JPH10320110A - Opticalmouse pad - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method capable of optionally designing the appearance of an optical mouse pad and the tenchnology for presenting a warm and pleasant impression by drawing a pleasant picture, pattern or the like on the pad to attain pad structure. SOLUTION: A printed layer 63 including plural color print parts 64A to 63E having respectively different color tones is printed on the rear face of a transparent surface film 26 so as to constitute a prescribed pattern. The pattern constituted of the printed layer 63 is formed like a pattern to be viewed from the surface side of the mouse pad. Although coloring ink components of various color tones can be used for plural color print parts 63A to 63E constituting the printed layer 63, ink components having low light transmissivity in a visual area and having high light transmissivity in a near infrared area are selected as their optical features.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical mouse pad, and more particularly, to a technique for securing a design flexibility of an optical mouse pad.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various optical mouse systems have been used as coordinate input devices for computers and the like. An optical mouse system generally includes an optical mouse having a light-emitting element such as an LED and a light-receiving element such as a photodiode, and a coordinate pattern configured to enable detection of coordinates by the optical mouse. And an optical mouse pad provided with

[0003] For example, in an optical mouse described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-39128, an X-axis line pattern defining an X coordinate composed of striped parallel thin lines and a Y-axis similarly defining a Y coordinate are disclosed. Using an optical mouse pad formed with a line pattern separated in the thickness direction,
By setting the focus of the X coordinate detection optical system of the optical mouse to the position of the X axis line pattern and the focus of the Y coordinate detection optical system to the position of the Y axis line pattern, the X coordinate and the Y coordinate are not confused. It is configured so that it can be reliably detected by a simple detection system.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional structure of an optical mouse pad manufactured using the technique disclosed in the above publication. The mouse pad 1 includes a transparent substrate 10. This substrate 10
Is a high-rigidity plate material such as glass or acrylic resin, and is formed in a substantially A-row 4-size having a thickness of about 5 mm, a width of about 210 mm, and a length of about 300 mm. A transparent top film 23 is adhered to the surface 11 of the substrate 10 (refers to the upper surface in a normal installation state of the mouse pad; the same applies hereinafter) via a transparent adhesive layer 22 having a thickness of about 20 to 30 μm. ing. On the surface of the upper film 23, an X-axis line pattern 21 made of an aluminum thin film or the like, which is patterned into a plurality of parallel stripe-shaped pattern portions, is formed. Each pattern portion of the X-axis line pattern 21 extends in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the drawing.

[0005] A lower surface film 33 is provided on the back surface 12 of the substrate 10 (the lower surface in a normal installation state of the mouse pad; the same applies hereinafter) through a transparent adhesive layer 32 having a thickness of about 20 to 30 μm. Is affixed. On the surface of the lower film 33, a reflective layer 35 formed entirely of an aluminum thin film, and on the surface of the reflective layer 35, a black printed layer formed by patterning a plurality of parallel stripe-shaped pattern portions. 36 are stacked. The reflection layer 35 and the black printing layer 36 are integrally formed, and the portion of the reflection layer 35 that is not covered by the black printing layer 36 is a Y-axis line pattern 31 having a stripe pattern portion. I have. This Y axis line pattern 3
Each of the pattern portions 1 extends in a direction parallel to the plane of the drawing (left and right directions in the figure). A plurality of non-slip members 34 are attached to the back surface of the lower film 33.

On the surface of the upper film 23, a colored film 25 made of a polyester film dyed in pale blue is adhered via a transparent adhesive 27. On the surface of the colored film 25, a hard coat film 24 is formed. The hard coat film 24 is, for example, a silicon oxide layer, a glassy hard film formed by applying a stock solution of an organopolysiloxane and performing a heat-curing treatment, a cured film of a photocurable acrylic resin, or the like. .

