JP5382352B2 - Keyboard device and electronic device using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard device for performing an information input operation using a touch panel and an electronic device controller using the keyboard device, such as a television remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a TV remote control device), or an electronic desk calculator (hereinafter referred to as a calculator). It relates to electronic equipment such as

Generally, a touch panel is arranged on a screen of a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and has icons, characters, numbers, and other symbols (graphics, images, etc.) displayed on the screen. Of a desired character, numeral, and other symbols (collectively referred to as symbols) while seeing through the surface from the front side. This is a device that touches a position with a finger or the like and generates and outputs information corresponding to the symbol position.
Such touch panels have been widely used in automated teller machines such as banks, car navigators, and the like, and have been actively used in small electronic devices such as portable information terminals and electronic dictionaries.

By the way, an input device that performs an information input operation using the touch panel as described above is expensive due to the need to arrange a display device such as an LCD on the lower surface side, but the display device is also used as an input device. Therefore, the space occupied by the entire apparatus for displaying and inputting information is advantageously reduced. In addition, there is an advantage that it can function as a multi-display device that can sequentially change symbols displayed on the screen as needed (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
An input device that uses a touch panel but performs an information input operation without using a display device such as an LCD has been developed (Patent Documents 3 and 4).

JP 10-27053 A JP 2007-164767 A JP 2006-65611 A JP 2009-212031 A

  However, in the above prior art, if a function as a multi-display device is not required, there is no need to additionally provide a display device such as an LCD or a CRT. The equipment was expensive.

