IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND OPERATION DEVICE

• US 20110242612A1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ishida, Yasushi, Shimoyama, Noboru, Tsubakimoto, Yasuhito, Ogushi, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,625,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/442
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays

Abstract

An operation device includes a cover and a substrate on which a plurality of electrodes which detects a capacitance and which is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of touch switches is mounted. The operation device includes a laminated structure in which at least an elastic sheet that is self-tacking and closely contacts a plurality of electrodes is inserted between the cover and the substrate. At least one through hole is formed at a location on the substrate facing the elastic sheet.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a reading unit configured to read an image of a document set on a reading surface;

a pressing plate capable of opening relative to the reading surface; and

an operation device provided on an upper surface of the pressing plate,

wherein the operation device includes;

a cover;

a plurality of touch switches provided at different locations of the cover, each touch switch including an electrode configured to detect a capacitance;

a substrate on which a plurality of the electrodes is mounted; and

a self-tacking elastic sheet provided between the cover and the substrate, wherein the elastic sheet is not divided and is common to the plurality of electrodes.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is formed on the substrate adjacent to each of the plurality of electrodes.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic sheet is a gel sheet.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein on the cover, a transparent graphic portion is formed at a location of each of the plurality of touch switches,

wherein a light source of a backlight is mounted on the substrate together with and corresponding to the electrode,

wherein the operation device has a laminated structure in which the cover, a first elastic sheet having translucency, a light guide element group provided corresponding to the plurality of touch switches, a second elastic sheet, and the substrate are laminated together, and

wherein at least the second elastic sheet is the elastic sheet.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a backlight corresponding to the touch switch whose input is enabled turns on and a backlight corresponding to the touch switch whose input is disabled turns off.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a reading unit configured to read an image of a document set on a reading surface;

a pressing plate capable of opening relative to the reading surface; and

an operation device provided on an upper surface of the pressing plate,

wherein the operation device includes;

a cover;

a plurality of touch switches provided at different locations of the cover, each touch switch including an electrode configured to detect a capacitance;

a substrate on which a plurality of the electrodes is mounted; and

a self-tacking elastic sheet provided between the cover and the substrate,

wherein at least one through hole is formed at a location on the substrate facing the elastic sheet.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a through hole is formed adjacent to each of the plurality of electrodes.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elastic sheet is a gel sheet.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein on the cover, a transparent graphic portion is formed at a location of each of the plurality of touch switches,

wherein a light source of a backlight is mounted on the substrate together with and corresponding to the electrode,

wherein the operation device has a laminated structure in which the cover, a first elastic sheet having translucency, a light guide element group provided corresponding to the plurality of touch switches, a second elastic sheet, and the substrate are laminated together, and

wherein at least the second elastic sheet is the elastic sheet.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a backlight corresponding to the touch switch whose input is enabled turns on and a backlight corresponding to the touch switch whose input is disabled turns off.

11. An operation device comprising:

a cover;

a plurality of touch switches provided at different locations of the cover, each touch switch including an electrode configured to detect a capacitance;

a substrate on which a plurality of the electrodes is mounted; and

a self-tacking elastic sheet provided between the cover and the substrate, wherein the elastic sheet is not divided and is common to the plurality of electrodes.

12. An operation device comprising:

a cover;

a plurality of touch switches provided at different locations of the cover, each touch switch including an electrode configured to detect a capacitance;

a substrate on which a plurality of the electrodes is mounted; and

a self-tacking elastic sheet provided between the cover and the substrate, wherein at least one through hole is formed at a location on the substrate facing the elastic sheet.