JPH08314614A - Coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To improve a pressure-sensitive coordinate input device for detecting a pressed position, to provide a coordinate input device capable of shortening the manufacturing time without requiring new capital investment. [Structure] The two conductive films 12 and 13 are separated by an insulating spacer 15.
Two conductive films 12, 1
A coordinate input device in which a voltage is alternately applied to 3 and the potential of the pressed position is read by the conductive film to which the voltage is not applied to obtain the coordinates of the pressed position. The two conductive films 12 and 13 are integrally formed on the flexible substrate 11,
1 is bent at the boundary between the two conductive films 12 and 13, and the two conductive films 12 and 13 are arranged to face each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a pressure-sensitive coordinate input device for detecting a pressed position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory views for explaining a conventional pressure-sensitive coordinate input device. FIGS. 6 and 7A are top views of substrates 51 and 52. 7 (b)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional structural view of each of VI-VI and VII-VII in FIGS. 6 and 7A. In this coordinate input device, a conductive film 53 having a predetermined uniform resistivity is formed on one entire surface of a rectangular substrate 51, and a voltage is applied to the conductive film 53 along the opposite long sides of the conductive film 53. Electrodes 56, 56
To form. Next, an insulating layer 58 having a width that covers the electrodes 56, 56 is formed on the conductive film 53 at the four edges of the conductive film 53.

On the other hand, a conductive film 54 having a predetermined uniform resistivity is formed on the entire surface of one side of the substrate 52, and electrodes 57, 5 for applying a voltage to the conductive film 54 are formed on opposite short sides of the conductive film 54.
Form 7. Then, an insulating layer 59 is formed on the conductive film 54 at the four edges of the conductive film 54 so as to cover the electrodes 57, 57, and a plurality of insulating layers for maintaining insulation between the conductive films 53, 54 are formed on the conductive film 54. The insulating spacer 55 having a short columnar shape or a dome shape is arranged and formed at a desired position in consideration of the input load vertically and horizontally. Then, the conductive film 53 and the conductive film 5
The substrate 51 and the substrate 52 are superposed on each other via the insulating spacer 55 so as to be opposed to the substrate No. 4 and constitute a coordinate input device.

A position detecting method of the coordinate input device having such a configuration will be described below. This coordinate input device has a conductive film 5
3 between the electrodes 56 on two sides facing each other (this direction is defined as ay coordinate, for example) and the electrode 5 on two sides facing the conductive film 54.
A controller (not shown) alternately applies a constant voltage between 7 and 57 (where this direction is the x-coordinate), and the potential at the contact position of the substrate to which the constant voltage is applied is not changed. The conductive film of the voltage application side substrate is detected as a probe.

In this state, when one of the substrates 51 and 52 is pressed by the pen, the pressing side substrate near the pressed position is deformed and the two conductive films 53 and 54 come into contact with each other. At this time, the potential at the contact point between the two conductive films 53 and 54 is
The conductive film of the substrate to which the constant voltage is not applied is detected as a probe, and the coordinates between the electrodes are specified according to the detected potential. Next, the potential of the portion where the two conductive films 53 and 54 contact each other is determined by using the conductive film of the substrate to which the constant voltage is not applied as a probe (in this case, the electrode different from the constant voltage applying electrode described above). A constant voltage is applied to), and the coordinates between the electrodes are specified according to the detected potential. This makes it possible to obtain vertical and horizontal two-dimensional xy coordinates.

[0006]

By the way, as described above, the conventional method for manufacturing the coordinate input device is configured to form the two substrates 51 and 52 and the formed products such as the conductive film and the insulating layer thereon. A method is used in which the sheets are produced by a separate process for one sheet and then attached. However, in such a manufacturing method, since two substrates and formed products such as a conductive film and an insulating layer on the two substrates are manufactured in a separate process for one substrate, it is necessary to reduce the manufacturing time by two substrates. Although it is effective to provide a manufacturing facility dedicated to each substrate, it requires new capital investment. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate input device capable of shortening the manufacturing time without requiring new equipment investment.

[0007]

A coordinate input device according to a first aspect of the present invention is configured by arranging two conductive films facing each other through an insulating spacer, and applying a voltage alternately to the two conductive films. In the coordinate input device that reads the potential of the pressed position and obtains the coordinates of the pressed position by the conductive film to which no voltage is applied, the two conductive films are integrated with the flexible substrate. It is formed, and the substrate is bent at a boundary between the two conductive films, and the two conductive films are arranged to face each other.

