Touch sensor, touch pad and input device

• US 7,825,911 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sano, Takeshi, Fujii, Hiroyuki, Wakisaka, Kenichiro, Kuramoto, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ketema; Benyam
• Application Number:
  US11/727,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1801- 1901
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A touch sensor includes a contact sensor and a pressure sensor. The contact sensor includes a first electrode and a first switching element connected to the first electrode, and detects a change in an electric potential when an object contacts a surface. The pressure sensor includes a second electrode and a second switching element connected to the second electrode, and detects a change in a pressure when an object depresses the surface. The touch sensor includes a plurality of the contact sensors and a plurality of the pressure sensors disposed regularly in an array.

Claims

1. A touch sensor

a contact sensor, including a first electrode and a first switching element connected to the first electrode, configured to detect a change in an electric potential when an object contacts a surface;

a pressure sensor, including a second electrode and a second switching element connected to the second electrode, configured to detect a change in a pressure when an object depresses the surface and,

a piezoelectric provided on the first switching element and the second switching element, wherein

the first electrode is provided on the piezoelectric and is connected to the first switching element through a contact part in a contact hole formed in the piezoelectric, and

the second electrode is provide under the piezoelectric and

a plurality of the contact sensors and a plurality of the pressure sensors are disposed regularly in an array.

2. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein each of the first switching element and the second switching element in an organic transitor, respectively.

9. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a third electrode provided on a top surface of the piezoelectric opposing the second electrode.

3. A touch pad comprising:

a contact sensor, including a first electrode and a first switching element connected to the first electrode, configured to detect a change in an electric potential when an object contacts a surface; and

a pressure sensor, including a second electrode and a second switching element connected to the second electrode, configured to detect a change in a pressure when an object depresses the surface and,

a piezoelectric provided on the first switching element and the second switching element, wherein

the first electrode is provided on the piezoelectric and is connected to the first switching element through a contact part in a contact hole formed in the piezoelectric, and

the second electrode is provide under the piezoelectric, and

a plurality of the contact sensors and a plurality of the pressure sensors are disposed regularly in an array, and

a CPU configured to generate a control signal based on a signal outputted from the touch sensor; and

to send the control signal to an external device.

10. The touch pad according to claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a third electrode provided on a top surface of the piezoelectric opposing the second electrode.

4. An input device comprising:

a contact sensor, including a first electrode and a first switching element connected to the first electrode, configured to detect a change in an electric potential when an object contacts a surface; and

a pressure sensor, including a second electrode and a second switching element connected to the second electrode, configured to detect a change in a pressure when an object depresses the surface and,

a piezoelectric provided on the first switching element and the second switching element, wherein

the first electrode is provided on the piezoelectric and is connected to the first switching element through a contact part in a contact hole formed in the piezoelectric, and

the second electrode is provide under the piezoelectric and

a plurality of the contact sensors and a plurality of the pressure sensors are disposed regularly in an array,

a CPU configured to generate a control signal based on a signal outputted from the touch sensor; and

to send the control signal to an external device, and

a display configured to output information in response to the control signal, the information corresponding to the position detected by the contact sensor, or corresponding to the position detected by the pressure sensor.

5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the position detected by the contact sensor and the position detected by the pressure sensor correspond to keys, respectively.

6. The input device according to claim 4, further comprising an input unit in which a plurality of keys are disposed, wherein

the contact sensor and the pressure sensor are disposed on the input unit.

7. The input device according to claim 6, further comprising an elastic member which is disposed corresponding to the plurality of keys.

8. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the contact sensor and the pressure sensor are disposed on the display.

11. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a third electrode provided on a top surface of the piezoelectric opposing the second electrode.