JPH03230428A - panel switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a panel into a fine monolayer structure, and to impart a sense of moderation to pressing operation by specifying a finger-pressing part of the panel through the application of the principle of leverage, and by detecting the finger-pressing of the panel through a switch with moderation. CONSTITUTION:A cover 11 is formed out of transparent resin, etc., in an integrated manner, and a display unit 18 can be seen therethrough. Pressure sensitive sensors 12, 12 are arranged on the lower parts of both ends of the cover 11. A pressing point A on the cover 11 is specified by the value of the electric resistance varied according to the pressing power of each sensor that is determined by the principle of leverage corresponding to the distances L1, L2 from the pressure sensitive sensor. The value of electric resistance is detected through, for example, a series circuit of the resistance R1 of the pressure sensitive sensor and the solid or semi-solid resistance R2, AD converter 31, and microcomputer 32. The vertical movement of a rigid support part 16 on which the pressure sensitive sensor 18 is put, is detected by a switch 17 with moderation provided on the support part 16, with a sensor of moderation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a panel switch used for data input of AV equipment and 0Afi equipment, and in particular, the degree of freedom in design is improved when integrated with a display. This paper relates to panel switches with moderation.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional panel switch of this type is shown in FIG. 7, for example. FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram of a conventional panel switch of this type, in which a spacer 5 is sandwiched between a transparent elastic insulating sheet 2 having transparent contacts 1 and a glass substrate 4 having transparent contacts 3. A transparent switch is configured, and further, this transparent switch is fixed via a terminal 8 to a printed circuit board 7 to which a display unit 6 is fixed.
These were constructed by covering them with a case 9.

Its operation is such that when the transparent switch part configured on the display unit 6 is pressed, the transparent elastic insulating sheet 2 is bent, and the contact 1
Switching was performed by contact between the contact point 3 and the contact point 3.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the transparent elastic insulating sheet 2 must be soft and thin, and it has a two-layer structure of the transparent elastic insulating sheet 2 and the glass substrate 4. However, the shape of the transparent elastic insulating sheet 2 is limited to a substantially flat shape, and the design has a cheap appearance as well as the appearance of the transparent elastic insulating sheet 2, which deteriorates the product image of the entire set.

Furthermore, because it was not possible to add a sense of moderation due to the structure, it was necessary to notify switching using a buzzer or the like.

The present invention solves this problem, and aims to provide a panel switch that has no restrictions on design shape or thickness, has a single-layer oval structure, has a luxurious feel, and also has a sense of moderation. That is.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the panel switch of the present invention includes a button or a cover which is provided with a pressure-sensitive sensor under part a and is held movable up and down; A support part made of a rigid body that supports the sensor and the button or the end of the case opposite to the pressure-sensitive sensor from below and is movable up and down, and can be switched when a certain pressure is applied to the support part. By switching the switch by moving the support part, it detects the ON/OFF state of the switch and at the same time converts the pressure applied to the button or cover into a resistance value using a pressure sensor. However, it is equipped with a circuit that detects the pressing pressure level 1 based on this resistance value.

Operation With the above-described configuration, the pressure applied to the button or the cover is transmitted to the support part, and switching of the switch at a constant pressure by movement of the support part causes the switch to turn 0N.
-OFF is detected, and at the same time, the partial pressure applied from the button or cover is converted into a resistance value by a pressure sensor, and the pressing position can be detected from this resistance value.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a panel switch in one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a cover (or button) made of transparent resin, and a pressure-sensitive sensor 12 is placed under one end of this cover 11. One end is a fulcrum 14, the other is a vertically movable free end 15, supported by one end of a support part 16 formed of a rigid plate having an opening in the center,
Further, a convex portion 13 is formed at the other end of the support portion 16 to support the lower surface of the other end of the cover 11, and a convex portion 13 is formed under the free end 15 of the support portion 16 with a constant pressure. The moderating switch 17 to be switched is the display unit 18
Also placed on the printed circuit board 19! These are covered with a case 20.

Note that the display unit 18 may be replaced by another electronic component such as an LED, a button design may be printed on the cover 11, or the cover 11 may be connected to an opaque button.

