JP4353420B2 - Push-type input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a push-type input device, for example, a flat-type push-type input device suitable for selecting one item from a plurality of items displayed on a display screen.

  As a conventional planar input device, a pushbutton switch device including a key top member, an outer cover, and a base member is known (see Patent Document 1 below).

  The key top member has a plurality of cylindrical push buttons arranged in one row, a plate-like base portion surrounding the plurality of push buttons, a plurality of push buttons and the plate-like base portion, and an elastic force for urging the push button upward. And a skirt portion. A conductive surface is formed on the bottom surface of each push button as a movable contact.

  The outer cover has a hole through which the push button is passed, and covers the key top member except for the top surface of the push button. The top surface of the push button and the surface of the outer cover are maintained flush with each other by the urging force of the elastic skirt portion.

  The base member is formed with a plurality of conductive portions as fixed contacts facing the conductive surface of the push button. One switch is composed of the conductive surface of one push button and one conductive portion. The plate-like base of the key top member is sandwiched between the base member and the outer cover. Thereby, the key top member is held.

  For example, when one item is selected from a plurality of items displayed on the screen of the display using this push button switch device, the fingertip is arranged in the direction in which the push buttons are arranged by lightly pressing the surface (operation surface) of the device. Slide to.

When the finger has come on the push button, the conductive surface of the push button is in contact with the conductive portion of the base member, the switch of the portion closes, the input signal is output. When the finger is released from the position on the push button, the push button returns to the original position by the biasing force of the elastic skirt portion, the conductive surface of the push button is separated from the conductive portion of the base member, and the switch is opened again.

  However, as described above, the top surface of the push button and the surface of the outer cover are maintained flush with each other by the urging force of the elastic skirt, so that the stroke amount of the push button is small when the fingertip slides on the surface of the push button switch device. Yes, the resistance acting on the fingertip is small, and it is difficult to predict how much the cursor in the display screen will move when the fingertip is slid.

  Therefore, for example, when one item is selected from a plurality of items by moving the cursor by one item or two items or more, the cursor moves more than necessary, and it takes time to select the target item. May end up.

  This invention is made in view of such a situation, The subject is providing the press-type input device which enabled simple input operation.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a press input device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a first input device that is formed of an elastic material and has a plurality of contact detection means for detecting contact of an object arranged in a plane at predetermined intervals. A planar switch, a cover that covers an upper surface of the first planar switch, and a cover that is formed on the cover and that opposes the plurality of contact detection means, and applies a pressing force when contacting the object to the plurality of contact detection means. A plurality of input areas for transmission, a plurality of convex portions formed on the upper surface of the cover so as to partition the plurality of input areas, and a holding plate for holding the first planar switch so as to be movable in the vertical direction And a detection signal is output when a pressing force equal to or greater than the pressing force at the time of contacting the object is applied to any of the input areas, below the first planar switch. Second flat And a mold switch, the cover, that has a plurality of projections forming a gap between the first plane switch with the lower surface of the cover contacts with the plurality of contact detecting means Features.

As described above, since the convex portion is formed so as to partition the plurality of input areas, for example, when moving from one input area to an input area adjacent to an object such as a fingertip, the fingertip must pass the convex portion. Compared to the conventional example, the resistance acting on the fingertip is large, and it is easy to predict how much the cursor in the display screen moves when the fingertip is slid. Moreover, since it was configured as a so-called two-stage switch as described above, the function as a switch increased.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the press-type input device according to the first aspect, the length between the convex portions is slightly smaller than the width of the fingertip.

