Input apparatus

Abstract

To improve an input apparatus.SOLUTION: An input apparatus, in particular an active or passive input apparatus, for a touch-sensor screen, comprises an elongated input unit 11 of the input apparatus on which an input element 12 that can be mounted on the screen is disposed for performing inputs, at the front end of the input apparatus. In the input apparatus, the input unit is movably supported so that the input unit can move from a casing position, in which the input element 12 is located within a casing 14 of the input apparatus, to an input position, in which the input element is located outside the casing for performing an input using the input element, and a rear casing portion of the casing is movably supported on a front casing portion of the casing to extend the input apparatus so that the rear casing portion can move from a retracted position, in which the input apparatus is retracted, to an extended position, in which the input apparatus is extended.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The invention relates to an input device, in particular an active or passive input device for a touch-sensitive screen, at the front end of which an input element is arranged correspondingly, of a preferably elongated input part of the input device, which can be mounted on the screen in order to perform the input. [Background technology]

[0002] Input devices for touch-sensitive screens are known in a variety of forms. A particular disadvantage is that the input devices must usually be relatively long so that an operator can comfortably hold them while operating them. This length often becomes a hindrance when the respective input device is not in use, for example, when it must be transported. Another frequent disadvantage of such input devices is that the tip or input element of the input device is usually not protected during transport and is therefore easily damaged. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Starting from this prior art, the object of the present invention is to improve the input device mentioned at the outset. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] This problem is solved by an input device according to claim 1.

[0005] Therefore, the input device according to the present invention is characterized in that the input portion is movably supported, so that the input portion is movable from a casing position in which an input element, preferably the entire input portion, is located within the casing of the input device, to an input position in which an input element that can be mounted on a screen is located outside the casing so that input can be performed using this input element, and in that, in order to extend the input device, a casing portion located further rearward of the casing is movably supported on a casing portion located further forward of the casing, so that the casing portion located further rearward is movable from a retracted position in which the input device is retracted to an extended position in which the input device is extended.

[0006] This provides an input device whose overall length (from the front end of the input element to the rear end of the casing) can be expanded when the input device is in use compared to when the input device is not in use. In other words, the input device can be shortened when the input device is not in use, making the input device easier to handle and transport. At the same time, the input element is protected against collisions that occur during transport when the movable input part of the input device is shortened, because the input element is located within the casing of the input device in this state.

[0007] The input device may be an electromagnetic, electro-optical, EMR, capacitive, inductive or resistive stylus (touch pen).

[0008] Thus, in a first alternative embodiment, the input device according to the invention may be configured as an active stylus or an active input pen. In such a case, the input device may generally have an input element, preferably electrically connected to an electronic group inside the input element housing. This input element can actively interact with the touch-sensitive screen by techniques known in the prior art. In this case, it may be provided in particular that the energy required by the input device for this interaction is obtained from the touch-sensitive screen or from another external energy source. However, it is also conceivable that a battery, especially a rechargeable battery, is present inside the housing, which supplies the electronic group with electrical energy.

[0009] In another alternative, the input device may be formed as a passive stylus or a passive input pen correspondingly (without electronic components and / or batteries).

[0010] Furthermore, touch-sensitive screens are understood here to mean any screen on which an interaction can take place and an input can be performed when an input device is placed on the touch-sensitive screen, including screens on which, for technical reasons, an interaction with an input device can possibly take place immediately before placement, such as screens based on EMR technology.

[0011] Preferably, according to another aspect of the invention, a spring element, in particular formed as a tension spring or compression spring, is arranged in the casing, and it may be provided that the input part is movable from the casing position to the input position by or against the spring force of the spring element.

[0012] In this case, the spring element may be arranged in the casing in a spaced relationship to the free front end of the input device. Alternatively or additionally, the spring element may be arranged in a spaced relationship to a front opening in the casing, through which the input element is moved upon movement of the input part from the casing position to the input position.

[0013] It may be specified that when the input part is in the input position, the front end of the spring element is located at a distance of at least 15 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, particularly preferably at least 22 mm from the front end of the input element.

[0014] In particular, when the input device is an active stylus, in particular an EMR stylus, and the spring element is made of metal, the above-mentioned spacing has been found to serve to reduce or prevent electromagnetic interference of the input element, in particular formed as an EMR tip.

