Touch panel and electronic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a touch panel and an electronic device. The invention provides a touchpad capable of improving operability and an electronic device provided with the touchpad. The touch panel is provided with a first pivot portion and a second pivot portion between the base member and the housing, the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion supporting the housing so that the housing can rotate in a displaceable state in a direction toward the base member. The first pivot portion and the second pivot portion are disposed at positions where the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion cross the switch in a direction from one edge portion of the sensor plate toward the other edge portion on the opposite side. For the touch panel, when an area of the sensor panel closer to the first pivot part than the switch is pressed, the second pivot part becomes a rotating shaft, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a first load is generated, and when an area closer to the second pivot part than the switch is pressed, the first pivot part becomes a rotating shaft, the housing rotates, and the switch is pressed, and the first load is generated. A second load greater than the first load is generated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a touch panel and an electronic device having the touch panel. Background Art

[0002] For example, a notebook PC has a touchpad in addition to a keyboard to replace a mouse. A touchpad is a type of pointing device that moves a cursor displayed on a display device by a touch operation with a fingertip. The touchpad is usually provided near the front side of the upper surface of the housing adjacent to the keyboard.

[0003] Regarding an input device having such a touch panel, the applicant proposed a structure capable of performing touch operation and press operation in Patent Document 1. In this structure, a plurality of pseudo button areas are set on the operation surface of the touch panel, and by pressing the touch panel while touching each button area, input operations corresponding to each button area can be performed. The touch panel has a sensor panel on the upper surface that detects contact by a human hand and a switch that is pressed by pressing the sensor panel, and a click feeling is obtained by pressing the switch.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-060306

[0005] The touch pad of Patent Document 1 is provided with a rotation axis along the edge adjacent to the keyboard, and the sensor plate rotates around the rotation axis to receive a pressing operation. However, in this structure, although the sensor plate has an appropriate vertical movement width near the front side, the vertical movement of the sensor plate is almost non-existent near the axis, and a good click feeling cannot be obtained, which may give the user a sense of disharmony.

[0006] In addition, the electronic device of Patent Document 1 has a pointing stick in the approximate center of the keyboard. When the touch pad and the pointing stick are provided at the same time, a button area associated with the pointing stick is set at a position near the keyboard. For example, the button area corresponds to the three buttons of a mouse. Here, it is assumed that the normal area of ​​the touch pad is operated by the index finger or the like. On the other hand, it is assumed that the above-mentioned button area is operated by the thumb to operate simultaneously with the pointing stick, and sometimes it is difficult to apply sufficient force to operate.

[0007] Thus, there is a demand for a touchpad to make a specific area perform functions different from other areas, for example, there is a case where the functions of three buttons of a mouse are assigned, or a case where a launcher function of a specified application is assigned, etc. In this case, the load of a pressing operation in the specific area has not been considered in the past, and it is desired to further improve the operational feel. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel capable of improving operability and an electronic device including the touch panel.

[0009] A touch panel according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a sensor plate capable of recognizing a contact position by a human hand; a housing to which the sensor plate is fixed; a base member supporting the housing in a state in which the housing can be raised and lowered; and a switch that is pressed when the sensor plate is pressed and the housing moves toward the base member, wherein a first pivot portion and a second pivot portion are provided between the base member and the housing, the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion supporting the housing in a state in which the housing can be rotated in a state in which the housing can be displaced in a direction toward the base member, the first and second pivot portions are arranged at positions that straddle the switch between each other in a direction from one edge portion of the sensor plate toward another edge portion on an opposite side, when a region of the sensor plate located closer to the first pivot portion than the switch is pressed, the second pivot portion serves as a rotation axis, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a first load is generated, and when a region of the sensor plate located closer to the second pivot portion than the switch is pressed, the first pivot portion serves as a rotation axis, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a second load greater than the first load is generated.

[0010] The electronic device involved in the second aspect of the present invention comprises a frame and a touch panel supported by the frame, the touch panel comprising: a sensor panel capable of identifying a contact position based on a human hand; a shell to which the sensor panel is fixed; a base member supported by the frame and supporting the shell in a state where it can be raised and lowered; and a switch that is pressed when the sensor panel is pressed and the shell moves toward the base member, the touch panel having a first pivot portion and a second pivot portion, the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion being provided between the base member and the shell and supporting the shell in a state where it can be raised and lowered in a direction toward the base member. The first pivot portion and the second pivot portion are arranged at positions that cross the switch between each other in a direction from one edge portion of the sensor plate toward another edge portion on the opposite side. When a region of the sensor plate located closer to the first pivot portion than the switch is pressed, the second pivot portion becomes a rotation axis, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a first load is generated. When a region of the sensor plate located closer to the second pivot portion than the switch is pressed, the first pivot portion becomes a rotation axis, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a second load greater than the first load is generated.

[0011] According to the above aspect of the present invention, operability can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 This is a plan view of an electronic device according to one embodiment when viewed from above.

[0013] Figure 2 It is an exploded perspective view of the touchpad.

[0014] Figure 3 is a top view of the touchpad.

[0015] Figure 4 It is a bottom view of the touchpad.

[0016] Figure 5A This is an exploded perspective view of the pivot portion 36 and its surrounding portion provided on the Y2 side of the touch panel as viewed from the Z1 side.