Although the touch panel is used, the input devices described in Patent Documents 3 and 4 in which information is input without using the display device can reduce the cost because the display device is not used.
However, in the input device described in Patent Document 3, a display sheet (operation display unit: symbol printing film), a surface light emitting layer (or touch panel), and a touch panel (or surface light emitting layer) are laminated in this order from the upper surface side to the lower surface side. Has been placed. Moreover, in the input device described in Patent Document 4, the base film (symbol printing film), the touch panel, and the surface light emitting layer are laminated in this order from the upper surface side to the lower surface side. This caused the following problems. That is, in the above-described stacked arrangement configuration, in the configuration in which the surface emitting layer is arranged on the lower surface of the touch panel, the signal wiring group of the touch panel is easily visible from the input operation surface, and the visibility of the symbols is reduced, so that the operability and appearance are improved. Reduced. In addition, the operation sensitivity of the touch panel is lowered, and there is a problem that the touch is not detected unless the touch is relatively strong.
Moreover, in the input device described in Patent Document 4, the uppermost surface of the device, that is, the input operation surface is a concavo-convex surface as a finished product. For this reason, it is difficult to clean, and in particular, it does not reach the corners of the concave and convex portions, so that dirt such as dust and human body oil and fat becomes easy to adhere, not only the appearance is deteriorated but also a clean state is maintained. In other words, it cannot be used particularly in medical sites and clean rooms.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and it is possible to reduce the cost without over-spec, making it difficult to see the signal wiring group of the touch panel from the input operation surface, and improving operability and appearance. In addition, the operation sensitivity of the touch panel is not lowered, and the input operation surface (the uppermost surface of the device) can be easily cleaned to improve the cleanliness. Particularly, a keyboard device suitable for use in a medical field and an electronic device using the same The purpose is to provide equipment.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a laminate of a translucent touch panel, a symbol printing film on which an arbitrary symbol is printed, and a surface emitting layer that illuminates the symbol printing film. The touch panel is disposed on the upper surface side of the symbol print film, the surface emitting layer is disposed on the lower surface side of the symbol print film, and the input operation surface located on the uppermost surface is a flat surface. A translucent cover panel is laminated on the upper surface of the touch panel, the upper surface of the cover panel forms the input operation surface, and the cover panel is disposed toward the translucent panel and the touch panel. It consists of a laminated body with a half mirror, The said half mirror consists of a metallic glossy nano lamination PET film, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device according to the first aspect, the translucent panel is made of an acrylic plate or a polycarbonate plate having translucency.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device according to the first or second aspect, the symbol print film is a negative symbol print film in which the symbols are printed in a negative state.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the touch panel is a capacitive touch panel.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is the keyboard device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a vibration motor that operates in conjunction with detection of a touch on the touch panel. To do.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device according to any one of the first to third aspects and the fifth aspect, an opening is formed in each of a part of the opposing portion of the symbol print film and the surface light emitting layer. And a fluorescent display tube or a liquid crystal display device is incorporated and arranged so that symbols can be displayed in the opening region through the translucent touch panel.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device for a personal computer, the keyboard device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is used.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device controller, the keyboard device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is used.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic desk calculator, the keyboard device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is used.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the keyboard device itself is not provided with a display device such as an LCD or CRT, which is not an essential component, the cost of the keyboard device can be reduced. In addition, since the symbol printing film is interposed between the touch panel and the surface light emitting layer, the light from the surface light emitting layer does not directly shine on the touch panel, making it difficult to see the wiring group of the touch panel from the input operation surface, and operability and appearance. Will improve. Moreover, since the touch panel is arrange | positioned on the uppermost surface of the laminated body of this touch panel, a symbol printing film, and a surface emitting layer, the operation sensitivity of a touch panel becomes high. Furthermore, since the input operation surface located on the uppermost surface is a flat surface, it is easy to clean and dirt is difficult to adhere, and the appearance is improved and a clean state can be maintained.
According to the invention of claim 1, since the input operation surface is formed by covering the upper surface of the touch panel with a translucent cover panel (by laminating the translucent cover panel on the upper surface of the touch panel), The input operation surface (the uppermost surface of the apparatus) can be formed without being restricted by the basic structure formed by the laminate of the touch panel, the symbol printing film, and the surface light emitting layer. Therefore, the input operation surface can be formed sufficiently flat so that it can be more easily cleaned.
Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 1, the cover panel is formed of a laminated body of a translucent panel and a half mirror. According to the cover panel including the half mirror, the symbol printed on the symbol printing film during input operation is hidden when the surface emitting layer is not emitting light (when the light is off: when the keyboard device is not used). In addition, the effect of appearing when light is emitted (when the keyboard device is used) can be greatly obtained as compared with the case where a cover panel having only translucency is used. Moreover, according to the cover panel being formed of a laminate of a translucent panel and a half mirror, a wide variety of half mirrors (a variety of metallic glossy nano-laminated PET films with different colors, visible light absorptivity, etc.) ) And a translucent panel can be selected, and the characteristics of the cover panel can be variously changed as compared with the case where the cover panel itself is formed of a half mirror. For example, various materials, colors, designs, and the like can be selected for the translucent panel forming the cover panel, and durability and decorativeness on the input operation surface can be improved. The reason why the half mirror is disposed toward the touch panel side is to protect the half mirror.
Furthermore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the half mirror is formed not by a metal film half mirror but by a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film, a capacitive touch panel can be used as a touch panel. In addition, the keyboard device is colored according to the characteristics of the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film (surface dyeing is possible, etc.) by making the touch panel inactive and making only the surface emitting layer active, that is, by emitting light. A mirror surface can be obtained and a great decorative effect can be exhibited. According to the half mirror using the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film, the internal structure of the device, for example, the wiring group of the touch panel, the symbol printing film itself or the outline of the symbol printing area, etc. are not related to the input operation. The blindfolding effect to make it invisible can be demonstrated.
In addition, according to the half mirror made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film, when the surface emitting layer is not operating (non-emitting), the effect that the top surface of the device that forms the input operation surface can be seen as a mirror surface is another half mirror material, In particular, it becomes remarkable as compared with a half mirror material in which light diffusion is likely to occur inside. That is, the glossiness of the mirror surface is extremely high, and the effect as a metallic mirror surface is significantly greater than that of other half mirror materials.
The decorative effect of the half mirror can be obtained to some extent by forming the half mirror with a dielectric multilayer film. However, the formation of a half mirror using such a film requires vapor deposition, sputtering, and the like, so that the process cannot be simplified. In particular, it is difficult to apply the continuous production process, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort. As in the invention according to claim 1, according to the half mirror formation by the film, since the continuous production process such as a roll-to-roll method or continuous punching can be applied, the above-mentioned problems in the half mirror formation by the film can be solved. In addition, by forming the half mirror with a metal film such as an aluminum film, a great decoration effect can be obtained, but the same problem as when the half mirror is formed with the above dielectric multilayer film occurs, A capacitive touch panel cannot be used as the touch panel.
In the above, the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film is a resin film obtained by laminating ultra-thin polymers having different light refractive indexes, for example, several hundred to 1,000 or more layers, mainly a polyester film, and reflects light with high brightness. This means a film that can give a metallic luster and texture (high quality) without using metal. This metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film can be set for visible light transmittance, glossiness, and the like, and can be surface dyed. Therefore, when used as the above half mirror, it is possible to adjust decoration effects such as brightness, gloss, texture, and color due to reflection of external light when the input operation surface is viewed when the surface emitting layer is not emitting light. is there. This metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film can exhibit the above-mentioned blinding effect when the surface emitting layer is not emitting light, and the same blinding effect disappears during the same light emission as in the case of a normal half mirror. This metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film is used for the exterior of mobile phones and the like.
Examples of the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film include a nano-laminated PET film “PICASUS” (trade name, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) that is metal-free and has a metallic luster. The metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film represented by “Picasas” is excellent in heat resistance and chemical resistance, is well-suited with resin, and can be integrally molded with resin at the time of manufacture. It can be manufactured at a lower cost than painting. In addition, since the material does not contain a metal component, rust does not occur, the environmental load during manufacturing is low, and high radio wave transmissivity increases the degree of freedom in designing electronic devices. In addition, various surface treatments such as hard coat and dyeing are possible according to the design, and it has a feature of excellent decorating properties. As physical properties of the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film, the visible light transmittance is about 26% and the glossiness is about 780% when a standard metallic tone is developed.
In addition, as the homepage address (URL) of the Internet on which “PICASUS” is posted, <http://www.toray.jp/films/printing/product/picasus.html>, <http: // www .toray.co.jp / news / film / nr080821.html>, <http://www.sankyo-plus.co.jp/japanese/picasus.html>, etc. (examined on January 21, 2010) It is done.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, since the translucent panel was formed with the acrylic board or polycarbonate board which has translucency, durability, impact resistance, and insulation of a translucent panel can be improved. Moreover, the half mirror, touch panel, symbol printing film, and surface emitting layer on the lower surface side of the translucent panel can be protected electrically and mechanically. Moreover, according to the acrylic plate or the polycarbonate plate having translucency, since the visibility of the symbol on the symbol printing film is high and a sufficiently flat surface can be formed, the input operation surface on the uppermost surface of the keyboard device according to the present invention. It is most suitable as a translucent panel for forming
According to the invention of claim 3, since the symbol printing film is formed of a negative symbol printing film in which the symbols are printed in a negative state, a large number of symbols (symbol group) or negative symbols are printed on the film surface. The outer frame portion of the printed area of the symbol group that appears is improved and the visibility and appearance are improved. In addition, since the parts other than the symbol printing part (ground part) are dark, such as black, which is difficult to transmit light, wiring on the lower side of the symbol printing film (negative symbol printing film), traces of touch-up that occurred during symbol printing, etc. Can be hidden.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, since the touch panel was formed with the capacitive touch panel, the touch panel excellent in translucency can be comprised easily compared with a resistive film system etc., for example. Therefore, even in the configuration in which the touch panel is arranged on the upper surface side of the symbol printing film, it is possible to provide a keyboard device that does not reduce the visibility of the symbols printed on the symbol printing film with a relatively simple configuration.
According to the invention according to claim 5, since the vibration motor that operates in conjunction with the detection of the touch on the touch panel is provided, it is confirmed that the input operation surface has been touched without emitting excessively loud sound to the surroundings. The operator can be notified.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the main part of the input operation surface exhibits the effects of the first to third and fifth aspects of the invention, while a part (in the opening region of the symbol print film) is a fluorescent display tube. In addition, it is possible to easily change the symbol display contents such as the effect of the liquid crystal display device, for example, the display change between uppercase letters and lowercase letters.
According to invention of Claim 7, 8 and 9, the keyboard device for personal computers which can exhibit the said effect in the keyboard apparatus of Claims 1-6, an electronic device controller, and an electronic desk calculator can be provided, respectively.