In the optical mouse pad as described above, light (usually near-infrared light) emitted from the LED of the optical mouse is applied to the X-axis line pattern 21 and Y-axis.
The number of line patterns in the X and Y directions that intersect with the movement of the optical mouse is counted by the detection optical system that is irradiated on the axis line pattern 31 and focused on each line pattern, and the X and Y directions are counted. The amount of movement of the optical mouse to is detected. Here, the light reflectance of the Y-axis line pattern 31 with respect to the detection light is about 90%. However, when the amount of movement in the Y direction is detected, the influence of the shadow of the X-axis line pattern 21 formed above (misdetection, etc.) In order to reduce), the X-axis line pattern 21 is formed by adjusting the reflectance of the detection light to be about 50%.

In the above mouse pad, when viewed from the front side, the X-axis line pattern 21 and the Y-axis line pattern 31 are visually recognized as grid-like reflection lines, so that they are dazzled or have external light. Because the appearance is unfavorable such as the occurrence of reflection of blue color film 2
5 is stuck.

[0009]

By the way, in the above-mentioned optical mouse pad, since a thin blue colored film 25 is provided in order to prevent glare of the pad due to the line pattern, the entirety is provided as a whole. Although it looks blue, the grid pattern of the line pattern is visible as it is. The appearance of the lattice pattern of the line pattern does not necessarily impair the appearance, but generally has a problem that the appearance is made cold and gives an artificial impression.

In order to make the grid pattern of the line pattern less visible, the color tone of the colored film 25 may be darkened. However, if the colored film 25 is darkened, the detection light is also blocked by the colored film. This makes it difficult to detect a line pattern using an optical mouse. For this reason, there is a problem that the density of the colored film is also limited, and the design freedom of the mouse pad is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a method and a pad structure that can freely design the appearance of an optical mouse pad. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for drawing a picture, a pattern, etc. to give a warm and pleasant impression.

[0012]

Means taken by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem is to provide a coordinate system in which at least one coordinate in a plane direction can be optically detected from the surface side inside a transparent substrate. In an optical mouse pad having a pattern,
A color layer that forms a colored pattern that is visible from the surface side of the substrate, between the surface of the substrate and the coordinate pattern, wherein the colored layer is a detection light for optically detecting the coordinate pattern. An optical mouse pad, which has a high transmittance with respect to light and has an optical characteristic for exhibiting a predetermined color tone in at least a part of a visible region.

According to this means, a colored layer forming a colored pattern is formed on the surface side of the coordinate pattern, and the colored layer has a high transmittance to the detection light and at least a part of the visible region. With the optical characteristics for exhibiting a predetermined color tone, a predetermined colored pattern by the colored layer can be visually recognized when the mouse pad is viewed from the front side without hindering the coordinate detection by the optical mouse. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the optical mouse pad can be improved.

An optical mouse pad having a coordinate pattern in which at least one coordinate in a plane direction can be optically detected from the surface side inside a light-transmitting substrate, wherein the surface of the substrate and the coordinate pattern are A coloring layer printed in a visible manner from the surface side of the substrate, wherein the coloring layer has a high transmittance to detection light for optically detecting the coordinate pattern, and has a visible region. An optical mouse pad having optical characteristics for exhibiting a predetermined color tone in at least a part of the region.

According to this means, a colored layer printed on the surface side of the coordinate pattern is formed, and the colored layer has a high transmittance to the detection light and has a predetermined transmittance in at least a part of the visible region. By providing the optical characteristics for exhibiting the color tone, it is possible to visually recognize a predetermined colored state by the colored layer when the mouse pad is viewed from the front side without hindering the coordinate detection by the optical mouse. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the optical mouse pad can be improved.

In particular, by forming the colored layer by printing, it is possible to freely form any pattern, pattern, picture, etc. at low cost.

It is to be noted that having the above-mentioned optical characteristics for exhibiting the predetermined color tone means that the optical device has a non-uniform absorption characteristic or reflection characteristic in a wavelength region within a visible region, and thus has a visually predetermined color tone. Say that it is supposed to present.
However, the optical characteristics do not need to be uniform on the plane of the colored layer, but rather, when a colored pattern is formed, the optical characteristics of the colored layer are different in the plane direction.

