JP2000311059A - Input tablet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive input tablet of a variety of sizes, to permit its fitting to a narrower screen frame and to make its attachment/detachment easier by providing a support body of an independently, portable and flexible transparent plate which directly and freely attachably/detachably fixes a transparent touch panel on a display or a desk and a thin type fixing member. SOLUTION: An input tablet (an input part) 12 is composed of a transparent touch panel main body 1 having a detection part 1a of almost the same size of the screen of a general purpose liquid crystal display, a transparent support body 2 fixing the touch panel main body and thin type fixing member 3 installed on the back surface of the support body 2. The full surface of this touch panel main body 1 is actually adhered on a touch panel sticking part of the support body 2 by an adhesive material, an adhesive tape or the like. Then, the thin fixing member 3, for example, a mating surface fastener, a magic tape or the like, is fitted to the back surface of the input part 12 and a position corresponding to it on a display side, and these are stuck together for fixing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tablet input device connected to a notebook computer, a liquid crystal monitor, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tablet input device (including a digitizer) has been used as a device for inputting data such as graphic data to a personal computer or a word processor. In such a tablet input device, for example, by touching an input unit such as a touch panel with a finger or a pen, the pressed position is detected and output to a personal computer or the like. In recent years, not only tablet input devices used separately and sideways from a personal computer etc., but also a touch panel built into the display or mounted on the front of the display, pressing a predetermined position based on the screen display Something that can be operated has been commercialized.

[0003]

Generally, the use of pressing a screen of a personal computer or the like to operate the screen is quite special, so that many monitors with a touch panel currently commercialized are quite expensive. is there. Therefore, there is a demand for a device that can be purchased at an affordable price and that can be easily operated on a surface simply by attaching it to a display.

On the other hand, the screen size currently used is diversified due to the rapid enlargement of the screen of a liquid crystal monitor or the like, and it is difficult to manufacture a tablet input device that can handle all screen sizes. Further, in the case of a notebook personal computer or the like, the width of the outer frame of the screen is reduced with the increase in the size of the effective input section, and it is difficult to mount the effective input section on the front of the screen. Also, since it is difficult to configure the lid to be closed while it is mounted,
There is a need for a simple desorption method.

Accordingly, the present invention can be manufactured at a relatively low price and can be easily adapted to various sizes, can be mounted on a narrow screen frame, and can be easily attached and detached and in a state of being mounted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bullet input device having a simple fixing method.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the tablet input device of the present invention comprises a transparent touch panel having a planar shape, and the independent touch panel can be detachably fixed directly on a display or a desk. And a transparent flat plate-shaped support, and a thin fixing member attached to the outer peripheral portion of the back surface of the support.

Further, the support has a convex portion corresponding to the size of the inside of the outer peripheral frame of the display screen, and when fixed, the convex portion of the support is fitted into the outer peripheral frame of the display screen,
A frame is provided on the outer peripheral portion on the back surface of the support for directly placing the document on the material, thereby ensuring positional accuracy.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail. As the transparent touch panel used in the present invention, a resistive analog type is most desirable. However, it is possible to use not only a resistive film type but also an optical type, an electromagnetic induction type, an ultrasonic type and the like according to the use. It can be used not only in the resistive film type but also in the analog type as well as in the matrix type.

The support is a transparent flat plate, has a strength such that a pressing force by a finger or a pen input is not transmitted to the surface of the display, and has a transparency that allows a display screen or a material image to be clearly seen. desirable.

[0010] The dimensions of the support plate may be appropriately selected.
Especially when combined with a display,
It is desirable to make the dimensions as small as possible. It is desirable that the positions of the fixing members attached to the back surface be grouped on two opposing sides, and the dimensions can be reduced by avoiding a lock or a stopper as shown in FIG.

The projection provided on the back surface of the support plate may be formed by bonding a second flat plate having a predetermined size to the back surface of the flat plate, or by attaching only a frame having a predetermined size to the back surface of the flat plate. May be formed. The case of the frame is desirable because the influence on the transparency of the transparent touch panel is smaller.