[0017] Figure 5B Observed from Z2 side Figure 5A A three-dimensional view of the pivot portion and its surrounding portion shown.

[0018] Fig. 6A This is an exploded perspective view of the pivot portion and its surrounding portion provided on the Y1 side of the touch panel as viewed from the Z1 side.

[0019] Figure 6B Observed from Z2 side Fig. 6A A three-dimensional view of the pivot portion and its surrounding portion shown.

[0020] Fig. 7A is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a touch panel.

[0021] Figure 7B It means from Fig. 7A The state shown is a side cross-sectional view of the operation when a predetermined position is pressed.

[0022] Figure 7C It means from Fig. 7A The state shown is a side cross-sectional view of the operation when a predetermined position is pressed.

[0023] Fig.7D It means from Fig. 7A The state shown is a side cross-sectional view of the operation when a predetermined position is pressed.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a graph showing an example of a load generated on the touch panel when a pressing operation is performed at each position in the Y direction of the sensor panel.

[0025] Description of Reference Numerals

[0026] 10 ... electronic device; 12 ... housing; 15 ... touch pad; 18 ... keyboard; 20 ... pointing stick; 22 ... sensor board; 24 ... housing; 26 ... base member; 30 ... switch; 36, 37 ... pivot portion; 44, 45 ... elastic member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, the touch panel according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by listing preferred embodiments in relation to an electronic device including the touch panel.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a top view of an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment, in which a cover 11 is opened from a frame 12 and viewed from above. In this embodiment, a clamshell notebook PC is formed by relatively rotatably connecting the cover 11 and the frame 12 by a hinge 14. The frame 12 has a touchpad 15 according to an embodiment. The electronic device to which the touchpad 15 is applied is not limited to a notebook PC. The electronic device may be, for example, a single keyboard device external to a notebook PC, a desktop PC, or a tablet PC. The touchpad 15 can also be used as a separate touchpad device external to an electronic device such as a notebook PC.

[0029] The cover 11 is a flat box. The cover 11 is equipped with a display 16. The display 16 is, for example, an organic EL or a liquid crystal. The cover 11 is connected to the rear end (the end on the Y2 side) of the frame 12 via a hinge 14.

[0030] The housing 12 is a flat box. Various electronic components such as a motherboard including a CPU, a memory, a memory, and a battery are housed inside the housing 12. On the upper surface 12a of the housing 12, a touch pad 15 and a keyboard 18 are arranged front and back.

[0031] A pointing stick 20 is provided approximately in the center of the keyboard 18. The pointing stick 20 is a type of pointing device that moves the cursor displayed on the display 16 in the tilt direction. The pointing stick 20 is a small cylindrical shape and is provided approximately in the center of the keyboard 18, for example, between the G key, the H key, and the B key. The pointing stick 20 moves the cursor mainly by tilting the index finger or the middle finger. When operating the cursor with the pointing stick 20, the touch pad 15 is mainly pressed down by the thumb.

[0032] Next, the touch panel 15 will be described.

[0033] In the following, the touch pad 15 is described based on the usage state when mounted on the electronic device 10, with the width direction (left-right direction) being referred to as the X1 and X2 directions, the depth direction (front-back direction) being referred to as the Y1 and Y2 directions, and the thickness direction (up-down direction) being referred to as the Z1 and Z2 directions. Sometimes, the X1 and X2 directions are collectively referred to as the X direction, and the Y1 and Y2 directions and the Z1 and Z2 directions are also referred to as the Y direction and the Z direction.

[0034] The touch pad 15 is provided at approximately the center of the palm rest area on the Y1 side of the keyboard 18 in the upper surface 12a of the housing 12. The touch pad 15 is adjacent to the keyboard 18 in front and back. The center of the touch pad 15 in the X direction is approximately consistent with the pointing stick 20. The touch pad 15 is a rectangular shape that is horizontally long in the X direction, and the width in the Y direction occupies approximately the entire width of the palm rest area.

[0035] The touch pad 15 is a pointing device for moving a cursor by a human hand (including a fingertip or a pen tip). The touch pad 15 is pressed on the surface of the sensor plate 22 to switch the internal switch 30 and obtain a click feeling (see FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D ). The sensor board 22 can identify the contact position of the human hand. The touch pad 15 can perform so-called right click and left click processing according to the position of the human hand when the sensor board 22 is pressed. The touch pad 15 can also handle various operations such as tapping, double-clicking, two-finger tapping, pinching, etc. through software processing.

[0036] Figure 2 It is an exploded perspective view of the touch panel 15 . Figure 3 is a top view of the touch panel 15 . Figure 4 It is a bottom view of the touch panel 15 .

[0037] like Figure 2 to Figure 4 As shown, the touch panel 15 includes a sensor plate 22 , a housing 24 , and a base member 26 in this order from the Z1 side toward the Z2 side.

[0038] The sensor plate 22 is configured to face the upper surface 12a of the frame 12, and receives the user's input operation and detects the operation. The sensor plate 22 is a structure in which a pad 22b is stacked on the Z1 side surface of the substrate 22a. The substrate 22a has a sensing function such as an electrostatic capacitance type, and can detect various input operations for the touch panel 15. The pad 22b is, for example, a glass plate, and its surface becomes the operation surface 15a of the touch panel 15. The pad 22b is fixed to the surface of the substrate 22a by an adhesive member 28 such as an adhesive, an adhesive, or a double-sided adhesive tape.

