JP2012079425A - Switch operation panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch operation panel in which the degree of freedom on design can be enhanced, and good visibility can be attained.SOLUTION: The switch operation panel comprises a panel base member 101, a transparent electrode 18 formed on the panel base member 101 so as to detect switch operation, and a design sheet 100 laminated on the switch operation side of the transparent electrode 18 and having a switch operation part 100a where a switch operation region 120a is displayed by a translucent part, and a light transmittance adjusting part 100b which adjusts the panel light transmittance to 15±5% so that the switch operation region 120a is visible by illumination. The design sheet 100 is laminated on the panel base member 101 with the transparent electrode 18 interposed therebetween by using a lamination technology for three-dimensional curved surface.

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch operation panel suitable for an operation input device of, for example, an in-vehicle device.

  As is well known, operation input devices for operating various in-vehicle devices such as a car navigation device, an audio device, and an air conditioner (air conditioner) device are arranged in a center cluster of an automobile.

  Generally, this type of operation input device is provided with a switch operation panel (touch panel) having a plurality of switch operation parts corresponding to various in-vehicle devices on the switch operation surface as a design panel of the center cluster.

  And operation setting of various vehicle equipment is performed when a crew member (operator) touch-operates the switch operation part on the switch operation surface in a touch panel.

  In addition, the operation input device includes an illumination device (backlight) for illuminating the touch panel from the back side to increase the visibility of the switch operation surface when an operator touches the switch operation portion. ing.

  When the operator does not operate the switch operation panel, the backlight is turned off and the switch operation surface is not illuminated (so-called blackout state), thereby making it difficult to see the switch operation surface. The design of the cluster is improved.

  In such an operation input device, making it difficult to visually recognize the switch operation surface by turning off the backlight improves the design of the center cluster, but grasps the switch operation part desired when the operator performs a touch operation. Is difficult.

  On the other hand, a capacitive switch device is known that turns on a light source when a human body (finger) approaches the touch panel, and changes the brightness of the light source by touching the finger with the touch panel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, the manufacture of the touch panel in this kind of electrostatic capacitance type switch device is for display having a plane rectangular design board on which a pattern sheet is affixed, and a light transmission pattern in which a switch operation part is displayed by a translucent part. This is done by laminating a mask, a backlight composed of a light guide plate and a light source, and a planar rectangular detection electrode for detecting the approach (contact) of a finger.

JP 2006-128019 A

  However, according to the touch panel shown in Patent Document 1, when the laminated surface on which each panel constituent member is laminated is a three-dimensional (three-dimensional) curved surface, the shape of each panel constituent member is restricted, and the degree of freedom in design is increased. There was a problem of lowering.

  Moreover, in the touch panel shown in Patent Document 1, the light transmittance of the design board is not sufficiently adjusted, and when the translucent part is displayed as characters, it is difficult to recognize the display characters in the daytime and the visibility is poor. There was a problem.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch operation panel that can increase the degree of freedom in design and obtain good visibility.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides switch operation panels (1) and (2).

(1) A panel base member, a detection electrode formed on the panel base member for detecting a switch operation, and laminated on the switch operation side of the detection electrode, and the switch operation site is displayed by a light transmitting portion. A switch operation unit, and a design sheet having a light transmittance adjustment unit for adjusting the panel light transmittance to 15 ± 5% so that the switch operation part can be visually recognized by illumination, and the design sheet is three-dimensional. A switch operation panel that is laminated on the panel base member via the detection electrode using a curved surface lamination technique.

(2) In the switch operation panel according to the above (1), the design sheet is laminated on the panel base member via the detection electrode using sheet insert molding or a transfer technique.

  According to the present invention, the degree of freedom in design can be increased and good visibility can be obtained.

