Touch-type input apparatus

• US 20030227446A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Original Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Inventors: Ohtsuka, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 7,138,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0433 in which the acoustic waves are either generated by a movable member and propagated within a surface layer or propagated within a surface layer and captured by a movable member
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/022 with opto-electronic switch

Abstract

A touch-type input apparatus which is used for operating equipment such as electric home appliances, is durable and well-designed, and prevents malfunction is disclosed. The touch-type input apparatus includes a translucent touch operation panel, touch detection means, light detection means, a light reception unit, and input determination means. The touch detection means detects a touch on the touch operation panel. The light detection means includes a light emission unit and a light reception unit. The light emission unit is provided on the rear surface side of the touch operation panel and transmits a unique light signal through the touch operation panel. The light reception unit detects a reflected unique light signal which is transmitted from the light emission unit and is reflected on a front surface side of the touch operation panel. The input determination means determines the intended input operation based on detection signals supplied from the touch detection means and the light detection means.

Claims

1. A touch-type input apparatus comprising:

a touch operation panel;

touch detection means for detecting a load on said touch operation panel;

light detection means comprising (i) a light emission unit for transmitting a unique light signal through said touch operation panel, said light emission unit provided on a rear surface side of said touch operation panel, and (ii) a light reception unit for detecting said unique light signal transmitted from said light emission unit and subsequently reflected on a front surface side of said touch operation panel; and

input determination means for making an input operation determination from detection signals supplied from said touch detection means and said light detection means.

2. The touch-type input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the touch detection means comprises a piezoelectric element.

3. The touch-type input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a translucent liquid crystal display interposed between the rear surface side of said touch operation panel and said light detection means.

4. The touch-type input apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a translucent liquid crystal display interposed between the rear surface side of said touch operation panel and said light detection means.