Operating body detection device, detection method for operating body, and I/O device

A detection method for an operating body using an operating body detection device comprising:

• a capacitance-type sensor having a capacitance sensing surface on which a plurality of sensing electrodes is arranged, and
• a pressure sensor comprising a pressure sensing film that has a piezoelectric membrane having a pressure-sensitive surface and two conductive membranes provided so as to sandwich the piezoelectric membrane, one or more of the two conductive membranes is patterned, and the pressure sensor is configured to individually detect pressure at a plurality of positions in the pressure-sensitive surface,
• wherein a detection surface that detects an operating body has a region in which the capacitance sensing surface and the pressure-sensitive surface overlap when viewed from a normal direction of the detection surface,
• the detection method comprising:
• sensing an object with the capacitance-type sensor;
• sensing pressing by the object with the pressure sensor;
• and
• if the object is sensed with the capacitance-type sensor and is sensed pressing by the pressure sensor, determining that the object is the operating body,
• wherein the operating body detection device has one or more features selected from the group consisting of:
• in-plane resolution of a capacitance change measurement on the capacitance sensing surface of the capacitance-type sensor being higher than in-plane resolution of pressure measurement on the pressure-sensitive surface of the pressure sensor, and
• the pressure sensor being configured to divisionally measure pressure on the pressure-sensitive surface, and if an object is detected with the capacitance-type sensor, the pressure sensor measuring the pressure using a portion of the pressure-sensitive surface at which coordinates on the pressure-sensitive surface that corresponds to coordinates of the object detected with the capacitance-type sensor on the capacitance sensing surface are positioned.

An operating body detection device comprising:

• a laminated structure comprising:
• a capacitance-type sensor comprising a plurality of sensing electrodes, and
• a heat source sensing sensor comprising a heat source sensing film having a heat source sensing membrane with a heat source sensing surface,
• wherein the heat source sensing sensor comprises a piezoelectric membrane and a transparent conductive membrane,
• wherein the plurality of sensing electrodes is formed on a first surface of the piezoelectric membrane,
• the transparent conductive membrane is provided on a second surface of the piezoelectric membrane opposite to the first surface, and
• the piezoelectric membrane functioning as the heat source sensing membrane,
• wherein in a first sensing mode, the plurality of sensing electrodes are configured to function as the capacitance-type sensor, and
• wherein in a second sensing mode, the plurality of sensing electrodes are configured to function as the heat source sensing sensor.