JP2002007055A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly operable input device capable of making the horizontal moving quantity of a key top large though the device is small. SOLUTION: A slider 2 that can be horizontally movable is provided on an elastic body 5, the key top 1 is connected to the elastic body 5 through the slider 2, and the brim part 5b of the linking part 5a of the body 5 is fitted into a fitting hole 2b formed in the slider 2 and is vertically movable. When the key top 1 is moved horizontally, the inner circumferential wall 2a of the hole 2b of the slider 2 presses the brim part 5b of the body 5 to elastically deform the brim part 5b, the movable electrode 5d of the body 5 is also elastically deformed to change a gap 8, and capacitance between the movable electrode 5d and a fixed electrode 9 changes to detect the moving direction of the key top 1 with high accuracy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an input device that can be input using a change in capacitance, such as a personal computer or a remote controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in various industries such as an automobile industry, an electric industry, a mechanical industry, and a civil engineering industry, various input devices utilizing changes in capacitance have been proposed. Such a capacitance-type input device was able to perform input by appropriately changing the capacitance even when the ambient temperature changes. Such a conventionally proposed input device is such that when an operator horizontally moves a keytop with a finger or the like, an elastic member connected to the keytop is deformed, and a movable electrode formed on the elastic member;
The gap between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode disposed at the position facing the movable electrode changes.

The change in the gap changes the capacitance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode, so that, for example, a cursor or the like on a display of a personal computer can be arbitrarily moved. When such an input device is used for a small device such as a personal computer or a remote controller, a large space is not required, and therefore, there is a strong demand for miniaturization.

[0004]

However, in order to reduce the size of the input device as described above, the amount of movement for moving the key top in the horizontal direction cannot be increased. Therefore, it takes a long time to move a cursor or the like to a desired position on a display of a personal computer, for example, and the operability is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device which can take a large amount of horizontal movement of a key top even with a small size and has good operability. Aim.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device comprising: an electrode for sensing a vertical input and a plurality of electrodes for sensing a horizontal input on a surface. And a fixed electrode provided separately from each other,
An electrically conductive movable electrode is provided at a portion facing at least a gap with a predetermined dimension between the fixed electrode and an elastic body whose gap changes by an input operation, and a connecting portion protruding from the elastic body. A vertical input portion which is movable in a vertical direction at a portion corresponding to the electrode for sensing the input in the vertical direction, and which moves the key top in a horizontal direction. Then, the gap between the movable electrode and the plurality of electrodes that sense the horizontal input of the fixed electrode changes,
The gap between the movable electrode and the electrode of the fixed electrode that senses the input in the vertical direction changes when the portion of the keytop where the vertical input portion is formed is pressed.

As a second means for solving the above problem, the connecting portion of the elastic body has an elastically deformable flange projecting outward from an outer peripheral portion. The formed connection portion was connected to the key top.

As a third means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a slider movable in a horizontal direction is provided on the elastic body, and the key top and the elastic body are arranged via the slider. And the flange portion is fitted in a fitting hole formed in the slider so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and when the key top is moved in the horizontal direction, the inside of the fitting hole of the slider is The peripheral wall presses the flange of the elastic body to elastically deform the flange, and the movable electrode of the elastic body elastically deforms to change the gap.

As a fourth solution for solving the above-mentioned problem, the key top is provided so as to be rotatable around the connecting portion as a center of rotation.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Explanation will be given based on FIG. First, FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a printed circuit board, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a printed circuit board, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the input device of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an example of operation of the input device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The input device of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
A disc-shaped key top 1 is formed of an elastic member such as rubber or elastomer, and an input operation unit 1a that is concave in an arc shape is formed on an upper surface of the key top 1, and a thin portion near a central portion of the key top 1 is formed. When the vicinity of the center of the key top 1 is pressed downward in the figure, the vicinity of the thin center is elastically deformable downward. Also,
On the lower surface of the central portion of the thin key top 1, a vertical input portion 1b projecting downward in the figure is formed. A lower outer peripheral wall 1c is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the key top 1 so as to protrude downward in the figure.
The key top 1 is attached to the slider 2 by press fitting or snap engagement.

