Detection device

Abstract

A detection device (1) comprises: a plurality of acquisition units (3a, 3b) that are electrically connected to a detection element (2) for detecting a physical quantity and that acquire the physical quantity from the detection element (2); and a control unit (6) that performs control for switching the electrical connection of the plurality of acquisition units (3a, 3b) to the detection element (2) and that determines that a detection target has been achieved only if the detection target is achieved on the basis of each of the physical quantities acquired through the plurality of acquisition units (3a, 3b).

Description

Detection device CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-031856, filed on March 4, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a detection device.

[0003] A touch sensor switch device is known that includes a touch sensor that detects whether or not there is contact and outputs a detection signal; a differentiation circuit that differentiates the detection signal output from the touch sensor and outputs the differentiated signal; and a determination unit that determines a contact state when the value of the differentiated signal output from the differentiation circuit is equal to or less than a first threshold, determines a non-touch state when the value of the differentiated signal is equal to or greater than a second threshold, and determines a continuation of the previous state when the value of the differentiated signal is higher than the first threshold and lower than the second threshold (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] This touch sensor switch device compares the minimum and maximum values ​​of the differential signal with a first threshold and a second threshold, respectively, thereby accurately detecting the start and end of the contact state, and further determining that the contact state or non-touch state is continuing when neither the start nor the end of the contact state has occurred, thereby making it possible to determine the duration of the contact state.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-150733

[0006] For example, when the touch sensor switch device described in Patent Document 1 is made redundant, it is necessary to make it duplicated, which increases costs.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a detection device that can be provided with redundancy at low cost.

[0008] A detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of acquisition units electrically connected to a detection element that detects a physical quantity and acquires the physical quantity from the detection element, and a control unit that controls switching of the electrical connection of the plurality of acquisition units to the detection element and determines that the detection target has been achieved only when the detection target has been achieved based on each of the physical quantities acquired via the plurality of acquisition units.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a detection device that is low cost and has redundancy.

[0010] FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram showing a detection device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram for explaining multi-layering of detection electrodes in the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing an acquisition pattern for acquiring capacitance in the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram showing an acquisition pattern for acquiring capacitance in the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3C is an explanatory diagram showing an acquisition pattern for acquiring capacitance in the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3D is an explanatory diagram showing an acquisition pattern for acquiring capacitance in the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of a detection electrode pair in the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing another modified example of a detection electrode pair in the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4C is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the arrangement of touch switches in the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4D is an explanatory diagram showing touch switches of different sizes and shapes as modified examples of the touch switches in the detection device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the detection device. Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the detection device according to a second embodiment. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the detection device according to a third embodiment.

[0011] (Summary of the embodiment) A detection device according to the embodiment has a plurality of acquisition units electrically connected to a detection element that detects a physical quantity and acquires the physical quantity from the detection element, and a control unit that controls switching of the electrical connection of the plurality of acquisition units to the detection element and determines that the detection target has been achieved only when the detection target has been achieved based on each of the physical quantities acquired via the plurality of acquisition units.

[0012] This detection device can provide redundancy without duplication, so redundancy can be provided at lower cost than in the case of duplication.

[0013] [First embodiment] (Overview of detection device 1) FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a detection device according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining the multi-layering of detection electrodes. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the detection device according to the first embodiment. Note that in each of the figures according to the embodiments described below, the ratios and shapes between figures may differ from the actual ratios and shapes. Also, in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 6 and 7 described below, arrows indicate the flow of main signals and information.

[0014] The detection device 1 of this embodiment is, for example, electrically connected to an electronic device 8, and controls the electronic device 8. An overview of the detection device 1 will be described below.

[0015] The detection device 1 has detection electrodes arranged in multiple layers, and is configured such that while a certain detection electrode is detecting the capacitance, other overlapping detection electrodes are open.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1A to 2 , the detection device 1 includes a plurality of acquisition units electrically connected to a detection element 2 that detects a physical quantity and acquires the physical quantity from the detection element 2, and a control unit 6 that controls switching of the electrical connection of the plurality of acquisition units to the detection element 2 and determines that the detection target has been achieved only when the detection target has been achieved based on each of the physical quantities acquired via the plurality of acquisition units.

[0017] 2, the multiple acquisition units in this embodiment are a first acquisition unit 3a and a second acquisition unit 3b. The control unit 6 controls switching of the electrical connection of the first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b to the detection element 2, and determines that the detection target has been achieved only when the detection target has been achieved based on each of the physical quantity acquired via the first acquisition unit 3a and the physical quantity acquired via the second acquisition unit 3b.

