JPH086716A - Input operation unit and keyboard wherein same is incorporated - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the input operation unit which measures an input manipulated variable through electric contacts. CONSTITUTION:The input operation unit is equipped with plural thin wire contacts which are annularly arrayed, plural grouping contacts corresponding to the thin wire contacts, and a pressing operation part which brings the thin wire contacts and grouping contacts into contact with each other. On one side, the thin wire contact groups 30A and 30C and grouping contacts 31B and 31D are formed. On the other side, the grouping contacts 31A and 31C are formed opposite the thin wire contact groups 30A and 30C on the former side and the thin wire contact groups 30B and 30D are formed opposite the grouping contacts 31B and 31D on the former side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input operation device and a keyboard incorporating the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In word processors, car navigation systems, game machines, and other computer equipment using microcomputers and computers, an input operation device is used as a device for moving a cursor on the display screen. As this type of input operation device, an input operation device called a mouse or a joystick is known. The input operation device operates this to measure this operation amount, converts the measured operation amount into an electric signal that conforms to the communication standard of the input operation device, and uses this electric signal as the angle signal and velocity signal of the cursor. Send to computer or computer equipment. In the computer or computer equipment, the cursor is moved on the display screen according to the direction and speed corresponding to these signals. In this case, a configuration is adopted in which the operation amount is measured and recognized in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and each of the measured and recognized horizontal operation amount and the vertical operation amount is converted into an electric signal conforming to the communication standard and transmitted. There is.

Here, the manipulated variable is measured as a current or a voltage proportional to this manipulated variable. This measurement can be performed, for example, by operating a rotating sphere and converting the running amount into a current or voltage proportional to this, or by pressing a piezoelectric element and proportional to the pressing amount. The one that measures the current or voltage that is applied is used.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, an input operation device of the type in which the traveling amount of a rotating sphere is converted into a current or voltage to measure an operation amount, and a current or voltage proportional to the pressing amount of a piezoelectric element. Any type of input operating device that measures the size must be relatively large for the computer or computer equipment to which the size of the input operating device is applied, and the manufacturing cost is also compared. High

The present invention provides an input operation device which solves the above-mentioned problems and measures an operation amount by an electric contact. Further, the present invention provides an input operation device equipped with operation keys suitable for measuring an operation amount by an electrical contact, and a keyboard incorporating this input operation device.

[0006]

A plurality of strip contacts 30 arranged in an annular shape are provided, and a plurality of grouping contacts 31 facing the strip contacts 30 are provided, and the strip contacts and the grouping contacts are provided. An input operation device having the pressing operation portions 21 and 17 which are brought into contact with each other is configured. The strip contacts are formed on one side,
The grouping contacts constituted an input manipulator formed on the other side.

On one side is a group of strip contacts 30A and 30.
C and grouping contacts 31B and 31D are formed, and grouping contacts 31A and 31C are formed on the other side so as to face the strip contact groups 30A and 30C on one side, and the strip contact groups 30B and 30D are formed. An input manipulator formed to face the grouping contacts 31B and 31D on one side was constructed.

The strip contact and the grouping contact are formed in a thin film to form an input operating device which constitutes a membrane switch. The membrane switch constitutes an input operation device constituted by forming one side of the contact and the other side of the contact in line symmetry and folding them. Here, the pressing operation portion constitutes an input operation device including a disk-shaped operation key 21 and a ring-shaped elastic body 17.

An input operation device is constructed which supports the lower center of the disk-shaped operation key. The disc-shaped operation key constitutes an input operation device in which the operation rod 20 is integrally formed in the upper center. A spherical concave portion is formed on the lower surface of the front panel 11 of the input operation device, an upper surface of the operation key is formed as a spherical convex portion conjugate with the spherical concave portion, and the spherical concave portion is fitted to the spherical concave portion, and the lower surface of the operation key has elasticity. An input operation device having an operation key supporting portion is constructed.

Further, in the keyboard in which the input operation device is incorporated, a keyboard in which the disk-shaped operation key is integrally formed with the operating rod 20 in the upper part of the key top group of the keyboard is incorporated. . In a keyboard incorporating an input operation device, a spherical concave portion is formed on a lower surface of a front panel 11 of the input operation device, an upper surface of the operation key is formed as a spherical convex portion which is conjugate with the spherical concave portion, and the spherical concave portion is fitted into the spherical concave portion. An input operation device in which an elastic operation key support is formed on the lower surface of the operation key constitutes a keyboard in which a key top group of the keyboard is incorporated.

