INPUT DEVICE

• US 20110139517A1
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masanori Mizushima
• Original Assignee: Masanori Mizushima
• Inventors: MIZUSHIMA, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 8,519,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/032 Conductive polymer; Rubber
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9613 using two electrodes per touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

An input device includes a thin film substrate on which a fixed electrode is formed, and a movable electrode formed of a conductive material, the fixed electrode including a capacitance detection electrode and a connection section, the movable electrode including a displacement section that is disposed to be opposite to the capacitance detection electrode and deformed by a pressing force, and a stationary section that is connected to the connection section, the input device detecting a change in capacitance that occurs when the displacement section has been pressed. The input device has a reduced thickness, and can be inexpensively produced by reducing the number of parts. Moreover, the input device can be easily incorporated in an electronic instrument.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an insulating thin film substrate on which a fixed electrode that includes a capacitance detection electrode and a connection section is formed, and a movable electrode formed of a conductive material, the movable electrode including a displacement section that is disposed on a surface of the thin film substrate opposite to a surface on which the capacitance detection electrode is formed so as to be opposite to the capacitance detection electrode, and deformed by a pressing force in a direction of the capacitance detection electrode; and

a stationary section that is connected to the connection section of the fixed electrode,

the input device detecting a change in capacitance that occurs when the displacement section has been pressed, and

the thin film substrate functioning as an insulating layer that prevents the displacement section from being electrically connected to the capacitance detection electrode even if the displacement section has been deformed.

2. The input device according to claim 1, the movable electrode including a center stationary section, and the displacement section disposed around the center stationary section, the displacement section including a plurality of protrusion sections that protrude toward the capacitance detection electrode, and a distance between an end of a protrusion section among the plurality of protrusion sections and the capacitance detection electrode sequentially increasing toward a periphery of the input device.