Figures 2 (^) to fc) are diagrams explaining the operation of the panel switch in Figure 1, with Figure 2 (^) in the steady state, Figure 2 (8) in the lightly pressed state, and Figure 2 (8) in the lightly pressed state; FC) indicates a switching state. In FIG. 2(B), when stress F1 is applied to the cover 11 of the switch part, the distance between the pressure sensor 12 and the pressing part A is 1 m, and the force applied to the pressure sensor 12 is F1.
2. If the distance between the convex part 13 and the pressing part A is F2, and the force applied to the convex part 13 is F3, then F1=F2+F3...
・(1) F2・L1=F3・F2・・・・・・(2), F2−(L2/ (L1+L2))FIF3= (Ll
/ (L1+L2>)Fl is applied to the pressure sensor 12 and the convex portion 13. By converting this pressure F2 into a resistance value using the pressure sensor 12 under a constant pressure, the position of the pressing portion A can be detected.

In FIG. 2 fc), when Fl' corresponding to the switching pressure of the moderation switch 17 which is stronger than Fl is applied, the moderation switch 17 is turned on. A feeling of moderation is generated at the same time as this switching, and by regarding this as switching of a switch corresponding to the position of the pressing portion A, the feeling of moderation and the timing of the switching can be matched. Also,
By converting the pressure F2' applied to the pressure sensor 12 at this time into a resistance value by the pressure sensor 12, the position of the pressing portion A can be detected.

In this case, if the pressure applied to the convex portion 13 is F3', then the relationship Fl:F2:F3=F1':F2':F3' holds true.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the detection circuit of the panel switch of this embodiment. In a series circuit of the resistor R1 of the pressure sensor 12 and a variable or fixed resistor R2, one of the resistors R1 is connected to the power supply voltage VCC, and the resistor R2 is connected to the power supply voltage VCC. Connect one side to GND and resistor R
Connect the connection point between 1 and R2 to the microcomputer 32 via the AD converter 31, and connect one side of the moderation switch 17 to GN.
D, and the other end is connected to the latch terminal of the microcomputer 32 and the AD converter 31, and is further connected to the power supply voltage Vcc via the resistor R3, PULL UPL, input data by ON/OFF of moderating switch 17, and latched by this input data. The two input data of the position data of the AD converter 31 thus obtained are processed by the microcomputer 32 which is a data processing device, thereby performing the switching of the panel inch.

Note that the AD converter 31 may be latched by software of the microcomputer 32.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the detection circuit, in which the moderating switch 1
7, a resistance R1 of the pressure sensor 12, and a variable or fixed resistance R2, the connection point of the resistances R1 and R2 is connected to the microcomputer 32 via the AD converter 31, and one side of the moderation switch 17 is connected to the power supply voltage. Vcc, resistor R
One side of 2 is connected to GND.

In this circuit, when the moderation switch 12 is OFF, the resistor R2 sets the potential to GND, and the moderation switch SW
Since the voltage divided by the resistors R1 and R2 is input to the AD converter 32 only when I is ON, the pressed position and the switching of the panel switch can be detected using only the output data of the AD converter 31.

In this case, since the data of R1 changes due to the pressure, it is preferable that the AD converter 31 latches the first data.

FIG. 5 shows yet another example of the detection circuit, in which one of the resistors R2 is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc and the other of the resistors R1 is connected to GND in a series circuit of a pressure-sensitive sensor resistor R1 and a variable or fixed resistor R2. Then, connect the connection point of R1 and R2 to one side of the moderation switch 12, and connect the other side of the moderation switch 12 to the power supply voltage Vcc4::PULL U with a resistor R3.
It is connected to the microcomputer 32 via the AD converter 31.

In this circuit, when the moderating switch 12 is OFF, the input voltage of the AD converter becomes approximately VCCt due to the resistor R3, and when the moderating switch 12 is ON, the resistor R3 is turned on.
Since the voltage divided by the combined resistor R2 and R3 and the resistor R1 is input to the AD converter 31, the pressed position and the switching of the panel switch can be detected using only the output data of the AD converter 31.

In this case as well, since the data of the resistor R1 changes due to the pressure, it is preferable that the AD converter 31 launches the first data.

Furthermore, by placing a display unit with a light-emitting element under the button or cover, an illuminated panel switch can be easily constructed, and by making the button or cover transparent, a transparent panel switch can be easily constructed, making it practical. The effect is great.