[0015] In this connection, it may be provided that, apart from the input part, which may be made entirely or partly from a metallic and / or non-metallic material, all other components of the input device and / or component sections of all other components of the input device which are located in an area of ​​at least 15 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, particularly preferably at least 22 mm, starting from the front end of the input element of the input part when the input part is in the input position are also made from a non-metallic material.

[0016] In particular, it may be provided that at least the cap-like casing part and / or the spring element and / or the spacer part are made from a non-metallic material.

[0017] In another embodiment of the concept of the present invention, the input device may have a control unit with at least one, preferably at least two, switching cams, by means of which the input part is movable from the housing position to the input position and also from the input position to the housing position.

[0018] Furthermore, the input device may have a spring element, in particular a further spring element, by means of the spring force of which the more rearwardly arranged casing part is movable into the extended position.

[0019] It may further be provided that the rearwardly arranged casing part is a pressing part operatively connected to the control unit, and that this pressing part can be operated in the same pressing direction both to move the input part to the input position and to move it to the casing position, particularly against the spring force of the above-mentioned spring element.

[0020] The control unit may further be configured and operatively connected to the rear casing part in such a way that a single operation of the rear casing part in the pressing direction causes the input part to move from the casing position to the input position on the one hand and the rear casing part to move from the retracted position to the extended position on the other hand.

[0021] Furthermore, the control unit may have a switching sleeve, in particular connected axially fixedly and non-rotatably to the housing, and a cam part, which cooperates with the switching sleeve, in particular a cam part of the control unit, preferably having at least one switching cam or at least two switching cams, which cam part is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

[0022] It may further be provided that the input part can be moved to an input position and / or a casing position by means of the plurality of switching cams or one of the switching cams, and / or that the rearwardly arranged casing part can be fixed in an extended position and / or a retracted position by means of the plurality of switching cams or another of the switching cams.

[0023] The movable input part may be attached in the casing, in particular to the cam part, preferably by a positive-locking and / or frictional lock, in particular by a snap connection, in particular at an end region of the input part facing away from the input element. Alternatively or additionally, the input part may be removably or fixedly connected in the casing, in particular to the input device, in particular to the cam part, preferably by a positive-locking and / or frictional lock, in particular by a snap connection, in particular at an end region of the input part facing away from the input element.

[0024] In order to ensure the above-mentioned spacing relative to the front end of the input element when the input device is in the input state, the input device may preferably have a spacer part that is immovable relative to the casing, on which the spring element is supported and which provides the spacing of the spring element relative to the front opening of the casing. In particular, the spacer part preferably has a rear end that projects into the hollow chamber in front of the cam part, and the front end of the spring element rests on this rear end.

[0025] The spacer part has a section with a cavity, in particular a hollow cylindrical section, which guides the input part, and whose free rear end can form the rear end of the spacer part on which the front end of the spring element rests.

[0026] The casing may further have, at the front end, a cap-shaped casing part, in particular having an opening in the casing, in particular a casing part that is screwed onto an adjacent casing part, in which the spacer part is completely or partially arranged.

[0027] The spacer part may be particularly integrally and / or materially connected to the cap-shaped housing part in the front region, or may be supported on the cap-shaped housing part in the front region.

[0028] The rear end of the spring element may be supported on the control unit, in particular on a cam portion of the control unit, in particular against the control unit or a cam portion of the control unit.

[0029] The inner diameter of the front opening of the casing, in particular the cap-shaped casing part, and the maximum diameter of the input part may preferably be adjusted to one another so that the input part can be guided through this opening within the framework of the installation of the input device.

[0030] With regard to the input part, the input part has at or in the region of its rear end a connecting element of the snap connection, which during assembly is connected in an at least form-locking manner with a matching counter-element of the snap connection, in particular arranged on the cam part.

[0031] Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the appended claims, the following description of the preferred embodiments, and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an input device according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The input device 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a so-called EMR stylus for a touch-sensitive screen (not shown), the input technology of which is based, in a manner known per se, on electromagnetic resonance, more precisely on the magnetic field generated by the screen, which interacts with a resonant circuit of the input device 10. The invention is not limited to such a stylus, which will be described in more detail below, but obviously also includes all other stylus devices, active or passive.

[0034] The input device 10 has in its front region a movably supported elongated input part 11, here an EMR core, which has at its front end an input element 12 that can be mounted on a screen and has an input surface 13. Such an input element 12 is also called an input tip, although it is clear that the input element 12 does not necessarily have to be pointed in the sense of the word and may, for example, have a rounded input surface 13, as in the present embodiment.

