Input apparatus and output detection method in input apparatus
An input apparatus includes a skin having an operation surface; a first electrode arranged on a back side of the operation surface; second electrodes arranged facing the first electrode; an elastic member arranged between the skin and the second electrodes; and a processor connected to the second electrodes. The skin and the elastic member are elastically deformable by a pressing operation performed on the operation surface. The processor selects at least one second electrode from among the second electrodes as a driving electrode, selects at least one second electrode adjacent to the second electrode selected as the driving electrode, from among the second electrodes, as a detecting electrode, and switches a combination of the second electrodes selected from among the second electrodes as the driving electrode and the detecting electrode, and detects an output of the detecting electrode in a plurality of the combinations.
1 . An input apparatus comprising:
a skin having an operation surface;
a first electrode arranged on a back side of the operation surface;
a second electrode arranged facing the first electrode, the second electrode including a plurality of divided electrode portions, each of the plurality of the divided electrode portions configured to selectively serve as a driving electrode or a detecting electrode;
an elastic member arranged between the skin and the plurality of second electrodes;
a processor connected to the second electrode; and
a memory storing instructions, wherein
the skin and the elastic member are elastically deformable by a pressing operation performed on the operation surface by an operation body, and
the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to execute:
selecting at least one divided electrode portion from among the plurality of divided electrode portions as the driving electrode,
selecting at least one divided electrode portion adjacent to the divided electrode portion selected as the driving electrode, from among the plurality of divided electrode portions, as the detecting electrode,
switching a combination of the divided electrode portions selected as the driving electrode and the detecting electrode, and
detecting an output of the detecting electrode in a plurality of the combinations.
2 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is a floating electrode.
3 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a boundary between adjacent divided electrode portions among the plurality of divided electrode portions is linear in a plan view.
4 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to execute switching the combination of the divided electrode portions selected as the driving electrode and the detecting electrode multiple times such that each of the plurality of divided electrode portions is selected as the detecting electrode at least once.
5 . The input apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the plurality of divided electrode portions have a plurality of boundaries between adjacent divided electrode portions, and
the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to execute switching the combination of the divided electrode portions selected as the driving electrode and the detecting electrode multiple times such that each of the plurality of boundaries is located between the driving electrode and the detecting electrode at least once.
6 . The input apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to execute maintaining at least one divided electrode portion among the plurality of divided electrode portions that is not selected as the driving electrode or the detecting electrode, at a constant potential.
7 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the skin and the first electrode are formed of a transparent material.
8 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is thicker than the skin.
9 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of divided electrode portions are arranged in an annular, lattice, or honeycomb shape in a plan view.
10 . The input apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of divided electrode portions are equally divided into N portions (N is an integer of 3 or more) in a plan view.
11 . An output detection method in an input apparatus, the input apparatus including:
a skin having an operation surface;
a first electrode arranged on a back side of the operation surface;
a second electrode arranged facing the first electrode, the second electrode including a plurality of divided electrodes portions, each of the plurality of the divided electrode portions configured to selectively serve as a driving electrode or a detecting electrode;
an elastic member arranged between the skin and the plurality of second electrodes;
a processor connected to the second electrode; and
a memory storing instructions, when executed, cause the processor to execute the output detection method, wherein
the skin and the elastic member are elastically deformable by a pressing operation performed on the operation surface by an operation body,
the output detection method comprising:
selecting at least one divided electrode portion from among the plurality of divided electrode portions as the driving electrode,
selecting at least one divided electrode portions adjacent to the divided electrode portion selected as the driving electrode, from among the plurality of divided electrode portions, as the detecting electrode,
switching a combination of the divided electrode portions selected as the driving electrode and the detecting electrode, and
detecting an output of the detecting electrode in a plurality of the combinations.