Input device, display device, slide detection method, and program

Abstract

To detect a finger slide by a simple structure.SOLUTION: An input device 100 includes: an insulator portion 131; a conductive body installed on the back surface of the insulator portion 131 or in such a portion; and a single electrode 121 installed so as not to contact the conductive body. The conductive body includes at least a first portion and a second portion. The conductive body is installed in such a way that a distance between the first portion and the surface of the insulator portion 131 differs from a distance between the second portion and the surface of the insulator portion 131 or a distance between the first portion and the electrode 121 differs from a distance between the second portion and the electrode 121.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device, a display device, a slide detection method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In a small electronic device such as a wristwatch-type information terminal, the screen size is small, and the buttons operated by the user also tend to be small. Therefore, technologies for improving the operability as much as possible have been developed even for small electronic devices. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wristwatch-type information terminal that can be operated without hiding the display unit by providing an operation touch sensor around the display unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the wristwatch-type information terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1, a large number of electrodes for detecting capacitance are installed on the side surface of the display unit, so that the contact position of the user's finger and the slide of the finger (change in the contact position) can be detected. However, in such a conventional technique, in order to be able to detect the contact position and slide of the finger in detail, the number of electrodes has to be increased, and each electrode requires wiring, resulting in a complicated structure.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an input device, a display device, a slide detection method, and a program that have a simple structure and can detect the slide of a finger.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, one aspect of the input device according to the present invention is an insulator portion, a conductor installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator portion, one electrode installed so as not to contact the conductor, and the conductor has at least a first portion and a second portion, the conductor is installed such that the distance between the first portion and the surface of the insulator portion is different from the distance between the second portion and the surface of the insulator portion, or the distance between the first portion and the electrode is different from the distance between the second portion and the electrode, the thicknesses of the first portion and the second portion in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the insulator portion from the surface of the electrode are different from each other 。

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, with a simple structure, it is possible to detect the sliding of a finger.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] The input device according to the embodiment and the display device including this input device will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0010] (Embodiment) For ease of understanding, hereinafter, the case where the input device 100 according to the embodiment is applied to the display device 200 shown in FIG. 1(a) will be described as an example. The display device 200 is a wristwatch-type information terminal device. Note that a cross-sectional view when the display device 200 is cut along the one-dot chain line A - A' in FIG. 1(a) is shown in FIG. 1(b), and a cross-sectional view when the input device 100 included in the display device 200 is cut along the arc-shaped one-dot chain line B - B' in FIG. 1(a) is shown in FIG. 1(c).

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the display device 200 includes a display portion 231 at the central portion of the main body, and includes an input device 100 (electrodes 121, conductor portions 111, 112, 113, etc.) in an annular shape around the display portion 231. And, as shown in FIG. 1(b), the display device 200 includes a touch panel 241 on the surface of the display portion 231.

[0012] The input device 100 includes conductor parts 111, 112, 113, an electrode 121, and an insulator part 131. As shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 1(c), the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 are installed on the back surface of the insulator part 131 so as to face the electrode 121. And the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 are installed so as not to contact the electrode 121. Also, the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 are periodically arranged in the order that the conductor part 112 is arranged next to the conductor part 111, the conductor part 113 is arranged next to the conductor part 112, and the conductor part 111 is arranged next to the conductor part 113.

[0013] When the user brings a finger close to the surface of the insulator part 131, the input device 100 functions as a self-capacitance type capacitance sensor by utilizing the change in the capacitance detected by the electrode 121. Note that the surface of the insulator part 131 is the front surface of the display device 200 where the user can touch with a hand, and the back surface of the insulator part 131 is the inner surface of the display device 200 where the user cannot touch with a hand.

[0014] The conductor parts 111, 112, 113 are conductors and are composed of small pieces made of a conductor such as metal. In the present embodiment, the conductor part includes a conductor part composed of three sections: a first conductor part 111, a second conductor part 112, and a third conductor part 113. The classification of this conductor part is determined according to the value of the capacitance detected by the electrode 121 when the user brings a finger close to the surface of the insulator part 131. That is, the conductor parts of each classification are provided so that the values of the capacitance detected by the electrode 121 are different when the user brings a finger close to each surface of the insulator part 131 close to the conductor parts of different classifications.

[0015] In the present embodiment, the number of sections of the conductor part is three, but the number of sections of the conductor part may be any number of two or more. Also, the material of the object constituting the conductor part may be any conductor, and the conductor parts of all sections may be configured using conductors of the same material, or may be configured using conductors of different materials respectively. Further, in the present embodiment, the conductor parts are physically separated from each other, but as in Modification Example 4 described later, at least the first part and the second part are provided so that the capacitance detected by the electrode 121 is different when a finger approaches the conductor, and one (not physically separated) conductor may be configured.