[0035] The input device 10 further has an elongated casing 14 that can be held by a user when using the input device 10. Within the casing 14 are located components (not shown) necessary for interaction with the touch-sensitive screen, in particular electronic components comprising, for example, a resonant circuit including a resonant coil, where one, several or all of these components are part of the input portion 11 or EMR core.

[0036] 1 shows input device 10 in an extended use position in which it can be held by a user for input to a touch-sensitive screen and used to perform input.

[0037] At its front end, the casing 14 of the input device 10 has a front casing part 15 which has a cap-like casing part 16 arranged at its front end and which has an opening 17. In the extended state shown in Figure 1, the input part 11 extends through this opening 17, so that the input element 12 is correspondingly located outside the casing 14 for mounting on a screen. The cap-like casing part 16 is in this case removably connected, in this case by means of a threaded connection, to a (hollow) cylindrical casing section 26 of the front casing part 15 which is arranged further rearward.

[0038] The input part 11 is in this state in a temporarily fixed or locked position and is held in place by locking against the spring force of a spring element 18, here a compression spring.

[0039] At its rear end, the casing 14 has a movable rear casing part 19 which acts as a pressure part and, as a result, in the illustrated state, constitutes an extension of the casing 14. The rear casing part 19 is held in the position shown in Figure 1 by the spring force of a further spring element 20, here a compression spring.

[0040] The input device 10 can be transferred from the illustrated extended use position to a retracted (transport) position (not shown) in which the input element 12 is located within the casing 14, i.e., in this case, within the cap part 16, and the rear casing part 19 is no longer in the extended position shown in Figure 1, but rather in a retracted position in which the rear casing part 19 is at least partially located within the front casing part 15.

[0041] To move from the extended use state to the retracted state, the user must move the rear casing part 19 relative to the front casing part 15, usually by simultaneously firmly holding the front casing part 15, by pushing the rear casing part 19 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1 or forward. This pushing involves pushing the rear casing part 19 in the direction towards the front input device end or pushing the rear casing part 19 so that it is (at least partially) pushed into the front input device end. At the end of the movement, the rear casing part 19 is then held in its predetermined or retracted position against the spring force of the spring element 20 or fixed / locked in this retracted position.

[0042] Furthermore, the above-mentioned movement / pressing of the rear casing part 19 relative to the front casing part 15 simultaneously or synchronously unlocks the input part 11 in its input position, which is then moved rearward by the spring force of the spring element 18 into the interior of the casing 14 or cap-like casing part 16, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0043] A single similar depression of rear casing portion 19 in the direction of the arrow can also transition input device 10 from the retracted state back to the extended state.

[0044] To achieve the above-mentioned functions, the input device 10 has a control unit 21, by means of which the rear casing part 19 and the input part 11 are operatively connected in particular.

[0045] In this case, the control unit 21 has a switching sleeve 22 that is axially fixedly and non-rotatably connected to the casing 14 and a cam part 23 (in this case hollow) that cooperates with the switching sleeve 22. The cam part 23 is rotated or can rotate about its longitudinal axis when the rear casing part 19 is pressed, and in this case has two switching cams (not shown).

[0046] On the one hand, the rear end of the input part 11 is connected to the cam part 23, in particular in a form-locking manner, in this case by means of a snap connection 27. It is obvious that other types of connection can also be used. On the other hand, the rear casing part 19 is supported or guided in the cam part 23 so as to be movable longitudinally or axially.

[0047] In the cam part 23, in particular in the heart-shaped first switching cam, a suitable coupling element 24, i.e. in this case a pin connected to the switching sleeve 22, engages. In the input position of the input part 11 shown in FIG. 1, the coupling element 24 is in its locked position in the first switching cam, so that the cam part 23 and the input part 11 attached to it are axially fixed in their respective positions against the spring force of the spring element 18.

[0048] By pressing the rear casing part 19 in the extended position by the operator, the rear casing part 19 is first moved axially forward, or in the direction of the arrow, whereupon the coupling element 24 is released from its locked position (rotating the cam part 23), which causes the cam part 23 together with the input part 11 to move axially in the opposite direction, i.e., in the direction opposite to the arrow, within the casing 14 by the spring force of the spring element 18, thereby moving the input part 11 from the input position to the casing position.