[0039] A switch 30 (see also FIG. 1 ) is mounted substantially at the center of the Z2 side surface (lower surface 22a1) of the substrate 22a. Fig. 7A The switch 30 is preferably a thin and small switch. In the present embodiment, a dome-shaped switch called a metal dome switch is used. The switch 30 is switched on and off by pressing, and a proper click feeling is obtained. The switch 30 of the present embodiment is a normally-on type.

[0040] like Figure 3As shown in FIG. 1 , a plurality of regions R1 to R5 are allocated to the operation surface 15a of the sensor board 22. For the regions R1 to R5, each range on the operation surface 15a is defined by coordinates and cannot be visually recognized. As described later, the regions R1 to R5 are allocated to each click using a general mouse, and when the sensor board 22 is pressed while any of the regions R1 to R5 is touched, the allocated processing and display are performed.

[0041] Regions R1 to R3 are strip-shaped regions extending in the X direction along the Y2 side edge portion (edge ​​portion 15b) of the operating surface 15a adjacent to the keyboard 18, and are arranged in the X direction. Regions R1 to R3 are button regions. Functions associated with the pointing stick 20 are assigned to the button regions R1 to R3, such as the functions of the three buttons of a mouse. The slightly wider button regions R1 and R2 on the left and right correspond to left click and right click, respectively. The narrower button region R3 in the center corresponds to scrolling, which is used to scroll web pages and documents in any direction. The button regions R1 to R3 are combined with the pointing stick 20 and are mainly operated by the thumb. The button regions R1 to R3 are clearly indicated by marks 32 composed of straight lines, dots, etc. printed on the operating surface 15a, and are distinguished from other regions R4 and R5.

[0042] Region R4 is a strip-shaped region extending in the X direction along the Y1 side edge (edge ​​15c) of the operation surface 15a on the opposite side of the button regions R1 to R3. Region R4 is a click region. The left click of the mouse is assigned to the click region R4. The right click of the mouse can also be further assigned to the click region R4 within a specified range including its X2 side end. The wider region R5 sandwiched between the button regions R1 to R3 and the click region R4 is a click region to which the same function as that of the region R4 is assigned.

[0043] like Figure 2 to Figure 4 As shown, the housing 24 is a plate-shaped member formed of resin. The housing 24 supports the sensor board 22. The Z1 side surface (upper surface 24a) of the housing 24 is fixed to the lower surface 22a1 of the substrate 22a using an adhesive member 34 similar to the above-mentioned adhesive member 28. Thus, the housing 24 constitutes a laminated body integrated with the sensor board 22.

[0044] The housing 24 is supported in a state where it has a predetermined gap in the Y direction with respect to the base member 26 and can be raised and lowered. More specifically, the housing 24 is supported so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the base member 26 and to be displaceable in the Z direction as a whole. Therefore, the sensor plate 22 fixed to the housing 24 is also supported so as to be rotatable and displaceable with respect to the base member 26. The housing 24 is rotated and displaced with respect to the base member 26 by a two-axis pivot structure based on two pivot portions 36 and 37 arranged in the Y direction. The structure of the pivot portions 36 and 37 will be described later.

[0045] The housing 24 has a pressing portion 24b at approximately the center overlapping the switch 30 in the Y direction. The pressing portion 24b includes a circular protrusion protruding in the Z1 direction. The pressing portion 24b is supported by the plate constituting the housing 24 in a two-arm state so as to be elastically displaceable via the meandering left and right leaf springs 24b1. The pressing portion 24b is disposed as a whole at a position slightly lower to the Z2 side than the lower surface 24c of the housing 24 by the leaf spring 24b1. The Z2 side surface of the leaf spring 24b1 abuts against the Z1 side surface (upper surface 26a) of the base member 26 (see FIG. 2 ). Fig. 7A Thus, when the sensor plate 22 is pressed and rotated or displaced toward the base member 26 , the pressing portion 24 b elastically displaces in the Z1 direction as the housing 24 approaches the base member 26 , thereby pressing the switch 30 .

[0046] The housing 24 is also provided with cutouts, protrusions, holes, etc. in various places. For example, a pair of latches 38a formed in a roughly V-shape when viewed from above are respectively engaged with a roughly L-shaped hook 38b cut and tilted on the upper surface 26a of the base member 26. The latch 38a and the hook 38b define the upper limit of the movement of the housing 24 from the base member 26 to the Z1 side, and prevent it from falling off. For example, the hole 39a is connected to the hole 39b of the base member 26 in the Z direction, and a connector 40 mounted on the lower surface 22a1 of the substrate 22a is inserted. The connector 40 is connected to a motherboard or the like in the frame 12 using a predetermined wiring.