[0016] The electrode 121 is an electrode for detecting capacitance. In the present embodiment, the input device 100 includes one annular electrode 121 around the display unit 231, but the shape of the electrode 121 is arbitrary. However, the electrode 121 is installed at a position facing all the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 and not contacting all the conductor parts 111, 112, 113.

[0017] The insulator part 131 is, for example, a resin constituting a case covering the display device 200. In the present embodiment, a gap (air) exists between the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 and the electrode 121. However, the gap between the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 and the electrode 121 may be filled with an insulator such as resin. Also, air and an insulator may be mixed between the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 and the electrode 121.

[0018] Next, the functional configuration of the display device 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 200 includes a control unit 210, a storage unit 220, an output unit 230, and an input unit 240.

[0019] The control unit 210 is composed of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 210 executes a slide detection process described later and other processes for realizing functions of the display device 200 (such as a timing function) according to a program stored in the storage unit 220. In addition, in the present embodiment, the control unit 210 has a function of detecting the value of the capacitance generated in the electrode 121. However, the control unit 210 may not have a function of detecting capacitance. In this case, separately, the input device 100 or the display device 200 is provided with a capacitance detection circuit that detects the value of the capacitance generated in the electrode 121 and transmits the detected value to the control unit 210.

[0020] The storage unit 220 stores a program executed by the control unit 210, the capacitance detected by the input device 100, and the like. The storage unit 220 may include a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, etc., but is not limited thereto. Note that the storage unit 220 may be provided inside the control unit 210.

[0021] The output unit 230 includes a display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, and displays the time when the display device 200 is timing, etc.

[0022] The input unit 240 includes a touch panel 241 and the input device 100, and receives operations of the user. Note that the input unit 240 is not limited to the touch panel 241 and the input device 100, and may include, for example, a push button switch.

[0023] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the capacitance acquired by the control unit 210 from the input device 100, that is, the value of the capacitance detected by the electrode 121 of the input device 100, will be described. When the user is not touching the display device 200, as shown in FIG. 3, a parasitic capacitance Cp is generated between the electrode 121 and GND (Ground), and the control unit 210 acquires the value of this parasitic capacitance Cp as the capacitance value.

[0024] On the other hand, when the user's finger 301 approaches the conductor part 111, in addition to the parasitic capacitance Cp of the first path that originally existed between the electrode 121 and GND, a capacitance Cq based on the second path via the conductor part 111, the user's finger 301, and the human body is also generated. Therefore, the capacitance detected by the electrode 121 becomes Cp + Cq, and the control unit 210 acquires the value of Cp + Cq as the capacitance value.

[0025] The capacitance Cq based on this second path is determined by the capacitance Cc between the electrode 121 and the conductor part 111, the capacitance Cf between the conductor part 111 and the finger 301, the resistance Rb of the human body, the capacitance Cb between the human body and GND, etc. Among these, it is considered that the resistance Rb of the human body and the capacitance Cb between the human body and GND do not change much when the user brings the finger 301 close to the conductor part 111 and when the user moves the finger 301 away from the conductor part 111. Therefore, it is considered that the capacitance Cc and the capacitance Cf have a large influence on the value of the capacitance detected by the electrode 121 depending on whether the finger 301 approaches the conductor part 111 or not.

[0026] Generally, when two conductors face each other with an area of S square meters and a distance of d meters, and a dielectric with a dielectric constant ε is uniformly filled between these two conductors, the capacitance C between these two conductors is obtained by C = ε × S ÷ d. Therefore, the smaller the distance between the electrode 121 and the conductor part 111, the larger the capacitance Cc, and the smaller the distance between the conductor part 111 and the finger 301, the larger the capacitance Cf. That is, the value of the capacitance acquired by the control unit 210 becomes larger as the distance between the electrode 121 and the conductor part 111 becomes smaller, and as the distance between the conductor part 111 and the finger 301 becomes smaller.

[0027] Next, the slide detection process executed by the control unit 210 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. This process starts to be executed in parallel with other processes for realizing various functions of the display device 200 when the display device 200 is activated.

[0028] First, the control unit 210 performs an initialization process (step S101). In this initialization process, the value of the capacitance (generated in the electrode 121) acquired by the control unit 210 is stored in the storage unit 220 as the initial capacitance value (the capacitance value when the finger 301 is not close to the insulator portion 131).

[0029] Next, the control unit 210 determines whether the finger 301 has approached the insulator portion 131 (step S102). As described above, when the finger 301 approaches the conductor portions 111, 112, 113, the capacitance generated in the electrode 121 increases. And since the conductor portions 111, 112, 113 are installed on the back surface of the insulator portion 131, an increase in capacitance means that the finger 301 has approached the insulator portion 131. Therefore, if the value of the capacitance acquired by the control unit 210 is greater than or equal to the first reference value times (for example, 10 times) the initial capacitance value acquired and stored in step S101 (or greater than or equal to the reference threshold value from the initial capacitance value), it can be determined that "the finger 301 has approached the insulator portion 131".