The slider 2 is made of a hard synthetic resin or the like, and has a flange 5b of a connecting portion 5a of an elastic body 5 which will be described later.
There is provided a fitting hole 2b having an inner peripheral wall 2a into which the fitting hole 2b can be fitted. Further, the slider 2 has a circular flange portion 2c formed on the outer peripheral portion. The flange portion 2c of the slider 2 is formed by a bent upper end portion 3 of a housing 3 made of a metal plate.
a between the bracket a and the bracket 4 so as to be freely movable in the horizontal direction and rotatable.

The elastic body 5 is entirely made of conductive rubber or the like having conductivity, has a disk-like outer shape, and has a connecting portion 5a projecting vertically in the upper part of the figure at the center thereof. I have. The connecting portion 5a is formed with a flange portion 5b that protrudes outward in the horizontal direction from an outer peripheral portion near the upper end, and the flange portion 5b is fitted in the fitting hole 2b of the slider 2.
When the key top 1 is moved horizontally, the key top 1 can be elastically deformed in the direction of being compressed by being pressed by the inner peripheral wall 2a of the slider 2.

The connecting portion 5a, into which the flange 5b fits into the fitting hole 2b, has an upper end exposed from the fitting hole 2b covered by the key top 1 above the slider 2. The key top 1 is attached to the slider 2 such that the vertical input portion 1b of the key top 1 is in contact with or close to the upper end of the connecting portion 5a. The slider 2 is located on the elastic body 5, is movable in the horizontal direction, and is arranged rotatably around the connecting portion 5a. Therefore, the key top 1 attached to the slider 2 is rotatable about the connecting portion 5 a of the elastic body 5.

The elastic body 5 has a disk-shaped outer peripheral portion 5c.
Are sandwiched between the bracket 4 and the printed wiring board 6 at the lower part of the figure, and the horizontal movement is restricted by a support 7 disposed outside the outer peripheral portion 5c. A printed wiring board 6 is provided on the lower surface of the elastic body 5 in the drawing.
A gap 8 having a predetermined dimension is formed between the elastic body 5 and the printed wiring board 6 at a portion opposed to the above. The elastic body 5 in the portion where the gap 8 is formed has a flat movable electrode 5d, and forms a predetermined capacitance with a fixed electrode 9 of a printed wiring board 6 described later. ing.

When the key top 1 is moved in, for example, the left and right horizontal direction in the figure, the inner peripheral wall 2a of the fitting hole 2b of the slider 2 presses the flange 5b of the elastic body 5 in the horizontal direction, and the flange 5b is moved. Along with the deformation, the movable electrode 5d of the elastic body 5 is also deformed, so that the size of the gap 8 is different between left and right in the figure, so that the capacitance between the movable electrode 5d and a fixed electrode 9 described later is variable. I have.

The printed wiring board 6 below the elastic body 5
Is formed of a hard material such as a glass epoxy resin. A fixed electrode 9 is formed on the surface of the elastic body 5 on the side facing the movable electrode 5d, as shown in FIG. A first electrode 9a having a circular shape is formed on the first electrode 9a. A second electrode 9b, a third electrode 9c,
Four electrodes, an electrode 9d and a fifth electrode 9e, are formed equally divided, and the respective electrodes 9a to 9e are electrically insulated. Further, a ground electrode 10 insulated from the fixed electrode 9 is provided on the outer periphery of the fixed electrode 9.

The fixed electrode 9 is covered with a flexible insulating film 11 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, and when the key top 1 is operated, the elastic body 5 is deformed. Even when the movable electrode 5d approaches the fixed electrode, the movable electrode 5d and the fixed electrode 9 come into contact with each other so that no short circuit occurs. The outer peripheral portion 5c of the conductive elastic body 5 is located on the ground electrode 10, and the elastic body 5 and the ground electrode 10 are electrically connected. Therefore, a predetermined value of capacitance is formed between the movable electrode 5d and the fixed electrode 9 with the gap 8 interposed therebetween, and the key top 1 is moved horizontally or the key top 1 is moved vertically. Input unit 1b
Is moved vertically to change the capacitance.

Each of the electrodes 9a to 9 of the fixed electrode 9
The function of e will be described. For example, the second electrode 9b moves the cursor on the display of a personal computer or the like upward and the third electrode 9b.
c is leftward, the fourth electrode pole 9d is downward, and the fifth electrode 9
e is an electrode for stepwise moving to the right, and the second electrode 9b to the fifth electrode 9e are for input in the horizontal direction (X, Y directions). Further, the first electrode 9a is selected at a cursor position moved to a desired position,
Alternatively, it is an electrode used to determine an input, and is used for input in a vertical direction (Z direction).