[0047] Figure 2 Reference numeral 41 in the figure is a stabilizer interposed between the housing 24 and the base member 26. The stabilizer 41 is a member formed by bending both ends of a stainless steel thin rod, for example. The stabilizer 41 is a stabilizer that stabilizes the force in the left-right width direction of the sensor plate 22 and the housing 24 and suppresses twisting and tilting thereof. Figure 2 Reference numeral 42 in the figure is a reinforcing member fixed to the lower surface 22a1 of the base plate 22a. The reinforcing member 42 is, for example, a thin square rod made of stainless steel. The reinforcing member 42 suppresses twisting and bending of the sensor plate 22 during a pressing operation.

[0048] like Figure 2 to Figure 4 As shown, the base member 26 is a plate-shaped member formed of a metal such as stainless steel. The base member 26 supports the housing 24 on its upper surface 26a side so that it can be raised and lowered. The base member 26 is also a bracket for mounting the touch pad 15 on the frame 12. The base member 26 has a mounting piece 26b having a mounting hole formed on each of the left and right edges along the Y direction and the edge along the X direction on the Y2 side. The mounting piece 26b is appropriately screwed to the frame 12 using the mounting hole. In addition, in addition to the above-mentioned hook 38b and hole portion 39b, the base member 26 is also provided with cut-out shapes, cut-raised portions, and hole portions at various locations.

[0049] Next, a structure for rotating and displacing the housing 24 relative to the base member 26 will be described.

[0050] Figure 5A This is an exploded perspective view of the pivot portion 36 and its surrounding portion provided on the Y2 side of the touch pad 15 as viewed from the Z1 side. Figure 5B Observed from Z2 side Figure 5A A perspective view of the pivot portion 36 and its surroundings is shown. Fig. 6A This is an exploded perspective view of the pivot portion 37 and its surrounding portion provided on the Y1 side of the touch pad 15 as viewed from the Z1 side. Figure 6B Observed from Z2 side Fig. 6A A perspective view of the pivot portion 37 and its surroundings is shown. Fig. 7A is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the touch panel 15 .

[0051] like Figure 2 to Figure 7A As shown in FIG. 1 , the touch pad 15 of the present embodiment includes two pivot portions 36 and 37, which support the housing 24 so as to be rotatable in a state of being displaceable in a direction toward the base member 26. A pair of pivot portions 36 are provided at two edge portions in the X direction of the touch pad 15, thereby forming a rotation axis extending in the X direction. A pair of pivot portions 37 are also provided at two edge portions in the X direction of the touch pad 15, thereby forming a rotation axis extending in the X direction. The pivot portions 36 and 37 may be respectively configured to be long in the X direction, for example, one pivot portion is provided at each position including the center of the touch pad 15 in the X direction.

[0052] The pivot portions 36 and 37 are arranged at positions that straddle the switch 30 in the Y direction from the edge portion 15b on the Y2 side of the sensor plate 22 toward the edge portion 15c on the opposite side (Y1 side). With the Y direction as a reference, the pivot portion 36 on one side is arranged at a position closer to the edge portion 15b than the switch 30. The pivot portion 37 on the other side is arranged at a position closer to the edge portion 15c than the switch 30.

[0053] like Figure 2 , Figure 5A , Figure 5B as well as Fig. 7A As shown, one pivot portion (first pivot portion) 36 is composed of a shaft 36a and a bearing portion 36b.

[0054] The shaft 36a protrudes outward from the left and right edge portions of the housing 24 along the Y direction. That is, the shaft 36a of the pivot portion 36 on the X1 side protrudes in the X1 direction, and the shaft 36a of the pivot portion 36 on the X2 side protrudes in the X2 direction. The shaft 36a is, for example, roughly rectangular in cross section. The shaft 36a is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the Y1 side at the front end, and the Z1 side surface (upper surface) of the protrusion becomes a contact surface 36a1 relative to the bearing portion 36b. In the Z direction, the corner of the surface on the opposite side of the contact surface 36a1 is chamfered. The shaft 36a may also be circular in cross section, etc. The contact surface 36a1 may also protrude toward the Y2 side.

[0055] The bearing portion 36b is formed by bending the upper ends of the vertical walls cut and raised toward the Z1 side from the edge portion along the Y direction of the base member 26 inward. That is, the bearing portion 36b of the pivot portion 36 on the X1 side is bent toward the X2 direction, and the bearing portion 36b of the pivot portion 36 on the X2 side is bent toward the X1 direction. The Z2 side surface (lower surface) of the bearing portion 36b serves as a support surface 36b1 with respect to the shaft 36a.

[0056] The shaft 36a of the pivot part 36 is locked to the bearing part 36b from below, and the contact surface 36a1 is in contact with the support surface 36b1. Thus, the shaft 36a of the pivot part 36 is supported to be rotatable relative to the bearing part 36b and displaceable in the Z2 direction. That is, the housing 24 and the sensor plate 22 are supported to be relatively rotatable relative to the base member 26 through the pivot part 36 and displaceable in the Z2 direction.

[0057] like Figure 2 , Fig. 6A , Figure 6B as well as Fig. 7A As shown, the other pivot portion (second pivot portion) 37 is composed of a shaft 37a and a bearing portion 37b.