[0018] The detection device 1 of this embodiment includes a detection element 2 that detects capacitance as a physical quantity using the detection electrodes. The detection target is an operation on the operation object, as shown in FIG. 1B . The detection electrode pairs 20 are divided into a first detection electrode group 2a, one of which is selectively connected to a first acquisition unit 3a, and a second detection electrode group 2b, the other of which is selectively connected to a second acquisition unit 3b. As shown in FIGS. 3A , 3B , 3C , and 3D , the control unit 6 selects a first selected detection electrode 62 from the first detection electrode group 2a and a second selected detection electrode 63 from the second detection electrode group 2b that is not paired with the first selected detection electrode 62, and acquires capacitance from all the detection electrodes. The control unit 6 then determines the operation on each of the operation objects based on the capacitances acquired from all the detection electrodes.

[0019] 1A, the operation targets in this embodiment are the first touch switch 71 to the fourth touch switch 74, which accept touch operations. The first touch switch 71 to the fourth touch switch 74 are aligned in a row at equal intervals.

[0020] The plurality of detection electrodes in this embodiment are the first detection electrode 21 to the eighth detection electrode 28. The plurality of detection electrode pairs 20 are the pair of the first detection electrode 21 and the fifth detection electrode 25, the pair of the second detection electrode 22 and the sixth detection electrode 26, the pair of the third detection electrode 23 and the seventh detection electrode 27, and the pair of the fourth detection electrode 24 and the eighth detection electrode 28.

[0021] In this embodiment, the first detection electrode group 2a includes the first detection electrode 21 to the fourth detection electrode 24. The second detection electrode group 2b includes the fifth detection electrode 25 to the eighth detection electrode 28.

[0022] The operation target is provided on the operation surface 11. As shown in Fig. 1B , the detection electrode pair 20 has an upper layer detection electrode 20a and a lower layer detection electrode 20b that are arranged below the operation surface 11 and face each other via an insulator, and when one of them is electrically connected to the first acquisition unit 3a or the second acquisition unit 3b, the other is open.

[0023] 2A, the insulator in this embodiment is, for example, a film substrate 13. The film substrate 13 is a flexible substrate. The upper-layer detection electrode 20a is disposed on a front surface 130 of the film substrate 13. The lower-layer detection electrode 20b is disposed on a back surface 131 of the film substrate 13.

[0024] The detection element 2 of this embodiment has, as an example, a multi-layer structure consisting of an upper layer detection electrode 20a and a lower layer detection electrode 20b, but is not limited to this and may be configured with more layers. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper layer detection electrodes 20a are the first detection electrode 21 to the fourth detection electrode 24, i.e., the first detection electrode group 2a. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower layer detection electrodes 20b are the fifth detection electrode 25 to the eighth detection electrode 28, i.e., the second detection electrode group 2b.

[0025] The control unit 6 determines that a malfunction has occurred when one of the physical quantities acquired through the multiple acquisition units achieves the detection target while the other does not. Since the detection device 1 of this embodiment has the first acquisition unit 3 a and the second acquisition unit 3 b as the multiple acquisition units, it determines that a malfunction has occurred when one of the first acquisition unit 3 a and the second acquisition unit 3 b achieves the detection target while the other does not.

[0026] 1A and 1B , the detection device 1 has a panel 10 whose front surface serves as an operation surface 11. The detection element 2 is disposed on a rear surface 12 of the panel 10. The panel 10 is formed in a plate shape using a resin material such as polycarbonate, for example.

[0027] The first to fourth touch switches 71 to 74 have designs that indicate areas that accept touch operations formed by printing or the like on the operation surface 11 of the panel 10 .

[0028] 2, the detection device 1 further includes a power supply unit 4 and a communication unit 5. The power supply unit 4 is configured to generate a power supply voltage V to be supplied to the control unit 6 and the like. The communication unit 5 communicates with the electronic device 8, which is the control target of the detection device 1, using a network such as a CAN (Controller Area Network) or a LIN (Local Interconnect Network) that enables the exchange of signals, information, and the like with the electronic device 8.

[0029] (Configuration of Detection Element 2) The detection element 2 has first detection electrodes 21 to eighth detection electrodes 28 that detect touch operations using a self-induction method. The first detection electrodes 21 to eighth detection electrodes 28 are formed in a plate shape using a conductive metal such as silver or aluminum. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first detection electrodes 21 to eighth detection electrodes 28 have the same shape and are arranged so that an image of the lower-layer detection electrode 20b projected onto the upper-layer detection electrode 20a coincides with the upper-layer detection electrode 20a. The first detection electrodes 21 to eighth detection electrodes 28 may be plated with a conductive metal.