In the keyboard in which the input operation device is incorporated, the keyboard which is the input operation device in which the pressing operation portion is composed of the disk-shaped operation key and the ring-shaped elastic body is constructed. In the keyboard in which the input operation device is incorporated, the input operation device is configured to support the lower center of the disk-shaped operation key.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. These figures are diagrams for explaining a membrane switch used in an input operation device for measuring the operation amount of the input operation device by an electric contact. Reference numeral 30 indicates the strip contact. The strip contacts 30 can be formed on the insulating thin film by a printed wiring technique, and the lengthwise directions thereof are oriented in the radial direction of a circle and are annularly arranged at equal angular intervals along the circumference. . The strip contacts 30 are strip contact groups 30A.
Through 30D. The total number of strip contacts 30 is 20
The number can be about 40 to 40.

Reference numerals 31A to 31D denote each of the grouped contacts, which can also be formed on the insulating thin film by the printed wiring technique. Each of the grouped contacts is a fan-shaped contact arranged in an annular shape at equal angular intervals from each other along the circumference of a circle similar to the above-mentioned circle. The strip contacts 30 and the grouping contacts 31 have the same suffix as the strip contact groups 30A to 30D and the grouping contacts 31A to 31D by folding back along the line cc 'in FIG. It is formed in a positional relationship. That is, in this way, the strip contacts 30 and the grouped contacts 31 face each other to form a membrane switch. Grouping contacts 31A to 3
1D is divided into four equal parts every 90 ° in FIG.
Therefore, each of the grouped contacts 31A to 31D corresponds to 10 of the strip contacts 30, and in the end, 40 strip contacts 30 are grouped into 4 groups every 10 sheets.

An example of the electrical connection of the strip contacts 30 is as shown in FIG. Strip contact 3 shown in FIG.
Assuming that 0 is divided into four parts by the xx ′ axis and the yy ′ axis which are orthogonal to each other, the strip contacts 30 that are in a relationship of overlapping when folded back with the xx ′ axis as the axis of symmetry are electrically connected to each other. And the strip contacts 30 that are in an overlapping relationship when folded back with the y-y 'axis as the axis of symmetry are also commonly connected so as to be electrically connected to each other. L ₁ to L ₁₀ are common connection lines.

A matrix switch circuit can be constructed by the membrane switches as described above, and the input switch can be constructed by using the matrix switch circuit. Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 11 is a front panel,
13 is a back plate. The membrane switch is a strip contact 30
And grouping contacts 31A to 31D. 14A and 14B are flexible insulating thin films forming the membrane switch. Reference numeral 15 is a spacer interposed between the insulating thin films 14. Reference numeral 21 denotes a disk-shaped operation key that constitutes a pressing operation unit that presses the membrane switch, and is supported by a pin 16 protruding from the back plate 13. Reference numeral 17 is an elastic body interposed between the operation key 21 and the membrane switch, and the pressing operation unit is the operation key 2
1 and the elastic body 17. Reference numeral 50 denotes a circular hole whose diameter increases downward from the surface of the front panel 11. The operation key 21 and the elastic body 1 are provided in the circular hole 50.
7 is accommodated and held. When the periphery of the operation key 21 is pressed, mutual contact between the grouping contacts 31A to 31D corresponding to the pressing operation position of the operation key 21, that is, the operation direction, and the strip contact 30 is performed. Along with this, the amount of deformation of the elastic body 17 increases in proportion to the pressing force of the operation key 21, so that the number of the strip contacts 30 contacting the grouping contacts 31 increases. . That is, the operation key 21
When the pressing force of is small, the number of contact of the strip contact 30 contacting the grouped contact 31 is one, and when the pressing force is slightly increased, the number of contact becomes two or three. It means that

Next, the arithmetic processing of the pressing operation input of the operation key 21 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 40 represents an arithmetic processing circuit composed of a microcomputer. P and Q are operation input terminals for the arithmetic processing circuit 40, and R is a condition setting input terminal. θ is an angle signal, V is a speed signal, and S is a condition setting signal, which is transmitted from the arithmetic processing circuit 40 to a computer or a computer device.

