IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,732,188
Granted Patent B2
US 12,732,188 · App. 18/387,870 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Capacitive button

Inventors: Takuya Inoue (Tokyo, JP); Takeshi Yamazaki (Tokyo, JP); Tae Orita (Tokyo, JP); Takeshi Ono (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
H03K17/955H03K17/962H03K2017/9455H03K2017/9604H03K2217/0081H03K2217/96077
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,732,188
App. No.
18/387,870
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A capacitive button capable of improving tolerance to electrostatic discharge is provided. The capacitive button includes: a pair of sensor electrodes which are provided side by side; a floating electrode which is arranged on a front side of the pair of sensor electrodes via an insulating layer; and a ground electrode which is arranged so as to surround the floating electrode, and is grounded without being electrically connected with the pair of sensor electrodes and the floating electrode. By providing the configuration, the tolerance to the electrostatic discharge of the capacitive button can be improved.

Claims (15)

1 . A capacitive button comprising:

an operation accepting body which is formed of an insulator;

a ground electrode which is arranged so as to surround the operation accepting body, and is grounded;

a pair of sensor electrodes which are arranged on a back side of the operation accepting body, and are formed in a mesh shape;

a holding body provided on the back side of the operation accepting body; and

a tactile switch provided on a back side of the holding body,

wherein one of the pair of sensor electrodes is an electrode for transmission and

another one of the pair of sensor electrodes is an electrode for reception having an area smaller than an area of the electrode for transmission.

2 . The capacitive button according to claim 1 , wherein:

the holding body holds the pair of sensor electrodes via the operation accepting body; and

the tactile switch is pressed when the holding body is moved toward the back side of the capacitive button.

3 . The capacitive button according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of sensor electrodes are connected to a circuit to which a microcomputer, a regulator and a regulated power supply are connected, via a resistor and a suppressor, and are set such that a characteristic impedance is electrically uniform with the microcomputer, the regulator and the regulated power supply.

4 . The capacitive button according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of sensor electrodes are connected to a circuit to which a microcomputer, a regulator and a regulated power supply are connected in a state where a power terminal of the microcomputer is connected via a bypass capacitor in the circuit, and are set such that a characteristic impedance is electrically uniform with the microcomputer, the regulator and the regulated power supply.

5 . The capacitive button according to claim 2 , wherein the pair of sensor electrodes are connected to a circuit to which a microcomputer, a regulator and a regulated power supply are connected, via a resistor and a suppressor, and are set such that a characteristic impedance is electrically uniform with the microcomputer, the regulator and the regulated power supply.

6 . The capacitive button according to claim 2 , wherein the pair of sensor electrodes are connected to a circuit to which a microcomputer, a regulator and a regulated power supply are connected in a state where a power terminal of the microcomputer is connected via a bypass capacitor in the circuit, and are set such that a characteristic impedance is electrically uniform with the microcomputer, the regulator and the regulated power supply.

Continuity (2)
Continuation 18286772 · May 6, 2021
Related Publication 20240072798A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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