[0030] Although the first detection electrodes 21 to the eighth detection electrodes 28 have the same rectangular shape, the shape is not limited to this and may be various shapes depending on the touch switch. Furthermore, the first detection electrodes 21 to the fourth detection electrodes 24 and the fifth detection electrodes 25 to the eighth detection electrodes 28 are arranged in a line at equal intervals, but the shape is not limited to this.

[0031] 2, the first detection electrode 21 to the fourth detection electrode 24 are electrically connected to the first acquisition unit 3a via wiring 29a extending therefrom, and the fifth detection electrode 25 to the eighth detection electrode 28 are electrically connected to the second acquisition unit 3b via wiring 29b extending therefrom.

[0032] The detection electrode pair 20 consisting of the first detection electrode 21 and the fifth detection electrode 25 is arranged to correspond to the first touch switch 71. The detection electrode pair 20 consisting of the second detection electrode 22 and the sixth detection electrode 26 is arranged to correspond to the second touch switch 72. The detection electrode pair 20 consisting of the third detection electrode 23 and the seventh detection electrode 27 is arranged to correspond to the third touch switch 73. The detection electrode pair 20 consisting of the fourth detection electrode 24 and the eighth detection electrode 28 is arranged to correspond to the fourth touch switch 74.

[0033] The second detection electrode group 2b overlaps the first detection electrode group 2a and is disposed in the lower layer.

[0034] (Configuration of First Acquisition Unit 3a and Second Acquisition Unit 3b) The first acquisition unit 3a enables electrical connection of each of the first to fourth detection electrodes 21 to 24 that make up the first detection electrode group 2a. The second acquisition unit 3b enables electrical connection of each of the fifth to eighth detection electrodes 25 to 28 that make up the second detection electrode group 2b.

[0035] The first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b are driven based on a power supply voltage V output from the power supply unit 4. Furthermore, before detecting the capacitance, the first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b charge the detection electrodes electrically connected thereto based on this power supply voltage V.

[0036] The first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b of this embodiment are configured so that the detection electrodes other than the electrically connected detection electrodes are open, in other words, have high impedance.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the first acquisition unit 3a receives the control signal S １ The first acquiring unit 3a switches the connection to the first to fourth detecting electrodes 21 to 24 to acquire the first capacitance C １ ~Fourth capacitance C ４ Then, the first acquisition unit 3a acquires the acquired first capacitance C １ ~Fourth capacitance C ４ First capacitance information S based on ３is output to the control unit 6.

[0038] The second acquisition unit 3b receives the control signal S output from the control unit 6. ２ The second acquiring unit 3b switches the connection to the fifth to eighth detecting electrodes 25 to 28 and acquires the fifth capacitance C ５ ~ Eighth capacitance C ８ Then, the second acquisition unit 3b acquires the acquired fifth capacitance C ５ ~ Eighth capacitance C ８ Second capacitance information S based on ４ is output to the control unit 6.

[0039] (Configuration of control unit 6) The control unit 6 is a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs calculations and processing on acquired data according to a stored program, and semiconductor memories such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The ROM stores, for example, a program for operating the control unit 6. The RAM is used as a storage area for temporarily storing calculation results, for example. The control unit 6 also has a means for generating a clock signal therein and performs capacitance detection based on this clock signal.

[0040] The control unit 6 has an electrostatic threshold value 60. In the case of a self-induction type, the electrostatic capacitance increases due to a touch operation by the operating finger 9. Therefore, the control unit 6 determines that a touch operation has been performed when the electrostatic capacitances acquired from the upper layer detection electrode 20a and the lower layer detection electrode 20b constituting the detection electrode pair 20 corresponding to the touch switch are both equal to or greater than the electrostatic threshold value 60. An example of an acquisition pattern for detecting the electrostatic capacitance will be described below. The control unit 6 may be configured to determine a touch operation by having an electrostatic threshold value 60 that is compared with the increase in the electrostatic capacitance.

[0041] 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are diagrams showing examples of acquisition patterns for acquiring the capacitance of the detection device according to the first embodiment. In each of the diagrams, the first selected detection electrode 62 is indicated by diagonal lines slanting upward to the left, and the second selected detection electrode 63 is indicated by diagonal lines slanting upward to the right.

[0042] For example, the control unit 6 has pattern information 61 and selects detection electrodes for acquiring capacitance based on the pattern information 61. Note that the control unit 6 switches the detection electrodes at equal timing, but this is not limited to this, and the timing may be changed depending on the shape or size of the detection electrode.

[0043] The first touch switch 71 to the fourth touch switch 74 are arranged side by side as shown in Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. Therefore, if the detection device 1 acquires capacitances from adjacent detection electrodes at the same time, there is a possibility of erroneous determination. Therefore, the control unit 6 acquires capacitances from selected detection electrodes that are not adjacent to each other and are selected from the first detection electrode group 2a in the upper layer and the second detection electrode group 2b in the lower layer.

