Input device and electronic appliance using the same

• US 6,504,269 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakuma, Tsutomu, Fukumura, Toyoshi, Yamamoto, Tamotsu, Nakanishi, Akira, Miyajima, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/450,306
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 307/131, 307/112, 307/116, 361/42, 324/725, 324/681, 340/870.37, 178/20.01
• US Class Current: 307/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/082 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes

Abstract

A touch type input device is used for various forms of control. A primary side line is connected to a power source, and a secondary side circuit ground through a power transformer are connected by an impedance element. Flat electrodes to be touched by a finger are formed on one side of an insulating base material, and are connected to a ground current detection circuit through a high resistor and a low pass filter. A control circuit for converting the output of the ground current detection circuit into a control signal for an electronic appliance, and a display unit are provided. Therefore, an input device having plural touch switches disposed on a base material in a free shape and layout can be obtained.

Claims

1. An input device for use with a power source comprising:

a power transformer connected to said power source,

a ground current detection circuit coupled to a secondary side circuit of said power transformer, said ground current detection circuit for issuing a signal when magnitude of ground current received thereby is above a threshold level,

impedence elements connected between said ground current detection circuit and the primary side circuit of said power transformer,

an operation unit having one or more electrodes disposed at least on the top of a base material made of insulating material connected to said ground current detection circuit electrically, and for transmitting ground current having magnitude above said threshold to said ground current detection circuit when, as a result of touching said input device, ground current above said threshold level flows therethrough.

2. An input device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit has one end connected to the ground current detection circuit, and other end connected to a display unit showing the display corresponding to the one or more electrodes of said operation unit.

3. An input device of claim 1, wherein the operation unit has fine wiring lines for connecting between the one or more electrodes and the ground current detection circuit on the top of the base material, and wirings for prevention of malfunction connected to said ground current detection circuit across a small insulation gap against both sides of the wiring lines.

4. An input device of claim 1, wherein the operation unit has fine wiring lines for connecting between the one or more electrodes and the ground current detection circuit on the top of the base material, and an electrode for prevention of malfunction disposed by forming a small insulation gap on the outer circumference of said flat electrodes and wiring lives and connecting to said ground current detection circuit around this insulation gap.

5. An input device of claim 1, wherein the operation unit has a first insulation layer of a thin film disposed so as to cover at least the one or more electrodes on the top of the base material.

6. An input device of claim 5, wherein the first insulation layer is formed of a transparent insulation film of 0.05 to 1000 μ

m in thickness.

7. An input device of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the first insulation layer is 0.1±

0.05 μ

m, its index of refraction is less than 1.5, and the index of refraction of the base material is 1.5 or more.

8. An input device of claim 1, wherein the operation unit has a second insulation layer at least between the one or more electrodes and base material.

9. An input device of claim 8, wherein the thickness of the second insulation layer is 0.1±

0.05 μ

m, its index of refraction is less than 1.5, and the index of refraction of the base material is 1.5 or more.

10. An input device of claim 1, wherein the operation unit has a third insulation layer disposed at least at a position facing the one or more electrodes on the top of the base material.

11. An input device of claim 10, wherein the third insulation layer is formed of a transparent insulation film of 0.05 to 1000 μ

m in thickness.

12. An input device of claim 10, wherein the thickness of the third insulation layer is 0.1±

0.05 μ

m, its index of refraction is less than 1.5, and the index of refraction of the base material is 1.5 or more.

13. An input device of claim 1, wherein the operation unit has a wiring line provided for connecting electrically between the one or more electrodes and the ground current detection circuit on the top of the base material, a fourth insulation layer disposed to cover at least this wiring line, and an electrode for prevention of malfunction electrically connected to said ground current detection circuit on the top of this fourth insulation layer.

14. An input device of claim 1, wherein the operation unit is made of light transmitting material, and has a display unit disposed at a position facing the one or more electrodes of this operation unit.

15. An input device of claim 14, wherein the conductive parts of the operation unit are made of transparent conductive film of 150 angstroms or less in thickness.

16. An input device of claim 1, wherein the operation unit has a solid form having an undulated surface of the base material containing the one or more electrodes.

17. An input device of claim 1, wherein the impedance element is at least resistor, capacitor, or reactor.

18. An input device of claim 1, wherein a high resistor is connected in series between the one or more electrodes and the ground current detection circuit.

19. An input device of claim 18, wherein a constant voltage element is connected between the junction of the high resistor and ground current detection circuit and the ground of the secondary side circuit of the power transformer.

20. An input device of claim 1, wherein a low pass filter is connected in series between the one or more electrodes and the ground current detection circuit.

21. An input device of claim 1, wherein the ground current detection circuit includes at least an integrating circuit.

22. An input device of claim 1, wherein the ground current detection circuit includes at least an integrating circuit and a discrimination circuit, and this discrimination circuit is connected to the control circuit.

23. An input device of claim 1, wherein the ground current detection circuit includes at least a retriggerable multivibrator.

24. An output device of claim 1, wherein aid input device is included in a electronic appliance which further comprises a device main body, said input device, disposed at least on one side of this device main body, wherein said device main body is operated by manipulating this input device.