WO2003081413A1 - Information inputting device for electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The direction and strength of a stress applied on a protruding member (6) are sensed as changes in the characteristic value of a strain gauge disposed on a rigid body, so that an information inputting person can recognize that an information inputting device for an electronic apparatus for the input of information on the stress has also received the input of specific information. This device has a means for enabling the information inputting person to sense the input of specific information through tactile sense (e.g. impact on a finger tip (13)), visual sense or auditory sense by response from the electronic apparatus. An example of the sensing means is a means such that a magnet knocks the inside of the protruding section (6) by utilizing movement of the magnet caused by electromagnetic induction and the knock impact stimulate the tactile sense of the inputting person.

Description

 Specification

Information input device for electronic equipment

 The present invention relates to an information input device for an electronic device that detects the direction and magnitude of a stress applied to a protruding member as a change in a characteristic value of a strain gauge disposed on a rigid body and inputs information on the stress. Yes, particularly to multi-directional switches for various portable electronic devices such as a pointing device with a switching function of a personal computer (electronic computer) and a mobile phone. Background art

 For a pointing device that senses the direction and magnitude of the stress applied to the protruding member and inputs the information on the stress, a technology to generate a so-called click feeling when the protruding member is pressed is studied. Have been. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-3444066, a click feeling is generated by the elastic action of the elastic body 22 by pressing the projection 21 as shown in FIG. A pointing device 23 has been proposed.

 The above technology is considered to be an effective click sensation technology when the members composing the pointing device are highly flexible. However, the direction and magnitude of the stress applied to the protruding member are perceived as a change in the characteristic value of the strain gauge disposed on the rigid body, and the information input device for an electronic device to which the information of the stress is input is operated. At this time, there is almost no movement or deformation of each member constituting the input device. Therefore, a click feeling cannot be generated with the arrangement of the elastic body and the like. Then, the person who operates the input device cannot recognize that specific information has been input, and the operability is not good.

Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that information on the stress applied to the protruding member is sensed as a change in the characteristic value of the strain gauge disposed on the rigid body, and The purpose of the present invention is to enable an information input person to recognize that specific information has been input even in an information input device for an electronic device for inputting information. Disclosure of the invention

 In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first electronic device information input device of the present invention includes information on stress applied to the protruding member (for example, information indicating that stress has been applied, the magnitude of the stress, the direction of the application, and the like). ) Is sensed as a change in the characteristic value of a strain gauge disposed on a rigid body integrated with the protruding member, and the information input device for an electronic device that inputs the information on the stress is used to confirm that specific information has been input. The electronic device is characterized by having means for detecting the tactile, visual, or auditory sense of the information input person in response to the electronic device. The rigid body is, for example, a ceramic material such as alumina, a metal material having a glass-coated surface, a fiber-reinforced resin such as an epoxy resin molded article mixed with glass fibers, or a rigid body having the same rigidity. These rigid bodies need to have both flexibility to be able to bend to some extent and rigidity and elasticity to be able to restore their shape when stress is removed against many bendings. The reason for this is to prevent plastic deformation of the rigid body and the strain gauge disposed therein. Any of these exemplified materials can satisfy them. Plastic deformation is a deformation that has lost its reversibility, and does not recover even if stress is removed, upsetting the strain gauge characteristics. As a result, a problem arises in that accurate information cannot be input to the electronic device. It is an advantage of using a rigid body as a strain gauge holding member, which is a premise of the present invention, so as not to cause such inconvenience.

 The strain gauge is typically a resistance element, and includes a piezoelectric element and a capacitor element. Examples of the resistance element include a thick-film resistance element formed by a screen printing technique or the like, a thin-film resistance element formed by a sputtering technique, or the like. The characteristic value of the resistance element is a resistance value.

The fact that the specific information has been input is transmitted to the electronic device as strain gauge characteristic value change information. The electronic device receives the information and receives tactile, visual, or auditory information Respond to the request. Then, a response from the electronic device is received, and the response is converted into a command, for example, to apply vibration, impact, or the like to the protruding portion 6, thereby enabling the information input person to be sensed (for example, Figure 1 ) . The electronic device here includes a control unit that controls the information input device for electronic device of the present invention itself.