The front view shown in order to demonstrate the structure of the front seat front part of the vehicle to which the switch operation panel which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a block diagram shown in order to demonstrate the system configuration | structure of the operation input apparatus to which the switch operation panel which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention was applied. AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a block diagram shown in order to demonstrate operation input ECU of the operation input device to which the switch operation panel which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention was applied. (A) And (b) is a front view which shows the display state of the operation input panel unit in the operation input device to which the switch operation panel which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention was applied. (A) shows the state of the sleep mode or standby mode, and (b) shows the on state of the power-off / lighting switch. (A)-(d) is sectional drawing shown in order to demonstrate the case by insert molding in the manufacturing method of the switch operation panel which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A)-(c) is sectional drawing shown in order to demonstrate the case by the transfer in the manufacturing method of the switch operation panel which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a switch operation panel and a manufacturing method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
First, a switch operation panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Configuration of the front part of the front seat of an automobile]
FIG. 1 shows a front portion of a front seat in an automobile. As shown in FIG. 1, an instrument panel 2 made of a synthetic resin and equipped with instruments, a passenger seat airbag, and the like is disposed on the front portion of the front seat of the automobile 1 over substantially the entire vehicle width direction. Yes. A center cluster 3 is disposed near the center of the instrument panel 2.

  A display 4 capable of displaying various images such as a selection menu is disposed on the design surface side of the center cluster 3. An operation input panel unit 10 of the operation input device 7 (shown in FIG. 2) is disposed around the display 4.

(Configuration of operation input device 7)
FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of the operation input device. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation input device 7 includes an operation input panel unit 10 and an operation input ECU (Electronic Control Unit: ECU) 20 as an operation input electronic control device that controls the operation input panel unit 10. Yes. Various in-vehicle devices such as an air conditioner device 32, a car navigation device 33, and an audio device 34 as operation input target devices are communicably connected to the operation input ECU 20 via an in-vehicle LAN 31 such as LIN or CAN.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation input panel unit. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation input panel unit 10 includes an operation display panel 13, a touch sensor sheet 14, a light emitting diode (LED) substrate 16, and the like. The operation display panel 13 and the touch sensor sheet 14 constitute a switch operation panel of the present invention. The switch operation panel is manufactured using a lamination technique (for example, an insert molding technique) suitable for lamination on a three-dimensional curved surface, and after adhering the touch sensor sheet 14 to the panel base member 101, a design portion (design sheet). This is done by stacking 100.

  The operation display panel 13 includes a panel base member 101, a design sheet (design part) 100, and a touch sensor sheet 14. The panel surface of the operation display panel 13 is formed by a switch operation surface 12a that constitutes an operation surface of the touch (capacitance) type input switch 12 having a plurality of switch operation parts 120a. The switch operation surface 12a is covered with a surface protective layer (not shown).

  The panel base member 101 is formed of a plate member made of, for example, an acrylic or polycarbonate transparent resin material.

  The design unit 100 includes a switch operation unit (base film sheet in FIG. 6) 100a and a light transmittance adjustment unit (blackout film sheet in FIG. 6) 100b. The switch operation unit 100a is disposed on the switch operation side of the design unit 100, and the light transmittance adjustment unit 100b is disposed on the opposite side of the design unit 100 from the switch operation side. Accordingly, when the light transmittance of the switch operation panel is adjusted to 15 ± 5% in the light transmittance adjusting unit 100b of the design unit 100, the adjustment of the panel light transmittance becomes sufficient, and the light transmitting portion (described later) becomes a character. Even when displayed as, it becomes easy to recognize the display character in the daytime or the like. This has been confirmed by numerous experiments in the daytime.

  The design unit 100 then displays display information corresponding to in-vehicle devices such as the air conditioner device 32, the car navigation device 33, and the audio device 34 as a mark indicating that the partial region indicates the switch operation part 120a to the operator. A black light-shielding portion (not shown) using a screen printing or the like, except for a translucent light-transmitting portion (not shown) that transmits or diffuses light by removing the characters and screens. (Not shown).

  The touch sensor sheet 14 is formed by forming a plurality of transparent electrodes 18 such as ITO (indium tin oxide) in a predetermined pattern on a transparent touch sensor film sheet 14a, and each transparent electrode 18 is formed on the switch operation surface 12a. Are disposed between the design portion 100 and the panel base member 101 so as to coincide with the switch operation portions 120a.

