Input device and assembly method

Abstract

To make it possible to increase the ease of assembly of an input device.SOLUTION: An input device comprises: a housing that has an opening on one side thereof in a first direction; a panel that is at least partially exposed through the opening, and has an operation surface on which a touch operation is performed; a holder member that is disposed in the housing, and supports the panel; a substrate that is disposed in the housing; a sensor unit that is provided in the panel, and that detects the touch operation; and a connector which is provided on the substrate, and to which a signal cable from the sensor unit is connected. The holder member has a temporary holding section that holds the substrate in a state of being relatively movable at least in the first direction with respect to the holder member. The housing has a stopper section that abuts the substrate held by the temporary holding section from the other side in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device and an assembly method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a structure for preventing erroneous detection by a touch sensor, in which a sensor sheet connected to a touch panel penetrates a circuit board and the sensor sheet is connected to the back surface of the circuit board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2018 / 105305 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional input devices, it was difficult to improve ease of assembly because the circuit board was fixed in a predetermined position inside the housing and then the signal cable from the sensor unit was connected to a connector provided on the circuit board.

[0005] For example, conventional input devices require an opening in the housing for connecting a connector, and also require a member to close the opening, which may increase the number of parts and the number of steps required. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An input device according to one embodiment includes a housing having an opening on one side in a first direction, a panel at least partially exposed from the opening and on which touch operations are performed on the operating surface, a holder member arranged inside the housing and supporting the panel, a substrate arranged inside the housing, a sensor unit arranged on the panel for detecting touch operations, and a connector arranged on the substrate to which a signal cable from the sensor unit is connected, wherein the holder member has a temporary holding portion that holds the substrate in a state in which it can move relatively in at least the first direction with respect to the holder member, and the housing has a stopper portion that abuts against the substrate held by the temporary holding portion from the other side in the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to an input device according to one embodiment, the ease of assembly of the input device can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an input device according to an embodiment taken along an XZ plane; [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for assembling an input device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for assembling an input device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for assembling an input device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3C] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for assembling an input device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Configuration of input device 100) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an input device 100 according to an embodiment taken along the XZ plane.

[0011] In the following description, for convenience, the X-axis direction will be referred to as the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction as the front-rear direction, and the Z-axis direction as the up-down direction (an example of a "first direction"). However, the positive X-axis direction will be referred to as the rightward direction, the positive Y-axis direction as the forward direction, and the positive Z-axis direction as the upward direction. These directions indicate relative positional relationships within the device and do not limit the installation direction or operation direction of the device. Anything that has the same relative positional relationship within the device, even if the installation direction or operation direction is different, is within the scope of the present invention.

[0012] 1 is a device capable of performing touch operations and pressing operations on panel 120. For example, input device 100 can confirm the selection of one symbol by performing a pressing operation on panel 120 when one of a plurality of symbols displayed on operation surface 120A of panel 120 is selected by a touch operation.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 100 includes a housing 110, a panel 120, a holder member 130, a sensor unit 140, a signal cable 141, a substrate 150, a pressure detection unit 151, a connector 152, a light source 153, and a light guide 160.

[0014] Housing 110 is a resin container-shaped member that houses and supports each component. Housing 110 has an opening 111 on the upper side, which is the positive side of the Z axis (an example of "one side in the first direction").

[0015] Panel 120 is a generally flat member made of resin. Panel 120 is provided with at least a portion exposed from opening 111 of housing 110. The exposed upper surface of panel 120 serves as operation surface 120A, and panel 120 is a member on which an operator performs a touch operation and a pressing operation toward the lower side, which is the negative side of the Z axis (an example of the "other side in the first direction")

