JP3154657B2 - Information display operation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display such as a cathode ray tube or a liquid crystal display panel and an operation input associated therewith, such as an electronic notebook having an arithmetic processing mechanism or a terminal used for information communication having a display. And an information display / operation device having means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An information display operation in which a user selects and inputs information based on a display on a display such as a cathode ray tube or a liquid crystal display panel, such as an electronic notebook having an arithmetic processing mechanism or a terminal for information communication. There are many devices in which switch operation means are arranged outside a display. In such a device, the user can select and press these switch operating means to display desired information on a display or to send an operation instruction signal to another device. It has become.

[0003] However, in the device having such a configuration, since the position of the display viewed by the user and the switch operating means to be operated are far apart, the user can determine which switch operating means is desired. Must be searched one by one, and in some cases, erroneous operation may occur. In addition, it can be said that the operating environment tends to perform a tracing operation or the like, and an erroneous operation easily occurs.

Therefore, in order to clarify the correspondence between the display on the display and the switch operating means, a transparent touch switch is provided on the display, and the user touches the display of the switch operating means displayed on the display with a finger. There is an information display / operation device that detects a touch switch and performs an appropriate input. An example of such an information display operation device is an automatic teller machine.

FIG. 14 shows such an information display / operation device CP.
FIG. A display ISW101 imitating a switch operating means is displayed on the display DP101, and the user presses the display ISW101 of the switch operating means with a finger FG as if it were a switch operating means having a mechanical mechanism. Device CP10
An input to 1 is made.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a cross section of the device CP101 at the position of the display DP101. A transparent touch switch TP10 is provided on the display DP101.
1 is provided, and the user operates the display DP101.
Touching the display ISW101 of the switch operating means displayed on the touch switch TP101 actually results in touching the touch switch TP101.
Generates a switching signal.

As described above, in the information display / operation device CP101 using the touch switch TP101, the user presses the display of the desired switch operation means with his / her finger while viewing the display ISW101 of the switch operation means displayed on the display DP101. Since the operation can be easily performed, erroneous operations can be reduced.

Further, by using a touch switch having a high resolution, not only a method of inputting an operation based on the display of the switch operating means but also drawing a figure or a character by touching the touch switch with a pen or the like. In some cases, a method of inputting an operation by using such a method can be used together.

[0009]

As described above, in the information display / operation device provided with the touch switch on the display, the user can operate the switch while looking at the switch operation means. Relationships can be easily grasped. Therefore, erroneous operations can be reduced. However, unlike a switch operating means having a mechanical mechanism, a touch switch does not have an element of “pressing” in the switch operation, so there is no operational feeling of the switch operation, and as a result, the switch operation is performed by pressing many times. There is a problem of confirming whether or not. In addition, since the touch switch performs a switch operation by directly touching the display with a finger or the like, there is a problem that the display is immediately stained.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an operation feeling to a switch operation means without impairing an operation environment using a touch switch, and as a result, information for enabling a reliable switch operation. It is an object to provide a display operation device.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information display / operation device having an information display function and an operation input function, wherein a transparent touch switch is provided on a display for displaying predetermined information. And a main unit that switches the display of the display in response to switching in the touch switch, and is disposed on the main unit,
And an operation unit provided with switch operation means for performing an operation on the touch switch by being displaced by an external pressing force, wherein the switch operation means is provided on the peripheral portion of the display of the touch switch. And the portion overlapping the display is transparent, and the switch
The opaque member for obtaining the return force of the operating means is
The operation unit is disposed so as to be concealed by the body, and the operation unit is freely detachable from the surface of the main body unit.

[0012] The term "removable" refers to a state in which the operation unit and the main body are in contact with each other with the surface as a reference of a boundary, and other states (for example, separation or a line or a point of a boundary. State, etc.).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information display operation device according to the first aspect, the operation portion is hinged to an end of the main body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information display / operation device according to the first aspect, the operation section is detachably attached to the main body.

[0015] The term "removably attachable" means that a state in which the operation section and the main body section are in contact with each other can be shifted to a completely separated state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information display / operation device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the switch operation means is provided in a portion of the operation unit overlapping the display. The part that is not covered is a transparent protective cover.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an information display / operation device CP1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. This device CP1 is composed of a main body 1 provided with a display DP1 constituted by a liquid crystal panel, and an operation unit 2 arranged so as to cover the display DP1.
Can be seen through the transparent protective cover 22 and the transparent switch operating means CSW1 provided in the first embodiment.