Since the length between the convex portions is slightly smaller than the width of the fingertip as described above, for example, the amount of movement of the fingertip when moving the cursor by one item is sufficient.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is easy to predict how much the cursor on the display screen moves when the fingertip is slid. For example, the cursor is moved by one item and one of a plurality of items is selected. It is possible to prevent the cursor from moving more than necessary when selecting one item, and it is possible to quickly select a target item, thereby improving the input operability. Moreover, according to the invention of claim 1, a more versatile press-type input device can be provided.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the length between the convex portions is slightly smaller than the width of the fingertip as described above, for example, the amount of movement of the fingertip when moving the cursor by one item is small, and it is quicker. Contribute to easy operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view when the press-type input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view when the press-type input device shown in FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first and second membrane switches shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a development view of the membrane sheets of the first and second membrane switches shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is the first and second membrane switches shown in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 9 is a plan view of the press-type input device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an input area of the pressing type input device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the first and second membrane switches shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 9, and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pressing input device includes a rear plate 3, a reinforcing plate (holding plate) 4, a first membrane switch (first planar switch) 5, and a second membrane switch (second A planar switch) 6, a click plate 7, a cover 8, and a front frame 9.

  The rear plate 3 is formed by pressing a thin metal plate and has a frame portion 31 and a tray portion 32. The frame portion 31 has a substantially square frame shape. Screw holes 31a, bolt insertion holes 31b, and positioning bosses 31c are formed in the squares. The tray portion 32 has a substantially square dish shape. A reversing boss 32a is formed at the center.

  The reinforcing plate 4 is formed by punching a thin metal plate having elasticity, and includes a reinforcing plate main body 41, a frame portion 42, and a plurality of connecting portions 43.

  The reinforcing plate body 41 has a substantially square plate shape and has positioning holes 41a and 41b.

  The frame part 42 has a substantially square frame shape, and a first bolt insertion hole 42a, a second bolt insertion hole 42b, and a boss insertion hole 42c are formed in each of the squares. The first bolt insertion hole 42a, the second bolt insertion hole 42b, and the boss insertion hole 42c face the screw hole 31a, the bolt insertion hole 31b, and the positioning boss 31c, respectively, in the thickness direction D1 of the pressing input device. A notch 42d is formed in an intermediate portion of one side of the frame portion 42.

  Each of the four connecting portions 43 is substantially J-shaped or U-shaped. The four connecting portions 43 connect the squares of the reinforcing plate body 41 and the squares of the frame portion 42. The reinforcing plate main body 41 is movable along the thickness direction D <b> 1, and the elasticity of the connecting portion 43 acts on the reinforcing plate main body 41 when the reinforcing plate main body 41 moves.

  In FIG.1 and FIG.2, the 1st membrane switch 5 and the 2nd membrane switch 6 are drawn separately for convenience. Originally, as shown in FIG. 3, the first membrane switch 5 and the second membrane switch 6 are integrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first membrane switch 5 is movable with the first fixed side membrane sheet 51, the first movable side membrane sheet 52, and the fixed contacts 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e, 53f, and 53g. Contacts 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e, 54f, 54g and a first membrane spacer 55 are provided. One fixed contact 53a-53g and one movable contact 54a-54g corresponding to it constitute one contact detection means.

  Positioning holes 51 a and 51 b are formed in the first fixed membrane sheet 51. The first fixed membrane sheet 51 has a lead portion 51c.

  Positioning holes 52 a and 52 b are formed in the first movable membrane sheet 52. The first movable membrane sheet 52 is connected to the first fixed membrane sheet 51 by a connecting piece 56.

  The fixed contacts 53 a to 53 e are arranged in a line along the center line of the first fixed side membrane sheet 51 at equal intervals. The fixed contacts 53f and 53g are arranged on both sides of the center line.

  The movable contacts 54 a to 54 e are arranged at equal intervals in a line along the center line of the first movable membrane sheet 52. The movable contacts 54f and 54g are disposed on both sides of the center line. The movable contacts 54a to 54g oppose the fixed contacts 53a to 53g, respectively, when the first movable membrane sheet 52 is bent toward the first fixed membrane sheet 51 along the folding line L1.

  The fixed contacts 53 a to 53 g and the movable contacts 54 a to 54 g are connected to a conductive path 57 formed in the first fixed side membrane sheet 51, the connecting piece 56 and the movable side membrane sheet 52.