[0030] If the finger 301 is not close to the insulator portion 131 (step S102; No), the process returns to step S102. If the finger 301 is close to the insulator portion 131 (step S102; Yes), the control unit 210 acquires the capacitance generated in the electrode 121 and records the acquired capacitance in the storage unit 220 (step S103). Since step S103 is repeatedly executed until the finger 301 moves away from the insulator portion 131 in step S104 thereafter, the control unit 210 acquires and records the value of the capacitance generated in the electrode 121 in time series. Step S103 is also called an acquisition step. Note that the control unit 210 may record the acquired capacitance in the storage unit 220 together with the acquisition time in step S103.

[0031] Next, the control unit 210 determines whether the finger 301 has moved away from the insulator portion 131 (step S104). As is clear from the above description, if the value of the capacitance acquired by the control unit 210 approaches the initial capacitance value acquired and stored in step S101 (for example, becomes equal to or less than a second reference value multiple (for example, 2 times) of the initial capacitance value), it can be determined that "the finger 301 has moved away from the insulator portion 131".

[0032] If the finger 301 has not moved away from the insulator portion 131 (step S104; No), the process returns to step S103. If the finger 301 has moved away from the insulator portion 131 (step S104; Yes), the control unit 210 acquires the sliding direction and the sliding amount of the finger 301 based on the capacitance recorded in time series in step S103 (step S105). Thereby, the control unit 210 can detect the sliding of the finger 301, so step S105 is also called a detection step.

[0033] Regarding how the control unit 210 obtains the slide direction and slide amount of the finger 301 in step S105, it will be described with reference to FIGS. 1(a) and 6. As shown in FIG. 1(a), in the present embodiment, when the position of 12 o'clock of the clock is used as a reference, the first conductor part 111, the second conductor part 112, and the third conductor part 113 are periodically arranged clockwise in this order, and the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 are arranged so as to regularly surround the periphery of the display part 231.

[0034] And as shown in FIG. 6, the distance L1 between the electrode 121 and the first conductor part 111 is smaller than the distance L2 between the electrode 121 and the second conductor part 112, and the distance L2 between the electrode 121 and the second conductor part 112 is smaller than the distance L3 between the electrode 121 and the third conductor part 113. Also, the distance between each of the conductor parts 111, 112, 113 and the surface (finger 301) of the insulator part 131 is the same distance L4.

[0035] As described above, since the capacitance increases as the distance decreases, when the finger 301 moves (slides) clockwise from the 12 o'clock position of the clock on the insulator part 131, the value of the capacitance obtained by the control unit 210 changes in the order of "large, medium, small, large, medium, small..." as the finger moves (i.e., as time passes). Conversely, when the finger 301 moves (slides) counterclockwise from the 12 o'clock position of the clock on the insulator part 131, the value of the capacitance obtained by the control unit 210 changes in the order of "small, medium, large, small, medium, large..." as time passes. Therefore, the control unit 210 can obtain in which direction the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 according to the order of the magnitudes when the capacitance changes.

[0036] Also, as shown in FIG. 1(a), since each of the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 is in an arc shape of 30 degrees, the control unit 210 can obtain an approximate value of the amount (angle) by which the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 as "30 degrees × the number of times the capacitance has changed". For example, if the obtained capacitance has changed as "medium, small, large", the order of the capacitance change is "large, medium, small...", and since the number of times the capacitance has changed is 2, the control unit 210 can determine that "the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 clockwise by approximately 60 degrees".

[0037] When the control unit 210 has obtained the slide direction and amount of the finger 301 in this way in step S105, it returns to step S102.

[0038] In step S105, the control unit 210 may update the capacitance initial value stored in the storage unit 220 with the capacitance value at that time as the capacitance initial value. Also, such an update of the capacitance initial value does not necessarily have to be performed every time step S105 is executed. For example, the capacitance initial value may be updated when step S105 has been executed a reference number of times (e.g., 100 times), or the capacitance initial value may be updated when a reference time (e.g., 2 hours) has elapsed since the previous update of the capacitance initial value, or it may be updated once a day. Since the value of the capacitance when the finger 301 is not close to the insulator portion 131 also changes depending on the environment (humidity, the state of the user's sweat, physical constitution, etc.), the determination accuracy of the approach of the finger 301 can be improved by updating the capacitance initial value from time to time.