 In other words, even when there is almost no movement or deformation of each member constituting the input device during the operation of the information input device for an electronic device, the input device recognizes the information without changing the timing when the specific information is input. This becomes possible, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is solved. The present invention also has an advantage that the certainty that the recognition (sensing) is due to input of specific information is improved. With the conventional information input device shown in Fig. 5, it was not possible to guarantee that the click feeling was obtained as proof that specific information was input. This is because the physical properties of the elastic body 22 are not always constant. However, according to the present invention, the command to the electronic device information input device for “sensing” is issued on condition that specific information is input by the electronic device side. Therefore, in the present invention, it can be said that the recognition (sensing) is definitely due to the input of specific information.

 In the information input device for an electronic device according to the present invention, the protruding member moves a cursor displayed on a display unit of the electronic device, for example, a pointing device of a personal computer, or the protruding member is an electronic device. This is suitable for applications such as a multi-directional switch capable of inputting a plurality of commands to a computer. In the former case, the specific information is, for example, information corresponding to a click of a pointing device, and is made to correspond to an operation of pressing the projection 6. In this way, a so-called “click feeling” can be generated. In the latter case, it is possible to inform the information input person that the specific information has been input reliably as a “switching feeling”. This is useful, for example, for those operating small electronic devices such as mobile phones in the dark.

Further, the information input device for an electronic device according to the second aspect of the present invention is an information input device for an electronic device having a function of controlling a cursor operation of an electronic device display portion by operating a projection member. And a means for making the information input person sense tactile, visual, or auditory when the cursor is positioned in the information input area displayed on the display unit. The first information input device for an electronic device according to the present invention is directed to the information on the stress applied to the protrusion 6, whereas the second information input device for an electronic device according to the present invention is The difference is that information on the presence or absence of the information input area displayed on the display unit of the electronic device information input device is targeted. However, this difference is not an essential difference, but merely a trigger for the above-mentioned "sensing" to the information input person, and the subsequent "sensing" procedure is a common matter. Therefore, the operation mechanism of the second electronic device information input device of the present invention is substantially the same as that of the first electronic device information input device of the present invention.

 As in the second electronic device information input device of the present invention, the information input person can sense information on the presence or absence of the information input area displayed on the display unit of the electronic device information input device by detecting the information input device. For example, it is possible to grasp the timing at which the switching operation by the protruding member is performed while operating the force sol by operating the protruding member. Therefore, it is possible to perform both the operation of operating the force sol and the switching operation by a series of operations, and there is an advantage that the operation efficiency can be improved as a whole.

The "means for sensing" in the information input device for an electronic device of the present invention is, for example, means for giving a shock to the human body of the information inputting person whose projection 6 itself comes into contact with it, as described above. This suffices with a light impact similar to the clicking sensation of a mouse, which is a commonly used pointing device. For example, the means for sensing uses the movement of a magnet by electromagnetic induction, and the magnet knocks the protruding member, and the impact stimulates the tactile sensation of the input person (for example, Fig. 1) or to the piezoelectric element. This is a means for stimulating the tactile sensation of the input person due to the deformation of the piezoelectric element due to the application of the voltage. In addition, it is also conceivable to apply light 13 to the finger 13 (human body) operated by the information input person to recognize light static electricity. In such a case, the applied voltage, etc. should be adjusted so that the information input person does not feel uncomfortable. In addition, a small electronic motor (so-called micromotor) rotates the weight with a deviated center of gravity for a predetermined period to obtain vibration. There is also a means of transmitting it to the information input person. The small electronic module can be inserted and arranged in the hollow portion 11 of the projection 6 in FIG. 2A, for example, to keep the size of the entire electronic device information input device small.

