INFORMATION INPUT DEVICE

• US 20100243422A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Arihara, Takeshi, Edo, Katsumi
• Application Number:
  US12/709,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20100243422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/004 Printed circuit tail
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/038 Folding of flexible printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/01 combined with other elements on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

An information input device includes a flexible print substrate including first, second and third installation units, first and second coupling units coupling the first installation unit with the second installation unit and the second installation unit with the third installation unit respectively, so that the first, second, and third installation units are extended along a same axis, the first, the second, and the third installation units being folded to a bellows form and integrated through the first and the second coupling units, a sensor sheet, an operation plate configured to be pushably installed by means of the sensor sheet on an upper surface of the third installation unit, a push button configured to be pushably assembled through an operation hole formed in the operation plate; and a dome-shaped movable contact arranged on the second installation unit.

Claims

1. An information input device comprising:

a flexible print substrate, comprising first, second and third installation units;

first and second coupling units coupling the first installation unit with the second installation unit and the second installation unit with the third installation unit respectively, so that the first, second, and third installation units are extended along a same axis, the first, the second, and the third installation units being folded to a bellows form and integrated through the first and the second coupling units;

a sensor sheet;

an operation plate configured to be pushably installed by means of the sensor sheet on an upper surface of the third installation unit;

a push button configured to be pushably assembled through an operation hole formed in the operation plate; and

a dome-shaped movable contact arranged on the second installation unit, wherein

an electrostatic capacity of the sensor sheet is changed and an output signal is output when the operation plate assembled to the third installation unit is pushed down thereby elastically compressing the sensor sheet, and

the dome-shaped movable contact arranged on the second installation unit is driven through an operation hole formed in the third installation unit when the push button is pushed down.

2. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the operation plate comprises an annular rib arranged in a projecting manner on an upper surface of the operation plate.

3. The information input device according to claim 1, further comprising a base plate stacked and integrated between the first installation unit and the second installation unit.

4. The information input device according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic component arranged on an exposed surface of the first installation unit.

5. The information input device according to claim 4, further comprising a spacer stacked and integrated on the exposed surface of the first installation unit.

6. The information input device according to claim 2, further comprising a base plate stacked and integrated between the first installation unit and the second installation unit.

7. The information input device according to any claim 2, further comprising an electronic component arranged on an exposed surface of the first installation unit.

8. The information input device according to any claim 3, further comprising an electronic component arranged on an exposed surface of the first installation unit.