[0058] The shaft 37a protrudes outward from the left and right edges of the housing 24 along the Y direction. That is, the shaft 37a of the pivot portion 37 on the X1 side protrudes in the X1 direction, and the shaft 37a of the pivot portion 37 on the X2 side protrudes in the X2 direction. The shaft 37a has an arc shape at the corner of the Z1 side surface, and has a semi-cylindrical shape in cross section. The Z1 side surface (upper surface) of the shaft 37a, which has such an arc shape at both ends in the Y direction, becomes a contact surface 37a1 with respect to the bearing portion 37b. The shaft 37a may also have a circular cross section.

[0059] The bearing portion 37b is formed by cutting the edge portion along the Y direction of the base member 26 toward the Z1 side, tilting the vertical wall having a slight width in the X direction, and bending the upper end thereof toward the Y1 direction to form a plate piece along the XY direction. That is, the bearing portions 37b of the pivot portions 37 on the X1 and X2 sides are both bent toward the Y1 direction. The Z2 side surface (lower surface) of the bearing portion 37b becomes a support surface 37b1 with respect to the shaft 37a.

[0060] The shaft 37a of the pivot part 37 is locked to the bearing part 37b from below, and the contact surface 37a1 is in contact with the support surface 37b1. Thus, the shaft 37a of the pivot part 37 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the bearing part 37b and displaceable in the Z2 direction. That is, the housing 24 and the sensor plate 22 are supported so as to be relatively rotatable relative to the base member 26 through the pivot part 37 and displaceable in the Z2 direction. The pivot part 37 may also have the same or similar structure as the pivot part 36. Conversely, the pivot part 36 may also have the same or similar structure as the pivot part 37.

[0061] As described above, the sensor plate 22 and the housing 24 can rotate (tilt) relative to the base member 26 using the two axes, ie, the pivot portions 36 and 37, which are arranged so as to straddle the switch 30 in the Y direction as the rotation axes (see Figure 7B and Figure 7C ). In addition, the sensor plate 22 and the housing 24 may also be displaced in parallel along the Z direction as a whole relative to the base member 26 so that the pivot portions 36 and 37 do not function as rotation axes (see Fig.7D ).

[0062] like Figure 2 and Fig. 7A As shown, the touch pad 15 of this embodiment is further provided with a pair of two kinds of elastic members 44 and 45 between the housing 24 (or the sensor plate 22) and the base member 26. The elastic members 44 and 45 are auxiliary components for adjusting the load during the pressing operation in the regions R1 to R5 described later, and the number and arrangement thereof can be changed appropriately. When such load adjustment is not required, one or both of the elastic members 44 and 45 can be omitted.

[0063] The elastic member 44 is, for example, a plate-shaped leaf spring extending in the Y direction, and is respectively provided near the left and right edges of the upper surface 26a of the base member 26. The Y1 side end of the elastic member 44 is fixed to the upper surface 26a, and the Y2 side end of the front end extending obliquely upward abuts against the lower surface 24c of the housing 24. The elastic member 45 is, for example, a plate-shaped leaf spring extending in the X direction, and is provided near the Y1 side edge of the upper surface 26a in a left-right arrangement. The end of the elastic member 45 on one side close to the center of the upper surface 26a in the X direction is fixed to the upper surface 26a of the base member 26, and the end of the front end extending obliquely upward abuts against the lower surface 24c of the housing 24. Thus, the elastic members 44 and 45 each always apply force in the Z1 direction for relatively separating the housing 24 from the base member 26 with a desired load. The elastic members 44 and 45 may also apply force between the base member 26 and the sensor plate 22 through a hole formed in the housing 24, for example.

[0064] Next, the operation and effects when the sensor plate 22 is pressed will be described.

[0065] Figure 7B It means from Fig. 7A The state shown (no-load state) is a side cross-sectional view of the operation when a pressing operation is performed on a predetermined position P1 included in the regions R1 to R3. Figure 7C It means from Fig. 7A The state shown is a side cross-sectional view of an operation when a pressing operation is performed on a predetermined position P2 included in the region R4. Fig.7D It means from Fig. 7A The state shown is a side cross-sectional view of an operation when a pressing operation is performed on a predetermined position P3 included in the region R5. Figure 8 This is a graph showing an example of a load (reaction force from the touch panel 15 to the human hand) generated on the touch panel 15 when a pressing operation is performed on each position in the Y direction of the sensor panel 22 .

[0066] exist Figure 8 In FIG. 1 , the horizontal axis represents the pressed position (mm) in the Y direction of the sensor plate 22. The dimension of the sensor plate 22 in the Y direction of the present embodiment is, for example, 70 mm. Therefore, Figure 8 The horizontal axis represents the distance from the edge 15b on the Y2 side of the sensor plate 22 to the edge 15c on the Y1 side which is 70 mm away, with the edge 15b being 0 mm. The vertical axis represents the load generated by the touch panel 15 when the sensor plate 22 is pressed at each position indicated by the horizontal axis, that is, the operation load (gf) required for turning on the switch 30 at each position.

