KR101000540B1 - Input device for portable device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention integrates a dome switch structure for generating an input signal by an electrical contact of an electrode and a pressure sensor structure for generating an input signal by a change in capacitance according to pressure, thereby greatly improving the character input method. It relates to an input device. The input device 1 for a portable device according to the present invention has a structure in which an elastic layer 12 having a predetermined thickness d is stacked between upper and lower pole plates 11 spaced apart by a predetermined distance d. The distance between the pole plates 11 is resiliently changed by the applied pressure, corresponding to the position and magnitude of the pressure applied from the capacitance change between the pole plates 11 according to the change of the distance d. A first input unit 10 of a pressure sensor method for generating an input signal; And a second input unit 20 of a dome switch type stacked on the upper side or the lower side of the first input unit 10 and generating a corresponding input signal while the upper and lower electrodes 21 are electrically connected resiliently by a pressure applied from the outside. ); It includes. The first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor method and the second input unit 20 of the dome switch method have different magnitudes of pressure for generating the input signal, and two inputs assigned to the respective input keys 2. With respect to characters, first input characters are input by the first input unit 10 and second input characters are input by the second input unit 20.

Description

Input device for mobile device

The present invention relates to an input device for a portable device, and more particularly, by integrating a dome switch structure for generating an input signal by electrical contact of an electrode and a pressure sensor structure for generating an input signal by capacitance change according to pressure. In addition, the present invention relates to an input device for a portable device, in which the character input method is very conveniently improved.

Various portable devices such as mobile phones, MP3, PDAs, PMPs, portable game machines, and DMB receivers are equipped with predetermined input devices for inputting data such as operation and text. As an input element of such an input device for a portable device, a dome switch has been most widely used.

4 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a dome switch applied to a conventional portable input device, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an input character arrangement of a keypad of a conventional input device applied to a mobile phone.

As shown in the drawing, the dome switch 100 of the conventional input device includes an arc-shaped electrode 120 and an arc-shaped electrode (120) disposed at a position corresponding to the input key 101 on the substrate 110 and the substrate 110. The upper portion of the linear electrode 130 is disposed inside the 120 and is not electrically connected to the arc-shaped electrode 120, and both ends thereof are in electrical contact with the arc-shaped electrode 120. It is a structure including the dome-shaped electrode 140 arrange | positioned transversely. These electrodes 120, 130, 140 are fixed in position by the spacer 150, the adhesive film 160, and the like.

The dome switch 100 having such a structure is arranged in a matrix matrix as illustrated in FIG. 4 by the number corresponding to the input keys 101 required for the input device (keypad). When pressurized, the dome-shaped electrode 140 is pressed and electrically contacted with the linear electrode 130 to be connected. Thus, a process of inputting contents corresponding to the dome switch by a predetermined input device circuit and a loaded program is executed.

In recent years, capacitive input devices (also referred to as pressure sensors) have been introduced in place of the dome switch method in accordance with the trend of diversification and miniaturization of functions of portable devices represented by mobile phones.

The present inventor has proposed an input device (Dec. 22, 2006) of a portable electronic device such as Patent Registration No. 10-661000 as a capacitive input device, and the input device is provided between upper and lower pole plates spaced a certain distance apart. A structure that mediates an elastic layer whose thickness is elastically resiliently changed by an external force, wherein the input signal is changed from a change in thickness (distance between the electrode plates) of the elastic layer and a change in capacitance according to the applied pressure. Input device for generating.

However, conventional input devices employing a dome switch or a pressure sensor as an input element of a portable device have a problem in that too many button operations are required to input text data.

For example, in order to input the letter "k" by pressing the input key 101 in the input device (keypad) of the mobile phone illustrated in Fig. 4, ① input key "a" by pressing the input key "1", ② Press the enter key "*" again to input the "ㄱ", "격", ③ and finally press the enter key "0" to enter the vowel "ㅡ", so you must press a total of three input keys There is inconvenience.

An object of the present invention is to improve the character input efficiency of the input device by reducing the number of key input required for character input by integrating the dome switch and the pressure sensor in building the input device for a portable device.