As shown in FIG. 3, a conductive pattern 12 having a predetermined shape is provided on the lower surface of the printed wiring board 6, and the electrodes 9a to 9e of the fixed electrode 9 and the ground electrode 10 are connected to the through holes 6a. Are electrically connected to the conductive pattern 12. The conductive pattern 12 has an IC
An electric component 13 such as a chip is mounted on the conductive pattern 12.
(Flexible Printed Wiring Board) 14 at one end
The other end of the FPC 14 is connected to an input / output interface (not shown) of a device to be used.

The operation of the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In a standby state (initial state) in which no force is applied by the operator's finger or the like, the gap 8 between the movable electrode 5d of the elastic body 5 and the fixed electrode 9 of the printed wiring board 6 is equal. Therefore, the conductor 5 and the second electrode 9b to the fifth
The capacitance with the electrode 9e is also equal.

When the key top 1 is moved, for example, leftward in FIG. 1, this movement is transmitted from the inner peripheral wall 2a of the fitting hole 2b of the slider 2 to the flange 5b of the elastic body 5. Then, the elastic body 5 is deformed in a direction in which the flange 5b of the right part shown in the figure pressed by the inner peripheral wall 5a of the slider 5 is compressed, and the movable electrode 5d on the left side of the figure is deformed downward,
The gap 8 between the fixed electrode 9 and the third electrode 9c becomes narrower than the initial state, and the capacitance on the third electrode 9c side changes. By detecting the change in capacitance on the third electrode 9c side electrically, it is possible to detect that a signal for moving the cursor to the left by the key top 1 has been input.

When the key top 1 is moved, for example, rightward in FIG. 1, this movement is transmitted to the elastic body 5 via the slider 2. The elastic body 5 is deformed in the direction in which the flange 5b on the left side of the figure pressed against the inner peripheral wall 2a of the slider 2 is compressed, and the right side of the movable electrode 5d is deformed downward, so that the fixed electrode 9 The gap 8 between the fifth electrode 9e and the fifth electrode 9e becomes narrower than the initial state.
The capacitance on the e side changes. By detecting the change in capacitance on the fifth electrode 9e side, it is possible to detect that a signal for moving the cursor to the right by the key top 1 has been input.

In FIG. 1, when the vertical input portion 1b is pressed vertically (Z direction) at the center of the input operation portion 1a of the key top 1 with a fingertip, the slider 2 is held at that position. The portion of the key top 1 where the vertical input portion 1b is formed is elastically deformed, and the vertical input portion 1b moves downward. Then, the vertical input portion 1b presses the connecting portion 5a of the elastic body 5 to deform the elastic body 5, and the movable electrode 5d
The gap 8 between the first electrode 9a and the first electrode 9a becomes narrower than the initial state, and the capacitance on the first electrode 9a side changes. By detecting the change in capacitance on the first electrode 9a side, it is possible to detect that the key top 1 is pressed vertically. When the horizontal or vertical operation force applied to the key top 1 is released, the key top 1, the slider 2, and the elastic body 5 are restored by the restoring force of the elastic body 5 or the restoring force of the key top 1. Return to the initial state of.

In the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the slider 2 is located on the elastic member 5 and can move in the horizontal direction, and rotates about the connecting portion 5a of the elastic member 5. Since it is arranged freely, the key top 1 attached to the slider 2 is also rotatable. Therefore, when the key top 1 is operated in the horizontal direction, FIG.
As shown in the figure, when the operator places his finger on the outer periphery of the key top 1 and tries to move the key top 1 to the left of the arrow A, the key top 1 is rotated in the direction of the arrow B, for example. Even if force is applied, the key top 1 smoothly rotates in the direction of the arrow B, so that a comfortable operation feeling can be obtained.

In the description of the first embodiment of the present invention, the elastic body 5 has been described as being made entirely of conductive rubber or the like having conductivity. However, the elastic body 5 is formed of insulating rubber. A conductive sheet (not shown) or the like is adhered to the movable electrode 5d, and a part of the conductive sheet is
May be connected to the ground electrode 10. In other words, the elastic body 5 may have at least a conductive movable electrode 5d at a portion opposed to the fixed electrode 9 with a predetermined gap.

