Input device for touch sensor
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023140108
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-05
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a configuration that enables input by a pen in a display device having a touch sensor or a touch panel. [Background technology]
[0002] The method of inputting information by touching the surface of a display device with a finger or the like is common in so-called smartphones and tablet display devices. Although there is a method in which a touch panel is placed on the display area, liquid crystal display devices and the like that have a touch panel function built into the liquid crystal display panel have been developed.
[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a method of incorporating a touch panel function in a liquid crystal display panel. In this method, one electrode of the touch panel is disposed on the outer side of the opposing substrate, and a common electrode in the liquid crystal display panel is used as the other electrode of the touch panel.
[0004] On the other hand, in addition to a human finger, a method of using a stylus pen as an input means to a touch panel has become common. Patent documents 2 to 6 describe the configurations of various stylus pens. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-1233 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2014-52881 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2015-84182 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2015-5106 A [Patent Document 5] JP 2014-95978 A [Patent Document 6] WO2013 / 057862 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] A specially designed brush has been developed for inputting writing with a calligraphy brush (hereinafter, simply called a brush) to a touch panel. This brush uses conductive hair for the tip (bristles), which is quite different from the traditional tips. That is, the tips of traditional brushes are made from processed animal hair, and traditional brushes are manufactured by adding processes to this animal hair.
[0007] A stylus pen with conductive bristles like this one can be used as an input device for simple brush strokes, but when a calligrapher writes "calligraphy" on a touch panel, they prefer traditional brushes rather than those with conductive bristles like this one. It is unclear whether "calligraphy" can be written as a digital art using brushes other than traditional brushes. For a calligrapher, choosing the right brush is also one of their skills.
[0008] On the other hand, when school children or adults practice calligraphy, it is assumed that they use a traditional brush. In other words, if a traditional brush is not used, the purpose of practicing calligraphy changes. When practicing calligraphy, there is also a demand to practice on a touch panel and save the data. When practicing calligraphy on a touch panel, the input device used needs to be as similar in structure to a traditional brush as possible. Otherwise, it will not be calligraphy practice.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to realize an input device for a touch panel that has a configuration similar to that of a traditional writing brush. [Means for solving the problem]
[0010] The present invention overcomes the above problems, and representative means for achieving this are as follows.
[0011] An input device for a touch sensor having a head and a shaft, the head being composed of insulating bristles, the head having a tip portion and a base portion close to the shaft, the shaft being insulating, a conductive member being formed on the outside of the shaft, conductive fibers being electrically conductive with the conductive member and extending to the base portion of the head, and the inside of the shaft being filled with a conductive filler along the axial direction of the shaft. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an input is made to a tablet having a touch sensor using a stylus pen; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display device having a touch sensor. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of a touch sensor. [Diagram 5] 5 is a timing chart showing the operation of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the principle of detecting a change in capacitance. [Figure 7] 10 is a timing chart showing a state in which a change in capacitance is detected. [Figure 8] This is an external view of a traditional brush. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the details of the hairs that make up the head. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is an external view of the brush shown in FIG. 8 with the tip of the brush loosened. [Figure 11] 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the brush in FIG. 10 is used as an input device for a touch sensor. [Figure 12] 12 is an equivalent circuit showing the operation of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an external view of an input device (brush) according to a comparative example. [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 13 taken along line B-B. [Figure 15] 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 13. [Figure 16]FIG. 13 is an external view of an input device (brush) of the comparative example with the brush tip soaked in water. [Figure 17] 17 is an equivalent circuit showing the operation when the input device (brush) of FIG. 16 is used. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is an external view showing the input device (brush) of the comparative example in a state where the base of the brush head does not contain water. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a side view of a brush according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] 20 is an equivalent circuit showing the operation when the input device (brush) of FIG. 19 is used. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a side view of a brush according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a brush according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 23] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which "calligraphy" is being written directly on the surface of a tablet using a brush according to a comparative example. FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the brush of Example 1 is being used to write calligraphy on a piece of washi paper placed on a felt mat placed on top of the tablet. [Diagram 25] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the brush of Example 1 is used to write calligraphy on a piece of washi paper placed on a wooden board placed on top of the tablet. [Figure 26] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the brush of Example 1 is being used to write calligraphy on a piece of washi paper placed on a wooden board and a felt mat placed on top of the tablet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The present invention will be described in detail below using examples. In the following description, a liquid crystal display device is used as an example of a display device incorporating a touch panel function, but the present invention can be similarly applied to other display devices such as an organic EL display device and a micro LED display. The same is true when a touch panel independent of the display device is used. In this specification, the term "touch panel" does not necessarily refer to only a touch panel independent of the display device, but may also refer to a touch sensor incorporated in the display device.