In the above two means, it is preferable that the colored layer is formed inside the substrate.

According to this means, since the colored layer is formed inside the substrate, there is no danger of the colored layer disappearing due to abrasion and the like, and the deterioration and discoloration due to the exposure can be prevented.

As a method or structure for forming the colored layer inside the substrate, it is preferable that the colored layer is sandwiched between two translucent materials. In particular, it is preferable to form a colored layer on the surface to which one of the two light-transmitting materials is bonded beforehand, and then bond the two light-transmitting materials with a light-transmitting adhesive or the like.

Further, a bonding structure of a first light-transmitting layer and a second light-transmitting layer is provided on the substrate, and a bonding surface of the first light-transmitting layer and the second light-transmitting layer is provided. It is preferable that both the coloring layer and the coordinate pattern are formed therebetween.

According to this means, since both the coordinate pattern and the colored layer are formed on the surface where the first light-transmitting layer and the second light-transmitting layer are bonded, the coordinate pattern on the substrate can be obtained. The process of including the coloring layer can be completed at once,
Manufacturing efficiency can be increased.

In particular, it is preferable to form a colored layer on the bonding surface of the first light transmitting layer and to form a coordinate pattern on the bonding surface of the second light transmitting layer. The formation process on each bonding surface can be separately performed, and both the coloring layer and the coordinate pattern are formed on a surface on which other layers and patterns are not formed (for example, a flat surface).
This is because it can be formed on top.

Further, it is desirable that a light-color layer be provided on the back side of the coordinate pattern or on a region where the coordinate pattern is not formed.

According to this means, when a light-colored layer such as a white layer is formed as a colored layer, the light-transmittance over a wider wavelength range is reduced by the light-colored layer, so that the coordinate detection is often hindered. However, by forming a light-colored layer on the back side of the coordinate pattern or on the non-formation area of the coordinate pattern, it is possible to whiten the background of the colored layer without hindering the detection of the coordinate pattern, making the coordinate pattern inconspicuous. And a light color can be added as the color tone of the mouse pad, and the color tone of the colored layer can be made bright overall.

The coordinate pattern is formed on the front surface side and formed of a first line pattern composed of parallel fine lines having reflectivity to the detection light, and the first line pattern is formed on the back surface side. A second pattern having a higher reflectance than the first line pattern and having a parallel thin line crossing the parallel thin line of the first line pattern.
It is preferable to have a line pattern. The first line pattern and the second line pattern arranged at different heights defining different directions can perform coordinate detection while suppressing mutual interference, and the second line pattern can be more easily detected than the first line pattern. Is provided with a high reflectance, so that when detecting the second line pattern formed on the back surface side, erroneous detection due to the shadow of the first line pattern can be reduced.

In this case, it is particularly effective to form the light-colored layer in the area where the second line pattern is not formed, so as not to hinder the coordinate detection and to avoid complicated manufacturing steps.

The above-mentioned detection light is preferably light in a wavelength range outside the visible region in order to widen the selection range of the colored layer and increase the detection accuracy, and among them, a light source with high brightness and low cost is selected. From the near infrared region (especially 850 to 950)
(nm wavelength region).

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of an optical mouse pad according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional structure of a mouse pad according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Here, the base material 10, the X-axis line pattern 21, the Y-axis line pattern 31 (the reflective layer 3
5, black print layer 36), transparent adhesive layers 22, 32, upper film 23, lower film 33, hard coat layer 24
Are the same as those of the conventional optical mouse pad shown in FIG. 7, and are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, a surface film 26 made of a transparent polyester resin and having a thickness of about 25 μm is used in place of the conventional colored film. On the surface of the surface film 26, a hard coat layer 24 having a thickness of about 2 μm as in the conventional example is formed. On the back surface of the front film 26, colored printing sections 63A, 63B, 63C, 63 of different colors so as to form a predetermined pattern.
A printing layer 63 including D and 63E is printed.