  The first membrane spacer 55 is formed with positioning holes 55a and 55b. When the first membrane spacer 55 is disposed on the first fixed-side membrane sheet 51 and the first movable-side membrane sheet 52 is bent toward the first fixed-side membrane sheet 51 along the fold line L1, the positioning hole 55a is The positioning holes 51a and 52a are opposed to each other, and the positioning holes 55b are opposed to the positioning holes 51b and 52b. The first membrane spacer 55 is formed with a punch hole 55c. The punching hole 55c constitutes a space S1 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) that allows the movable contacts 54a to 54g to contact the fixed contacts 53a to 53g, respectively.

  The second membrane switch 6 (see FIG. 3) includes a second fixed-side membrane sheet 61, a second movable-side membrane sheet 62, a fixed contact 63, a pair of movable contacts 64a and 64b, and a second membrane spacer 65.

  Positioning 61a, 61b is formed on the second fixed-side membrane sheet 61. The second fixed side membrane sheet 61 is connected to the first fixed side membrane sheet 51 by a connecting piece 66.

  Positioning 62a, 62b is formed on the second movable side membrane sheet 62. The second movable side membrane sheet 62 is connected to the first movable side membrane sheet 52 by a connecting piece 67.

  The fixed contact 63 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the second fixed side membrane sheet 61.

  The pair of movable contacts 64 a and 64 b are disposed at substantially the center of the second movable membrane sheet 62. The pair of movable contacts 64a and 64b oppose the fixed contact 63 when the second movable side membrane sheet 62 and the first movable side surface sheet 52 are folded back toward the second fixed side membrane sheet 61 along the fold line L1. .

  The pair of movable contacts 64 a and 64 b are connected to a conductive path 68 formed on the first fixed membrane sheet 51, the connecting piece 56, the first movable membrane sheet 52, and the second movable membrane sheet 62.

  The conductive paths 57 and 68 formed in the first fixed-side membrane sheet 51, the first movable-side membrane sheet 52, and the like are collected in the lead portion 51c of the first fixed-side membrane sheet 51 and pulled out to the outside.

  The second membrane spacer 65 is connected to the first membrane spacer 55 by a connecting piece 69. The second membrane spacer 65 has positioning holes 65a and 65b. The second membrane spacer 65 is disposed at a predetermined position of the second fixed side membrane sheet 61, and the second movable side membrane sheet 62 and the first movable side surface sheet 52 are connected to the second fixed side membrane sheet 61 along the folding line L1. When folded back, the positioning hole 65a faces the positioning holes 61a and 62a, and the positioning hole 65b faces the positioning holes 61b and 62b. Further, when the second membrane spacer 65 is bent toward the first membrane spacer 55 along the fold line L2 (see FIG. 13), the positioning holes 65a and 65b face the positioning holes 55a and 55b. A punching hole 65 c is formed in the second membrane spacer 65. The punching hole 65c constitutes a space S2 (see FIG. 8) that allows the pair of movable contacts 64a and 64b to contact the fixed contact 63.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the 1st membrane switch 5 is affixed on the upper surface of the reinforcement board main body 41 with a double-sided tape (not shown). The second membrane switch 6 is bent toward the first membrane switch 5 by a fold line L2 (see FIG. 3), and is attached to the lower surface of the reinforcing plate body 41 by a double-sided tape (not shown).

  The click plate 7 is fixed to the lower surface of the second membrane switch 6 by a fixing sheet 13. The click plate 7 faces the movable contacts 64a and 64b (see FIG. 8). The click plate 7 faces the reversing boss 32 a of the rear plate 3.