It is a figure which shows the keyboard apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a right view. It is an AA 'line sectional enlarged view in Drawing 1 (a). FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional structure in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic device controller to which the keyboard apparatus which concerns on this invention was applied, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a right view, (d) is a figure (a). It is an AA 'line sectional view in the inside. It is a figure which similarly shows an example of a calculator, (a) is a top view, (b) is a right view, (c) is the sectional view on the AA 'line in (a) figure.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol shows the same or an equivalent part between each figure.
1A and 1B are diagrams showing a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention, specifically, a keyboard device for a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer), where FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a front view. (C) is a right side view. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the cross-sectional structure in FIG. In FIG. 2, a drawing in which a part (portion surrounded by a one-dot chain line) is extracted and enlarged is appended.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the keyboard device according to the present embodiment is a keyboard device for a personal computer, and includes a shallow square dish-shaped lower case 1 having a horizontally long rectangular shape in plan view and a substantially inverted trapezoidal cross section. . The lower case 1 is manufactured by synthetic resin molding, for example, ABS resin molding, and includes a leg portion 1a on the bottom surface.
The lower case 1 houses a main part of a keyboard device that performs an input operation of information, specifically, a symbol by a touch described later.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the lower case 1, a translucent touch panel 2, a symbol printing film 3 on which an arbitrary symbol 3 a (see FIG. 1) is printed, and the symbol printing film 3. The laminated body 5 with the backlight device 4 which is a surface light emitting layer which illuminates is stored. In this case, the touch panel 2 is disposed on the upper surface side of the symbol printing film 3, in the illustrated example, and the backlight device 4 is disposed on the lower surface side of the symbol printing film 3, in the illustrated example.
In the keyboard device according to the present embodiment, the input operation surface 6 located on the uppermost surface of the device is a flat surface without unevenness.

