IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,738,939
Granted Patent B2
US 12,738,939 · App. 18/982,522 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Input device

Inventors: Tomoki Yamada (Miyagi-ken, JP); Makoto Abe (Miyagi-ken, JP); Toshiki Nakamura (Miyagi-ken, JP)
Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
H03K17/962H05B45/30H05B47/115H03K2217/960735
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,738,939
App. No.
18/982,522
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input device includes: a light-emitting diode; a switching element connected in series with the light-emitting diode, the switching element switching the light-emitting diode between the on and off states; an electrostatic sensor having a detection electrode capacitively coupled to a circuit portion disposed between the light-emitting diode and the switching element; and a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the circuit portion and a second terminal connected to a fixed potential point.

Claims (14)

1 . An input device comprising:

a light-emitting diode;

a switching element connected in series with the light-emitting diode, the switching element switching the light-emitting diode between on and off states;

a circuit portion connected in series between the light-emitting diode and the switching element;

an electrostatic sensor having a detection electrode capacitively coupled to the circuit portion; and

a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the circuit portion and a second terminal connected to a fixed potential point.

2 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the switching element is a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor.

3 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein a capacitance of the capacitor is 50 times or more greater than a capacitance between the detection electrode and the circuit portion.

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

the light-emitting diode has an anode connected to a power supply, and a cathode connected to the switching element through the circuit portion, while the capacitor is connected to the cathode of the light-emitting diode through the circuit portion, and the switching element is connected to the fixed potential point; or

the light-emitting diode has the anode connected to the switching element through the circuit portion, and the cathode connected to the fixed potential point, while the capacitor is connected to the anode of the light-emitting diode through the circuit portion, and the switching element is connected to the power supply.

5 . The input device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the circuit portion has a first impedance when the switching element is in the on state and a second impedance when the switching element is in the off state,

and wherein a capacitance of the capacitor is set such that the first impedance and the second impedance are substantially the same.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2024
From: YAMADA, TOMOKI; ABE, MAKOTO; NAKAMURA, TOSHIKI
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 069598/0481 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-117780 · Jul 25, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2023007512 · Mar 1, 2023
Related Publication 20250119140A1 · Apr 10, 2025
References Cited (6)
US 12159007B1 · Huang · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20040238726A1 · Caldwell · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20120249401A1 · Omoto · 2012 [cited by examiner]
JP 2008159594 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 4687827 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report from International Application No. PCT/JP2023/007512 dated May 23, 2023, with English translation. [cited by applicant]