Input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10969895-B2
Application number	US-202016839245-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2020
Priority date	Oct 13, 2017
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

An input device includes an operation panel, a frame disposed on a back side of the operation panel, a pressure detector disposed between the operation panel and the frame, and an elastic part. The pressure detector includes a lever including a deformation part that warps when a pressing force is applied, a protruding part provided on a first surface of the deformation part, and a surrounding wall provided on a periphery of a second surface of the deformation part; and a pressure detection element that is disposed in a region of the second surface of the deformation part surrounded by the surrounding wall, warps along with the deformation part, and outputs a pressure detection signal corresponding to the pressing force. The elastic part is disposed between the protruding part or the surrounding wall and the frame or the operation panel and applies a pre-pressure to the deformation part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An input device, comprising:
an operation panel including an operation surface;
a frame disposed on a back side of the operation panel;
a force sensor unit that is disposed between the operation panel and the frame to detect a pressing force applied to the operation surface and includes
a lever including a deformation part that warps when the pressing force is applied, a protruding part that is provided on a first surface of the deformation part and protrudes toward the frame or the operation panel, and a surrounding wall provided on a periphery of a second surface of the deformation part, the deformation part being configured to warp when the pressing force is applied via the protruding part to the deformation part, and
a pressure detection element that is disposed in a region of the second surface of the deformation part surrounded by the surrounding wall, warps along with the deformation part, and outputs a pressure detection signal corresponding to the pressing force; and

an elastic part that is disposed between the protruding part and the frame or the operation panel and applies a pre-pressure to the deformation part.

2. The input device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a rigidity of the deformation part against the pressing force is lower than a rigidity of the operation panel against the pressing force.

3. The input device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
multiple cushioning parts that are disposed between the operation panel and the frame and support the operation panel such that the operation panel is movable in a vertical direction relative to the frame,
wherein at least a part of the force sensor unit is disposed in a region surrounded by the multiple cushioning parts.

4. The input device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the force sensor unit is disposed substantially in a center of the region surrounded by the multiple cushioning parts.

5. The input device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elastic part is a sheet-shaped part and includes a protrusion that engages with a recess formed on the protruding part.

6. The input device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elastic part is a component shaped like a leaf spring and formed by bending a part of the frame.

7. An input device, comprising:
an operation panel including an operation surface;
a frame disposed on a back side of the operation panel;
a force sensor unit that is disposed between the operation panel and the frame to detect a pressing force applied to the operation surface and includes
a lever including a deformation part that warps when the pressing force is applied, a protruding part that is provided on a first surface of the deformation part and protrudes toward the frame or the operation panel, and a surrounding wall provided on a periphery of a second surface of the deformation part, the deformation part being configured to warp when the pressing force is applied via the protruding part to the deformation part, and
a pressure detection element that is disposed in a region of the second surface of the deformation part surrounded by the surrounding wall, warps along with the deformation part, and outputs a pressure detection signal corresponding to the pressing force; and

an elastic part that is disposed between the surrounding wall and the operation panel and applies a pre-pressure to the deformation part.

8. The input device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein a rigidity of the deformation part against the pressing force is lower than a rigidity of the operation panel against the pressing force.

9. The input device as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
multiple cushioning parts that are disposed between the operation panel and the frame and support the operation panel such that the operation panel is movable in a vertical direction relative to the frame,
wherein at least a part of the force sensor unit is disposed in a region surrounded by the multiple cushioning parts.

10. The input device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the force sensor unit is disposed substantially in a center of the region surrounded by the multiple cushioning parts.

11. The input device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the elastic part is a component shaped like a leaf spring and extends outward from a side surface of the lever.

Assignees

• Alps Alpine Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sato Wataru
• Takai Daisuke
• Shigetaka Hiroshi
• Kawana Yuzuru
• Shikata Hajime

Classifications

• G06F3/041 Primary

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/04142 Primary

  the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title

• G01L1/18

  using properties of piezo-resistive materials, i.e. materials of which the ohmic resistance varies according to changes in magnitude or direction of force applied to the material · CPC title

• G01L1/16

  using properties of piezoelectric devices · CPC title