Touch-sensitive input device

• US 9,939,918 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
• Inventors: Shinoda, Koji, Isoda, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): NATALINI, JEFF WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US13/760,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 324609
• 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: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

An input device including a base, a plastic part provided on the base, and a touch sensor embedded in the plastic part. Embedding the touch sensor in the plastic part contributes to the reduction of the distance from an outer face of the base to the touch sensor, thereby improving the sensitivity of the touch sensor. Embedding the touch sensor in the plastic part also makes it possible to omit a step of fixing the touch sensor to the plastic part, thereby improving the yield rate of the input device.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a base, being a resin film and having an outer face and an inner face, the outer face including a touch sensing surface being touchable by a detection object;

a plastic part comprising hardened molded plastic material and being in direct contact, at least in part, with the inner face of the base; and

a touch sensor insert molded and substantially embedded within the plastic part,

wherein the base is in intimate contact with or integrated into the plastic part and is hardened,

wherein the base, plastic part, and touch sensor all substantially extend in a horizontal direction,

wherein an axis perpendicular to the horizontal direction exists, such that the axis passes through, in order, the base, the touch sensor, and the plastic part, or alternatively such that the axis passes though, in order, the base, the plastic part, and the touch sensor, and

wherein a distance between the touch sensor and the touch sensing surface is substantially constant.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is disposed on the base.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the plastic part includes a first opening provided on an opposite side of the touch sensor from the base.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is insert molded in the plastic part in spaced relation to the base.

5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the plastic part includes a first opening provided on an opposite side of the touch sensor from the base.

6. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer, the spacer being disposed on the base,

wherein the touch sensor is disposed on the spacer, and

wherein the spacer and the touch sensor are insert molded in the plastic part.

7. The input device according to claim 6, wherein all edges of the spacer on a side of the base are in curved form.

8. The input device according to claim 6, wherein the spacer is made of material in a same group as that of the material for the base or of an elastic material.

9. The input device according to claim 6, wherein the plastic part includes a first opening provided on an opposite side of the touch sensor from the spacer.

10. The input device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the base, the plastic part, and the spacer has translucency.

11. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plastic part includes a first opening provided on an opposite side of the touch sensor from the base.

12. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting part connected to the touch sensor and embedded in the plastic part, wherein

the connecting part includes an external connecting portion, and

the plastic part includes a second opening that exposes at least the external connecting portion.

13. The input device according to claim 12, further comprising an engaging part being partially embedded in the plastic part, partially exposed from the second opening of the plastic part, and engaged with the connecting part.

14. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting part connected to the touch sensor and embedded in the plastic part, wherein

the connecting part includes a first end, and

the plastic part includes a second opening that exposes at least the first end.

15. The input device according to claim 14, further comprising an engaging part being partially embedded in the plastic part, partially exposed from the second opening of the plastic part, and engaged with the connecting part.

16. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting part connected to the touch sensor and embedded in the plastic part, wherein

the connecting part includes a first end protruding from the plastic part.

17. The input device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the base and the plastic part has translucency.

18. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

the base has translucency, and

the input device further includes an ornamental layer provided, in part, between the base and the plastic part.

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

a circuit board embedded in the plastic part; and

a connecting part embedded in the plastic part for connecting the touch sensor to the circuit board.

20. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate layer substantially extending in the horizontal direction, in part, between the base and the plastic part and directly contacting the base and the plastic part.

21. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the base is a single resin layer.

22. An input device comprising:

a base being a resin film and having an outer face and an inner face, the outer face including a touch sensing surface being touchable by a detection object, the touch sensing surface including a curved surface;

a plastic part comprising hardened molded plastic material and being in direct contact, at least in part, with the inner face of the base; and

a touch sensor insert molded and substantially embedded within the plastic part such that the touch sensor curves such that a distance between the touch sensor and the touch sensing surface is generally substantially constant,

wherein the base is in intimate contact with or integrated into the plastic part and is hardened.

23. The input device according to claim 22, wherein the touch sensor is disposed on the inner face of the base.

24. The input device according to claim 22, wherein the touch sensor is insert molded in the plastic part such that the touch sensor curves in spaced relation to the base such that a distance between the touch sensor and the touch sensing surface is generally constant.

25. The input device according to claim 22, further comprising a spacer, wherein

the spacer is disposed on the inner face of the base,

the touch sensor is disposed on the spacer, and

the spacer and the touch sensor curve such as to conform to the touch sensing surface and such that a distance between the touch sensor and the touch sensing surface is generally constant, and

the spacer and the touch sensor are insert molded in the plastic part.

26. The input device according to claim 22, further comprising an intermediate layer extending, in part, between the base and the plastic part and directly contacting the base and the plastic part.

27. The input device according to claim 22, wherein the base is a single resin layer.