Keyboard switch with a mesh of fibers

• US 4,553,820 A
• Filed: 07/27/1983
• Issued: 11/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Harada, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, David
• Application Number:
  US06/517,631
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 350/345, 350/334, 350/337, 350/339 D, 350/339 R, 350/338, 350/331 R, 350/276 R, 400/479, 400/490, 400/494, 340/712, 340/765, 340/785
• US Class Current: 349/41
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133502 Antiglare, refractive index matching layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/022 Velvet; Mat finish
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable

Abstract

This invention discloses a keyboard switch with display function composed of two transparent sheets constituting a pressure operable switch and placed on a display unit. The upper of two transparent sheets is provided with an unflat top surface for avoiding unnecessary reflection.

Claims

1. A display keyboard comprising:

means for displaying information to be entered; and

a keyboard provided on said display means and including;

a first transparent sheet having at least first and second opposite surfaces;

a coarse mesh layer comprising filaments provided on said first surface of said first transparent sheet, said coarse mesh layer being disposed to be contacted by an operator'"'"'s finger;

a second transparent sheet provided parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance apart from said second surface of said first transparent sheet; and

a pair of transparent electrodes respectively provided on said first and second transparent sheets so as to be opposed to each other;

wherein the display information is visible through said first and second transparent sheets and said pair of transparent electrodes.

2. A display keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said coarse mesh layer is a net of transparent synthetic resin.

3. A display keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said coarse mesh layer is a thin metal net.

4. A display keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said display means is an electro-optical display.

5. A display keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said electro-optical display is a liquid crystal display device.

6. A display keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard further comprises a spacer for separating said opposite transparent electrodes for each other.

7. A display keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said transparent electrodes constitute a switch for entering the information to be displayed on said display means.