[0014] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which input is being made with a stylus pen 20 on a tablet 1 using a liquid crystal display device with a built-in touch sensor. In the tablet 1, the periphery of a display area 10 is surrounded by a housing 410 made of metal or resin. The display area of the tablet 1 also serves as an input surface 10 of the touch sensor (hereinafter also simply referred to as the input surface 10).
[0015] In Fig. 1, input is made on an input surface 10 with a stylus pen 20. Conventionally, the stylus pen 20 has often been made of a hard conductive pen made of metal or the like. Meanwhile, in order to prevent the input surface 10 of the tablet 1 from being scratched, stylus pens with soft touch surfaces have also been developed. For example, a stylus pen has been developed in which a cotton-like resin is impregnated with conductive paint containing conductive fine particles, and this is shaped using a binder.
[0016] Furthermore, stylus pens with a brush-like or brush-like tip that enable input of calligraphy have been developed, and various applications have been developed to enable this system. However, such conventional stylus pens have pen tips made of conductive bristles, and the shaft is also different from that of a traditional brush.
[0017] On the other hand, there are many people who want to improve their calligraphy skills, and there are many calligraphy schools across the country. However, it is becoming more difficult to gather many people in one room and have a calligraphy teacher teach them, as was the case in the past. Therefore, there is a demand to be able to teach calligraphy by distance using tablets.
[0018] Stylus pens with brush-like tips have been developed, and applications that use these to create calligraphy that looks like it was written with a brush have also been developed. However, these stylus pens use conductive bristles at the tips, and the shaft of the stylus pen is different from that of a conventional brush.
[0019] On the other hand, in calligraphy, exemplary "good characters" can often only be achieved by using a traditional brush. In order to write "good characters," a calligrapher must hone his or her skills, which also include the skill of choosing a good brush. In other words, it is difficult to achieve the goal of practicing calligraphy using a traditional "brush" with an input method that uses a stylus pen with conductive bristles and a corresponding shaft.
[0020] In addition, the "calligraphy" of a skilled calligrapher can be registered as digital art, but in many cases, such calligraphy can only be created using a traditional "brush." The objective of this invention is to realize an input device that can utilize the characteristics of a traditional brush when writing calligraphy with a brush on the input screen of a tablet.
[0021] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display device 2 having a touch panel function, which is housed in the tablet 1 of Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, a counter substrate 200 having a black matrix and the like is disposed on a TFT substrate 100 on which pixel electrodes and the like are formed in a matrix. Liquid crystal is sandwiched between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200. A display area of the liquid crystal display device is formed in the overlapping portion of the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200. A touch panel input surface 10 of an in-cell touch panel (a touch panel incorporated in a liquid crystal display device) is formed so as to overlap this display area.
[0022] On the input surface 10, in a plan view, the drive electrodes Rx extend in the horizontal direction (x direction) and are arranged in the vertical direction (y direction). The detection electrodes Tx extend in the vertical direction and are arranged in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 3 etc., the drive electrodes Rx are formed on the outer surface of the counter substrate 200, and the detection electrodes Tx are formed on the inner surface of the TFT substrate 100. Capacitance is formed at the intersection of the drive electrodes Rx and the detection electrodes Tx, and the touch signal detects a change in this capacitance.