In the coordinate input device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the substrate is provided with a lead-out portion for a lead-out electrode for applying a voltage to the conductive film, and the lead-out electrode is provided from the lead-out portion to the conductive film. It is characterized by being drawn around.

A coordinate input device according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises a lead-out portion for a lead-out electrode for applying a voltage to the conductive film,
A second substrate formed by extending the lead-out electrode from the lead-out portion to the conductive film is attached while the flexible substrate is bent.

[0010]

In the coordinate input device according to the first aspect of the present invention, 2
One conductive film is formed on one surface of the flexible first substrate, and the first substrate is bent so that the two conductive films face each other with an insulating spacer interposed therebetween. Then, as in the conventional case, a constant voltage is alternately applied between the two sets of facing electrodes, and the potential of the conductive film at the pressed position is alternately detected through the other conductive film to thereby detect the pressed position. To detect. Therefore, the production equipment dedicated to the two substrates is not required, and the production time can be shortened without requiring new equipment investment.

In the coordinate input device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the substrate has a lead-out portion for applying a voltage to the conductive film, and the lead-out electrode for applying a voltage to the conductive film is routed from the lead-out portion to the conductive film. Since it is formed, it is not necessary to add a lead-out portion and a lead-out electrode in a later step, and the manufacturing time can be shortened.

In the coordinate input device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the second substrate has a lead-out portion for applying a voltage to the conductive film,
Leading electrodes for applying a voltage to the conductive film are formed from the lead-out portion to the conductive film. Then, while the flexible substrate is bent, the second substrate is sandwiched, and
Since the two conductive films are arranged to face each other with the insulating spacer interposed therebetween, the manufacturing time can be shortened.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing its embodiments. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the coordinate input device according to the first invention, and is a developed perspective view of the coordinate input device. FIG. 2 is a sectional structural view taken along the line II of FIG. On one surface of a rectangular flexible substrate 11 having an area twice as large as that of the coordinate input device, a conductive film 12 having a predetermined uniform resistivity is provided on the left and right with a folded portion 14 having an appropriate width as a center. 13 is deposited. In addition, this folded portion 14
May be formed by forming a conductive film on the entire surface of the flexible substrate 11 and then etching the central portion.

Next, the conductive films 12 and 13 are formed on the conductive film 13.
A plurality of short columnar or dome-shaped insulating spacers 15 for maintaining insulation between them are arranged and formed at desired positions in consideration of the input load vertically and horizontally. Next, electrodes 16 and 16 and electrodes 17 and 17 for applying a voltage to the conductive film 12 and the conductive film 13 are formed on the short side of the conductive film 12 and the long side of the conductive film 13, respectively. Next, on the folded-back portion 14 and the four peripheral edges on the conductive films 12 and 13, the electrodes 16 and
The insulating layer 18 is formed to a thickness exceeding the thickness of the electrodes 16 and the electrodes 17, 17. At this time, the insulating layers 18 on the four peripheral edges on the conductive films 12 and 13 have electrodes 16 and 16 and electrodes 17 and 17, respectively.
Is formed to a width that covers the.

Here, before and after the formation of the insulating layer 18, the routing electrodes 38 (see FIG. 3) for applying a voltage to the electrodes 16, 16 and the electrodes 17, 17 are formed. Insulating layer 18
After the formation of the conductive film 12, the conductive film 12,
The coordinate input device is constructed by folding back the insulating layers 18 so that they face each other with the insulating spacers 15 sandwiched therebetween, and bonding the folded back insulating layers 18 to each other.

FIG. 3 shows electrodes 16, 16 and electrodes 17, 1.
7 is a developed perspective view showing an aspect of forming a leading electrode for applying a voltage to 7. To form the routing electrode,
After forming the electrodes 16 and 16 and the electrodes 17 and 17, respectively, a thickness not exceeding the thickness of the electrodes 16 and 16 and the electrodes 17 and 17 is formed on the folded portion 14 and the four peripheral edges of the conductive films 12 and 13. , The lower insulating layer 35a is formed. At this time, the lower insulating layers 35a at the four edges on the conductive films 12 and 13 are formed to have a width that surrounds the electrodes 16 and 16 and the electrodes 17 and 17.
Then, on the lower insulating layer 35a on the short side of the conductive film 13, 4
With four plug-in type terminal parts 36, four electrodes 16,
Four lead-out electrodes 38 connecting each of the 17 and the terminal portion 36 are formed on the lower insulating layer 35a.

