# US 9,882,561 B2 · Input device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,882,561 B2 - Document ID: US9882561B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/565,699 - Filed: 2014-12-10 - Published: 2015-04-02 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-12 - Assignees: Fujikura Ltd. - Applicants: Fujikura Ltd. - Inventors: Yohei Kurikawa; Wataru Kondo; Makoto Takamatsu; Yoshinori Sano; Toshimizu Tomitsuka; Yasushi Ono; Osamu Aoki; Shinsuke Aoshima; Yasuyuki Tachikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882561B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H03K 17/955: using a capacitive detector - H03K 17/975: using a capacitive movable element - H01H 13/702: with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches - H01H 2215/004: Collapsible dome or bubble - H03K 2017/9613: {using two electrodes per touch switch} - H03K 2217/96062: with tactile or haptic feedback - H03K 2217/960745: Capacitive differential; e.g. comparison with reference capacitance - H03K 2217/960755: Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches - H03K 2217/96076: with spring electrode - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract An input device includes an insulation substrate, a switch element, and a detection portion. The switch element includes a fixed electrode portion that is provided on the substrate, and a movable electrode portion that is provided on a main surface side of the substrate, at least part of the movable electrode portion being elastically displaceable toward a direction approaching and leaving the fixed electrode portion. The movable electrode portion is displaceable toward a direction approaching the fixed electrode portion due to pressure from an object to be detected that is an electric conductor. The detection portion is capable of detecting a capacitance change caused by the object to be detected approaching and leaving the movable electrode portion and a capacitance change between the movable electrode portion and the fixed electrode portion produced by displacement of the movable electrode portion due to pressing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An input device comprising an insulation substrate, a switch element provided on the substrate, and a detection portion that detects a capacitance change at the switch element, wherein: the switch element comprises a fixed electrode portion that is provided on the substrate, and a movable electrode portion that is provided on a main surface side of the substrate, at least part of the movable electrode portion being elastically displaceable toward a direction approaching and leaving the fixed electrode portion; the movable electrode portion is displaceable toward a direction approaching the fixed electrode portion due to pressure from an object to be detected that is an electric conductor; the detection portion is capable of detecting a capacitance change caused by the object to be detected approaching and leaving the movable electrode portion and a capacitance change between the movable electrode portion and the fixed electrode portion produced by displacement of the movable electrode portion due to pressing the fixed electrode portion is electrically insulated with respect to the movable electrode portion and is connected to ground; and at least on a surface of a movable electrode portion side of the fixed electrode portion, an insulation portion is formed that prevents the movable electrode portion from being electrically connected to the fixed electrode portion when the movable electrode portion is displaced toward a direction approaching the fixed electrode portion, wherein the movable electrode portion is electrically connected to an external electrode portion provided on a main surface side of the substrate, the external electrode portion is formed at a periphery of the fixed electrode portion when seen from a planar view, and a distance of a radial direction between the external electrode portion and the fixed electrode portion when seen from the planar view is greater than a maximum displacement distance of the movable electrode portion in an upper and lower direction which is perpendicular to the radial direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the movable electrode portion is a domical shape or an arch shape which is protruded toward a direction leaving the substrate, and an approximate center portion is elastically displaceable toward a direction approaching and leaving the fixed electrode portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein: the external electrode portion is formed at a region comprising the movable electrode portion when seen from a planar view; and an outside dimension of the external electrode portion is 1.5 times larger than an outside dimension of the movable electrode portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed electrode portion is provided at a surface side which is opposite to the main surface side of the substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The input device according to claim 4, wherein a height adjustment unit that regulates a shift of the movable electrode portion toward a direction approaching the substrate is formed at the main surface side of the substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The input device according to claim 5, wherein the height adjustment unit is formed in laminate along the main surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein: the fixed electrode portion is provided on the main surface side of the substrate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The input device according to claim 7, wherein the insulation portion is made of one resin or two or more resins selected from a group of an acrylic resin, a urethane resin, a polyester resin, a polyimide resin, and an epoxide resin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The input device according to claim 7, wherein relative permittivity of the insulation portion is 1.5 to 10. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The input device according to claim 7, wherein a thickness of the insulation portion is 5 μm or more. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The input device according to claim 7, wherein a difference in height between an upper surface of an insulation layer and an upper surface of the external electrode portion based on the main surface of the substrate is 0 or more, and is within a range of less than or equal to one-tenth of a distance between the fixed electrode portion and a portion of the movable electrode portion that faces to the fixed electrode portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the insulation portion is the substrate.