[0023] 2, the portion where the TFT substrate 100 does not overlap with the counter substrate 200 is a terminal region 150, where a driver IC 160 is disposed and to which a flexible wiring substrate 170 for supplying signals and power to the liquid crystal display device is connected. A flexible wiring substrate 180 for a touch panel is connected to the outer surface end of the counter substrate 200 in order to supply drive signals to the drive electrodes Rx.
[0024] Although not shown in Fig. 2, a backlight is disposed on the rear surface of the TFT substrate 100. In Fig. 2, the flexible wiring substrate 180 for a touch panel is connected to the flexible wiring substrate 170, which is folded back to the rear surface of the backlight, thereby making the outer shape of the tablet compact.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, a detection electrode Tx extends in the horizontal direction (y direction) on the inner surface of the TFT substrate 100. In reality, this electrode also serves as a common electrode formed on the TFT substrate 100. The counter substrate 200 is disposed with the liquid crystal layer 300 sandwiched therebetween, and the drive electrodes Rx extend in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface (x direction) and are arranged in the horizontal direction (y direction) on the outer side of the counter substrate 200. A capacitance Ct for a touch panel is formed at the intersection of the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200. In an actual product, the liquid crystal layer has a thickness of several μm, while the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 have a thickness of about 0.5 mm. In FIG. 3, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 300 is exaggerated.
[0026] Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the drive electrodes Rx and the detection electrodes Tx. In Fig. 4, the drive electrodes Rx extend in the vertical direction (x direction in the coordinate system) and are arranged in the horizontal direction (vertical direction in the coordinate system). The detection electrodes Tx extend in the horizontal direction and are arranged in the vertical direction. A capacitance Ct is formed at the intersection of the drive electrodes Rx and the detection electrodes Tx.
[0027] In FIG. 4, drive voltages are applied to the drive electrodes Rx in the order of VR1, VR2, VR3 from the left. Then, voltages corresponding to VR1, VR2, VR3, etc. are output to the selected detection electrodes Tx. This voltage has a value according to the capacitance Ct at each intersection. In FIG. 4, VT1 means the detection signal that appears at the electrode Tx1, and is a general term for voltages that appear in sequence corresponding to VR1, VR2, VR3, etc., such as VT11, VT12, VT13, etc. The same applies to VT2 and below. The detection voltages are detected sequentially from the detection electrodes Tx1, Tx2, etc., as indicated by the right arrow in FIG. 4.
[0028] Figure 5 shows the above-described contents in a time chart. In Figure 5, the horizontal direction is the time axis. In Figure 5, Tx1, Tx2, etc. written on the upper side indicate the state in which the signal voltage is taken in by each detection electrode in the ON state.
[0029] In Fig. 5, if the detection electrode Tx1 is selected, drive voltages are applied to the drive electrodes Rx1, Rx2, etc. in sequence, such as VR1, VR2, etc., corresponding to this detection electrode. Then, detection voltages such as detection signals VT11, VT12, etc. are detected in response to the drive voltages at the detection electrode Tx1. Here, VT11, VT12, etc. refer to signals detected in sequence at the detection electrode Tx1. Similarly, VT21, VT22, etc. refer to signals detected in sequence at the detection electrode Tx2.
[0030] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a stylus pen or a human finger touches the intersection of the detection electrode Tx1 and the drive electrode Rx2, and a capacitance CA is applied in parallel between the drive electrode Rx and a reference potential. As a result, the detection voltage detected at the detection electrode Tx1 changes.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a time chart showing this state. FIG. 7 differs from FIG. 5 in the detection voltage VT12 when the second driver voltage VR2 is applied to the detection electrode Tx1. In FIG. 7, VT12 indicated by the white arrow is smaller than the corresponding VT12 in FIG. 5. That is, this shows that the detection voltage has dropped due to the addition of capacitance CA in parallel in the corresponding portion. By detecting this lowered detection voltage VT12, etc., it is possible to detect the touch position of a finger or stylus pen on the touch panel.
