery of the key top and the slider are prevented from moving in the vertical direction, and only allowed to move in the horizontal direction.
The connecting portion between the head of the elastic body and the hole of the slider is covered with the key top,
When the key top is moved in the horizontal direction, the elastic body is deformed via the slider, and the distance between the conductive portion of the elastic body and the electrode for detecting the input in the horizontal direction is changed, and the center portion of the key top is pressed. Then, the said thin part of an elastic body deform | transforms via a press body, and the input device is comprised so that the space | interval with the electrode which senses the thin part and the input of a perpendicular direction may change. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a tension applying unit that applies tension to the elastic body. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the divided electrode is an electrode for moving a cursor on a display vertically and horizontally . The input device according to claim 1, wherein a bracket is disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the printed wiring board via a support, a flange portion provided on an outer periphery of the slider is placed on the bracket, and the print wiring board, the elastic member, the support, accommodating the bracket and the slider in the housing, and wherein the flange portion is movably clamped in the horizontal direction between the upper end bent portion of the said bracket housing Input device. A printed wiring board having a divided electrode provided by dividing an electrode that senses vertical input at the center of the surface and a plurality of electrodes that sense horizontal input at the outer periphery thereof;
Arranged on the printed wiring board, the outer peripheral portion is fixed to the printed wiring board, and is opposed to the divided electrode while maintaining a predetermined interval, at least the opposed portion to the divided electrode has conductivity, An elastic body made of rubber or elastomer in which a thin portion is provided at a central portion facing an electrode that senses an input in the vertical direction, and an accommodation recess is formed on the thin portion;
A slider having a hole formed in the central portion thereof to be fitted around the head of the elastic body;
A hard pressing body housed in the housing recess of the elastic body;
A central portion mounted on the slider and facing the pressing body is provided with a key top capable of moving in the vertical direction,
The outer periphery of the key top and the slider are prevented from moving in the vertical direction, and only allowed to move in the horizontal direction.
The connecting portion between the head of the elastic body and the hole of the slider is covered with the key top,
When the key top is moved in the horizontal direction, the elastic body is deformed via the slider, and the distance between the conductive portion of the elastic body and the electrode for detecting the input in the horizontal direction is changed, and the center portion of the key top is pressed. Then, the said thin part of an elastic body deform | transforms via a press body, and it is comprised so that the space | interval with the electrode which senses the thin part and the input of a perpendicular direction may change . 6. The detection apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising tension applying means for applying tension to the elastic body. 6. The detection device according to claim 5 , wherein a bracket is disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the printed wiring board via a support, a flange portion provided on an outer periphery of the slider is placed on the bracket, and the print wiring board, the elastic member, the support, accommodating the bracket and the slider in the housing, and wherein the flange portion is movably clamped in the horizontal direction between the upper end bent portion of the said bracket housing Detecting device.

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