The operation unit 2 is provided with a plurality of switch operation means CSW1 one row at a time on the left and right, and an input is made by pressing the switch operation means CSW1. The operation unit 2 is rotatable about an axis S. When the operation unit 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, it opens as indicated by a two-dot chain line. When the operation unit 2 is opened,
As shown in FIG. 2, a display DP1 appears on the table of the main body 1, and a resistive touch switch TP1 is provided on the display DP1 so that input can be performed using a pen P or the like. I have.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the switch operating means CSW1 from the direction of arrow BB in a state in which the operating section 2 shown in FIG. 1 is closed. Display DP provided in main body 1
1, a touch switch TP1 is provided, and an operation unit 2 is further arranged so as to cover the touch switch TP1.

The operation section 2 is provided with a switch operation means CSW1 which is held by the operation section main body 21 and the transparent protective cover 22. Switch operation means CSW
1 is a transparent switch operation body 3 pressed by a finger FG
1, a magnet 32 attached to a switch operation body 31,
And the magnetic metal plate 3 attached to the operation unit body 21
3 is comprised. In a normal non-pressed state, as shown in FIG. 3A, the magnet 32 and the magnetic metal plate 33 are attracted by magnetic interaction, and the switch operation main body 31 is in a raised state. ing.

Here, when the switch operation main body 31 is pressed by the finger FG, the attracted magnet 32 and the magnetic metal plate 33 are separated from each other, and the switch operation main body 31 rotates about the hinge H, and FIG. It is pushed down as shown in b). As a result, the switch operation main body 31 comes into contact with the touch switch TP1, and the switching operation is detected.

At this time, the magnetic attraction force is large until the switch operation main body 31 is pushed and starts to fall, and the magnetic attraction force decreases rapidly when the magnet 32 and the magnetic metal plate 33 are separated to some extent. The user can obtain a snap action or a click feeling that the switch operation main body 31 cannot be stopped at a halfway position when the switch operation main body 31 starts to be lowered, and a good operation feeling can be obtained.

Next, when the finger FG is separated from the switch operation main body 31, the switch operation main body 31 is lifted by the attractive force of the magnet 32 and the magnetic metal plate 33, and the state shown in FIG.

As described above, the configuration of the device CP1 according to the present invention
Having described the configuration and operating principle of the switch operating means CSW1, a use form of the device CP1 will be described next.

In the device CP1, the switch operating means CS
When inputting using W1, a switch operation is performed with the operation unit 2 closed. At this time, since the protective cover 22 and the switch operation main body 31 are formed of a transparent material, the user can see the display on the display DP1 through these transparent members. Further, the magnet 32 and the magnetic metal plate 33, which are opaque members constituting the switch operation means CSW1, are arranged so as to be hidden in the region E of the operation section main body 21 shown in FIG. In the area where the display can be seen, switch operation means CSW
Becomes only the transparent part of the 1, the display on the display DP1 is Midzura kuna Rukoto no. To simplify the following description, the outside of the display area of the display DP1 is referred to as the outside of the display DP1, and the area of the display DP1 where the display is visible is referred to as the display DP1.

In the display DP1, predetermined information is displayed in the center, that is, in the area covered by the protective cover 22, and in the left and right peripheral parts of the display DP1, ie, in the area covered by the switch operating means CSW1,
A selection menu representing the function of each switch operating means CSW1 is displayed. An example of this display form is illustrated in FIG.
The user presses the switch operating means CSW1 for displaying a desired function based on the displayed information, and makes an input.

In such a switch operation, the user operates the switch operation means C while watching the display on the display DP1.
Since the user can press SW1, the correspondence between the display of the selection menu and the switch operation means CSW1 is clear,
Erroneous operation can be prevented.

Further, since the switch operating means CSW1 has a mechanical mechanism, the switch operating means CSW1 has a depressed amount, has a sense of operation as compared with an input method using only a touch switch, and enables reliable input.

Further, since the finger does not directly touch the touch switch TP1 on the display DP1, there is no problem that the touch switch TP1 becomes dirty.