The basic configuration is as described above. In the present embodiment, the configuration is further configured as follows.
That is, the translucent cover panel 7 is laminated on the upper surface side of the touch panel 2, in the present embodiment, on the upper surface of the touch panel 2.
The cover panel 7 is fitted and fixed to the upper end portion of the inner wall of the lower case 1 so as to cover the upper surface opening of the lower case 1, and is positioned at the uppermost part of the apparatus. That is, the upper surface of the cover panel 7 forms the input operation surface 6 and is a flat surface without unevenness.

The cover panel 7 is composed of a laminated body of a translucent plate or sheet (collectively referred to as translucent panel) and a half mirror. In this embodiment, it consists of the laminated body of the translucent panel 8 and the half mirror 9, and the half mirror 9 was arrange | positioned toward the said touch panel 2 side.
In the present embodiment, the translucent panel 8 is made of a transparent acrylic plate or a transparent polycarbonate plate. The half mirror 9 is attached to the translucent panel 8 to constitute the cover panel 7.

The half mirror 9 is disposed toward the touch panel 2 side, that is, the translucent panel 8 is disposed toward the apparatus upper surface side for the following reason.
That is, when the translucent panel 8 is disposed toward the upper surface side of the apparatus, the uppermost surface of the apparatus, that is, the input operation surface 6 is the upper surface of the translucent panel 8. The acrylic plate and the polycarbonate plate forming the translucent panel 8 are all excellent in durability, impact resistance, insulation, and the like, and the keyboard device constituent members disposed on the lower surface side thereof, that is, the half mirror 9 and the touch panel 2, because the symbol printing film 3 and the backlight device 4 can be mechanically and electrically protected, particularly the half mirror 9 and the touch panel 2 located near the input operation surface 6.
In addition, the acrylic plate and the polycarbonate plate are excellent in translucency in addition to the above-mentioned durability, impact resistance, insulation, and the like. The printed symbol 3a is excellent in visibility, and a flat surface without unevenness can be easily obtained. Further, the light-transmitting panel 8 (the upper surface forming member of the cover panel 7) is a material that can easily remove dirt and dirt such as human body oil and fat adhering to the surface and forms the input operation surface 6 on the uppermost surface of the keyboard device. It is because it becomes optimal.

  Since the cover panel 7 and the touch panel 2 have translucency as described above, the symbol 3a printed on the symbol print film 3 on the lower surface of the touch panel 2 can be seen through on the uppermost surface of the apparatus (input operation surface 6). When the cover panel 7 is composed of the translucent panel 8 and the half mirror 9, when the backlight device 4 is turned on, the symbol 3a printed on the symbol printing film 3 is displayed from the input operation surface 6 which is the uppermost surface of the apparatus. You can see through clearly. When the backlight device 4 is turned off, the uppermost surface of the apparatus constituting the input operation surface 6 is in a metal-like mirror state with high glossiness, and the effect as a mirror is exhibited.

The touch panel 2 touches the position of the desired symbol 3a with a finger or the like while seeing through the symbol group 11 printed on the symbol printing film 3 from the surface side, and information (symbol) corresponding to the position of the symbol 3a. Is a device for generating and outputting information. The touch panel 2 realizes a function as a keyboard device (a function of outputting information according to the symbol 3a instructed by touch) in cooperation with a touch panel drive circuit described later.
In this embodiment, the touch panel 2 is a capacitive touch panel. This is because the capacitive touch panel 2 can easily configure a touch panel having excellent translucency compared to other typical resistive film type touch panels.

Further, in the present embodiment, the half mirror 9 is made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film. According to such a half mirror 9, when the keyboard device according to the present embodiment is not operated as a symbol input device (the touch panel 2 is in a non-operating state) and only the backlight device 4 is in an operating state, an input operation is performed. This is because a mirror surface colored according to the characteristics (surface dyeing is possible, etc.) of the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film can be obtained on the uppermost surface of the device forming the surface 6. Such an effect can also be obtained by forming the half mirror 9 with a metal film or a dielectric multilayer film. However, in the half mirror formation with a film, the process cannot be simplified, and labor and time are required. However, according to the half mirror formation with a film as in this embodiment, those problems do not occur.
In addition, the half mirror 9 made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film was used because the other device has the effect that the top surface of the input operation surface 6 can be seen as a mirror surface when the backlight device 4 is turned off. This is because, in particular, it becomes prominent as compared with a half mirror material that tends to cause light diffusion inside. As for the effects that can be seen in the above mirror surface, according to the half mirror 9 made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film, the glossiness of the mirror surface is particularly high compared to other half mirror materials, and as a metallic mirror surface The feature is that the effect of is significantly increased. One of the reasons for using a half mirror 9 made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film is that a mirror surface colored according to the properties of the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film (surface dyeing possible, etc.) is obtained. It is.
Here, the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film is a resin film obtained by laminating ultra-thin polymers having different light refractive indexes in multiple layers, for example, several hundred to 1,000 layers, and the metal is reflected by reflecting light with high luminance. This refers to a film that has been given a metallic luster and texture (high-quality feel) without using. Examples of the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film include a nano-laminated PET film “PICASUS” (trade name, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) that is metal-free and has a metallic luster.

