Input device having activating means

• US 20060002203A1
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Saito, Toshihiko, Kondo, Takashi, Nakano, Kazunori
• Application Number:
  US11/167,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002203A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

An activating section is bonded to the lower portion of an input section. When a face sheet is pushed by a finger or the like, the pushing force is transmitted to the interior of an input device, and an upper electrode comes into contact with a lower electrode so as to become conductive. A push signal (interrupting signal) generated at the conduction interrupts a CPU. The CPU activates the input section on the basis of the interrupting signal. Then, a sensor circuit of the input section detects coordinate positions of the finger or the like. That is to say, when the finger or the like does not push the face sheet, the input section is not activated and the sensor circuit does not perform a scan or the like. As a result, unnecessary power supply to the circuit is cut, and the power consumption can be reduced.

Claims

1. An input device having activating means comprising:

a face sheet, an upper surface of the face sheet functioning as an operational surface; and

an input section for detecting plane coordinates of an operational position on the operational surface, the input section being disposed under the face sheet, wherein

the activating means is disposed on a surface of the input section remote from the face sheet, and detects an operation on the operational surface; and

the input section is activated on the basis of an operating signal output from the activating means.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

the activating means and the input section are connected to controlling means;

and

the controlling means outputs an activating signal to the input section in response to the operating signal output from the activating means.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

the activating means comprises a switch portion;

the switch portion enters an input state so as to output a push signal when the operational surface is pushed; and

the input section is activated on the basis of the push signal.

4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein

said switch portion comprises a plurality of switch portions.

5. The input device according to claim 3, wherein

the activating means comprises

an upper sheet having an upper electrode disposed on a lower surface of the upper sheet;

and

a lower sheet having a lower electrode disposed on an upper surface of the lower sheet, the lower sheet opposing the upper sheet with a predetermined spacing therebetween; and

the upper electrode and the lower electrode paired in a height direction forms the switch portion.

6. The input device according to claim 3, wherein

the activating means comprises a flexible plate and a detecting board;

a projection having a conductive element on a tip is disposed on the plate;

a pair of electrodes is disposed on the detecting board; and

the conductive element and the pair of electrodes opposing in a height direction forms the switch portion.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

the input section is a capacitive sensor.

8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

the input device is included in a remote apparatus.