Input device

• US 7,019,765 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Masahiro, Tanabe, Yoshihiro, Fujiwara, Toshimitsu, Kitajima, Yasunari, Iwasaka, Hiroyuki, Tsugui, Hideshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US10/300,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/4, 345/5, 345/113, 345/204, 345/205, 345/905, 178/18.01, 178/18.06, 341/33, 361/681
• US Class Current: 347/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2405 by varying dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

An input device, which is small-sized and inexpensive in spite of being simple in construction and thin, comprises at least one primary electrode and a plurality of secondary electrodes, both electrodes being formed in the same plane. A position of a dielectric is identified on the basis of differences in electrostatic capacity between the primary electrode and the secondary electrodes, which electrostatic capacity is changed by the dielectric positioned on a surface side of the both electrodes.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

at least one primary electrode; and

a plurality of secondary electrodes formed in the same plane as the primary electrode; and

a first insulating layer on the primary electrode and the secondary electrode,

wherein a position of an electric conductor contacted on a surface of the insulating layer is detected based on a respective electrostatic capacity between the primary electrode and respective secondary electrodes via the electric conductor, and

wherein the respective electrostatic capacity changes based on the position of the electric conductor.

2. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a grounding layer formed on a back surface side of the both electrodes with a second insulating layer therebetween.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a sum of respective electrostatic capacity between the primary electrode and the respective secondary electrodes is calculated to detect presence and absence of the electric conductor based on changes in the sum of electrostatic capacity.

4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein the second insulating layer is formed from a material, which is varied in dielectric constant upon pressure sensing.

5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes, respectively, are formed in a dendritic shape to be arranged in an indent manner relative to each other.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is formed to be annular-shaped, and the second electrodes are formed along the first electrode.

7. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting section having the primary electrode, the plurality of secondary electrodes, and the insulating layer for detecting a position of a dielectric based on respective electrostatic capacity between the primary electrode and the respective secondary electrodes via the electric conductor, and wherein the electrostatic capacity changes based on the position of the electric conductor;

a mounting section having means for detecting a depressing operation on the detecting section; and

a base section supporting the detecting section and the mounting section, wherein

the base section having electrode terminals capable of elastically deforming so as to come into pressure contact with the respective electrodes of the detecting section.

8. An input device comprising:

at least one primary electrode and a plurality of secondary electrodes, both electrodes being formed in the same plane, and wherein a position of an electric conductor disposed on a surface side of the both electrodes is identified on the basis of differences in electrostatic capacity between the primary electrode and the secondary electrodes, which electrostatic capacity is changed by the electric conductor;

a detecting section provided with the both electrodes and for detecting a position of a dielectric disposed on a surface thereof on the basis of changes in electrostatic capacity between the both electrodes; and

a mounting section provided with means for detecting a depressing operation on the detecting section;

a base section supporting the detecting section and the mounting section in a manner to enable depressing the sections; and

the base section has electrode terminals capable of elastically deforming so as to come into pressure contact with the respective electrodes of the detecting section;

wherein the detecting section comprises arithmetic means for calculating a position of the dielectric on the basis of changes in electrostatic capacity between the electrodes; and

an external terminal for outputting results of calculation in the arithmetic means.