[0044] The first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b receive, as an example, a control signal S １ and control signal S ２ When this signal is input, the first selected detection electrode 62 and the second selected detection electrode 63 are charged and the other detection electrodes are opened. After the capacitance is acquired, the first selected detection electrode 62 and the second selected detection electrode 63 are connected to GND to remove the charge.

[0045] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the control unit 6 outputs a control signal S to the first acquisition unit 3 a based on the pattern information 61. １ and outputs a control signal S ２ Output.

[0046] The first acquisition unit 3a receives the control signal S １ Based on this, the first detection electrode 21 of the first touch switch 71 is set as the first selected detection electrode 62, and the first capacitance C １ is obtained, and the first detection electrode 21 and the first capacitance C１ First capacitance information S ３ is output to the control unit 6.

[0047] The second acquisition unit 3b also acquires the control signal S ２ Based on this, the seventh detection electrode 27 of the third touch switch 73 is set as the second selected detection electrode 63, and the seventh capacitance C ７ and the seventh detection electrode 27 and the seventh capacitance C ７ Second capacitance information S ４ is output to the control unit 6.

[0048] The first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b receive the control signal S １ and control signal S ２ Based on this, the first detection electrode 21 and the seventh detection electrode 27 are electrically connected, and the other detection electrodes are opened.

[0049] Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 6 outputs a control signal S to the first acquisition unit 3a based on the pattern information 61. １ and outputs a control signal S ２ Output.

[0050] The first acquisition unit 3a receives the control signal S １ Based on this, the second detection electrode 22 of the second touch switch 72 is set as the first selected detection electrode 62, and the second capacitance C ２ and the second detection electrode 22 and the second capacitance C ２ First capacitance information S ３ is output to the control unit 6.

[0051] The second acquisition unit 3b also acquires the control signal S ２ Based on this, the eighth detection electrode 28 of the fourth touch switch 74 is set as the second selected detection electrode 63, and the eighth capacitance C ８ and the eighth detection electrode 28 and the eighth capacitance C ８ Second capacitance information S ４ is output to the control unit 6.

[0052] The first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b receive the control signal S １ and control signal S ２Based on this, the second detection electrode 22 and the eighth detection electrode 28 are electrically connected, and the other detection electrodes are opened.

[0053] Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the control unit 6 outputs a control signal S to the first acquisition unit 3a based on the pattern information 61. １ and outputs a control signal S ２ Output.

[0054] The first acquisition unit 3a receives the control signal S １ Based on this, the third detection electrode 23 of the third touch switch 73 is set as the first selected detection electrode 62, and the third capacitance C ３ and the third detection electrode 23 and the third capacitance C ３ First capacitance information S ３ is output to the control unit 6.

[0055] The second acquisition unit 3b also acquires the control signal S ２ Based on this, the fifth detection electrode 25 of the first touch switch 71 is set as the second selected detection electrode 63, and the second capacitance C ５ and the fifth detection electrode 25 and the second capacitance C ５ Second capacitance information S ４ is output to the control unit 6.

[0056] The first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b receive the control signal S １ and control signal S ２ Based on this, the third detection electrode 23 and the fifth detection electrode 25 are electrically connected, and the other detection electrodes are opened.

[0057] Next, as shown in FIG. 3D, the control unit 6 outputs a control signal S to the first acquisition unit 3 a based on the pattern information 61. １ and outputs a control signal S ２ Output.

[0058] The first acquisition unit 3a receives the control signal S １ Based on this, the fourth detection electrode 24 of the fourth touch switch 74 is set as the first selected detection electrode 62, and the fourth capacitance C ４ and the fourth detection electrode 24 and the seventh capacitance C ４First capacitance information S ３ is output to the control unit 6.

[0059] The second acquisition unit 3b also acquires the control signal S ２ Based on this, the sixth detection electrode 26 of the second touch switch 72 is set as the second selected detection electrode 63, and the fourth capacitance C ６ and the fourth detection electrode 26 and the fourth capacitance C ６ Second capacitance information S ４ is output to the control unit 6.

[0060] The first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b receive the control signal S １ and control signal S ２ Based on this, the fourth detection electrode 24 and the sixth detection electrode 26 are electrically connected, and the other detection electrodes are opened.

[0061] The control unit 6 calculates the first capacitance C １ ~ 8th capacitance C ８ When the touch operation signal is acquired, it is determined whether any of the first touch switch 71 to the fourth touch switch 74 has been touched.

[0062] The control unit 6 determines the first capacitance C １ and a fifth capacitance C ５ is compared with the electrostatic threshold 60, and the first capacitance C １ and a fifth capacitance C ５ If each of these is equal to or greater than the electrostatic threshold value 60, it is determined that the first touch switch 71 has been touched.