 The "means for sensing" may be means for stimulating the sense of sight or hearing other than means for stimulating the tactile sensation of the information input person. For example, sound or light is emitted by inputting specific information. In the case of a sound, it is considered that a sound such as a high-pitched electronic sound with a strong attack, which tends to be unpleasant for a person who inputs information when listening continuously, is preferable, for example, a relatively low-pitched sound with a reduced attack. For example, a stringed instrument sound such as a cello. In the case of means for stimulating the visual sense, it is considered that the information input should be performed within the normal range of the visual field of the information input person. Therefore, in the case of an electronic device having a display unit, a display to that effect on the display unit is effective as the means.

 The first or second electronic device information input device of the present invention may be directly attached to the electronic device, or may be an electronic input device such as a Bluetooth input device that can be remotely controlled by wired or wireless communication technology. It may be a device that is not directly attached to the device and that can control one or more electronic devices. In particular, in remote operation using wireless communication technology, even when an information input operation is performed, the information may not reach the electronic device due to the directivity of radio waves or the presence of obstacles. This includes overwhelmingly more than in the case where the information input device is connected directly to the electronic equipment and wired communication. Therefore, the application of the present invention, which can reliably detect whether or not information has been input, is particularly effective for an information input device for an electronic device using wireless communication technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of the operation of the information input device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a structure of a projection according to the present invention capable of performing the operation shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of the overall configuration of the information input device of the present invention. (A) is a side view, (b) is a bottom view, and (c) is a top view. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an outline of an electric signal input / output state in the information input device of the present invention. Figure 5 shows the conventional information input FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a device. The reference numerals attached to these drawings are: 1 ... insulating substrate, 2 ... coil, 3 ... resistor, 4 ... conducting switch, 5 ... conductor, 6 ... protrusion, bar magnet, 8 ... resistor element, 9 ... lid, 10 ... terminal, 1 1 ... hollow part, 1 2 ... support hole, 13 ... finger, 14 ... trimmable chip resistor, 16 ... board hole, 18 ... terminal assembly part, 2 1 ... a projection, 22 ... an elastic body, 23 ... an information input device. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in which an information input device of the present invention is applied to a pointing device of a personal computer.

 First, a laminated board (insulating substrate 1) shown in Fig. 3 and having a thickness of about 0.8 mm mainly composed of an epoxy resin mixed with glass fiber is prepared. Next, copper foil as a conductor layer having a thickness of about 18 m is attached to both surfaces of the insulating substrate 1. The insulating substrate 1, which is a double-sided copper-clad laminate, has a sensor pattern substrate 1 having a rectangular outer shape as one unit, and has a circuit pattern (conductor 5, detailed shape not shown) such that a large number of them are connected vertically and horizontally. Then, patterning is performed over the insulating substrate 1 so that the resistance element 8, the trimmable chip resistor 14 and the terminal 10 are finally in the electrical connection state shown in FIG.

 In the first step of the patterning, holes necessary for forming conductive paths on the front and back of the double-sided copper-clad laminate are formed. In the second step, a conductor 5 is formed on the inner wall of the through hole that has been punched, and a catalyst is applied in order of electroless copper plating and electrolytic copper plating in order to make the copper foil on the front and back conductive. After the third step, a part of the conductor layer on the surface is removed by a photo-etching method using a well-known dry film registry. The conductor 5 is obtained as the remainder. Here, in FIG. 3, the illustration of the path from the end of the conductor 5 to the terminal assembly 18 is omitted, but each resistor 8 (R l to 4) and a trimmable chip resistor 14 (R triml to 4) This is the route that forms the bridge circuit shown in Fig. 4. Also, the terminals 10 (Vcc, GND, Yout, Xout) are present at regular intervals in the terminal assembling part 18.

Next, for each of the above 1 unit of insulating substrate 1 in the obtained large substrate, The notch for forming the substrate hole 16, the support hole 12 and the terminal assembly 18 shown in FIG. The four supporting holes 12 formed for the one unit sensor substrate 1 are formed so as to be located at the apexes of a substantially square. It should be almost the same as the center of the contour.