The pattern constituting the print layer 63 is formed, for example, as a plane pattern that looks like that shown in FIG. 5 when viewed from the front side of the mouse pad. Here, the colored printed portion 63A indicates the sail of the yacht and is light red, the colored printed portion 63B indicates the hull of the yacht and is yellow, and the colored printed portion 63C indicates the support frame of the mast or the sail, and is black. is there. Further, the colored print portion 63D indicates the sea and is dark blue, and the colored print portion 63E indicates the sky and is light blue.
As a printing method, screen printing and other various printing methods can be used.

A plurality of colored printing sections 6 constituting the printing layer 63
For 3A, 63B, 63C, 63D, and 63E, colored inks of various colors can be used, but as optical characteristics, as shown in FIG. 6, all have low light transmittance in the visible region. In the near infrared region, those having high light transmittance are selected.

FIG. 6 shows that, from among the above-mentioned selected coloring inks, R is red, G is green, and B is blue coloring ink, and one is formed on a polyester film having a thickness of about 15 μm.
It shows the result of measuring the light transmittance of a product printed to a thickness of about 3 μm. As these coloring inks, for example, ULP Super (manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.,
Dye-based inks such as (product name) are preferred. This is because an ink colored with a dye often exhibits a high transmittance in the near infrared region. However, even with a pigment-based ink, it is possible to obtain infrared transmission characteristics similar to those shown in FIG. 6 by reducing the composition and the coating thickness.

Each of these colored inks has a high light transmittance in the near-infrared region, and has a high light transmittance in a predetermined region in the visible region according to each color tone. Area is lower.

FIG. 6 also shows the light transmittance when the color inks of red, green and blue are overlaid and printed. When the layers are overlapped in this manner, almost no light is transmitted in the visible region, and the color is black. On the other hand, in the near-infrared region, light transmittance sufficient for detecting a line pattern is secured. By using such a colored ink,
All tones except perfect white and light colors close to white can be formed. The density can be adjusted by changing the thickness of the printing layer.

The surface film 26 thus formed
A transparent adhesive having a thickness of about 2 to 3 μm is formed by dry lamination on the printed surface of the upper film 23 and the surface of the upper film 23 on which the X-axis line pattern 21 is previously formed by a method such as aluminum evaporation or photolithography. Adhere to each other via 27. Then, the surface film 26 and the upper surface film 23 thus bonded are bonded to the surface 11 of the base material 10 via the transparent adhesive layer 22.

Similarly, the back surface 12 of the substrate 10 and the reflection layer 3
5 and the surface of the lower film 33 on which the black print layer 36 is formed are bonded via the transparent adhesive layer 32.

In this embodiment, the optical mouse L
The emission wavelength of the ED is in the range of 850 to 950 nm (near infrared light). This is because this is a wavelength band in which the highest light emission luminance can be obtained at low cost in the LED. Here, as described above, the print layer 63 has the colored printing portions 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D, and 63E having a high light transmittance in the near infrared region and a low light transmittance in the visible region.
It consists of. Therefore, the appearance of the mouse pad is mainly determined by the print layer 63, but does not hinder the detection of the line pattern by the optical mouse.

Further, the pattern, design, picture, etc. constituted by the print layer 63 are formed not on the surface of the mouse pad but between the surface film 26 and the upper film 23, and thus are worn by use. Will not disappear.

Since the printing layer 63 is disposed on the surface side more than the X-axis line pattern 21 and the Y-axis line pattern 31, the line pattern becomes difficult to see and the pattern, design, picture, etc. are not obstructed. Therefore, the appearance of the mouse pad can be improved.

Since the printing layer 63 is printed on the back surface of the front film 26, the printing layer 63 is formed by printing in a shape reverse to a normal pattern or the like.