According to the present invention, an input device for a portable device is provided.

The input device for a portable device according to the present invention, the first input part of the pressure sensor method and the second input part of the dome switch method are stacked up and down.

The first input unit of the pressure sensor type has a structure in which an elastic layer having a predetermined thickness is laminated between upper and lower pole plates spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and the distance between the pole plates is restorably variable by pressure applied from the outside. A corresponding input signal is generated according to the position and magnitude of the pressure applied from the capacitance change between the pole plates according to the change of the distance.

The dome switch type second input unit is stacked on the upper side or the lower side of the first input unit, and the upper and lower electrodes are electrically connected resiliently by a pressure applied from the outside, thereby generating a corresponding input signal.

In the input device according to the present invention, the pressure input of the pressure sensor type first input unit and the dome switch type second input unit to generate the input signal is different from each other, two input characters assigned to each input key In contrast, a first input character is input by the first input unit, and a second input character is input by the second input unit.

Preferably, in the input device according to the present invention, a first input part of the pressure sensor method is stacked on the second input part of the dome switch method, and a display panel on which input contents are displayed is stacked on the first input part. Substrates are stacked below the second input unit.

Preferably, in the input device according to the present invention, when the external pressure required to electrically connect the electrode of the second input part of the dome switch method is referred to as the reference pressure, the first input part of the pressure sensor method is used as the reference pressure. The input signal is generated when a pressure below the pressure is applied, and the input signal is not generated when a pressure above the reference pressure is applied.

The input device for a portable device according to the present invention is an input device in which a pressure sensor type first input part and a dome switch type second input part are stacked in a vertical direction and combined, and each of the pressure sensor type first input part and the dome switch type 2 The input unit sets the magnitude of the pressure to generate the input signal differently, and for the two input characters assigned to each input key, the first input character is input by the first input unit, and the second input character According to the configuration to be input by the second input unit, there is an effect of improving the character input efficiency of the input device by reducing the number of key input required to input the characters of the Hangul.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail the input device for a portable device according to the present invention. The following specific examples merely illustrate the input device for a portable device according to the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

1 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary portable device input device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of another exemplary portable device input device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a portable device to which the input device of the present invention is applied. An exemplary input character sequence schematic of the device keypad.

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, in the portable device input device 1 according to the present invention, a pressure sensor type first input unit 10 and a dome switch type second input unit 20 are stacked up and down. Has a structure.

In general, a portable device such as a mobile phone is provided with an input device in which a plurality of input keys 2 are arranged in a matrix matrix, as shown in FIG. For ease of operation, not all the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 20 corresponding to all the input keys, but the first input unit 10 and the second input unit corresponding to one input key 2 are shown. Only the input unit 20 is shown briefly.

The first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor type is a capacitive input means as described in the above-mentioned patent registration No. 10-661000, etc., and as is widely known, the upper and lower pole plates 11 spaced a certain distance d from each other. It has a basic structure in which the elastic layer 12 having a predetermined thickness d is stacked between them.

When pressure is applied to the first input unit 10 such as pressing with a finger (not required to be a conductor), the distance d between the upper and lower pole plates 11 is resiliently variable by the action of the elastic layer 12, The change of the distance d causes a change in the capacitance between the upper and lower pole plates 11, where the magnitude of the change in capacitance depends on the magnitude of the change in the distance d according to the applied pressure. Depending on the magnitude of the pressure applied and its position, a corresponding predetermined input signal is generated.

That is, when pressure is applied to the first input unit 10, the distance d between the upper and lower pole plates 11 is variable (reduced) resiliently, and C = μA / at the corresponding position according to the change of the distance d. The capacitance change corresponding to d (here, C is the capacitance, μ is the dielectric constant, A is the area, and d is the distance between the pole plates) occurs, where the change in capacitance varies depending on the magnitude of the pressing pressure.

The specific configuration and operation of the first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor type having such characteristics are not directly related to the features of the present invention, and the techniques well known in the related art may be applied to the present invention. Description is omitted.