  The cover 8 is made of an elastic material such as a thermoplastic elastomer or silicon rubber. The cover 8 has an operation part 81, a thin part 82, and a fixing part 83.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit 81 is exposed to the outside of the front frame 9.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the operation unit 81 has a substantially tray shape. Keys 811a, 811b, 811c, 811d, and 811e extending in the width direction D2 (see FIG. 11) of the pressing type input device are formed on the lower surface of the portion facing the movable contacts 54a to 54e (see FIG. 13). Yes. Projections 812a, 812b, 812c, 812d, and 812e for pressing the movable contacts 54a to 54e are formed at the center of the keys 811a to 811e. Therefore, when the back side of the portion where the keys 811a to 811e of the operation portion 81 are provided and the peripheral portion thereof are pressed, the pressing force is transmitted to the first membrane switch 5 via the keys 811a to 811e and the protrusions 812a to 812e. Then, the movable contact of the part corresponding to the pressed position comes into contact with the fixed contact.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 11, convex portions 811 f and 811 g are formed on portions of the lower surface of the operation portion 81 facing the movable contacts 54 f and 54 g (see FIG. 4), and the movable contacts 54 f and 811 g are formed on the front end surface. Protrusions 812f and 812g for pressing 54g are formed. Further, triangular buttons 813f and 813g are formed on the back side of the convex portions 811f and 811g.

  That is, the keys 811a, 811b, 811c, 811d, 811e and the convex portions 811f, 811g of the operation unit 81 and their back side and its peripheral portion (shaded portions in FIG. 12) are input areas 814a, 814b, 814c, 814d, 814e, 814f, and 814g are configured.

  As shown in FIG. 12, concave portions 815a, 815b, 815c, and 815d are formed on the upper surface of the operation unit 81 so as to partition the input areas 814a to 814e. As shown in FIG. 10, protrusions 816a, 816b, 816c, and 816d are formed on the opposite sides of the recesses 815a to 815d, respectively. The protrusions 816a to 816d support the recesses 815a to 815d by abutting against the first membrane spacer 55 via the first movable membrane sheet 52. As a result, when a certain input area is pressed, the movable contact in the adjacent input area is prevented from coming into contact with the fixed contact, and the independence of each input area is ensured.

  As shown in FIG. 11, projections 817a and 817b are formed between the convex portion 811c and the convex portion 811f and between the convex portion 811c and the convex portion 811g, respectively. The protrusions 817a and 817b have the same function as the protrusions 816a to 816d.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thin portion 82 has a substantially regular octagon shape and is connected to the lower portion of the operation portion 81.

  The fixing portion 83 is connected to each of the four sides of the thin portion 82. A step is provided between the fixed portion 83 and the thin portion 82. This step is substantially equal to the thickness of the first membrane switch 5. The fixing portion 83 has a first bolt insertion hole 83a, a second bolt insertion hole 83b, and a boss insertion hole 83c. The first bolt insertion hole 83a, the second bolt insertion hole 83b, and the boss insertion hole 83c are respectively connected to the first bolt insertion hole 42a, the second bolt insertion hole 42b, and the third boss insertion hole 42c of the reinforcing plate 4 in the thickness direction D1. opposite.

  The front frame 9 is formed by punching and pressing a metal thin plate. The front frame 9 has a frame portion 91 and a fixing portion 92. The frame portion 91 has a substantially octagonal frame shape.

  The fixing portions 92 are connected to the four sides of the frame portion 91, respectively. A step is provided between the fixing portion 92 and the frame portion 91. This step is substantially equal to the thickness of the first membrane switch 5. The fixing portion 92 has a first bolt insertion hole 92a, a second bolt insertion hole 92b, and a boss insertion hole 92c. The first bolt insertion hole 92a, the second bolt insertion hole 92b, and the boss insertion hole 92cg face the first bolt insertion hole 83a, the second bolt insertion hole 83b, and the third boss insertion hole 83c of the cover 8 in the thickness direction D1, respectively. To do.

  Next, a procedure for assembling the press input device will be described.

  Before assembling the pressing input device, the first and second membrane switches 5 and 6 are assembled in advance.

  In order to assemble the first and second membrane switches 5 and 6, first, as shown in FIG. 13, the first and second membrane spacers 55 and 65 are placed at predetermined positions of the first and second fixed-side membrane sheets 51 and 61, respectively. Adhere to.

  Next, the connecting piece 56 is bent along the bend line L1 to bond the first movable side membrane sheet 52 to the first membrane spacer 55 and to bond the second movable side membrane sheet 62 to the second membrane spacer 65. At this time, the first and second movable membrane sheets 52 and 62 are positioned with respect to the first and second membrane spacers 55 and 65, respectively. In this way, the first and second membrane switches 5 and 6 shown in FIG. 3 are completed.