[0067] Figure 8 D0~D4 in Figure 3 and Fig. 7A D0 to D4 in the figure correspond to each other, and represent the straight-line distance from the edge 15b to the edge 15c in the Y direction for each region R1 to R5. That is, the distance D0 to D1 represents the Y direction distance of the regions R1 to R3, the distance D1 to D2 represents the Y direction distance from the region R1 to the switch 30, the distance D2 to D3 represents the Y direction distance from the switch 30 to the region R5, and the distance D3 to D4 represents the Y direction distance of the region R4. Figure 8 As shown, in this embodiment, for example, the Y-direction distance D0-D1 of regions R1-R3 is about 15 mm, the Y-direction distance D0-D2 from edge portion 15b to switch 30 is about 40 mm, the Y-direction distance D0-D3 from edge portion 15b to region R5 is about 55 mm, and the Y-direction distance D0-D4 from edge portion 15b to edge portion 15c is 70 mm.

[0068] In addition, in this embodiment, for example, Fig. 7A The Y-direction distance Da from the axis of the pivot portion 36 on the edge portion 15b (D0) side to the switch 30 is set to about 35 mm. The Y-direction distance Db from the axis of the other pivot portion 37 to the switch 30 is set to about 20 mm. The above-mentioned dimensions and the dimensions described below are examples and can be appropriately changed.

[0069] First, in Fig. 7A In the no-load state shown, that is, the state in which the sensor plate 22 is not pressed, the sensor plate 22 and the housing 24 are at the position where they are lifted the most in the Z1 direction by the reaction force from the switch 30 and the urging force of the elastic members 44 and 45 .

[0070] In the present embodiment, the load required for the on operation of the switch 30, that is, the load for the switch 30 formed of the metal dome switch to be crushed is, for example, 180 gf (about 1.765 N). The total elastic force of the two elastic members 44 is, for example, 16 gf (about 0.157 N). The total elastic force of the two elastic members 45 is, for example, 88 gf (about 0.863 N). The above-mentioned loads and the loads described below are examples and can be appropriately changed.

[0071] Next, from Fig. 7A The state shown here explains the operation of pressing the button regions R1 to R3.

[0072] Here, if Figure 7BAs shown, for example, a situation in which a finger F1, which is a thumb, performs a pressing operation on a position P1 which is a distance d0 from the edge portion 15b (D0). The position P1 is closer to the pivot portion 36 side (Y2 side) than the switch 30, and is located in a position included in the button areas R1 to R3. In this case, the pivot portion 37 on the Y1 side becomes a rotation axis, the sensor plate 22 and the housing 24 rotate, and the switch 30 is pressed. At this time, the shaft 36a of the pivot portion 36 on the Y2 side moves away from the bearing portion 36b in the Z2 direction, and the edge portion 15b of the sensor plate 22 moves downward toward the Z2 side. That is, the contact surface 36a1 and the support surface 36b1 are separated, and a gap is formed between them. In this embodiment, the distance d0 is, for example, 7 mm. In addition, the distance d1 from the axis center of the pivot portion 37, which becomes the rotation axis, to the position P1 is, for example, 50 mm.

[0073] As a result, when the touch panel 15 is pressed at the position P1 included in the button regions R1 to R3, for example, a load of 66 gf (about 0.647 N) is generated. Thus, for the touch panel 15 of this embodiment, when the position P1 is pressed, the load required to press the switch 30 is, for example, 66 gf. Figure 8 As shown, considering that the pointing stick 20 is operated with the index and middle fingers while the thumb is operating, the load generated at each position of the button regions R1 to R3 and their vicinities is preferably set to a range of 50 gf to 120 gf (approximately 0.490 N to 1.177 N), for example.

[0074] Next, from Fig. 7A The state shown is for explaining the action of pressing the click region R4.

[0075] Here, if Figure 7C As shown, for example, a finger F2 as an index finger performs a pressing operation on a position P2 at a distance d10 from the edge portion 15c (D4). The position P2 is closer to the pivot portion 37 side (Y1 side) than the switch 30, and is located in a position included in the click area R4. In this case, the pivot portion 36 on the Y2 side becomes the rotation axis, the sensor plate 22 and the housing 24 rotate, and the switch 30 is pressed. At this time, the shaft 37a of the pivot portion 37 on the Y1 side moves away from the bearing portion 37b in the Z2 direction, and the edge portion 15c of the sensor plate 22 moves downward toward the Z2 side. That is, the contact surface 37a1 and the support surface 37b1 are separated, and a gap is formed between them. In this embodiment, the distance d10 is, for example, 5 mm. In addition, the distance d11 from the axis center of the pivot portion 36, which becomes the rotation axis, to the position P2 is, for example, 60 mm.

[0076] As a result, when the touch pad 15 is pressed at the position P2 included in the click region R4, for example, a load of 150 gf (about 1.471 N) is generated. Thus, for the touch pad 15 of this embodiment, when the position P2 is pressed, the load required to press the switch 30 is, for example, 150 gf. Figure 8 As shown, considering the operation by the index finger or the like, the load generated at each position of the click region R4 and its vicinity is preferably set to a range of, for example, 140 gf to 190 gf (approximately 1.373 N to 1.863 N).

[0077] Next, from Fig. 7A The illustrated state is for explaining a case where a pressing operation is performed right above the switch 30 .