  The touch sensor sheet 14 is configured to function as an input switch 12 for detecting an operation input by an operator via the operation display panel 13. That is, when the operator performs an operation of bringing a finger closer to or in contact with the switch operation portion 120a of the switch operation surface 12a, the capacitance of the transparent electrode 18 of the touch sensor sheet 14 changes. By using this characteristic, a touch sensor detection circuit 22 (described later) of the operation input ECU 20 detects a change in the capacitance of the transparent electrode 18 to determine that an operation input has been made to the input switch 12. It becomes possible.

  An LED substrate 16 is disposed on the back side of the operation display panel 13. A plurality of LEDs 15 corresponding to each switch operation part 120a of the switch operation surface 12a are mounted on the LED substrate 16.

  Each LED 15 is configured to illuminate a translucent portion (such as a hollow character) of the switch operation portion 120a immediately before it. As a result, when the LED 15 is turned on or blinks, light passes through the translucent portion of the switch operation portion 120a corresponding to the LED 15 and is emitted to the outside, so that the operation input to the input switch 12 is possible. Is recognized by the operator. When the operator is not using an on-vehicle device such as the air conditioner device 32 and the audio device 34, the LED 15 of the input switch 12 corresponding to the unused on-vehicle device is turned off, so that characters or the like serving as a mark for the switch operation are displayed. The display information is in a blackout state.

  In addition, a partition plate 17 interposed between two adjacent LEDs among the plurality of LEDs 15 is arranged on the LED substrate 16. Thereby, the leakage of the illumination light by each LED 15 to the illumination area of other LEDs is suppressed.

  FIG. 4 shows the operation input ECU 20. The operation input ECU 20 has a microcomputer 21 composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM and the like. The microcomputer 21 receives output signals from the touch sensor detection circuits 22 and 23 as peripheral circuits as needed, and executes control operations on the LED drive circuit 24, the LAN control circuit 25, and the like.

  One touch sensor detection circuit 22 is connected to the touch sensor sheet 14 on the operation input panel unit 10 side. The touch sensor detection circuit 22 detects an operation input to the switch operation part 120 a of the input switch 12 corresponding to the transparent electrode 18 by detecting a change in the capacitance of the transparent electrode 18 of the touch sensor sheet 14. The touch sensor 41 on the display 4 side is connected to the other touch sensor detection circuit 23. The touch sensor detection circuit 23 detects the coordinates of the operation position input to the screen of the display 4 by the operator based on the output from the touch sensor 41.

  Further, the operation input ECU 20 has an image display control circuit 30 that performs image display control on the display 4. The image display control circuit 30 is mounted on the same substrate (not shown) as the microcomputer 21 or the like of the operation input ECU 20. Note that the image display control circuit 30 may be incorporated in, for example, the display 4 and used integrally with the operation input ECU 20.

  The LED drive circuit 24 controls the lighting order of the plurality of input switches 12 in accordance with an instruction command from the microcomputer 21. That is, the LED drive circuit 24 controls the lighting order of the LEDs 15 based on the switch operation of the input switch 12. In addition to the lighting order of the LEDs 15, the lighting brightness can be controlled according to the lighting order.

  The image display control circuit 30 includes an image processor 26, an image data storage unit 27, an image display RAM 28, and an image display drive circuit 29. In response to an instruction command from the microcomputer 21, the image processor 26 reads image data such as a selection menu based on the instruction from the image data storage unit 27. Alternatively, the image processor 26 receives image data to be displayed on the display 4 from an in-vehicle device such as the car navigation device 33 in accordance with an instruction command from the microcomputer 21, and decompresses or demodulates the image data as necessary to display the image data. The read image data is written in the image display RAM 28 in which an address is associated with every four screen pixels. When the image data is written in the image display RAM 28, the image display drive circuit 29 modulates the image data into a video signal or converts it into a digital signal and transfers the data to the display 4. Thereby, the selection menu image and the content image based on the image signal are displayed on the display 4.

