SENSOR, INPUT DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20190107447A1
• Filed: 03/21/2017
• Published: 04/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: EBISUI, AKIRA, MIZUNO, HIROSHI, KATSUHARA, TOMOKO, NISHIMURA, TAIZO, SAKAKURA, YOSHIAKI, KANO, TOSHIO, ONODERA, TOSHIYUKI, TAKAHASHI, TAKESHI, TAKAHASHI, TORU, SUZUKI, TATSUO
• Granted Patent: US 10,627,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/00 Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch wherein the operating part is flexible H01H17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/48 using buckling of disc springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/016 Collapsing to second stable position
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element

Abstract

A sensor includes a base layer and a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer. The pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened. The second structure unit has a shape portion on a surface facing the base layer.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a base layer; and

a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer, wherein

the pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened, and

the second structure unit has a shape portion on a surface facing the base layer.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the base layer includes an intermediate layer having a hole portion into which the pressing unit is pushed.

3. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the second structure unit has a frustum shape, and

the shape portion is formed on a side surface of the second structure unit.

4. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the shape portion is formed on a periphery on a bottom side of the side surface.

5. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the shape portion is formed on a periphery on a top side of the side surface.

6. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the shape portion is formed on a top of the second structure unit, and

the shape portion protrudes toward the base layer.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit is constituted by an embossed film.

8. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the pressing unit further includes a third structure unit, and

the first structure unit is disposed on the third structure unit.

9. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the base layer includes a sensor layer including a sensing unit, and

the pressing unit is disposed corresponding to the sensing unit.

10. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible conductor layer, wherein

the conductor layer is disposed on the pressing unit.

11. The sensor according to claim 2, further comprising a flexible conductor layer, wherein

the conductor layer is disposed between the intermediate layer and the pressing unit.

12. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first structure unit is a buckling unit that is inverted by pressing.

28. An input device comprising the sensor according to claim 1.

29. An electronic apparatus comprising the sensor according to claim 1.

13. A sensor comprising:

a base layer; and

a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer, wherein

the pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened, and

the base layer has a shape portion at either a position facing the second structure unit or a position facing a boundary portion between the first structure unit and the second structure unit or at both thereof.

14. The sensor according to claim 13, wherein

the base layer includes an intermediate layer having a hole portion into which the pressing unit is pushed, and

the shape portion has a similar layer configuration to a part or the whole of the intermediate layer.

15. The sensor according to claim 13, wherein

the base layer includes a substrate facing the pressing unit, and

the shape portion is integrally formed with the substrate.

16. A sensor comprising:

a base layer; and

a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer, wherein

the pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened, and

the base layer has a hole portion at either a position facing the second structure unit or a position facing a boundary portion between the first structure unit and the second structure unit or at both thereof.

17. The sensor according to claim 16, wherein the hole portion is extended from an inside to an outside of the boundary portion when the hole portion is viewed from a direction perpendicular to a surface of the base layer.

18. A sensor comprising:

a base layer; and

a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer, wherein

the pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened, and

the second structure unit has a through hole.

19. A sensor comprising:

a base layer; and

a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer, wherein

the pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened,

the base layer has unevenness on a surface facing the pressing unit, and

the unevenness has an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 0.48 μ

m or more.

20. The sensor according to claim 19, wherein the arithmetic average roughness Ra of the unevenness is 2.43 μ

m or more.

21. The sensor according to claim 19, wherein the unevenness is formed at least in a portion facing the pressing unit on a surface facing the pressing unit.

22. The sensor according to claim 19, wherein the unevenness is formed on the entire surface facing the pressing unit.

23. The sensor according to claim 19, wherein

the base layer includes a substrate facing the pressing unit, and

the unevenness is formed on the substrate.

24. A sensor comprising:

a base layer; and

a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer, wherein

the pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened,

the pressing unit has unevenness on a surface facing the base layer, and

the unevenness has an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 0.48 μ

m or more.

25. The sensor according to claim 24, wherein the arithmetic average roughness Ra of the unevenness is 2.43 μ

m or more.

26. The sensor according to claim 24, wherein the pressing unit is constituted by an embossed film.

27. The sensor according to claim 26, wherein the unevenness is formed on the entire surface facing the base layer out of surfaces of the embossed film.