Apparatus for detecting the coordinate position of a contact point on touch panel

• US 5,496,974 A
• Filed: 05/06/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gunze Limited
• Original Assignee: Gunze Limited
• Inventors: Akebi, Kazuhiko, Taki, Kensuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/238,844
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 178/19, 178/20, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 178/18.05
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

In an apparatus for detecting a coordinate position of a contact point in a touch panel, a resistance layer having a pair of electrodes opposed in a X direction and another resistance layer having a pair of electrodes opposed in a Y direction are opposed in a Z direction. The apparatus includes the following units. A unit for applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes of one resistance layer when the apparatus is in an input stand-by state. A resistance connecting an electrode of the other resistance layer to earth when the apparatus is in the input stand-by state. A unit for detecting a voltage induced to the other electrode of the other resistance layer when the resistance layers contact with each other in an event of a depressing operation. A unit for controlling the transition from the input stand-by state to another state in which an operation for detecting the coordination position is executed, when the voltage is induced to the other electrode of the other resistance layer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a coordinate position of a contact point in a touch panel including a first resistance layer having first and second electrodes opposed in an X direction and a second resistance layer having first and second electrodes opposed in a Y direction, said first resistance layer and said second resistance layer being opposed in a Z direction, said apparatus comprising:

voltage application means for applying an application voltage to said first and second electrodes of said first resistance layer when said apparatus is in an input stand-by state;

resistance means for applying a resistance between one of said first electrode and second electrode of a second resistance layer and ground when said apparatus is in said input stand-by state;

voltage detection means for detecting an induced voltage induced to a remaining one of said first and second electrodes of said second resistance layer when said first resistance layer and said second resistance layer contact with each other in an event of a depressing operation; and

control means for controlling a transition from said input stand-by state to another state in which an operation for detecting said coordination position is executed, when said induced voltage is induced to said remaining one of said first and second electrodes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said voltage application means comprises a voltage source, a first switch element, and a change-over switch,

said first switch element connecting said voltage source with one of said first electrode and second electrode of the first resistance layer, and said change-over switch connecting said voltage source with a remaining electrode of said first resistance layer;

and

said resistance means being a series circuit including a resistance element having a predetermined resistance value and a second switch element,

wherein said first and second switch elements are on and said change-over switch is so shifted as to connect said voltage source with said remaining electrode of said first resistance layer when said apparatus is in said input stand-by state.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said remaining electrode of said remaining resistance layer is connected with said voltage source via a third switch element, said remaining electrode being a candidate for detecting said induced voltage by said voltage detection means, and said third switch element being off when said apparatus is in said input stand-by state.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said one of said first and second electrodes of said remaining resistance layer is connected with a terminal of said change-over switch, said one of said first and second electrodes being connected to said voltage detection means, and said change-over switch being open when said apparatus is in said input stand-by state.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said control means controls said switch elements and said change-over switch to construct a circuit in which said application voltage is applied on said first electrode and second electrode of said first resistance layer, and said resistance means is disposed between said one of said first electrode and second electrode of said second resistance layer and the ground, and another circuit in which said application voltage is alternately applied on said first resistance layer and said second resistance layer, and synchronously one of said first resistance layer and said second resistance layer which is not being applied with said application voltage is connected with the ground, thereby detecting said induced voltage induced to said remaining electrode of said second resistance layer when said apparatus is in said other state in which said operation for detecting said coordination position is executed.