U.S. patent application number 10/776520 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-19 for input device for injection molding machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hakoda, Takashi, Nishizawa, Chiharu, Takizawa, Michiaki, Usui, Kazuo.
Application Number | 20040160423 10/776520 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 17460881 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040160423 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takizawa, Michiaki ; et
al. |
August 19, 2004 |
Input device for injection molding machine
Abstract
An input device for an injection molding machine is constructed
with an input touch panel fitted over a display screen. The input
touch panel is formed greater than the display screen. A panel
extension portion of the input touch panel is located outside of
the display screen. At least one key portion having at least one
specific key is displayed on the panel extension portion. By this
arrangement, no separate switch panel, such as a membrane sheet
switch, is necessary and all inputs can be made by touch
operation.
Inventors: |
Takizawa, Michiaki; (Nagano,
JP) ; Usui, Kazuo; (Nagano, JP) ; Hakoda,
Takashi; (Nagano, JP) ; Nishizawa, Chiharu;
(Nagano, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Nissei Plastic Industrial Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
17460881 |
Appl. No.: |
10/776520 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10776520 |
Feb 12, 2004 |
|
|
|
08947470 |
Oct 9, 1997 |
|
|
|
6720952 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04886 20130101;
B29C 45/1774 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 9, 1996 |
JP |
8-268606 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. An apparatus comprising: a molding machine; and an input device
for inputting data into said molding machine, said input device
including; an electronic display screen defined within a first
area; a touch input panel having a sensing region responsive to a
touch of a human finger, said sensing region being defined within a
second area, said second area overlapping said first area and being
larger than said first area, and a portion of said second area
which does not overlie said first area being defined as a panel
extension portion and overlaying indicia, indicating functions of a
plurality of input keys.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said molding machine
is an injection molding machine.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first area of
said display screen includes input keys for operating parameters of
said injection molding machine.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of
input keys includes a ten-key numeric input.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of
input keys includes a cursor movement input.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of
input keys includes a plurality of function keys.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of
input keys includes a ten-key numeric input, a cursor movement
input, and a plurality of function keys.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 08/947,470 filed on Oct. 9, 1997 for
which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120; and the
present application claims priority of Patent Application No.
8-268606 filed in Japan on Oct. 9, 1996 under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119.
The entire contents of each of these applications are herein fully
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an input device for an
injection molding machine having an input touch panel fitted over a
screen of a display device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Conventionally, as an input device for an injection molding
machine, there has been known a touch type input device for an
injection molding machine as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Heisei 2(1990)-103114. With such
touch type input device, all input operation can be performed
through an input touch panel fitted over a screen of a display
device.
[0006] On the other hand, as another example of the conventional
input device, in which the touch type input device is applied,
there has been known an input device 50, in which the touch type
input device is combined with an independently provided switch
panel as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0007] The shown input device 50 includes a first input device 50a
and a second input device 50b. The first input device 50a includes
an input touch panel 52 fitted over a screen 51v of a display
device. The first input device 50a is designed such that various
key pattern portions 53a, 53b, 53c, . . . displayed on the screen
51v as shown in FIG. 6 may be selected for touching by a finger,
and then, the XY coordinates of the touched position on the input
touch panel 52 are detected by a not shown controller.
[0008] In the case of the injection molding machine, there are a
wide variety of items to be set, such as pressure, speed, position,
temperature and so forth. A ten key portion 54, commonly used for
setting various molding conditions and so forth; a function key
portion 55, including a screen selector key and so forth; and a
cursor key portion 56; are provided in another independent switch
panel 57 formed with a membrane sheet switch or so forth. This
switch panel 57 is arranged at an adjacent position to the screen
51v to constitute the second input device 50b.
[0009] However, in such input device 50, since the second input
device 50b formed with the switch panel 57 in addition to the first
input device 50a, cost is inherently risen for necessity of use of
the switch panel 57 of membrane sheet switch or so forth.