Here, the combination of contact between the grouped contacts 31A to 31D corresponding to the operation direction of the operation key 21 and the strip contacts 30 connected to the common connection lines L _{1 to} L ₁₀ is processed by the processing circuit 40. The operation direction and operation speed of the operation key 21 can be determined by performing arithmetic processing. For example, when the grouping contact 31A and the strip contact 30 connected to the common connection line L ₁ come into contact with each other, the operation input end P ₁ and the operation input end Q ₁ are interconnected, and the arithmetic processing circuit 40 makes this connection. recognize. When the grouping contact 31C and the strip contact 30 connected to the common connection line L ₁₀ come into contact with each other, the operation input end P ₁₀ and the operation input end Q ₄ are connected to each other, and the arithmetic processing circuit 40 recognizes this connection. To do. When the grouped contacts and the two strip contacts adjacent to each other come into contact with each other, two sets of the operation input terminals P and Q are connected to each other, and the arithmetic processing circuit 40 uses the two operation input terminals P and Q.
Recognize a pair of connections. The same applies when the grouped contacts and the three strip contacts come into contact with each other.

As described above, the combination of contact points that come into contact corresponds to the operation direction of the operation key 21. When the number of contact strips is one, the processing circuit 40 outputs the direction of the strip contact as the recognized operation direction. When the number of contact strips is two, the processing circuit 40 outputs the intermediate direction of both strip contacts as the operation direction. When the number of contact strips is three, the intermediate strip contact is output as the operation direction. Along with this, the grouping contacts 31A to 31D
The number of contacts of the strip contacts 30 with respect to is detected, and a speed signal proportional to the number of contacts is output. Depending on whether the number of contacts is one, two, or three, the speed signal V proportional to this can be output. The operation direction of the operation key 21 and the number of contact points of the strip contacts 30 recognized by the arithmetic processing circuit 40 are converted into an electric signal that conforms to the communication standard of a general-purpose mouse or joystick or other input operation device, and these are converted into angles. The signal θ and the speed signal V are transmitted to the computer.

The membrane switch can also be constructed as shown in FIG. The membrane switch shown in FIG. 6 has strip contact groups 30A and 30C and grouped contacts 31B and 31D on one side of the spacer.
On the other side of the spacer opposite to this, a grouping contact 31A facing the strip contact groups 30A and 30C on one side is provided.
And 31C to form grouping contacts 31B and 31D
To form strip contact groups 30B and 30D.
Here, circle contact 1, circle 2, circle 3 ...
The reference numeral "*" is attached to each of the contact points, which indicates the contact number of the corresponding strip contact 30. As for the order of the contact numbers, assuming that the circle 1 is pressed first, when the pressing position is displaced counterclockwise, the cursor movement direction is sequentially deflected counterclockwise, and the circle 20 is pressed last. Occasionally, the displacement takes one turn. An example of the common connection line is drawn out from the strip contact 30 as shown in the figure,
Lead lines are also drawn from the grouping contacts.

The membrane switch can form a matrix switch, which can be used to construct an input operation device. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 7. Reference numeral 40 represents an arithmetic processing circuit composed of a microcomputer. P and Q are microcomputer 40
Is an operation input terminal for R, and R is a condition setting input terminal. θ is an angle signal, V is a speed signal, and S is a condition setting signal. Here, the operation direction of the operation key 21 can be recognized and determined by arithmetically processing the contact between the grouping contact 31 and the strip contact 30 corresponding to the operation direction of the operation key 21 by the processing circuit 40. . For example, when the grouping contact 31A and the strip contact round 1 connected to the common connection line 13 come into contact with each other, the operation input end P ₁₃ and the operation input end Q ₂₁ are interconnected, and the arithmetic processing circuit 40 makes this connection. recognize. Round contact circle 1 that connects to grouping contact 31C and common connection line 1
When 5 comes into contact, the operation input end P ₁₃ and the operation input end Q ₂₀
And are connected to each other, and the arithmetic processing circuit 40 recognizes this connection. When the grouped contacts and two strip contacts adjacent to each other come into contact with each other, the two sets of operation input terminals P and Q are interconnected, and the arithmetic processing circuit 40 recognizes these two sets of connections. . The same applies when the grouped contacts and the three strip contacts come into contact with each other.

As described above, the combination of contact points that come into contact corresponds to the operating direction of the operating key 21. When the number of contact strips is two, the processing circuit 40 outputs the central direction of the strip contact as corresponding to the operation direction. When the number of contact strips is three, for example, the intermediate strip contact is output as the one corresponding to the operation direction. The contact number of the strip contact 30 with respect to the grouped contacts 31A to 31D can be detected, and this contact number can be made to correspond to the speed signal V. For example, the number of contacts is 1 or 2
It is possible to output three kinds of speed signals V depending on whether there are three or three. The operation direction of the operating rod 20 recognized by the arithmetic processing circuit 40 is converted into an electric signal that conforms to the communication standard of a general-purpose mouse or joystick or other input operation device, and these are converted to a computer as a cursor angle signal θ to a computer. Output.