In the input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the elastic body 5 is directly connected to the key top 21 as shown in FIG. In the key top 21 of such an input device, an input operation portion 21a is formed on an upper surface, and a fitting portion 21b in which a connecting portion 5a of the elastic body 5 is fitted is formed in a lower part of the center as shown in FIG. A vertical input portion 21c is formed to protrude within the portion 21b. In addition, key top 21
A flange portion 21d is formed on the outer periphery of the housing 3. The flange portion 21d is sandwiched between the upper bent portion 3a of the housing 3 and the bracket 4, so that the key top 21 can be moved horizontally, and the connecting portion 5a is rotated about the center of rotation. It is freely rotatable. Such an input device according to the second embodiment does not require the slider 2 according to the first embodiment, and can reduce the number of components.

[0028]

As described above, according to the input device of the present invention, when the key top is moved in the horizontal direction, the gap between the movable electrode and the plurality of electrodes for sensing the horizontal input of the fixed electrode is reduced. Changes, and pressing the portion where the vertical input portion of the key top is formed, the gap between the movable electrode and the electrode that senses the vertical input of the fixed electrode changes. , Can detect the horizontal movement and vertical movement of the key top with high accuracy,
An input device with high input accuracy can be provided.

Further, the connecting portion of the elastic body has an elastically deformable flange projecting outward from an outer peripheral portion, and the connecting portion formed with the flange is connected to the key top. When the key top is moved horizontally, the flange portion is elastically deformed, and the horizontal movement of the key top can be increased, so that the operability of the key top in the horizontal direction is comfortable.

Further, the key top and the elastic body are connected via a slider, and when the key top is moved in the horizontal direction, the inner peripheral wall of the fitting hole of the slider presses the flange of the elastic body. Since the flange portion is elastically deformed and the movable electrode of the elastic body is elastically deformed and the gap changes, the movement of the key top can be transmitted to the elastic body with high accuracy by the slider. An input device with higher input accuracy can be provided.

Further, since the key top is rotatably disposed about the connecting portion as a center of rotation, it is attempted to move the key top horizontally by positioning an operator's finger on the outer periphery of the key top. Even if a turning force is applied to the key top 1 at the time of the key operation, the key top rotates smoothly, so that a comfortable operation feeling can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a printed wiring board according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a printed wiring board according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an operation of the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 key top 1a input operation section 1b vertical input section 2 slider 2a inner peripheral wall 2b fitting hole 2c flange section 3 housing 4 bracket 5 elastic body 5a connecting section 5b flange section 5d movable electrode 6 printed wiring board 8 gap 9 fixed electrode 9a 1 electrode 9b 2nd electrode 9c 3rd electrode 9d 4th electrode 9e 5th electrode 10 Ground electrode 11 Flexible insulating film

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A gap having a predetermined dimension between a fixed electrode provided on a surface thereof and an electrode for sensing a vertical input and a plurality of electrodes for sensing a horizontal input, respectively, and at least the fixed electrode. An electrically conductive movable electrode is provided at a portion facing the elastic body, the elastic body having the gap changed by an input operation, and a key top connectable to a connecting portion protrudingly formed on the elastic body. The top is formed with a vertical input portion that can move in the vertical direction at a portion corresponding to the electrode that senses the input in the vertical direction, and when the key top is moved in the horizontal direction, the movable electrode and the fixed electrode are moved. When the gap between the plurality of electrodes that senses the input in the horizontal direction changes and the portion of the keytop where the vertical input portion is formed is pressed, the vertical direction of the movable electrode and the fixed electrode is changed. An input device, wherein the gap between the electrode and an electrode that senses a direction input changes. 2. The connecting portion of the elastic body has an elastically deformable flange projecting outward from an outer peripheral portion, and the connecting portion formed with the flange is connected to the key top. The input device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A slider movable in a horizontal direction is provided on the elastic body, the key top and the elastic body are connected via the slider, and the flange is formed on the slider. When the key top is moved in the horizontal direction by fitting into the fitting hole and the key top is moved in the horizontal direction, the inner peripheral wall of the fitting hole of the slider presses the flange of the elastic body, The input device according to claim 2, wherein the flange is elastically deformed, and the movable electrode of the elastic body is elastically deformed to change the gap. 4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the key top is rotatably disposed around the connection portion as a center of rotation.