IP Library Granted Patent US 11,977,709
Granted Patent B2
US 11,977,709 · App. 18/163,054 · Granted May 7, 2024

Input device

Inventors: Shinji Kanda (Fukui, JP); Yoshihiro Hosokawa (Fukui, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
G06F3/0448
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,977,709
App. No.
18/163,054
Granted
May 7, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input device includes: a plurality of first sensor electrodes; and a plurality of second sensor electrodes. Furthermore, the plurality of first sensor electrodes and the plurality of second sensor electrodes are electrically disconnected. Additionally, the plurality of first sensor electrodes are disposed in a radial arrangement centered on a reference point. Moreover, the plurality of second sensor electrodes are disposed in a concentric circular arrangement centered on the reference point.

Claims (58)

1. An input device that is capacitive, the input device comprising:

a plurality of first sensor electrodes;

a plurality of second sensor electrodes; and

an insulator that is board-shaped, wherein:

the plurality of first sensor electrodes and the plurality of second sensor electrodes are electrically disconnected,

the plurality of first sensor electrodes are disposed in a radial arrangement centered on a reference point,

the plurality of second sensor electrodes are disposed in a concentric circular arrangement centered on the reference point,

each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes includes:

a plurality of electrode portions separated at one or more portions of the first sensor electrode overlapping one or more of the plurality of second sensor electrodes, in a plan view of the input device; and

one or more connecting portions each electrically connecting two electrode portions that are adjacent to each other in a radial direction extending from the reference point in the plan view, the two electrode portions being included in the plurality of electrode portions, and

each of the plurality of second sensor electrodes is disposed on an other surface of the insulator, and

the connecting portion is disposed below the other surface to avoid the plurality of second sensor electrodes.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein:

each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes is disposed on one surface of the insulator,

each of the plurality of second sensor electrodes is disposed on an other surface of the insulator, and

the other surface is located closer to an operation surface than the one surface.

3. The input device according to claim 2 , wherein

each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes is a planar electrode, and

each of the plurality of second sensor electrodes is a wire-shaped electrode.

4. The input device according to claim 3 , wherein

each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes has a width that increases with distance from the reference point.

5. The input device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

an operation panel disposed to cover each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes, wherein

the operation panel increases in thickness or decreases in thickness with proximity to the reference point,

a surface of the operation panel is a sloped surface or a curved surface, and

in a cross section cut along a plane that includes the reference point and is orthogonal to the radial arrangement in a plan view of the input device, the plurality of second sensor electrodes are disposed in the concentric circular arrangement in which an interval between two adjacent second sensor electrodes among the plurality of second sensor electrodes decreases with an increase in distance between the surface of the operation panel and the two adjacent second sensor electrodes.

6. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes is formed to have a width that increases with distance from the reference point.

7. The input device according to claim 6 , further comprising:

an operation panel disposed to cover each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes, wherein

the operation panel increases in thickness or decreases in thickness with proximity to the reference point,

a surface of the operation panel is a sloped surface or a curved surface, and

in a cross section cut along a plane that includes the reference point and is orthogonal to the radial arrangement in a plan view of the input device, the plurality of second sensor electrodes are disposed in the concentric circular arrangement in which an interval between two adjacent second sensor electrodes among the plurality of second sensor electrodes decreases with an increase in distance between the surface of the operation panel and the two adjacent second sensor electrodes.

8. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an operation panel disposed to cover each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes, wherein

the operation panel increases in thickness or decreases in thickness with proximity to the reference point,

a surface of the operation panel is a sloped surface or a curved surface, and

in a cross section cut along a plane that includes the reference point and is orthogonal to the radial arrangement in a plan view of the input device, the plurality of second sensor electrodes are disposed in the concentric circular arrangement in which an interval between two adjacent second sensor electrodes among the plurality of second sensor electrodes decreases with an increase in distance between the surface of the operation panel and the two adjacent second sensor electrodes.

9. The input device according to claim 8 , wherein

each of the plurality of second sensor electrodes includes:

a ring-shaped portion disposed in the concentric circular arrangement centered on the reference point; and

a plurality of projecting portions projecting from the ring-shaped portion in a radial direction extending from the reference point.

10. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the plurality of second sensor electrodes includes:

a ring-shaped portion disposed in the concentric circular arrangement centered on the reference point; and

a plurality of projecting portions projecting from the ring-shaped portion in a radial direction extending from the reference point.

11. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller that identifies an input location of an operating member based on a change in capacitance of each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes and a change in capacitance of each of the plurality of second sensor electrodes.

12. An input device that is capacitive, the input device comprising:

a plurality of first sensor electrodes;

a plurality of second sensor electrodes; and

an operation panel disposed to cover each of the plurality of first sensor electrodes, wherein:

the plurality of first sensor electrodes and the plurality of second sensor electrodes are electrically disconnected,

the plurality of first sensor electrodes are disposed in a radial arrangement centered on a reference point,

the plurality of second sensor electrodes are disposed in a concentric circular arrangement centered on the reference point,

the operation panel increases in thickness or decreases in thickness with proximity to the reference point,

a surface of the operation panel is a sloped surface or a curved surface, and

in a cross section cut along a plane that includes the reference point and is orthogonal to the radial arrangement in a plan view of the input device, the plurality of second sensor electrodes are disposed in the concentric circular arrangement in which an interval between two adjacent second sensor electrodes among the plurality of second sensor electrodes decreases with an increase in distance between the surface of the operation panel and the two adjacent second sensor electrodes.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066709/0752 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2023
From: KANDA, SHINJI; HOSOKAWA, YOSHIHIRO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064380/0838 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-053103 · Mar 29, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230350529A1 · Nov 2, 2023