[0063] The control unit 6 determines the second capacitance C ２ and a sixth capacitance C ６ is compared with the electrostatic threshold 60, and the second capacitance C ２ and a sixth capacitance C ６ If each of these is equal to or greater than the electrostatic threshold value 60, it is determined that the second touch switch 72 has been touched.

[0064] The control unit 6 determines the third capacitance C ３ and the seventh capacitance C ７ is compared with the electrostatic threshold 60, and the third capacitance C ３ and the seventh capacitance C７ If each of these values ​​is equal to or greater than the electrostatic threshold value 60, it is determined that the third touch switch 73 has been touched.

[0065] The control unit 6 determines the fourth capacitance C ４ and an eighth capacitance C ８ is compared with the electrostatic threshold 60, and the fourth capacitance C ４ and an eighth capacitance C ８ If each of these values ​​is equal to or greater than the electrostatic threshold value 60, it is determined that the fourth touch switch 74 has been touched.

[0066] When a touch operation is detected, the control unit 6 outputs operation information S including information on the touch switch on which the touch operation is detected. ５ is output to the electronic device 8 via the communication unit 5.

[0067] The pattern for acquiring capacitance is not limited to the above example. For example, the control unit 6 may change the detection order in Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. The control unit 6 may also change the combination of the first selected detection electrodes 62 and the second selected detection electrodes 63 in Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D so that they are not adjacent to each other.

[0068] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of a detection electrode pair according to a modification, Fig. 4C is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a touch switch, and Fig. 4D is a diagram showing an example of a touch switch of a different size and shape. In Fig. 4C and Fig. 4D, as an example, a multilayered detection electrode pair 20 similar to that of the above-described touch switch is arranged below.

[0069] The operation target is provided on the operation surface 11. This operation target is the above-mentioned touch switch. The detection electrode pair 20 has an upper layer detection electrode 20a and a lower layer detection electrode 20b arranged below the operation surface 11 and facing each other with an insulator interposed therebetween, and when one is electrically connected to the first acquisition unit 3a or the second acquisition unit 3b, the other is electrically connected to GND (ground), and the lower layer detection electrode 20b may be configured so that a portion of the lower layer detection electrode 20b does not overlap with the upper layer detection electrode 20a when viewed from the operation surface 11.

[0070] 4A has a shape in which the lower-layer detection electrode 20b is larger than the upper-layer detection electrode 20a. In this detection electrode pair 20, even if the upper-layer detection electrode 20a is connected to GND, a part of the lower-layer detection electrode 20b is located outside the upper-layer detection electrode 20a, so that the capacitance between the detection electrode pair 20 and the operating finger 9 can be detected.

[0071] 4B shows an example of another modified example of the detection electrode pair 20. In this detection electrode pair 20, the upper layer detection electrode 20a has an opening 200. A portion of the lower layer detection electrode 20b is located in the opening 200. Even if the upper layer detection electrode 20a is connected to GND, the detection electrode pair 20 can detect the capacitance between the operation finger 9 because a portion of the lower layer detection electrode 20b is located in the opening 200.

[0072] In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the other detection electrode is connected to GND, so the influence of external noise can be suppressed compared to when this configuration is not adopted.

[0073] The first touch switch 71 to the fourth touch switch 74 shown in Figure 4C are arranged at the vertices of a cross so that the first touch switch 71 faces the third touch switch 73 and the second touch switch 72 faces the fourth touch switch 74.

[0074] For example, the control unit 6 performs control so as to electrically connect the first detection electrode 21 of the first touch switch 71 to the first acquisition unit 3a and electrically connect the seventh detection electrode 27 of the third touch switch 73 to the second acquisition unit 3b. At this time, the detection electrodes other than the first detection electrode 21 and the seventh detection electrode 27 are open.

[0075] Next, the control unit 6 performs control so as to electrically connect the third detection electrode 23 of the second touch switch 72 to the first acquisition unit 3a and electrically connect the eighth detection electrode 28 of the fourth touch switch 74 to the second acquisition unit 3b, for example. At this time, the detection electrodes other than the third detection electrode 23 and the eighth detection electrode 28 are left open.

[0076] As described above, the control unit 6 switches the electrical connection between the first acquisition unit 3a and the first detection electrode group 2a and the electrical connection between the second acquisition unit 3b and the second detection electrode group 2b to obtain the first capacitance C １ ~ Eighth capacitance C ８ and determine whether the touch operation was performed.

[0077] The first to fifth touch switches 71 to 75 shown in FIG. 4D are different in size and shape.