[0049] Within the front housing part 15, the rear housing part 19 is then axially secured in its retracted position by a spring force against retraction by means of a further coupling element (not shown) connected in particular to the rear housing part, which is in a locked position and which cooperates with a second switching cam, which is T-shaped in this embodiment and which is arranged axially behind the first switching cam.

[0050] To finally transfer the input device 10 from the retracted (transport) state back to the extended (use) state, the rear casing part 19 is moved in the direction of the arrow when it is in the retracted position, and at the same time the rear casing part 19 is unlocked, so that the cam part 23 moves together with the input part 11 in the direction of the arrow until the input part 11 is again in the input position and is locked again in this input position in cooperation with the cam part 23 or the first switching cam. As a result of the unlocking of the rear casing part 19, the rear casing part 19 is finally moved by the spring element 20 in the opposite direction, or in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow, to the extended position again after the pressing operation is completed or when the rear casing part 19 is released.

[0051] As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the functionality described above may be achieved through alternative technologies.

[0052] Another special feature of the present invention is that the spring element 18 is spaced within the casing 14 from the free front end of the input device 10 or from the front opening 17 of the casing 14.

[0053] When the input part 11 is in the input position, the front end of the spring element 18 is spaced from the front end of the input element 12 by at least 15 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, particularly preferably at least 22 mm.

[0054] It has been found that when the spring element 18 is made of metal, the above-mentioned spacing serves to reduce or even completely prevent magnetic and / or electromagnetic interference of the input element 12 formed as an EMR tip.

[0055] Alternatively or additionally to (possibly further) reducing / preventing such interference, it may be provided that, except for the input part 11, which does not apply to such mandatory provisions and which may accordingly be formed entirely or partly from metallic and / or non-metallic materials, all other components of the input device 10 and / or component sections of all other components of the input device 10 which are located in an area of ​​at least 15 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, particularly preferably at least 22 mm, starting from the front end of the input element 12 when the input part 11 is in the input position are formed from non-metallic materials.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that at least the cap-like casing part 16 and / or the spring element 18 and / or the spacer part 25 are made from a non-metallic material, in particular plastic.

[0057] The above-mentioned distance of the front end of the spring element 18 relative to the front end of the input element 12 is usually achieved in this case by the front end of the spring element 18 being supported on or resting on a spacer part 25.

[0058] The spacer portion 25 is centrally disposed within the cap portion 16, or is integrally or coherently bonded to the cap portion 16, or is formed by the cap portion 16 by the spacer portion being a coherent component of the cap portion 16.

[0059] The spacer part 25 has a hollow cylindrical section 25a which connects directly to the opening 17, through which the input part 11 is guided, and on whose free rear end the front end of the spring element 18 rests or rests.

[0060] As can be seen, the rear end of the spring element 18 rests against the (in this case radial) wall of the cam portion 23 . [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10 Input Devices 11 Input section 12 Input Elements 13 Input surface 14 Casing 15 Front casing part 16 Cap-shaped casing part 17 Aperture 18 Spring element Front casing part 19 Rear casing part 20 Spring element pressing part 21 Control Unit 22 Switching sleeve 23 Cam part 24 Connected Elements 25 Spacer part 25a Section Spacer part 26 Casing section Front casing section 27 Snap joint

Claims

1. An input device, in particular an active or passive input device for a touch-sensitive screen, at the front end of which an input element (12) of a preferably elongated input part (11) of the input device is arranged correspondingly, which can be mounted on the screen in order to perform the input, an input device characterized in that the input part (11) is movably supported, whereby the input part (11) is movable from a casing position in which the input element (12), preferably the entire input part (11), is located within a casing (14) of the input device, to an input position in which the input element (12) is located outside the casing (14) to perform an input, and a more rearwardly disposed casing part of the casing (14) is movably supported in a more forwardly disposed casing part of the casing (14) to extend the input device, whereby the more rearwardly disposed casing part is movable from a retracted position in which the input device is retracted to an extended position in which the input device is extended.

2. 10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input device is an electromagnetic, electro-optical, EMR, capacitive, inductive or resistive stylus.

3. 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a spring element is arranged in the casing (14), and the input part (11) is movable from a casing position to an input position by or against the spring force of the spring element.

4. 4. An input pen according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring element is arranged in the casing (14) at a distance from the free front end of the input device and / or at a distance from a front opening (17) of the casing (14) through which the input element (12) is moved when the input part (11) moves from a casing position to an input position.