When the switch operating means CSW1 is pressed,
The switch operation body 31 touches the touch switch TP1,
A switching signal is generated from the touch switch TP1. This signal is used to execute the function of the selection menu displayed at the position of the pressed switch operation means CSW1. For example, it is sent as a control signal to an external device, or is used to switch the display on the display DP1 to another display including the display of a selection menu. FIG. 5 shows this state.

First, when the switch operating means CSW1 is pressed, a switching signal is sent from the touch switch TP1 to the input control means 41. The input control unit 41 sends a signal indicating which switch operation unit CSW1 has been pressed to the screen switching unit 42. If necessary, the screen switching unit 42 uses the display control unit 4 using image information from other components inside the apparatus such as a memory or other devices outside the apparatus.
3, the screen and display of the display DP1 are changed. Further, the screen switching unit 42 outputs a signal to other components or devices as necessary.

Further, taking advantage of the fact that only a transparent member exists in the operation unit 2 on the display DP1,
As shown in FIG. 4, it is also possible to provide a menu called “screen enlargement” in the selection menu, and to enlarge and display information on the entire screen ignoring the presence of the switch operating means CSW1, as exemplified in FIG. Thereby, the display DP
1 can effectively utilize the information display capability.

When the switch operation is not performed, the operation unit 2 is opened as shown in FIG.
Is separated from the display DP1 together with the operation unit 2, so that the touch switch TP1 on the display DP1 can be input using the pen P or the like in the same manner as the input using a normal touch switch. Therefore, the input using the touch switch TP1 is input to the switch operating means CSW
1 can be performed without being affected by the existence of the information.

As described above, in the device CP1, the transparent switch operating means CSW is provided on the periphery of the display DP1.
By providing 1, the correspondence between the function display of the switch operating means and the switch operating means CSW1 can be clearly grasped, and the switch operating means CSW1 has an operational feeling, preventing erroneous operation and ensuring reliable operation. Input is possible. Further, there is no opaque member on the display DP1, so that the display is easy to see and the screen can be effectively used. Further, since the switch operation means CSW1 is separated from the display together with the operation unit 2, the operability of input using a pen or the like is not impaired.

The embodiment of the information display / operation device according to the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the following modifications are possible.

In the above embodiment, the display DP1
The switch operating means CSW1 is arranged at the left and right peripheral portions of the display DP1, but is not limited to the left and right peripheral portions. May be placed at

The switch operating means CSW1 may be configured such that a magnetic metal plate is mounted on the switch operation main body 31 and a magnet is mounted on the operation section main body 21, or a magnet is mounted instead of mounting the magnetic metal plate. The return force may be obtained by using the magnetic attractive force of the magnets.

The switch operating means CSW1 does not need to be a switch operating means using a magnet, but may be any switch operating means having a mechanism having an operational feeling. For example, the switch operating means C shown in FIG.
Good sea urchin of SW 2, may be configured to obtain a returning force of the switch operating body 31 with a leaf spring 34.

The display is not limited to a liquid crystal panel, but may be a CRT display, an EL display, a plasma display, or the like.

The touch switch is not limited to the resistive type, but may be a capacitive type, a photoelectric type, an ultrasonic type, or the like.

Further, the switch operation means CSW1 is not limited to the form having the hinge portion H, but may be a switch operation body 3
A linear motion type that moves up and down while holding the upper surface of the device 1 horizontally may be used.

The opening / closing angle of the operation unit 2 is not limited to 180 °, but may be 90 °. The operation unit 2 may be connected to the main unit by a mechanism using two links as shown in FIG. It may be arranged to be able to rotate 360 ° to the back of one.

The operation section 2 need not always be integral with the main body section 1, but may take any form as long as the switch operation means CSW1 is separated from the display. For example, the operation unit 2 may be vertically detachable as shown in FIG. 10, or may be configured to be slid and detached as shown in FIG.

Further, the operation section 2 may be configured to rotate and separate from the main body section 1. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of this mode. The main body 1 is provided with a shaft SF, and the shaft SF and the groove SL provided in the operation unit 2 are linked. From the state ST1 in which the operation unit 2 is closed to the state ST
When the state shifts to the open state ST3 via the state 2, the state ST4
The operation unit 2 can be separated from the main unit 1 as shown in FIG.