[0078] As in the above-described acquisition pattern, the control unit 6 acquires the capacitance by combining the first detection electrode group 2a and the second detection electrode group 2b of the touch switch that are separated from each other, and determines the touch operation.

[0079] An example of the operation of the detection device 1 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0080] (Operation) The control unit 6 of the detection device 1 transmits a control signal S to the first acquisition unit 3a based on the pattern information 61. １ , and the control signal S ２ , and switches the detection electrodes connected to the first acquisition unit 3 a and the second acquisition unit 3 b to obtain the first capacitance C １ ~ Eighth capacitance C ８ is obtained (Step 1).

[0081] The control unit 6 determines the electrostatic threshold value 60 and the first electrostatic capacitance C １ ~ Eighth capacitance C ８ If there is a detection electrode pair 20 in which the electrostatic capacitance of each of the upper layer detection electrode 20 a and the lower layer detection electrode 20 b is equal to or greater than the electrostatic threshold value 60, the control unit 6 determines that a touch operation has been performed on the touch switch corresponding to this detection electrode pair 20 (Step 2: Yes).

[0082] The control unit 6 receives operation information S including information on the touch switch on which the touch operation is detected. ５ is output to the electronic device 8 via the communication unit 5 (Step 3).

[0083] Here, in step 2, if a touch operation is not determined (Step 2: No) and there is a detection electrode pair 20 in which one detection electrode detects a touch operation and the other does not detect a touch operation (Step 4: Yes), the control unit 6 outputs the malfunction information S indicating that a malfunction has occurred. ６ is output to the electronic device 8 via the communication unit 5 (Step 5).

[0084] Furthermore, in step 4, if there is no detection electrode pair 20 in which one detection electrode detects a touch operation and the other does not detect a touch operation (Step 4: No), the control unit 6 proceeds to step 1.

[0085] (Effects of the First Embodiment) The detection device 1 according to the present embodiment can provide redundancy at low cost. Specifically, the detection device 1 can provide redundancy without duplicating the detection element 2, the control unit 6, electronic components such as connectors for connecting to the detection element 2, and the wiring pattern of the board on which these are arranged. Therefore, redundancy can be provided at low cost compared to the case of duplication.

[0086] The detection device 1 does not determine a touch operation unless one detection electrode and the other detection electrode that make up the detection electrode pair 20 each detect a touch operation, so compared to when this configuration is not adopted, the detection accuracy of the touch operation is improved and it is possible to detect the occurrence of a malfunction.

[0087] The detection device 1 acquires capacitance from one of the detection electrodes 20 while the other is open, so that the influence of the other detection electrode while acquiring capacitance is suppressed compared to when this configuration is not adopted, and capacitance can be detected with high accuracy.

[0088] In the detection device 1, the wiring 29a and wiring 29b connecting the first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b to the detection electrodes are preferably as thin as possible because they detect capacitance. Furthermore, as the number of detection electrodes increases, the width of the wiring 29a and wiring 29b must be narrowed, which makes them more susceptible to problems such as breakage and makes them difficult to use in applications requiring reliability. However, the detection device 1 of this embodiment has redundancy, so it is possible to detect problems earlier than in a case without redundancy, making it easier to use in applications requiring reliability.

[0089] The detection device 1 controls the first selected detection electrode 62, which is the upper layer detection electrode 20a, to be connected to the first acquisition unit 3a, and the second selected detection electrode 63, which is the lower layer detection electrode 20b and does not form a detection electrode pair 20 with the first selected detection electrode 62, to be connected to the second acquisition unit 3b, so that the upper layer detection electrode 20a does not hinder the acquisition of the capacitance of the lower layer detection electrode 20b, compared to when this configuration is not adopted.

[0090] The detection device 1 detects capacitance using a plurality of acquisition units, and therefore, the detection speed for one cycle of acquiring capacitance can be increased compared to when there is only one acquisition unit.

[0091] The detection device 1 leaves the detection electrodes other than those connected to the first acquisition unit 3a and the second acquisition unit 3b open, so that the acquisition of capacitance by the unconnected detection electrodes is not hindered compared to when they are not open, thereby improving detection accuracy.

[0092] Second Embodiment The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a plurality of acquisition units are connected to one detection element.

[0093] 6 is an example of a block diagram of a detection device according to the second embodiment. In the embodiments described below, parts having the same functions and configurations as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 6 , the detection device 1 has a plurality of acquisition units that are electrically connected to a detection element 2 that detects physical quantities and acquire the physical quantities from the detection element 2, and a control unit 6 that controls switching of the electrical connections of the plurality of acquisition units to the detection element 2 and determines that the detection target has been achieved only when the detection target has been achieved based on each of the physical quantities acquired via the plurality of acquisition units.