Although the number of grouped contacts has been described as four, it is not limited to four and may be eight or more. The number of strip contacts is also changed according to the number of grouped contacts. Here, regarding the pressing operation part of the input operation device, the pressing operation part shown in FIG. 3 is configured by a disk-shaped operation key 21 and a ring-shaped elastic body 17. The operation key 21 has a pin 16
However, this may be omitted depending on the material structural size of the membrane switch. This operation key 21 has its upper surface formed in a relatively large area,
This is a type in which a pressing force is applied to the contacts by pressing the peripheral edge of the upper surface. The operation key 21 has a feature that a pressing force can be applied to the contacts by simply pressing the peripheral edge of the upper surface with a finger of one hand, and the pressing operation of the membrane contact can be simply performed.

The disc-shaped operation key shown in FIG. 4 is of a type in which an operation rod 20 is integrally formed at the center of the upper part thereof and a horizontal driving force is applied to the operation rod 20. 16 is the back plate 1
3 is a pin made of an elastic material that projects from the end of the pin, which engages with a recess formed in the center of the operation key 21 and biases the operation key 21 upward to support it from below.
Reference numeral 17 is a ring-shaped elastic body attached to the lower surface of the operation key 21 and made of a material such as rubber or synthetic resin. By operating the operating rod 20 in the horizontal direction, a pressing force is applied from above to the insulating thin film 14A via the operating keys 21 and the ring-shaped elastic body 17.

The operation key 21 is used to press the membrane switch in the vertical direction by converting the horizontal driving force applied to the operation rod 20 into the vertical direction, and the operation key 21 is supported from below to operate. Since it is stable, the diameter of the operation key may be smaller than that of the operation key 21 shown in FIG. 3, and the diameter of the contact of the membrane switch may be smaller. Since the diameter of the operation key can be made small, when the operation key is incorporated in the computer keyboard, it is suitable for improving the space factor of the computer keyboard. The operation key of the type that applies a horizontal driving force to the operating rod 20 can press the membrane switch in the vertical direction by applying a horizontal driving force of a slight stroke to the operating rod 20 with a finger. Therefore, the operability is good.

Further, there are the following types of operation keys for applying a horizontal driving force to the operation rod 20. Referring to FIG. 8, a console or an operating section is shown.
Is a front panel of the input operation device, 13 is a back plate, and 14 is a flexible insulating thin film forming a membrane switch. Reference numeral 20 is an operating rod, and 21 is an operating key. Operating rod 20
Is integrally formed on the upper center of the operation key 21. 5
Reference numeral 0 denotes a spherical concave portion whose diameter is expanded downward from the surface of the front panel 11. The operation key 21 is housed and held in the spherical concave portion 50. The upper surface of the operation key 21 is a spherical convex portion 22 conjugate with the spherical concave portion 50, and is fitted into the spherical concave portion 50. Reference numeral 16 'denotes an operation key support portion which is slightly elastic and protrudes from the lower surface of the operation key 21,
The front end engages with the back plate 13, biases the operation key 21 upward, presses the spherical convex portion 22 against the spherical concave portion 50, and supports the spherical concave portion 50. Reference numeral 17 is a ring-shaped elastic body attached to the lower surface of the operation key 21 and made of a material such as rubber or synthetic resin. By operating the operating rod 20 in the horizontal direction, a pressing force is applied to the insulating thin film 14 forming the membrane switch via the operating key 21 and the ring-shaped elastic body 17.

Since the matrix switch using the membrane switch of the present invention has the same manufacturing process and finished shape and structure as the keyboard switch of the computer or the computer equipment, when the keyboard switch is formed, they are integrally formed at the same time. Can be formed. A keyboard incorporating the input operation device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12. Figure 9
FIG. 9A is a diagram showing the same input operation device as that shown in FIG. 8, which is arranged in a key top of a keyboard of a computer or a computer device. FIG. 9B is the same as FIG.
It is a figure which shows the place which looked at (a) from the top. And FIG.9 (c) is a figure which shows a place which looked at FIG.9 (b) from the bottom. FIG. 10 is a view for explaining that a keyboard of a computer or a computer device is provided with an input operation device 10 integrally. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a full-scale unit in which a membrane switch forming a keyboard of a computer or computer equipment and a membrane switch forming an input operation unit are integrally formed. FIG. 12 is a view showing a full-size membrane switch.