  FIG. 5A shows a display example when the operation input panel unit is in the sleep mode and standby mode, and FIG. 5B shows a display example when the power-off / lighting switch is turned on. Each is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the operation input panel unit 10 (shown in FIG. 2) is in the sleep mode or standby mode, the display 4 is not displayed and each input switch of the operation display panel 13 is displayed. In the portion 12, each LED 15 (shown in FIG. 3) is turned off, so that the operation display panel 13 is in a so-called blackout state. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the operation input panel unit 10 is on, a predetermined screen is displayed on the display 4 and all the input switches 12 are lit. The translucent part (shown in the drawing) of (shown in FIG. 3) is illuminated by each LED 15.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the first embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Even when the laminated surface on which the panel constituent members are laminated is a three-dimensional curved surface, the shape of each panel constituent member is not restricted, and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

(2) Adjustment of the light transmittance in the design part 100 is sufficient, and even when the light-transmitting part is displayed with characters, it becomes easy to recognize display characters in the daytime or the like, and good visibility can be obtained.

  Next, regarding the manufacturing method of the switch operation panel according to the second and third embodiments, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, (1) the case of insert molding (second embodiment) and (2) transfer The description will be divided into the case of (third embodiment). FIGS. 6A to 6D show the case of sheet insert molding. FIGS. 7A to 7C show the case of transfer.

[Second Embodiment]
In the sheet insert molding shown in this embodiment, the steps of “formation of design portion”, “adhesion of touch sensor sheet”, “insert molding” and “formation of surface protective layer” are sequentially performed. A description will be made sequentially.

"Formation of design part"
First, as shown in FIG. 6A, a design portion 100 composed of three layers as a panel constituent member is formed. In this case, the design portion 100 is formed of, for example, a polyester-based ink for adjusting the light transmittance of the switch operation panel to 15 ± 5% on the base film sheet 100a made of, for example, a transparent PC (polycarbonate) resin. After the blackout film sheet 100b as the light transmittance changing layer is bonded, the light shielding part 100d made of, for example, polyester ink is screen-printed on the film sheet 100b while leaving the light transmitting part 100c. In addition, although the case where formation of the design part 100 was performed by screen-printing the light shielding part 100d after adhesion | attachment of the film sheet 100b for blackout was demonstrated, the film sheet 100b for blackout is performed after screen printing of the light shielding part 100d. The design part 100 may be formed by bonding. Next, after heat-softening the design part 100, the design part 100 is subjected to a forming process, cooled, and then subjected to a trimming process.

"Adhesion of touch sensor sheet"
As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the touch sensor sheet 14 on which a transparent electrode 18 such as ITO (indium tin oxide) is previously formed on the transparent film sheet 14a is placed on one side of the design portion 100 (opposite to the switch operation side). Adhere to the side). In this case, when the touch sensor sheet 14 is bonded to the design portion 100, a sheet laminate 103 including four layers as a panel constituent member is formed.

"Insert molding"
As shown in FIG. 6B, after the trimmed design portion 100 is placed in a mold (not shown), for example, a transparent PC resin (molten resin) is injected to perform insert molding. After the insert molding, the design portion 100 is laminated on one side (switch operation side) following the panel base member 101 made of transparent resin, and the operation display panel 13 is formed.

"Formation of surface protective layer"
As shown in FIG. 6 (d), for example, a urethane coating is applied to the film sheet 100 a of the design portion 100 to form the surface protective layer 102. In this case, when the surface protective layer 102 is formed on the film sheet 100a, a switch operation panel is manufactured.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the second embodiment described above, the same effects as those shown in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Third embodiment]
In the transfer shown in the present embodiment, each process of “formation of the design portion and adhesion of the touch sensor sheet”, “transfer”, and “formation of the surface protective layer” is sequentially performed, and these processes will be sequentially described.