 Next, a resin-based (carbon-resin-based) resistor paste is formed by screen printing as shown in Fig. 3, and is heated and cured to form resistor 3. Further, in order to protect the resistor 3, a silicone resin paste is screen-printed, and then the paste is cured to form a protective film. Thus, the resistance element 8 is obtained.

 Then, the trimming chip resistor 14 electrically connected to the resistor 8 in series with the conductor 5 is connected to the resistor 8 as shown in FIG. Distribute by technology. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the trimmable chip resistor 14 is disposed on the surface of the sensor substrate 1 opposite to the surface on which the resistive element 8 is disposed. The outline of the input / output status is shown. Four sets of resistance elements and trimmable chip resistors form a bridge circuit. A predetermined voltage is applied between the voltage application terminals (V c c) and (GND) of this bridge circuit. Also, by analyzing the resistance values of the resistance element 8 (R l, 2) and the trimmable chip resistor 14 (R triml, 2) on the left side of the figure, the stress sensor in the Y-axis direction is obtained by the Y terminal (Y out). The stress sensor in the X-axis direction is constructed by analyzing the resistance values of the resistance element 8 (R3, 4) and the trimmable chip resistor 14 (R trim 3, 4) on the right side of the figure. . Further, when the top surface of the projection 6 is pressed downward (in the Z-axis direction), all the resistance values of the resistance elements 8 (Rl to 4) increase, and the state is changed in the X-axis or Y-axis direction. It is detected as a switching (click) operation separately from stress.

Then, in order to adjust the sum of the resistance values of the resistance elements 8 and the trimmable chip resistors 14 electrically connected in series with the respective resistance elements 8 to a predetermined range, the trimmer chip is adjusted. Laser trimming is performed on the resister 14. The reason why trimming was not performed on the resistor 3 constituting the direct resistance element is that the resistor 3 having a resin component and the resistive element 3 are provided. The reason for this is to prevent the resistance value from becoming unstable by trimming. These resins behave in an unstable manner at very high temperatures such as laser trimming.

 However, such trimming is possible when using laser irradiation such as excimer laser, which can adjust the temperature during irradiation in a relatively low temperature range, or when using a resin material (epoxy-based, etc.) that is relatively stable even when irradiated with YAG laser. . In such a case, it is advantageous in that the number of components of the stress sensor can be reduced as compared with the case where the trimmable chip resistor 14 is used.

 Next, the protrusion 6 will be described. The protruding portion 6 is formed by molding alumina, the bottom surface has a square appearance, and the inside has a hollow portion 11 as shown in Fig. 2 (a), that is, it has a cylindrical structure. . The coil 2 shown in FIG. 1 and the bar magnet 8 whose core is not fixed to the coil 2 are inserted into the hollow portion 11. Then, the lid 9 is put on the upper surface of the projection 6 and fixed with an adhesive. The two terminals of the coil 2 are arranged so as to be connected to a part of the wiring of the insulating substrate 1. The wiring extends to the electronic device main body. When the application of stress in the Z-axis direction is detected, the energizing switch 4 shown in FIG. Then, the rod magnet 8 moves upward by the action of electromagnetic induction, collides with the surface of the lid 9 and gives a light impact to the fingertip 13 of the information input person who has applied the stress in the Z-axis direction (see FIG. 1 ( b))), the information input person can recognize that the specific information corresponding to the application of the stress in the Z-axis direction has been input. If the above “light impact” causes a large deviation in the information to be input, stop the information input function immediately before giving the “light impact” and restore the function immediately after the “light impact”. The control may be performed by the control unit.

