US20100201642A1 - Touch input apparatus and portable electronic device including same - Google Patents

Abstract

The portable electronic device of the present invention comprises a touch input apparatus including a touch panel installed on a surface of a display. The touch panel has a lead part projecting at the end of a detecting section. The detecting section includes a matrix area A where X value detection lines and Y value detection lines are arranged in matrix, and a lead area B where a plurality of lead lines extending from the matrix area A in the same direction as the X value detection lines to reach the lead part are arranged. A first touch input section is formed by the matrix area A of the touch panel, and a second touch input section is formed by the lead area B.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates to a touch input apparatus installed in a portable electronic device such as a portable telephone, a digital camera or the like.
BACKGROUND ART
• Generally, a portable telephone includes a small potable housing in which a thin display such as a liquid crystal display or the like and a plurality of operation keys such as a numerical keypad or the like are arranged. A wide range of information can be displayed by the display, and a wide range of information can be inputted by operating the operation keys.
• Also, in a portable telephone, in order to improve its operability, a touch panel is placed so as to cover a screen of the display, so that, for example, by performing a touch operation of a key image displayed on the display, a function corresponding to the key image can be activated (e.g., Japan Patent Laid-Open 2000-78252).
• As shown inFIG. 3, atouch panel6 comprises a detectingpart61 on an end part of which alead part62 projects. The detectingpart61 includes a transparent matrix area A where Xvalue detection lines63 extending in a Y-axis direction and Yvalue detection lines64 extending in an X-axis direction are arranged in matrix, and a nontransparent lead area B comprising a plurality oflead lines65 extending from the matrix area A in the Y-axis direction to reach thelead part62. The matrix area A functions as a two-dimensional input apparatus.
• In a case where thetouch panel6 is installed in a portable telephone, as shown inFIG. 3, thetouch panel6 is placed so that the matrix area A is superposed on animage display area41 of adisplay4. When the portable telephone is in operation, a plurality of key images are displayed on a screen of thedisplay4. By performing a touch operation at a position where a certain key image is displayed, obtained are an X value output and a Y value output according to a touch position.
• In thetouch panel6 shown inFIG. 3, the lead area B comprising the plurality oflead lines65 does not function as a two-dimensional touch input apparatus, and therefore, in a case where thetouch panel6 is installed in a portable telephone, the lead area B of thetouch panel6 is covered by a cover panel to expose on a front face only the matrix area A where a two-dimensional output is obtained.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONProblems to be Solved by the Invention
• However, in small electronic devices such as a portable telephone or the like, the display has a larger screen with recent increase in quantity of information to be displayed, and the number of operation keys increases with multi-functionalization. Therefore, further downsizing of the device is difficult.
• Therefore, the present invention is, in a portable electronic device with a touch input apparatus including a touch panel placed on a surface of a display, to provide a touch input apparatus which can decrease a size of the device compared to conventional ones, and a portable electronic device comprising said touch input apparatus while realizing both increasing the size of the display and increasing the number of operation keys.
Means for Solving the Problem
• A touch input apparatus according to the present invention comprises adisplay4 on a surface of which atouch panel6 is installed.
• Thetouch panel6 comprises a detectingpart61 on an end part of which alead part62 projects. The detectingpart61 includes a matrix area A where an Xvalue detection line63 and a Yvalue detection line64 are arranged in matrix, and a lead area B where a plurality oflead lines65 extending from the matrix area A in the same direction as theX-axis detection line63 to reach thelead part62 are arranged. A first touch input section is formed by the matrix area A of thetouch panel6, and a second touch input section is formed by the lead area B.
• With the above described touch input apparatus, by performing a touch operation on the matrix area A of thetouch panel6, a two-dimensional output (X value output and Y value output) according to a touch position is obtained. Therefore, by displaying on the display a plurality of key images arranged in a two dimensional direction, formed is a first operation key part where information is inputted by performing a touch operation of the key image.
• Also, with the above described touch input apparatus, by performing a touch operation on the lead area B of thetouch panel6, obtained is a one-dimensional output (X value output) according to the touch position in a direction crossing thelead line65. Therefore, by providing one or morekey display sections35 in a one-dimensional direction crossing thelead line65 so as to cover the lead area of thetouch panel6, formed is a second operation key part where information is inputted by performing a touch operation on the operation part. Here, in the case where there are more than onekey display sections35, by arranging key display sections in an X-axis direction, the touch position can be recognized only by the X value output.
• In a particular configuration, acover panel33 is placed so as to cover thetouch panel6. On thecover panel33, a light-transmittingpanel section34 is formed in an area covering the first touch input section of thetouch panel6, and one or morekey display sections35 are provided on a line extending in a direction crossing theX-axis detection line63 in an area covering the second touch input section.
• According to this particular configuration, a plurality of key images displayed on thedisplay4 can be viewed through the light-transmittingpanel section34 of thecover panel33. By performing a touch operation of any one key image, a two-dimensional output (X value output and Y value output) according to the position of the key image is obtained. Also, by performing a touch operation of any onekey display section35 of the one or morekey display sections35 provided on thecover panel33, a one-dimensional output (X value output) according to the position of thekey display section35 is obtained. Here, since the plurality ofkey display sections35 are arranged in a direction crossing theX-axis detection line63, the touch position can be recognized only by the X value output.
• A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a touch input apparatus according to the present invention described above, and by the touch operation of the second touch input section of thetouch panel6, a screen displayed on thedisplay4 is changed.
• Alternatively, an image regarding device operation is displayed on thedisplay4, and by a touch operation of the second touch input section of thetouch panel6, an operation signal regarding the image displayed on thedisplay4 is generated.
Effect of the Invention
• With the touch input apparatus and the portable electronic device according to the present invention, since the lead area of the touch panel which was not used conventionally is utilized as a second operation key part, a space occupied by the lead area is utilized effectively, and the size of the device can be decreased compared to conventional ones.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable telephone according to the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a display side body of the portable telephone;
• FIG. 3 is a plan view of a touch panel;
• FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an image display example on a sub-display; and
• FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another image display example on the sub-display.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
• 2 operation side body
• 3 display side body
• 33 cover panel
• 34 light-transmitting panel section
• 35 key display section
• 4 sub-display
• 6 touch panel
• 61 detecting part
• 62 lead part
• 63 X value detection line
• 64 Y value detection line
• 65 lead line
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
• An embodiment in which the present invention is implemented in a portable telephone is to be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
• As shown inFIG. 1, a portable telephone according to the present invention comprises anoperation side body2 and adisplay side body3 foldably connected to each other. A plurality of operation keys (not shown) such as a numerical keypad or the like are arranged inside theoperation side body2, and a main display (not shown) including a large screen is arranged inside thedisplay side body3.
• Also, atransmission part5 is arranged in a lower end part of theoperation side body2, and areceiver part51 is arranged in an upper end part of thedisplay side body3.
• As shown inFIG. 2, thedisplay side body3 comprises an innercase half body30 on which asub-display4 is mounted, a rearcase half body31 provided with anaperture32 corresponding to a screen of thesub-display4, atouch panel6 placed on the rearcase half body31 so as to cover the screen of thesub-display4, and acover panel33 made of resin placed on the rearcase half body31 so as to cover thetouch panel6.
• As shown inFIG. 3, thetouch panel6 comprises adetecting part61 and alead part62 projecting on an end part of the detectingpart61. A tip end part of thelead part62 is connected to a circuit board (not shown) on the inner casehalf body30.
• The detectingpart61 of thetouch panel6 includes a transparent matrix area A where an Xvalue detection line63 extending in a Y-axis direction and a Yvalue detection line64 extending in an X-axis direction are arranged in matrix, and a nontransparent lead area B where a plurality oflead lines65 extending from the matrix area A in the Y-axis direction to reach thelead part62 are arranged.
• Thetouch panel6 is placed so that the matrix area A is superposed on animage display area41 of thedisplay4.
• In the above describedtouch panel6, by touching with a finger-tip an intersection point of the Xvalue detection line63 and the Yvalue detection line64 or a point adjacent thereto, an X value output and a Y value output according to the touch position are obtained, and a Z value output according to the touch operation force is obtained.
• When a touch operation is performed on the matrix area A of thetouch panel6, the X value output and the Y value output are stable, and the Z value output has a certain size, too. Therefore, the touch position can be detected from the X value output and the Y value output.
• In contrast, when a touch operation is performed on the lead area B of thetouch panel6, the X value output is stable, but the Y value output is unstable. Also, the Z value output is greater than the Z value output when the touch operation is performed on the matrix area A. Therefore, it is recognized that it is a touch operation of the lead area B by an increase of the Z value output, and the touch position in the X-axis direction can be detected from the X value output.
• As shown inFIG. 2, a light-transmittingpanel section34 is formed on thecover panel33 in an area opposed to the matrix area A of thetouch panel6, and a plurality ofkey display sections35 aligned in the X-axis direction are provided in an area opposed to the lead area B of thetouch panel6.
• When the portable telephone is in operation, a plurality of key images are displayed on a screen of the display4 (seeFIGS. 1 and 2). If a touch operation is performed on the light-transmittingpanel section34 of thecover panel33 at a position where a certain key image is displayed, an X value output and a Y value output according to the touch position, and a Z value output of a certain size are obtained. Therefore, an operation signal according to the key image on which the touch operation was performed is generated based on the X value output and the Y value output.
• Also, if a touch operation is performed on any onekey display section35 of the plurality ofkey display sections35 of thecover panel33, an X value output according to the touch position and a great Z value output are obtained. Therefore, it is determined whichkey display section35 has been operated based on the X value output, and an operation signal according to the operatedkey display section35 is generated.
• For example, as shown inFIG. 4, in the case of scroll-displaying a plurality of operation key images on theimage display area41 of thesub-display4, by performing a touch operation on onekey display section35 of the plurality ofkey display sections35, it is possible to switch the image of a group of operation keys displayed on theimage display area41 to an image of a group of operation keys in which the operation key designated by thekey display section35 on which the touch operation was performed is the first key.
• Also, as shown inFIG. 5, in the case where a title of and a reproduction time for a music album are displayed on theimage display area41 of thesub-display4, the operation key regarding the reproduction operation (e.g., start reproduction, forwarding, backward feed, and the like) is shown by the plurality ofkey display sections35. By performing a touch operation of any one of thekey display sections35, it is possible to order one reproduction operation designated by the operatedkey display section35.
• With the portable telephone of the present invention described above, since the lead area B of thetouch panel6 which was not used conventionally is utilized as a second operation part, a space occupied by the lead area B is utilized effectively, and as a result, the size of the portable telephone can be decreased compared to conventional ones.
• The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment in construction but can be modified variously within the technical range set forth in the appended claims. In the embodiment described above, the present invention is implemented with respect to the sub display section which is exposed when a foldable telephone is folded. However, as long as a touch panel is included in a main display section which is covered when folded, the present invention can also be implemented with respect to the main display section.
• The second operation key part provided in the embodiment described above supplements operation of the indication in the image display area and the operation of the main key operation part. However, in some cases it may be controlled to become unusable in a mode, an application or the like. Thereby it is possible to prevent erroneous operation, and it is not necessary to control to prevent an extra input process from being received to be processed.
• Also, in the present invention, it is also possible to use the second operation key part as a main operation part to operate contents displayed in the image display area, so that the first operation key part in the image display area is not used. For example, when simply reproducing music as shown inFIG. 5, it is not necessary to operate in the image display area. Therefore, it is also possible to display information regarding the music (including movie clip, music information, photograph (jacket) or the like) in this display area, and handle simple functions (reproduction, forwarding, backward feed) in this second operation key part, so that the screen is specialized in indication and a touch-input to a large screen is disabled.
• The present invention can also be implemented in a sliding portable telephone or a straight type portable telephone as well as a foldable portable telephone, and further, can be implemented in various portable terminal devices such as a digital camera, a game machine or the like as well as a portable telephone.