[0032] The operating principle of the touch panel described above is the same when the input device is a writing brush. Figure 8 is an external view of a traditional brush 50. A traditional brush 50 is roughly composed of a brush head (tip) 60 and a shaft 70. The hair that composes the brush head 60 is made of animal hair. Various animal hairs are used depending on the purpose of the brush 50 or the place where the brush 50 is produced. The hair is then processed to suit the brush by the skill of the brush craftsman. Even for a single brush, as shown in Figure 9, hairs of multiple lengths are processed and gathered together to make one brush. 600 in Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of one side of the brush head 60. It shows that it is composed of hairs of multiple lengths. In Figure 9, for example, 600 is called the "life hair", 602 is called the "throat", 603 and 604 are called the "belly", and 605 and 606 are called the "waist". These hairs of different lengths are arranged and gathered together to make one brush.
[0033] Bamboo is the most commonly used material for the shaft of the brush 70, followed by wood, with other materials being used in very few cases. The reason why such materials for the brush tip 60 and shaft 70 are selected is that, traditionally, calligraphers choose them to best suit the weight of the brush and the feel of the brush when writing "calligraphy."
[0034] When a brush is completed, the bristles at the tip (head) are bound with seaweed. Therefore, this seaweed must be removed before use. Figure 10 is an external view showing the brush after the seaweed has been removed with water or the like and the brush has been dried again. The bristles at the head 60 are made of an insulating material, so the head as a whole is also an insulating material, and the brush shaft 70 is also an insulating material. An insulating material is one that has a volume resistivity of 10 9 It is defined as being greater than or equal to Ωcm.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where the brush 50 shown in FIG. 10 is used as an input device to the input surface 10 of a tablet 1 having a touch sensor. FIG. 11 shows a state where a character is written on the input surface 10 of the tablet 1 with the brush 50. However, the configuration shown in FIG. 11 does not operate as an input device to the tablet 1 having a touch sensor. In other words, a human being is a conductor, but the brush head 60 and the shaft 70 of the brush 50 are insulators, so the capacitance between the brush 50 and the drive electrode formed on the touch panel is very small. Therefore, the change in capacitance between the drive electrode Rx and the detection electrode Tx is small. Therefore, it does not cause a voltage change that can be recognized as a detection signal.
[0036] FIG. 12 is an equivalent circuit showing this state. In FIG. 12, a capacitance Ct is formed between the drive electrode Rx and the detection electrode Tx. In FIG. 12, a capacitance CA1 and a capacitance CH are connected between the drive electrode Rx and the reference potential. CH is the capacitance between the human and the reference potential. CA1 is the capacitance between the human and the drive electrode, and is the brushed part in FIG. 11.
[0037] In FIG. 12, both the brush tip 60 and the shaft 70 of the brush 50 are insulators, so the capacitance through them is very small. The series capacitance of the capacitances CA1 and CH is determined by the smaller capacitance. In other words, if the capacitance of the capacitance CA1 is C1 and the capacitance of the capacitance CH is C2, the series capacitance C12 is C1×C2 / (C1+C2). If the voltage applied to the drive electrode Rx is VR, the voltage detected by the detection electrode is VR×Ct / (Ct+C12). If C12 is very small compared to Ct, there is almost no change in potential when the brush 50 touches the tablet input surface 10. In other words, the touch position cannot be detected.
[0038] In order to solve such problems, a method has been developed in which the brush head is made of conductive bristles, and the impedance between the human and the drive electrode Rx is reduced, thereby increasing the capacitance change when touched with a brush. However, this method has the problems mentioned above. The present invention realizes an input device that can input to the input surface of a touch panel while maintaining the characteristics of a traditional brush.
