Apparatus for reading information

An information reader, comprising:

• a reader main unit provided with an information reading unit by which information of an object being read is readable;
• and
• a switch unit configured as a separate member from the reading main unit,
• wherein the reader main unit has a case and an inner pad configuring an electrostatic capacity type of switch used for reading of the information reading unit is housed in the case,
• the inner pad is located at a predetermined position in the case and assembled with the case from an inside thereof,
• the switch unit is provided with
• a first pad to which electrical charge is applied,
• a second pad assembled with the case from outside the case so as to face the predetermined position which is set in the case, and
• a switching member is configured to perform a switchover between a supply state where the electrical charge applied to the first pad is supplied to the second pad and a non-supply state where the electrical charge applied to the first pad is not supplied to the second pad, in replay to operations of a movable member.

An information reader, comprising:

• an information reading unit reading an object being read;
• an electrostatic capacity type of switch equipped with a touch electrode, the touch electrode being subjected to a touch operation in starting a reading operation of the information reading unit;
• a case housing therein the switch;
• a detector detecting an electrostatic capacity provided by the touch electrode;
• and
• a controller controlling the information reading unit depending on operations to the switch, based on a result detected the detector,
• wherein the case is formed with a recess which enables at least a part of the touch electrode to be exposed outside, the at least part of the touch electrode allowing a direct touch operation.

An information reader, comprising:

• an information reading unit reading an object being read;
• an electrostatic capacity type of switch equipped with a touch electrode, the touch electrode being subjected to a touch operation in starting a reading operation of the information reading unit;
• a case housing having an outer surface on which the touch electrode is formed;
• a detector detecting an electrostatic capacity provided by the touch electrode;
• and
• a controller controlling the information reading unit depending on operations to the switch, based on a result detected the detector,
• wherein the touch electrode is elastically deformable,
• the case is formed with a second electrode to which a part of the elastically deformed touch electrode is touched,
• the detector is configured to detect a touch between the touch electrode and the part of the second electrode, and
• the controller is configured to perform a predetermined control when the detector detects the touch.

An information reader, comprising:

• an information reading unit reading an object being read;
• a case having an outer surface, a touch range indicating region being formed on the outer surface of the case and being used by a touch operation in main the information reading unit start a reading process;
• an electrostatic capacity type of main sensor arranged in the touch range indicating region;
• an electrostatic capacity type of auxiliary sensor arranged at a position different from the touch range indicating region;
• and
• a detector detecting the touch operation to the touch range indicating region, based on a dereference between detected values of the main and auxiliary sensors and a preset threshold,
• wherein the information reading unit is configured to start the reading process in reply to detection of the touch operation by the detector.