[0016] The holder member 130 is disposed inside the housing 110, inside the opening 111, and is a member that supports the panel 120 from below (the negative side of the Z axis). The holder member 130 is formed integrally with the panel 120, and moves back and forth in the up-and-down direction (the Z axis direction) together with the panel 120 as the panel 120 is pressed. More specifically, the holder member 130 is supported by a guide mechanism of the housing 110 (not shown), and when pressed, moves downward (the negative side of the Z axis) along the guide mechanism while maintaining a horizontal position. When the pressing operation is terminated, the holder member 130 returns to its initial position before the operation due to a reaction force of a press detection unit 151 (described later) or the like. The holder member 130 has a hollow structure, and a sensor unit 140, a signal cable 141, and a light guide 160 can be disposed inside the holder member 130. The guide mechanism of the housing 110 may support the holder member 130 so that it can move linearly in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) while maintaining the holder member 130 horizontal as described above, or may support the holder member 130 so that it can move in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) by rotating around a pivot shape not shown.

[0017] The sensor unit 140 is a flat plate-like member that is provided on the lower surface of the panel 120 and inside the holder member 130, and detects a touch operation performed on the operation surface 120A of the panel 120. In this embodiment, an electrostatic sensor that detects a touch operation by a change in electrostatic capacitance is used as an example of the sensor unit 140. However, the sensor unit 140 is not limited to this, and may also detect a touch operation by other methods (for example, a pressure-sensitive method, etc.).

[0018] The signal cable 141 is a flexible, strip-shaped wiring member. One end of the signal cable 141 is connected to the sensor unit 140. The other end of the signal cable 141 is connected to a connector 152 mounted on the substrate 150. The signal cable 141 transmits a detection signal of a touch operation output from the sensor unit 140 to the substrate 150.

[0019] Substrate 150 is a flat, resin-made member that is arranged in a state in which it extends horizontally (on the XY plane) inside housing 110. Substrate 150 is held in a horizontal position at a predetermined height relative to housing 110 by elastic holding portion 113 and stopper portion 112 that are provided on housing 110.

[0020] The pressure detection unit 151 is mounted on a mounting surface 150A on the upper side of the board (an example of a "mounting surface on one side in the first direction of the board"). The pressure detection unit 151 detects a pressure operation performed on the operation surface 120A of the panel 120. In this embodiment, a load sensor or a push switch is used as an example of the pressure detection unit 151, which detects a pressure operation when pressed by the holder member 130 that has moved downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) together with the panel 120. However, the pressure detection unit 151 is not limited to this, and may also be a distance sensor or the like.

[0021] The connector 152 is mounted on a mounting surface 150B on the lower side of the board (an example of the "mounting surface on the other side in the first direction of the board"). The connector 152 is connected to a signal cable 141 from the sensor unit 140.

[0022] The light source 153 is mounted on the upper mounting surface 150A of the substrate. In this embodiment, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as an example of the light source 153.

[0023] The light guide 160 is a columnar member made of transparent resin that is provided inside the holder member 130 and held by the holder member 130. The light guide 160 is provided above the light source 153 (on the positive side of the Z axis), with its bottom end face facing the light source 153. This allows the light emitted from the light source 153 to enter the light guide 160 from its bottom end face. The light guide 160 can also propagate the light that has entered from its bottom end face inside and emit it from its top end face. The top end face of the light guide 160 is connected to the panel 120. This allows the light emitted from the top end face of the light guide 160 to illuminate symbols and the like provided on the operation surface 120A of the panel 120.

[0024] In this embodiment, the holder member 130 holds the light guide 160, and the light source 153 is provided at a position facing the light guide 160 on the upper surface of the substrate 150, so that components can be arranged with good space efficiency.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, in the input device 100, a unit 100A is generated by combining together multiple components (i.e., the panel 120, the holder member 130, the sensor unit 140, the signal cable 141, the substrate 150, the pressure detection unit 151, the connector 152, the light source 153, and the light guide 160) excluding the housing 110 (see FIG. 3A).