“Formation of design part and adhesion of touch sensor sheet”
As shown in FIG. 7A, a design portion 200 composed of four layers as a panel constituent member is formed and, for example, ITO is previously placed on the other side (switch operation side) of a panel base member 201 made of, for example, a transparent PC resin. A transparent electrode 18 such as (indium tin oxide) adheres to the touch sensor sheet 14 formed on the transparent film sheet 14a.

"Transcription"
As shown in FIG. 7B, the design portion 200 is positioned and arranged on one side of the panel base member 201 (the switch operation side of the touch sensor sheet 14) in a transfer device (not shown). The pressure on the exposed surface 201 (the lower surface in FIG. 7B) side is made lower than the pressure on the exposed surface side (the upper surface in FIG. 7B) side of the design portion 200, and the light shielding portion 200d of the design portion 200 is touched. The sensor sheet 14 is brought into close contact with the switch operation side. In this case, when the light shielding part 200 d of the design part 200 is in close contact with the touch sensor sheet 14, the design part 200 is transferred to the switch operation side of the touch sensor sheet 14.

"Formation of surface protective layer"
As shown in FIG. 7C, for example, a urethane paint is applied to the film sheet 200 b of the design part 200 to form the surface protective layer 202. In this case, when the surface protective layer 202 is formed on the film sheet 200b, a switch operation panel is manufactured.

(Effect of the third embodiment)
According to the third embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects shown in the first embodiment.

  A switch operation panel in which a wood grain pattern is expressed can be obtained.

  Although the switch operation panel of the present invention has been described based on the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) In the above embodiment, the case where the light shielding portion is formed by screen printing has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a black film sheet in which characters and the like are semitransparently cut out is used as an operation display panel. You may affix on the back side.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an operation input device for an in-vehicle device in an automobile has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, an operation input for an electronic device other than an automobile such as a personal computer or a mobile phone. The present invention can be applied to the apparatus in the same manner as in the embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automobile, 2 ... Instrument panel, 3 ... Center cluster, 4 ... Display, 5 ... Steering wheel, 7 ... Operation input device, 10 ... Operation input panel unit, 12 ... Input switch, 12a ... Switch operation surface, 120a ... Switch operation part, 13 ... Operation display panel, 14 ... Touch sensor sheet, 14a ... Film sheet for touch sensor, 15 ... LED, 16 ... LED substrate, 17 ... Partition plate, 18 ... Transparent electrode, 20 ... Operation input ECU, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Microcomputer, 22, 23 ... Touch sensor detection circuit, 24 ... LED drive circuit, 25 ... LAN control circuit, 26 ... Image processor, 27 ... Image data storage part, 28 ... Image display RAM, 29 ... Image display drive circuit , 30 ... Image display control circuit, 31 ... In-vehicle LAN, 32 ... Air conditioner, 33 ... Power Navigation device, 34 ... audio device, 41 ... touch sensor, 100 ... design part, 100a ... film sheet for base (switch operation part), 100b ... film sheet for blackout (light transmittance adjustment part), 100c ... transparent Light part, 100d ... Light-shielding part, 101 ... Panel base member, 102 ... Surface protective layer, 103 ... Sheet laminate, 200 ... Design part, 200a ... Ink layer for blackout, 200a '... Decoration part, 200b ... Print Carrier film, 200c ... translucent part, 200d ... light-shielding part, 201 ... base member, 202 ... surface protective layer

Claims (2)

A panel base member;
A detection electrode formed on the panel base member for detecting a switch operation;
The switch operation part is laminated on the switch operation side of the detection electrode, the switch operation part is displayed by a translucent part, and the panel light transmittance is adjusted to 15 ± 5% so that the switch operation part can be visually recognized by illumination. A design sheet having a light transmittance adjusting part for,
The said design sheet | seat is the switch operation panel currently laminated | stacked through the said electrode for a detection on the said panel base member using the lamination | stacking technique for three-dimensional curved surfaces. 2. The switch operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the design sheet is laminated on the panel base member via the detection electrode using a sheet insert molding or transfer technique.