[0039] As described above, the input device 100 according to the present embodiment can detect the slide direction and slide amount of the finger 301 with a single electrode 121 by arranging conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 with different distances with respect to one electrode 121. Also, even when it is desired to detect the slide amount in detail, it can be realized simply by increasing the number of conductor portions that do not require wiring, and the electrode can remain one. Therefore, the input device 100 has a simple structure and can detect the slide of the finger 301.

[0040] In step S104 of the slide detection process described above, the control unit 210 determines whether the finger 301 has left the insulator portion 131. However, the determination in step S104 is not limited to this determination. For example, instead of or in addition to this determination, the control unit 210 may determine whether the acquired capacitance has changed within a specified time (e.g., 0.5 seconds). In this case, if the acquired capacitance has changed within the specified time, the control unit 210 proceeds to step S103, and if it has not changed, it proceeds to step S104. By doing so, the control unit 210 can detect the slide of the finger 301 even when the finger 301 remains in contact with the insulator portion 131.

[0041] Also, in this embodiment, since a plurality of conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 are arranged periodically, for example, when the finger 301 is brought into contact with each of the positions at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock of the clock, the capacitance is the same, and it is not possible to determine which of these four positions the finger 301 is located at. However, for example, if conductor portions having 12 different distances from the electrode 121 (in 12 divisions) are used and arranged in ascending (or descending) order of distance, it becomes possible to acquire the position of the finger 301 not only by the slide direction and amount of the finger 301 but also by the resolution of the number of divisions of the conductor portion. Then, the control unit 210 can, for example, acquire information such as "the finger 301 has moved from the 1 o'clock direction to the 3 o'clock direction".

[0042] Conversely, the number of sections of the conductor part may be reduced to 2 (the conductor part 111 and the conductor part 112), and the conductor part 112 may be arranged adjacent to the conductor part 111, and the conductor part 111 may be arranged adjacent to the conductor part 112 in a periodic order. In this case, since the magnitude of the capacitance acquired by the control unit 210 changes as "(large,) small, large, small..." no matter in which direction the finger 301 is moved, the sliding direction cannot be acquired. However, the control unit 210 can acquire the sliding amount based on the number of times the capacitance has changed. Depending on the application, information on the moving direction of the finger may not be necessary, and only the moving amount may be desired to be acquired. In this case, the production cost can be reduced by setting the number of sections of the conductor part to 2.

[0043] In addition to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, various modifications are conceivable for the arrangement of the conductor parts 111, 112, and 113. Specific modifications such as the arrangement of the conductor parts 111, 112, and 113 will be described below.

[0044] (Modification 1) In Modification 1, as shown in FIG. 7, the distance L1 between the surface of the insulator part 131 and the first conductor part 111 is larger than the distance L2 between the surface of the insulator part 131 and the second conductor part 112, and the distance L2 between the surface of the insulator part 131 and the second conductor part 112 is larger than the distance L3 between the surface of the insulator part 131 and the third conductor part 113. Also, the conductor parts 111, 112, and 113 are arranged such that the distance between each of the conductor parts 111, 112, and 113 and the electrode 121 is the same distance L4. Except for these points, Modification 1 is the same as the above-described embodiment.

[0045] In Modification 1, when the finger 301 moves (slides) clockwise from the 12 o'clock position on the insulator portion 131, the capacitance value acquired by the control unit 210 changes in the order of "small, medium, large, small, medium, large..." as time elapses. Conversely, when the finger 301 moves (slides) counterclockwise from the 12 o'clock position on the insulator portion 131, the capacitance value acquired by the control unit 210 changes in the order of "large, medium, small, large, medium, small..." as time elapses. Therefore, the control unit 210 can acquire in which direction the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 according to the order of the magnitudes when the capacitance changes.

[0046] In FIG. 7, there is a gap (air) with a distance L4 between the electrode 121 and each of the conductor portions 111, 112, 113, but a resin with a thickness of L4 may be disposed there. In this case, Modification 1 can be realized by installing each of the conductor portions 111, 112, 113 on the resin with a thickness of L4. Then, it is not necessary to form the insulator portion 131 into a special shape as shown in FIG. 7, and the insulator portion 131 according to Modification 1 may be configured as an insulator portion 131 with a uniform thickness, such as the insulator portion 131 shown in FIG. 6. That is, when it is desired to configure the input device 100 by attaching the conductor portions 111, 112, 113 to the back surface of the insulator portion 131, configure it as in the above-described embodiment, and when it is desired to configure the input device 100 by attaching the conductor portions 111, 112, 113 on the resin disposed on the electrode 121, by configuring it as in Modification 1, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0047] (Modification 2) In Modification 2, as shown in FIG. 8, each of the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 has the same shape (thickness). The distance L1 between the electrode 121 and the first conductor portion 111 is smaller than the distance L2 between the electrode 121 and the second conductor portion 112. The distance L2 between the electrode 121 and the second conductor portion 112 is smaller than the distance L3 between the electrode 121 and the third conductor portion 113. Also, the distance L4 between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the first conductor portion 111 is larger than the distance L5 between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the second conductor portion 112. The distance L5 between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the second conductor portion 112 is larger than the distance L6 between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the third conductor portion 113. The conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 are arranged such that this is the case. Except for these points, Modification 2 is the same as the above-described embodiment.

