Capacitive input device
AssigneeSekisui Polymatech Co., Ltd.
InventorsKanae Miyanaga, Shinya Tateda, Yohei Yamamoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To provide a capacitive input device that enables the user to feel that the input operation has been done. A capacitive input device includes a surface sheet, a soft member, and a sensor sheet configured to detect a change in capacitance. The surface sheet includes an operation area on which a touching operation is to be performed. The soft member is provided between the operation area and the sensor sheet. The sensor sheet includes a sensor electrode located at a position corresponding to the operation area. When the operation area is pressed in a touching operation, the surface sheet and the soft member are displaced toward the sensor sheet and the sensor electrode detects the capacitance.
Claims20
A capacitive input device comprising:
- a surface member;
- a soft member;
- and
- a sensor sheet configured to detect a change in capacitance,
- wherein the surface member has an operation area on which a touching operation is to be performed,
- wherein the soft member is provided between the operation area and the sensor sheet,
- wherein the sensor sheet includes a sensor electrode at a position corresponding to the operation area,
- wherein when the operation area is pressed in a touching operation, the surface member and the soft member are displaced toward the sensor sheet and the sensor electrode detects the capacitance,
- wherein the soft member includes a conductive portion provided inside the soft member,
- wherein the conductive portion increases a value of the capacitance to increase detection sensitivity in a region between the operation area and the sensor electrode, wherein the conductive portion is formed from a conductive medium contained in the soft member, the soft member being formed from a polymer matrix, and
- wherein the conductive portion is an oriented portion in which the conductive medium is oriented in the soft member.
A capacitive input device comprising:
- a surface member;
- a soft member;
- and
- a sensor sheet configured to detect a change in capacitance,
- wherein the surface member has an operation area on which a touching operation is to be performed,
- wherein the soft member is provided between the operation area and the sensor sheet,
- wherein the sensor sheet includes a sensor electrode at a position corresponding to the operation area,
- wherein when the operation area is pressed in a touching operation, the surface member and the soft member are displaced toward the sensor sheet and the sensor electrode detects the capacitance,
- wherein the operation area includes a first operation area and a second operation area,
- wherein the sensor electrode includes a first electrode corresponding to the first operation area;
- and a second electrode corresponding to the second operation area, and
- wherein the soft member includes an insulating portion provided between a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being located between the first operation area and the first electrode, the second portion being located between the second operation area and the second electrode.
A capacitive input device comprising:
- a surface member;
- a soft member;
- and
- a sensor sheet configured to detect a change in capacitance,
- wherein the surface member has an operation area on which a touching operation is to be performed,
- wherein the soft member is provided between the operation area and the sensor sheet,
- wherein the sensor sheet includes a sensor electrode at a position corresponding to the operation area,
- wherein when the operation area is pressed in a touching operation, the surface member and the soft member are displaced toward the sensor sheet and the sensor electrode detects the capacitance, and
- wherein the capacitive input device further comprises:
- a second hard supporting member provided between the surface member and the sensor sheet and having a hole,
- wherein the soft member is provided in the hole.
A capacitive input device comprising:
- a surface member;
- a soft member;
- and
- a sensor sheet configured to detect a change in capacitance,
- wherein the surface member has an operation area on which a touching operation is to be performed,
- wherein the soft member is provided between the operation area and the sensor sheet,
- wherein the sensor sheet includes a sensor electrode at a position corresponding to the operation area,
- wherein when the operation area is pressed in a touching operation, the surface member and the soft member are displaced toward the sensor sheet and the sensor electrode detects the capacitance, and
- wherein the capacitive input device further comprises:
- a third hard supporting member provided in a peripheral area of the surface member and on a surface of the surface member that faces the soft member, the peripheral area surrounding the operation area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.