The symbol printing film 3 has a predetermined number of symbols 3a (symbol group 11) on the surface of the translucent substrate film in a predetermined position in a positive state (positive image) or a negative state (negative image). It refers to a printed film, i.e. a positive symbol printing film or a negative symbol printing film.
In the present embodiment, printing is performed in a pattern in which light is transmitted through the symbol 3a portion and only the symbol 3a appears with high brightness. For example, only the outline of the symbol 3a is printed, and black or the like is printed on the ground (background) portion. A negative symbol printing film that performs uniform printing in a dark color is used as the symbol printing film 3. The main reason for this is that only the outer frame portion of the printing area of the symbol 3a (symbol group 11) and the symbol group 11 appearing on the surface of the symbol printing film appears on the negative symbol printing, and the visibility and appearance are improved. It is.

A silk printing method is suitable as a printing method of the symbol 3a. When a capacitive touch panel is used as the touch panel 2 as described above, the symbol 3a is printed using ink that does not contain a metallic substance in order to prevent the touch panel 2 from malfunctioning.
Printing on the symbol print film 3 may be performed on the front surface (touch panel 2 side) or back surface (backlight device 4 side) of the base film, or on both the front and back surfaces. The effect that characters appear to emerge from the surface 6 can be further enhanced. In addition, the cost can be reduced if it is applied to either the front or back side.
It has already been mentioned that symbols refer to letters, numbers, and other symbols, but in a keyboard device for a personal computer, various symbols related to a predetermined key arrangement, such as alphanumeric characters, function key symbols, and other special symbols. Point to. The symbols are arranged according to a predetermined key arrangement.

As the backlight device 4, a sidelight type backlight device including an LED and a light guide plate is used in the present embodiment. In this case, the shape of the light guide plate (pattern) of the backlight device 4 so as to emit light only at the position corresponding to the symbol 3a that is actually illuminated so as to ensure the brightness of the symbol position and reduce the number of LEDs. Is formed.
Instead of the sidelight type backlight device composed of the LED and the light guide plate, a backlight device composed of an inorganic EL light emitting element may be used. According to this, the keyboard device can be made thinner.

Below the components of the cover panel 7, the capacitive touch panel 2, the symbol printing film 3, and the backlight device 4 described above, a circuit for driving the keyboard device, that is, a touch panel drive circuit and a backlight device are turned off and on. A board (circuit board) 12 on which a circuit (not shown) is mounted and a battery (battery for driving the touch panel drive circuit and the backlight device 4) 13 are arranged. In FIG. 3, the battery 13 is not shown.
The touch panel driving circuit realizes a function as a keyboard device by cooperating with the touch panel 2 on the touch panel 2 on the input operation surface 6 on the upper surface of the cover panel 7, in other words, the touch panel 2, that is, the symbol 3a indicated by the touch. It is an electronic circuit that outputs information according to the above. Specifically, the position detection function of the touch panel 2 receives a position signal on the touch panel 2 touched by the operator (actually touched via the input operation surface 6), and the position signal and the symbol printing film. This is an electronic circuit that generates and outputs a specific signal based on a predetermined association with a symbol 3a on three surfaces as a symbol 3a instructed by touch.

  The capacitive touch panel 2 is a touch panel that detects the position of the touched touch panel 2 surface (on the input operation surface 6) by detecting an electric signal generated by static electricity. Both the capacitive touch panel 2 and the touch panel drive circuit are based on known techniques. In other words, the capacitive touch panel 2 and the touch panel drive circuit (circuit board 12) are position detection systems using electrical signals due to static electricity, and are finally associated with touch positions on the touch panel 2 surface. As long as the specific signal corresponding to the symbol 3a is output from the touch panel drive circuit, the touch panel 2 and the touch panel drive circuit having any configuration may be used.

Although the on / off circuit of the backlight device 4 is not shown, it is arranged on the same substrate as the touch panel drive circuit (circuit board 12) here. In this case, the wiring of the lighting circuit of the backlight device 4 is configured so as not to affect the position detection operation of the capacitive touch panel 2. This is the same when the lighting circuit of the backlight device 4 is provided separately from the circuit board 12 of the touch panel drive circuit.
In the present embodiment, although not shown, a vibration motor (Haptics) that operates in conjunction with detection of a touch on the touch panel 2 is provided. This is to notify the operator that the input operation surface 6 has been touched without releasing an unnecessarily loud sound to the surroundings.