[0039] As a means for solving the above problems, a comparative example will be described first, and then an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 13 is an external view of a brush 50 as an input device to a touch panel according to a comparative example. Fig. 13 has almost the same configuration as the traditional brush shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 13 differs from Fig. 9 in that conductive paint 80 is applied to the outer surface of the shaft 70 to make the outer surface conductive. Fig. 14 is a BB cross-sectional view of Fig. 13, and Fig. 15 is a CC cross-sectional view of Fig. 13. In Figs. 14 and 15, the base material of the shaft 70 is bamboo, and the inside is hollow. Conductive paint 80 is applied to the outside of the shaft 70, which has a circular cross-section, with a predetermined thickness.
[0040] The reason why the outside of the shaft 70 of the brush 50 is made conductive is to improve the coupling between the capacitance formed by the human body and the drive electrode Rx in the touch panel. In the brush 50, the head 60 and shaft 70 are manufactured separately. The head 60 is completed through many processes. On the other hand, the shaft 70 determines the weight and feel of the entire brush, and is also important. The brush is completed by forming a recess at the end of the shaft 70 and gluing the head into this recess with an adhesive.
[0041] The brush 50 shown in Fig. 13 is manufactured in the same process as conventional brushes. The conductive paint 80 shown in Figs. 13 to 15 is applied in the final process of manufacturing the shaft. The conductive paint 80 is made of resin such as epoxy, acrylic, or urethane, with fine particles of conductive material such as carbon, nickel, or copper dispersed in it. That is, the conductive fine particles are mixed into a vehicle for forming such a coating, and this is applied to the outside of the shaft 70.
[0042] After application, the coating 80 is sintered (dried) and hardened. Incidentally, since the shaft 70 is made of bamboo, it needs to be made of a material that can be sintered at low temperatures. Two-component reactive types such as epoxy and urethane can be dried and hardened in a short time at around 60°C. Also, one-component acrylic resin lacquer types can be dried and hardened at low temperatures.
[0043] As the conductive filler, fine particles of carbon, nickel, aluminum, copper, etc. can be used. Carbon is the cheapest and has stable conductivity, but the color of the coating is limited to almost black. In other words, if the color of the shaft is acceptable, carbon fine particles are the most suitable.
[0044] On the other hand, when fine particles of nickel, aluminum, copper, etc. are used as the filler, it is possible to form a nearly transparent coating film. Therefore, a coating film of a desired color can be formed by dispersing an appropriate pigment in the paint. Nickel is the most suitable fine particles of the above metal materials because it is less likely to oxidize.
[0045] The volume resistivity of the conductive coating 80 is, for purposes of the present invention, 10 3 A resistivity of Ωcm or less is sufficient, and 100 Ωcm or less is even better. The thickness of the coating film 80 may be selected so that it is easy to apply. However, it is preferable that the coating film 80 be thick enough so as not to impair the feeling of writing with a traditional brush. Taking these factors into consideration, a thickness of 10 μm to 100 μm is appropriate for the conductive coating film 80.
[0046] However, even if the brush shown in Fig. 13 is used as an input means to a touch panel, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient detection signal. This is because the brush head 60 is made of animal hair and is an insulator. In other words, although the coupling between the human and the brush 50 can be improved by the conductive film 80 formed on the brush shaft 70, the coupling of the capacitance formed between the driver electrode Rx of the touch panel and the human is impaired by the presence of the brush head 60, which is an insulator.
[0047] In contrast, in the comparative example, the brush head 60 of the brush 50 is impregnated with water to impart conductivity to the brush head 60, and the brush in this state is used as an input device for a touch panel, as shown in Fig. 16. In Fig. 16, the brush head 60 is impregnated with water, and this state is indicated by hatching on the brush head 60.