[0026] Here, the holder member 130 has a temporary holding portion 131 that holds the substrate 150 in a state where the substrate 150 can move relatively at least in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) with respect to the holder member 130. For example, in this embodiment, the temporary holding portion 131 is provided hanging down (in the negative Z-axis direction) from the lower surface 130A of the bottom plate portion of the holder member 130, and has a hook shape with claw portions 131B at the tips of a pair of arms 131A, which are further provided to penetrate through a through-hole 150C of the substrate 150. The length from the lower surface 130A of the bottom plate portion of the holder member 130 to the claw portions 131B of the temporary holding portion 131 is greater than the thickness of the substrate 150. Therefore, the substrate 150 can move relatively to the holder member 130 in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) by that difference. As a result, when the holder member 130 and the board 150 are assembled to the housing 110, when a pressing operation is performed on the panel 120, the holder member 130 moves relatively closer to the board 150, whose position in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is determined by the stopper portion 112 of the housing 110 described later, and presses the pressing detection portion 151 provided on the board 150, thereby reliably detecting the pressing operation.

[0027] Furthermore, through-hole 150C is set to a size that prevents claw 131B from falling out and leaves a gap with respect to arm 131A, so that substrate 150 can also move laterally (in the X-axis and Y-axis directions) relative to holder member 130 by the amount of the gap. As a result, when holder member 130 and substrate 150 are assembled to housing 110, holder member 130 and substrate 150 are not affected by each other, and the position of holder member 130 in the lateral directions (in the X-axis and Y-axis directions) relative to housing 110 and the position of substrate 150 in the lateral directions (in the X-axis and Y-axis directions) relative to housing 110 can be determined independently by a guide mechanism of housing 110 (not shown). In this embodiment, a pair (two) of arms 131A are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and only one arm 131A may be provided on one side, or three or more arms 131A may be provided.

[0028] Furthermore, the housing 110 has a pair of stopper portions 112 that abut against a mounting surface 150B on the lower side of the board 150 held by the temporary holding portion 131 of the holder member 130 from the lower side (the "other side in the first direction"). The housing 110 defines the position of the board 150 in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) with respect to the housing 110 by the stopper portions 112. As a result, the input device 100 can accurately detect a pressing operation when the pressure detection unit 151 is pressed by the holder member 130, since the input device 100 also defines the position in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) of the pressure detection unit 151 mounted on the mounting surface 150A on the upper side of the board. In this embodiment, a pair (two) of stopper portions 112 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and only one stopper portion 112 may be provided on one side, or three or more stopper portions 112 may be provided on one side.

[0029] Furthermore, the housing 110 is provided with a pair of elastic holding parts 113 that hold the substrate 150 by snapping in from the upper side (one side in the first direction). In particular, in this embodiment, the elastic holding part 113 is hook-shaped and has an arm part 113A that is elastically deformable in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) (an example of a "direction perpendicular to the first direction") and an engaging part 113B that is provided at the end of the upper side (one side in the first direction) of the arm part 113A and engages with the substrate 150. In this embodiment, a pair (two) of elastic holding parts 113 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and only one elastic holding part 113 may be provided on one side, or three or more elastic holding parts 113 may be provided.

[0030] Furthermore, the engaging portion 113B of the elastic holding portion 113 has a guide surface 113C on the upper side ("one side in the first direction") that is inclined toward the outside of the housing 110 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0031] In addition, the engaging portion 113B of the elastic holding portion 113 has an urging surface 113D on the lower side ("the other side in the first direction") that is inclined with respect to the extension direction of the board (XY plane) and abuts against the edge of the mounting surface 150A on the upper side of the board ("the surface on one side of the board in the first direction").

[0032] (Method of assembling the input device 100) A method for assembling the input device 100 according to one embodiment will be described below. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for assembling the input device 100 according to one embodiment. Figs. 3A to 3C are diagrams for explaining an example of the procedure for assembling the input device 100 according to one embodiment.

[0033] <Step S201: First Process> First, as shown in FIG. 3A, an assembly worker passes arm portion 131A and claw portion 131B of temporary holding portion 131 through through hole 150C of substrate 150, and causes temporary holding portion 131 of holder member 130 to hold substrate 150.

[0034] Here, as described above, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the temporary holding portion 131 of the holder member 130 can hold the substrate 150 in a state in which it can move relatively in the up-and-down direction (Z-axis direction) with respect to the holder member 130. Furthermore, the temporary holding portion 131 of the holder member 130 can hold the substrate 150 in a state in which it can move relatively in the lateral direction (X-axis and Y-axis directions) with respect to the holder member 130.

