Input device and manufacturing method thereof

• US 8,124,903 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tatehata, Naoki, Nakayama, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O
• Application Number:
  US12/042,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20080237018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 200/513, 200/517, 200/310, 200/314, 200/5.A, 345/168, 341/33, 341/34
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/016 Separate bridge contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/006 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/0345 with keys positioned directly next to each other without an intermediate bezel or frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

An input device for constructing an inputting operation unit for various electronic apparatus and a method of manufacturing the input device are provided. The input device allows push-down inputting operation and position inputting operation using the same operating unit. The input device has a position input sensor provided under a key, and a base sheet having a movable contact joined to its bottom face depending on the location where the key is disposed, and a columnar section is disposed in a manner sandwiched between the position input sensor and the base sheet at the center of the movable contact.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a plurality of keys;

a position input sensor disposed under the plurality of keys and adapted to detect an input status based on a change of electrostatic capacitance due to transfer of a finger or a conductive material on a top side of the plurality of keys;

a base sheet disposed under the position input sensor;

a push-down-input type movable contact made of a thin metal sheet and formed in an upwardly protruding dome-shape having a circular or elliptical contour and disposed under the base sheet corresponding to the positions of the keys; and

a substrate disposed under the movable contact and having a conductive region such as a wiring pattern corresponding to the movable contact, wherein

a columnar section is further provided at a position corresponding to the center of the movable contact in a manner sandwiched between the position input sensor and the base sheet, and

the position input sensor comprises a sensor sheet having a predetermined electrode pattern formed using a conductive material such as silver and copper, and the electrode pattern is formed in a manner avoiding the portion where the columnar section and the position input sensor come in contact with each other.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the columnar section is adhered to a bottom face of the position input sensor and a top face of the base sheet with an adhesive.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein an electroluminescent sheet is employed as the base sheet.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the position input sensor and the columnar section are formed of an ultra violet transmitting material, and the columnar section is joined to the bottom face of the position input sensor and the top face of the base sheet with a UV curable adhesive.