IP Library Granted Patent US 10,613,639
Granted Patent B2
US 10,613,639 · App. 16/249,990 · Granted Apr 7, 2020

Operation device

Inventor: Kunihiro Nakagawa (Kariya, JP)
Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
G06F3/0202G06F3/039G06F3/0362G06F3/03547G06F3/041G06F3/044G06F2203/04103
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,613,639
App. No.
16/249,990
Granted
Apr 7, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides an operation device including a touch panel and a mechanical switch. The mechanical switch includes a fixed part, a rotary part, an electrode, and a conductive member. The electrode is provided on an opposing surface of the rotary part facing the touch panel. The conductive member circumferentially coating an outer circumferential surface of the rotary part and connected to the electrode. The conductive member is provided in a first region of the outer circumferential surface except for a region within a predetermined dimension from the opposing surface in a direction away from the touch panel. The conductive member is further provided in a second region of the outer circumferential surface extending from the first region and connected to the electrode.

Claims (25)

1. An operation device comprising:

a touch panel that is configured to receive a touch operation by a finger of a user; and

a mechanical switch that is configured to input a switch operation to the touch panel, wherein

the operation device allows an input operation to a predetermined equipment through the touch operation by the finger or the switch operation of the mechanical switch,

the mechanical switch includes:

a fixed part fixed to the touch panel;

a rotary part made of a non-conductive material and rotatably supported on the fixed part;

an electrode provided on an opposing surface of the rotary part facing the touch panel; and

a conductive member circumferentially coating an outer circumferential surface of the rotary part and connected to the electrode,

the touch panel and the opposing surface are spaced apart with a predetermined gap or less,

the conductive member is provided in a first region of the outer circumferential surface except for a region within a predetermined dimension from the opposing surface in a direction away from the touch panel, and

the conductive member is further provided in a second region of the outer circumferential surface extending from the first region and connected to the electrode.

2. The operation device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a non-conductive luster layer that is provided in a region of the outer circumferential surface other than a region coated by the conductive member, wherein

the non-conductive luster layer has a first luster and the conductive member has a second luster, and

a difference between the first luster and the second luster is within a predetermined range.

3. The operation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the rotary part includes:

a first member corresponding to a region of the outer circumferential surface coated by the conductive member; and

a second member corresponding to a region of the outer circumferential surface other than the region coated by the conductive member.

4. The operation device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a waterproof wall having a tubular shape and provided radially outward of the rotary part, wherein

the waterproof wall has one axial end fixed to the touch panel so as to protect the electrode from getting wet.

5. The operation device according to claim 4 , further comprising

a labyrinth structure having a maze of a gap formed between another axial end of the waterproof wall and the rotary part.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2019
From: NAKAGAWA, KUNIHIRO
To: DENSO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048043/0575 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2016-142083 · Jul 20, 2016 · national
JP 2017-099235 · May 18, 2017 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2017022087 · Jun 15, 2017
Related Publication 20190146594A1 · May 16, 2019