According to the present embodiment described above, since the keyboard device itself is not provided with a display device such as an LCD or CRT, which is not an essential component, the cost of the keyboard device can be reduced.
In addition, since the symbol printing film 3 is interposed between the touch panel 2 and the backlight device 4, the wiring of the touch panel 2 from the input operation surface 6 is compared with the configuration in which the backlight device 4 is disposed on the lower surface of the touch panel 2. The group becomes difficult to see, and the operability and appearance are improved.
Further, the touch panel 2 is disposed on the uppermost surface (stacking position closest to the input operation surface 6) of the stacked body 5 of the touch panel 2, the symbol printing film 3, and the backlight device 4, and therefore the lower surface of the backlight device 4 The operation sensitivity of the touch panel 2 is improved as compared with the case where the touch panel 2 is disposed.
Furthermore, since the input operation surface 6 located on the uppermost surface of the apparatus is a flat surface, it is easy to clean and reaches the corners, and dirt such as dust and human body fats and oils are difficult to adhere. Therefore, the appearance is improved and a clean state can be maintained, and there is an advantage that it is particularly suitable for use in a medical field or a clean room.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, since the upper surface of the touch panel 2 was covered with the translucent cover panel 7 and the input operation surface 6 was formed, the laminated body 5 of the touch panel 2, the symbol printing film 3, and the backlight device 4 is formed. The input operation surface (upper surface of the apparatus) 6 can be formed without being restricted by the basic configuration. Therefore, the input operation surface 6 can be formed sufficiently flat so that it can be cleaned more easily. In addition, various materials, colors, designs, and the like can be selected as the cover panel 7 to be used, and durability and decorativeness of the input operation surface 6 can be improved. In particular, the input operation surface 6 (the upper surface of the cover panel 7) may be struck with a finger as one form of touch (keystroke), but the improvement in durability is extremely effective for such keystrokes. Yes, the layer member on the lower surface of the cover panel 7, in this embodiment, the touch panel 2 can be sufficiently protected without being exposed to the uppermost surface of the apparatus. In addition, the cover panel 7 can be arbitrarily colored, color-coded, and further provided with a decoration such as a pattern that does not hinder operability, and the decoration can be increased.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the cover panel 7 is formed including the half mirror 9 made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film. Accordingly, the symbol 3a printed on the symbol printing film 3 during the input operation is hidden when the backlight device 4 is turned off (when the keyboard device is not used), and appears when the backlight device 4 is turned on (when the keyboard device is used). The visible effect can be greatly obtained as compared with the case where only the cover panel member having only translucency is formed.
In addition, when the backlight device 4 is turned off, the upper surface of the device constituting the input operation surface 6 is in a mirror-like state with a high glossiness by a half mirror 9 made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film, and a metal film is used. A great decorative effect as in a mirror can be exhibited. At the same time, a blinding effect of hiding parts irrelevant to the input operation such as the internal structure of the apparatus, for example, the wiring group of the touch panel 2 and the outline of the symbol printing film 3 itself or the symbol printing area can be exhibited.
As the half mirror 9, simply selecting an arbitrary metal glossy nano-laminated PET film from a variety of metal glossy nano-laminated PET films with different colors and visible light absorption rates, etc., the device can be operated at the time of backlight device extinction. A keyboard device with a completely different mirror image on the upper surface, especially a keyboard device for a personal computer, can be easily manufactured.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the cover panel 7 is formed by laminating the half mirror 9 and the translucent panel 8 in particular, so that a wide variety of half mirrors and translucent panels can be selected, and the cover panel 7 itself The characteristics of the cover panel 7 can be variously changed and set as compared with the case where the half-mirror is used. For example, while selecting the optimal material for the input operation surface 6 (translucent panel 8) on the uppermost surface of the apparatus, from among a variety of metallic glossy nano-laminated PET films with different colors and visible light absorption rates, etc. Arbitrary metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film can be selected to make the half mirror 9, which makes it easier to use a keyboard device, especially a personal computer keyboard device, with a completely different mirror image that appears on the top of the device when the backlight device is turned off. Can be made.
The reason for arranging the half mirror 9 toward the touch panel 2 is to protect the half mirror 9. This protective effect is great when the film-like half mirror 9 is attached to the translucent panel 8 as in the present embodiment. This is because the material of the half mirror 9 is weaker than the material normally used for the translucent panel 8.