In this embodiment, in particular, since the printing layer 63 is printed on the back surface of the front film 26 and adhered to the surface of the top film 23 on which the X-axis line pattern 21 is formed, the number of manufacturing steps is reduced. The increase can be suppressed. Further, since the print layer 63 and the X-axis line pattern 21 are opposed to each other and adhered by the transparent adhesive 27, the occurrence of unevenness due to the print layer 63 and the X-axis line pattern 21 can be avoided at the same time.

Here, the background of the printing layer 63 is the X-axis line pattern 21 (light reflectance is about 50%) and the Y-axis line pattern 31 (light reflectance is 90% by the reflecting layer 35).
%. ) And the black print layer 36 (printed with black ink) are formed in a lattice shape.

In the printing layer 63, since it is difficult to obtain a light-colored ink having a high light transmittance in the near-infrared region, a light-colored portion can be formed on a design, a picture, a pattern, or the like. There is a problem that it is difficult. This is because the light color often has a low light transmittance in a wide wavelength region outside the visible region as well as in the visible region. However, it is possible to form a brighter design by forming a colored ink that has a slightly white color tone and high light transmittance in the near-infrared region unless it is a light color close to perfect white. It is.

When a bright color such as white is desired to be included in a design or the like, a white print layer is formed instead of the black print layer 36, and the background of the print layer 63 is whitened, so that the mouse pad Substantially white can be added to the design. Although the white color of the white print layer cannot be seen in the formation area of the X-axis line pattern 21 and the Y-axis line pattern 31, the color tone of the entire print layer 63 can be whitened and brightened.

If a white print layer is formed instead of the black print layer 36, it may be difficult to detect a line pattern using an optical mouse. However, in the present embodiment, the X-axis line pattern 21 and the white print layer are vertically separated from each other, and in an optical mouse, the X-direction detection optical system and the Y-direction detection optical system are different optical systems and have different depths. , The detection of the X-axis line pattern will not be difficult. On the other hand, in the Y-axis line pattern 31, since the light reflectance is 90% or more, a sufficient difference in light reflectance from the white print layer can be ensured, and sufficient detection accuracy can be maintained. .

In place of the white printed layer, a light-colored layer having a high lightness but not completely white may be formed.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional structure of a second embodiment according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the substrate 1
0, X-axis line pattern 21, Y-axis line pattern 31
(Reflection layer 35 and black printing layer 36), top film 2
3, hard coat layer 24, surface film 26, lower film 33, transparent adhesive layers 22, 32, non-slip member 34
Is the same as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, a printing layer 63 is formed by printing on the surface of the surface film 26, a flattening layer 66 made of a transparent resin is formed thereon, and then the hard coat layer 24 is coated. Here, if sufficient flatness can be obtained even if the hard coat layer 24 is formed directly on the print layer 63, the flattening layer 66 may be omitted.

Also in this embodiment, the printing layer 63 is
Similar to the first embodiment, since they are arranged closer to the front side than the line patterns 21 and 31, the same effects as described above can be obtained.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional structure of a third embodiment according to the present invention. Also in this embodiment, the base material 10, the X-axis line pattern 21, the Y-axis line pattern 3
1 (reflection layer 35 and black printing layer 36), top film 2
3, hard coat layer 24, surface film 26, lower film 33, transparent adhesive layers 22, 32, non-slip member 34
Is the same as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the print layer 63 is formed directly on the X-axis line pattern 21 formed on the surface of the upper film 23, and then the hard coat layer 24 is formed.
Is adhered by a transparent adhesive 27.

In this embodiment, the upper film 2
Since the printing layer 63 can be printed following the formation of the X-axis line pattern 21 on the third film 3, the number of manufacturing steps can be suppressed, and nothing is formed on the back surface of the front film 26. In addition, application of the transparent adhesive 27 becomes easy.