[0078] Here, if Fig.7D As shown in the figure, for example, a finger F2 as an index finger is used to press a position P3 that overlaps with the center of the switch 30 in the Z direction and is included in the region R5. In this case, neither of the two pivot parts 36 and 37 functions as a rotation axis, and the sensor plate 22 and the housing 24 are displaced approximately in parallel in the Z2 direction, and the switch 30 is pressed. At this time, the shafts 36a and 37a of each pivot part 36 and 37 are separated from the bearing parts 36b and 37b in the Z2 direction. That is, the contact surfaces 36a1 and 37a1 are separated from the support surfaces 36b1 and 37b1, and a gap is formed between them.

[0079] As a result, when the touch panel 15 is pressed at position P3, for example, a load of 184 gf (about 1.084 N) is generated. Thus, for the touch panel 15 of this embodiment, when the position P3 is pressed, the load required to press the switch 30 is 184 gf. Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , the load generated at each position of the click region R5 is directly subjected to the load of the switch 30 being compressed and the elastic force of the elastic members 44 and 45, and therefore is, for example, in the range of 80 gf to 240 gf (approximately 0.785 N to 2.354 N). Figure 8 As shown, region R5, for example, has a peak load (about 240 gf) generated between D2 and D3 as a boundary. When pressed on the pivot portion 36 side relative to the boundary, a load greater than regions R1 to R3 is generated, and when pressed on the pivot portion 37 side, a load greater than region R4 is generated.

[0080] As described above, the touch panel 15 of the present embodiment includes two pivot portions 36 and 37 that support the housing 24 so as to be rotatable in a state of being displaceable in the Z direction toward the base member 26. These pivot portions 36 and 37 are arranged at positions that straddle the switch 30 between each other in the Y direction from the edge portion 15b to the edge portion 15c of the sensor plate 22. When a region of the sensor plate 22 located closer to the pivot portion 36 than the switch 30, such as the region R1 to R3, is pressed, the pivot portion 37 on the opposite side becomes a rotation axis, the housing 24 rotates, the switch 30 is pressed, and a first load (e.g., 66 gf) is generated. On the other hand, when a region of the sensor plate 22 located closer to the pivot portion 37 than the switch 30, such as the region R4, is pressed, the pivot portion 36 on the opposite side becomes a rotation axis, the housing 24 rotates, the switch 30 is pressed, and a second load (e.g., 150 gf) greater than the first load is generated.

[0081] In this way, the touch pad 15 of the present embodiment and the electronic device 10 having the touch pad 15 switch the pivot portion that functions as the rotation axis according to the operation position of the touch pad 15 in a direction along one direction, and the generated load changes. As a result, the touch pad 15 can, for example, make the load of the pressing operation in the area R1 to R3 near the edge portion 15b smaller than the load of the pressing operation in the area R4 near the edge portion 15c on the opposite side. As a result, the touch pad 15 can reduce the operation load of the area R1 to R3 where the pressing operation is expected to be performed with a light load, for example, in order to cooperate with the pointing stick 20. On the other hand, an appropriate operation load can be generated in the area R4 on the opposite side, and the operability is improved. Depending on its use, the touch pad 15 can of course be configured so that the operation load in the area R1 to R3 on the edge portion 15b side is greater than the operation load in the area R4 on the edge portion 15c side.

[0082] In particular, the electronic device 10 as a notebook PC has a touchpad 15 at a position parallel to the palm rest that contacts the user's palm. Therefore, when operating the keyboard 18, there is a possibility that the area R4 near the front side (Y1 side) of the sensor plate 22 is accidentally pressed by the palm or the like. In this regard, the touchpad 15 makes the operation load in the area R4 and its surroundings appropriately heavy, thereby suppressing the occurrence of unexpected erroneous operations such as the above. On the other hand, the touchpad 15 makes the operation load of the areas R1 to R3 on the deep side (Y2 side) where the possibility of erroneous operations is low relatively light, so that, as described above, for example, a pressing operation can also be easily performed with a thumb.

[0083] The touchpad 15 is effective even if it is not provided together with the pointing stick 20. That is, it is effective to allocate the launcher function of a predetermined application to the regions R1 to R3 on the depth side (Y2 side) where the possibility of erroneous operation is low, for example. Thus, for example, the desired application can be launched with a relatively light operation load of the thumb while operating the keyboard 18. Of course, the arrangement direction of the pivot parts 36 and 37 in the touchpad 15 and the direction of load change are not limited to the Y direction, as long as they are configured according to the installation posture and the purpose. For example, the pivot parts 36 and 37 and the load change can also be along the X direction.

[0084] In the touch pad 15 of the present embodiment, when at least the area of ​​the sensor plate 22 that overlaps with the switch 30 above and below, such as the position P3 and its vicinity, that is, the area R5, is pressed, each pivot part 36, 37 does not function as a rotation axis. In this case, the sensor plate 22 and the housing 24 are displaced in the Z2 direction toward the base member 26, and the switch 30 is pressed. In this operation, a third load (e.g., 184gf) that is larger than the above-mentioned first load and second load is generated. That is, for example, it is assumed that the frequency of pressing operation is less in the area R5 located near the center of the sensor plate 22 than in the areas R1 to R4 near the edge parts 15b and 15c. Therefore, the operation load in the area R5 is larger than the operation load in the other areas R1 to R4, thereby further suppressing the occurrence of unexpected erroneous operation and further improving the operability.

