Input device equipped with illumination mechanism

• US 8,072,420 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Murakami, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ketema, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US11/946,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 200310-317
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A light guide member and a sensor that constitute a front light mechanism are bonded with a bonded sheet. A double-sided adhesive tape is provided on each surface of the bonded sheet. A repairing material is printed on a surface of the sensor so as to fill concave portions provided between the adjacent X-electrodes. This substantially increases the contact area with the double-sided adhesive tape, and increases the bonding strength between the light guide member and the sensor.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an input operation performed on an operation surface;

a front light mechanism disposed on the sensor and configured to illuminate the operation surface;

a mode switching unit configured to select a predetermined operation mode in accordance with the input operation on the operation surface; and

a control unit configured to switch an illuminating operation of the front light mechanism under the control of the mode switching unit,

wherein the front light mechanism comprises a light source and a light guide member configured to admit and guide light emitted from the light source therein and to output the light toward the operation surface,

wherein the light guide member comprises;

an illuminating surface disposed on one surface and configured to emit the light therefrom; and

an optical region disposed on the other surface opposite the illuminating surface and configured to direct the light toward the illuminating surface,

wherein the optical region includes a flat face and a prism face, and one of the flat face and the prism face is shaped like a predetermined mark, and

wherein a sheet member is disposed between the light guide member and the sensor, an aperture is disposed in the sheet member at a position opposite to the prism face to form a space at the prism face.

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

a bonded sheet having an aperture opposing the optical region; and

a double-sided adhesive tape disposed on each surface of the bonded sheet and having an opening similar to the aperture,

wherein the light guide member and the sensor are joined with the bonded sheet and the double-sided adhesive tapes.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has a plurality of electrodes on a surface thereof, and a space between the adjacent electrodes is filled with a repairing material.

5. The input device according to claim 3, wherein a space is provided at a position where the prism face of the optical region opposes the aperture of the bonded sheet, and the sensor has a through hole or a groove extending from the outside to the space.

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

a top sheet having a light-diffusing function and provided in the uppermost layer of the front light mechanism, the top sheet having a surface serving as the operation surface.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the light source faces a side face of the light guide member.

8. The input device according to claim 7, wherein a portion in which the light source faces the side face of the light guide member is covered with a case, and a mirror finished surface is provided on an inner side of the case.

9. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes a plurality of light sources, and the number of light sources to be lighted or the quantity of light emitted from the light sources is adjusted by the control unit.

10. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit adjusts the number of light sources or the light quantity in accordance with the selected operation mode.

11. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the repairing material and the adjacent electrodes have same profile height, wherein a double-sided adhesive tape is bonded to both the repairing material and the adjacent electrodes.

2. An input device comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an input operation performed on an operation surface; and

a front light mechanism disposed on the sensor and configured to illuminate the operation surface,

wherein a predetermined mark is optically displayed on the operation surface,

wherein the front light mechanism comprises a light source and a light guide member configured to admit and guide light emitted from the light source therein and to output the light toward the operation surface,

wherein the light guide member comprises;

an illuminating surface disposed on one surface and configured to emit the light therefrom; and

an optical region disposed on the other surface opposite the illuminating surface and configured to direct the light toward the illuminating surface,

wherein the optical region includes a flat face and a prism face, and one of the flat face and the prism face is shaped like a predetermined mark, and

wherein a sheet member is disposed between the light guide member and the sensor, an aperture is disposed in the sheet member at a position opposite to the prism face to form a space at the prism face.