First, referring to FIG. 9, although not clearly shown in FIG. 10, the key tops of the operating rod 20 are the center of the key top B, the key top G, and the key top H in the keyboard. It is located in. According to the view of FIG. 9C, the key top B, the key top G,
It is inferred that an area sufficient for disposing one of the membrane switches constituting the matrix switch which is pressed by the ring-shaped elastic body 17 exists just below the center of the three persons of the key top H.

The keyboard shown in FIG. 10 and the input operation device integrally incorporated therein are also of the full scale. 11, the membrane switch of the keyboard and the membrane switch of the input operation device can be integrally formed by folding the alternate long and short dash line CC ′ and interposing the spacer therebetween, which is shown in FIG. It is located below the key tops and operation keys of the keyboard. Regarding the part of the input operation device, this is constituted by overlapping the thin film 14A with the thin film 14A.

[0029]

As described above, the input operation device of the present invention is an input operation device of a type that measures the operation amount by converting the traveling amount of a rotating ball into a current or a voltage and the pressing amount of a piezoelectric element. The size of the input operation device can be made extremely small and thin, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, as compared with an input operation device of the type that measures a current or voltage proportional to. Since it is easy to increase the number of strip contacts, it is possible to generate an angle signal and a velocity signal with high resolution. Since the matrix switch can be made extremely thin by using the above-mentioned switch as a membrane switch, the entire input operation device can be made extremely thin and simple.

Further, an operation key for converting the horizontal driving force applied to the operation rod 20 into the vertical direction is used.
The one that supports the center of 1 from the bottom can have a small diameter of the operation key, and even if the diameter of the contact of the membrane switch is made small, the operation key can be sufficiently incorporated in the key top group of the computer keyboard. it can. Further, the matrix switch using the membrane switch of the present invention has the same manufacturing process and finished shape and structure as the keyboard switch of the computer or the computer equipment, and therefore, when the keyboard switch is formed, it is integrally formed at the same time. can do.
Therefore, it is easy to arrange the operation keys of the input operation device in the keyboard group of the computer or the computer device to operate the matrix switch, and the computer or the computer device incorporating the input operation device is installed. It can be easily manufactured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a membrane switch of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the connection of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a cross section of an input operation device.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross section of an input operation device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a calculation process of an input operation amount.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another membrane switch of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a calculation process of an input operation amount.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a cross section of an input operation device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an input operation device incorporated in a keyboard.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a keyboard in which an input operation device is integrated.

11 is a diagram illustrating a membrane switch used in the keyboard of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a membrane switch of the input operation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 Fine contact 31 Group contact

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A pressing operation unit comprising a plurality of strip contacts arranged in an annular shape, comprising a plurality of grouping contacts facing the strip contacts, and making the strip contacts and the grouping contacts mutually contact. An input operation device characterized by being provided. 2. The input manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the strip contacts are formed on one side and the grouping contacts are formed on the other side. 3. The input manipulator according to claim 1, wherein a strip contact group and a grouping contact are formed on one side, and a grouping contact is formed on the other side. An input operator characterized in that it is formed so as to face the group, and the strip contact group is formed so as to face the grouping contact on one side. 4. The input operation device according to claim 1, wherein the strip contact and the grouping contact are formed in a thin film to form a membrane switch. Input operation device. 5. The input manipulator according to claim 4, wherein the membrane switch is formed by forming one side of the contact and the other side of the contact in line symmetry and folding them. Input operation device characterized by. 6. The input operation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pressing operation portion is composed of a disk-shaped operation key and a ring-shaped elastic body. vessel. 7. The input operating device according to claim 6, wherein the center of the lower part of the disk-shaped operation key is supported. 8. The input manipulator according to claim 7, wherein the disc-shaped operation key is integrally formed with an operation rod 20 at the center of the upper part. 9. The input operating device according to claim 8, wherein a spherical concave portion is formed on a lower surface of a front panel 11 of the input operating device, and an upper surface of the operation key is formed as a spherical convex portion which is conjugate with the spherical concave portion. An input operation device characterized in that this is fitted in a spherical concave portion, and an operation key support portion having elasticity is formed on a lower surface of the operation key. 10. A keyboard incorporating an input operation device, wherein the input operation device according to claim 8 is incorporated in a key top group of the keyboard. 11. A keyboard in which an input operation device is incorporated, wherein the input operation device according to claim 9 is incorporated in a key top group of the keyboard. 12. A keyboard in which an input operation device is incorporated, wherein the input operation device is the input operation device according to claim 6. 13. A keyboard incorporating an input operation device, wherein the input operation device is the input operation device according to claim 7.