Input element and input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11010004-B2
Application number	US-201716083722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2017
Priority date	Mar 14, 2016
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

An input element includes: a first electrode and a second electrode that face each other; and an intermediate layer disposed between the first and the second electrodes and made of rubber or a rubber composition, the rubber or rubber composition containing siloxane. The intermediate layer is made of rubber or a rubber composition, the rubber or rubber composition containing siloxane that has a silicon atom bound to three to four oxygen atoms. The intermediate layer has concentration profiles such that, while oxygen increases from one side to the other side of a thickness direction thereof and has a maximal value, carbon decreases from the one side to the other side thereof and has a minimal value.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An input element, comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode that face each other; and
an intermediate layer disposed between the first and the second electrodes and made of rubber or a rubber composition, the rubber or rubber composition containing siloxane and having insulation properties,
wherein the intermediate layer has concentration profiles such that, while oxygen increases to a maximal value from a first side to a second side of a thickness direction, carbon decreases to a minimal value from the first side to the second side of the thickness direction, the first side facing the first electrode and the second side facing the second electrode,
wherein the first side of the intermediate layer and the second side of the intermediate layer have different deformation amounts when a force is applied to the intermediate layer from a direction perpendicular to a plane of the intermediate layer,
wherein a universal hardness with an indentation depth of 10 μm in the first side of the intermediate layer is different from a universal hardness with an indentation of depth of 10 μm in the second side of the intermediate layer,
wherein the intermediate layer has a single layer structure, and
wherein a ratio of the universal hardness in the first side of the intermediate layer to the universal hardness in the second side of the intermediate layer is 1.01 or more.

2. The input element according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat-resisting layer disposed between at least one of the first and the second electrodes and the intermediate layer.

3. The input element according to claim 2 , wherein
the heat-resisting layer is made of a thermosetting material or a thermoplastic material and has a capability to serve as a bonding layer.

4. The input element according to claim 3 , wherein
the heat-resisting layer is made of a material having a thermal property that is the same as or equivalent to thermal property of the intermediate layer.

5. The input element according to claim 1 , wherein
the intermediate layer is made of rubber or a rubber composition, the rubber or rubber composition containing siloxane that has a silicon atom bound to three to four oxygen atoms.

6. The input element according to claim 1 , wherein
a part of the intermediate layer and a part of at least one of the first and the second electrodes are not joined to each other.

7. The input element according to claim 6 , further comprising a spacer between the intermediate layer and at least one of the first and the second electrodes.

8. The input element according to claim 1 , wherein
the first electrode includes a plurality of electrodes arrayed along a first direction, and the second electrode includes a plurality of electrodes arrayed along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

9. An input device, comprising:
the input element according to claim 1 ; and
a signal processor configured to process an electric signal generated as a result of having the intermediate layer pressed.

10. The input element according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat-resisting layer disposed or on one side of at least one of the first and the second electrodes, the one side facing away from the intermediate layer.

11. The input element according to claim 10 , wherein
the heat-resisting layer is made of a thermosetting material or a thermoplastic material and has a capability to serve as a bonding layer.

12. The input element according to claim 11 , wherein
the heat-resisting layer is made of a material having a thermal property that is the same as or equivalent to thermal property of the intermediate layer.

13. The input element according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is not bonded to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

14. The input element according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the universal hardness in the first side of the intermediate layer to the universal hardness in the second side of the intermediate layer is 1.70 or less.

Assignees

• Araumi Mayuka
• Arizumi Yuko
• Nakashima Makito
• Kitamura Megumi
• Sugawara Tomoaki
• Kondoh Tsuneaki
• Imai Takahiro
• Natori Junichiro
• Miyazawa Hideyuki
• Otagiri Mizuki
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Araumi Mayuka
• Arizumi Yuko
• Nakashima Makito
• Kitamura Megumi
• Sugawara Tomoaki
• Kondoh Tsuneaki
• Imai Takahiro
• Natori Junichiro
• Miyazawa Hideyuki
• Otagiri Mizuki

Classifications

• H10N30/04

  Treatments to modify a piezoelectric or electrostrictive property, e.g. polarisation characteristics, vibration characteristics or mode tuning · CPC title

• H10N30/857

  Macromolecular compositions · CPC title

• H10N30/302

  Sensors · CPC title

• H03K2017/9613

  using two electrodes per touch switch · CPC title

• H03K17/975

  using a capacitive movable element · CPC title