[0048] In Modification 2, regarding the capacitance between the electrode 121 and the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113, the capacitance between the electrode 121 and the first conductor portion 111 is the largest. However, regarding the capacitance between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113, the capacitance between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the third conductor portion 113 is the largest. Generally, however, since the dielectric constant ε of the resin is larger than the dielectric constant of air, the capacitance between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 is larger than the capacitance between the electrode 121 and the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113. And since these two capacitances are connected in series, the value of the capacitance acquired by the control unit 210 becomes the largest when the finger 301 is brought close to the surface of the insulator portion 131 close to the first conductor portion 111. Conversely, the value of the capacitance acquired by the control unit 210 becomes the smallest when the finger 301 is brought close to the surface of the insulator portion 131 close to the third conductor portion 113.

[0049] That is, in Modification 2, when the finger 301 moves (slides) clockwise from the 12 o'clock position on the insulator portion 131, the capacitance value acquired by the control unit 210 changes in the order of "large, medium, small, large, medium, small..." over time. Conversely, when the finger 301 moves (slides) counterclockwise from the 12 o'clock position on the insulator portion 131, the capacitance value acquired by the control unit 210 changes in the order of "small, medium, large, small, medium, large..." over time. Therefore, the control unit 210 can acquire in which direction the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 according to the order of the magnitudes when the capacitance changes.

[0050] In the input device 100 according to Modification 2, since the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 can be configured in the same shape, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0051] (Modification 3) In Modification 3, as shown in FIG. 9, while each of the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 has the same shape (thickness), a step is provided on the surface of the case (insulator portion 131). Due to this step, the distance L1 between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the first conductor portion 111 is larger than the distance L2 between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the second conductor portion 112, and the distance L2 between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the second conductor portion 112 is larger than the distance L3 between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the third conductor portion 113. Also, the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 are arranged such that the distance between each of the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 and the electrode 121 is the same distance L4. Except for these points, Modification 1 is the same as the above-described embodiment.

[0052] In Modification 3, when the finger 301 moves (slides) clockwise from the 12 o'clock position on the insulator portion 131, the capacitance value acquired by the control unit 210 changes in the order of "small, medium, large, small, medium, large..." as time elapses. Conversely, when the finger 301 moves (slides) counterclockwise from the 12 o'clock position on the insulator portion 131, the capacitance value acquired by the control unit 210 changes in the order of "large, medium, small, large, medium, small..." as time elapses. Therefore, the control unit 210 can acquire in which direction the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 according to the order of magnitudes when the capacitance changes.

[0053] In the input device 100 according to Modification 3, since the conductor portions 111, 112, and 113 can be configured in the same shape, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In FIG. 9, the surface of the case (insulator portion 131) is stepped, but the distance from the conductor portion 111 may be smoothly changed from the interval L1 to the interval L3 to form a slope. However, in this case, between the third conductor portion 113 and the first conductor portion 111, since it is necessary to rapidly change the distance between the conductor portions 111, 113 and the surface of the insulator portion 131 from the interval L3 to the interval L1, this portion becomes cliff-shaped.

[0054] (Modification 4) In the above-described embodiments and modifications, by providing a plurality of physically separated conductor portions 111, 112, and 113, the capacitance generated in the electrode 121 is changed according to the movement of the finger 301. However, it is also possible to configure such that the capacitance generated in the electrode 121 changes according to the movement of the finger 301 with only one conductor that is not physically separated. Such a Modification 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 10.

[0055] The display device 201 according to Modification 4 is a wristwatch-type information terminal, similar to the above-described embodiment. It includes a display unit 231 at the center of the main body and an input device 101 around the display unit 231. As shown in Fig. 10(a), the display device 201 according to Modification 4 includes four conductors 110 arranged in a circular ring shape at regular intervals around the display unit 231 as components of the input device 101. Fig. 10(b) shows a cross-sectional view when the input device 101 included in the display device 201 is cut along the arc-shaped dashed line A-A' in Fig. 10(a).

