Switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017235391-A1
Application number	US-201715419683-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 30, 2017
Priority date	Feb 16, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A switching device according to an embodiment includes a circuit board, a laminated body, and an air layer. The circuit board is provided with an electrode which detects change in electrostatic capacitance that is caused by a touch operation of a user. The laminated body is laminated on the circuit board, and includes a touch panel member that receives the touch operation. The air layer is arranged at a position that corresponds to the electrode between the circuit board and the laminated body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A switching device comprising:
a circuit board that is provided with an electrode, the electrode detecting change in electrostatic capacitance that is caused by a touch operation of a user; a laminated body that is laminated on the circuit board, the laminated body including a touch panel member that receives the touch operation; and an air layer that is arranged at a position that corresponds to the electrode between the circuit board and the laminated body.

2 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
the laminated body is arranged between the touch panel member and the circuit board, the laminated body includes a light guiding member that guides light toward the touch panel member, and the air layer is arranged between the light guiding member and the touch panel member and/or between the light guiding member and the circuit board.

3 . The switching device according to claim 2 , wherein the air layer is a space that is formed by a concave part that is arranged in the light guiding member.

4 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
the laminated body is arranged between the touch panel member and the circuit board, the laminated body includes
a light guiding member that guides light toward the touch panel member, and
a holding member that is arranged between the light guiding member and the circuit board, the holding member holding the light guiding member, and
the air layer is arranged between the light guiding member and the holding member and/or between the holding member and the circuit board.

5 . The switching device according to claim 4 , wherein the air layer is a space that is formed by a concave part that is arranged in the holding member.

6 . The switching device according to claim 4 , wherein the holding member includes a wall part that is elastically deformed by contact with the touch panel member.

7 . The switching device according to claim 5 , wherein the holding member includes a wall part that is elastically deformed by contact with the touch panel member.

8 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, the switching device includes a plurality of the air layers, and the plurality of the air layers are arranged to correspond to the plurality of the electrodes, respectively.

9 . The switching device according to claim 2 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, the switching device includes a plurality of the air layers, and the plurality of the air layers are arranged to correspond to the plurality of the electrodes, respectively.

10 . The switching device according to claim 3 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, the switching device includes a plurality of the air layers, and the plurality of the air layers are arranged to correspond to the plurality of the electrodes, respectively.

11 . The switching device according to claim 4 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, the switching device includes a plurality of the air layers, and the plurality of the air layers are arranged to correspond to the plurality of the electrodes, respectively.

12 . The switching device according to claim 5 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, the switching device includes a plurality of the air layers, and the plurality of the air layers are arranged to correspond to the plurality of the electrodes, respectively.

13 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, and the air layer is arranged to correspond to at least two of the electrodes.

14 . The switching device according to claim 2 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, and the air layer is arranged to correspond to at least two of the electrodes.

15 . The switching device according to claim 3 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, and the air layer is arranged to correspond to at least two of the electrodes.

16 . The switching device according to claim 4 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, and the air layer is arranged to correspond to at least two of the electrodes.

17 . The switching device according to claim 5 , wherein
the circuit board is provided with a plurality of the electrodes, and the air layer is arranged to correspond to at least two of the electrodes.

18 . The switching device according to claim 8 , wherein the switching device is provided with a middle air layer that is arranged between adjacent air layers of the plurality of the air layers.

19 . The switching device according to claim 13 , wherein the switching device includes a plurality of the air layers, and a middle air layer that is arranged between adjacent air layers of the plurality of the air layers.

20 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the air layer is 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

Assignees

• Fujitsu Ten Ltd

Inventors

• Ishikawa Tomoaki
• Kobayashi Chiyohiko

Classifications

• H03K17/962 Primary

  Capacitive touch switches · CPC title

• H03K2217/960755

  Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches · CPC title

• H03K2217/96079

  using a single or more light guides · CPC title

• G06F3/044 Primary

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• H03K17/9622 Primary

  using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard · CPC title