FIG. 6 shows a detection circuit diagram of another embodiment of the present invention;
In FIG. 6, which shows an example of a detection circuit when a plurality of panel switches 40 are connected, a resistor R1 of a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors constituting each panel switch is connected in parallel, and a variable resistor or fixed resistor R2 is shown. In the series circuit of
One of each resistor R1 is connected to GND, and one of R2 is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc, and the connection point of each resistor R1 and R2 is connected to the microcomputer 42 via the same AD converter 41. One of the switches 43, 44, 45 is connected to GND, the other to the microcomputer 42, and the other of each moderating switch 43, 44, 45 is connected to each diode D.
1 to the latch terminal of the AD converter 41, and PUL to the power supply voltage Vcc via each resistor R3.
L UP.

ON/OFF of each moderating switch 43, 44, 45
By F, the panel switch being used and its switching timing can be detected, and the AD converter 41 is latched. From this and the position data of the latched AD converter, the switching of the panel switch can be identified. It is something.

In addition, when the number of panel switches to be connected is large, the switch matrix may be configured using switches with moderation.

With this configuration, a single expensive AD converter can electrically process a large number of panel switches.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, - a button or a cover provided with a pressure-sensitive sensor under the i part and held movably up and down, and the pressure-sensitive sensor and the pressure-sensitive button or the case The basic structure consists of a rigid support part that supports the opposite end of the sensor from below and is movable up and down, and a switch that can be switched when a certain pressure is applied to the support part. By switching the switch by moving the support part, the switch becomes 0N.
- At the same time as detecting OFF, the pressure applied to the button or cover is converted into a resistance value using a pressure sensor, and by being configured with a circuit that detects the pressed position based on this resistance value, it is possible to adjust the shape and thickness of the design. It is possible to provide a panel switch that has no limitations, has a single-piece structure, has a luxurious feel, and has a sense of moderation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a panel switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 2 (^) to (C) show the operation of the panel switch, (^) is a steady state diagram, (81 is a (C) is a switching state diagram, FIGS. 3 to 5 are circuit diagrams showing examples of the same panel switch detection circuit, and FIG. 6 is a detection circuit of a composite panel switch according to another embodiment of the present invention. 7 are configuration diagrams of a conventional panel switch. 11...cover, 12...pressure sensor, 13...
Convex portion, 14...Fully point, 15...Free end, 16...
Support part, 17... Moderating switch, 18... Display element, 19... Printed circuit board, 20... Case, 3
1...AD converter, 32...microcomputer, 40.
...Panel switch, 41...Converter, 42...
・Microcomputer, 43-45...Switch with moderation.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A button or cover provided with a pressure-sensitive sensor under one end and held movably up and down; the pressure-sensitive sensor and the opposite end of the button or cover from the pressure-sensitive sensor; A panel switch comprising: a support part made of a rigid body that supports the from below and is held movable up and down; and a switch that can be switched by moving the support part up and down. 2. A series circuit of the resistor R1 of the first pressure-sensitive sensor and a fixed or semi-fixed resistor R2 is provided between the power supply voltage Vcc and GND, and the connection point of the resistors R1 and R2 is connected to the data processing device via the AD converter. 2. The panel switch according to claim 1, wherein one of the switches is connected to GND, the other is connected to the data processing device, and is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc via a resistor R3. 3. A series circuit of the switch and pressure sensor resistor R1 and a fixed or semi-fixed resistor R2 is provided between the power supply voltage Vcc and GND, and the connection point of the resistors R1 and R2 is connected to the data processing device via the AD converter. The panel switch according to claim 1. 4. A series circuit of the pressure sensor resistor R1 and a fixed or semi-fixed resistor R2 is provided between the power supply voltage Vcc and GND,
2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein a connection point between resistors R1 and R2 is connected to one of the switches, and the other switch is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc via a resistor R3 and connected to a data processing device via an AD converter. switch. 5. A plurality of panel switches according to claim 1 are connected, and a series circuit of a resistor R1 of each pressure-sensitive sensor constituting each panel switch and a fixed resistor or semi-fixed resistor R2 is provided between a power supply voltage Vcc and GND,
Connect the connection point of each resistor R1 and R2 to the data processing device via the same AD converter, and connect one of each switch to GN.
D, the other side is connected to the data processing device, and the other side is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc via a resistor R3.