  Then, it moves to the assembly of a press type input device. First, the second membrane switch 6 is folded back toward the first membrane switch 5 along the folding line L2.

  Next, in this state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reinforcing plate 4 is disposed between the first membrane switch 5 and the second membrane switch 6, and the first membrane switch 5 is attached to the double-sided tape (not shown). The second membrane switch 6 is attached to the lower surface of the reinforcing plate body 41 with a double-sided tape (not shown). At this time, the first and second membrane switches 5 and 6 are positioned with respect to the reinforcing plate body 41, respectively.

  Thereafter, the click plate 7 is fixed to the lower surface of the second membrane sheet 6 by the fixing sheet 13. At this time, the top of the click plate 7 is made to face the reversing boss 32a of the rear plate 3.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the positioning boss 31 c of the rear plate 3 is inserted into the boss insertion hole 42 c of the reinforcing plate 4. Thereby, the reinforcing plate 4 to which the first and second membrane switches 5 and 6 are attached is mounted at a predetermined position of the rear plate 3.

  Thereafter, the positioning boss 31 c of the rear plate 3 is inserted into the boss insertion hole 83 c of the cover 8. Thereby, the cover 8 is mounted at a predetermined position of the reinforcing plate 4.

  Next, the positioning boss 31 c of the rear plate 3 is inserted into the boss insertion hole 92 c of the front frame 9. As a result, the front frame 9 is mounted at a predetermined position of the cover 8.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 15, the bolt 14 is screwed into the screw hole 31a through the first bolt insertion holes 92a, 83a, and 42a.

  As described above, the rear plate 3, the reinforcing plate 4, the cover 8, and the front frame 9 are integrated to complete the pressing input device.

  Next, the operation of this pressing type input device will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an operation when a specific item is selected relatively slowly from a plurality of items displayed on the display screen. FIG. 16A shows a change in the display screen. Conceptual diagram, FIG. 16B is a conceptual diagram showing the movement of the finger at that time, and FIG. 17 is a concept for explaining an operation when a specific item is quickly selected from a plurality of items displayed on the display screen. FIG. 17A is a conceptual diagram showing changes in the display screen, and FIG. 17B is a conceptual diagram showing finger movements at that time.

  From the state where the finger F touches the input area 814a and one item (here, “001 AAA”) is selected (the state shown in the left side of FIG. 16A), the finger F is placed next to the input area 814b. When the cursor C is moved, the cursor C moves to the next adjacent item (“002 BBB”) (the state shown in the right side view of FIG. 16A).

  At this time, since the operator feels the touch of the concave portion 815a only once on the fingertip F, the movement of the cursor C and the touch of touching the concave portion 815a have a one-to-one correspondence to prevent the cursor C from moving too much. it can. Therefore, it is easy to operate with a blind touch.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17B, even if the fingertip F is quickly moved by blind touch, the target item (here, “005 EEE”) is easily selected as shown in FIG. 17A. be able to.

  After the target item is selected, if the input areas 814a to 814e are pushed in with a slightly stronger force than in the selection operation, the pair of movable contacts 64a and 64b of the second membrane switch 6 (see FIG. 8) are fixed contacts. 63 is contacted and an input signal is output. A program corresponding to the item selected based on this signal is executed. At this time, the click plate 7 is pressed and reversed by the reversing boss 32a, so that a clear operational feeling can be obtained.

  When the target item is not displayed on the screen, the display screen is advanced or returned by pressing the button 813g or the button 813f to search for the target item.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, since the operational feeling obtained through tactile sensation matches the movement of the cursor on the screen, the input operation can be easily performed by brand touch. In addition to selecting an item, a program corresponding to the item can be executed.

  In this embodiment, the membrane switches 5 and 6 are used as the planar switch, but the planar switch is not limited to the membrane switch. For example, there is a resistive touch panel.