[0085] The touch pad 15 of the present embodiment has a distance Da between the switch 30 and the pivot portion 36 greater than a distance Db between the switch 30 and the pivot portion 37, with the Y direction from the edge portion 15b toward the opposite edge portion 15c as a reference (see Fig. 7A ). Thus, when the area R1 to R3 near the pivot portion 36 where the operation load is to be made lighter is pressed, the distance Da from that place to the switch 30 is large, thereby obtaining a larger moment force generated by the lever principle. On the other hand, when the area R4 near the pivot portion 37 where the operation load is to be made appropriately heavier is pressed, the distance Db from that place to the switch 30 is smaller than Da, thereby obtaining a smaller moment force than when the areas R1 to R3 are pressed. That is, the touch pad 15 can easily change the operation load when each area R1 to R4 is pressed by only adjusting the positional relationship between the pivot portions 36, 37 and the switch 30. As a result, for example, the elastic force of the elastic components 44, 45 can be reduced to achieve miniaturization of the component, and the elastic components 44, 45 themselves can also be omitted.

[0086] In the touch pad 15, the elastic members 44 and 45 are arranged at positions that straddle the switch 30 in the Y direction and between the pivot portions 36 and 37. Thus, when the elastic members 44 and 45 switch to one of the pivot portions 36 and 37 to function as a rotation axis, the load can be stably applied to the sensor plate 22 with the elastic force corresponding to each pressed operation position. As a result, it is easier to adjust the operation load when each pivot portion 36 and 37 of the touch pad 15 functions as a rotation axis.

[0087] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it is of course possible to freely change it within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0088] In the above, the pivot parts 36 and 37 are exemplified as the structure in which the shafts 36a and 37a are supported by the bearing parts 36b and 37b of the plate, but the structure of the pivot parts 36 and 37 is not limited to this. For example, the bearing parts 36b and 37b may be formed by a long hole extending in the Z direction, and the shafts 36a and 37a are inserted slidably and rotatably. In addition, the pivot parts 36 and 37 may be configured such that the shafts 36a and 37a are provided on the base member 26, and the bearing parts 36b and 37b are provided on the housing 24.

Claims

1. A touch panel, characterized in that: have: A sensor board capable of identifying contact locations based on human hands; A housing for fixing the sensor plate; A base member, supporting the housing so that it can be raised and lowered; as well as a switch that is pressed when the sensor plate is pressed and the housing moves toward the base member, A first pivot portion and a second pivot portion are provided between the base member and the housing, and the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion support the housing so as to be rotatable in a state of being displaceable in a direction toward the base member. The first pivot portion and the second pivot portion are arranged at positions that straddle the switch between them in a direction from one edge portion of the sensor plate toward another edge portion on the opposite side. When the area of ​​the sensor plate located closer to the first pivot portion than the switch is pressed, the second pivot portion becomes a rotation axis, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a first load is generated. When the area of ​​the sensor plate located closer to the second pivot portion than the switch is pressed, the first pivot portion becomes a rotation axis, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a second load greater than the first load is generated.

2. The touch panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least when the area of ​​the sensor plate that overlaps with the switch above and below is pressed, neither the first pivot portion nor the second pivot portion functions as a rotation axis, the housing is displaced toward the base member, and the switch is pressed, generating a third load that is greater than the first load and the second load.

3. The touch panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: With reference to a direction from the one edge portion toward the other edge portion on the opposite side, a distance between the switch and the first pivot portion is greater than a distance between the switch and the second pivot portion.

4. The touch panel according to claim 3, characterized in that: A first elastic member and a second elastic member are provided to bias the housing in a direction to separate relative to the base member. The first elastic member and the second elastic member are arranged at positions that straddle the switch between each other in a direction from one edge portion of the sensor plate toward another edge portion on the opposite side and between the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion.

5. An electronic device, characterized in that: have: Frame; and A touch panel is supported by the frame. The touch panel has: A sensor board capable of identifying contact locations based on human hands; A housing for fixing the sensor plate; A base member supported by the frame and supporting the housing in a liftable state; as well as a switch that is pressed when the sensor plate is pressed and the housing moves toward the base member, The touch panel has a first pivot portion and a second pivot portion, the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion are disposed between the base member and the housing, and support the housing so as to be rotatable in a state of being displaceable in a direction toward the base member. The first pivot portion and the second pivot portion are arranged at positions that straddle the switch between them in a direction from one edge portion of the sensor plate toward another edge portion on the opposite side. When the area of ​​the sensor plate located closer to the first pivot portion than the switch is pressed, the second pivot portion becomes a rotation axis, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a first load is generated. When the area of ​​the sensor plate located closer to the second pivot portion than the switch is pressed, the first pivot portion becomes a rotation axis, the housing rotates, the switch is pressed, and a second load greater than the first load is generated.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, characterized in that: With reference to a direction from the one edge portion toward the other edge portion on the opposite side, the first pivot portion is arranged at a position closer to the one edge portion than to the other edge portion, and the second pivot portion is arranged at a position closer to the other edge portion than to the one edge portion. The electronic device further comprises: a keyboard supported by the frame and adjacent to the one edge portion of the sensor panel; and A pointing stick is provided on the keyboard and is used for pointing operations by a human hand. A function associated with the pointing stick is assigned to a region located closer to the first pivot portion than the switch.

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