[0095] The detection element 2 of this embodiment is, for example, a sensor that detects physical quantities such as a distance sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, current sensor, voltage sensor, magnetic sensor, rotation sensor, or touch sensor. The physical quantity that a distance sensor detects is the distance to an object. The physical quantity that a pressure sensor detects is added pressure. The physical quantity that a temperature sensor detects is temperature. The physical quantity that a humidity sensor detects is humidity. The physical quantity that a current sensor detects is current. The physical quantity that a voltage sensor detects is voltage. The physical quantity that a magnetic sensor detects is a magnetic field. The physical quantity that a rotation sensor detects is a rotation angle.

[0096] The acquisition units in this embodiment are, for example, a first acquisition unit 3 a and a second acquisition unit 3 b , each of which is electrically connected to the detection element 2 .

[0097] The control unit 6 of the detection device 1 opens the second acquisition unit 3b and electrically connects the first acquisition unit 3a and the detection element 2 to obtain the detected value S as a physical quantity. ａ Next, the control unit 6 opens the first acquisition unit 3a and electrically connects the second acquisition unit 3b to the detection element 2 to acquire the detected value S as a physical quantity. ｂ Get.

[0098] The control unit 6 detects the acquired detection value S ａ and the detected value S ｂ and a threshold value 64, and determines that the detection target has been achieved only if each detection target has been achieved. Furthermore, if one detection target has been achieved and the other has not, the control unit 6 determines that a malfunction has occurred.

[0099] For example, when the detection element 2 is configured with one detection electrode for detecting a touch operation, the second acquisition unit 3b is opened and the first acquisition unit 3a and the detection element 2 are electrically connected to obtain the detection value S ａ Next, the control unit 6 opens the first acquisition unit 3a and electrically connects the second acquisition unit 3b to the detection element 2 to obtain the detected value S ｂ Get.

[0100] The control unit 6 detects the acquired detection value S ａ and the detected value S ｂ and threshold value 64, and if each is equal to or greater than threshold value 64 and a touch operation is detected, the control unit 6 determines that a touch operation has been performed. Furthermore, if one detects a touch operation and the other does not, the control unit 6 determines that a malfunction has occurred. Note that if the detection target is not a touch operation determined from a physical quantity, but a physical quantity itself such as distance, the control unit 6 has, for example, information regarding an allowable range for the difference in the acquired physical quantities, and if the difference between the physical quantities acquired by the multiple acquisition units is within an allowable range, the control unit 6 determines that the physical quantities have been acquired normally. Furthermore, if the difference is not within the allowable range, the control unit 6 determines that a malfunction has occurred.

[0101] (Effects of the Second Embodiment) The detection device 1 of this embodiment can be made redundant without making the detection elements 2 redundant, which reduces costs compared to a case where this configuration is not adopted. Furthermore, the detection device 1 can be made redundant without making the detection elements 2 redundant, which makes it possible to make a wider variety of detection elements 2 redundant compared to a case where the detection elements are made redundant.

[0102] In the detection device 1, while one acquisition unit is acquiring a physical quantity, the other acquisition unit is open, so that even if the detection element 2 is shared, physical quantities can be acquired with high accuracy compared to when this configuration is not adopted.

[0103] [Third Embodiment] The third embodiment differs from the other embodiments in that it has three acquisition units.

[0104] 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a detection device according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 7, the configuration of a part of the detection device 1 is illustrated.

[0105] 7, the detection element 2 of this embodiment includes a first detection electrode group 2a in the upper layer, a second detection electrode group 2b in the middle layer, and a third detection electrode group 2c in the lower layer. That is, the detection element 2 has a three-layer structure. Note that the detection device 1 may be configured such that the detection element 2 further has a multi-layer structure and includes a plurality of acquisition units corresponding to this multi-layer structure.

[0106] The first detection electrode group 2a is electrically connected to the first acquisition unit 3a. The first acquisition unit 3a receives a control signal S １１ The capacitance C from the selected detection electrode selected based on ａ The first acquisition unit 3a acquires the acquired capacitance C ａ Based on the first capacitance information S ２１ and outputs it to the control unit 6.

[0107] The second detection electrode group 2b is electrically connected to the second acquisition unit 3b. The second acquisition unit 3b receives the control signal S １２ The capacitance C from the selected detection electrode selected based on ｂ The second acquisition unit 3b acquires the acquired capacitance C ｂ Based on this, the second capacitance information S ２２ and outputs it to the control unit 6.

[0108] The third detection electrode group 2c is electrically connected to a third acquisition unit 3c. The third acquisition unit 3c receives a control signal S １３ The capacitance C from the selected detection electrode selected based on ｃ The third acquisition unit 3c acquires the acquired capacitance C ｃ Based on this, the third capacitance information S ２３ and outputs it to the control unit 6.

