Capacitive input device

• US 7,348,898 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ono, Shuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr.; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/305,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 341/33, 200/5.A, 200/600, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 341/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/016 Protection layer, e.g. for legend, anti-scratch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

A input device is provided which includes a clock signal generator that generates a clock signal; a delay unit that has a capacitive sensor where an electrode is formed on a substrate; protective sheets each of which is formed of a dielectric and which are disposed on front and rear surfaces of the capacitive sensor; a logical product unit that transmits an output signal on the basis of a clock signal obtained from the clock signal generator and a delay signal obtained from the delay unit; and a controller that makes a predetermined program executed in accordance with an output signal obtained on the basis of the logical product unit.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a clock signal generator that generates a clock signal;

a delay unit that has a capacitive sensor where an electrode is formed on a substrate;

protective sheets each of which is formed of a dielectric and which are disposed on front and rear surfaces of the capacitive sensor;

a logical product unit that transmits an output signal on the basis of the clock signal obtained from the clock signal generator and a delay signal obtained from the delay unit; and

a controller that makes a predetermined program executed in accordance with an output signal obtained on the basis of the logical product unit.

2. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein each of the protective sheets disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the capacitive sensor has a different thickness.

3. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the controller controls inputs from the front and rear surfaces of the capacitive sensor on the basis of the output signal obtained from the capacitive sensor.

4. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the controller switches an input switching unit connected to the controller in accordance with a desired protective sheet, and controls whether an input is performed from which one of the protective sheets disposed on the rear and front surfaces of the capacitive sensor.

5. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a capacitive sensor in which a detection electrode is formed on a film substrate;

a first insulating sheet that is disposed so as to cover a front surface of the capacitive sensor;

a second insulating sheet that is disposed so as to cover a rear surface of the capacitive sensor and has a different thickness from a thickness of the first protective sheet; and

an input device that is composed of a discrimination unit to discriminate between input operation on the first insulating sheet and input operation on the second insulating sheet,

wherein the input device is built in a case, and

a detection signal output from the capacitive sensor at the time of performing input operation on the first insulating sheet is different from a detection signal output from the capacitive sensor at the time of performing input operation on the second insulating sheet.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein in the input device, the first insulating sheet is provided near one surface of the case and the second insulating sheet is provided near an opposing surface of the case.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein in the input device, the first insulating sheet is provided to be exposed to another surface of the case and the second insulating sheet is provided to be exposed to the other surface of the case.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the discrimination unit discriminates an input operation side from a difference between detected capacitances that are generated from a difference between a first distance from a first insulating sheet surface and the detection electrode and a second distance from a second insulating sheet surface to the detection electrode.

9. An input device comprising:

a capacitive coordinate detecting sensor in which an X electrode is formed on a front surface of a film substrate and a Y electrode is formed on a rear surface of the film substrate;

a first insulating sheet that is disposed so as to cover the X electrode side of the capacitive coordinate detecting sensor;

a switch member that is provided at the Y electrode side of the film substrate and enters an on/off state through pressing operation of the first insulating sheet side;

a second insulating sheet that is disposed so as to cover a rear surface of the switch member; and

a discrimination unit that discriminates between input operation on the first insulating sheet and input operation on the second insulating sheet,

wherein a detection signal output from the capacitive sensor at the time of performing input operation on the first insulating sheet is different from a detection signal output from the capacitive sensor at the time of performing input operation on the second insulating sheet.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the discrimination unit discriminates an input operation side from a difference between detected capacitances that are generated from a difference between a first distance from a first insulating sheet surface and the X electrode and a second distance from a second insulating sheet surface to the Y electrode with the switch member interposed therebetween.