The dome switch type second input unit 20 is stacked on the upper side or the lower side of the pressure sensor type first input unit 10, and the upper and lower electrodes 21, 21a, 21b are electrically connected to each other in a resilient manner by an external force. A well known structure of a dome switch that produces a corresponding input signal.

The specific configuration and operation of the dome switch itself is not directly related to the features of the present invention, and a technique well known in the related art may be applied to the present invention, and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Contents that can be input by the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 20 constituting the input device 1 of the present invention, the electrode plate of the pole plate of the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 20 It is obvious that the arrangement (matrix arrangement of input keys) and the like can be appropriately selected according to the type and function of the portable apparatus to which the input device 1 of the present invention is applied.

1 and 2, the first sensor 10 of the pressure sensor method is stacked on the second input unit 20 of the dome switch method, and the input device 1 according to the present invention is located below the second input unit 20. A substrate 30 on which a circuit for controlling the operation of the circuit board is mounted is disposed, and on the first input unit 10, input contents which can be input by the input device 1 according to the present invention are displayed and directly by a finger or the like. The display panel 40 to which pressure is applied is stacked. In this case, the vertical stacking positions of the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 20 may be reversed.

2 shows that the first input portion 10 at a position corresponding to the protruding portion of the dome-shaped electrode 21a of the second input portion 20 is concave so that the dome-shaped electrode 21a is formed at the concave portion of the first input portion 10. By receiving it, the stack thickness of the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 20 is reduced and the stackability is improved.

1 and 2 illustrate that the first input unit 10 is directly stacked on the second input unit 20, a predetermined insulation means is provided between the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 20. Naturally, it is prevented that the electrode plate 11 and the electrode 21 are electrically connected to each other.

According to a feature of the invention, the pressure sensor type first input unit 10 and the dome switch type second input unit 20 are set differently in magnitude of the pressure generating the input signal. For the two input characters (data) assigned to each input key 2, the first input character is input by the first input unit 10, and the second input character is input by the second input unit 20. Is entered.

As described above, since the first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor method may generate different input signals based on the capacitance change amount that varies differently according to the applied pressure, a circuit for generating an input signal is constructed. In this case, when a pressure below a certain reference pressure is applied, a specific input signal is generated, but when a pressure above the reference pressure is applied, another input signal may be generated or may not be generated. When applied, it does not generate an input signal, but may be set to generate an input signal when a pressure exceeding the reference pressure is applied.

That is, the first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor method may not only determine whether to generate an input signal according to the strength or weakness of the pressure, but also allow different input signals to be generated. The circuit of the input device 1 and the program can be realized by comparing the capacitance change corresponding to the capacitance change amount measured by the applied pressure with each other and generating a predetermined input signal corresponding to the comparison result.

By utilizing the characteristics of the first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor system, the input device 1 of the present invention includes the first sensor unit 10 of the pressure sensor system and the second input unit 20 of the dome switch system. Set different pressure levels to generate the input signal.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 as an example, the second input unit 20 of the dome switch type is the minimum pressure (electrical contact required for generating an input signal due to the elasticity of the used domed electrode 21a). The minimum pressure necessary to achieve the pressure) is determined, and the pressure required for generating the input signal of the second input unit 20 is set as the reference pressure, and the first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor method is a pressure less than the reference pressure. An input signal is generated when this is applied, but a circuit is constructed so that an input signal is not generated when a pressure above the reference pressure is applied.

As a result, when the display panel 40 of the input device 1 according to the present invention is pressed lighter than the reference pressure, the first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor method operates to generate an input signal, but the applied pressure is applied to the reference pressure. Since the second input unit 20 does not come in contact with the electrode 21 due to insufficient pressure, an input signal is not generated.

On the other hand, when the display panel 40 of the input device 1 is pressed strongly above the reference pressure, the pressure sensor type first input unit 10 does not generate an input signal, but the second input unit 20 has a reference pressure or more. Pressure is applied to contact the electrodes 21 to generate an input signal.