[0109] The control unit 6 selects the selected detection electrodes from the first detection electrode group 2a to the third detection electrode group 2c based on the pattern information 61 so that they do not overlap, and determines a touch operation based on the obtained capacitances of all the detection electrodes and the electrostatic threshold value 60. As in the above-described embodiment, when a touch operation is detected by all of the overlapping detection electrodes, the control unit 6 determines that a touch operation has been performed on the touch switch corresponding to those detection electrodes. Furthermore, when some of the overlapping detection electrodes detect a touch operation and at least one detection electrode does not detect a touch operation, the control unit 6 determines that a malfunction has occurred.

[0110] (Effects of the Third Embodiment) The detection device 1 of this embodiment can provide redundancy at low cost even when the detection electrodes are multi-layered.

[0111] According to at least one of the above-described embodiments of the detection device 1, redundancy can be provided at low cost.

[0112] The detection device 1 according to the above-described embodiment and modified examples may be partially realized by a program executed by a computer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like, depending on the application.

[0113] Although several embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and modifications are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claimed invention. These novel embodiments and modifications can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc. can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, these embodiments and modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims.

[0114] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Detector 2 Detector element 2a to 2c First to third detection electrode groups 3a to 3c First acquisition unit to third acquisition unit 6 Control unit 8 Electronic device 11 Operation surface 20 Detection electrode pair 20a Upper layer detection electrode 20b Lower layer detection electrode 21 to 28 First to eighth detection electrodes 60 Electrostatic threshold 61 Pattern information 62 First selected detection electrode 63 Second selected detection electrode 71 to 75 First to fifth touch switches

Claims

1. A detection device comprising: a plurality of acquisition units electrically connected to a detection element that detects a physical quantity and acquires the physical quantity from the detection element; and a control unit that controls switching of the electrical connections of the plurality of acquisition units to the detection element, and determines that the detection target has been achieved only when the detection target has been achieved based on each of the physical quantities acquired via the plurality of acquisition units.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of acquisition units are a first acquisition unit and a second acquisition unit, and the control unit controls switching of the electrical connection of the first acquisition unit and the second acquisition unit to the detection element, and determines that the detection target has been achieved only when the detection target has been achieved based on each of the physical quantity acquired via the first acquisition unit and the physical quantity acquired via the second acquisition unit.

3. The detection device according to claim 2, comprising the detection element having a plurality of detection electrode pairs each composed of a plurality of detection electrodes and provided corresponding to a plurality of operation objects, detecting capacitance as the physical quantity using the detection electrodes, wherein the detection target is an operation on the operation object, the detection electrode pairs are divided into a first detection electrode group, one of which is selectively connected to the first acquisition unit, and a second detection electrode group, the other of which is selectively connected to the second acquisition unit, and wherein the control unit performs control on all of the detection electrodes to select a first selected detection electrode from the first detection electrode group and select a second selected detection electrode from the second detection electrode group that is not paired with the first selected detection electrode to acquire the capacitance, and determines the operation on each of the plurality of operation objects based on the capacitance obtained from all of the detection electrodes.

4. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit has an electrostatic threshold value, and determines that an operation has been performed when the electrostatic capacitances acquired from the plurality of detection electrodes constituting the detection electrode pair are all equal to or greater than the electrostatic threshold value.

5. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit has pattern information and selects the first selected detection electrodes and the second selected detection electrodes based on the pattern information.

6. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the operation target is provided on an operation surface, and the detection electrode pair has an upper layer detection electrode and a lower layer detection electrode arranged below the operation surface and facing each other via an insulator, and when one is electrically connected to the first acquisition unit or the second acquisition unit, the other is released.

7. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the operation target is provided on an operation surface, the detection electrode pair has an upper layer detection electrode and a lower layer detection electrode arranged below the operation surface and facing each other via an insulator, one of which is electrically connected to the first acquisition unit or the second acquisition unit and the other is electrically connected to GND (ground), and a part of the lower layer detection electrode does not overlap with the upper layer detection electrode when viewed from the operation surface.

8. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the operation object is provided on an operation surface, the detection electrode pair has an upper layer detection electrode and a lower layer detection electrode arranged below the operation surface and facing each other via an insulator, one of which is electrically connected to the first acquisition unit or the second acquisition unit and the other is electrically connected to GND (ground), and the other of the upper layer detection electrode and the lower layer detection electrode has an opening, so that a part of one is located in the opening.

9. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of detection electrodes are different in size and shape.

10. The detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control unit determines that a malfunction has occurred when some of the physical quantities acquired through the multiple acquisition units achieve the detection target and at least one acquisition unit does not achieve the detection target.

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