Touch sensor

摘要

Provided is a touch sensor having a simple structure and enabling a driver to appropriately and quickly manipulate the touch sensor as intended without looking at a manipulation surface of the touch sensor. The touch sensor includes: multiple electrodes; detection means for detecting touch on any of electrodes and for outputting a detection signal for each electrode; touch judgment means for judging whether each of the electrodes is touched or untouched based on the detection signal; a switch having a manipulation button; control mode judgment means for determining a control function for a controlled device in accordance with an input signal transmitted from the switch when the manipulation button is manipulated; and permission means for permitting the touch judgment means to judge touch on each electrode in response to the input signal from the switch.

主权项

1. A touch sensor comprising:
a plurality of electrodes; detection means for detecting touch on any of the electrodes and for outputting a detection signal for each electrode; touch judgment means for judging whether each of the electrodes is touched or untouched based on the detection signal; a switch having a manipulation button; control mode judgment means for determining a control function for a controlled device in accordance with an input signal transmitted from the switch when the manipulation button is manipulated; permission means for permitting the touch judgment means to judge touch on each electrode in response to the input signal from the switch; manipulation input judgment means for:
setting a first one of the electrodes on which the touch is detected firstly by the touch judgment means as a start electrode;when touch on a second one of the electrodes is detected without detection of touch on the start electrode, resetting the start electrode, and newly setting as the start electrode the second electrode on which the touch is secondly detected; andjudging a positional relationship between the new start electrode and the electrode on which the touch is firstly detected, and thereby determining a manipulation input mode of the controlled device, wherein at least two of the electrodes are arranged in an arc shape along an outer periphery of the manipulation button, and wherein after detection of touch on the start electrode,
if no touch on the other electrode is detected within a predetermined time period, the detection means cancels touch detection on all the electrodes, andif touch on one of the electrodes is detected again later, the detection means sets the electrode as the start electrode; a case including the electrodes and the switch which are arranged on a back side of the case, and provided with the manipulation button exposed to outside; and a recessed guide portion arranged in a region of a front surface of the case inside outer peripheries of the electrodes, the guide portion indicating where the electrodes are arranged.