[0048] The brush 50 shown in Figure 13 is a brand new brush, with the brush tip 60 shaped with nori seaweed. To actually use the brush 50, it is necessary to remove the nori seaweed with water or the like and loosen the brush tip 60. The brush 50 shown in Figure 16 has the brush tip 60, from which the nori seaweed has already been removed, soaked in water, so that the shape of the brush tip 60 is shaped. In other words, by soaking the brush tip 60 (62) in water, the shape of the brush tip 60 (62) can be shaped in the same way as when the brush tip is soaked in ink.
[0049] In this way, by soaking the brush in water, it is possible to give electrical conductivity to the brush tip 60 and to shape the brush in the same way as when actually writing calligraphy using ink. The water used can be ordinary tap water, such as drinking water used in daily life. The volume resistivity of ordinary tap water is, for example, 5×10 3 Ωcm. For the purpose of improving the coupling between the human capacitance and the drive electrode Rx of the touch panel, 6 A volume resistivity of Ωcm or less is sufficient. However, considering that the water impregnated in the neck 60 also contains ions of the substances contained in the neck 60, the volume resistivity of the water impregnated in the neck 60 will be further reduced.
[0050] When a brush with this configuration, as shown in Figure 16, was used to input data into a touch panel, a sufficient detection signal was obtained. When a calligraphy application was applied to write "calligraphy" on the input surface of the touch panel, the same "calligraphy" as that written using a traditional brush could be written.
[0051] Fig. 17 is an equivalent circuit when writing characters on the input surface of a touch panel using a "brush" like that in Fig. 16. In Fig. 17, the coupling capacitance CA2 existing between the capacitance of the human body and the drive electrode Rx formed on the input surface of the touch panel is larger than CA1 in Fig. 12. As a result, the series capacitance of CA2 and CH is close to the capacitance Ct formed between the drive electrode Rx and the detection electrode Tx.
[0052] 17, if the capacitance of the capacitance CA2 is C3 and the capacitance of the capacitance CH is C2, the series capacitance C23 is C3×C2 / (C3+C2). If the voltage applied to the drive electrode Rx is VR, the voltage detected by the detection electrode is VR×Ct / (Ct+C23). When C23 is large enough to be comparable to Ct, the change in potential when the brush 50 touches the tablet input surface 10 is large enough to be detected by the detection electrode Tx.
[0053] 18 is an external view of the brush 50 when the nori seaweed at the neck 60 of the brush is left at the base 63 of the brush 60 rather than being removed. The elasticity of the brush when writing with the brush differs depending on whether or not the nori seaweed at the base 63 of the brush 60 is removed. Therefore, the brush user may choose one of the two based on their preference, and the same user may use a brush with the range of the neck 60 loosened differently depending on the style of writing.
[0054] When writing characters on the input surface 10 of the touch panel using the brush 50 shown in Fig. 18, characters could be written in calligraphy without any significant difference compared to when using the brush 50 shown in Fig. 16. This is because the unloosened part at the base 63 of the brush head 60 has a small width and does not have a large effect on the coupling capacitance.
[0055] Thus, according to the comparative example, one can write "calligraphy" on the input surface of the tablet without losing the feeling of the traditional brush used in conventional calligraphy. However, the comparative example differs significantly from conventional calligraphy in the following ways. That is, in the comparative example, one must write directly on the input surface of the tablet using water instead of "ink," whereas in conventional calligraphy, a piece of washi paper is placed on a writing pad called a "mokusen" and writing is done on this washi paper using "ink." In other words, in the comparative example, one cannot get the feeling of writing on a piece of washi paper placed on a writing pad. Furthermore, since the "calligraphy" is written using water, it is input to the tablet, but it is not possible to directly check what the writing on the washi paper looks like.