The switch operating means CSW1 does not need to be integral with the operating section 2. For example, while the operating section 2 is in a closed state, only the portion where the switch operating means CSW1 is disposed and only the protective cover 22 are operated. It may have a form that it is detachable from 2.

Further, the operating portion 2 may be opened and closed, and the protective cover 22 may have a double opening / closing structure in which the central portion can be further opened and closed. This case is effective in the case of using both the switch operating means and an input method such as a pen.

If the attraction force between the magnet 32 and the magnetic metal plate 33 in the switch operation means CSW1 is sufficiently large, the switch operation main body 31 is provided with the hinge portion H formed on the touch switch TP as shown in FIG. It may have a hinge mechanism that rotates about the center.

Further, the device CP1 may be used alone such as an electronic notebook, or may communicate with an external device by radio using radio waves or light or by wire using a cable. May be used. When communication is enabled, the screen switching means 42 shown in FIG. 5 does not necessarily need to be stored in the apparatus main body, and for example, connects the apparatus CP1 to a server or the like which is a main information processing apparatus to perform a screen switching function. It may be left to the server.

[0049]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the switch operating means is disposed on the periphery of the display, the opaque member constituting the switch operating means may be disposed outside the display. Thus, only a transparent member can be present on the display. Therefore, the switch operation can be performed while viewing the selection menu indicating the function of the switch operation means displayed at the position where the switch operation means is present. A certain configuration can be adopted, and reliable switch operation can be performed.

Further, since the switch operating means is transparent, the existence of the switch operating means can be ignored and the entire display can be effectively used.

Further, it is possible to prevent the finger from directly touching the touch switch and to be stained.

Further, by making the operating section having the switch operating means detachable from the surface of the main body, other input methods using a touch switch such as a pen input can be used together. As a result, the touch switch can be used. An excellent operation environment in which reliable switch operation can be performed without impairing the features of (1) is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the operating section is hingedly connected to the main body, an excellent operating environment in which the switch can be reliably operated can be obtained as in the first aspect of the present invention. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the operation section is detachable from the main body, an excellent operating environment in which the switch can be operated reliably as in the first aspect of the invention. Is obtained.

Furthermore, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, since the transparent protective cover is provided in the operation section, there is no need to separately provide a protective cover, and the protective cover and the switch operating means can be handled integrally. In addition to the effects of the first aspect of the invention, a more favorable operation environment can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an information display operation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an information display operation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a switch operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of the information display operation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of switch operation means.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a switch operating means using a leaf spring.

FIG. 9 is a view showing another opening and closing mode of the operation unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an attachment / detachment mode of an operation unit.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detachable form of an operation unit.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detachable form of an operation unit.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the switch operating means.

FIG. 14 is an external view of an information display / operation device using only touch switches.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a display and a touch switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body part 2 Operation part 21 Operation part main body 22 Protective cover 32 Magnet 33 Magnetic metal plate 34 Leaf spring CP1 Information display / operation device CSW1 Switch operation means DP1 Display TP1 Touch switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshihiro Fujita 1-7-131 Nishinomiyahara, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Izumi Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-115317 (JP, A) JP-A-6-19849 (JP, A) JP-A-7-5970 (JP, A) JP-A-10-49299 (JP, A) JP-A-63-304537 (JP, A) JP-A-61-196337 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/033-3 / 037 G06F 3/03 G09F 9/00 H01H 21/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information display / operation device having an information display function and an operation input function, wherein: a) a transparent touch switch is provided on a display for displaying predetermined information; And b) a switch operating means disposed on the main body and displaced by an external pressing force to perform an operation on the touch switch. comprising an operation unit, wherein the switch operating means, together are arranged to overlap in a portion present on the periphery of the display of the touch switch, the portion overlapping the display is transparent, the switch Obtain the return force of the operating means
Arranged so that the opaque member is hidden by the main body of the operation unit
It is, and the operation unit, the information display operation device, characterized in that there is a freely disjunctive with respect to the surface of the body portion. 2. The information display operation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation portion is hinged to an end of the main body. 3. The information display / operation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is detachable from the main unit. 4. The information display operation device according to claim 1, wherein, in the operation unit, a portion of the operation unit overlapping the display, where the switch operation unit is not provided, is transparent. An information display operation device characterized in that it is a protective cover.