In this embodiment, since a film-like half mirror is used as the half mirror 9, the ground color for the symbol 3a can be changed by simply replacing the film-like half mirror, and a keyboard with a completely different image can be obtained. It can be easily manufactured.
When a capacitive touch panel is used as the touch panel 2, if the film-like half mirror contains a metal component or a half mirror made of a metal film is used, the operation as a touch panel is hindered. Therefore, a film-like half mirror containing a metal component or a half mirror made of a metal film is not used. The half mirror 9 of this embodiment is a half mirror made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film that does not contain a metal component, and the capacitive touch panel 2 can be used without hindering its operation.

Further, the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film can be surface dyed. In this embodiment, since this film is used as the half mirror 9, the input operation surface 6 can be appropriately colored.
Furthermore, according to the use of the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film as the half mirror 9, the personal computer keyboard device according to the present embodiment is not operated as an input device for inputting information (the touch panel 2 is not operated). When only the backlight device 4 is in an operating state, the device is colored according to the characteristics of the metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film (surface dyeing is possible, etc.) on the uppermost surface of the input operation surface 6 A mirror surface is obtained, and a great decorative effect can be exhibited. Since the keyboard device for a personal computer has a wider input operation surface 6 than the keyboard device of other electronic devices, the decorative effect obtained by the mirror surface is great.
When the backlight device 4 is turned off, the uppermost surface of the apparatus constituting the input operation surface 6 is in a metallic glossy state with high glossiness, and a great decorative effect as in a mirror using a metal film can be exhibited.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the negative symbol printing film is used as the symbol printing film 3, a large number of symbols 3a (symbol group 11) and the printing area of the symbol group 11 appearing on the film surface in the printing of the negative symbol are displayed. The outer frame part appears and visibility and appearance improve.
In addition, since the portion other than the symbol printing portion (ground portion) is dark, such as black, which is difficult to transmit light, it is generated at the time of printing parts or wiring disposed on the lower surface side of the symbol printing film (negative symbol printing film) 3 or printing. It is possible to hide touch-up marks such as pinholes.

Although the symbol 3a may be printed on the touch panel 2 or the like, printing on the film (using the symbol printing film 3) reduces the total cost when manufacturing a wide variety of keyboard devices. Because it can.
That is, the use of the symbol printing film 3 as a separate component from the touch panel 2 and the like can realize cost reduction as a result (in a comprehensive manner) in consideration of processing on the production line, yield during assembly, and the like. In addition, it becomes easy to handle various types of products with different colors and designs. Furthermore, it is possible to prepare a keyboard device in which different symbols are displayed by preparing various symbol printing patterns and selecting a desired symbol printing pattern when printing the symbol 3a on the base film. Therefore, in producing a keyboard device, there are advantages such as the ability to easily cope with the language of each country and various key layouts, the addition and subtraction of desired special characters, the change of character size and font, etc. The symbol printing film 3 was used.

In the present embodiment, a capacitive touch panel is used as the touch panel 2.
Since the capacitive touch panel 2 detects the position by detecting the change in capacitance between the fingertip and the electrode, the electrode is only on one side, and the electrode has become increasingly transparent in recent years. Yes. Therefore, when a capacitive touch panel is used as the touch panel 2, a touch panel with excellent translucency can be easily manufactured compared to the case where a resistive touch panel, which is another typical touch panel, is used. it can. That is, even if it is the structure which arrange | positions the touch panel 2 on the upper surface side of the symbol printing film 3, if the capacitive touch panel 2 excellent in translucency is used, the input operation surface of the symbol 3a on the symbol printing film 3 Visibility from 6 is not reduced. And there exists an advantage that the touch panel 2 by which visibility is not reduced in this way, and by extension, a keyboard apparatus can be produced comparatively easily.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the vibration motor that operates in conjunction with the detection of the touch on the touch panel 2 is provided, so that the input operation surface 6 is touched without emitting excessively loud sound to the surroundings. This can be notified to the operator.

In the above embodiment, a touch panel other than the capacitive type may be used as the touch panel. If the touch panel has a method in which the metal does not hinder the operation, the symbol 3a can be printed using ink containing a metallic substance.
Further, a positive symbol printing film may be used instead of the negative symbol printing film. In the present invention, the symbol printing film can be changed to either a positive or negative symbol printing film simply by changing the symbol printing film, and an unusual input operation surface can be displayed.
Furthermore, a touch sound generator may be provided in place of the vibration motor for notification of a touch on the input operation surface.