Next, on the lower insulating layer 35a, the electrodes 16,
16 and the electrodes 17, 17 so as to cover the upper insulating layer 35.
b is formed. However, the electrodes 16 and 16 and the lead-out electrode 3
Ensure electrical continuity with 8, 38. Then, the rectangular lead-out portion 37 in which the four lead-out electrodes 38 are formed on a substrate different from the flexible substrate 11 is electrically connected to the four lead-out electrodes 38 of both the lead-out portion 37 and the flexible substrate 11. It is inserted into the four terminal portions 36 and attached to the flexible substrate 11 so as to ensure electrical continuity. After that, as described above, the folding portion 14 is folded back to form the coordinate input device.

The position detecting method of the coordinate input device having such a configuration will be described below. This coordinate input device has a conductive film 1
Between two electrodes 16 on opposite short sides (this direction is defined as ay coordinate, for example) and the electrode 1 on opposite long sides of the conductive film 13
A controller (not shown) alternately applies a constant voltage between 7 and 17 (this direction is taken as the x coordinate), and the potential at the contact position of the substrate to which the constant voltage is applied is not changed. The conductive film of the voltage application side substrate is detected as a probe.

In this state, when one of the substrates 12 and 13 is pressed by the pen, the pressing side substrate near the pressed position is deformed and the two conductive films 12 and 13 come into contact with each other. At this time, the potential at the contact point between the two conductive films 12 and 13 is
The conductive film of the substrate to which the constant voltage is not applied is detected as a probe, and the coordinates between the electrodes are specified according to the detected potential. Next, the potential of the portion where the two conductive films 12 and 13 contact each other is determined by using the conductive film of the substrate to which the constant voltage is not applied as a probe (in this case, an electrode different from the constant voltage applying electrode described above). A constant voltage is applied to), and the coordinates between the electrodes are specified according to the detected potential. This makes it possible to obtain vertical and horizontal two-dimensional xy coordinates.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of the coordinate input device according to the second invention. This coordinate input device
It has a drawer portion 20 protruding in a rectangular shape,
Conductive films 22 and 23 having a predetermined uniform resistivity are formed on one side of a single rectangular flexible substrate 21 having a double area with a folded portion 24 having an appropriate width as a center. . The folded portion 24 may be formed by forming a conductive film on the entire surface of the flexible substrate 21 and then etching the central portion.

Next, the conductive films 22 and 23 are formed on the conductive film 23.
A plurality of short columnar or dome-shaped insulating spacers 25 for maintaining insulation between them are arranged and formed at desired positions in consideration of the input load vertically and horizontally. Then, along the short side of the conductive film 22 and the long side of the conductive film 23, the conductive film 2
2 and electrodes 26, 2 for applying a voltage to the conductive film 23
6 and electrodes 27, 27 are formed respectively. Next, the lower insulating layer 28a is formed on the four peripheral edges of the conductive films 22 and 23, the folded portion 24, and the lead portion 20 to a thickness not exceeding the thickness of the electrodes 26, 26 and the electrodes 27, 27. At this time, the lower insulating layers 28a at the four edges on the conductive films 22 and 23 are formed.
Is formed to have a width that surrounds the electrodes 26, 26 and the electrodes 27, 27. Then, the four electrodes 2 are formed on the lower insulating layer 28a.
Four lead-out electrodes 29 are formed by leading from each of 6, 27 and above the lead-out portion 20.

Next, on the lower insulating layer 28a, the electrodes 26,
26 and the electrodes 27, 27 so as to cover the upper insulating layer 28.
a is formed. However, the electrodes 26, 26 and the lead-out electrode 2
Ensure electrical continuity with 9, 29. Upper insulating layer 2
After forming 8a, a conductive adhesive is applied to necessary portions on the upper insulating layer 28a, and the conductive film 2 is centered on the folded portion 24.
2 and 23 are folded back so as to face each other with the insulating spacer 25 sandwiched therebetween, and the upper insulating layers 28 on both sides of the folded back are adhered to each other to form a coordinate input device. The position detecting method of the coordinate input device having such a configuration is the same as the case of the pressure of the coordinate input device according to the first aspect of the invention described above, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural example of the coordinate input device according to the third invention. This coordinate input device
On one rectangular flexible substrate 41 having an area twice as large as that of the coordinate input device, the conductive films 42, 43 having a predetermined uniform resistivity are provided to the left and right with the folding portion 44 having an appropriate width as the center.
To form a film. The folded-back portion 44 is formed by the flexible substrate 4
It may be formed by forming a conductive film on the entire surface of 1 and then etching the central portion.

