INPUT DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20070165006A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu, Ono, Shuzo
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An input device and electronic apparatus are provided. The input device includes a detecting region that is operative to detect a change in capacitance between electrodes. The detecting region extends from an image display region that displays an image and has a predetermined area to a non-display region that is adjacent to the image display region and does not display the image.

Claims

1. An input device having:

a detecting region that is operative to detect a change in capacitance between electrodes,

wherein the detecting region extends from an image display region that displays an image and has a predetermined area to a non-display region that is adjacent to the image display region and does not display the image.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting region has at least two electrodes and is formed on a resin sheet.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the resin sheet is on a front surface of a display device that configures the image display region, and the detecting region is at a position overlapping an edge of the display device and a position that deviates from the display device.

4. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the resin sheet is on a front surface of a display device that configures the image display region, and the detecting region is at a position overlapping a corner of the display device and a position that deviates from the display device.

5. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the resin sheet is on a front surface of a display device that configures the image display region, and the detecting region is at a position overlapping both a edge and a corner of the display device and a position that deviates from the display device.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the resin sheet is on a front surface of the display device, and the detecting region is at a position overlapping an edge of the display device and a position that deviates from the display device.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the resin sheet is on a front surface of a display device that configures the image display region, and the detecting region is at a position overlapping a corner of the display device and a position that deviates from the display device.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the resin sheet is on a front surface of a display device that configures the image display region, and the detecting region is at a position overlapping both a edge and a corner of the display device and a position that deviates from the display device.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an indication image overlapping the detecting region is displayed on at least one of an edge and a corner of the display device and the indication image is viewable through the resin sheet.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the resin sheet extends to a position separated from the display device and the other operation region that is operative to detect a change in capacitance between the electrodes is formed on the resin sheet at a position separated from the display device.

6. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display device;

a support body that surrounds the periphery of the display device;

a transparent cover plate that is disposed on a front surface of the display device; and

a detecting region that has at least two electrodes and is formed on a resin sheet,

wherein the resin sheet is interposed between the display device and the cover plate.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 47 wherein an indication display is provided at a position adjacent to an edge or a corner of the display device on the outside of the display device.