FIG. 2B shows a configuration of the protrusion 6 which is slightly different from the configuration described with reference to FIG. 2A. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2B, only the bar magnet 8 is inserted into the hollow portion 11 of the projection 6. Moreover, since the hollow portion 1 1 has a bottom, After the magnet 8 is inserted, the rod magnet 8 cannot maintain the state of being inserted into the protruding portion 6 unless otherwise noted. In this regard, it is completely tubular as shown in FIG. 2 (a), which is advantageous compared to a configuration in which the bar magnet 8 is likely to come out from the lower side of the projection 6. 2 (b) is arranged such that the coil 2 is fixed to the outer surface of the protrusion 6. Therefore, the connection work between the coil 2 and the wiring on the insulating substrate 1 in the description of FIG. 2 (a) can be performed outside the projection 6, and the workability of the connection work can be improved in FIG. 2 (a). It can be expected compared to the configuration. This point can also be said to be an advantage of the configuration of FIG. 2 (b) compared to FIG. 2 (a). There is no difference between Fig. 2 (a) and other configurations and operating states.

 The protrusions 6 shown in FIG. 2 are brought into contact with one unit of the insulating substrate 1 so that the bottom surface of the protrusion 6 is in contact with the surface of the insulating substrate 1 opposite to the surface on which the resistive element 8 is arranged. In addition, it is fixed with an epoxy adhesive so that the center of the bottom surface substantially coincides with the center of each unit of the insulating substrate 1. Thus, the information input device of the present invention can be obtained.

 By using a flexible sheet-like wiring member for the metal wire used for the coil 2, the bulkiness can be reduced and the information input device for electronic devices of the present invention can be suppressed from being enlarged. The work of mounting the coil 2 can be facilitated. The flexible sheet-shaped wiring member is made of a very thin or thin metal wire, coated with resin to avoid contact between adjacent metal wires, and integrated into a desired shape. This is because they are extremely excellent in handling. The “means for sensing” other than this example is, for example, means for stimulating the tactile sensation of the input person due to deformation of the piezoelectric element due to the application of a voltage to the piezoelectric element. Such means are advantageous in terms of simplicity of the electrical connection, small number of components, and the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a pointing device with a switching function of a personal computer, but the present invention is not limited to such a use. It can be applied to the above-mentioned multi-directional switch. An information input device for that purpose may have a configuration similar to that of the present example. However, it is necessary that the control unit is for a multi-directional switch. Industrial applicability

 As described above, according to the present invention, the direction and magnitude of the stress applied to the protruding member are sensed as a change in the characteristic value of the strain gauge disposed on the rigid body, and the information for electronic equipment that inputs the information of the stress is input. It was also possible for an information input person to recognize that specific information was input on the input device.

Claims

The scope of the claims 1. Information on the stress applied to the protruding member is sensed as a change in the characteristic value of the strain gauge disposed on the rigid body integrated with the protruding member, and the information on the stress is obtained. 5 In the electronic device information input device  An information input device for an electronic device, characterized by having means for detecting the input of specific information by a response from the electronic device to the tactile, visual, or auditory sense of the information input person. 10. The information input device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting member is an operation member for moving a cursor projected on a display unit of the electronic device. 3. The information input device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member is an operation member for a multidirectional switch capable of inputting a plurality of commands to the electronic device. Fifteen  4. The information input device for an electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the input of the specific information is performed by an operation of pressing the protruding member. 5. The information input device for an electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the specific information is information corresponding to a click of a pointing device for a computer. 6. An electronic device information input device having a function of controlling a cursor operation of an electronic device display unit by operating a projection-like member. 25. An information input device for an electronic device, comprising: means for inputting information when the cursor is positioned in an information input area displayed on a display unit. 7. The information input device for an electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the protruding member is a member having a switching operation function for the electronic device. 8. The information input for an electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the means for sensing is a means for applying a shock to a human body of an information inputting person contacting the protruding member. apparatus. 9. The means for sensing is a means that utilizes the movement of a magnet by electromagnetic induction, the magnet knocks the protruding member, and the impact stimulates the tactile sensation of the information input person who contacts the protruding member. The information input device for an electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that: 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the means for sensing is means for stimulating the tactile sensation of the information input person due to deformation of the piezoelectric element due to application of a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The information input device for electronic devices described in the above. 11. The electronic device information input device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device information input device is capable of controlling one or a plurality of electronic devices that can be remotely controlled by wireless communication technology. The information input device for electronic devices described in the above.