Furthermore, since the number and layout of the key switches in the
switch panel 57 is fixed, addition and deletion of the key and/or
modification of the key switch layout is not possible to cause a
problem in poor general applicability and evolvability. In
addition, while the input touch panel 52 of the first input device
50a requires only soft toughing for input, the switch panel 57 of
the second switch device 50b requires depression with relatively
large force to cause different touching feeling in operation to
degrade operation feeling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an input device for an injection molding machine which can
make the separate switch panel, such as membrane sheet switch or
the like unnecessary to realize significant reduction of cost.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
input device for an injection molding machine which can provide
uniform key touching feeling over all keys in operation and thus
improve operation feeling in use.
[0012] In order to accomplish the foregoing object, an input device
for an injection molding machine, according to the present
invention, having an input touch panel fitted over a display
screen, comprises a panel extension portion extended from the input
touch panel and located out of the display screen, and at least one
key portion having at least specific key, the at least one key
portion being displayed on the panel extension portion.
[0013] By this, in the panel extension portion to be a part of the
input touch panel, a ten-key portion, a function key portion and a
cursor key portion are provided. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary
to provide a separate switch panel, such as a membrane sheet switch
or the like. Also, since the ten-key portion, the function key
portion and cursor key portion can be displayed by printing or so
forth, addition, deletion of keys and modification of layout can be
facilitated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention will be understood more fully from the
detailed description given herebelow and from the accompanying
drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
which, however, should not be taken to be limitative to the
invention, but are for explanation and understanding only.
[0015] In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the preferred
embodiment of an input device according to the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment of
the input device;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a processing system
including the preferred embodiment of the input device;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of another form of a
key portion in the preferred embodiment of the input device;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the conventional
input device; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the conventional input device
of FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in
detail in terms of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
following description, numerous specific details are set forth in
order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.
It will be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the
present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
In other instances, well-known structures are not shown in detail
in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present
invention.
[0023] At first, a construction of the preferred embodiment of an
input device 1 according to the present invention, will be
discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0024] In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 denotes a display
employing a liquid crystal display. On a screen 2v of the display
2, input touch panel 3 is fitted over. In this case, the input
touch panel 3 is formed greater than the screen 2v to provide a
panel extension portion 3e extended outside of the screen 2v. The
input touch panel 3 may be any type of touch panel, such as an
electrostatic capacitive type, optical type, resistance sheet type
or so forth. As one example, the electrostatic capacitive type
input touch panel has a multi-layered structure consisting of a
transparent substrate layer, a transparent resistor film layer and
a transparent insulation layer, and is designed to output XY
coordinate information of a touched position by touching the
surface thereof with a hand.
[0025] On the surface of the panel extension portion 3e, ten-key
portion Sa, having one or more specific keys k . . . , a function
key portion Sb, including a screen selector key, and a cursor key
portion Sc, are printed. Also, adjacent the display 2, a support
plate 4 is arranged for supporting the panel extension portion 3e
in flush with the screen 2v of the display 2. In this case, it is
not essential to provide the support plate 4 as a separate
component, but an existing panel for housing may be used as the
support plate.
[0026] It should be appreciated that while the shown embodiment has
the key portions Sa, Sb, Sc printed in the panel extension portion
3e to make the accessible positions for key operation visually
perceptible, it is also possible to print these key portions on the
support plate so that the printed keys on the support plate may be
visible through the transparent panel extension portion 3e. Also,
it is possible to fit or adhere a printed matter, on which the key
portions are printed, on the surface of the panel extension portion
3e. In the further alternative, a printed sheet 7, on which the
keys are printed at respective positions, may be interposed between
the panel extension portion 3e and the support plate 4, as shown in
FIG. 4. Furthermore, it is also possible to employ the foregoing
manners of indication of the accessible positions in combination.
In any case, it is facilitated to add or delete the keys and to
modify key layout.
[0027] The input touch panel 3 is connected to a controller 10
which has a coordinate detecting function portion 11 and a
controller main body 12. The controller main body 12 has a computer
function. The display 2 is connected to the controller main body
12. It should be noted that the input device 1 constructed as set
forth above is arranged on a side surface panel Mp of an injection
molding machine M.