Next, the conductive films 42 and 43 are formed on the conductive film 43.
A plurality of short columnar or dome-shaped insulating spacers 40 for maintaining insulation between them are arranged and formed at desired positions in consideration of the input load vertically and horizontally. Next, the conductive film 4 is formed along the short side of the conductive film 42 and the long side of the conductive film 43.
2 and electrodes 46 and 4 for applying a voltage to the conductive film 43
6 and electrodes 47, 47 are formed respectively. Next, the insulating layer 4 is formed on the four edges of the conductive films 42 and 43 and on the folded portion 44 so as to cover the electrodes 46 and 46 and the electrodes 47 and 47.
5 is formed. At this time, the thickness of the insulating layer 45 may be selected according to the method of routing the routing electrode 48 described later.

On the other hand, on a flexible substrate 50 different from the flexible substrate 41, which has a portion having the same shape as the peripheral portions of the conductive films 42 and 43 and a lead-out portion 49 protruding in a rectangular shape, In order to be able to draw from each of the four electrodes 46, 47 to the lead-out part 49,
The four routing electrodes 48 are routed and formed. Then, the flexible substrate 41 and the flexible substrate 50 are connected to the four electrodes 46, 4
7 and each of the four routing electrodes 48 are attached so as to ensure electrical continuity, and then folded back so that the conductive films 42 and 43 are opposed to each other with the insulating spacer 40 in between, with the folded portion 44 as the center. Conductive film on both sides 4
The coordinate input device is constructed by adhering the parts other than 2, 43.

The position detecting method of the coordinate input device having such a configuration is the same as the case of the pressure of the coordinate input device according to the first invention described above, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. In each of the above-described embodiments, the lead-out portion and the lead-out electrode are provided on the same conductive film surface of the substrate or on the same substrate, but the invention is not limited to these, and for example, each conductive film surface or another two conductive films. Two lead-out electrodes may be provided on the substrate to shift the positions of the respective lead-out portions (the positions may be the same). Further, the routing electrodes are not limited to two, but may be separately provided for one and three.

[0027]

According to the coordinate input device of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the two conductive films are formed on one surface of the flexible first substrate, and the first substrate is bent. Since the two conductive films are arranged so as to face each other via the insulating spacer, it is possible to provide a coordinate input device capable of shortening the manufacturing time without requiring new equipment investment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a coordinate input device according to a first invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a coordinate input device according to the first invention and the second invention.

FIG. 3 is a developed perspective view showing an example of a mode of forming a leading electrode of the coordinate input device according to the second invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of a coordinate input device according to a second invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of a coordinate input device according to a third invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a conventional coordinate input device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a conventional coordinate input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11,21,41 Flexible substrate 12,13,22,23,42,43 Conductive film 14,24,44 Folding part 15,25,40 Insulation spacer 16,17,26,27,46,47 Electrode 18, 45 Insulating layer 20, 37, 49 Lead-out part 28a, 35a Lower insulating layer 28b, 35b Upper insulating layer 29, 38, 48 Leading electrode 36 Terminal part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A structure in which two conductive films are arranged so as to face each other with an insulating spacer interposed therebetween, and a voltage is alternately applied to the two conductive films, and the conductive film to which no voltage is applied is pressed. In a coordinate input device for reading a potential of a position and obtaining coordinates of a pressed position, the two conductive films are integrally formed on a flexible substrate, and the substrate is bent at a boundary between the two conductive films. , The said 2
A coordinate input device in which two conductive films are arranged to face each other. 2. The substrate is provided with a lead-out portion for a lead-out electrode for applying a voltage to the conductive film, and the lead-out electrode is drawn from the lead-out portion to the conductive film. Coordinate input device. 3. A second substrate having a lead-out portion for a lead-out electrode for applying a voltage to the conductive film, wherein the lead-out electrode is drawn from the lead-out portion to the conductive film to form a second substrate. The flexible substrate is attached during folding.
The coordinate input device described.