Press detection sensor, input device and electronic apparatus

• US 9,336,969 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takashima, Kouichiro, Kayama, Shun, Shimizu, Yukiko, Takahashi, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bibbins, Latanya
• Application Number:
  US12/323,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,723 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04142 the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/142 of the elongated strip type

Abstract

A press detection sensor contains a base member having predetermined length and width and also having a predetermined shape, a first conductor having predetermined length and being arranged on the base member, and a second conductor that is arranged on the base member with the second conductor being faced to the first conductor. The press detection sensor also contains a conductive contact body that is arranged between the first conductor and the second conductor. The conductive contact body connects the first and second conductors electrically in response to an external force. The press detection sensor further contains a covering member that includes the contact body on the inside thereof. The covering member covers a top of the base member which includes the first and second conductors. The covering member contains at least one of flexibility and elasticity.

Claims

1. A press detection sensor comprising:

a base member having predetermined length and width and also having a predetermined shape along a periphery of a display unit;

a first conductor having predetermined length and being arranged on the base member, the first conductor linearly extending along the periphery in a longitudinal direction of the base member;

a second conductor that is arranged on the base member with the second conductor being faced to the first conductor, the second conductor linearly extending along the periphery in the longitudinal direction of the base member;

a continuous conductive contact body that is arranged between the first conductor and the second conductor and linearly extending continuously around a corner of the base member along the periphery in the longitudinal direction of the base member, the continuous conductive contact body connecting the first and second conductors electrically in response to an external force; and

a covering member that includes the contact body on the inside thereof, the covering member covering a top of the base member which includes the first and second conductors,

wherein the covering member has at least one of flexibility and elasticity.

2. The press detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein

one terminal of the first conductor is connected to a first terminal,

one terminal of the second conductor is connected to a second terminal, and

both of the other terminals of the first and second conductors are opened.

3. The press detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the base member on which the first conductor and the second conductor are arranged has a frame shape.

4. The press detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive agent is arranged on at least one of a lower surface of the base member and an upper surface of the covering member.

5. The press detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the contact body contains a conductive rubber member.

6. The press detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor is formed in a comb shape.

7. An input device that inputs information in response to a press operation of an operation body, the input device comprising:

a display-and-detection unit that displays the input information and contains an input detection surface, the display-and-detection unit detecting a contact position of the operation body in the input detection surface; and

a press detection unit that detects a press by the operation body, the press detection unit being provided along a periphery of the display unit,

wherein the press detection unit includes;

a base member having predetermined length and width and also having a predetermined shape;

a first conductor having predetermined length and being arranged on the base member,

the first conductor linearly extending around a corner of the base member along the periphery in a longitudinal direction of the base member;

a second conductor that is arranged on the base member with the second conductor being faced to the first conductor, the second conductor linearly extending along the periphery in the longitudinal direction of the base member;

a continuous conductive contact body that is arranged between the first conductor and the second conductor and linearly extending continuously along the periphery in the longitudinal direction of the base member, the continuous conductive contact body connecting the first and second conductors electrically in response to an external force; and

a covering member that includes the contact body on the inside thereof, the covering member covering a top of the base member which includes the first and second conductors, and

wherein the covering member has at least one of flexibility and elasticity.

8. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the display-and-detection unit contains a display subunit that displays the input information and a detection subunit that contains an input detection surface on the display subunit, the detection subunit detecting a contact position of the operation body in the input detection surface.

9. The input device according to claim 8, wherein the base member on which the first conductor and the second conductor are arranged has a frame shape.

10. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second conductors are arranged at each L-shaped region which equally divides each side of the four sides of the frame shaped base member and a switching device connects the first and second conductors which are adjacent to each other, and

wherein the input device has a programmable configuration that changes a press detection function by switching the switching device on or off.

11. The input device according to claim 8, wherein the detection subunit contains a resistive touch panel.

12. The input device according to claim 8, wherein the detection unit contains a capacitive touch panel.

13. The input device according to claim 8 wherein a touch-sensitive sheet member is provided on the press detection unit, and

wherein the touch-sensitive sheet member includes a base member for a base material of the touch-sensitive sheet member and the base member for the base material of the touch-sensitive sheet member contains a protrusion block that presents a concavity and convexity feeling, the protrusion block having a predetermined shape.

14. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the display-and-detection unit contains a touch panel built-in liquid crystal display device.

15. An electronic apparatus that is provided with an input device which inputs information in response to a press operation of an operation body, the input device:

a display unit that displays the input information;

a detection unit that includes an input detection surface on the display unit, the detection unit detecting a contact position of the operation body in the input detection surface; and

a press detection unit that detects a press by the operation body, the press detection unit being provided along a periphery of the display unit,

wherein the press detection unit includes;

a base member having predetermined length and width and also having a predetermined shape;

a first conductor having predetermined length and being arranged on the base member,

the first conductor linearly extending around a corner of the base member along the periphery in a longitudinal direction of the base member;

a second conductor that is arranged on the base member with the second conductor being faced to the first conductor, the second conductor linearly extending along the periphery in the longitudinal direction of the base member;

a continuous conductive contact body that is arranged between the first conductor and the second conductor and linearly extending continuously along the periphery in the longitudinal direction of the base member, the continuous conductive contact body connecting the first and second conductors electrically in response to an external force; and

a covering member that includes the contact body on the inside thereof, the covering member covering a top of the base member which includes the first and second conductors, and

wherein the covering member has at least one of flexibility and elasticity.