[0056] The present invention, which will be described below, aims to solve these problems. That is, the embodiment described below makes it possible to write "calligraphy" using "ink" on a piece of paper placed on a writing pad, and also makes it possible to input the calligraphy into a tablet. EXAMPLES
[0057] In the comparative example, the user is unable to write on the calligraphy paper placed on the writing pad because the brush used is an insulator and the tip of the brush is insulated from the user, so a sufficient signal cannot be supplied to the input surface of the tablet. Fig. 19 is a side view of a brush according to a first embodiment that solves this problem. In Fig. 19, the brush is composed of a tip 60 and a shaft 70, just like a conventional brush. The tip 60 is composed of a tip portion 62 that is impregnated with ink and is conductive, and a base portion 63 that is not impregnated with ink and is insulating.
[0058] The difference between Figure 19 and the comparative example in Figure 13 is that the shaft 70 is covered with a thin conductive cap 90, and the conductive fiber 65 extends from this thin conductive cap 90 through the insulating base part 63 of the neck 60 to the conductive part of the tip 62 that is impregnated with ink. This results in direct conduction between the person and the conductive tip 62. Therefore, the signal detected by the tablet becomes larger.
[0059] Incidentally, the amount of conductive fiber 65 extending from the conductive cap 90 toward the tip impregnated with ink may be extremely small. In other words, the premise is that the spacing of a traditional brush in calligraphy is not compromised. In FIG. 19, the number of conductive fibers 65 in the base portion 63 of the brush head 60 is 10% or less of the number of bristles constituting the base portion 63 of the brush head 60, and more preferably, 5% or less. The same applies to Examples 2 and 3. Also, it is desirable that the conductive cap 90 covering the shaft 70 is formed as thin as possible so as not to compromise the spacing of the shaft of a traditional brush.
[0060] FIG. 20 is an equivalent circuit when writing "calligraphy" on the tablet surface using the brush of FIG. 19. FIG. 20 differs from FIG. 17 in that a resistance R1 made of conductive fibers is connected in parallel with the capacitance CA2 between the human and the drive electrode Rx. This conductive resistance R1 directly connects the human body and the conductive part of the brush tip, enabling highly sensitive sensing. Therefore, as shown in the fourth embodiment, it becomes possible to input to the input surface of the tablet 1 via the writing paper 700, the writing pad 710, etc. EXAMPLES
[0061] Fig. 21 is a side view of the brush according to the embodiment 2. Fig. 21 differs from Fig. 19 in that the conductor formed around the shaft 70 is not a cap 90 but a conductive film 95. The conductive fibers 65 are formed from this conductive film 95 toward the brush head 60, just like Fig. 19 of the embodiment 1.
[0062] The conductive film 95 does not need to be formed over the entire axial direction of the shaft 70. It is sufficient if the shape allows electrical conduction between the user and the tip of the brush. Also, the thickness of the conductive film 95 is preferably thin so as not to impair the traditional spacing of the brush. EXAMPLES
[0063] Fig. 22 is a side view of the brush according to Example 3. Fig. 22 differs from Fig. 21 in that in Fig. 22, a conductive material such as graphite is filled inside shaft 70 along the axial direction of shaft 70. Meanwhile, in Fig. 22 as well, conductive film 95 is arranged on the outside of shaft 70, and conductive fibers 65 are arranged from this conductive film 95 toward the ink-impregnated portion, which is tip 62 and which is the conductive portion of brush head 60. This allows electrical conduction between tip 62 and the human body.
[0064] It should be noted that the detection sensitivity can be further improved by electrically connecting the conductive filler 75 inside the shaft 70 and the conductive film 95 on the outside of the shaft 70. Even if it is not possible to electrically connect the conductive filler 75 inside the shaft 70 and the conductive film 95 on the outside of the shaft 70, the detection sensitivity is improved because the capacitance CA2 in FIG. 20 is increased. EXAMPLES
[0065] Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where "calligraphy" is written directly on tablet 1 using a brush according to a comparative example. In Fig. 23, the tip 62 is impregnated with water, and "calligraphy" is written on the surface of tablet 1 using water. Since the brush does not use writing paper, it is not possible to directly confirm what shape the "calligraphy" will have when written on writing paper.