[0028] Next, a function of the preferred embodiment of the input
device 1 will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0029] At first, on the screen 2v, various key pattern portions
13a, 13b, 13c, . . . are displayed. Thus, by selecting desired key
pattern portions 13a, . . . , setting of molding conditions of the
injection molding machine or so forth can be performed. For
instance, selecting "injection speed key" and touching a position
of the input touch panel corresponding to the selected key by a
finger, the XY coordinate of the touched position on the input
touch panel 2 is detected by the coordinate detecting function
portion 11 in the controller 10. At this time, the detected XY
coordinate identifies the position other than the area of the panel
extension portion 3e. Therefore, the coordinate detecting function
portion 11 makes a judgment that the incoming XY coordinate
information is input information corresponding to the key pattern
portion 13a, 13b, 13c, . . . displayed on the display screen 2v to
supply a first output to the controller main body 12. Accordingly,
the first output is used as an input of the input touch panel
corresponding to the screen 2v, as is well known in the art.
[0030] According to the present invention, input can be performed
in a similar manner though the ten-key portion Sa, the function key
portion Sb and the cursor key portion Sc displayed on the panel
extension portion 3e. For instance, after selection of "injection
speed key", a numerical value corresponding to a set value is
selected by keys k . . . in the ten-key portion Sa. Positions
within the panel extension portion 3e corresponding to the selected
numerical value by the finger, the XY coordinate in the panel
extension portion 3e, is detected by the coordinate detecting
function portion 11. At this time, the detected XY coordinate
identifies the XY coordinate position within the area of the panel
extension portion 3e. Therefore, the coordinate detecting function
portion 11 makes a judgment that the incoming XY coordinate
represents input information entered from the ten-key portion Sa,
the function key portion Sb or the cursor key portion Sc to supply
a second output to the controller main body 12.
[0031] As set forth above, in the shown embodiment of the input
device, since all input can be performed through the input touch
panel 3, a separate switch panel, such as a membrane sheet switch
or the like becomes unnecessary to contribute to a lowering of the
cost. Also, since feeling in touching of the key in operation is
uniform over all keys, operation feeling in use can be remarkably
improved.
[0032] It should be noted that a method for performing all input
through the input touch panel 3 has been disclosed in Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication No. Heisei 2 (1990) 103114. As in the
input device of the above-identified publication, in which the
ten-key portion Sa, the function key portion Sb and the cursor key
portion Sc may be displayed on the screen 2v of the display 2,
However, in such case, the display 2 has to be greater for
displaying increased number of key patterns to make the display
bulky. This results in difficulty for satisfying a demand for low
costs. Furthermore, it becomes difficult to discriminate the
ten-key portions Sa, the function key portion Sb and the cursor key
portion Sc from other key patterns 13a, . . . displayed on the
screen 2v to cause lowering of operability and to be a cause of
erroneous operation.
[0033] Also, since the ten-key portion Sa, the function key portion
Sb and the cursor key portion Sc can be displayed by printing or
the like, addition and deletion of the keys k . . . and
modification of the key layout can be facilitated.
[0034] Although the present invention has been illustrated and
described with respect to an exemplary embodiment thereof, it
should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing
and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made
therein and thereto, without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not
be understood as limited to the specific embodiment set out above
but to include all possible embodiments which can be embodied
within a scope encompassed, and equivalents thereof, with respect
to the features set out in the appended claims.
[0035] For example, while the shown embodiment has been discussed
in terms of the preferred embodiment, in which the display 2 is
constructed with the liquid crystal display, any appropriate
display device, such as a CRT display, plasma display and the like,
can be employed. Also, the key portions to be displayed on the
surface of the panel extension portion 3e are specified to those
illustrated in the shown embodiment. That is, the key portions to
be displayed in the panel extension portion 3e can be one or two of
the ten-key portion Sa, the function key portion Sb and the cursor
key portion Sc. In the alternative, any additional key portion may
be provided in the panel extension portion 3e.
* * * * *