Input apparatus

• US 8,859,923 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Obata, Yasutoshi, Tsuchiya, Takemasa
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US13/276,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20120103778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 200310-314, 362612-616
• 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 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

An input apparatus including a layered body is provided. The layered body includes an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor, a character and symbol printed film, on which characters or symbols are printed, and a surface light emitting layer configured to illuminate the character and symbol printed film. The character and symbol printed film is arranged on an upper surface side of the surface light emitting layer, the touch sensor is arranged on a lower surface side of the surface light emitting layer, and an input operation surface that is positioned at an uppermost surface is flat.

Claims

1. An input apparatus comprising a layered body, the layered body including:

an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor;

a character and symbol printed film, on which a character or a symbol is printed;

a surface light emitting layer configured to illuminate the character and symbol printed film, and

a light transmissive cover panel which covers an upper surface of the character and symbol printed film,

wherein the character and symbol printed film is arranged on an upper surface side of the surface light emitting layer,

wherein the touch sensor is arranged on a lower surface side of the surface light emitting layer,

wherein an input operation surface that is positioned at an uppermost surface is flat,

wherein an upper surface of the cover panel configures the input operation surface, and

wherein the cover panel includes either a half mirror which is made of a nonmetallic material or a smoke panel which is made of a nonmetallic material.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the half mirror or the smoke panel is made of a resin.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the cover panel includes a light transmissive panel, and the half mirror or the smoke panel is made of a resin and stacked on the light transmissive panel, and

wherein the cover panel is provided such that the half mirror or the smoke panel is arranged at a side of the character and symbol printed film.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the cover panel includes at least one three-dimensional effect display member which includes a light transmissive panel and a half mirror.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the cover panel includes a first cover panel and a second cover panel stacked on the first cover panel, the first cover panel being arranged at a side of the character and symbol printed film, and an upper surface of the second cover panel configures the input operation surface,

wherein the first cover panel includes a first light transmissive panel and either a first half mirror or a smoke panel stacked on the first light transmissive panel, and the first half mirror or the smoke panel is arranged at the side of the character and symbol printed film, and

wherein the second cover panel includes at least one three-dimensional effect display member which includes a second transmissive panel and a second half mirror stacked on the second transmissive panel, the second half mirror is arranged at the side of the character and symbol printed film.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an upper surface of the electrostatic capacity type touch sensor is colored in white.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the cover panel comprises a dielectric multilayered film.

8. An input apparatus comprising a layered body, the layered body including:

an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor;

a half mirror, on which a character or a symbol is printed; and

a surface light emitting layer configured to illuminate the half mirror,

wherein the half mirror is arranged on an upper surface side of the surface light emitting layer,

wherein the electrostatic capacity type touch sensor is arranged on a lower surface side of the surface light emitting layer, and

wherein an input operation surface which is positioned at an uppermost surface is flat.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the layered body further includes:

a light transmissive cover panel which covers an upper surface of the half mirror, and

wherein an upper surface of the cover panel configures the input operation surface.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the cover panel includes at least one three-dimensional effect display member which includes a light transmissive panel and a half mirror.

11. The input apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the half mirror is made of a nonmetallic material.

12. The input apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the half mirror is made of a resin.

13. The input apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the half mirror is made of a dielectric multilayered film.

14. An input apparatus comprising:

an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor;

a half mirror having a first surface on which a character or a symbol is formed, the half mirror being made of a nonmetallic material; and

a surface light emitting layer configured to illuminate the half mirror, the surface light emitting layer being arranged between the electrostatic capacity type touch sensor and the half mirror, and

wherein an input operation surface which is positioned at an uppermost surface is flat.

15. The input apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the first surface of the half mirror is opposed to the surface light emitting layer.

16. The input apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the character or the symbol is printed on the first surface of the half mirror.

17. The input apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the half mirror is made of a resin.

18. The input apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the half mirror is made of a dielectric multilayered film.

19. The input apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the half mirror having a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface being the input operation surface.