[0035] <Step S202: Second Process> 3B, the assembly worker inserts and connects the other end of signal cable 141 to connector 152 provided on mounting surface 150B on the lower side of board 150. This completes the assembly of unit 100A.

[0036] In this way, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the board 150 can be held by the temporary holding portion 131 of the holder member 130, and therefore the operation of connecting the signal cable 141 to the connector 152 can be easily performed with the connector 152 located outside the housing 110. Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, an opening for connecting the connector 152 is not required in the housing 110, and no member for closing the opening is required, so that the number of parts and the number of work steps can be reduced.

[0037] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the connector 152 is provided on the mounting surface 150B on the lower side of the substrate 150, so that the signal cable 141 can be easily connected to the connector 152, and installation space for other components on the mounting surface 150A on the upper side of the substrate 150 can be secured.

[0038] <Step S203: Third Process> Next, as shown in FIG. 3C , the assembler inserts unit 100A, which has been assembled in step S202, from opening 111 of housing 110 downward (one example of the "other side in the first direction") with substrate 150 held by holder member 130 by temporary holding portion 131, and brings substrate 150 into contact with stopper portion 112 of housing 110. At this time, elastic holding portion 113 of housing 110 elastically deforms outward by snapping in from the upper side (one side in the first direction), and then returns to its original state to hold substrate 150. This completes the assembly of input device 100, and input device 100 is in the completed state shown in FIG. 1.

[0039] 1, input device 100 according to an embodiment has substrate 150 fixed, but holder member 130 is movable in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) relative to substrate 150. Therefore, in input device 100 according to an embodiment, when a pressing operation is performed on operation surface 120A of panel 120, panel 120 and holder member 130 move downward (Z-axis negative direction) together, and holder member 130 presses pressure detection unit 151, thereby enabling the pressing operation to be detected.

[0040] Here, in one embodiment of the input device 100, the substrate 150 can be held by the temporary holding portion 131 of the holder member 130, so that the holder member 130 and the substrate 150 can be assembled together into the housing 110 simply by inserting the holder member 130 through the opening 111.

[0041] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the housing 110 has a stopper portion 112 that abuts from below against the board 150 held by the temporary holding portion 131 of the holder member 130. Therefore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the board 150 can be easily positioned at a predetermined height by a simple pushing operation from above.

[0042] Therefore, according to the input device 100 according to the embodiment, the ease of assembly of the input device 100 can be improved.

[0043] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the elastic holding portion 113 of the housing 110 can hold the board 150 by snapping in from above, so that the board 150 can be easily held in a state of contact with the stopper portion 112, and since no fixing members (screws, etc.) are required to fix the board 150, the number of parts and labor hours can be reduced.

[0044] In addition, in one embodiment of the input device 100, the elastic holding portion 113 of the housing 110 is hook-shaped with an arm portion 113A and an engagement portion 113B, so that the substrate 150 can be easily held by snapping in with a simple pushing operation from above.

[0045] In addition, the elastic holding portion 113 may have a shape other than a hook shape (for example, a shape in which the elastically deformable arm portion 113A has a hole into which a protrusion provided on the substrate 150 fits) as long as it can hold the substrate 150 by snapping in from above.

[0046] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the engagement portion 113B of the elastic holding portion 113 has, on the upper side, a guide surface 113C that is inclined with respect to the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). Therefore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, by simply pushing from above, the edge portion of the mounting surface 150B on the underside of the board 150 abuts against the guide surface 113C, the elastic holding portion 113 can be easily pushed outward, and further, the board 150 can climb over the engagement portion 113B and be positioned below the engagement portion 113B.

