Coordinate data input device

• US 6,473,074 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
• Inventors: Okahashi, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/461,294
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/178, 178/18.05, 178/18.01, 178/19, 178/18.03
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A coordinate data input device comprising a pair of detecting members, a spacer disposed between the detecting members, and a ground conductor element disposed between the detecting members. Each detecting member includes an insulating substrate, a resistance film provided on the insulating substrate and a conductor formed on the insulating substrate to be electrically connected with the resistance film. The detecting members are arranged in a face-to-face manner in that respective resistance films of the detecting members are opposed to each other. The spacer defines a gap between the respective resistance films, while permitting the resistance films to be shorted to each other when at least one of the detecting members is deformed. The ground conductor element substantially surrounds the resistance films and conductors of the detecting members.

Claims

1. A coordinate data input device, comprising:

a pair of detecting members, each including an insulating substrate, a resistance film provided on said insulating substrate and a conductor formed on said insulating substrate to be electrically connected with said resistance film, said pair of detecting members being arranged in a face-to-face manner such that said respective resistance films of said detecting members are opposed to each other;

a spacer disposed between said pair of detecting members to define a gap between said respective resistance films, said spacer permitting said resistance films to be shorted with each other when at least one of said detecting members is deformed; and

a ground conductor element formed on at least one of said pair of detecting members, said ground conductor element being located so as to be spaced from and substantially surround said resistance films and conductors of both of said detecting members.

2. The coordinate data input device of claim 1, wherein said ground conductor element is formed as a single electrically conductive line patterned on said insulating substrate of one of said detecting members.

3. The coordinate data input device of claim 1, wherein said ground conductor element is formed as a pair of electrically conductive lines respectively patterned on insulating substrates of each of said detecting members.

4. The coordinate data input device of claim 3, wherein said pair of electrically conductive lines are partially overlapped with each other.

5. The coordinate data input device of claim 4, wherein an electrically conductive piece is interposed between overlapped portions of said pair of electrically conductive lines.

6. The coordinate data input device of claim 5, wherein said electrically conductive piece is made of an electrically conductive adhesive.

7. The coordinate data input device of claim 1, wherein said insulating substrate of each of said detecting members includes a major part for carrying said resistance film and an appendage part extending from said major part, and wherein insulating substrates of said detecting members are integrally joined with each other through respective appendage parts.

8. The coordinate data input device of claim 7, wherein said conductor of each of said detecting members is laid on said major part and continuously on said appendage part, and wherein said ground conductor element is laid on said major part and continuously on said appendage part of at least one of said detecting members.

9. The coordinate data input device of claim 1, wherein said conductor of one of said detecting members includes a pair of first electrodes electrically connected with said resistance film of one of said detecting members and a pair of first wiring strips extending respectively from said first electrodes and patterned on said insulating substrate of one of said detecting members, and wherein said conductor of the other of said detecting members includes a pair of second electrodes electrically connected with said resistance film of other of said detecting members and a pair of second wiring strips extending respectively from said second electrodes and patterned on said insulating substrate of the other of said detecting members, said pair of first electrodes being oriented generally orthogonally to said pair of second electrodes.

10. The coordinate data input device of claim 1, wherein said conductor of one of said detecting members includes a pair of first electrodes electrically connected with said resistance film of one of said detecting members and a pair of first wiring strips extending respectively from said first electrodes and patterned on said insulating substrate of one of said detecting members, and wherein said conductor of the other of said detecting members includes a single second electrode electrically connected with said resistance film of the other of said detecting members and a single second wiring strip extending from said single electrode and patterned on said insulating substrate of the other of said detecting members, said pair of first electrodes being oriented generally orthogonally to said single electrode.

11. A coordinate data input device, comprising:

a pair of resistive detecting members arranged in a face-to-face manner such that a deformation of one of the resistive detecting members to contact the other of the resistive detecting members will cause the pair of resistive detecting members to be shorted;

a ground conductor element formed on one and/or the other of the resistive detecting members so as to substantially surround an interior of said resistance detecting members, such that the ground conductor element prevents electro-static discharges from penetrating conductors for each of the resistive detecting members.

12. The coordinate data input device of claim 11, wherein said ground conductor element is formed as a single electrically conductive line patterned on an insulating substrate of one of the resistive detecting members.

13. The coordinate data input device of claim 11, wherein said ground conductor element is formed as a pair of electrically conductive lines respectively patterned on insulating substrates of each of the resistive detecting members.

14. The coordinate data in put device of claim 11, wherein an electrically conductive piece is interposed between overlapped portions of said ground conductor element formed on each of the resistive detecting members.