[0066] Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where, for example, using the brush according to the first embodiment, a felt 710 is placed on the surface of the tablet 1 as a base, a piece of Japanese writing paper 700 is placed on the felt 710, and "calligraphy" is written using "ink" on the Japanese writing paper 700. According to the configuration of Fig. 24, as in the conventional case, the "calligraphy" written with ink on the Japanese writing paper 700 can be confirmed, and the contents of the "calligraphy" can be imported into the tablet 1.
[0067] Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where, for example, using the brush according to the first embodiment, a wooden board 720 is placed on the surface of the tablet 1 as a base, a piece of Japanese writing paper 700 is placed on the wooden board, and "calligraphy" is written using "ink" on the piece of Japanese writing paper 700. According to the configuration of Fig. 25, as in the conventional case, the "calligraphy" written with ink on the piece of Japanese writing paper 700 can be confirmed, and the contents of the "calligraphy" can be imported into the tablet 1.
[0068] Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where, for example, using the brush according to the embodiment 1, a wooden board 720 is placed on the surface of the tablet 1 as an underlay, a felt 710 is placed on that as an underlay, and a Japanese writing paper 700 is placed on that, and "calligraphy" is written using "ink" on the Japanese writing paper 700. According to the configuration of Fig. 26, as in the conventional case, "calligraphy" written with ink on the Japanese writing paper 700 can be confirmed, and the contents of the "calligraphy" can be imported into the tablet 1.
[0069] 24 to 26, the brush according to the first embodiment is used, but the brush according to the second or third embodiment may also be used. In this way, by using the present invention, the tablet 1 can detect input from the brush with high sensitivity, so that while writing "calligraphy" on the calligraphy paper 700 placed on the writing pads 710 and 720 placed on the tablet 1, the data can be read into the tablet terminal at the same time. [Explanation of symbols]
[0070] 1...tablet with touch panel function, 2...liquid crystal display device with touch panel function, 10...input surface of touch panel, 20...stylus pen, 50...brush, 60...head, 61...unraveled head, 62...head containing water, 63...base of unraveled head, 65...conductive fiber, 70...shaft, 71...hollow portion, 75...conductive filling material, 80...conductive paint, 90...conductive cap, 95...conductive film, 100...TFT substrate, 150...terminal area, 160...driver IC, 170...flexible wiring board, 180 flexible wiring board for touch sensor, 200...opposing substrate, 250...protective film, 300...liquid crystal layer, 410...housing, 600...one-side cross-sectional view of head of brush, 601...life hair of brush, 602...life hair of brush, 601...life hair of the brush, 601...life hair (of the brush), 602...throat (of the brush), 603...body (of the brush), 604...body (of the brush), 605...hip (of the brush), 606...hip (of the brush), 700...Japanese paper, 710...underlay (felt), 720...underlay (wooden board), Rx...drive electrode, Tx...detection electrode, CA1...capacitance, CA2...capacitance, CA3...capacitance, CB...capacitance between conductive paint and conductive filling material in the axis, CH...capacitance of the human, Ct...capacitance between Rx electrode and Tx electrode
Claims
1. A touch sensor input device having a head and a shaft, The head is made of insulating bristles, The spike has a tip portion and a base portion close to the axis, the shaft is an insulator, A conductive member is formed on the outside of the shaft, An input device for a touch sensor, characterized in that conductive fibers are electrically connected to the conductive member and extend to the base portion of the spike, and a conductive filler is filled inside the shaft along the axial direction of the shaft.
2. 2. The touch sensor input device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member formed on the outside of the shaft is a conductive cap.
3. 2. The touch sensor input device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member formed on the outside of the shaft is a conductive film.
4. 2. The touch sensor input device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive filler inside the shaft is electrically connected to the conductive member outside the shaft.