[0056] As shown in Fig. 10(b), the conductor 110 is installed inside the insulator part 131 so as to face the electrode 121 and not contact the electrode 121. Modification 4 has the same configuration as the above-described embodiment except that the conductor parts 111, 112, and 113 in the above-described embodiment are replaced by the conductor 110 in Modification 4.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 10(b), since the conductor 110 is arranged obliquely inside the insulator part 131, the distance between the surface of the insulator part 131 and the conductor 110 is L1 at the largest part and L2 at the smallest part. Also, the distance between the conductor 110 and the electrode 121 is L3 at the smallest part and L4 at the largest part. Since the electrode 121 exists entirely facing the conductor 110, the capacitance between the conductor 110 and the electrode 121 does not depend on the position of the finger 301.

[0058] On the other hand, the capacitance between the finger 301 and the conductor 110 depends on the position of the finger. The capacitance between the finger 301 and the conductor 110 when the finger 301 moves on the surface of the insulator part 131 is the smallest when the finger 301 is located at point P1 shown in Fig. 10(b) and the largest when the finger 301 is located at point P2.

[0059] Therefore, when the finger 301 moves (slides) clockwise on the insulator portion 131, the capacitance value acquired by the control unit 210 smoothly changes from a large value to a small value as the finger moves (i.e., as time elapses), and then suddenly becomes a large value, and also smoothly changes to a small value. Conversely, when the finger 301 moves (slides) counterclockwise on the insulator portion 131, the capacitance value acquired by the control unit 210 smoothly changes from a small value to a large value as time elapses, and then suddenly becomes a small value, and also smoothly changes to a large value. Therefore, the control unit 210 can acquire in which direction the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 based on the manner of change in magnitude when the capacitance changes.

[0060] Also, as shown in FIG. 10(a), since each of the conductors 110 is installed at the center of a 90-degree arc-shaped region, the control unit 210 can acquire an approximate value of the amount (angle) by which the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 as "90 degrees × the number of times the capacitance has changed suddenly". For example, if the acquired capacitance has changed as "smoothly from a medium value to a small value and then suddenly to a large value", the sudden change in capacitance is from small to large, and the number of sudden changes is 1, so the control unit 210 can determine that "the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 clockwise by approximately 90 degrees". Furthermore, even in the range where the capacitance is changing gently, it is possible to obtain an approximate value of the movement amount (angle) of the finger 301 according to the rate of change.

[0061] (Modification Example 5) As a further modification of Modification Example 4, the display device 202 according to Modification Example 5 in which the shape of the conductor 110 is slightly changed will be described with reference to FIGS. 10(a) and 10(c). Note that Modification Example 5 has the same configuration as Modification Example 4 except for the difference in the shape of the conductor 110. Also, FIG. 10(c) is a cross-sectional view when the input device 102 included in the display device 202 of Modification Example 5 is cut along the arc-shaped dashed line A-A' in FIG. 10(a).

[0062] As shown in Fig. 10(b), the shape of the conductor 110 according to Modification 4 was a plate shape with equal thickness on the left and right. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 10(c), the shape of the conductor 110 according to Modification 5 is such that when viewed from the side direction of the display device 202, the thickness is different on the left and right, and the cross section is trapezoidal.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 10(c), since the conductor 110 according to Modification 5 has different thicknesses on the left and right, the distance between the surface of the insulator portion 131 and the conductor 110 is L1 at the largest part and L2 at the smallest part. Also, the distance between the conductor 110 and the electrode 121 is L3 regardless of the position. Similar to Modification 4, since the electrode 121 exists on the entire surface facing the conductor 110, the capacitance between the conductor 110 and the electrode 121 does not depend on the position of the finger 301.

[0064] On the other hand, similar to Modification 4, the capacitance between the finger 301 and the conductor 110 when the finger 301 moves on the surface of the insulator portion 131 is the smallest when the finger 301 is located at the point P1 shown in Fig. 10(c) and the largest when the finger 301 is located at the point P2. Therefore, similar to Modification 4, the control unit 210 can acquire, based on the way of change in the magnitude when the capacitance changes, in which direction the user has moved (slid) the finger 301 and an approximate value of the amount (angle) by which the user has moved (slid) the finger 301, respectively.

[0065] (Other Modifications) In the above-described embodiments and modifications, as the input devices 100, 101, 102 applicable as the input devices of the wristwatch-type display devices 200, 201, 202, an embodiment in which the electrode 121 exists annularly around the display portion 231 has been described. However, the shape of the electrode 121 is not limited to an annular shape, and may be a linear shape or an arc shape. In this case, the conductor portions 111, 112, 113 and the conductor 110 are also configured in a shape facing the electrode 121 in accordance with the shape of the electrode 121.

[0066] For example, the electrode 121 may exist in an arc shape of 90 degrees from the 12 o'clock direction to the 3 o'clock direction around the display unit 231, and the conductor parts 111, 112, and 113 may also be installed within a range of 90 degrees from the 12 o'clock direction to the 3 o'clock direction around the display unit 231.