  In this embodiment, the second membrane switch 6 is provided, but the second membrane switch 6 is not necessarily required.

  In addition, you may make it a convex part instead of the recessed parts 816a-815d.

  FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a first modification in which the second membrane switch of the first embodiment is replaced with another one.

  The second planar switch 106 of this modification includes a membrane sheet 161, fixed contacts 163a, 163b, and 163c arranged on the membrane sheet 161, and a click plate 107 formed of a material having conductivity and elasticity. Consists of. The click plate 107 also serves as a movable contact.

  This modification has the same effects as those of the first embodiment, and can promote a reduction in the height of the pressure input device.

  FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a second modification in which the second membrane switch of the first embodiment is replaced with another one.

  In this modification, a tact switch 206 is used as the second planar switch.

  This modification has the same effect as the first embodiment.

  20 is a plan view of a cover according to a third modification in which the cover of the first embodiment is replaced with another cover, and FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along XXI-XXI in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the surface of the cover 108 made of an elastic material is covered with a flexible cap 150 made of synthetic resin.

  This modification has the same effect as that of the first embodiment, and can easily be decorated by printing or the like on the cap 150.

  FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the pressing input device according to the second embodiment.

  Constituent parts common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different constituent parts are described.

  In the first embodiment, the concave portions 815a to 815d are formed at the boundaries of the input areas 814a to 814e of the cover 8, but in this embodiment, the convex portions 285 are formed at the boundaries of the input areas of the cover 208. In addition, the interval between the convex portions 285 is slightly narrower than the width w of the fingertip F.

  This embodiment has the same effect as the first embodiment, and the operator can surely recognize the convex portion 285 during the operation, so how much the cursor in the display screen moves when the fingertip is slid. Is more predictable.

  As a modification of the second embodiment, a configuration in which concave portions are formed instead of the convex portions 285 (the interval between the concave portions is the same as the interval between the convex portions 285) is conceivable.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a press-type input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pressing type input device shown in FIG. 1 when viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first and second membrane switches shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a development view of the membrane sheets of the first and second membrane switches shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the membrane spacer of the first and second membrane switches shown in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the press-type input device shown in FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an input area of the press-type input device shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a plan view for explaining an assembly method of the first and second membrane switches shown in FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in FIG. FIG. 16A is a conceptual diagram showing changes in the display screen. FIG. 16B is a conceptual diagram showing the movement of the finger at that time. FIG. 17A is a conceptual diagram showing changes in the display screen. FIG. 17B is a conceptual diagram showing the movement of the finger at that time. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a first modification in which the second membrane switch of the first embodiment is replaced with another one. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a second modification in which the second membrane switch of the first embodiment is replaced with another one. FIG. 20 is a plan view of a cover of a third modification in which the cover of the first embodiment is replaced with another cover. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along XXI-XXI in FIG. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the pressing input device according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

4 Reinforcement plate (holding plate)
5 First membrane switch (first planar switch)
6 Second membrane switch (second planar switch)
7 Click plate 8 Cover 815a, 815b, 815c, 815d Recess

Claims (2)

A first planar switch formed of an elastic material and formed by planarly arranging a plurality of contact detection means for detecting contact of an object at a predetermined interval;
A cover covering an upper surface of the first planar switch;
A plurality of input areas that are formed on the cover and transmit the pressing force at the time of the object contact to the plurality of contact detection units facing the plurality of contact detection units;
A plurality of convex portions formed on the upper surface of the cover so as to partition the plurality of input areas;
A holding plate for holding the first planar switch movably in the vertical direction;
A second sensor is disposed below the first planar switch via the holding plate, and outputs a detection signal when a pressing force equal to or greater than the pressing force at the time of the object contact is applied to any of the input areas. With a planar switch ,
The cover has a plurality of protrusions that contact the plurality of contact detection means and form gaps between the lower surface of the cover and the first planar switch. apparatus.   The press-type input device according to claim 1, wherein a length between the concave portions or the convex portions is slightly smaller than a width of a fingertip.

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