As described above, in the input device 1 according to the present invention, any one of the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 20 selectively acts on the input signal according to the magnitude of the pressure pressing the display panel 40. Since it is possible to generate, for the two input characters assigned to each input key 2, the first input character is input by the operation of the first input unit 10 and the second input character is the second input unit 20. You can input by operation of.

For example, in detail, when the first input character input to the input key 1 (2a) of the input key 2 of FIG. 3 is "ㄱ" and the second input character is "ㅋ", the input key 1 ( When 2a) is weaker than the predetermined reference pressure, the first input unit 10 is actuated and "a" is input, and when the input key 2a 1 is strongly pressed above the reference pressure, the second input unit 20 is actuated and "ㅋ". Can be entered, so you can input “k” by pressing input key 1 (2a) strongly and pressing the input key 0 (2b) twice, and pressing input key 1 (2a) lightly and pressing input key. You can enter "G" just by pressing the 2 input key that presses 0 (2b). Character input in this manner is applied not only to the input key 1 (2a) but also to other required input keys.

Consequently, according to the input device 1 of the present invention, in inputting the first input character and the second input character assigned to the input key 2, the magnitude of the pressure applied to the input key 2 is strongly or weakly adjusted. Therefore, only one of the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 20 generates an input signal, so that the first input character or the second input character corresponding to the input signal can be input. The number of presses of the input key may be reduced in inputting the horn, and thus, the character input efficiency may be improved.

Whether the input signal generated by the first input unit 10 is generated when the input signal is weaker than the reference pressure or when the input signal is strong is generated, such as the elastic modulus of each component constituting the input device 1 according to the present invention. It may be appropriately determined in consideration of the characteristics of.

In addition, since the input device 1 according to the present invention includes a pressure sensor type first input unit 10 for generating an input signal through capacitance change by touch and pressure as the input element, the first input unit 10. ) Can be used to perform scrolling, pointing, and the like of a mobile device monitor.

The circuit to be applied to the input device 1 of the present invention and the control unit for controlling the same are applied to the input device 1 of the present invention using conventional techniques in the related art, including the aforementioned Korean Patent Registration No. 661,000. Since the present invention can be suitably applied to a portable device, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary input device for a portable device according to the present invention;

2 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of another exemplary input device for a portable device according to the present invention;

3 is an exemplary input character array schematic diagram of a portable device keypad to which the input device of the present invention is applied;

4 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a dome switch applied to a conventional portable input device;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the input character arrangement of the conventional input device keypad applied to the mobile phone.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: input device of the present invention

2, 2a: input key

10: first input unit of the pressure sensor method

11: plate

12: elastic layer

20: second input unit of the dome switch system

21, 21a, 21b: electrode

30: substrate

40: display panel

Claims (3)

The elastic layer 12 having a predetermined thickness d is laminated between the upper and lower pole plates 11 spaced apart by a predetermined distance d, and the distance between the pole plates 11 by the pressure applied from the outside ( The first of the pressure sensor type to generate a corresponding input signal according to the position and magnitude of the pressure applied from the change in capacitance between the pole plates 11 in accordance with the change of the distance (d) is resiliently variable An input unit 10; And The second input unit 20 of the dome switch type which is stacked on the upper side or the lower side of the first input unit 10 and generates a corresponding input signal while the upper and lower electrodes 21 are electrically connected resiliently by a pressure applied from the outside. ; It includes; The first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor method and the second input unit 20 of the dome switch method have two inputs different in magnitude from each other, and two inputs assigned to the respective input keys 2. For text, a first input text is input by the first input section 10, and a second input text is input by the second input section 20; Here, when the external pressure required for the electrode 21 of the second input unit 20 of the dome switch system to be electrically connected is referred to as a reference pressure, the input of the first input unit 10 of the pressure sensor system is input. And the signal is generated only when a pressure below the reference pressure is applied and is not generated when a pressure above the reference pressure is applied. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor-type first input unit 10 is stacked on the dome switch-type second input unit 20, and input contents are displayed on the upper side of the first input unit 10. (40) are stacked, and a substrate (30) is stacked below the second input unit (20). delete

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