[0047] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to an embodiment, the engaging portion 113B of the elastic holding portion 113 has a biasing surface 113D on the lower side that is inclined with respect to the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) and that abuts against the substrate 150. Therefore, in the input device 100 according to an embodiment, the biasing surface 113D can bias the edge portion of the mounting surface 150A on the upper side of the substrate 150 downward, while absorbing manufacturing errors in the left-right width and thickness of the substrate 150, thereby pressing the substrate 150 against the stopper portion 112. As a result, the input device 100 according to an embodiment can stably hold the substrate 150 at a predetermined height position without causing rattle.

[0048] Furthermore, since input device 100 according to an embodiment can stably hold substrate 150 at a predetermined height, pressing operation on operation surface 120A of panel 120 can be reliably detected by pressure detection unit 151 provided on the upper surface of substrate 150. Furthermore, since input device 100 according to an embodiment has urging surface 113D inclined with respect to the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), when disassembling input device 100, simply by pulling unit 100A upward, substrate 150 can push elastic holding portion 113 outward, and thus substrate 150 can be easily separated from elastic holding portion 113.

[0049] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0050] This international application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-081740, filed on May 18, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 100 Input Device 100A unit 110 Case 111 Aperture 112 Stopper part 113 Elastic retaining part 113A Arm 113B Engagement part 113C Guide surface 113D Biasing surface 120 panels 120A operation surface 130 Holder member 130A Bottom 131 Temporary holding section 131A Arm 131B Claw part 140 Sensor unit 141 Signal Cable 150 boards 150A Upper mounting surface of the board (mounting surface on one side of the first direction of the board) 150B Mounting surface on the lower side of the board (mounting surface on the other side of the board in the first direction) 150C through hole 151 Pressure detection unit 152 Connector 153 Light source 160 Light guide

Claims

1. a housing having an opening on one side in a first direction; a panel at least a portion of which is exposed through the opening, the panel having an operation surface for performing a touch operation; a holder member disposed inside the housing and supporting the panel; a substrate disposed inside the housing; a sensor unit provided on the panel for detecting the touch operation; a connector provided on the substrate and connected to a signal cable from the sensor unit; An input device comprising: the holder member has a temporary holding portion that holds the substrate in a state that allows the substrate to move relatively to the holder member at least in the first direction, The housing has a stopper portion that abuts against the substrate held by the temporary holding portion from the other side in the first direction.

1. An input device comprising:

2. The housing includes: an elastic holding portion that holds the substrate by snapping in from the one side in the first direction; 2. The input device according to claim 1.

3. The elastic holding portion is The hook-shaped connector has an arm portion that is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and an engaging portion that is provided at an end of the arm portion on one side in the first direction and engages with the substrate.

3. The input device according to claim 2.

4. The engaging portion of the elastic holding portion has a guide surface on the one side in the first direction that is inclined with respect to the first direction.

4. The input device according to claim 3.

5. The engaging portion of the elastic holding portion has, on the other side in the first direction, a biasing surface that is inclined with respect to the extending direction of the substrate and comes into contact with the substrate.

4. The input device according to claim 3.

6. The connector is provided on a mounting surface of the board on the other side in the first direction.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a touch panel.

7. The holder member holds a light guide, and a light source is provided on the mounting surface of the substrate on the one side in the first direction at a position facing the light guide.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a touch panel.

8. The sensor unit that detects the touch operation is an electrostatic sensor.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a touch panel.

9. a pressure detection unit that detects a pressing operation on the panel toward the other side in the first direction; The holder member reciprocates in the first direction together with the panel in response to the pressing operation on the panel.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a touch panel.

10. The pressure detection unit that detects the pressure operation is a load sensor.

10. The input device according to claim 9.

11. The pressure detection unit that detects the pressure operation is a distance sensor.

10. The input device according to claim 9.

12. The pressure detection unit that detects the pressing operation is a push switch.

10. The input device according to claim 9.

13. A method for assembling the input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the steps of: a first step of holding the substrate on the temporary holding portion of the holder member; a second step of connecting the signal cable to the connector of the board; a third step of inserting the holder member, with the substrate held by the temporary holding portion, from the opening of the housing toward the other side in the first direction, and bringing the substrate into contact with the stopper portion of the housing; An assembly method comprising:

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