IP Library Granted Patent US 9,726,366
Granted Patent B2
US 9,726,366 · App. 14/872,810 · Granted Aug 8, 2017

Touch pad device having illumination function

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,726,366
App. No.
14/872,810
Granted
Aug 8, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A touch pad device includes: an operating unit which includes an operation surface on which an operating body performs a proximity operation, and an illumination portion disposed in the operation surface; a first substrate which has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being aligned with the operation surface and provided with a detection unit that detects the proximity operation; and a support member configured to integrally support the operating unit and the first substrate, in which the first substrate is provided so as not to overlap the illumination portion, a light source disposed in the vicinity of the illumination portion and outputs light toward the support member side is provided, and a reflective portion configured to reflect the light output from the light source toward the illumination portion is provided at a position that opposes the light source of the support member.

Claims (11)

1. A touch pad device comprising:

an operating unit including:

an operation surface on which an operating body performs a proximity operation from a first side of the operation surface, and

an illumination portion provided on the operation surface;

a substrate provided on a second side of the operation surface opposite to the first side, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface facing the operation surface from the second side of the operation surface;

a support member provided under the substrate so as to support the operating unit and the substrate;

a housing configured to accommodate the operating unit such that the operation surface is exposed, and to support the support member such that the support member reciprocates up and down relative to the housing so as to move the operating unit up and down relative to the housing;

a detection unit provided on the first surface of the substrate and configured to detect the proximity operation of the operating body;

a light source provided on the second surface of the substrate and configured to output light toward the support member; and

a reflective portion provided on the support member at a position opposing the light source, the reflective portion being configured to reflect the light output from the light source toward the illumination portion, wherein the substrate has a cutout provided at a position corresponding to the illumination portion such that the light reflected by the reflective portion reaches the illumination portion through the cutout.

2. The touch pad device according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination portion is made of a light-transmitting material.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048260/0783 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2015
From: NAKAZAWA, SHUNSUKE; IKEDA, SUMINARI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 036707/0302 →