5. 5. An input device according to claim 1, wherein a front end of the spring element is positioned at a distance of at least 15 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, particularly preferably at least 22 mm, from the front end of the input element when the input part is in the input position.

6. 6. An input device according to claim 3, wherein the spring element is a tension spring or a compression spring.

7. 7. An input device according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit (21) with at least one, preferably at least two, switching cams, by means of which the input part (11) is movable from a housing position to an input position and also from the input position to a housing position.

8. 8. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the more rearwardly arranged casing part is movable into an extended position under the spring force of a spring element.

9. 9. An input device according to claim 7, characterized in that the rearwardly arranged housing part is a pressing part operatively connected to the control unit (21), which pressing part can be operated in the same pressing direction, in particular against the spring force of the spring element, to move the input part (11) both to the input position and to the housing position.

10. 10. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit (21) is configured and operatively connected to the rear casing part in such a way that a single actuation of the rear casing part in the pressing direction causes the input part (11) to be moved from a casing position to an input position, on the one hand, and the rear casing part to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position, on the other hand.

11. 11. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit (21) comprises a switching sleeve, in particular connected axially fixedly and non-rotatably to the casing (14), and a cam portion, in particular a cam portion of the control unit (21) having at least one switching cam or at least two switching cams, which cooperates with the switching sleeve, and which rotates about a longitudinal axis.

12. 12. An input device according to claim 7, characterized in that the input part (11) can be moved to an input position and / or a casing position by means of the plurality of switching cams or one of the switching cams, and the rearwardly arranged casing part can be fixed in an extended position and / or a retracted position by means of the plurality of switching cams or another of the switching cams.

13. 13. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the input part (11) is attached in the casing (14), in particular to the cam part, preferably by a form-locking and / or friction-locking connection, in particular by a snap connection, in particular in an end region of the input part (11) located opposite the input element (12); and / or the input part (11) is removably or fixedly connected in the casing (14), in particular to the cam part, in particular in an end region of the input part (11) located opposite the input element (12), in particular to a component of the input device, in particular to the cam part, preferably by a form-locking and / or friction-locking connection, in particular by a snap connection.

14. 14. An input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the input device has a spacer part (25), which is preferably immovable relative to the casing (14), on which the spring element is supported and which provides a spacing of the spring element relative to the front opening (17) of the casing (14), in particular the input device has a spacer part (25) which preferably has a rear end which projects into a hollow space in front of the cam part, and on the rear end of the spacer part (25) a front end of the spring element rests.

15. 15. The input device according to claim 14, wherein the spacer part (25) has a section with a cavity, in particular a hollow cylindrical section, which guides the input part (11), and whose free rear end forms the rear end of the spacer part (25) on which the front end of the spring element rests.

16. 16. An input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the casing (14) has, at its front end, a cap-like casing part (16), in particular having the opening (17) in the casing (14), in particular a casing part that is screwed onto an adjacent casing part, and in which the spacer part (25) is completely or partially arranged.

17. 17. The input device according to claim 16, characterized in that the spacer part (25) is in particular integrally and / or materially connected to the cap-shaped casing part (16) in the front region or the spacer part (25) is supported on the cap-shaped casing part (16) in the front region.

18. 18. An input device according to claim 14, wherein the rear end of the spring element is supported on the control unit (21), in particular on the cam portion of the control unit (21), in particular while abutting on the control unit (21) or on the cam portion of the control unit (21).

19. 19. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the front opening (17) of the casing (14), in particular the cap-shaped casing part (16), and the maximum diameter of the input part (11) are adapted to one another in such a way that the input part (11) can be guided through the opening (17) within the framework of assembly of the input device.

20. 20. An input device according to claim 13, characterized in that the input part (11) has, at or in the region of its rear end, a coupling element of the snap connection which, during assembly, is coupled in at least form-locking fashion with a matching counter-element of the snap connection, in particular arranged on the cam part.

21. 21. An input device according to claim 1, characterized in that, apart from the input part (11), which may be made entirely or partly from a metallic and / or non-metallic material, all other components of the input device and / or component sections of all other components of the input device that are located in an area of ​​at least 15 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, particularly preferably at least 22 mm, starting from a front end of the input element (12) of the input part (11) when the input part (11) is in the input position are made from a non-metallic material.

22. 22. An input device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the cap-like casing part (16) and / or the spring element and / or the spacer part (25) are made from a non-metallic material.

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