As a modification of the keyboard device according to the present invention, the following configuration is also possible.
That is, in the above-described embodiment, the openings are respectively formed in part of the facing portions of the symbol printing film and the backlight device (surface emitting layer). In addition, a fluorescent display tube (VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display)) or a liquid crystal display device may be incorporated and arranged so that the symbol can be displayed through the translucent touch panel in the opening region.
According to such a keyboard device, the main part of the input operation surface (the input operation surface corresponding to the laminated body of the translucent touch panel, the symbol printing film, and the backlight device) is the above-described embodiment (the touch panel has a static touch panel). Except for the configuration using a capacitive touch panel.). On the other hand, with respect to a part of the input operation surface (the input operation surface portion corresponding to the opening area of the symbol printing film and the backlight device), the effect of using the fluorescent display tube or the liquid crystal display device, for example, upper case letters, lower case letters There is an effect that it is possible to easily change the symbol display contents such as a display change between each other.

Next, application examples of the keyboard device according to the present invention to other electronic devices will be described.
4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of an electronic device controller to which the keyboard device according to the present invention is applied, specifically, an example of a TV remote control device. FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG. 4B is a front view, and FIG. The right side view, (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ in FIG. In FIG. 4D, an enlarged view of a part (a part surrounded by a one-dot chain line) is added.
5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of a calculator to which the keyboard device according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a right side view, and FIG. 5C is AA in FIG. FIG. In FIG. 5C, a diagram in which a part (a part surrounded by a one-dot chain line) is extracted and enlarged is appended.
4 and 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 denote the same or corresponding parts.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the keyboard device according to the present invention is used as the keyboard device for the TV remote control device and the calculator of this example.
That is, a laminated body 5 in which a translucent touch panel 2, a symbol printing film 3, and a backlight device 4 are laminated in order from the upper surface side of the apparatus is provided as a basic configuration, and the upper surface of the laminated body 5 (upper surface of the touch panel 2) is transparent. An optical cover panel 7 is arranged. A keyboard device in which the input operation surface located on the uppermost surface is a flat surface is used. In the illustrated example, similar to the keyboard device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the translucent cover panel 7 is formed by laminating a translucent panel 8 and a half mirror 9 made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film. The half mirror 9 is arranged toward the touch panel 2 side.

According to the TV remote control device and the keyboard device of the calculator configured as described above, the same effects as those of the keyboard device shown in FIGS. That is, the effects of the above-described basic configuration can be obtained that the cost can be reduced, the operability and the appearance can be improved, the operation sensitivity of the touch panel is not lowered, and the cleanliness of the input operation surface can be improved. Further, the translucent cover panel 7 covers the upper surface of the touch panel 2, and the cover panel 7 is laminated by the translucent panel 8 and a half mirror 9 made of a metallic glossy nano-laminated PET film. If 9 is arranged toward the touch panel 2 side, various effects similar to those of the keyboard device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 described above can be exhibited. For example, the material, color, and design of the cover panel 7 can be easily selected by selecting the translucent panel 8, and the durability and decorativeness of the input operation surface 6 can be improved. 9 can improve the appearance and decoration effect.
The TV remote control device shown in FIG. 4 and the calculator shown in FIG. 5 have an electronic configuration such as a circuit and a mechanical configuration such as a component arrangement structure so as to function as the TV remote control device and the calculator, respectively. is there.
In FIG. 4, 42 indicates an infrared emission window, and in FIG. 5, 51 indicates a solar cell, and 52 indicates an LCD (liquid crystal display device).

1: lower case, 2: translucent touch panel, 3: symbol printing film, 3a: symbol, 4: backlight device, 5: laminate, 6: input operation surface (upper surface of device), 7: cover panel, 8: Translucent panel, 9: Half mirror (metal glossy nano-laminated PET film), 11: Symbol group.

Claims (9)

In a keyboard device comprising a laminate of a translucent touch panel, a symbol printing film on which an arbitrary symbol is printed, and a surface emitting layer that illuminates the symbol printing film,
The touch panel is disposed on the upper surface side of the symbol printing film,
The surface emitting layer is disposed on the lower surface side of the symbol printing film,
The input operation surface located on the top surface is a flat surface,
A translucent cover panel is laminated on the upper surface of the touch panel, the upper surface of the cover panel forms the input operation surface, and
The cover panel is a laminate of a translucent panel and a half mirror disposed toward the touch panel side,
The said half mirror consists of a metallic glossy nano lamination PET film, The keyboard apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the translucent panel is made of a translucent acrylic plate or a polycarbonate plate.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the symbol printing film is a negative symbol printing film in which the symbol is printed in a negative state.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is a capacitive touch panel.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration motor that operates in conjunction with detection of a touch on the touch panel.   A fluorescent display tube or a liquid crystal display device is incorporated and arranged so that a symbol is displayed through the translucent touch panel in each opening part of the opposed portion of the symbol printing film and the surface light emitting layer. The keyboard device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the keyboard device is provided.   A keyboard device for a personal computer, wherein the keyboard device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is used.   An electronic device controller using the keyboard device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. An electronic desk calculator using the keyboard device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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