Claims (9)

1. A touch input apparatus comprising a display on a surface of which a touch panel is installed, the touch panel comprising a detecting part on an end part of which a lead part projects, the detecting part including a matrix area A where an X value detection line and a Y value detection line are arranged in matrix, and a lead area B where a plurality of lead lines extending from the matrix area A in the same direction as the X value detection line to reach the lead part are arranged, wherein a first touch input section is formed by the matrix area A of the touch panel, and a second touch input section is formed by the lead area B.

2. The touch input apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein a cover panel is placed so as to cover the touch panel, on the cover panel, a light-transmitting panel section is formed in an area covering the first touch input section of the touch panel, and one or more key display sections are provided on a line extending in a direction crossing the X value detection line in an area covering the second touch input section.

3. A portable electronic device comprising a display on a surface of which a touch panel is installed, the touch panel comprising a detecting part on an end part of which a lead part projects, the detecting part including a matrix area A where an X value detection line and a Y value detection line are arranged in matrix, and a lead area B where a plurality of lead lines extending from the matrix area A in the same direction as the X value detection line to reach the lead part are arranged, wherein a first touch input section is formed by the matrix area A of the touch panel, and a second touch input section is formed by the lead area B.

4. The portable electronic device according toclaim 3, wherein a cover panel is placed so as to cover the touch panel, on the cover panel, a light-transmitting panel section is formed in an area covering the first touch input section of the touch panel, and one or more key display sections are provided on a line extending in a direction crossing the X value detection line in an area covering the second touch input section.

5. The portable electronic device according toclaim 3, wherein by a touch operation of the second touch input section of the touch panel, a screen displayed on the display is changed.

6. (canceled)

7. The portable electronic device according toclaim 4, wherein by a touch operation of the second touch input section of the touch panel, a screen displayed on the display is changed.

8. The portable electronic device according toclaim 3, wherein an image regarding device operation is displayed on the display, and by a touch operation of the second touch input section of the touch panel, an operation signal regarding the image displayed on the display is generated.

9. The portable electronic device according toclaim 4, wherein an image regarding device operation is displayed on the display, and by a touch operation of the second touch input section of the touch panel, an operation signal regarding the image displayed on the display is generated.

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