[0067] Also, in the above-described embodiments and modifications, the display device has been described as including one input device. However, the number of input devices included in the display device is not limited to one. The display device may include a plurality of input devices. For example, the display device may include three input devices, such as a first input device from the 12 o'clock direction to the 3 o'clock direction of a clock, a second input device from the 4 o'clock direction to the 7 o'clock direction of the clock, and a third input device from the 8 o'clock direction to the 11 o'clock direction of the clock.

[0068] Also, the device including the input device is not limited to a wristwatch-type display device. The input device can be applied to any device as long as it is a device for which some input is to be performed by a finger sliding operation. For example, an electronic dictionary, a music player, a smartphone, a tablet, etc. may be provided with an input device for volume adjustment (e.g., one using a linear electrode) on its side surface or the like. Also, an electronic dictionary, a music player, etc. may be provided with an input device for content selection (e.g., one using an annular electrode) on its front surface or the like. Of course, an electronic dictionary, a music player, etc. may be provided with both of these input devices.

[0069] Note that each function of the display device 200 can also be implemented by a computer such as a normal PC (Personal Computer). Specifically, in the above embodiment, the program such as the slide detection process executed by the display device 200 has been described as being stored in advance in the ROM of the storage unit 220. However, the program may be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), an MO (Magneto-Optical disc), a memory card, or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and a computer that can realize each of the above functions may be configured by reading and installing the program into the computer.

[0070] Furthermore, the program can be superimposed on a carrier wave and applied via a communication medium such as the Internet. For example, the program may be posted and distributed on a bulletin board (BBS: Bulletin Board System) on a communication network. Then, the program may be started and configured to execute the above processing by executing it in the same manner as other application programs under the control of the OS (Operating System).

[0071] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and the present invention includes the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope. The invention described in the original claims of the present application is appended below.

[0072] (Appendix 1) An insulator part, A conductor installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator part, One electrode installed so as not to contact the conductor, Comprising, The conductor has at least a first part and a second part, The conductor is installed such that the distance between the first portion and the surface of the insulator portion is different from the distance between the second portion and the surface of the insulator portion, or the distance between the first portion and the electrode is different from the distance between the second portion and the electrode. Input device.

[0073] (Appendix 2) The first portion and the second portion are provided in plurality periodically in the order in which the second portion is disposed next to the first portion. The input device according to Appendix 1.

[0074] (Appendix 3) The conductor has the first portion and the second portion physically separated from each other. The first portion serves as a first conductor portion, the second portion serves as a second conductor portion, and is installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator portion. The input device according to Appendix 1 or 2.

[0075] (Appendix 4) The conductor has the first portion and the second portion not physically separated from each other. The distance between the first portion and the surface of the insulator portion is different from the distance between the second portion and the surface of the insulator portion. The input device according to Appendix 1 or 2.

[0076] (Appendix 5) Further includes a third conductor portion installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator portion. The third conductor portion is installed such that the distance between the third conductor portion and the surface of the insulator portion is different from both the distance between the first conductor portion and the surface of the insulator portion and the distance between the second conductor portion and the surface of the insulator portion, or the distance between the third conductor portion and the electrode is different from both the distance between the first conductor portion and the electrode and the distance between the second conductor portion and the electrode. The input device according to Appendix 3.

[0077] (Appendix 6) The first conductor part, the second conductor part, and the third conductor part are periodically arranged in a plurality of numbers in such an order that the second conductor part is arranged next to the first conductor part and the third conductor part is arranged next to the second conductor part. The input device according to Supplementary Note 5.

[0078] (Supplementary Note 7) In the direction extending perpendicularly from the surface of the electrode to the surface of the insulator part, the thicknesses of the first conductor part, the second conductor part, and the third conductor part are all different from each other. The input device according to Supplementary Note 5 or 6.

[0079] (Supplementary Note 8) The distances between the first conductor part and the electrode, between the second conductor part and the electrode, and between the third conductor part and the electrode are all different from each other. The input device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 5 to 7.

[0080] (Supplementary Note 9) The distances between the surface of the insulator part and the first conductor part, between the surface of the insulator part and the second conductor part, and between the surface of the insulator part and the third conductor part are all different from each other. The input device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 5 to 8.

[0081] (Supplementary Note 10) In the direction extending perpendicularly from the surface of the electrode to the surface of the insulator part, the thicknesses of the first conductor part, the second conductor part, and the third conductor part are all equal. The distances between the surface of the insulator part and the first conductor part, between the surface of the insulator part and the second conductor part, and between the surface of the insulator part and the third conductor part are all different from each other. The distances between the first conductor part and the electrode, between the second conductor part and the electrode, and between the third conductor part and the electrode are all different from each other. The input device described in Supplementary Note 5.