The fixing member satisfies the condition that it has a sufficient holding force and is easy to be attached and detached, and that the holding force hardly decreases even after repeated attachment and detachment. For example, a mating surface fastener (manufactured by 3M), a magic tape (registered trademark), a magnet sheet, or the like is used.

The frame is attached so that the back surface of the support does not directly contact the desk or the document, and may be provided on the outer periphery of the support with appropriate dimensions. If there is a bulge on the back of the support, the gap is provided between the back of the support and the surface of a desk, etc., by making the dimension slightly larger than the thickness (height) of the support. It is desirable because it will not be done.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a case where the tablet input device of the present invention is combined with a general-purpose liquid crystal display.
As shown in FIG. 1, a tablet input device (hereinafter referred to as an input unit) 12 includes a transparent touch panel main body 1 having a detection unit 1 a having substantially the same size as a screen of a general-purpose liquid crystal display, and a transparent support 2 for fixing the same. And, it has a structure provided with a thin fixing member 3 attached to the back surface of the support 2.

The tablet input device 12 is mounted on the front surface of the liquid crystal display 8 as shown in FIG. 2 to operate a screen, or is directly placed on a desk around the display 8 as shown in FIG. Two ways of use are possible.

The support 2 is not formed so as to cover the entire liquid crystal display 8 as shown in FIG. 1, and the size of the support 2 is equal to the touch panel body 1 in the vertical direction.
In the horizontal direction, the dimensions required for mounting the fixing member 3 and the protective cover 4 are minimized, so that the size can be kept small. As shown in FIG. Even in this case, it can be mounted without being caught on the lock 8a or the stopper 8b.

Also, when manufacturing according to each size,
Since the dimensions that need to be changed are only the design of the touch panel main body 1 and the support 2, it becomes possible relatively easily at low cost.
The size of the touch panel body 1 is the same as that of a general-purpose display such as a notebook personal computer, for example, the diagonal length is 12.
The size is one inch. The touch panel main body 1 is a known analog resistive touch panel, and its configuration and detection principle are described in detail in JP-A-10-111748 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the touch panel main body 1 is actually entirely adhered on the touch panel attaching portion 2a of the support 2 with an adhesive or an adhesive tape.
Further, the wiring portion of the touch panel main body 1 is processed by a coloring tape, printing, or the like so that it cannot be seen from the front.

At the position corresponding to the touch panel detecting section 1a on the back surface of the support 2, there is provided a projection (projection) 2b having a size substantially equal to the size in the outer peripheral frame of the display screen as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. Have been. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the protrusion 2b from being fitted into the outer peripheral frame of the display screen when mounted, and the touch panel detection unit 1a from being displaced from the display screen during use.

In addition, when mounted, it is usually necessary to set the touch position of the touch panel main body 1 to match the cursor position (hereinafter referred to as calibration).
In the outer peripheral frame of the display screen, it is not necessary to perform calibration at the time of re-attachment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a raised protective cover 4 is provided on the lower left side of the tablet input device 12, and a push button switch 5 is provided on the surface thereof.
Further, a connection port 6a for connection to the controller circuit is opened. A connector circuit 7 for electrically connecting the touch panel body 1 and the push button switch 5 to a controller circuit (not shown) is built in the protective cover 4.

Touching the touch panel detecting section 1a in FIG. 1 performs the same operation as a left click of a mouse in a normal personal computer. The button switch 5 corresponds to a right-click button of a mouse, and when only the push button switch 5 is pressed and released again, or when the touch panel detection unit 1a is touched while being pressed,
Performs the same operation as right mouse click.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a connection method between the input device 12 and the notebook computer 8. The input unit 12 and the controller box 10 are connected by inserting a detachable connector 6b into the connection port 6a via the cable 9. Then, the input device 12 and the notebook computer 8 are connected by inserting the RS232C connector of the controller box 10 into the communication port 8C of the notebook computer 8.

