SENSOR UNIT, INPUT DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20130234734A1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Iida, Fumihiko, Kawaguchi, Hiroto, Itaya, Takashi, Kano, Toshio, Tanaka, Takayuki, Tsukamoto, Kei, Hasegawa, Hayato
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/661
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality

Abstract

A sensor unit is provided and includes a first substrate, first and second electrodes, an input portion disposed so that a gap exists between the substrate and the input portion, a plurality of first structures disposed in the gap and extending at least partially between the first substrate and the input portion, and a second insulating structure disposed on a side of the first structures that is away from the input portion, or between adjacent first structures. The sensor unit is configured to detect a change in capacitance between the first and second electrodes upon a change in position of the input portion relative to the first substrate.

Claims

1. A sensor unit comprising:

a first substrate;

first and second electrodes;

an input portion disposed so that a gap exists between the substrate and the input portion;

a plurality of first structures disposed in the gap and extending at least partially between the first substrate and the input portion; and

a second insulating structure disposed on a side of the first structures that is away from the input portion, or between adjacent first structures;

wherein the sensor unit is configured to detect a change in capacitance between the first and second electrodes upon a change in position of the input portion relative to the first substrate.

2. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the first structures are deformable.

3. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the first electrodes intersect with the second electrodes to form a plurality of capacitive elements.

4. The sensor unit according to claim 1, further comprising a reference electrode spaced a distance apart from the first electrodes on a side of the input portion facing the gap.

5. The sensor unit according to claim 4, wherein the sensor unit is configured such that when the reference electrode is moved closer to the first substrate a capacitance between the first electrodes and the reference electrode increases, and the capacitance between the first electrodes and the second electrodes decreases.

6. The sensor unit according to claim 1, further comprising a second substrate, wherein the second electrodes are formed on the second substrate, the first substrate is formed on the second electrodes, and the first electrodes are formed on the first substrate.

7. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the second insulating structure is a layer disposed between the first structures and the first substrate.

8. The sensor unit according to claim 7, wherein the first structures are formed directly on the second insulating structure.

9. The sensor unit according to claim 7,

wherein the first structures are formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of a semispherical shape, a dome shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a cylindrical shape.

10. The sensor unit according to claim 9, further comprising bonding portions formed in a second gap between tops of the first structures and a reference electrode formed on a side of the input portion facing the gap.

11. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the second electrodes are formed on the second substrate, and wherein the second insulating structure is formed on the second electrodes.

12. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the first electrodes are formed on the first substrate, and wherein the first substrate includes the second insulating structure

13. The sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the first structures are directly formed on the first electrodes.

14. The sensor unit according to claim 1, further comprising a frame body formed continuously or intermittently along a periphery of the second insulating structure.

15. The sensor unit according to claim 14,

wherein the second insulating structure is formed beneath the plurality of first structures, and

wherein the frame body and the second insulating structure and are integrally formed.

16. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the first structures are made of a bonding material and extend across the gap to bond the first substrate to a reference electrode formed on a side of the input portion facing the gap.

17. The sensor unit according to claim 16, wherein the first structures are formed in a semispherical or dome shape.

18. The sensor unit according to claim 17, wherein the semispherical shape or the dome shape of the first structures protrude toward the first substrate side.

19. The sensor unit according to claim 17, wherein the semispherical shape or the dome shape of the first structures protrude toward the reference electrode side.

20. The sensor unit according to claim 16, wherein the first structures are formed in a in a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a cylindrical shape.

21. The sensor unit according to claim 1,

wherein the first electrodes intersect with the second electrodes to form a plurality of intersection areas, and

wherein the first structures are arranged in areas other than the intersection areas.

22. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the first electrodes are disposed between adjacent first structures.

23. The sensor unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one regulation part disposed between adjacent first structures, and disposed between the first substrate and the input portion.

24. A method of detecting a change in capacitance in a sensor unit including a first substrate, first and second electrodes, an input portion disposed so that a gap exists between the substrate and the input portion, and a plurality of first structures disposed in the gap and extending at least partially between the first substrate and the input portion, and a second insulating structure disposed on a side of the first structures that is away from the input portion, or between adjacent first structures, the method comprising:

changing a position of the input portion relative to the first substrate; and

detecting a change in capacitance between the first and second electrodes based upon the change in position of the input portion relative to the first substrate.

25. An electronic device comprising:

a sensor unit including

a first substrate,

first and second electrodes,

an input portion disposed so that a gap exists between the substrate and the input portion,

a plurality of first structures disposed in the gap and extending at least partially between the first substrate and the input portion, and

a second insulating structure disposed on a side of the first structures that is away from the input portion, or between adjacent first structures; and

a controller including

a detection part configured to detect a change in the capacitance between the first and second electrodes upon a change in position of the input portion relative to the first substrate, and

a signal generation part configured to generate an operation signal based on a detection result of the detection part.