Input device

• US 7,893,921 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sadio; Insa
• Application Number:
  US11/132,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,105 Days
• Field of Search: 345/76, 345/156, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

An input device contains a plurality of push switch elements that are connected to a single switch signal line. When a switch signal is detected from the switch signal line, it is determined which push switch element is enabled based on coordinate data obtained from a primary input sensor. By using the coordinate data, only a single switch signal line is used to determine which push switch element is enabled.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a cover sheet having an operation surface on a surface thereof;

primary input means formed below the cover sheet, capable of inputting coordinates;

secondary input means formed below the primary input means, having a plurality of push switch elements; and

coordinate data correcting means for correcting coordinate data received from the primary input means by a predetermined algorithm,

wherein all the push switch elements are connected to a single switch signal line, the number of switch signal lines being smaller than the number of push switch elements,

when the operation surface is pressed towards the secondary input means to enable one of the push switch elements and a switch signal from the switch signal line is detected, the enabled push switch element is determined based on coordinate data obtained from the coordinate data correcting means,

a controller includes a coordinate data receiver and a switch signal detector;

the coordinate data receiver constantly reads the coordinate data from the primary input means;

when the switch signal detector receives a detection signal from the secondary input means, the coordinate data correcting means performs the correction for coordinate data obtained by the coordinate data receiver, and the controller determines a switch determination signal that is enabled on the basis of corrected coordinate data outputted by the coordinate data correcting means and outputs the switch determination signal; and

where the switch signal detector does not receive a detection signal from the secondary input means, the coordinate data correcting means does not perform the correction for coordinate data obtained by the coordinate data receiver, and the controller causes a cursor to move on a display panel on the basis of the coordinate data obtained by the coordinate data receiver, and

the coordinate data correcting means has an algorithm for averaging a plurality of previous coordinate data after the switch signal is detected.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the primary input means comprises an electrostatic capacitance sensor.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the secondary input means includes a resin sheet having fixed electrodes and surrounding electrodes formed on a surface thereof, and dome-shaped flexible electrodes formed so as to face the fixed electrodes and electrically connected to the surrounding electrodes, and

wherein the single switch signal line is formed on a surface of the resin sheet opposite to the surface on which the fixed electrodes and the surrounding electrodes are formed, and is electrically connected to the fixed electrodes.

4. An input device comprising:

a cover sheet having an operation surface on a surface thereof;

primary input means formed below the cover sheet, capable of inputting coordinates;

secondary input means formed below the primary input means, having a plurality of push switch elements; and

coordinate data correcting means for correcting for coordinate data received from the primary input means by a predetermined algorithm,

wherein all the push switch elements are connected to a single switch signal line, the number of switch signal lines being smaller than the number of push switch elements,

when the operation surface is pressed towards the secondary input means to enable one of the push switch elements and a switch signal from the switch signal line is detected, the enabled push switch element is determined based on coordinate data obtained from the coordinate data correcting means,

a controller includes a coordinate data receiver and a switch signal detector;

the coordinate data receiver constantly reads the coordinate data from the primary input means;

when the switch signal detector receives a detection signal from the secondary input means, the coordinate data correcting means performs the correction for coordinate data obtained by the coordinate data receiver, and the controller determines a switch determination signal that is enabled on the basis of corrected coordinate data outputted by the coordinate data correcting means and outputs the switch determination signal; and

where the switch signal detector does not receive a detection signal from the secondary input means, the coordinate data correcting means does not perform the correction for coordinate data obtained by the coordinate data receiver, and the controller causes a cursor to move on a display panel on the basis of the coordinate data obtained by the coordinate data receiver,

the coordinate data correcting means has an algorithm for determining the coordinate data using only upper bits of bit data corresponding to the coordinate data while ignoring a predetermined lower bit.