Input device

• US 7,643,013 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Kunio, Soma, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar; Vijay
• Application Number:
  US10/938,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1801- 1807, 178 1901- 1906
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/0021 with metallic appearance, e.g. polymers with dispersed particles to produce a metallic appearance

Abstract

A capacitive input device, capable of stably adjusting the sensitivity of a counter electrode to improve the operability of the input device, and of improving the appearance of an electric apparatus is provided. In the input device, a conductive material is arranged between a counter electrode and an inner surface of a casing.

Claims

1. A capacitive input device for detecting the capacitance generated between a counter electrode adhered to an inner surface of a casing and a conductor that approaches or comes into contact with an outer surface of the casing to detect coordinates of the conductor,

wherein a conductive material is arranged between the inner surface of the casing and the counter electrode and the conductive material includes an area at least equal to an area of the counter electrode, the conductive material further arranged so as to fill up an air layer between the inner surface of the casing and the counter electrode, and

wherein the capacitance is generated between the counter electrode and the conductor via the conductive material.

3. The capacitive input device according to claim 1,

wherein the conductive material is formed larger than the area of the counter electrode.

4. The capacitive input device according to claim 1,

wherein a non-conductive metal film is deposited on the outer surface of the casing.

2. A capacitive input device for detecting the capacitance generated between a plurality of counter electrodes adhered to an inner surface of a casing and a conductor that approaches or comes into contact with an outer surface of the casing to detect coordinates of the conductor,

wherein a conductive material is arranged between the inner surface of the casing and the counter electrodes so as to be formed on the respective counter electrodes and the conductive material includes an area at least equal to an area of the respective counter electrodes, the conductive material further arranged so as to fill up an air layer between the inner surface of the casing and the counter electrode, and

wherein the capacitance is generated between the respective counter electrodes and the conductor via the conductive material.

5. The capacitive input device according to claim 2,

wherein the conductive material is formed larger than the areas of the counter electrodes.

6. The capacitive input device according to claim 2,

wherein a non-conductive metal film is deposited on the outer surface of the casing.