Touch switch with thermo-chromatic layers

• US 6,690,362 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawashima, Toshitaka, Kayama, Shun, Ohsako, Junichi, Kataoka, Yasuhiro, Motoyama, Shigeki, Nakayoshi, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jorgensen, Leland R.
• Application Number:
  US09/662,879
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/105, 345/106, 503/201
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/00 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/06 Temperature sensitive
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H

Abstract

An input device and an electronic apparatus using such an input device capable of providing visual amusement at the time of operating thereof and allowing the down sizing and thinning are provided. The input device has a reversible chromatic layer exhibiting color change in response to temperature change, and a sheet-type input portion laminated on the reversible chromatic layer and activates ON operation upon being pressed.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a reversible chromatic layer having at least two coatings, each of said at least two coatings exhibiting color change in response to temperature change; and

a sheet-type input portion laminated on said reversible chromatic layer and activates ON operation upon being pressed,

wherein said reversible chromatic layer is located on a rear surface of said sheet-type switch portion and an input operation is effected by direct contact with said sheet-type switch portion.

2. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein heat required to cause temperature change of said reversible chromatic layer is provided through the direct contact thereto with a part of a human body.

3. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein heat required to cause temperature change of said reversible chromatic layer is provided from an inner portion of an electronic apparatus.

4. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first coating of said at least two coatings has a temperature-dependent chromatic characteristic different than a second coating of said at least two coatings.

5. The input device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first coating is laterally adjacent to said second coating.

6. The input device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first coating is in contact with said second coating.

7. The input device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second coating is on said first coating, a portion of said second coating being removed to expose said first coating.

8. An electronic apparatus having an input device, wherein said input device comprising:

a reversible chromatic layer having at least two coatings, each of said at least two coatings exhibiting color change in response to temperature change; and

a sheet-type input portion stacked on said reversible chromatic layer and activates ON operation upon being pressed, wherein;

said sheet-type input portion is exposed outward within a window provided to a housing of said electronic apparatus,

said reversible chromatic layer is located on a rear surface of said sheet-type input portion, and

an input operation is effected by direct contact with said sheet-type switch portion.

9. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein heat required to cause temperature change of said reversible chromatic layer is provided from an inner portion of an electronic apparatus.

10. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a first coating of said at least two coatings has a temperature-dependent chromatic characteristic different than a second coating of said at least two coatings.

11. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first coating is laterally adjacent to said second coating.

12. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first coating is in contact with said second coating.

13. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second coating is on said first coating, a portion of said second coating being removed to expose said first coating.