The controller box 10 includes a personal computer 8
A required driving voltage is obtained through the RS232C connector, and a detection signal (analog signal) from the touch panel main body 1 and an ON / OFF signal of the push button 5 are digitized and transmitted to the personal computer 8 through the RS232C.

The communication data format and device driver required for communication between the controller box 10 and the personal computer 8 are described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 10-111748, which is already known and will not be described further.

As shown in FIG. 2, in order to mount and use the input device 12 in front of the display, the input device 12 has a sufficient holding force and can be easily attached and detached. As shown in FIG. 1, a thin fixing member 3 that adheres and fastens, for example, a mating surface fastener (manufactured by 3M), a magic tape, a magnet sheet, or the like, which satisfies the condition that it does not lower, is input as shown in FIG. It is attached to the back of the unit 12 and attached to the display side at a corresponding position, and they are attached and fixed. At this time, since the fixing member 3 on the display side is also sufficiently thin, it is possible to close the lid with the fixing member 3 attached to the periphery of the display of the notebook computer.

In order to attach the fixing member 3 to the input section 12, as shown in FIG. 3, the back surface of the support 2a has a sculpture 3a of substantially the same size as the fixing member when it is fitted.
And paste it there. When the fixing member is bonded, the back surface of the support 2a is almost in contact with the display frame, and no gap is generated.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the input unit 12 is placed on a desk beside the personal computer 8 for use. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the input unit 12 is placed on a paper surface on which a figure is written, and the figure seen from the detection unit 1a of the transparent touch panel is traced and input to the personal computer. In such a case, if the input unit 12 is placed directly on a desk, the bottom may be scratched. Then, the frame 11 as shown in FIG. 7 is attached. The frame 11 is provided with an opening 11a substantially the same size as the display, and the thickness thereof is slightly larger than the thickness of the protrusion 2b of the support 2. In addition, in order to fix accurately, the fixing member 3 is attached to the frame body 11 at a position corresponding to the input unit 12 side, and they are bonded together. At the time of use, for example, it is placed on the paper as shown in FIG. 6 and drawn. Never.

[0029]

As described above, since the input section of the tablet input device of the present invention has a structure including the touch panel main body, its support, and the fixing member on the back surface, it is necessary to minimize the size. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with the recent rapid increase in the size of the display of the notebook personal computer. In other words, it is possible to respond to various sizes and models only by dimensional design of the touch panel body and the support, leading to diversification of products and cost reduction,
It can be expected to spread to a wider user group than ever before.

By fitting the protrusion of the support into the screen frame, the displacement during use is eliminated, the positioning setting at the time of re-installation becomes unnecessary, and the mating surface
By using fasteners etc., it becomes easy to detach and attach,
It is easier to use and has a simple appearance when worn.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a form of a tablet input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram in which a tablet input device is mounted in front of a display of a notebook computer.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A1-A1 'of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A2-A2 'of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connection method between a tablet input device and a notebook computer.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of using the tablet input device placed beside a personal computer.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a frame used when the tablet input device is used by being placed beside a personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Touch panel body 1a Touch panel detection part 2 Support 2a Touch panel attachment part 2b Projection part 3 Fixing member 3a Engraving 4 Connector part protection cover 5 Push button 6a Connection opening 6b Connector 7 Connector circuit 8 Notebook PC 8a Lock 8b Stopper 8c Communication port 9 Cable 10 Controller box 11 Frame 11a Opening 11b Non-slip rubber

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An independently portable transparent flat plate-like support body having a transparent touch panel having a planar shape, which can be detachably fixed directly on a display or a desk, and attached to an outer peripheral portion of a back surface of the support body. And a thin fixing member to be attached. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the support has a protrusion corresponding to the size of the inside of the outer peripheral frame of the display screen, and when fixed, the protrusion of the support is fitted into the outer peripheral frame of the display screen. 2. The tablet input device according to claim 1, wherein the position accuracy of the tablet input device can be guaranteed. 3. The tablet input device according to claim 1, wherein a frame is provided on an outer peripheral portion of a back surface of the support for directly placing on the desk.