[0082] (Supplementary Note 11) By providing a step on the surface of the insulator portion, the thickness of the insulator portion at the portion where a straight line extending perpendicularly from the surface of the electrode to the surface of the insulator portion passes through the first conductor portion, the thickness of the insulator portion at the portion where the straight line passes through the second conductor portion, and the thickness of the insulator portion at the portion where the straight line passes through the third conductor portion are all different from each other. The input device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 5 to 10.

[0083] (Supplementary Note 12) Air or resin exists in the space between the electrode and the conductor. The input device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 11.

[0084] (Supplementary Note 13) The input device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 12, a display unit, A display device comprising: The insulator portion is a case that covers the display device, The conductor is installed at a position corresponding to the periphery of the display portion. Display device.

[0085] (Supplementary Note 14) An insulator portion, a conductor installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator portion, and one electrode installed so as not to contact the conductor, the conductor having at least a first portion and a second portion, and the distance between the first portion and the surface of the insulator portion being different from the distance between the second portion and the surface of the insulator portion, or the distance between the first portion and the electrode being different from the distance between the second portion and the electrode. A slide detection method in a device in which the conductor is installed, An acquisition step of acquiring the value of the capacitance detected by the electrode in time series, A detection step of detecting a finger slide on the surface of the insulator part based on the change in the obtained capacitance value A slide detection method including this

[0086] (Appendix 15) An insulator part, a conductor installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator part, and one electrode installed so as not to contact the conductor. The conductor has at least a first part and a second part, and the distance between the first part and the surface of the insulator part is different from the distance between the second part and the surface of the insulator part, or the distance between the first part and the electrode is different from the distance between the second part and the electrode. In a computer of a device in which the conductor is installed An acquisition step of acquiring the capacitance value detected by the electrode over time, and A detection step of detecting a finger slide on the surface of the insulator part based on the change in the obtained capacitance value A program for causing this to be executed

Explanation of Signs

[0087] 100, 101, 102... input devices, 110... conductors, 111, 112, 113... conductor parts, 121... electrodes, 131... insulator parts, 200, 201, 202... display devices, 210... control parts, 220... storage parts, 230... output parts, 231... display parts, 240... input parts, 241... touch panels, 301... fingers, C, Cb, Cc, Cf, Cq... capacitances, Cp... parasitic capacitances, d, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6... intervals, Rb... resistances, P1, P2... points, S... areas, ε... dielectric constants

Claims

1. An insulator portion, a conductor installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator portion, and one electrode installed so as not to contact the conductor, wherein the conductor has at least a first portion and a second portion, and the distance between the first portion and the surface of the insulator portion is different from the distance between the second portion and the surface of the insulator portion, or the distance between the first portion and the electrode is different from the distance between the second portion and the electrode, so that the conductor is installed, and the thickness of the first portion and the thickness of the second portion are different from each other in a direction extending perpendicularly from the surface of the electrode to the surface of the insulator portion, An input device.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the first portion and the second portion are periodically provided in an order in which the second portion is disposed adjacent to the first portion.

3. The input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductor has the first portion and the second portion physically separated from each other, the first portion is used as a first conductor portion, the second portion is used as a second conductor portion, and is installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator portion.

4. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein air or resin exists in a space between the electrode and the conductor.

5. A slide detection method in a device including an insulator portion, a conductor installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator portion, and one electrode installed so as not to contact the conductor, the conductor having at least a first portion and a second portion, and the distance between the first portion and the surface of the insulator portion being different from the distance between the second portion and the surface of the insulator portion, or the distance between the first portion and the electrode being different from the distance between the second portion and the electrode, so that the conductor is installed, and the thickness of the first portion and the thickness of the second portion being different from each other in a direction extending perpendicularly from the surface of the electrode to the surface of the insulator portion, the method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring, in time series, a value of capacitance detected by the electrode; and a detection step of detecting a slide of a finger on the surface of the insulator portion based on a change in the acquired capacitance value.

6. A slide detection method comprising the acquisition step and the detection step.

7.

8.

9.

10. An apparatus comprising an insulator, a conductor installed on the back surface or inside of the insulator, and an electrode installed so as not to contact the conductor, wherein the conductor has at least a first portion and a second portion, and the distance between the first portion and the surface of the insulator is different from the distance between the second portion and the surface of the insulator, or the distance between the first portion and the electrode is different from the distance between the second portion and the electrode, and the thickness of the first portion and the thickness of the second portion in a direction extending perpendicularly from the surface of the electrode to the surface of the insulator are different from each other, to a computer of the apparatus. An acquisition step of acquiring, in time series, the value of the capacitance detected by the electrode, and A detection step of detecting a finger slide on the surface of the insulator based on the change in the acquired capacitance value. A program for causing the above to be executed.

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