COMPLEX INPUT DEVICE HAVING TOUCH PAD FUNCTION

摘要

The present invention relates to a complex input device having a touch pad function used as a substitute for a mouse input device in laptop computers or netbook computers. The input device is installed in a variety of host systems and manipulated by a user for operating functions and features simultaneous button and touch operations, and comprises: a keypad having a plurality of buttons; a dome sheet composed of a plurality of dome switches positioned under the keypad; a 1st electrode panel including a contact terminal disposed under the dome sheet for generating an electrical signal by contact with the dome switches, and first conductive electrodes arrayed in one direction with a gap therebetween; a 2nd electrode panel including second conductive electrodes arrayed at right angles to the 1st electrode panel with a gap therebetween; a circuit board disposed under the electrode panels, which has a capacitance measurement unit for measuring a difference in capacitances generated between the 1st electrodes and the 2nd electrodes and then detecting a touch operation and a motion in 1st and 2nd directions of the touch operation, thereby generating an electrical signal that can obtain a change in two-dimensional touch operations, and a controller for controlling the host systems according to manipulation by press or touch. Therefore, the complex input device of the present invention has a simple structure and offers much improved convenience by simultaneously performing the touch function as well as the button input function.