In this case, similarly to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the hard coat layer 24 is formed directly or via a flattening layer on the surface of the print layer 63, and the surface film 26 may be omitted. It is possible.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional structure of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention. Also in this embodiment, the base material 10, the X-axis line pattern 21, the Y-axis line pattern 3
1 (reflection layer 35 and black printing layer 36), top film 2
3, hard coat layer 24, surface film 26, lower film 33, transparent adhesive layers 22, 32, non-slip member 34
Is the same as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the printing layer 6 is formed on the surface in advance.
3, a thin transparent film 64 formed by printing is formed, and this transparent film 64 is formed on the upper surface film 23 on which the X-axis line pattern 21 is formed on the surface and the surface film 26 on which the hard coat layer 24 is formed on the surface. It is sandwiched between and manufactured.

According to this embodiment, the step of forming the print layer 63 is performed separately from the step of forming the X-axis line pattern 21 on the upper film 23 and the step of forming the hard coat layer 24 on the surface film 26. Since it can be performed, manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a predetermined pattern,
The printed layer 63 having a picture, a pattern, etc. is formed.
As long as the mouse pad has similar optical characteristics, a similar mouse pad can be formed by sandwiching a colored film. In other words, the same effect can be obtained in a colored film as long as it shows a high light transmittance with respect to the detection light of the optical mouse and has optical characteristics for representing a specific color tone in the visible region. it can.

Such a colored film can be easily prepared, for example, by mixing a substance exhibiting specific optical characteristics such as a dye or a pigment into a basic translucent resin constituting the film.

In the above embodiment, the detection light of the optical mouse is light in the near infrared region. However, the detection light may be light in any region outside the visible region. The light within the region only needs to be light in the wavelength region where the formed colored layer has a high light transmittance.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, the colored layer has an optical property for exhibiting a high transmittance to the detection light and exhibiting a predetermined color tone in at least a part of the visible region. By providing the optical pad, it is possible to visually recognize a predetermined colored state by the colored layer when the mouse pad is viewed from the front side without obstructing the coordinate detection by the optical mouse. The degree of freedom in designing the mouse pad can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a first embodiment of an optical mouse pad according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of an optical mouse pad according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an optical mouse pad according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of a fourth embodiment of the optical mouse pad according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a plane pattern of a print layer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing optical characteristics (a relationship between light transmittance and wavelength) of a polyester film printed using a coloring ink used for a printing layer.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the structure of a conventional optical mouse pad.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 base material 21 X-axis line pattern 22, 32 transparent adhesive layer 23 top film 24 hard coat layer 26 surface film 27 transparent adhesive 31 Y-axis line pattern 33 bottom film 35 reflection layer 36 black print layer 63 print layer 63A, 63B , 63C, 63D, 63E Colored printing section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An optical mouse pad having a coordinate pattern in which at least one coordinate in a plane direction can be optically detected from the front side inside a light-transmitting substrate, wherein the surface of the substrate and the coordinate pattern are In between, comprising a colored layer constituting a colored pattern visible from the surface side of the substrate, the colored layer, while showing a high transmittance to the detection light for optically detecting the coordinate pattern, An optical mouse pad having optical characteristics for exhibiting a predetermined color tone in at least a part of a visible region. 2. An optical mouse pad having a coordinate pattern in which at least one coordinate in a plane direction can be optically detected from a surface side inside a light-transmitting substrate, wherein the surface of the substrate and the coordinate pattern are In between, comprising a colored layer printed so as to be visible from the surface side of the substrate, the colored layer,
It has a high transmittance to detection light for optically detecting the coordinate pattern, and has an optical characteristic for exhibiting a predetermined color tone in at least a part of a visible region. Optical mouse pad. 3. The optical mouse pad according to claim 1, wherein the coloring layer is formed inside the substrate. 4. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein a bonding structure of a first light transmitting layer and a second light transmitting layer is provided on the substrate, and the first light transmitting layer and the second light transmitting layer are bonded to each other. An optical mouse pad, wherein both the colored layer and the coordinate pattern are formed between surfaces to be bonded to a light-transmitting layer. 5. The optical mouse pad according to claim 1, wherein a light-color layer is provided on a back surface side of the coordinate pattern or on a non-formation region of the coordinate pattern.